Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Safety to modify the contract with Community for New Direction (CND) in order to provide a cost of living increase to their employees engaged in violence interruption and crisis response activities that include responding to specific violent confrontations, working to mediate and diffuse conflict tensions, and actively promoting peace building among our youth.
Ordinance 0260-2022 authorized the Director of Public Safety to enter into a professional services contract with Community for New Direction to engage their violence interruption and case management professionals in the work of the Group Violence intervention initiative. This additional $100,000 will increase the base pay received by these individuals for performing their vital, continuous and potentially dangerous work.
The original contract amount: $329,500.00 (PO324701, Ord. 0260-2022)
The total of Modification No. 1: $100,000 (This Ordinance)
The contract amount including all modifications: $429,500.00
Principal Parties:
John Dawson, CEO
Community for New Direction
2323 W. 5th Avenue Suite 160
Columbus, Ohio 43204
(614) 272.1464
Contractor Federal ID #: 31-1430278
FISCAL IMPACT
This Ordinance authorizes the transfer of $100,000.00 within the General Fund from the Department of Finance to the Department of Public Safety in order to provide a cost of living increase to Community for New Direction employees engaged in violence interruption and crisis response activities.
Bid Waiver Justification: The original contract authorized by Ordinance 0260-2022 included a Bid Waiver in order to keep the consistency with the program participants and the vendor (interventionists). They have been working with the NVI program for over 7 years; they know the program participants, the youth and young adults in the community and have established relationships with them. It is important to keep the continuity of these relationships and trust. A new vendor would have to come in and start from the very beginning to obtain this knowledge, understanding, and trust.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to ensure the individuals performing complicated, potentially dangerous violence intervention work are appropriately compensated as quickly as possible.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Safety to modify the contract with Community for New Direction to increase the amount allocated for the contract authorized by Ordinance 0260-2022 to provide violence intervention services; to authorize the transfer of $100,000.00 within the General Fund, from the Department of Finance to the Department of Public Safety; to authorize the expenditure of $100,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, contract no. PO324701with Community for New Direction, in the amount of $329,500.00, was authorized by ordinance 0260-2022; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary to modify the contract in an amount up to $100,000.00 to provide a cost of living increase for the case managers and violence interventionists working alongside the Group Violence Intervention Initiative; and
WHEREAS, the transfer of funds is necessary in order to properly align appropriation with projected expenditure; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $100,000.00 from the General Fund 1000-100010; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Safety in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to modify the contract with Community for New Direction so that violence intervention services can continue without interruption at a pay rate that is commensurate with the vital and potentially dangerous work of interventionists, 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:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Public Safety is authorized to modify a contract with Community for New Direction for services related to the Group Violence Intervention Program.
SECTION 2. That the amount of $100,000.00 or so much as may be necessary, is hereby authorized to be transferred within the General Fund, fund 1000-100010 from Finance and Management to the Department of Public Safety per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $100,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 General Fund in object class 03 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
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 and to make any accounting changes necessary to ensure that this contract is properly accounted for and recorded accurately on the City's financial records.
SECTION 6. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, the City Auditor shall establish such account codes as necessary.
SECTION 7. 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.