| COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS For Immediate Release: June 25, 2012 For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 |
KEEPING FAMILIES IN THEIR HOMES: The Home Modification Program provides accessibility modifications to the homes of eligible applicants to promote independent living. Councilmember Zach M. Klein is sponsoring ordinance 1262-2012 to authorize the expenditure of $284,100.82 from the Community Development Block Grant Fund to provide grants for projects that preserve and increase the local supply of decent, safe, sanitary and affordable housing for low and moderate income households. The project provides home modifications such as the removal of architectural and attitudinal barriers and the installation of ramps and/or lifts to allow individuals to live or continue to live in their home or apartment. The program fosters dignity and self-respect through the ability to make decisions and manage one's own life.
NEW COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FUELING STATION: As part of its "Green Fleet" plan, the City has committed to implementing a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicle and fuel program. The city's fleet is being replaced with CNG vehicles and a CNG fueling station is fully operational in the city's southern quadrant. Finance Committee Chair Priscilla R. Tyson is sponsoring ordinance 1303-2012 to authorize the expenditure of $375,000.00 from the Fleet Management Capital Fund for the purchase of property located at 2333 Morse Road for the construction of a second (CNG) fuel station. The new fueling station would provide rapid and reliable dispensing of compressed natural gas (CNG) for operations in the northern quadrant of the city. CNG vehicles emit fewer nitrogen oxides and less particulate matter than gas powered vehicles and typically cost between 25‑50% less per mile of operation than gasoline or diesel.
ENHANCING CITY COMMUNICATIONS: Councilmember A. Troy Miller, chair of the Technology Committee, is sponsoring ordinance 1278-2012 to authorize the expenditure of $207,495.00 from the Department of Technology's Information Services Fund for the installation of an underground fiber optic pathway that will connect two city agencies located at 724 Woodrow Avenue and 1111 East Broad Street. The 724 Woodrow Ave. fiber project will provision fiber and network services to the newly located Police Property room, currently under construction, and the planned Crime Lab. It will also provide network connectivity for security cameras for this location. The 1111 East Broad St. fiber project is necessary for the redundant fiber optic connectivity between the City Data Centers for Citywide Disaster Recovery capabilities.
FIGHTING TRUANCY: Recognizing that truancy is often times a gateway activity to more serious criminal behavior, the Columbus Division of Police continues to work with various agencies to combat the problem. Public Safety & Judiciary Committee Chair Michelle M. Mills is sponsoring ordinance 1261-2012 to authorize the expenditure of $50,000 from the Law Enforcement Seizure Fund for a contract with the YMCA of Central Ohio to provide a safe supervised environment where Columbus Police Officers can drop off students that are truant from Columbus Schools. Since 2001, the YMCA, Columbus Police and Columbus City Schools have partnered to provide positive alternatives and safe environments to students who have been suspended or truant from school.
PROTECTING WATER LEVELS FOR CITY RESIDENTS: The city of Columbus provides water to Columbus residents and nearby communities through three water treatment facilities throughout the city. The Parsons Avenue Water Treatment Plant is the only facility that uses well water to operate and provide water to customers in the southern area of Central Ohio. To ensure that customers continue to receive water free of contaminants and an adequate water supply, Public Utilities Committee Chair Eileen Y. Paley is sponsoring ordinance 1187-2012 to authorize the expenditure of $5.9 million for a contract modification with CH2M Hill Engineers for the Parsons Avenue Water Plant (PAWP) Treatment Upgrade Project. The project will upgrade the treatment processes at Parsons Avenue Water Plant from a groundwater to a surface water treatment plant. The upgrade will enable the plant to reliably treat a 50 MGD combination of ground water, ground water under the direct influence of surface water (GWUDI), and surface water. One fourth of the city's water customers receive water from the Parsons Avenue Water Treatment Plant.
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