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| COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS For Immediate Release: July 19, 2010 For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 |
scioto mile and bicentennial park go WIRELESS: Administration Committee Chair A. Troy Miller is sponsoring ordinance 1048-2010 to accept an in-kind donation from Time Warner Cable for WiFi Internet service, cable TV, and digital phone service for the Scioto Mile and Bicentennial Park. These services will support various business functions and provide all citizens access to Internet service at no charge along the Scioto Mile and Bicentennial Park for a period of 10 years beginning June 30, 2011. The Internet service will support up to 1,000 users and be a great benefit during festivals and events along the Scioto Mile as vendors will be able to perform wireless credit card transactions utilizing this service. The donation will also provide digital phone service and cable TV for the Bicentennial Park Café.
VACCINATING CHILDREN AGAINST INFECTIOUS DISEASES: The Columbus Health Department offers routine vaccines for children of all ages. Ordinance 1067-2010, sponsored by Health and Human Development Committee Chair Charleta B. Tavares, will direct the Board of Health to accept a grant from the Ohio Department of Health in the amount of $165,000 for the Peer Advocate for Immunization Program. The program’s goal is to improve and extend immunization outreach to underserved urban neighborhoods by providing staff representatives to assist parents in protecting young children from vaccine preventable diseases. The grant funding will provide services through December 31, 2011.
PURCHASING SOLAR POWERED ELECTRICITY: Finance & Economic Development Committee Chair, Andrew J. Ginther is sponsoring ordinance 1117-2010 to authorize a ten year solar power purchase agreement with SolarVision LLC for the roof of the Fleet Maintenance Facility at 4211 Groves Road. The agreement allows SolarVision to own, operate and maintain a photovoltaic (PV) system on the roof of the facility. The city, in return, will agree to provide SolarVision LLC a lease on the roof and purchase electricity produced by the system. This agreement will allow the city to have the benefit of clean energy without the upfront costs of purchasing, installation or the long-term maintenance of the system. SolarVision proposes to operate a 440 kW system, which would be the largest non-utility owned roof-top solar array in six states. The system will provide up to one-third of the Fleet Maintenance facility's electricity. The city will have a fixed price per kW/h for a ten-year term and expects to purchase between $30,000 to $60,000 of electricity per year. This power purchase agreement demonstrates the city's commitment to reducing its own carbon footprint, as well as committing to be a leader in the growth of the solar industry, especially in central Ohio.
IMPROVING THE DUBLIN ROAD WATER TREATMENT PLANT: The city of Columbus provides drinking water to more than one million residents, businesses, and industries in the Columbus area. Utilities Committee Chair Eileen Y. Paley is sponsoring ordinance 0938-2010 to authorize the expenditure of $10.4 million from the Water Build America Bonds Fund for engineering improvements to the Dublin Road Water Plant (DRWP) Treatment Capacity Increase – Detailed Design Project. Modifications to the plant’s treatment process will increase capacity from 65 million gallons per day (MGD) to 90 MGD to comply with new rules announced by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA). The new technology will include state of the art reverse osmosis water treatment to remove additional organics, nitrates, and other compounds found in the Scioto River. This improvement will satisfy future requirements for the next several years. The Dublin Road Water Plant was built in 1975 and has provided an average of 47 million gallons of drinking water each day.
PURCHASING NATURAL GAS REFUSE TRUCKS TO REDUCE EMISSIONS: In 2008, the city of Columbus received a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant to purchase compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles to help reduce emissions from heavy-duty diesel vehicles. Public Service Committee Chair Hearcel F. Craig is sponsoring ordinance 1030-2010 to authorize the expenditure of $1.925 million for the purchase of three CNG automated side loaders and four front end loaders for the Public Service Department’s Refuse Collection Division. The Refuse Collection Division is responsible for mechanized refuse collection throughout the city of Columbus. CNG vehicles produce significantly lower amounts of harmful emissions such as nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and toxic and carcinogenic pollutants. Natural gas is readily available, clean-burning and costs less than gasoline or diesel fuel. The city will save 46% in fuel costs while operating the new vehicles.
ENSURING CITY BRIDGES ARE SAFE: Every day, motorists, cyclists, runners and walkers use bridges that are owned by the city of Columbus Recreation and Park Department. Councilmember Priscilla R. Tyson, chair of the Recreation and Parks Committee, is sponsoring ordinance 0870-2010 to authorize the expenditure of $20,940 from the Voted 1999/2004 Parks and Recreation Bond Fund for professional services related to the inspection of these bridges. The services will include the inspection of eight vehicular bridges and reports for all 94 department-owned bridges.
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