+1-742663.jpg)
| COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS For Immediate Release: October 25, 2010 For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 |
HELPING COMPLETE THE SCIOTO-ALUM CREEK CONNECTOR: As part of the Columbus Bicentennial Bikeways Plan, the city of Columbus has developed a bike trail system along the north-south corridors however, a deficiency exists in east-west bikeway routes to connect these systems. The Scioto-Alum Creek Connector (formerly named Downtown Bikeway Connector) is an east-west connector that runs through the downtown and connects the Scioto Trail to the shared use path along I-670. In order to complete this project it is necessary to designate portions of existing sidewalk at two locations as shared-use paths. Columbus City Code anticipates the potential for shared use paths in the public right-of-way serving pedestrians and bicyclists. Shared use paths can be composed of asphalt, concrete or bricks, and are typically 8 feet to 12 feet wide. Public Service Committee Chair Hearcel F. Craig is sponsoring ordinance 1496-2010 to designate portions of sidewalk as shared-use paths to complete the connector and allow pedestrians and bicyclists to use the path without fear of violating the City's prohibition of riding bicycles on sidewalks. Those locations consist along the east side of Neil Avenue from Long Street to Nationwide Boulevard; and west side of Cleveland Avenue from McCoy Street to Jack Gibbs Boulevard.
SUPPORTING THE COLUMBUS METROPOLITAN LIBRARY: The Columbus Metropolitan Library has been serving residents of central Ohio for more than 125 years and earlier this year received the Library Journal's Library of the Year award, one of the highest honors bestowed on library systems in the United States. City Councilmember Eileen Y. Paley will be introducing resolution 0147X-2010 to express support for Issue 4 on the November 2, 2010 ballot. The passage of Issue 4 will allow for the replacement and increase of the current library levy to maintain the exceptional service and valuable resources the library provides everyday to the residents of our community. The Columbus Metropolitan Library lends over seventeen million items and has over eight million visitors each year.
COUNCIL HELPING RETAIN AND CREATE jobs IN columbus: As part of the ongoing strategy to retain and create job opportunities for Columbus residents, City Council will authorize an Enterprise Zone Agreement of 75 percent for 10 years and a Job Creation Tax Credit agreement of 65 percent for 6 years with The Coca-Cola Company. In return, Coca Cola has committed to expanding its Watkins Road Syrup Plant by investing $120 million and creating 35 new full-time jobs and retaining 116 current positions. Development Committee Chair Andrew J. Ginther is sponsoring ordinance 1515-2010 to authorize the agreements. The Coca-Cola Company operates in more than 200 countries and markets more than 3,000 beverage products.
PROVIDING PROGRAMS FOR DISADVANTAGED YOUTH: Each year the Recreation and Parks Department uses funds appropriated by City Council to provide opportunities for disadvantaged children to participate in certain fee-based programs. Recreation and Parks Committee Chair Priscilla R. Tyson is sponsoring ordinance 1458-2010 to appropriate $44,112.00 from the Private Leisure Assistance for Youth (PLAY) Fund for scholarships to pay the fees of these programs. In 2009, the Recreation and Parks department dispersed $56,861 in P.L.A.Y. grants to 5,500 participants, and so far in 2010, the department has given out $50,148 in grants to approximately 4,500 kids from low-income families.
IMPROVING ACCESS TO ON-LINE GOVERNMENT SERVICES: Administration Committee Chair A. Troy Miller is sponsoring ordinance 1420-2010 to authorize the expenditure of $72,760.75 from the Department of Technology Information Services Fund for the purchase of new virtual servers for its Accela application from Agilysys. Currently, the Accela application servers are installed on physical servers and need to be replaced in order to provide redundancy in the event of a server malfunction. These replacement servers are used to issue building permits, track code enforcement activities and monitor the performance of the One-Stop-Shop. Replacement of the database servers is crucial for the Department of Technology to maintain the Accela Automation (AA) application; without it the department would lose the ability to provide web access for building permits, data and information utilized by the local building industry and citizens of the City regarding issues such as building permits and inspections.
PROMOTING LEAD SAFE HOMES IN COLUMBUS NEIGHBORHOODS: Lead-based hazards can still be found in many Columbus homes. Through local and grant funding, the Lead Safe Columbus program offers resources to remove hazardous lead-based materials for eligible property owners. Housing Committee Chair Charleta B. Tavares is sponsoring ordinance 1507-2010, which authorizes the expenditure of $75,344.05 from the General Government Grant Fund to pay for expenses associated with the Lead Safe Columbus program. Funds are provided through the 2007 Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration grant received from the Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The program demonstrates the city’s commitment to generating lead-safe affordable housing and the prevention of lead poisoning in children and adults.
-30-
