Explanation
Background:
This legislation authorizes the City of Columbus to accept and appropriate two federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) sub awards from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners Office of Justice Policy and Programs. Grant awards support prosecution and victim advocacy services provided by the Columbus City Attorney’s Office. Award dollars fund 1) a portion of salary and fringe for two specially trained domestic violence prosecutors; 2) total compensation for one specially trained anti-stalking victim advocate; 3) and professional development for Domestic Violence & Stalking Unit staff.
The Domestic Violence & Stalking Unit provides best-practice prosecution services for victims of misdemeanor domestic violence and stalking crimes. The unit employs five highly-trained and experienced domestic violence prosecutors, fifteen victim advocates, one stalking investigator, one anti-stalking victim advocate and hosts professional liaisons from CHOICES domestic violence shelter and Franklin County Children Services. Services provided by the unit are modeled after the National District Attorneys Association’s National Domestic Violence Prosecution Best Practice Guide and are designed to increase and improve victim involvement; decrease recantation; and increase community and law enforcement collaboration. This ordinance authorizes the appropriation of grant funds and the transfer and appropriation of the matching funds required by the grant award.
Domestic Violence & Stalking Prosecutors 20-WF-VA2-8758 Award = $110,154
Domestic Violence & Stalking Prosecutors 20-WF-VA2-8758 City Match = $36,718
Total- $146,872
Law Enforcement and Anti-Stalking Advocate 20-WF-VA2-4600 Award= $58,280
Law Enforcement and Anti-Stalking Advocate 20-WF-VA2-4600 City Match = $19,426
Total- $77,706
Fiscal Impact: VAWA sub awards require a 25% city cash match of $54,110. Matching funds are included in the City Attorney 2021 General Fund budget, but a transfer of appropriation within the General Fund is necessary.
Grant Period: 01/01/21 - 12/31/21
Domestic Violence & Stalking Prosecutors 20-WF-VA2-8758 Award = $110,154
Domestic Violence & Stalking Prosecutors 20-WF-VA2-8758 City Match = $36,718
Total- $146,872
Law Enforcement and Anti-Stalking Advocate 20-WF-VA2-4600 Award= $58,280
Law Enforcement and Anti-Stalking Advocate 20-WF-VA2-4600 City Match = $19,426
Total- $77,706
Combined Award- $168,434
Combined City Match-$56,144
Total- $224,578
Emergency Action:
Emergency action is requested to allow the grant activities to commence at the beginning of the grant period.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney to accept federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) sub awards 20-WF-VA2-8758 and 20-WF-VA2-4600 from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners' Office of Justice Policy and Programs in the amount of $168,434.00 to support domestic violence and stalking prosecution and victim advocacy services; to authorize the transfer of matching funds in the amount of $56,144.00 within and from the General Fund to the general government grant fund; to authorize the total appropriation of $224,578.00 in the general government grant fund; and to declare an emergency. ($224,578.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners' Office of Justice Policy and Programs has awarded the Columbus City Attorney's Office grant funding in the amount of $168,434 to support domestic violence prosecution and stalking victim advocacy services; and
WHEREAS, the term of the grant is for the period January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021; and
WHEREAS, grant acceptance requires matching funds in the amount of $56,144; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney desires to accept said grant award; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Attorney's Office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Attorney to accept the award, appropriate the grant funds, and transfer and appropriate the matching funds so that the services may commence as soon as possible, all for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS, OHIO
SECTION 1. That the City Attorney is hereby authorized to accept Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) sub awards 20-WF-VA2-8758 and 20-WF-VA2-4600 from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners' Office of Justice Policy and Programs in the amount of $168,434 to support domestic violence prosecution and victim advocacy services.
SECTION 2. That a transfer within the General Fund between object classes of $56,144 is necessary and will serve as required grant match and is hereby authorized according to the account codes in the attachment.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $56,144, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from Fund 1000 City Attorney General Operating, Department 24, to Fund 2220 General Government Grants according to the account codes in the attachment.
SECTION 4. That from the unappropriated monies in the General Government Grants Fund number 2220, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources during the grant period, the sum of $224,578 is hereby appropriated to the Columbus City Attorney, Department 24 according to the attached accounting document.
SECTION 5. That funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 6. That funds appropriated shall be paid upon order of the City Attorney and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 7. 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 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 passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.