Public Safety Committee Minutes

 

July 10, 2007

 

The meeting was called to order by Mr. Marshall at 7:00 p.m.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Mr. Marshall, Mr. Reams, Ms. Sellers

 

OTHERS PRESENT:  Kathy House, Fire Chief Johnson, Police Chief Golden, Tim Aslaner, Phil Roush, Brian Palmer, Ryan Horns (Journal Tribune), Sherrie Schoening

 

AGENDA:

 

          1)  Organization – Election of Chairman

 

                   Mr. Marshall appointed Chairman.

 

2)     Determine language for tabled legislation regarding Chapter 313 – Traffic Control Devices, Chapter 331 – OVI, Willful Misconduct-Speed, Chapter 337-Safety and Equipment of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Marysville

 

          The purpose of the amendment is to give the Director of Administration authority, along with the Ohio Director of Transportation, to regulate traffic in the city. 

 

          Mr. Aslaner cited Chapter 305, Traffic Control, of the Codified Ordinances.  This Chapter gives the Director of Administration authority to regulate traffic.  It enumerates all of the Director of Administration’s powers.  His/her powers can be superseded by Council.  Council has to determine what kind of power they want the Director of Administration to have regarding regulating traffic.  Also, need to clean up this language to be consistent with Chapter 305. 

 

          Mr. Aslaner proposed the following changes to the legislation.

 

Section 313.02. (a) 2nd paragraph.  After Director of Administration, ADD: “consistent with the provisions of Chapter 305”.  Also same paragraph, line 7, ADD: “Ohio” before Director and “of Transportation” after Director.  Same paragraph, last full sentence, after Ohio Department of Transportation or by, ADD: “the Director of Administration and/or” and after Council, ADD: “consistent with the provisions of Chapter 305; DELETE: “or the authorized local authority”.  (d)  ADD:  The Director of Administration and/or” before Council, and “consistent with the provisions of Chapter 305” after Council; DELETE: “or the authorized local authority”.

 

Section 313.11 (a) After intersections ADD: “that are posted with signs indicating “no turn on red”.  DELETE: “(1) 5th and Main Street   Traffic from all directions.”  DELETE:  “(2) On West Fifth at Park.”  DELETE:  “Such intersection shall be posted with signs indicating “no turn on red”.”  DELETE:  “Director.”  ADD:  “Department”.  DELETE:  “or the Director of Administration.”

 

ADD:  “(b)  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.  If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.”

 

Section 333.03 (b)  ADD: “or the Director of Administration and/…… consistent with the provisions of Chapter 305,”.  (1)(C) – 2nd sentence - DELETE:  “Upon request”.  3rd sentence – ADD:  “Ohio ….. of Transportation or the Director of Administration and/or Council”

 

Section 337.10 (b) Line 6 – ADD: “and/or Council, consistent with the provisions of Chapter 305,”

 

Committee feels Director of Administration should have day-to-day authority to regulate traffic, with Council having overriding authority.  Council can also assume the power delegated to the Director of Administration.

 

Department of Transportation guidelines are prima facie guidelines and should be followed if at all possible.  If City wants to deviate from those guidelines, then City needs empirical basis to do so, i.e. SR 38, outside the City limits.  If Council would decide to take independent action, it should be based on a traffic study to back it up.

 

Chapter 305 details specific guidelines that Director of Administration must take into consideration when making traffic control decisions.

 

313.11 -  Mr. Reams proposed deleting specific intersections.  Will be deleted.

 

3)     Fire Station Planning – Progress report, discussion of future plans

 

2007 Budget includes money for design work.  SOQ’s received from eight architectural firms; three firms were interviewed.  Kellam and Associates was selected. 

 

Photo scope received.  It doesn’t provide cost and schedule and cost for each item.  Needs to be fine-tuned.  Come up with a more defined scope which spells out first phase of what needs to be done as far as site evaluation process.

 

Interviewed fire platoons to determine what needs to be included in design of building.  Ready to implement this phase.  Next phase is building layout.

