Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Finance and Management Director associate any and all budget reservations for wireless services with Cellco Partnership dba Verizon Wireless for wireless voice, data, GPS, modem services, and equipment. Funds for all of Public Safety's wireless cellular expenses were budgeted within the Division of Support Services' general fund budget as well as expansions in the Division of Polices’ general fund budget in order to leverage savings through the volume of use by all Safety personnel. There is an immediate need for the funding of the wireless communication services and devices for the Divisions of Police, Fire, Support Services and the Safety Director's Office as it supports critical operational activity for the entire Department of Public Safety.
Bid Information: The Purchasing Office has established a universal term contract PA000399 with Cellco Partnership for Verizon wireless services.
Contract Compliance: Cellco Partnership dba Verizon Wireless Compliance No. CC001698 expired 9/24/2022.
Emergency Designation: This legislation is to be considered an emergency measure to allow for the immediate funding needed for the continuation of wireless communication services and devices to assure that all devices have the connectivity necessary to operate and support the citizens of Columbus.
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance authorizes the transfer in the amount of $892,500.00 from the Division of Police general fund budget to the Division of Support Services general fund budget as well as the expenditure of $1,000,000.00 from the general fund for the current wireless communication service contract. Expansion request was granted to the Division of Police to supply all Police Officers with cell phones. Existing cell phone expenditure plus the expanded request resulted in a budget of over $1.5 million within the 2023 general fund operating budget for cell phones for Public Safety. More funds will be legislated later in the year if needed.
Historical expenditures for this purpose include:
2022: $688,715.00
2021: $580,000.00
2020: $550,358.00
2019: $530,674.00
Title
To authorize the Finance and Management Director to issue a purchase order, on behalf of the Department of Public Safety, Division of Support Services, for wireless data communication and cellular services and devices from an existing Universal Term Contract to Cellco Partnership, dba Verizon Wireless; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer up to $892,500.00 from the Division of Police general fund budget to the Division of Support Services general fund budget; to authorize the expenditure of $1,000,000.00 from the Division of Support Services general fund budget; and to declare an emergency. ($1,000,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Division of Support Services needs to purchase wireless data communications, cellular services, and devices; and,
WHEREAS, a Universal Term Contract with Cellco Partnership, dba Verizon Wireless, has been established by the Purchasing Office for these services; and,
WHEREAS, the transfer of up to $892,500.00 from the Division of Police general fund budget to the Division of Support Services is necessary due to it was inadvertently approved under Police, however Support Services actually manages and processes the payments for the services for all of Public Safety.
WHEREAS, the expenditure of up to $1,000,000.00 is necessary to assure the continuation of existing wireless communication services and expansions for all officers in the Division of Police
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Safety, Division of Support Services, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Finance and Management Director to issue a purchase order to Cellco Partnership, dba Verizon Wireless, for the continuation of wireless communication services and devices, for the immediate 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 Finance and Management Director be and is hereby authorized to issue a purchase order to Cellco Partnership, dba Verizon Wireless, for wireless communication services and devices for the Department of Public Safety, Division of Support Services, on the basis of the City’s universal term contract number PA000399.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor be and is hereby authorized to transfer up to $892,500.00 from the Division of Police general fund budget to the Division of Support Services general fund budget per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $1,000,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized 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 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.