Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance is necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into a subrecipient agreement with Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District for the Downtown Portable Public Restrooms Program to provide funding to the organization to administer portable toilet facilities in Columbus’ downtown throughout 2023 for an amount not to exceed $34,502.00.
There is currently limited access to public restrooms in the City’s downtown community. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an increased need for free and accessible public restrooms. The free public restroom facilities in the City’s downtown improves hygienic practices of visitors and the City’s transient population as we continue to recover from the pandemic and mitigate the spread of the virus. The restrooms have been available for the past two years, this ordinance will allow for the service to continue through December 31, 2023 while the City and the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District plan and implement the construction of permanent public restroom facilities downtown.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the expenditure not to exceed $34,502.00 from funding provided to the City of Columbus from the federal American Rescue Plan Act supplemental Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund through the United States Department of the Treasury.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency action is requested to allow the financial transaction to be posted in the city's accounting system as soon as possible and to ensure immediate funding can be provided to Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District for the continued management of Downtown Portable Public Restrooms Program, and for the health, safety and welfare of the City and the general public.
Title
To authorize the Director of Finance and Management to enter into a subrecipient agreement with Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District to provide funding to the organization for the downtown portable public restrooms in the amount of $34,502.00; to authorize the expenditure of up to $34,502.00 from the American Rescue Plan Act Supplemental Coronovirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($34,502.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City has received funds from the United States Department of Treasury from the American Rescue Plan Act passed by Congress and signed into law March 11, 2021; and
WHEREAS, the expenditure of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund funding must support organizations providing services necessary to alleviate the negative impacts caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, the Downtown Portable Public Restrooms Program supports public health and COVID-19 mitigation efforts; and
WHEREAS, the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund will be used to fund a subrecipient agreement with Capital Crossroads Special Improvements District, for the Downtown Portable Public Restroom Program and for the organization to carry out eligible project management related activities for this program on behalf of the City; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a subrecipient agreement with Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District, in order to address the impacts of the COVID-19 health emergency, such immediate action is necessary 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 Finance and Management is hereby authorized to enter into a subrecipient agreement with Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District, in an amount not to exceed $34,502.00, using funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, to administer the Downtown Portable Public Restrooms Program.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, an expenditure not to exceed $34,502.00, is authorized in Fund 2209 (ARPA), per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are deemed appropriated and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That, for the reasons stated in the Preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this Ordinance is 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.