Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the appropriation and expenditure of $1,426,368.80 of the 2020 Community Development Block Grant Grant-Coronavirus Relief (CDBG-CV) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Department of Finance and Management and authorizes the Director to enter into contract with Impact Community Action in the amount of $1,426,368.80 for the period of January 1, 2021 thru September 30, 2022 to administer the emergency financial assistance program.
The City of Columbus received an award from the U.S. Department of HUD for CDBG-CV program funds in the amount of $4,388,525.00 to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the Coronavirus pandemic. HUD has issued guidance regarding the use of CDBG CV funds for emergency financial assistance to alleviate financial pressure for City of Columbus low-to-moderate income households to include mortgage, rental, and utility payments made on behalf of the eligible residents and to prevent evictions and homelessness.
The Department of Finance and Management, Division of Grants Management published a Request For Proposals (RFP) in accordance with City procurements standards to solicit proposals from local agencies to administer the emergency financial assistance program for CDBG CV funds. The RFP committee evaluated, scored, and recommended award for Impact Community Action in accordance with City Procurement standards. The Director of Finance and Management intends to enter into a written agreement with Impact Community Action in the amount of $1,426,368.80 for the period of January 1, 2021 thru September 30, 2022 to administer the CDBG CV emergency financial assistance program for eligible City of Columbus residents.
Emergency legislation is needed in order to implement the CDBG CV emergency assistance program in response to the coronavirus pandemic to benefit low-to-moderate income residents experiencing financial hardship and prevent evictions and homelessness.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this agreement in the amount of $1,426,368.80 is funded by the 2020 CDBG-CV funds awarded to the City of Columbus by HUD under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Public Law 116-136.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: The vendor number 001447 contract compliance for Impact Community Action expires 12/16/2021.
Title
To authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $1,426,368.80 of the FY 2020 Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus Relief (CDBG-CV) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Department of Finance and Management; to authorize the Director of Finance and Management to enter into agreement with Impact Community Action for the administration of the City's emergency financial assistance program; and to declare an emergency. ($1,426,368.80)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is a participating jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for 2020, and the City is a current recipient of Community Development Block Grant funds from HUD; and
WHEREAS, the City received an award allocation of CDBG-CV Program funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Public Law 116-136 to be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19); and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of HUD has authorized the use of CDBG-CV funds to provide financial assistance including mortgage, rental and utility payments made on behalf of eligible low-to-moderate income City of Columbus residents to alleviate financial pressure and prevent evictions and homelessness.
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of CDBG CV funds for the CDBG-CV emergency financial assistance program as this funding was not previously budgeted for; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of Finance and Management to enter into an agreement Impact Community Action; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into agreement with Impact Community Action to implement the emergency financial assistance program in response to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), and for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the grant period, the sum of $1,426,368.80 is appropriated in Fund 2248 (Community Development Block Grant), per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $1,426,368.80 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized in Fund 2248 (CDBG), per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That, at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
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 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 6. That the Director of the Department of Finance and Management is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with Impact Community Action in an amount up to $1,426,368.80 to administer the CDBG-CV emergency financial assistance program.
SECTION 7. That this agreement is awarded pursuant to the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code relating to the procurement process utilizing a request for proposals.
SECTION 8. 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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.