Explanation
This ordinance authorizes Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with Columbus Urban League in support of the Right to Recover program.
According to a July study on the impact of COVID-19 in major US cities, more than half of residents report experiencing serious financial problems, especially people of color. Additionally, the infection rate in Columbus has consistently been around four times as high for Hispanic residents and twice as high for Black residents when compared to white residents. These statistics are illustrative of the fact that the industries that disproportionately employ workers of color are also the most likely to require in-person work and are least likely to offer paid time off or pay wages that provide their employees with the resources needed to sustain a period of unpaid leave. This also increases the likelihood for spread among employees, customers, and the broader community.
The Right to Recover program offers low-income workers who contract the virus one-time emergency financial relief to help them take time off of work, isolate, and recover in order to return to the workforce and mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19. Columbus Urban League estimates it will serve approximately 450 residents by the conclusion of 2020 when its existing grant agreement concludes. This legislation will allow the program continue into 2021 to meet the continuing community need.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Emergency action is requested in order to avoid interruption to the Right to Recover Program and the flow of resources it provides to those afflicted with COVID-19.
Title
To authorize Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with Columbus Urban League in support of the Right to Recover initiative; to authorize an appropriation within and an expenditure from the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($410,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an infection rate among people of color in Columbus that far exceeds the infection rate for white residents; and
WHEREAS, in major US cities, more than half of residents report experiencing serious financial problems, especially people of color, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the low-wage industries that disproportionately employ workers of color are also the most likely to require in-person work and are least likely to offer paid time off or pay wages that provide their employees with the resources needed to sustain a period of unpaid leave; and
WHEREAS, by offering emergency one-time emergency financial relief, the Right to Recover program currently offers residents the financial resources they need to take time off of work, isolate, and recover in order to return to the workforce and mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, it’s estimated that the Right to Recover program will have served 450 residents by the end of 2020 and, with additional funding provided for by this ordinance, the program will be able to continue to support low-income residents as the health crisis continues in to 2021.
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily business of the city in that it is immediately necessary to authorize a grant agreement to avoid interruption to the Right to Recover Program and the flow of resources it provides to those afflicted with COVID-19; 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 the Columbus Urban League in support of the Right to Recover program.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to appropriate $410,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, to Columbus City Council, in Object Class 03 - Contractual Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $410,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the actions authorized in SECTION 1, is hereby authorized 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 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.