Explanation
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the Public Safety Director, on behalf of the Division of Fire, to establish a purchase order with Carl Zipf Lock Shop, Inc for the purchase of cable gun locks for public distribution.
In the U.S., one in three families with children have at least one gun in the house, and each year, nearly 1,300 children die from shootings, many of those from accidental shootings. Most commonly, these shootings occur at the hand of a friend or relative of a similar age that gained access to the firearm. Just this past year, there have been several accidental shootings of children in Columbus, with two of them being ages 2 and 7. To further its efforts to protect children from gun violence, Columbus City Council is partnering with the Division of Fire to make cable gun locks available to distribute to owners.
Since 2021, this Council partnership with Fire has resulted in the distribution of over 3,200 gun locks. This ordinance will enable the purchase and distribution of 5,000 additional gun locks for this year.
Below is information for the product to be purchased:
Item Description: 14” cable gun lock made from braided steel with 1-5/15 inch (33 mm) wide laminated steel padlock.
Item No: Master Lock No. 99DSPT
Price per unit: $7.52/unit
Quantity to purchase: 5,000
Shipping Fees: None
Total Cost: $37,605
This legislation also authorizes the appropriation and expenditure of $37,605.00 within the Public Safety Initiative subfund.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency action is requested to ensure that the Division of Fire has the necessary funds to begin distributing the locks, to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of Columbus.
FISCAL IMPACT: Total appropriation is $37,605.00and is available in the 2023 budget within the Public Safety Initiative subfund, Fund 1000-100016.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Safety, on behalf of the Division of Fire, to establish a purchase order with Carl Zipf Lock Shop, Inc for the purchase of cable gun locks; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure of $37,605.00 within the Public Safety Initiative subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($37,605.00)
Body
WHEREAS, in the U.S., one in three families with children have at least one gun in the house, and each year, nearly 1,300 children die from shootings, many of those from accidental shootings; and
WHEREAS, most commonly, these shootings occur at the hand of a friend or relative of a similar age that gained access to the firearm; and
WHEREAS, just this past year, there have been several accidental shootings of children in Columbus, with two of them being ages 2 and 7; and
WHEREAS, to further its efforts to protect children from gun violence, Columbus City Council is partnering with the Division of Fire to make cable gun locks available to distribute to owners; and
WHEREAS, funding exists within the Public Safety Initiative subfund for this purpose; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the daily operations of the Department of Public Safety such that it is immediately necessary to secure funds to begin distributing guns locks, to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of Columbus, NOW, THEREFORE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Public Safety, on behalf of the Division of Fire, is hereby authorized to establish a purchase order for the acquisition of cable gun locks for use by the Division of Fire with the following vendor:
Carl Zipf Lock Shop, Inc vendor # 004426,
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $37,605.00 in the Public Safety Initiatives sub-fund, fund 1000, sub-fund 100016, to the Department of Public Safety, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $37,605.00 or so much thereof as may be needed for the purpose of acquiring cable gun locks, is hereby authorized in the Public Safety Initiatives sub-fund, fund 1000, subfund 100016 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the monies in the foregoing Sections 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 5. 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 6. 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 7. That the provision of cable gun locks to city residents to properly secure their firearms constitutes a proper public purpose and the Division of Fire is hereby authorized to distribute, at no charge, to City residents any supplies acquired per the action authorized in Section 1 of this ordinance to effectuate that public purpose.
SECTION 8. 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 passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.