City Council

Office of the Clerk of Council City of Gahanna 200 South Hamilton Road Gahanna, Ohio 43230 Meeting Minutes City Council Brian D. Larick, President of Council, Thomas R. Kneeland, Vice President of Council, Karen J. Angelou, Ryan P. Jolley, Jamie Leeseberg, Stephen A. Renner, Michael Schnetzer Kimberly McWilliams, CMC, Clerk of Council Monday, June 16, 2014 7:00 PM City Hall A. CALL TO ORDER - Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call Gahanna City Council met in Regular Session on Monday, June 16, 2014, in Council Chambers of City Hall, 200 South Hamilton Road, Gahanna, Ohio. Brian D. Larick President of Council called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Vice President of Council Kneeland delivered an Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Council Member Schnetzer. Agenda for this meeting was published on June 13, 2014. . Present 7 - Karen J. Angelou, Ryan P. Jolley, Thomas R. Kneeland, Brian D. Larick, Jamie Leeseberg, Stephen A. Renner, and Michael Schnetzer B. ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA - None. C. HEARING OF VISITORS - 1. Larry Zapp, 160 Karney Place, Gahanna (his residence). Mr. Zapp said I am here this evening to share with you the concerns of the Gahanna Historical Society regarding ORD-0075-0014 that was passed in May. What we wanted to convey is that perhaps this action was taken with some incorrect information and that if I elaborate on it we might be able to clarify that and possibly reverse this ordinance. To refresh your memory, the property we are talking about is at the vacated end of South High Street at the Historical Society compound and for the last 30 years the Historical Society has maintained that property as a public access area keeping it open and unfenced. Over the years they have planted trees, small arborvitaes and numerous hostas and consistently mowed the property (we have it professionally mowed) and the grass is also maintained with weed killer applications and fertilizer. It also has one of the oldest Elm trees that exists in the State of Ohio that made it through the Dutch elm disease period years ago and we are pretty proud of having that in the area and the public can come and see it. We have had Eagle Scout projects that built steps down to the creek so that people can come on the property and City of Gahanna Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes June 16, 2014 view the creek and perhaps launch a kayak or something from there. It is adjacent to one of the parcels that the Historical Society has and we would like to see it maintained as a public area and we would continue the maintenance if you would consider reversing the ordinance and not putting it into effect. The lease that was part of this was totally inappropriate to close it from public access and not be maintained the way it should be for public use. Mr. Zapp said I guess I would like to add one other item. You should have received an email and it contained an attachment that I would like to draw your attention to. Since I have been treasurer for the last 11 years we have spent well in excess of $25,000 to maintain that property. So it would be appropriate for the land to remain with the Historical Society going forward. 2. Thomas Lefchik, 187 Rugby Lane, Gahanna. Mr. Lefchick said this is a good looking group here, but regardless of how good looking you are I really don’t want to be here. I have spoken here a number of times in the past and it is about an issue that has been ongoing since 2008, now into the 7th year. The one problem for the last 7 years is enforcement of the noise ordinance. In 2012 the Council and the Mayor changed the noise ordinance with the promise to enforce the new ordinance. The word was the ordinance would be changed so that it could be enforced and it would be enforced. 2013 was better for me but there was one citation issued to the Pub because of excessive noise after we called and complained. I never did check to see if there was actually a fine collected on that one. One time I called there was no citation but it was shut down at 10:00 p.m. This year I and my neighbor have called several times. We have been able to hear it inside our houses with the windows open, sometimes with the windows closed and we keep being told they are in compliance. One time I was home sick and I called and I was told it was in compliance. I called again at 10:30 because I couldn’t sleep and finally it was turned down. And there have been times I have been woken up at night. Saturday I was told that the reading taken by an officer at the Pub was 60 decibels. I measured it and you all have the email from me that I measured it quite a bit higher (over 70 decibels). At 60 decibels that is 50% below the 65 decibel limit. We can hardly hear it at 65 decibels; I don’t think at 60 decibels we would be able to hear it let alone complain about it and spend my time at night trying to get a police officer and get it turned