Explanation
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with Elements of Change in support of the End the Violence Crisis Management initiative.
The Elements of Change (EOC) Project is a grassroots effort designed to build a safer, healthier, and thriving neighborhood on Columbus’ near eastside. By partnering with local influencers through 'End The Violence,’ EOC works through trusted gatekeepers to increase community engagement, reduce violence, and instill hope in the neighborhood.
Funding from Columbus City Council will support EOC's crisis management efforts in the neighborhood. Through this program, EOC will provide crisis management, intervention and other activities that assist youth and young adults by providing continuity and connection to supportive services, information and supplies which reduce risk of violence, as well as the spread and exposure of COVID-19 to hard-hit communities and essential frontline workers.
To help accomplish this, EOC will use federally certified “credible messengers,” who typically consist of neighborhood leaders, experienced prevention and reentry specialists, and individuals with relevant life experiences who coach, guide, mentor, facilitate and advocate for youth and young adults who have been imprisoned for, threatened, or engaged in gun-related and gang-related crime. The program will also work to link at-risk youth with job and apprenticeship opportunities. EOC will continue to utilize community stakeholders and labor organizations to support their efforts. The ordinance will fund the program through January 2021.
Columbus City Council is supporting this project with $45,468.00 in funding from the Public Safety Initiative subfund.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency action is requested in order to immediately provide EOC with the support necessary to begin the program.
FISCAL IMPACT: Total appropriation is $45,468.00 and is available within the Public Safety Initiative subfund, Fund 1000-100016.
Title
To authorize Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with Elements of Change in support of their End the Violence Crisis Management initiative; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure of $45,468.00 within the Public Safety Initiative subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($45,468.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Elements of Change (EOC) Project is a grass roots effort designed to build a safer, healthier, and thriving neighborhood on Columbus’ near eastside; and
WHEREAS, the proposed End the Violence Crisis Management initiative will provide crisis management, intervention and other activities that assist youth and young adults by providing continuity and connection to supportive services, information and supplies which reduce risk of violence, as well as the spread and exposure of COVID-19 to hard-hit communities and essential frontline workers; and
WHEREAS, City Council is supportive of efforts toward violence prevention, workforce development for at-risk youth and restored citizens, and community collaboration; and
WHEREAS, $45,468.00 is available in the Public Safety Initiative subfund for appropriation and expenditure to provide for this need; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of Columbus City Council, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize this agreement to ensure that Elements of Change has the ability to initiate the program as soon as possible, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1: That Columbus City Council is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Elements of Change in support of the End the Violence Crisis Management initiative.
SECTION 2: That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $45,468.00 in the Public Safety Initiative subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100016, to Columbus City Council per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3: That the expenditure of $45,468.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, is hereby authorized in the Public Safety Initiative subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100016 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4: 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 5: That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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.