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| COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS For Immediate Release: November 1, 2010 For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 |
Rome-Hilliard Road Renovations CONTINUE: Improvements to one of the most heavily traveled roadways in west Columbus are continuing. Public Service and Transportation Committee Chair Hearcel F. Craig is sponsoring ordinance 1391-2010 to authorize the Public Service Department to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for the Hilliard-Rome Road widening and reconstruction project. The targeted area will consist of 1.19 miles from Westchester Wood Boulevard to south of Roberts Road. The project will include the addition of three (3) new traffic lanes, tree lawns, utility relocation and over a mile of 5 foot wide sidewalk with Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps and 10 foot wide bike lanes on the east and west sides of Hilliard Rome Road. The estimated cost of the project is $9,122,410.00 and is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, MORPC ARRA and MORPC. The estimated completion date is June, 2012.
ASSISTING REDEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTHLAND AREA: The Columbus City Council continues to support the redevelopment of the former Northland Mall site. Finance & Economic Development Committee chair Andrew J. Ginther is sponsoring ordinance 1551-2010, to authorize the sale of 19.8 acres of city owned land at the former Northland Mall site with Northland Village Developers, LLC. The land will be sold for a purchase price of $2,853,000 less credits for infrastructure improvements, utility relocations, survey costs and a prior real property tax adjustment. Construction is currently underway at the former Northland Mall site on a Menard’s Home Improvement Store, the Franklin County Animal Shelter, and redevelopment of the former JC Penney Department Store.
UTILITIES COMMITTEE Public Hearing: Councilmember Eileen Y. Paley, chair of the Utilities Committee, will convene a public hearing on Thursday, November 4, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers to discuss the proposed 2011 Utilities Rate Adjustments. Those wishing to address City Council are welcome to submit a speaker slip at City Hall on the day of the meeting.
MAINTAINING CITY COMMUNICATIONS: Councilmember A. Troy Miller, chair of the Administration Committee, is sponsoring ordinance 1492-2010 to authorize the expenditure of $105,832.00 from the Department of Technology’s information services fund for Echo24 to provide fiber optic repair services associated with the city’s Metronet fiber optic backbone. The Metronet is a critical component of the computing infrastructure citywide and allows city agencies and departments to communicate. Repairs of the fiber optic cabling are needed to connect Columbus Public Health at Bryden Alley and at Fifth Avenue and Olentangy River Road which services the Ohio State University area, the Police Crime Lab, and the Franklin County Morgue. The repairs are necessary to ensure data connectivity at city facilities and prevent lengthy outages due to damaged fiber optic cabling.
PROVIDING NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION DOLLARS TO CAMPUS PARTNERS: 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 1499-2010 to modify and increase the NSP2 Consortium Agreement with Campus Partners for Community Urban Redevelopment in the amount of $1,500,000.00 from the General Grant Fund. The funding will be used for approved programs to help revitalize the University area. The city of Columbus is the Lead Applicant of the NSP2 Consortium which in addition to Campus Partners also includes Franklin County, the Affordable Housing Trust of Columbus and Franklin County, Columbus Housing Partnership, Community Development Collaborative of Greater Columbus, and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Columbus.
SUPPORTING BIKEWAY DEVELOPMENT: The City of Columbus is committed to providing residents with alternative means of transportation through cycling and walking. Priscilla R. Tyson, Chair of the Recreation and Parks committee, is sponsoring ordinance 1495-2010 which will authorize the expenditure of $41,000 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund for the purchase of real estate for the Bikeway Land Acquisitions Project. The city currently has 87 miles of bike routes and trails.
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