Explanation
This ordinance will authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with Columbus Urban League (CUL) for the amount of $329,500.00 in order to provide violence interruption and crisis response activities that include responding to specific violent confrontations, working to mediate and diffuse conflict tensions, and actively promoting peace building among our youth. Contractor shall maintain a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week schedule to respond to calls regarding youth violence confrontations such as shootings, aggravated assaults, homicides, and other violent incidents.
Background: The Contractor shall respond to violent incidents or conflict outside of the designated APPS zone(s) if the incident is believed to have potential to adversely impact activities within any other APPS zone(s). The Contractor shall also provide support services to victims' families and friends. Support services will be provided after making initial contact with victims’ families and friends at the scene of an incident, hospital or at a time and location chosen by the victims’ families and friends. Support services can also include Contractor attending funerals, vigils, peace marches, etc. Additionally, Community Intervention Workers shall participate in APPS activities and initiatives focusing on reducing youth violence citywide and improving community collaborations to support the APPS initiative. Columbus Urban League will hold a surety bond in the amount of $100,000 and Certificate of Insurance as required by the City.
Principal Parties:
Columbus Urban League
788 Mt. Vernon Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43206
(614) 257-6300
Contractor Federal ID #: 31-4379453
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested in order for the Neighborhood Violence Intervention Program to continue without interruption.
Bid Waiver Justification: A bid waiver is being requested in order to keep the consistency with the program participants and the vendor (interventionists). They have been working with the APPS program for over 7 years; they know the program participants, the youth and young adults in the community and have established relationships with them. It is important to keep the continuity of these relationships and trust. A new vendor would have to come in and start from the very beginning to obtain this knowledge, understanding, and trust.
Fiscal Impact: The amount $329,500.00 is budgeted for this project from the Recreation and Parks Operating Fund 2285. This ordinance is contingent on the passage of the 2021 operating budget.
Title
To authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with Columbus Urban League for services related to the implementation of the 2021 Neighborhood Violence Intervention Program; to authorize the expenditure of $329,500.00 from the Recreation and Parks Operating Fund 2285; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Code; and to declare an emergency. ($329,500.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with Columbus Urban League for services related to the Applying Purpose and Passion to Service (APPS) Neighborhood Violence Intervention Program; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the Recreation and Parks Department to waive the competitive bidding requirements of the Columbus City Codes because this vendor has intrinsic knowledge and understanding of the APPS program and its evolution providing continuity of service; and
WHEREAS, this is contingent on 2021 operating budget being passed by council.
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $329,500.00 from the Recreation and Parks Operating Fund 2285; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is immediately necessary to contract with Columbus Urban League so that the Neighborhood Violence Intervention Program can continue without interruption; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Recreation and Parks is authorized to enter into contract with Columbus Urban League for services related to the Applying Purpose and Passion to Service (APPS) Neighborhood Violence Intervention Program.
SECTION 2. That this Council finds it in the best interests of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of City Code Chapter 329 to enter into this contract.
SECTION 3. That for the purposes stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $329,500.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized to be appropriated and expended from the Recreation and Parks Department Operating Fund 2285 in object class 03 Contractual Services per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. This ordinance is contingent on 2021 operating budget being passed by council.
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 legislation.
SECTION 6. 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.