down. I was kept awake at night trying to get it turned down. It doesn’t make sense. This is disturbing our lives. We want to sleep; we want to enjoy living in our houses. D. INTRODUCTIONS AND ASSIGNMENT TO COMMITTEE: City of Gahanna Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes June 16, 2014 RES-0002-2014 TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO APPLY FOR OHIO PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION (OPWC) GRANT FUNDS FOR HAMILTON ROAD CENTRAL PROJECT ST 785. Introduced. E. CONSENT AGENDA: Minutes - To Approve: 2014-0064 This Minutes were Approved and Filed on the Consent Agenda. Ordinances on Second Reading: ORD-0091-2014 DETERMINING TO PROCEED WITH AN EXTENSION TO THE LARRY LANE SANITARY SEWER, SA-1013 ALONG EAST JOHNSTOWN ROAD NORTH OF LARRY LANE. This Ordinance was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. ORD-0092-2014 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION - Permissive Tax Fund Capital Projects/Improvements This Ordinance was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. ORD-0093-2014 TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A PARTICIPATING ADDENDUM UNDER THE WESTERN STATES CONTRACTING ALLIANCE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT WITH AT&T MOBILITY NATIONAL ACCOUNTS, LLC; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY This Ordinance was Adopted on the Consent Agenda as an emergency. ORD-0095-2014 TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH SENSUS USA, INC. FOR SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. This Ordinance was Adopted on the Consent Agenda as an emergency. ORD-0096-2014 TO AUTHORIZE A COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF GAHANNA, OHIO, AND THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, FRANKLIN COUNTY, OHIO, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FRANKLIN COUNTY, OHIO, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND City of Gahanna Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes June 16, 2014 URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM AND ABIDE BY THE COVENANTS OF THAT PROGRAM AS STATED HEREIN This Ordinance was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. Motion Resolution: MR-0023-2014 To approve the year 2015 Tax Budget as submitted to Council on June 2, 2014 and to direct and authorize the Director of Finance to deliver said tax budget to the Franklin County Office of Budget no later than July 15, 2014. This Motion Resolution was Approved on the Consent Agenda. MR-0024-2014 Motion Resolution that the City has no objection to the transfer of a C1, C2 and D6 Liquor Permit to RHF Group LLC, 115 North Hamilton Road from dba Big Daddy’s Drive Thru, 115 North Hamilton Road. This Motion Resolution was Approved on the Consent Agenda. MR-0025-2014 To authorize the Director of Public Service to go out for bids for the Larry Lane Sanitary Sewer Extension project; Improvement No. SA 1013. This Motion Resolution was Approved on the Consent Agenda. Approval of the Consent Agenda A motion was made by Leeseberg, seconded by Renner, to approve the Consent Agenda. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Angelou, Jolley, Kneeland, Larick, Leeseberg, Renner and Schnetzer End of the Consent Agenda F. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None. G. STANDING COMMITTEES: 2014-0067 May 12, 2014 Committee Meeting Minutes: Finance and Public Service & Safety. Committee of the Whole - Kneeland No report. Finance - Schnetzer City of Gahanna Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes June 16, 2014 No report. Service & Safety - Angelou No report. Development & Parks - Renner No report. H. CORRESPONDENCE AND ACTIONS: Clerk - None. Council - Larick said everyone on Council received a letter from Nancy McGregor regarding the item at the South High Street address. I. SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES - None. J. FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES - None. K. MOTIONS/RESOLUTIONS - None. L. REPRESENTATIVES: Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) - Larick/Kneeland Kneeland said next meeting is tomorrow, June 17th at 7:30 a.m. at City Hall. Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) - Angelou Angelou said MORPC met last Thursday and on the consent agenda was Resolution 1714 to authorize the Executive Director to submit an application to the Local Government Innovation Fund to enter into an agreement for up to $50,000 with the Ohio Development Services Agency for a study of the Central Ohio Regional PACE District. There are a number of them want to do this, it’s an energy district and its part City of Gahanna Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes June 16, 2014 of the Regional Energy Action Plan which was presented by MORPC at the National Association of Regional Councils. It is going to be released this week and it will be on the website this week. It is an absolutely amazing plan. Clean