CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

 

JUNE 8, 2006

 

The meeting was called to order by President Gore at 7:00 p.m.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Mr. Marshall, Ms. Sellers, Mr. Fogt, Mr. Gore, Mr. Burke, Mr. Pleasant     Excused:  Mr. Reams

 

OTHERS PRESENT:  Mayor Kruse, Director of Administration House, Finance Director Morehart, Fire Chief Johnson, Law Director Aslaner, Clerk Patterson

 

REPORTERS PRESENT:  Ryan Horns – Journal Tribune, Lois Gruenbaum – WUCO

 

CITIZENS PRESENT:  John Cunningham, Ken Kraus, Alan Seymour, Terry Nicol, Bill Kelly, Rick Shortell

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  Mr. Fogt noted the following amendments:  Pg. 6.  Dale is named several times, but no last name.  The last name “Scheiderer” should be added.  Also on Pg. 6, Big Walnut should read Big Darby.  There being no further additions or corrections, the minutes were approved as amended.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT:  Ms. House reported that the 5th Street/Delaware Avenue/Industrial Pkwy traffic study has begun.  The count began this week.  Study should be completed in 2 months.

 

The first 3rd Fridays Uptown will be held next Friday, June 16th, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.  Food will begin at 5:00 p.m., the band at 6:00 p.m..  The Challengers will be playing until 9:00 p.m.

 

CSX has informed the City that they will be replacing rails, ties and pavement (to a certain degree) at four railroad crossings this summer, Delaware Avenue, Industrial Parkway, Main Street and Cherry Street.  They will be replacing all of the ties and some of the rails.  They will replace asphalt only.  The Finance Committee will be talking about whether or not concrete would be an option for the City to upgrade those crossings so they will last longer.  This work will be done in early July and be completed before Honda Homecoming.  Any concrete work will be done in October. 

 

Paving will begin in August and be finished no later than October 1st.  Reason for the late start is that the pre-work by the Street Department has not been completed.  Also, the urban paving will be going on in July.   Also wanted to avoid Honda Homecoming. 

 

Bids have been opened for the urban paving project.  No start date has been set.

 

With the recent rains, I&I and Wastewater Treatment Plant, the existing plant handled it very well.  Citizens are asked to keep an eye on the storm catch basins that are near to their homes and do their best to keep those clear of debris.

 

Mr. Gore thanked Administration for their updates and said they are very helpful.

 

REPORT OF CLERK OF COUNCIL:  No report.

 

REPORT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR:  Mr. Eric Phillips distributed United Airlines Hemispheres magazine to City Council.  He noted an ad in the magazine promoting Union County.  The CIC, the partnership, the Scotts Miracle Gro Company, Union Rural Electric, Memorial Hospital and the CVB all teamed up and bought this ad to promote Union County. 

 

Ms. House asked Council’s consideration to put a resolution on the consent calendar, “A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO FILE AN APPLICATION TO THE STATE OF OHIO, DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT, TO SUPPORT AN APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER THE OHIO JOB READY SITES PROGRAM.”  Mr. Phillips explained that the Job Ready Sites Program is State Issue 1.  As part of that, the City can apply for money to make sites development-ready.  In the past you had to have a project in hand before you got any state money.  This program is set up to make sites ready for development.  Can apply for up to $5M for a grant to the State of Ohio.  There is $60M allotted in 2006 to be let to different communities.  There will be a ranking system, and it will be a very competitive process.  City would like to apply for the Metro Equity site, which is the 276 acre piece located just west of the Scotts plant on Scottslawn Road.  City is looking to widen Scottslawn Road to three lanes and get water and sewer to the site.  This would make this site development -ready.  There is a possibility of adding 100 acres to that land.  The deadline for submitting the grant is July 19th.  Since the City is building a water reclamation facility, as well as the interceptor that’s going Industrial Parkway and the trunk line that’s being constructed, these will be used as leverage because there is a 25% match.  We want to utilize those projects that we’re already doing as our local match.  He also commented that the property owner has agreed to pay for putting the application together, which will be done by a consulting firm.

