| COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS For Immediate Release: June 6, 2011 For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 |
IMPROVING PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ON THE WESTSIDE: The city of Columbus continues to promote active living for residents by improving mobility in area neighborhoods. Public Service & Transportation Committee Chair Eileen Y. Paley, is sponsoring ordinance 0815-2011, to authorize the expenditure of $296,057.23 from the Streets and Highways G.O. Bonds Fund for the construction of the Pedestrian Safety Improvements – Valleyview Sidewalks Project. The project will construct approximately a half mile of sidewalks and 11 curb ramps on Valleyview Drive between Wilson Road and the entrance to Westmoor Middle School.
FIREFIGHTERS AGAINST DRUGS PROGRAM CONTINUES HELPING AREA YOUTHS: For the past 20 years, the Columbus Division of Fire’s Firefighters Against Drugs (FFAD) program has helped hundreds of area youths find alternatives to the temptation of drugs and alcohol. The program is funded through local and corporate donations. Public Safety Committee Chair Michelle M. Mills is sponsoring ordinance 0796-2011 to authorize the appropriation of these donations from the Special Revenue Fund for costs incurred by the program. The Firefighters Against Drugs Program allows firefighters to serve as mentors to school students and features several different teaching aspects which build self-esteem and promote responsibility and education.
MAKING IMPROVEMENTS AT PARK SHELTERS: Many area residents utilize the shelterhouses at parks throughout the city for weddings, birthdays, and other special occasions. In order to keep the facilities in good condition, renovations are often needed. Recreation & Parks Committee Chair Zachary M. Klein is sponsoring ordinance 0763-2011 to authorize the expenditure of $452,000 from the Voted Recreation and Parks Bond Fund for shelter improvements. The project will allow the gazebo at the Whetstone Park of Roses and three shelters at Griggs Reservoir to be completely renovated as well as painting, carpentry, and roof restorations at the Jefferson Center Gazebo and shelters located at Portman, Dexter Falls, Independence Village, Redick and Willow Creek Parks.
HELPING PREVENT CHILDHOOD OBESITY: Childhood Obesity continues to be a growing problem and can lead to serious health issues for children. The Columbus Health Department has been awarded a grant from Nationwide Children’s Hospital for the Healthy Children, Healthy Weights Program. The program is designed to prevent childhood overweight and obesity by promoting healthy weight and growth in all children, starting with the youngest age group – birth to five years old by partnering with early learning centers to provide practical strategies to establish environments and policies that promote healthy weight in children. Health, Housing & Human Services Committee Chair Hearcel F. Craig is sponsoring ordinance 0825-2011 to allow the Columbus Department of Health to accept the grant in the amount of $31,419.12 for the program. Since 2004, the program has trained over 100 early learning centers including Head Start Centers, Columbus City Schools’ Early Learning Department, and independent childcare centers and reached over 10,000 children since it originated.
CREATING A MUNICIPAL CAMPUS TO IMPROVE CITY OPERATIONS: Finance Committee Chair Priscilla R. Tyson is sponsoring ordinance 0830-2011 to authorize the expenditure of $31,693,000.00 to renovate the Old Central Police Building. The plan to create a functional Municipal Campus began over 25 years ago and will have a building design which incorporates a unique blend of old architecture with modern technology and includes "green" standards to create an environmentally sustainable building designed at the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Level. Some of its features will include: energy efficient lighting, reduced flow plumbing components for water conservation, high efficiency heating and air conditioning equipment with a geothermal cooling system and heat recovery system, recycled asphalt products, and a reflective roof coating to increase cooling. When complete, the building will house the Department of Human Resources, City Attorney's Office, City Auditor's Office - Income Tax Division, Civil Service Commission, Department of Public Safety- Director's Office, and the Department of Finance and Management - Purchasing Office.
INCREASING FLEET MAINTENANCE EFFICIENCY: Councilmember A. Troy Miller, chair of the Administration Committee, is sponsoring ordinance 0683-2011 which authorizes the expenditure of $57,000 from the Department of Technology's Information Services Fund for the annual renewal of the FleetFocus software maintenance and support for the Fleet Management Division. The system, FleetFocus, provides a management system utilized by the Fleet Management Division to bill, manage, monitor and analyze all maintenance related data within the division. It also gives the Division the ability to provide accountability by tracking city-owned fleet equipment such as refuse trucks, fire apparatus, compost graders and various on road vehicles to support the daily operational requirements of city government. The system allows for the collection and management of maintenance data on a citywide basis. The software agreement will provide services to the Fleet Management Division through June 30, 2012.
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