energy is one of the focuses of MORPC. There will be presentations made to communities regarding insight2050 and Gahanna would be one of those communities. I am going to ask that perhaps we could have a joint meeting at some point with Planning Commission, Council and perhaps even Parks and Recreation to hear about this innovative process. There was also Resolution 1814 authorizing the Executive Director to enter into an agreement with the State of Ohio Development Services Agency, the agency that offers community assistance for the 2014 Home Weatherization Assistance Program, and to enter into related subcontracts. MORPC is in charge of this particular part of the Home Weatherization Program. Todd Jackson, the Chief Information Officer from Westerville, also shared what Westerville is doing with their information systems and their data storage and security. I have a card from Mr. Jackson to give our IT person to discuss what they are doing, a lot of storage and data for not only private businesses, but also for cities. I thought that might be an interesting conversation and it might be something that would be cost efficient for the city. The fly in to Washington D.C. was on Wednesday of last week and in that time the Deed Columbus Partnership meets with a lot of the legislature. 1) The Transportation Funding situation will be out of money in August. We found out that likely there will be a temporary solution or there can be a permanent one. They also delivered the letter to them which was the one on the Tiger Grant (the I-270/US-33 Interchange) as well as all of the transit funding, so this was signed by a number of people in the city, including the interim President of OSU, etc. They are asking that they come up with a transportation fix so that these fundings aren’t always going to be delayed. 2) The second item of concern was energy and also education, especially the Columbus Public Schools. The Ohio Association of Regional Councils is also going to have a gubernatorial forum in August and they are expecting about 800 people. Both of the candidates for governor will be there (one in the morning and one in the evening) and they are asking that if you have any questions that you would like to ask of those candidates to please contact MORPC. They are looking for good questions. City of Gahanna Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes June 16, 2014 Tomorrow MORPC is planning to go to Ross County to do a tour. This is one of those items of interest, now that they are a partner of MORPC. Later on this year they will go to both Union and Delaware Counties. June 18th they are presenting a workshop on social media. The Zoo’s resolution will be in July that will raise the per capita by 1-1/2 cents to 50.5 cents per capita. Also on August 6 there is going to be a round-table discussion concerning HB5 to put together the direction MORPC wants to go to make sure it’s in the best interest of cities. SB310 passed and it looks as though the Governor is going to veto it and that veto will be today. COTA also gave a presentation on their maps and Gahanna. They are meeting with people before September 1 or 2 to discuss a bus coming down Hamilton Road from Broad Street all the way to Morse Road. Obviously that increases potential ridership because they could then get to the Easton transfer station. The one part that is not going to be included is the part that goes through Hunter’s Ridge and we may need to pay attention to where it is going and need to address it now. It would be far better for it to go into our work area than for it to just go down Hamilton Road. We asked for and received extra funding for the Safe Routes to School program. Bd. of Education, Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools - Jolley Larick stated last week Jill Schuler and I met with Justin Sanford and Tony Collins (Jason Phillips and Mike were there as well) to discuss parks and schools and fields and coordinating efforts. After prior meetings it hit me that we need to have this conversation with the folks who are actually doing this on a regular basis to make sure we don’t have some path that we are going down that is duplicitous and that they aren’t already doing. It was a really great conversation to hear the information from Tony and Justin as to what they are already doing with the soccer, baseball and softball fields, and also the work they are doing with bringing back the junior football league in town. And really the short form of the conversation was in understanding some of the challenges they have had with a focus on coordination among the two entities, but they do interact regularly and routinely on finding solutions for effective co-use of the different fields that are out there. One of the more important pieces that we asked ourselves was City of Gahanna Page 7 City Council Meeting Minutes June 16, 2014 “is there anything that we can do to assist in driving the things that we are attempting to do.” At the