Explanation
Background:
This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Recreation and Parks to enter into a grant agreement with MY Project USA, a non-profit company. Funding will support expenses created from the Covid-19 pandemic and support youth and community programming.
MY Project USA experienced revenue losses such as cancelled fundraising events, decreases in donor support, and increased expenditures due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
MY Project USA’s Youth Empowerment Center will continue as the core of MY Project USA’s activities and will require additional space to ensure year-round recreation programming (currently the Hilltop Tigers Soccer Team cannot practice from November until March) and to expand academic and career programming. In addition to programming, MY Project USA will open the space to other organizations in the community, especially those serving youth, to help ensure that all our community members always have someplace safe to be.
Fiscal Impact: Funding for this grant agreement is available within the Reimagine Safety subfund and the American Rescue Plan Fund, 2209.
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested in order to avoid a delay in providing the necessary funding resources for MY Project USA.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Recreations and Parks to enter into a grant agreement with MY Project USA; to authorize an appropriation within the general fund; to authorize a transfer from the general fund; to appropriate funds and authorize an expenditure within the Recreations and Park operating fund; to appropriate funds and authorize an expenditure within the American Rescue Plan Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($250,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, MY Project USA aims to protect and empower American youth by providing access to educational, healthy, and fun programs that keep them away from danger and temptation; and; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in disproportionate negative economic impacts in communities of color and low-income communities across the nation. These communities are experiencing overwhelming barriers to access basic needs like food, supplies and shelter during the pandemic; and
WHEREAS, MY Project USA’s Youth Empowerment Center requires additional space to ensure year-round recreation programming; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Recreation and Parks in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a grant agreement with MY Project USA to provide more opportunities for youth engagement; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Recreation and Parks is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with MY Project USA.
SECTION 2. That the Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $100,000.00 to Recreation and Parks within the Reimagine Safety fund in object class 10-Transfers, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer $100,000.00 from the Reimagine Safety subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100019, to the Recreation and Parks operating fund, fund 2285, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $100,000.00 to Recreation and Parks within the Recreation and Parks operating fund, fund 2285, in 03-Services per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $100,000.00 is hereby authorized from the Recreation and Parks Operating Fund 2285 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the expenditure of $150,000.00 is hereby authorized from the Recreation and Parks ARPA Fund 2209 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That per the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $250,000.00 is hereby authorized.
SECTION 8. 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 legislation.
SECTION 9. 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.