 

Chief Johnson distributed documentation on data he and others had collected.  Looked at demographics, planning done by the City and MORPC, road traffic and took a short term and long term approach.

 

Site identified for a new station and site for a second station is an approximate location.

 

Second station requires more people, which requires more money, which City does not have.

 

Looking at long range, an umbrella between two separate stations, one on near west side and one on near east side, which provides quick access to 33 but also quick access to the City.

 

Architectural firm will take an independent look at this information as far as the site.

 

Mr. Reams asked about the Mill Valley site that was donated by Dominion.  Ms. House said that location doesn’t solve the railroad track problem and getting back into the City.

 

Mr. Reams feels whatever site is chosen; need to look at a potential second fire station operation at some point in the future.

 

Chief Johnson noted an increase in multiple runs, which have to be handled by outside jurisdictions.

 

Site selections:  Choice #1 – Site on ORW property (Collins & Rt. 4)

                          Choice #2 – In the general area of Industrial Parkway and Scottslawn Road.

 

Mr. Reams noted from the info he’s looking at, the site has already been chosen.  He asked about the City-owned site.  Ms. House noted the site referred to is land south of Town Run near the hospital and land at 5th and Raymond.

 

The architectural firm will look at the site that the Chief zeroed in on and see if it’s a suitable location.

 

Preferred site is ORW, which is quick access to the freeway.  Bulk of call volume is the southeast and southwest quadrant of the City.

 

Chief Johnson urged everyone to review the information he distributed and get back to him with any questions.

 

Need a short term and long term plan.

 

City will proceed with first phase and follow it up with design phase.

 

Mr. Reams said if the short term issue is addressed with building a single station, will it make it more difficult to do what needs to be done to fund a second station or are we better off to put funding plan in place at the same time.

 

Funding possibility.  Emergency services – First responder services levy.

 

Suggested holding a public meeting to receive public input about City’s plans for this issue.  Find out how the Fire Department is serving the City.

 

Architectural firm will interview each of the three fire units to find out needs.

 

Ms. Sellers expressed concern that the architectural firm is getting paid $23,000 to tell the City if they agree with proposed site.  So much work has already been done in-house. Mr. Roush said 15% of their time is spent on the site evaluation and 85% is spent on programming and master plan for the new station.  Mr. Reams noted the firm is getting paid to look at the site recommended by the Chief, check the soils, etc. to make sure it’s suitable and then design a building to fit on that site.

 

Ms. Sellers expressed concern that the work being done by the architectural firm will not help Council make their decision.

 

Mr. Marshall confirmed the site has been selected.  The architectural firm will look at that site and determine if it’s suitable for a fire station.

 

Primary focus is to design a station.

 

Committee is in agreement that City needs to proceed with architectural and engineering design of building.  The site agreed upon is the ORW land, if deemed suitable by the architectural firm.

 

Mr. Reams expressed disappointment that the work has begun on a fire station site selected without Council input.

 

It was noted that the dollars were budgeted for design of the fire station.

 

Inform Council of project status.  If Council agrees, project can move forward.  Ms. House suggested that the architectural firm will work on phase 2 and 3 and save site evaluation after taking it before City Council.

 

Data collected for the new fire station will be presented to Council on July 26, 2007.  Mr. Reams requested that Chief Johnson discuss why he chose east/west over north/south.

 

4)     Excessive speed in residential areas

 

When the Police receive a complaint in a certain area, the Stealth Stat is placed in the area to gather data over a 24/48 hour period.  It almost always comes back that speed is not the problem, based on the statistics.  However, if you are the individual who sees the speeding vehicle, it is a problem.

 

Speed is a safety concern.  He distributed a survey showing number of vehicles, posted speed limit and average speed.  This information is used to determine where there are speeding issues.  Mr. Marshall asked if Chief Golden could put this information on a link on the City’s website.

 

Thought is to possibly look at future developments and plan better for stop signs.

 

Committee could consider a resolution for certain areas.

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:54 p.m.