Explanation
Background:
This legislation authorizes the City of Columbus to accept and appropriate two federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) sub awards from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners Office of Justice Policy and Programs. Grant awards support specialized prosecution and victim advocacy services for survivors of domestic violence. Award dollars fund 1) a portion of salary for two specially trained domestic violence prosecutors, and 2) total compensation for one specially trained anti-stalking victim advocate
The Columbus City Attorney’s Domestic Violence & Stalking Prosecution Unit provides best-practice prosecution services for victims of misdemeanor domestic violence and stalking crimes. The unit employs six highly-trained and experienced domestic violence prosecutors, sixteen victim advocates, one stalking investigator, one anti-stalking victim advocate and hosts professional liaisons from Franklin County Children Services and Capital University Law School’s Civil Protection Unit. Services provided by the unit are modeled after the National District Attorneys Association’s National Domestic Violence Prosecution Best Practice Guide and are designed to improve victim engagement; decrease recantation; and increase community and law enforcement collaboration. This ordinance authorizes the appropriation of grant funds and the transfer and appropriation of required cash match.
Award # Award Amount Required Match Total Project
22-WF-VA2-8758 $86,975.20 $28,991.73 $115,966.93
22-WF-VA2-4600 $55,202.10 $18,400.70 $73,602.80
2023 VAWA total $142,177.30 $47,392.43 $189,569.73
Emergency Action:
These award contracts support direct services to victims of violent crimes from January 1st through December 31st, 2023, yet the fully executed sub award contracts from the County were not returned to the City until April, 2023. Emergency action is requested to allow the City Attorney to accept the award, appropriate award funds, and transfer and appropriate the required cash match to ensure timely reimbursement for grant supported services provided through the first quarter of 2023.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney to accept federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) sub awards from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners' Office of Justice Policy and Programs in the amount of $142,177.30 to support domestic violence and stalking prosecution and victim advocacy services; to authorize the transfer of matching funds in the amount of $47,392.43 from the general fund to the general government grant fund; to authorize the total appropriation of $189,569.73 in the general government grant fund; and to declare an emergency. ($189,569.73)
Body
WHEREAS, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners' Office of Justice Policy and Programs has awarded the Columbus City Attorney's Office grant funding in the amount of $142,177.30 to support domestic violence prosecution and stalking victim advocacy services, which funds were awarded to the County from the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA); and
WHEREAS, the term of grant funding is for the period January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023; and
WHEREAS, grant acceptance requires the City to provide matching funds in the amount of $47,392.43 and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney desires to accept said grant award to fund a portion of the salary for two specially trained domestic violence prosecutors, and total compensation for one specially trained anti-stalking victim advocate; and
WHEREAS, these award contracts support direct services to victims of violent crimes from January 1st through December 31st, 2023, yet the fully executed sub award contracts from the County were not returned to the City until April, 2023. Therefore, the City Attorney's Office is unable to accept payment from the County for services rendered through the first quarter of 2023 until grant funds are accepted and appropriated. First quarter grant costs were covered with general fund dollars budgeted for other expenses. As a result, an emergency exists and it is necessary to immediately authorize the City Attorney to accept the award, appropriate award funds, and transfer and appropriate the required cash match so that the office may accept reimbursement for project expenses incurred and expended from the general funds thereby preserving the public health,
peace, property, safety and welfare. NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS, OHIO:
SECTION 1. That the City Attorney is authorized to accept federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) sub awards, 22- WF-VA2-8758 and 22-WF-VA2-4600, from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners' Office of Justice Policy and Programs in the amount of $142,177.30 to support domestic violence prosecution and victim advocacy services..
SECTION 2. That a cash match transfer of $47,392.43 or so much thereof as may be needed, is authorized from the transfer account (Object Class 10) within Fund 1000 City Attorney General Operating, Department 24, to Fund 2220 General Government Grants.
SECTION 3. That from the unappropriated monies in the General Government Grants Fund number 2220, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources during the grant period, the sum of $189,569.73 is appropriated to the Columbus City Attorney's Office, Department 24, according to the attached accounting document.
SECTION 4. That funds are deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 5. That funds appropriated shall be paid upon order of the City Attorney 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 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 at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is 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 8. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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.