Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the City of Columbus to accept and appropriate award funds plus cash match for U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) sub-award from Franklin County Board of Commissioners’ Office of Justice Policy and Programs.
JAG funds will support a year-long, citywide public safety and crime prevention pilot designed to offer free repair of vehicle headlights, taillights, license plate lights and turn signals for low-income Columbus residents. Fully operational automobile lights promote driver safety and prevent traffic code violations issued under vehicle safety and equipment chapters. Residents in households with annual incomes less than 130% of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for free repair services.
The City will partner with Columbus State Community College Department of Engineering and Transportation Technologies to host 12-15 repair events in the college’s automotive shop/lab, order service supplies, and supervise auto-tech students to complete repairs. The City will work through neighborhood commissions and partner with Elements of Change (Columbus-based non-profit) to promote auto repair services to eligible households and recruit neighborhood residents to participate in events. We anticipate providing headlight, taillight, license plate light and turn signal repair services to 360 households through the pilot year. Grant funds will support service contracts with Columbus State Community College and Element of Change and a portion of program promotion expenses.
The Columbus Division of Public Safety will provide a cash match for the grant and the Columbus City Attorney’s Community Outreach Coordinator will coordinate all program and fiscal responsibilities associated with the grant funded pilot.
This ordinance authorizes the appropriation of grant funds ($25,000) and the transfer and appropriati...
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