moment, there doesn’t appear to be anything. It is the growing pains of working to try to get this in place more so than external obstacles, which would be the place we might be able to assist with. We worked a fair amount and achieved a significant amount of clarity about the cooperative efforts that are occurring and it also includes some cooperative efforts and discussion with Jefferson. I think it was a very good update and from our standpoint we learned a great deal, and from Tony and Justin if there is an obstacle that is identified, by all means, that is what we want to try to minimize. We also spent a fair amount of time talking about planning and the scope of planning whether there would be any coordination that might be effective in looking at a larger, broader community from a planning standpoint. It was really just getting several groups together at the table to ask questions and hear the thoughts of everyone. There were no actions that came out of the conversation, but it was foundational in understanding how the schools would impact any plans that the City may have, and the coordination with the schools and the City and potentially the Townships may make for a more effective plan as those things come into play. Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) - Jolley Jolley said Blues and Jazz Fest is this weekend. I hope you all will be attending and I am sure we could use additional help if anyone has the time and would like to volunteer. You can get in touch with me or with the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau directly. I hope everyone signed up to work; it should be a good time. M. OFFICIAL REPORTS: Mayor Mayor Stinchcomb said regarding the Historical Society issue, I was talking to Larry a little bit before the meeting; I met with some Council members today and we have agreed to put it back in Committee; not sure which committee yet, but it will be in Committees next Monday night. The legislation was signed but there was no contract signed yet so we have an opportunity to get more clarity on this issue. President Larick stated since they had discussion on it already it would be put in Committee of the Whole. I also want to share some good news I received in mail today; a press release from the GFOA (Government Finance Officer’s Association) City of Gahanna Page 8 City Council Meeting Minutes June 16, 2014 which is the national and actually international group that deals with our government finance. It reads “The GFOA of the United States and Canada is pleased to announce that the City of Gahanna has received the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its budget.” This is the first time we have received this. “It is a significant achievement by the entity. It reflects a commitment of the governing body and the staff to meet the highest principles of governmental budgeting.” To receive the award we had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide as well as a communications device. We had to be proficient in all 4 categories to receive the award. We are very pleased with this. There is also an award for the Finance Director. Jennifer Teal is not with us tonight so what I would like to do is present that to her next time we meet to recognize her for her fine work. City Attorney Ewald said to reiterate what Councilman Jolley said earlier, if you have not signed up for the Blues and Jazz Festival, please consider doing so. You get to meet a lot of great people, it’s a good event and you help your community. In response to Mr. Lefchik who spoke earlier on the noise ordinance, I would urge residents to call the police department. They can’t enforce the law if they aren’t notified, and simply because the reading is below the level it doesn’t mean that on another night it might be above the level. I know that every ticket that we have issued has been enforced and there has been a fine levied. If there are any questions let us know, but I believe the law is effective. I believe the police department is doing a very good job of enforcing it and it has been enforced on several occasions. N. COUNCIL COMMENT Kneeland said he is looking forward to the Blues and Jazz Festival. Larick said happy belated Father’s Day to all fathers. O. EXECUTIVE SESSION - A motion was made by Renner, seconded by Kneeland, 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 City of Gahanna Page 9 City Council Meeting Minutes June 16, 2014 individual requests a public hearing. Larick requested that the Mayor, Sue Wadley and Dottie Franey attend the Executive Session. Council rose to Executive Session at 7:29 p.m. Council rose to report from Executive Session at 7:44 p.m. with no action taken. Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Angelou, Jolley, Kneeland, Larick, Leeseberg, Renner and Schnetzer P. ADJOURNMENT - by Kneeland at 7:44 p.m. Kimberly McWilliams, CMC Clerk of Council APPROVED by the City Council, this day of 2014. Brian D. Larick City of Gahanna Page 10