| COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS For Immediate Release: May 2, 2011 For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 |
SUPPLYING NATURAL GAS FOR CITY VEHICLES: In an effort to help reduce emissions, part of the city’s fleet is being replaced with compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles. Finance Committee Chair Priscilla R. Tyson is sponsoring ordinance 0673--2011 to authorize the expenditure of $2,864,000.00 for the construction of a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station at 4211 Groves Road. The fueling station will provide a rapid and reliable dispensing of compressed natural gas (CNG) to the 23 CNG heavy-duty vehicles the city will receive this year. The fueling station will also be used to safely store and maintain CNG units. 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.
KLEIN HOLDS SECOND PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS GRAFFITI: Columbus City Councilmember Zachary M. Klein, Chair of the Development Committee, will hold a second public hearing on Thursday, May 5, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers to discuss graffiti and proposed legislation that will increase the penalty for those found guilty of graffiti and additional requirements for property owners to remove graffiti in a timely manner.
PROMOTING Arson Awareness Week: Public Safety Committee Chair Michelle M. Mills is sponsoring resolution 0040X-2011 to recognize Arson Awareness Week in Columbus. This year’s theme “Working Together to Extinguish Serial Arson” encourages the public to focus on serial arsonists and provide law enforcement, the fire service, and communities with tools and tactics to prevent arson in their city and towns. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reports that from 2009 – 2010 there were 88 reported serial arson incidents with an aggregate monetary loss of $4.8 million. Arson in residential dwellings accounted for 49 percent of these incidents. Councilmember Mills has invited Columbus Fire Assistant Chief Karry Ellis to present ways citizens can assist the Division of Fire in fighting arson in Columbus.
NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION DOLLARS HELPING COLUMBUS NEIGHBORHOODS: Last year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded Columbus $23.2 million in the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP2). The funds, included in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009, were made available to provide for the acquisition, rehabilitation, redevelopment, or demolition of foreclosed, abandoned and vacant properties. Health, Housing & Human Services Committee Chair Hearcel F. Craig is sponsoring ordinance 0646-2011 for the expenditure of $1,250,000.00 to modify the NSP2 Consortium Agreement with Franklin County to allow the City to establish loan agreements to implement eligible projects approved under the grant funding. The projects are designed to help 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.
PALEY ATTENDING THE 2011 CENTRAL OHIO CHILDREN’S WATER FESTIVAL: Public Utilities Committee Chair Eileen Y. Paley will join 600 fifth grade students from Columbus and surrounding communities for the 4th Annual Central Ohio Children’s Water Festival on Thursday, May 5, 2011 at 11:30 a.m. The event will be held on the grounds of the City of Columbus Public Utilities Complex, 910 Dublin Road. The annual event is being held in honor of National Drinking Water Week and designed to promote environmental awareness about our valuable water resources to elementary students through interactive displays and hands-on activities. Activities will focus on four main topics: ground water, surface water, drinking water, and water quality.
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