City Council

Office of the Clerk of Council City of Gahanna 200 South Hamilton Road Gahanna, Ohio 43230 Meeting Minutes City Council Thomas R. Kneeland, President Shane Ewald, Vice President Beryl D. Anderson Brian D. Larick John R. McAlister Nancy McGregor David L. Samuel Monday, August 2, 2010 7:30 PM City Hall Council May Meet in Caucus Beginning at 7:00 p.m. A. CALL TO ORDER - Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call: Gahanna City Council met in Regular Session on Monday August 2, 2010, at Gahanna City Hall, in Council Chambers, 200 South Hamilton Road. President Thomas R. Kneeland called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Invocation was given by Council Member Shane Ewald followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Agenda for this meeting was published on July 29, 2010. Present 7 - Thomas R. Kneeland, Shane W. Ewald, Nancy R. McGregor, John McAlister, Beryl Anderson, David L. Samuel, and Brian D. Larick B. ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA: None. C. HEARING OF VISITORS: Sharon Montgomery, 572 Bonnington Way, stated that tonight you vote on the ordinance to increase penalties for distracted driving; we differ on the approach but we share the goal of safer roads; now it's time to focus on how to make the new law as effective as possible; it's time to move the discussion from what can be done to what will be done; understand fully that your role in this winds down with the passage of the ordinance and the bulk of the responsibility shifts to the administration; am speaking tonight because the administration is present; this approach makes us heavily dependent on education and enforcement; education will enhance but can't replace vigorous enforcement; research shows that education has minimal effect on already licensed drivers; more than half the phoning drivers who responded to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on-line poll in 2007 said they have not changed that behavior because of a traffic safety tip they saw or heard; education will have to raise awareness that this law will be used for drivers who unnecessarily use techno-toys and it will have to teach drivers the actual danger of that behavior; will provide our Public Information Manager and the Community Oriented Police program officers with ways to find the vast resources for education; highly recommend that the City create a traffic safety advisory board similar to the bicycle advisory board; this board would include representatives of the police department, the school district, the chamber of commerce, a local driving school, civic associations, and the bicycle board; they would do the "leg work" of finding and evaluating resources then planning and helping to implement education programs; before that could be up and running, there are three city events coming soon that are ideal opportunities to begin the education; the Youth Council is planning a safe driving booth at the Teen Fest on City of Gahanna Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes August 2, 2010 August 7; a police presence would be a strong start just days after passing the ordinance; the Service Expo is August 21 and the flea market is September 19; hate to see those opportunities be lost; expect AAA's "Heads Up Driving Week" to be the first week in October; that would be a great target date for having our education campaign well under way; with a new law and an education campaign, it will be crucial to "put our money where our mouth is" and enforce visibly and consistently; research confirms exactly what we would logically expect: incidence goes down when public awareness peaks right after passing the law then stays down where enforcement is strong or goes back up where drivers learn that they can revert to their old behavior and not be stopped; in the last 12 months our police have stopped 52 drivers solely on appearance of failing to give their "full time and attention" to driving; this average of one per week is so far below the actual incidence - as we all observe merely waiting at a traffic light - as to be clear off the charts; drivers in Gahanna know that the odds are so heavily in their favor that they can deliberately and unnecessarily distract themselves and as long as drivers around them are alert enough to prevent crashing nothing will happen; they certainly won't be stopped for "full time and attention"; we can do better and I'm hoping with everything I have that we will; I don't want anyone to endure the years-long nightmare my family and I have endured when it is so easily prevented; thank you Council members for taking a first step; administration, the next step is yours. D. INTRODUCTIONS AND ASSIGNMENT TO COMMITTEE: Ordinances - To Be Introduced and Assigned to Committee: Ordinances introduced, by title, by Samuel. ORD-0138-2010 TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO AWARD AND THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH TA TA EXCAVATING, INC., FOR THE SHULL AVENUE/CARPENTER ROAD WATERLINE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT; IMPROVEMENT NO. ST951; TO SUPPLEMENTALLY APPROPRIATE $36,177; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. ORD-0140-2010 TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE TO ESTABLISH A DEVELOPMENT FUND; TO SUPPLEMENTALLY APPROPRIATE $375,000 ORD-0141-2010 TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO REQUEST FROM THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES THAT THE ARTICLES OF DECLARATION FOR THE STATE NATURE PRESERVE BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 3.693 ACRES OWNED BY THE CITY OF GAHANNA ORD-0142-2010 TO CREATE THE FULL-TIME UNCLASSIFIED POSITION OF SENIOR MANAGER OF TECHNOLOGY; TO ESTABLISH DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. ORD-0143-2010 TO AMEND ORD-0002-2010, WHICH PROVIDES RATES OF PAY AND BENEFITS FOR UNCLASSIFIED PERSONNEL OF THE CITY City of Gahanna Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes August 2, 2010 OF GAHANNA FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1, 2010, THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2010; TO ADD THE NEWLY CREATED POSITION SENIOR MANAGER OF TECHNOLOGY; TO TRANSFER FUNDS THEREFOR; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. Statutory Resolutions Requiring Two Readings: SR-0003-2010 A RESOLUTION TO DECLARE THE NECESSITY AND INTENT TO APPROPRIATE