Label
Mowbility Aid - Community Safety, Connectivity, and Youth Jobs - $34,560
Office of Community Services
Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE)
Malcolm Cunningham (x1504) and Valerie Fatica
Revised
Title
Authorizing the expenditure of funds in an amount not to exceed $34,560 from the General Fund for youth workforce development providing lawnmowing services for low-income elders and people with disabilities in Save Our Community focus areas; authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract for said purpose; waiving the competitive bidding requirements of TMC Chapter 187; and declaring an emergency.
Body
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
MONSE partnered with community members to develop Peace in Motion (PIM), a comprehensive 5-year community safety plan adopted by City Council in April 2025. One working group set meaningful pathways to careers, mentorship, and workforce development for youth impacted by community violence as a key long-term goal.
Aligned with this goal, the City of Toledo, Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio, and the Toledo Community Foundation launched an intergenerational neighborhood improvement initiative in 2025 with two aims. First, it improves neighborhood quality, reduces blight, and supports aging in place by providing free lawnmowing for low-income elders and people with disabilities. Second, it reduces the risk of gun violence involvement and improves outcomes for youth and young adults at the highest risk - thereby improving neighborhood safety. This is achieved by providing summer jobs, career development, and supportive life skills training for participants in the Save Our Community (SOC) program. Critically, this initiative aligns with key strategic priorities, including Build Safe, Vibrant, & Connected Neighborhoods and Promoting Economic Growth & Inclusive Opportunity.
Sixteen youth and young adults working with Save Our Community (SOC) and the Hoodstock Foundation will receive 144 hours of paid on-the-job training and skill building in year two. Topics include financial literacy, soft skills, and Rewire CBT. Participants will provide bi-weekly lawn mowing services for up to 60 low-income elders and people with disabilities, improving their quality of life, intergenerational connectivity, and independence. These households are identified through the previous season’s Mowbility Aid program, the Snow Angels program, and outreach and eligibility verification in SOC focus areas.
The initiative first year was funded by the Toledo Community Foundation. The City expressed a willingness to support 50% of youth stipends and daily program oversight in year two. This ordinance continues the second year of Mowbility Aid, with Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio remains the fiscal agent and program implementer.
Summary
NOW THEREFORE Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That the expenditure of an amount not to exceed $34,560 is authorized from the General Fund Account Code 1001-10201-3325001STDRGV for youth workforce development providing lawnmowing services for low-income elders and people with disabilities in Save Our Community focus areas.
SECTION 2. That the Mayor is authorized to enter into a contract with Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio for the purpose authorized in Section 1, upon terms and conditions acceptable to the Director of Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement and the Director of Law.
SECTION 3. That this Council finds and determines it is in the best interest of the City to waive the formal competitive bid requirements of TMC Chapter 187 for the reason that maintaining the same vendor to provide these services is necessary to ensure continuity and build upon an existing foundation of progress.
SECTION 4. That the Director of Finance is authorized to issue warrant or warrants against the above-mentioned Account Code in an amount not to exceed that authorized above in payment of the obligations authorized above upon presentation of the proper voucher or vouchers.
SECTION 5. That this Ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall be in force and effect from and after its passage. The reason for the emergency lies in the fact that this ordinance is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and property, and for the further reason that this ordinance must be immediately effective in order to timely administer the mowing program.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas _____, nays _____.
Passed: _________________, as an emergency measure: yeas _____, nays _____.
Attest: ________________________ __________________________________
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: _____________________ __________________________________
Mayor
I hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of an Ordinance passed by Council ________________________.
Attest: ________________________
Clerk of Council