| COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS For Immediate Release: October 17, 2011 For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 |
HELPING FUND THE HONEYSUCKLE REMOVAL PROGRAM: Although many people consider Honeysuckle an attractive plant, it can often be invasive and uncontrollable and has become a threat to city parks’ native plant species. Honeysuckle grows quickly, and tends to block sunlight from lower, native plants. Even after its stems are cut, roots can develop and regrow. Recreation & Parks Committee Chair Zachary M. Klein is sponsoring resolution 0259X-2011 to support the Recreation and Parks Department grant application to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation – Pulling it Together: Managing Invasive Species 2011 Grant. The grant application is for $75,000 to be used for the Recreation and Parks Honeysuckle Removal Program. The funds will be used to purchase equipment and materials to assist volunteers in removing honeysuckle correctly in the riparian corridor of four watersheds in Columbus’ city parks. The correct removal of honeysuckle will help ensure our ecosystem returns to its natural, balanced state.
MILLER ATTENDING NEIGHBORHOOD BEST PRACTICES CONFERENCE: Councilmember A. Troy Miller will join community leaders, neighborhood organizations and volunteers for the 2nd Annual Neighborhood Best Practices Conference on Saturday, October 22, 2011 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Downtown High School (23 N. Fourth Street). The event is designed to promote and strengthen communication and collaboration between neighborhood groups, community partners and local government. The conference will also provide an opportunity community leaders and participants to share ideas for creatively solving challenges, developing collaborations and encouraging neighbors to get involved in beautification/revitalization efforts, developing safe neighborhoods, and creating youth/faith based leadership.
SUPPORTING THE BAN OF DANGEROUS CHEMICALS: Synthetic stimulants, often marketed as “bath salts” have become increasingly popular among teens and young adults. These “bath salts” can be found in many retail products and are often ingested by sniffing and snorting, taken orally, smoked or put into a solution and injected into veins. City Councilmember Michelle M. Mills will be introducing resolution 0289X-2011 to express support for the United States Congress to permanently ban mephedrone, methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), and methylone, all key ingredients in “bath salts”. The chemicals act as a stimulant to central nervous system and can cause rapid heart rate (leading to heart attacks and strokes), chest pains, nosebleeds, sweating, nausea and vomiting. As of August 31st of this year, the American Association of Poison Control Centers have received 4,720 calls about exposure to “bath salts” compared to 303 calls in 2010.
BUILDING HEALTHY FAMILIES: The Columbus Health Department, through grant funds from the Ohio Department of Health, operates the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Program. WIC provides various healthcare programs to income-eligible pregnant and breastfeeding women, women who recently had a baby, infants and children up to five years of age who are at health risk due to inadequate nutrition. Councilmember Hearcel F. Craig, chair of the Health, Housing and Human Services Committee, is sponsoring ordinance 1587-2011, which authorizes the city to accept a $6.6 million grant for the 2011 -2012 WIC Program. The program provides nutrition education, breastfeeding education and support; supplemental, highly nutritious foods such as cereal, eggs, milk, whole grain foods, fruits and vegetables, and iron-fortified infant formula; referral to prenatal and pediatric health care and other maternal and child health and human service programs.
KEEPING THE OHIO THEATER A SOURCE OF CIVIC PRIDE: Since opening in 1928, the Ohio Theater has served as an entertainment venue for hundreds of thousands of people. With the continued assistance of City Council, many more will be able to enjoy the theater’s offerings for decades to come. Councilmember Priscilla R. Tyson, chair of the Finance Committee, is sponsoring ordinance 1607-2011 to appropriate $161,512.81 from the Urban Development Assistance Grant (UDAG) fund for the immediate and long-term maintenance of the theater. The use of the UDAG funds to help cover annual maintenance costs of the Ohio Theater was included in a 30-year agreement made between the city and the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) in 1982.
MAINTAINING THE LANDSCAPE ALONG COLUMBUS ROADWAYS: In an effort to help keep our city clean, the City of Columbus is responsible for mowing along the City’s roadway system. Public Service Committee Chair Eileen Y. Paley is sponsoring ordinance 1414-2011 to authorize the expenditure of $351,692.84 from the Street and Highway Improvement Fund for the purchase of four new tractors and four sets of mowers. The tractors and mowers will replace older units which are beyond their useful service life and are 4-wheel driver tractors that help enhance the fleet used by the city’s Snow Warriors during the winter season.
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