Welcome to the City of Columbus Newsletter, Cit-E-News
Issue 1, Volume 1 May 6, 2010
Visit us online at www.columbus.gov
We’ve had a beautiful spring so far, making it a great time to be outside. That’s why I’m so excited about our 2010 Capital Improvements Budget. The $130 million 2010 CIB was approved by City Council April 12 and includes many neighborhood improvements that will make it easier for residents to enjoy the outdoors. We’re going to invest $20 million in street resurfacing and another $3 million in sidewalks so we can safely bike, walk and drive in our neighborhoods. Also among our neighborhood investments is $14 million for our recreation and parks facilities. That includes $8 million in renovations to our recreation centers, almost $4 million for renovations to our swimming pools and more than $2 million for park and playground equipment and improvements and for park acquisition.
One of my favorite things about springtime is enjoying the warm weather on my bike, and we are investing more than $7 million in bikeways as we continue our efforts to make this the best cycling city in America. These investments make us a healthier, greener and more economically competitive city, especially when it comes to attracting young professionals.
Speaking of young professionals, we also need to offer easy internet access, which is why we’re investing $1 million in fiber optics as we continue our emergence as one of the best tech cities in the nation. We’re also getting green with $1 million for the Green Columbus Fund, a grant program to encourage green, sustainable developments by private businesses and non-profit organizations. This will produce environmental, social and economic benefits for our community. We’re investing in neighborhood safety with $6 million for fire vehicles and equipment, and in public health by putting $675,000 toward the design of the new Maloney Health Center on the South Side.
I’m excited about all these investments as we continue to improve our high quality of life by improving our neighborhood safety and infrastructure. I hope you enjoy a great spring. (Back to top)
Columbus Seeks Input on New Recycling Proposal
Mayor Michael B. Coleman’s State of the City address brought the momentous announcement of a promise to bring a curbside recycling and yard waste collection program to Columbus single family homes at no charge by the year 2012. The Mayor did not allow any time to be wasted in making good on his word. Last week, the first phase in developing this comprehensive program began with a series of focus groups made up of residents representing the City’s diverse population.
With help from the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO), The Ohio State University and members of the Mayor’s Green Team, Mayor Coleman set out to get an honest reaction about the program’s design from the size and style of the recycling container to the frequency of hauler pick-up. All city residents have been given an opportunity to provide input through a survey released on April 29th as well as during public hearings to be scheduled later this spring.
Currently, approximately 11,000 households within the City of Columbus subscribe to a curbside recycling program through Rumpke available for a fee. Other residents drop off items to be recycled to large SWACO dumpsters positioned throughout the community at public sites. The new program will make disposing materials suitable for recycling or yard waste more convenient which the City hopes will lead to a combined diversion rate from the landfill of 35% or more.
The life of the landfill is not indefinite and as it nears capacity, planning for a new landfill site will need to begin. Developing a new landfill today would cost $93 million. Delaying this expense through reducing waste, reusing materials and the City’s new recycling program will benefit our entire community. (Back to top)
New Immunization Requirements for School Entry - Keep your kids learning in school
New state required vaccinations for 2010-2011 school year will affect children entering kindergarten and 7th grade. These include:
w tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) or tetanus and diphtheria (Td) booster requirement for 7th grade.
w 2nd dose of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine for Kindergarten entry.
w final dose of polio vaccine on or after child’s 4th birthday for Kindergarten entry.
Tdap vaccine protects against pertussis (known as whooping cough), a severe respiratory illness that causes violent, rapid coughing that can last for long periods. Cases of pertussis mostly occur in school settings.
Varicella (known as chickenpox) is a vaccine-preventable disease which causes painful blisters. A second dose provides children with 99% protection against the disease. Requiring it for school entry can greatly lower the number of school-based outbreaks.
Parents are urged to plan ahead to get these requirement met as soon as possible by visiting their family physician or visiting Columbus Public Health’s Immunization Clinic. For more information on clinic locations and hours, visit www.publichealth.columbus.gov or call 311.
