Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus Public Health has been awarded the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program Grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance through the Board of Commissioners of Franklin County, Ohio, on behalf of Franklin County’s Office of Justice Policy and Programs (hereinafter the “County”), for the Alcohol and Drug Services (ADS) Division. This ordinance is needed to accept and appropriate $508,332.00 in grant money for the period of March 1, 2023 through August 31, 2025.
The purpose of this funding is to increase access to harm reduction supplies for existing harm reduction vending machines in the community. These free supplies (naloxone, fentanyl test strips, condoms and pregnancy tests) will provide community members with items to prevent overdose, as well as decrease the spread of communicable disease. Additionally, a part time Health Education Program Planner will be hired to expand outreach and engagement by educating community members on harm reduction strategies and how to access and use the vending machine supplies. This staff person will also monitor the machines and supplies, and collect data to report on the utilization of the machines.
This ordinance is submitted as an emergency as the grant period began March 1, 2023 and as to allow the financial transaction to be posted in the City's accounting system as soon as possible to expend the awarded funds and achieve the grant outcomes within the time frame and deadlines of the grant as the grant was awarded May 1, 2023.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program Grant is fully funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance through the County and does not require a City match.
Title
To authorize the Board of Health to accept a grant from Bureau of Justice Assistance through the County in the amount of $508,332.00; to authorize the appropriation of $508,332.00 to the Health Department in the Health Department Grants Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($508,332.00)
Body
WHEREAS, $508,332.00 in grant funds have been made available from the Bureau of Justice Assistance through the County for the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program Grant for the period of March 1, 2023 through August 31, 2025; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to accept and appropriate these funds from the Bureau of Justice Assistance through the County for the continued support of the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program Grant; and
WHEREAS, the City may receive additional funds awarded from the Bureau of Justice Assistance through the County for the support of the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program Grant; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to allow the City Auditor to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program Grant as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health department.; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Board of Health to accept and appropriate the grant award from the Bureau of Justice Assistance through the County as the grant period began March 1, 2023 and as to allow the financial transaction to be posted in the City's accounting system as soon as possible to expend the awarded funds and achieve the grant outcomes within the time frame and deadlines of the grant as the grant was awarded May 1, 2023, such immediate action being necessary 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 Board of Health is hereby authorized and directed to accept funding of $508,332.00 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance through the County for the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program Grant for the period of March 1, 2023 through August 31, 2025.
SECTION 2. The auditor’s office is authorized to adjust appropriations to match current awarded amounts per the attached template and authorized to adjust appropriations as required for future award amount changes from the grantor in the Health Department's Grants Fund, Fund No. 2251, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources during the grant period, the sum of $508,332.00 upon receipt of an executed grant agreement and any eligible interest earned during the grant period is hereby appropriated to the Health Department, Division No. 5001, according to the attached accounting document.
SECTION 3. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon the order of the Health Commissioner and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except upon voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 4. That, at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby 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 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 Board of Health is hereby authorized and directed to accept any additional grant awards from the Bureau of Justice Assistance through the County for the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program Grant for the period of March 1, 2023 through August 31, 2025.
SECTION 7. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal years ended through December 31, 2025 any additional awarded funds are appropriated in Fund 2251 according to notification of award or grant agreement by the grantor.
SECTION 8. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer appropriations between object classes for the County for Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program Grant as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health department.
SECTION 9. That for 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.