 

Mr. Pleasant moved to add the resolution “A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO FILE AN APPLICATION TO THE STATE OF OHIO, DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT, TO SUPPORT AN APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER THE OHIO JOB READY SITES PROGRAM” on the consent calendar and the question put, stood:

 

Mr. Marshall  YES  Ms. Sellers  YES  Mr. Fogt  YES  Mr. Gore  YES  Mr. Burke  YES  Mr. Pleasant  YES

 

Motion passed.

 

HEARING OF CITIZENS:  Ms. Lois Gruenbaum thanked City Council for their participation in the Memorial Day ceremony.

 

RESOLUTIONS

 

“RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF MARYSVILLE TO THE OHIO CDBG SMALL CITIES PROGRAM FOR $60,000 OF FY2006 FORMULA GRANT FUNDS” was presented for third reading, public hearing.  Ms. House reported that the City is eligible to receive $60,000.  Administration will be completing the application using their staff resources.  City is proposing to replace seven (7) sections of sidewalk in the immediate vicinity of East Elementary School on the city’s east side.  These sections are located on Chestnut, 7th and 6th Street.  Project is located in a low to moderate income neighborhood.  There will be 1,445 linear feet of 5’ wide sidewalk replaced.  Total estimated cost for this project is $58,825.00.  There will also be some Fair Housing funding and some administrative funding that will be necessary.  A final amount that the City will contribute will be worked into the budget.  Funding should be available by December 2006 with work completed next summer when weather permits. 

 

Mr. Marshall moved to pass the legislation and the question put, stood:

 

Ms. Sellers  YES  Mr. Fogt  YES  Mr. Gore  YES  Mr. Burke  YES  Mr. Pleasant  YES  Mr. Marshall  YES

 

Resolution 15-06 passed.

 

“RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO COOPERATE WITH AND ALLOW THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO PERFORM SLOPE REPAIRS ALONG US33 AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY” was presented for second reading, public hearing.  Motion was made to waive reading in full; affirmative voice vote was unanimous. 

 

“A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO FILE AN APPLICATION TO THE STATE OF OHIO, DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT, TO SUPPORT AN APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER THE OHIO JOB READY SITES PROGRAM” was presented for first reading, title only. 

 

ORDINANCES

 

The ordinance “TO REZONE 119.8 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, LOCATED AT 14145 SR4 FROM AGRICULTURAL (A-R) ZONING DISTRICT TO R-2 MEDIUM DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY AND R-4 LOW DENSITY MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS” was presented for third reading, title only.  Mr. John Cunningham, Planning Commission Chairman, reiterated that during the process and their handling of the request that was initiated by the applicant (Attorney Glen Dugger is acting on behalf of applicant), Planning Commission did their due deliberation.  The Commission lacked some information from the applicant for a number of months.  It was kept in a “tabled” status during the process of looking at the PUD legislation.  Once the PUD legislation was passed, Planning Commission heard nothing further from the applicant.  Planning Commission had to take action on the request and their recommendation was to not change the zoning in accordance with the request.  However, Mr. Dugger has submitted a request to City Council for the withdrawal of this application at this point in time.  Planning Commission does not have any objection to this withdrawal if that is Council’s desire.   Mr. Gore read the request from Mr. Dugger.  Ms. Seller moved to honor the request to withdraw the request for the rezoning and the question put, stood: 

 

Mr. Fogt  YES  Mr. Gore  YES  Mr. Burke  YES  Mr. Pleasant  YES  Mr. Marshall  YES  Ms. Sellers  YES

 

Motion passed.

 

The ordinance “TO AMEND SECTION 931.06(a), SYSTEM CAPACITY CHARGES, INSPECTION CHARGES AND OTHER FEES, OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF MARYSVILLE” was presented for third reading, title only.  Mr. Burke moved to pass the legislation and the question put, stood:

 

Mr. Gore  YES  Mr. Burke  YES  Mr. Pleasant  YES  Mr. Marshall  YES  Ms. Sellers  YES  Mr. Fogt  YES

 

Ordinance 28-06 passed.

