Explanation
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the City Attorney to enter into two contracts with Lindsay Automotive, Inc. and Mr. Transmission/Milex Complete Auto Care for the purpose of supporting and expanding the Project Taillight public safety and crime prevention pilot.
In 2021, Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein partnered with the Columbus Division of Police, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, Columbus State Community College and local auto repair shops to pilot Project Taillight--an innovative public safety and crime prevention program.
Project Taillight aims to improve community safety and trust by connecting low-income residents with free headlight, taillight, brake light, license plate light and/or turn signal repairs-- keeping everyone safer on the roads and avoiding fees for citations/tickets. Participants also receive free vehicle inspections and fluid top off services.
Community residents from households with incomes less than 200% of the federal poverty level are eligible for free repairs. Columbus Police Community Liaison Officers, the Department of Neighborhoods and non-profit partners spread the word about the program then refer interested residents to the City Attorney’s Community Outreach team. The City Attorney Outreach team screens for eligibility then connects eligible drivers to Project Taillight auto partners for repair services.
During the first portion of this pilot, it became apparent during the vehicle inspections that many of the vehicles brought in for repairs had issues affecting them other than just safety lights, and that there would be difficulty for residents to afford these additional repairs. Columbus City Council is partnering with the City Attorney’s office to make funds available to assist with these repairs, to keep these automobiles operational and allow residents to maintain their transportation. The City Attorney will enter into additional contracts with existing partners to allow for these repairs.
The City Attorney’s office is requesting a waiver of competitive bidding, as Lindsay Automotive, Inc. and Mr. Transmission/Milex Complete Auto Care are existing vendors for the Project Taillight pilot, are already familiar with the parameters of the programming, and would allow for an expeditious expansion of the pilot.
Columbus City Council is supporting these efforts with $175,000.00 in funding from the Reimagine Safety subfund.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency action is requested in order to immediately provide the funds necessary to continue and expand the Project Taillight pilot and provide residents with needed repairs to their vehicles.
FISCAL IMPACT: Total appropriation is $175,000.00 and is available within the Reimagine Safety subfund.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney to enter into two contracts with Lindsay Automotive, Inc and Mr. Transmission/Milex Complete Auto Care for the purpose of supporting and expanding the Project Taillight public safety and crime prevention pilot; to authorize an appropriation of $175,000.00 within the Reimagine Safety subfund; to authorize a transfer, appropriation, and expenditure within the Public Safety Initiative subfund; to waive the competitive bidding requirements of the Columbus City Codes; and to declare an emergency. ($175,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus City Attorney’s Office implemented the innovative Project Taillight public safety and crime prevention pilot giving low-income residents access to free vehicle safety light repair services; and
WHEREAS, these repair services keep drivers, passengers and pedestrians safer on the roads and prevent low-income residents from receiving tickets for safety code violations; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council and the City Attorney are proposing an expansion of the pilot, which will allow additional repairs on vehicles that are identified in the initial review of safety lights; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney works with local, accredited, vetted repair shops to ensure ready access to quality repairs for program participants; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney have engaged both Lindsay Automotive, Inc. and Mr. Transmission/Milex Complete Auto Care for repair services and these vendors have the necessary experience and expertise to provide said service; and
WHEREAS, there is funding available in the Reimagine Safety subfund fund 1000-100019 for this purpose; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Attorney’s Office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Attorney to enter into contracts with Lindsay Automotive, Inc and Mr. Transmission/Milex Complete Auto Care, ensuring the expansion of Project Taillight services can commence and run through the agreed upon project period; all 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 City Attorney is hereby authorized to enter into contracts with Lindsay Automotive, Inc. and Mr. Transmission/Milex Complete Auto Care for the purpose of supporting and expanding the Project Taillight public safety and crime prevention pilot.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $175,000.00 in the Reimagine Safety subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100019, in Transfers-10 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer $175,000.00 within the general fund per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the Auditor is hereby authorized to appropriate $175,000.00 within the Public Safety Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100016, to the City Attorney in Services-03 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That per the action authorized by Section 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $175,000.00 is hereby authorized per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. 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 7. 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 8. That this Council finds it in the City’s best interest to waive the competitive bidding provisions of City Code Chapter 329 to enter into these contracts.
SECTION 9. 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.