{SPAM} Meeting Highlights 9-20-10

COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS   For Immediate Release: September 20, 2010   For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 Web – Facebook – Twitter

 

NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION DOLLARS HELPING COLUMBUS NEIGHBORHOODS:  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded Columbus $23.2 million in the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP2).  The funds, included in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009, will provide for the acquisition, rehabilitation, redevelopment, or demolition of foreclosed, abandoned and vacant properties.   Housing Committee Chair Charleta B. Tavares is sponsoring ordinance 1240-2010 to appropriate $6,882,700.00 in various divisions and object levels of the General Grant Fund to provide funding for approved programs in order to create vital, healthy neighborhoods by implementing strategies that build a stronger housing real-estate market in weak-market areas of Columbus. The city of Columbus is the Lead Applicant of the NSP2 Consortium which also includes Franklin County, the Affordable Housing Trust of Columbus and Franklin County, Campus Partners, Columbus Housing Partnership, Community Development Collaborative of Greater Columbus, and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Columbus.

 

HELPING PROVIDE GREEN ELECTRICITY:  Public Utilities Committee Chair Eileen Y. Paley is sponsoring ordinance 1285-2010 which authorizes the city to enter into an Interconnection Agreement with Central Ohio Bioenergy, LLC, a waste-to-energy company.  Central Ohio Bioenergy, LLC, is building a waste to energy facility located at the Waste Transfer Facility as part of SWACO's environmental projects under its lease with the city. The Interconnection Agreement is necessary to allow Central Ohio Bioenergy to sell the energy on the wholesale market and for purposes of the facility's certification as an Ohio Renewable Energy Resource Generating Facility, and allows the Generator to rely upon Columbus' interconnection agreement with American Electric Power Service Corporation.  Under the terms of the agreement the Project will be considered "behind the meter" and any capacity value attributable to the Project, including but not limited to participation in the PJM Reliability Pricing Model and any successor will insure solely and exclusively to the benefit of the City of Columbus, the Division of Power and Water. 

 

IMPROVING ACCESS TO GLENWOOD PARK AND HOLTON RECREATION CENTER:  Public Service Committee Chair Hearcel F. Craig is sponsoring ordinance 1249-2010 to authorize the expenditure of $874,783.65 for Bridge Rehabilitation at North Eureka Avenue Over Dry Run Stream and UIRF Bridge Rehabilitation – North Eureka Avenue/Steele Avenue to North Corporation Line for the safety of the traveling public.  The project will include the addition or reconstruction of a 4 and 6 foot wide sidewalk on the North and South side of the road, 10 ADA ramps, the replacement of alley and driveway approaches, retaining walls, concrete and masonry rehabilitation, and storm drainage for 0.25 miles. The project is expected to be completed by June 1, 2011 and will improve pedestrian safety to Glenwood Park and the Holton Community Recreation Center. 

 

PRESERVING LOCAL WATERWAYS:  City Council is committed to preserving local waterways in Columbus.  Priscilla R. Tyson, chair of the Recreation and Parks Committee, is sponsoring two pieces of legislation to assist in the preservation efforts.  Ordinance 1119-2010 will authorize the modification of a contract in the amount of $5,988 from the Build America Bonds Fund for additional planting and monitoring of wetland buffer in Clover Park.  Ordinance 1204-2010, authorizes the expenditure of $408,000 from the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund and the Voted 1999/2004 Voted Bond Fund for the Lower Big Walnut Creek Lockbourne Preservation Project. The funding will be used to acquire property for the project to preserve the wetlands habitat and maintain a natural buffer in the flood plain to aid in flood abatement.

 

SELECTING THE TOP CANDIDATES FOR THE CITY’S SAFETY FORCES: The city of Columbus is committed to providing residents with outstanding safety services.  Recruitment and applicant screening is critical in ensuring the City is hiring the best men and women to protect Columbus citizens. Administration Committee Chair A. Troy Miller is sponsoring two ordinances to assist in the employment hiring process.  Ordinance 1306-2010, will modify and increase a contract in the amount of $79,500 to allow for psychological screening of public safety applicants and ordinance 1308-2010 will authorize the modification and increase of a contract in the amount of $73,750 for the administration of pre-employment physicals and cardiovascular stress testing of police and fire recruits for future Police and Fire Academy Classes. 

 

POLICE SET TO PURCHASE REPLACEMENT VEHICLES WITH SPECIAL FUND: The Columbus Division of Police will be able to replace undercover vehicles due to the efforts of officers on the street. Revenue generated from seized and forfeited property is placed into the Law Enforcement Seizure Fund and appropriated for law enforcement purposes only. Ordinance 1215-2010 sponsored by Safety Committee Chair Andrew J. Ginther will authorize the expenditure of $231,482.80 from this special fund and the Permanent Improvement Fund to allow the Division of Police to purchase new covert vehicles to replace high mileage and high maintenance vehicles. 

 

Council President PARTICIPATES IN THE PUBLIC LAUNCH FOR BICENTENNIAL 2012:  Council President Michael C. Mentel will help celebrate the Public Launch of Bicentennial 2012 on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center, 505 W. Whittier Street.  

 

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