| COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS For Immediate Release: February 13, 2012 For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 |
TYSON HOLDING CAPITAL BUDGET HEARING: Columbus City Councilmember Priscilla R. Tyson, chair of the Finance Committee, will hold a public hearing to discuss the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and funding proposals for the 2012 capital budget on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. Speaker slips will be available on the day of the hearing beginning at 8 am at City Hall. General rules of speaking before Council will apply. Speaker slips will be accepted until 5:30 pm. The meeting will be televised live on CTV, Columbus’ public access station on local cable systems
ENSURING CITY BRIDGES ARE SAFE: The city of Columbus performs routine rehabilitation to existing, city-owned bridges to ensure safety, minimize maintenance costs and prolong the life of the bridges. Public Service & Transportation Committee Chair Eileen Y. Paley is sponsoring ordinance 0070-2012, which authorizes the expenditure of $1.5 million from the Streets and Highways G.O. Bond Fund for the Bridge Rehabilitation – Annual Citywide Contract Project. Rehabilitation will consist of crack sealing, concrete patching on all elements of a bridge, railing rehabilitation, epoxy injection, maintenance of traffic, concrete removal, asphalt overlays, sealing cracks in bridge decks and the replacement of expansion joint seals.
BETTER EQUIPPING POLICE TO HANDLE OVI drivers: the Indigent Driver Alcohol Treatment Fund is financed through fines collected by indigent offenders arrested and convicted of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Ordinance 0108-2012, sponsored by Public Safety & Judiciary Committee Chair Michelle M. Mills, will authorize the appropriation of $109,373 to the Division of Police to provide funding for advanced training for the Accident Investigation Unit, a DWI Conference for Traffic Bureau personnel and supplies and equipment for OVI Checkpoints. The advanced training will result in officers that are better equipped to handle fatal, near fatal and hit-skip accidents as a result of drivers who are under the influence of alcohol.
PROVIDING SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES: Each year, the city of Columbus receives funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to create affordable housing for low and moderate income families under the HOME Investment Partnerships Act. Development Committee Chair Zach M. Klein is sponsoring ordinance 0245-2012, which will authorize the appropriation of $3,311,751.00 from the 2012 HOME Fund to the Department of Development. The funds will assist first-time homebuyers, for-profit and non-profit organizations with grants and no or low interest loans for projects designed to increase and preserve the local supply of decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing for low and moderate income families.
CELEBRATING THE 200TH BIRTHDAY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: The city of Columbus was originally founded on February 14, 1812. In honor of the city’s 200th Birthday, City Council President Andrew J. Ginther and fellow Councilmembers will present resolution 0034X-2012 to Mayor Michael B. Coleman during tonight’s council meeting. The Columbus Bicentennial 2012 organization will also present a birthday cake to commemorate this special occasion. The initiative, 200Columbus the Bicentennial, is a citywide celebration of all things Columbus and will commemorate the city’s 200th birthday throughout the year with events and activities honoring the city’s past, celebrating the present and envisioning the future.
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