Explanation
1. BACKGROUND:
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Public Service to enter into grant agreements with various schools and social service agencies in support of the School Litter Clean-Up Program
Just as the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to impact the workforce, the need for economic assistance remains. The School Litter Clean-Up Program will offer athletic and extracurricular programs within and around Columbus to participate in litter cleanups in designated areas defined by Keep Columbus Beautiful. The groups will perform litter cleanup, provide Keep Columbus Beautiful with the locations cleaned and report the number of participants in each clean-up effort. Each organization may earn up to $1,500 for each cleanup up to a maximum of $24,000. This program gives students an opportunity to improve their community while earning money for their athletic program or extracurricular activity.
2. FISCAL IMPACT:
Grant funding in the amount of $498,825.00 is available in Fund 2209 (Recovery Fund), Subfund 220902 (Community Recovery). The funds are appropriated.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION:
The department requests emergency designation for this legislation so that the clean-up efforts and financial assistance will be available to those experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic as soon as possible.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Service to enter into grant agreements with various local school districts and related organizations in support of the School Litter Clean-Up Program; to authorize expenditure within the Recovery Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($498,825.00).
Body
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in more than half of the residents in major U.S. cities reporting serious financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, athletic and extracurricular programs within and around Columbus will have an opportunity to participate in the School Litter Clean-up Program; and
WHEREAS, the groups will perform litter cleanup, provide Keep Columbus Beautiful with the locations cleaned, and report the number of participants in each clean-up effort; and
WHEREAS, each organization may earn up to $1,500 for each cleanup, up to a maximum of $24,000; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to execute grant agreements with various school and social service agencies and to expend up to $498,825 to fund that program; and
WHEREAS, funding is available for this purpose in Fund 2209, the Recovery Fund; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to execute agreements with, and to make payment to, various schools and social service agencies as soon as reasonably practicable to prevent delays in the start of the program; and
WHEREAS, the expenditure of American Rescue Plan Act funding to provide economic assistance in lower income communities, is necessary to address financial hardship in lower income communities caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency; 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 up to $24,000.00 each with school districts and related organizations in support of School Litter Clean-Up Program as follows:
Organizations and School Districts
Whitehall City Schools
Northland High School Athletic Department
Walnut Ridge Athletic Association
Africentric High School
Columbus City Schools
Additional schools, school districts, and related organizations to be identified later.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $498,825.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2209 (Recovery Fund), Dept-Div 5902 (Refuse Collection), SubFund 220902 (Community Recovery), in Object Class 03 (Purchased Services), per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 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 the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 6. At the end of the one year contract period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the various schools and social service agencies is hereby authorized and any unused City monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable agreements.
SECTION 7. That the expenditure is authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act funding to provide economic assistance, and is necessary to address financial hardship in lower income communities caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency.
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.