Schools will require proof of these immunizations when children are enrolled. If not, the child will need to be kept home temporarily until the requirements are met. (Back to top)
Columbus Pothole Patching Crews Far Exceed Mayor’s Goal
City of Columbus pothole patching crews repaired 34,555 potholes in March, easily surpassing Mayor Coleman’s goal to fix nearly double the 12,400 potholes filled in March 2009. Pothole crews exceeded the goal on March 17, two weeks ahead of schedule.
Crews took advantage of milder weather for most of March to patch potholes at a fast pace. The mayor devoted additional resources to the pothole repair initiative, including filling two vacant Street Maintenance Investigator positions, which brought the total number of investigators to the full contingent of six. Pothole crews were also very efficient, as only $57,739.33 of the $300,000 identified for personnel costs and pothole repair materials for the March initiative was used.
Pothole patching crews will continue to repair potholes for the rest of the year, but with the onset of spring will clean litter, begin street sweeping and other job responsibilities that change with the seasons. The City is responsible for repairing potholes on 6,348 lane miles of roadway; a lane mile is one mile of roadway multiplied by the number of lanes on the roadway. (Back to top)
Fire Prevention and Safety
Fire safety affects the lives of thousands of Columbus residents every year. Fire is among the leading causes of accidental deaths in the home each year, yet many deaths or serious injuries due to fire could be avoided with a few simple precautions.
Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors are your early warning system. Since most fire deaths are caused by while people are sleeping, smoke detectors are the most effective pieces of fire fighting equipment you can have in your home. Smoke Detectors should be installed outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms and on each additional story of the family unit. After installation, smoke detectors should be tested at least once a month.
Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers are valuable tools for extinguishing small fires, and providing a path for escape. When used correctly, fire extinguishers can keep small fires from becoming large ones.
Flammable Liquids
Never store flammable liquids in the home near water heaters, the furnace or any other device with a spark or flame. Store gasoline and other combustibles in tight metal containers designed for storing flammable liquids.
Electrical Outlets
Throughout the home, make sure all tools and appliances have a testing agency label (UL or FM). Frayed or worn cords and plugs should be replaced. Never plug more appliances into a socket than it is designed to accommodate safely.
Teach and practice fire safety techniques and escape plans so they become second nature, especially with children. The key is to prevent, not put out fires. For more information on fire prevention or to schedule a fire safety program for your group contact the City of Columbus, Division of Fire community relations office at 645-7377. (Back to top)
Neighborhood Pride to kick off 11th season
Neighborhood Pride will kick off the 2010 season June 7-11, in the Southside Area Commission neighborhood. Pride is also expected to tour the Hilltop July 12-16 and will visit the Southwest Area Commission neighborhoods September 6-10. (A FOURTH NEIGHBORHOOD WILL BE DETERMINED ON 4/14)
The program, created by Mayor Coleman in 2000, has toured more than 60 neighborhoods and has evolved to include bicycle safety for school children and hundreds of Pride Partners have joined in the effort.
Neighborhood Pride is a team effort by City departments, neighborhood groups and individual citizens, businesses and other partners to make our neighborhoods safer and cleaner. For one week, an intense delivery of City services, including the cleaning of alleys, mowing high grass in the public right-of-way and neighborhood recreational areas, replacing burned out street light bulbs, offering block watch and fire prevention outreach and evaluating exterior housing for code compliance.
Prior to each “Neighborhood Pride Week,” City employees reach out to neighborhood groups in the Neighborhood Pride Area to help craft the specifics of each Neighborhood Pride effort. City staff members make presentations at area commission, civic association, business associations and other groups to introduce Pride to the neighborhood. A strong, ongoing partnership between a neighborhood and the City enhances the effort to deliver services in a more timely, efficient and responsive manner to a neighborhood.
Pride concludes each week with a “Pride night” where Mayor Coleman and Department Cabinet members listen to concerns and answer residents’ questions. (Back to top)
Cit – E - News is produced by the office of Mayor Michael B. Coleman. If you wish to be added or removed from out mailing list, please email dadebelak@columbus.gov with “subscribe Cit – E – News” or “Unsubscribe Cit – E – News” in the subject line. City of Columbus Mayor’s Office | 90 West Broad Street | Columbus, Ohio 43215
