Explanation
BACKGROUND: The City of Columbus health statistics show an increase in disease associated with obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. To encourage healthy and active living Columbus Public Health has budgeted $20,000.00 in the Health Special Revenue Fund for making grants to non-profit organizations for community gardening projects. City Council wishes to support this project and has made available in the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund an additional $25,000.00.
The purpose of this ordinance is to appropriate $25,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund and to authorize the total expenditure of $45,000.00 from the Health Operating Fund ($20,000.00) and the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund ($25,000.00) for the payment of $45,000.00 to The Columbus Foundation, Foundation for Columbus Public Health for the management of the 2022 Community Gardening Project.
The City’s Community Garden Initiative supports the City’s effort to build a fair and sustainable food system. As part of the Local Food Action Plan, community gardens improve access and education for healthy, affordable, and local food. But beyond improving food access, community gardens provide the space for powerful neighborhood-level social change. Since 2010, Columbus City Council has supported 311 gardens with funding over $340,000. In 2020, 31 gardens were supported by this grant including 1 new community garden. In an effort to promote equitable healthy food access and social support networks, 74% of funded gardens were located in CelebrateOne priority neighborhoods in 2020.
The Foundation is a donor-advised fund that was established by the Columbus Board of Health with The Columbus Foundation in 2008 under the authority of Ordinance No. 1210-2008, approved by City Council on July 14, 2008. Ordinance No. 0493-2011, approved by City Council on April 4, 2011, amended the agreement with The Columbus Foundation by authorizing The Columbus Foundation, Foundation for Active Living to accept funds from the City. Ordinance No. 1904-2021, authorized the modification of the endowment fund name from the Foundation for Active Living to the Foundation for Columbus Public Health.
This ordinance is submitted as an emergency so as to allow this appropriation and the expenditure to be received by The Columbus Foundation, Foundation for Columbus Public Health as soon as possible for the development of community gardens.
FISCAL IMPACT: A total of $45,000.00 has been designated for this project. Funding for this ordinance is available in the amount of $20,000.00 in the Health Special Revenue Fund and $25,000.00 in City Council’s Neighborhood Initiatives Fund.
Title
To authorize and direct the appropriation of $25,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $20,000.00 from the Health Special Revenue Fund and $25,000.00 from the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund to pay The Columbus Foundation, Foundation for Columbus Public Health, for the management of the 2022 Community Gardening Projects; and to declare an emergency. ($45,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus would like to encourage healthy and active living to address the increase in diseases associated with obesity and sedentary lifestyle; and,
WHEREAS, community gardens are a great way to promote healthy foods and to offer local youth a way to learn something new about food and gardening; and,
WHEREAS, $20,000.00 from the Health Special Revenue Fund and $25,000.00 from the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund will be expended to The Columbus Foundation, Foundation for Columbus Public Health for the management of the 2022 Community Gardening Project; and,
WHEREAS, the Foundation for Columbus Public Health, a donor-advised fund established at The Columbus Foundation by the Columbus Board of Health under the authority of Ordinance No. 1210-2008 and modified by Ordinance No. 0493-2011 and Ordinance No. 1904-2021, is qualified and able to direct the funds for the management of the community gardens in Central Ohio; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of Columbus Public Health in that it is immediately necessary to allow the appropriation and expenditure of City monies to The Columbus Foundation as soon as possible to distribute funding to local community gardens to ensure a successful start to the 2022 growing season and for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; Now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That from the unappropriated monies in the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund, Fund 1000, Subfund No. 100018, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources for the period ending December 31, 2022, the sum of $25,000.00 is hereby appropriated within fund 1000 as specified in the ordinance attachment.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $20,000.00 from the Health Special Revenue Fund, Fund No. 2250 and the expenditure of $25,000.00 from the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund, Fund No. 1000, Subfund No. 100018 is hereby authorized to pay The Columbus Foundation, Foundation for Columbus Public Health, for the management of the 2022 Community Gardening Project, as specified in the ordinance attachment.
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 for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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.