Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus Public Health has been awarded a grant from Franklin County Public Health to support the Franklin County Overdose Data to Action Project. This ordinance is needed to accept and appropriate $125,000.00 in grant monies to fund the Franklin County Overdose Data to Action Project grant program for the period of September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022.
In July 2020, the Franklin County Coroner’s Office (FCCO) released preliminary overdose death statistics that stated, “191 cases of apparent and suspected drug overdoses were reported to the Franklin County Coroner’s Office in the first quarter of 2020. This is a 55.3% (68) increase over the same time period in 2019”. It is suspected that illicit fentanyl is involved in over 80% of the drug overdose deaths in Franklin County. Central Ohio continues to see an increase in drug overdose deaths in the African American and Latino communities.
This ordinance is submitted as an emergency so a delay in services does not occur due to the start date September 1, 2021.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Franklin County Overdose Data to Action Project Grant is fully funded ($125,000.00) by Franklin County Public Health and does not require a City match.
Title
To authorize and direct the Board of Health to accept a grant from Franklin County Public Health for the Franklin County Overdose Data to Action Project Grant in the amount of $125,000.00; to authorize the appropriation of $125,000.00 to the Health Department in the Health Department’s Grants Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($125,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, $125,000.00 in grant funds have been made available through the Franklin County Overdose Data to Action Project Grant for the period of September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to accept and appropriate these funds from Franklin County Public Health for the support of the Franklin County Overdose Data to Action Project Grant; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of Columbus Public Health in that it is immediately necessary to accept these grant funds from Franklin County Public Health to meet deliverables and to appropriate these funds to Columbus Public Health, for the immediate preservation of the public health, property, safety and welfare, and to avoid a delay in client services; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Board of Health is hereby authorized and directed to accept a grant award of $125,000.00 from Franklin County Public Health for the Franklin County Overdose Data to Action Project Grant September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the Health Department's Grants Fund, Fund No. 2251, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the grant period, the sum of $125,000.00 and any eligible interest earned during the grant period is hereby appropriated upon receipt of an executed grant agreement to the Health Department, Division No. 5001, as indicated in the ordinance attachment.
SECTION 3. 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 4. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon the order of the Health Commissioner, 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 5. 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 6. 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.