 

The ordinance “CREATING THE POSITION OF ASSISTANT CITY ENGINEER AND ESTABLISHING THE SALARY RANGE” was presented for third reading, title only.  Mr. Fogt moved to pass the legislation and the question put, stood:

 

Mr. Burke  YES  Mr. Pleasant  YES  Mr. Marshall  YES  Ms. Sellers  YES  Mr. Fogt  YES  Mr. Gore  YES

 

Ordinance 29-06 passed.

 

The ordinance “TO APPROPRIATE $44,958 FROM UNAPPROPRIATED GENERAL FUNDS FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE 2006 SALARY EXPENSES FOR THE ASSISTANT CITY ENGINEER POSITION, AND MODIFY THE ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET AS A RESULT OF THIS ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE PAYMENT OF THESE SALARY EXPENSES” was presented for third reading, title only.  Mr. Fogt moved to pass the legislation and the question put, stood:

 

Mr. Pleasant  YES  Mr. Marshall  YES  Ms. Sellers  YES  Mr. Fogt  YES  Mr. Gore  YES  Mr. Burke  YES

 

Ordinance 30-06 passed.

 

The ordinance “TO AMEND SECTION 925.01, SEWER RENTAL RATES, AND SECTION 925.02, NEW SEWER TAP CONNECTIONS, OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF MARYSVILLE, OHIO” was presented for second reading, public hearing.  Motion was made to waive reading in full; affirmative voice vote was unanimous.

 

The ordinance “TO AMEND SECTION 925.02(a), NEW SEWER TAP CONNECTIONS, OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF MARYSVILLE, OHIO” was presented for second reading, public hearing.  Motion was made to waive reading in full; affirmative voice vote was unanimous.

 

The ordinance “TO AMEND SECTION 931.06, SYSTEM CAPACITY CHARGES, INSPECTION CHARGES AND OTHER FEES, OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF MARYSVILLE, OHIO” was presented for second reading, public hearing.  Motion was made to waive reading in full; affirmative voice vote was unanimous.

 

The ordinance “TO APPROPRIATE $223,807 FROM UNAPPROPRIATED STREET FUNDS FOR STREET PAVING, AND MODIFY THE ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET AS A RESULT OF THIS ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE PAYMENT OF THIS EXPENDITURE” was presented for second reading, public hearing.  Motion was made to waive reading in full; affirmative voice vote was unanimous.

 

The ordinance “AUTHORIZING APPROPRIATION TRANSFERS AND MODIFYING THE ANNUAL BUDGET IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPROPRIATION TRANSFERS” was presented for second reading, public hearing.  Motion was made to waive reading in full; affirmative voice vote was unanimous.  Mr. Marshall moved to waive third reading and the question put, stood:

 

Mr. Marshall  YES  Ms. Sellers  YES  Mr. Fogt  YES  Mr. Gore  YES  Mr. Burke  YES  Mr. Pleasant  YES 

 

Mr. Marshall moved to pass the legislation and the question put, stood:

 

Ms. Sellers  YES  Mr. Fogt  YES    Mr. Gore  YES  Mr. Burke  YES  Mr. Pleasant  YES  Mr. Marshall  YES

 

Ordinance 31-06 passed.

 

The ordinance “TO AMEND CHAPTER 127, FIRE DIVISION, OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF MARYSVILLE, OHIO” was presented for second reading, public hearing.  Motion was made to waive reading in full; affirmative voice vote was unanimous.

 

The ordinance “TO AMEND CHAPTER 110, FACILITY COSTS AND CITY FEES, OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF MARYSVILLE, OHIO” was presented for second reading, public hearing.  Motion was made to waive reading in full; affirmative voice vote was unanimous.

 

The ordinance “TO AMEND PART FIFTEEN, CHAPTER 1501, BOCA BASIC FIRE PREVENTION CODE, OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF MARYSVILLE, OHIO” was presented for second reading, public hearing.  Motion was made to waive reading in full; affirmative voice vote was unanimous.

 

The ordinance “TO AMEND PART FIFTEEN, CHAPTER 1503, FIRE HYDRANTS, OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF MARYSVILLE, OHIO” was presented for second reading, public hearing.  Motion was made to waive reading in full; affirmative voice vote was unanimous.