CERTAIN REAL ESTATE, CONSISTING OF 0.141 ACRE OF LAND, OWNED BY JACK A. AND SUE WILLIAMS, IN THE AREA EAST OF HAMILTON ROAD AND SOUTH OF MORSE ROAD; FOR SANITARY SEWER EASEMENT FOR THE TRIANGLE WEST SANITARY SEWER, IMPROVEMENT NO. 740. E. CONSENT AGENDA: Minutes - To Approve: 2010-0037 This Matter was Approved and Filed on the Consent Agenda. Ordinance: Introduce, Waive Second Reading, Adopt as Emergency: ORD-0139-2010 TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH AEP RETAIL ENERGY PARTNERS, LLC, FOR POWER SALES AGREEMENT FOR THE GENERATION PORTION OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA PROPERTIES', ELECTRIC BILLS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. This Matter was Introduced, Second Reading Waived, and Adopted as an Emergency on the Consent Agenda. Ordinances on Second Reading: ORD-0131-2010 TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK, INC., FOR CodeRED HIGH SPEED OUTBOUND NOTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. This Matter was Adopted as an Emergency on the Consent Agenda. ORD-0132-2010 TO AUTHORIZE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR COLUMBUS ASPHALT PAVING, INC. EAST JOHNSTOWN ROAD WIDENING IMPROVEMENT #840; DUE TO UTILITY RELOCATION; City of Gahanna Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes August 2, 2010 ORIGINALLY AUTHORIZED BY ORD-0081-2009; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. This Matter was Adopted as an Emergency on the Consent Agenda. ORD-0133-2010 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION - Street Light Electric Account This Matter was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. ORD-0134-2010 TO AMEND CODE SECTION 331.34(d), FAILURE TO CONTROL; WEAVING; FULL TIME AND ATTENTION OF CHAPTER 331, OPERATION GENERALLY. This Matter was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. ORD-0135-2010 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION- Railroad Maintenance This Matter was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. ORD-0136-2010 TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO SETTLEMENT WITH TIM DONUT US LIMITED, INC., FOR PROPERTY AT 365 AGLER ROAD, FOR RIGHT OF WAY NEEDED FOR THE US 62/STYGLER ROAD INTERSECTION PROJECT; IMPROVEMENT NO. 935; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. This Matter was Adopted as an Emergency on the Consent Agenda. ORD-0137-2010 TO AUTHORIZE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR AEP., I-270 RAMP MODIFICATION PROJECT, IMP NO. 797; DUE TO UTILITY POLE RELOCATION; ORIGINALLY AUTHORIZED BY ORD-0231-2009; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. This Matter was Adopted as an Emergency on the Consent Agenda. Motion Resolution: MR-0028-2010 This Matter was Approved on the Consent Agenda. Passed The Consent Agenda Yes: 7- Kneeland, Ewald, McGregor, Anderson, McAlister, Samuel and Larick End of the Consent Agenda F. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None. City of Gahanna Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes August 2, 2010 G. STANDING COMMITTEES: Development & Parks Committee - Anderson: No Report. Public Service & Safety Committee - McAlister: No Report. Committee of the Whole - Ewald: No Report. Finance - Samuel: No Report. H. CORRESPONDENCE AND ACTIONS: Clerk - Legal: 2010-0039 2010-0040 Council: No Report. I. SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES: None. J. FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES: None. K. MOTIONS/RESOLUTIONS: None. L. REPRESENTATIVES: Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) - Ewald/Kneeland Meeting is next Tuesday, August 10 at 6:00 p.m. Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) - McGregor: No Report. Bd. of Education, Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools - Ewald Ewald is representative to next meeting on Thursday, August 12, 2010. City of Gahanna Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes August 2, 2010 Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) - Kneeland. Kneeland stated he had a meeting scheduled with Laurie Jadwin; will report after that. M. OFFICIAL REPORTS: Mayor: Mayor stated that ODOT is doing work on Hamilton Road from Morrison to I-270; will be working from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm with some lane closures; have been lunch hour back ups; talked to ODOT and they hope to have 2 lanes open southbound by noon tomorrow; thank you for your patience. Ewald asked if they were hiring special duty officers for that area; a pedestrian was struck in a construction zone in the last month. Bell stated he understands private duty officers have been hired but don't know which project it was for. City Attorney: Absent. N. COUNCIL COMMENT: McGregor offered congratulations to Anthony Jones on his wedding last Saturday. Anderson stated she attended the program Friday night at Friendship Park with the juggler and the magician; also was at Creekside on Saturday to hear Soul Kitchen; people gave me feedback that they really enjoyed both programs; my family had a great time both evenings. Samuel commended the Service and Emergency Operations Departments for negotiating contracts that will save approximately $105,000; contracts with AEP Retail Energy and CodeRED. Ewald acknowledged and thanked McGregor for her efforts in working with the Police Department and resident on Rugby Lane to address noise concerns. O. EXECUTIVE SESSION: A motion was made by Anderson, seconded by Samuel, to go into Executive Session under authority of Section 5.40(a) of the Council Rules of Procedure to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion or compensation of a public employee, official, licensee or regulated individual unless such public employee, official, licensee or regulated individual requests a public hearing.. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Kneeland, Ewald, McGregor, Anderson, McAlister, Samuel and Larick Council rose to Executive Session at 7:41 p.m. Kneeland requested that Mayor City of Gahanna Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes August 2, 2010 Stinchcomb, Director of Human Resources Treadway and Director of Finance Mumma attend the Executive Session. Kneeland stated no action would be taken out of the Executive Session. Council rose to report from Executive Session at 9:13 p.m. P. ADJOURNMENT: 9:14 p.m. - Motion by Anderson. City of Gahanna Page 7