UAC Community Bits: City Council Meeting Highlights

COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

For Immediate Release:

September 10, 2012

For More Information:

John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798

CATCH PROGRAM: The Changing Actions To Change Habits or CATCH program is a specialty docket in the Franklin County Municipal Court that deals with women arrested for prostitution. Ordinance 1816-2012, sponsored by Public Safety and Judiciary Committee Councilmember Michelle M. Mills, will allow the court to contract with Doma to provide case management and employment services for the women enrolled in CATCH. Doma is local social service organization that looks to empower survivors of human trafficking by offering workforce development, life skills, and meeting basic emergency needs for women.

HOME AGAIN, OLD OAKS STYLE: The Old Oaks subdivision provides residents a unique residential setting just a mile or so from heart of downtown Columbus. Councilmember Zach M. Klein, chair of the Development Committee, is sponsoring ordinance 1899-2012 to authorize the expenditure of up to $1,275,000 for the Home Again Old Oaks initiative. The funds will assist homebuyers with grants for projects designed to redevelop residential homes and residential properties in the Old Oaks Historic District as homeownership opportunities. The Home Again initiative looks to increase and preserve the local supply of decent, safe, and sanitary housing including both affordable and market rate housing. This makes each home eligible for residential tax abatement on any new assessed property values determined by the County Auditor.

BRIDGE SAFETY PROGRAM: The City of Columbus Capital Improvement Budget allows for the routine repair and maintenance of buildings, roads, and other community assets. Ordinance 1851-2012, sponsored by Public Service and Transportation Committee Chair Eileen Y. Paley, will authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into a $1.5-million contract with Complete General Construction Co. to inspect and rehabilitate several bridges. The work will include crack sealing, concrete patching, railing and pavement repairs.

CRAIG CONTINUES BENEFITS FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL: One of the ways the City of Columbus demonstrates its commitment to employees who are called to active military duty is to support the continuation of military leave with pay and benefits. Councilmember Hearcel F. Craig, a Vietnam era veteran and chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee, is sponsoring ordinance 1948-2012 to ensure the extension of City-provided group health and life insurance, under the same terms and conditions currently in effect to City employees and their beneficiaries; and to declare an emergency. The program was initiated by City Council after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

INVESTING IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Councilmember A. Troy Miller, chair of the Administration Committee, is sponsoring ordinance 1491-2012 to authorize the Director of the Department of Technology to modify a contract with Information Builders, Inc., to purchase additional business intelligence (BI) software and professional services to assist in implementing a BI system for the Department of Public Utilities. This phase of the BI project will provide improved information delivery from DPU's systems supporting fiscal management, performance management, safety, asset management, operations and maintenance, and regulatory compliance. Improved information delivery from these systems will enable DPU managers to have more timely access to reliable information in support of decisions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of services delivered to DPU customers.

FUNDING THE FUTURE: We are now less than a month away from the opening of the Columbus Hollywood Casino so it is imperative to set up the various accounts that will be used by the City Auditor to manage casino revenue and money that has already come into the City from the operation of casinos in other Ohio cities. Ordinance 1960-2012, sponsored by Finance Committee Chair Councilmember Priscilla R. Tyson, will allow the Auditor to allocate casino revenue dollars to accounts that will help make needed infrastructure improvements and meet various obligations to improve job creation and the quality of life in Columbus.

BICENTENNIAL REUNION: In honor of Columbus’ Bicentennial, Columbus City Council President Andrew J. Ginther, along with past City Councilmember Fran Ryan, is hosting a reunion of City Councilmembers at 4 pm in room 226 on the second floor of City Hall. This celebration will commemorate City Council’s long history of diversity in leadership in Columbus and reunite Councilmembers from numerous decades.

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JOHN IVANIC

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

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