 

The ordinance “TO SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS OF THE CITY OF MARYSVILLE AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE IX, DIVISIONS AND COMMISSIONS, OF THE CHARTER FOR THE MUNICIPALITY OF MARYSVILLE, OHIO” was presented for first reading, title only.  Mr. Burke explained this amendment is more of a clerical nature to bring the City in line with the Charter.  By changing the Charter and adding “Departments” to Article IX, “Departments, Divisions and Commissions”, it will allow the Mayor to more efficiently operate the City within the confines of the Charter.  Mr. Burke proposed an amendment to this legislation.  At the beginning of the second paragraph, add the following language: With the exception of the Director of Administration, qualifications of department and division heads…….  Mr. Burke felt it appropriate to separate out the Director of Administration, because in the previous election where the public did have the ability to put qualifications on the Director of Administration, that Charter amendment did fail.   Mr. Burke moved to accept the amendment and the question put, stood:

 

Mr. Fogt  YES  Mr. Gore  YES  Mr. Burke  YES  Mr. Pleasant  YES  Mr. Marshall  YES  Ms. Sellers  YES

 

Motion passed.

 

Mr. Gore asked Ms. Patterson to find out the cost for putting this issue on the ballot.  Mr. Burke stated that if it is cheaper to bundle this amendment with other amendments, this amendment may be postponed.

 

COMMENTS OF COUNCIL PERSONS AND GENERAL DISCUSSION

 

          1.  Parks & Recreation Representative  - Mr. Marshall reported that Parks & Recreation Commission will meet one week earlier this month, June 13th.  At the last meeting, South Park was discussed at length.  Planning Commission has heard part of the discussion, as well as the article in the paper.  Mr. Marshall asked everyone to be patient and allow the process to work.  Educate yourself a little bit as to what a true wetlands is; it is not a mud puddle and it is not a swamp.  Anyone who has questions should contact John Rockenbaugh who has offered his expertise.

 

There will be more discussion at the next Parks & Rec meeting on June 13th.

 

Regarding drafting a resolution to bring to City Council, since zoning has been set, Mr. Marshall is not sure City Council would be the best place to address this.   He asked Mr. Seymour to be in contact with Planning Commission as they may be much closer to the situation and have more control over how the resolution would take place.

 

Mr. John Cunningham stated discussions on drainage issues were held at a recent Planning Commission meeting, and in particular, this area is a significant concern.  He spoke with Phil Roush and Phil is willing to work with Planning Commission on the drainage issues.  Mr. Cunningham would like to host a joint session between Planning Commission and City Council to have this type of discussion.  They feel this would be an education and awareness session and hopefully would give some direction in planning so they could better utilize and make judgments in the future.

 

Mr. Fogt announced that the Public Services Committee is meeting on June 15, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.

 

Mr. Burke announced that the Finance Committee is meeting on Monday, June 12, 2006 at 6:45 p.m.

 

Mr. Gore and Ms. House attended a meeting at Fairbanks High School.  Mr. Gore commended Mr. Craycraft for what he’s trying to do.  Individual township

Trustees and a representative from Council and Administration were invited to look at the future growth and brainstorm on how they’re going to pay for the growth once he gets the .8 students per proposed household.  Mr. Gore felt it was an interesting meeting, and applauded Mr. Craycraft for taking initiative to put something like that together. 

 

Mr. Gore attended a work session today “Save our Youth”, ranging from pre-natal up through youth to adulthood, sponsored by MRDD.  Covered some of issues not only that our youth face today, but what we face in this community as far as drug and alcohol problems.  It was a follow-up to the forum that was done by First Lady Hope Taft.  It was an interesting and informative session.  There will be five more meetings of this type.  A report will be presented to the community in January. 

 

Mr. Gore congratulated Mr. Rick Shortell who was recognized as a “Hometown Hero” by a radio station out of Delaware. 

 

ADJOURNMENT:  There being no further business to come before Council, the meeting adjourned at 7:43 p.m.