Explanation
On November 9, 2020, ordinance 2527-2020 authorized the City of Columbus, Department of Technology, to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Columbus Partnership (Partnership) to reimburse the Partnership $500,000.00 in CARES Act funding for the purchase of technology and services in support of remote learning for K-12 students. This was done as part of the city and the Partnership’s efforts to provide remote connectivity for Columbus’ K-12 students.
This ordinance authorizes amending ordinance 2527-2020 to increase the dollar amount of the reimbursement by $450,000.00, from $500,000.00 to $950,000.00
This ordinance also transfers $100,000.00 from object class 02 and $420,000.00 from object class 06 to object class 03 within the Department of Technology, federal CARES act fund for the above-stated purpose.
K-12 public education statewide and within the City of Columbus in the midst of a teaching and learning paradigm shift that began before the Covid-19 pandemic. This shift expanded the traditional notion of the public classroom to an extended, or blended learning approach where a student’s education is augmented with rich K-12 content outside of the classroom.
The Covid-19 pandemic rapidly changed and reinforced the need to move to a virtual and blended learning approach to public education. In the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years, primary and secondary classrooms statewide were closed by executive order of the Governor due to Covid-19. Public schools across Ohio and the nation, continue to operate in a remote education or hybrid-learning models which require robust residential broadband connectivity to enable student access and learning.
With the on-going and ever-changing nature of Covid-19 locally, the need for various aspects of remote or blended learning for all K-12 students in Columbus continues.
As part of Community’s broadband outreach, and in order to provide residential connectivity for K-12 households, the City and Partnership continue to explore alternative residential broadband connectivity technologies which may provide K-12 households with low-cost, affordable broadband options. In working towards this goal, Ordinance 2527-2020 was passed on November 9, 2020. This ordinance authorized entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with Columbus Partnership (Partnership) to reimburse the Partnership $500,000.00 in CARES Act funding for the purchase of technology and services in support of remote learning for K-12 students. This ordinance amends 2527-2020 to add $450,000.00 to the reimbursement amount, for a total reimbursement of $950,000.00. This reimbursement may be made in a single or in multiple disbursements.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City has received federal CARES act money to assist with the funding of municipal operations during and related to the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds are available to reimburse the Partnership for the above-described purpose.
EMERGENCY
Emergency status is requested so that these funds may be made available at the earliest possible date.
Title
To authorize the amendment of Ordinance 2527-2020 to increase the dollar amount referenced therein by $450,000.00 for a total allowable reimbursement of $950,000.00; to transfer $520,000.00 from object classes 02 and 06 to object class 03 in the Department of Technology federal CARES act fund; to authorize the expenditure of $950,000.00 in federal CARES act funding for the above-described purpose; and to declare an emergency. ($950,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 Pandemic has resulted in the need for K-12 students to learn virtually and/or in a hybrid learning model during the 2020-2021 school year; and
WHEREAS, expenditure of CARES Act funding to reimburse the Columbus Partnership is necessary to address the need for K-12 students to learn virtually and/or in a hybrid learning model during the 2020-2021 school year caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 2527-2020, passed on November 9, 2020, authorized entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with Columbus Partnership (Partnership) to reimburse the Partnership $500,000.00 in CARES Act funding for the purchase of technology and services in support of remote learning for K-12 students; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes amending above-mentioned Ordinance 2527-2020 to add $450,000.00 to the reimbursement amount, for a total reimbursement of $950,000.00; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to transfer $100,000.00 from object class 02 and $420,000.00 from object class 06 to object class 03 in the Department of Technology federal CARES act fund for the above-stated purpose; and
WHEREAS, such expenditure of funds has not been previously accounted for in the 2020 Budget; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Technology in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the amendment of Ordinance 2527-2020 by increasing the dollar amount referenced therein by $450,000.00 for a total reimbursement of $950,000.00, for the preservation of the public health, peace, property and safety; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Ordinance 2527-2020 is hereby amended as follows:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Technology be and is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement, via a Memorandum of Understanding, with Columbus Partnership to enable the city to reimburse the Partnership $500,000.00 $950,000.00 in federal CARES Act funding for the acquisition of broadband products and services to support remote learning for up to 200 K-12 Columbus City households.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $500,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be expended from federal CARES act moneys as follows in the attachment to this ordinance. (see attachment 2527-2020 EXP)
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $100,000.00 from object class 02 and $420,000.00 from object class 06 to object class 03 within the Department of Technology, federal Cares Act fund, is hereby authorized as follows in the attachment to this ordinance (see attached file 2878-2020EXP)
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $950,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be expended from federal CARES act moneys as follows in the attachment to this ordinance. (see attached file 2878-2020 EXP)
SECTION 3. - SECTION 5. Renumbered SECTION 4. - SECTION 6.
SECTION 2: That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 3: That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4: That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.