Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into grant agreements with US Together and Community Refugee and Immigration Services in support of capacity building for resettling immigrants and refugees.
For over a century, the City of Columbus has been a city that has welcomed immigrants and refugees. Those who have had to flee poverty, war, corruption, or oppression have found in Columbus a new home, one where they can find safety, security, and socioeconomic prosperity. This is due, in large part, to the compassion, dedication, and hard work of the city’s resettlement agencies. These organizations work in coordination with the U.S. Department of State and other local partners to ensure that refugees and immigrants have the support and the resources necessary to find sanctuary in their new home.
As geopolitical dynamics shift, and as we experience new conflicts around the world, we will likewise to continue to see growth in those communities that are seeking refuge. It is the intention of Columbus City Council to provide our resettlement agencies with additional resources that can be utilized for capacity building, so that we are prepared to accommodate new residents within our city.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Emergency action is requested in order to avoid any delay in providing the resources necessary to develop additional capacity within our resettlement infrastructure.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into grant agreements with US Together and Community Refugee and Immigration Services in support of capacity building for resettling immigrants and refugees; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, for over a century, the City of Columbus has been a city that has welcomed immigrants and refugees; and
WHEREAS, the success and stability of our immigrant and refugee communities is due, in large part, to the ongoing work and dedication of our resettlement agencies; and
WHEREAS, Columbus will continue to see growth in those communities that are seeking refuge, and it is critical that resettlement agencies have the resources necessary to develop capacity to accommodate those communities; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Clerk's Office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Clerk to enter into grant agreements with local resettlement agencies to continue to build capacity in serving immigrant and refugee populations in order to avoid any delay in providing the resources necessary to develop additional capacity within our resettlement infrastructure, all in the interest of protecting the health, welfare, and safety of residents; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized to enter into grant agreements with US Together and Community Refugee and Immigration Services in support of capacity building for resettling immigrants and refugees.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $100,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, to Columbus City Council per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $100,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1, is hereby authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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 6. 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.