Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Public Service to enter into grant agreements with various social service agencies in support of the Cleaner Columbus Employment Program.
According to a July 2020 study on the impact of COVID-19 in major US cities, more than half of residents reported experiencing serious financial problems. In 2020, the Cleaner Columbus Employment Program offered residents in five neighborhoods the opportunity to have temporary employment performing neighborhood beautification and cleanup. The funding provided temporary assistance due to financial hardship experienced because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The three-week initiative was a resounding success. Residents collected 5,789 bags of litter and debris for a total weight of 173,670 lbs. That is 53 percent of the total weight of litter and debris collected in all of 2019.
Just as the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to impact the workforce, the need for economic assistance remains. The Cleaner Columbus Employment Program will continue to offer employment opportunities to residents by paying $15 per hour. Community partners soliciting temporary workers will prioritize enrolling residents that have experienced employment disruption.cohorts in 2021
The Cleaner Columbus Employment Program will host three different cohorts in 2021. The social service agencies listed below are for the Spring and Summer cohort. The social service agencies for the Fall cohort have yet to be identified. The city will be identifying neighborhoods of need so it is possible that the agencies could be different from the ones in Spring.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Job Growth subfund.
Emergency action is requested in order to avoid any delay in providing the resources necessary to initiate the 2021 Cleaner Columbus Employment Program for those who are experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Service to enter into grant agreements with various social service agencies in support of the Cleaner Columbus Employment Program; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Job Growth subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($550,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, in major U.S. cities, more than half of residents reported experiencing serious financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, by offering temporary employment the Cleaner Columbus Employment Program will offer financial resources to some of our most vulnerable residents; and
WHEREAS, litter has served as a constant nuisance in some of our low-income neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, the expenditure of these funds is necessary to address the challenges of unemployment and underemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in that it is immediately necessary to authorize grant agreements with the selected agencies in order to deploy resources for neighborhood beautification; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Public Service is hereby authorized to enter into grant agreements with social service agencies in support of Cleaner Columbus Employment Program as follows:
Spring Social Service Agencies
Columbus Next Gen
Community Development for All People
St. Stephens Community House
Franklinton Board of Trade
Us Together
Summer Social Service Agency
Columbus City Schools
SECTION 2. That the Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $550,000.00 within the Job Growth subfund, fund 1000,subfund 100015, to the Department of Public Service in 03-Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That per the action authorized in Section 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $550,000.00 within the Job Growth subfund is hereby authorized per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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 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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.