Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Division of Police was awarded funding through the American Rescue Plan Funding 2022 Crime Lab Backlog from the Office of Criminal Justice. This federally supported program seeks to reduce the number of backlogged cases and to increase capacity through the purchase of additional instrumentation, software and supplies. Funds have been awarded for additional DNA equipment and analysis supplies. The cost breakdown for this two-year grant award is as follows: DNA testing equipment $847,000.00 and supplies $153,000.00.
The official city program contact authorized to act in connection with this $1,000,000.00 grant is Crime Lab Manager, Angela Farrington. The grant award start date is May 1, 2022 and ends May 1, 2024.
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is necessary to make the funds available as soon as possible for the grant award, effective as of May 1, 2022.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an acceptance of the $1,000,000.00 grant award and the appropriation of those funds from the Office of Criminal Justice to improve DNA analysis. This is a new award for the City of Columbus. No matching funds are required and all grant expenditures will be reimbursed by the grant awarded funding.
Title
To authorize and direct the Mayor of the City of Columbus to accept the American Rescue Plan 2022 Crime Lab Backlog award from the Office of Criminal Justice; to authorize the Crime Lab Manager as the official city representative to act in connection with this grant; to authorize an appropriation of $1,000,000.00 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to the Division of Police to cover the cost of the American Rescue Plan 2022 Crime Lab Backlog Grant activities and expenditures; and to declare an emergency. ($1,000,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Division of Police has been awarded funding through the American Rescue Plan 2022 Crime Lab Backlog Grant from the Office of Criminal Justice for DNA supplies and equipment for Crime Lab DNA analysts; and,
WHEREAS, the Columbus Police Crime Lab needs equipment and supplies to aid in processing DNA samples more efficiently and cost effectively; and,
WHEREAS, Crime Lab Manager Angela Farrington has been identified as the official city representative to act in connection with this American Rescue Plan 2022 Crime Lab Backlog Grant and to provide information as required; and,
WHEREAS, the grant award period begins on May 1, 2022 and ends May 1, 2024; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Division of Police, Department of Public Safety, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Mayor to accept and appropriate the American Rescue Plan 2022 Crime Lab Backlog Grant award in order to make funds available for the grant award period, thereby preserving the public peace, health, property, safety, and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Mayor of the City of Columbus is hereby authorized and directed to accept an American Rescue Plan 2022 Crime Lab Backlog Grant for DNA equipment and supplies for the Columbus Police Crime Lab.
SECTION 2. That Crime Lab Manager Angela Farrington is designated as the official city program contact, authorized to act in connection with the American Rescue Plan 2022 Crime Lab Backlog Grant, and are to provide any additional information required.
SECTION 3.That from the unappropriated monies in the General Government Grant Fund and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purposes during the grant period, the sum of $1,000,000.00 is appropriated upon receipt of an executed grant agreement in Fund 2220 General Government Grants in Object Class 02 Materials and Supplies and 06 Capital Outlay, per the account 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 in an amount not to exceed the available cash balance in the fund.
SECTION 5. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 3 shall be paid upon order of the Director of Public Safety; 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 6. 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 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.