Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Beneficiary Agreement with the Mid-Ohio Foodbank in an amount up to $1,000,000.00 using federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds in support of the agency’s purchase of shelf-stable and fresh food.
Ordinance 1201-2021 authorized the City of Columbus to accept and appropriate approximately $187,030,138.00 of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds as signed into law by the President of the United States on March 11, 2021.
Mid-Ohio Foodbank service network is experiencing record demand, far outpacing even the highest peaks of the pandemic. Families are being hammered by rising costs and seeking help to feed their families in ever-growing numbers. At the same time, supply chain issues are straining our food inventory to critical levels and impacting our ability to meet the needs of the community. These funds will allow Mid-Ohio Foodbank to secure both shelf-stable and fresh food such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, and bread, which will in turn be distributed to neighbors at risk for food insecurity.
It is expected that the guidance from the U.S. Department of Treasury will be modified while this Beneficiary Agreement is in effect and it is requested that the Director of Development be given the authority to modify the terms and conditions of the Beneficiary Agreement without seeking additional Council approval in order to align with the most current version of the laws, regulations, and guidance.
Emergency action is requested to address the impacts of the COVID-19 health emergency.
Fiscal Impact: Funding of $1,000,000.00 is provided to the City of Columbus from the American Rescue Plan Act passed by Congress and signed into law March 11, 2021.
Contract Compliance: The vendor number is 004402 and expires 11/5/2022.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Beneficiary Agreement with the Mid-Ohio Foodbank in an amount up to $1,000,000.00 in support of the agency’s shelf-stable and fresh food; to authorize an expenditure of up to $1,000,000.00 within the federal American Rescue Plan Act fund; and to declare an emergency. ($1,000,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a dramatic increase in the level of demand across all human service agencies, and particularly within those agencies working to mitigate food insecurity; and
WHEREAS, the Mid-Ohio Foodbank has served as an outstanding facilitator for the network of foodbanks and human service organizations that have experienced those increases in demand; and
WHEREAS, as the public health emergency continues, more and more families will find themselves at risk of food insecurity; and
WHEREAS, expenditure of funding from the American Rescue Plan will help the Mid-Ohio Foodbank to continue to meet the elevated demand across the region caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a Beneficiary Agreement with the Mid-Ohio Foodbank in order to address the impacts of the COVID-19 health emergency, 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 Development is hereby authorized to enter into a Beneficiary Agreement with the Mid-Ohio Foodbank in an amount up to $1,000,000.00 in support of the agency’s for urgent assistance in meeting the needs of Columbus’ emergency food system.
SECTION 2: That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the Director of the Department of Development is authorized to modify the terms and conditions of the Beneficiary Agreement as needed without seeking further City Council approval in order to align with the most current version of the laws, regulations, and guidance.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $1,000,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2209 (ARPA), Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration), in object class 03 (Services) 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. 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 passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.