UAC Community Bits: {SPAM} October 22, 2012 Highlights

COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

For Immediate Release:

October 22, 2012

For More Information:

John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798

VAP UNIT SUCCESS: A concentrated citywide effort to rehabilitate or demolish dangerous blighted properties in neighborhoods is beginning to turn eyesores into safe parcels of land. Development Committee Chair Councilmember Zach M. Klein is sponsoring 10 ordinances this evening that will transfer land bank properties to new owners, thus returning the sites to productive uses. The properties were targeted by the Vacant and Abandoned Property (VAP) Unit consisting of representatives of the City Attorney’s Office, Code Enforcement and Building and Zoning Services. Columbus plans to invest more than $11.5-million in Capital Improvement Funds during the next four years to demolish some 900 of the worst properties in the City and set up programs to transfer ownership of vacant and abandoned homes or properties.

OVI ENFORCEMENT: The Columbus Division of Police promotes traffic safety through aggressive enforcement of drunk driving laws. Councilmember Michelle M. Mills, chair of the Public Safety and Judiciary Committee, is sponsoring two ordinances that will allow the Division of Police to accept grant money from the State of Ohio to continue to use check points to take impaired drivers off the roads and raise awareness of the problem in Columbus. Ordinance 2192-2012 authorizes an agreement with the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO), State of Ohio, for the OVI Checkpoints and Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) truck items project and appropriates funds to cover the costs of the project. This project will target reducing fatal crashes through strict enforcement on OVI within the interstate highway system in the City of Columbus and major arterial streets during specific periods. The agreement authorizes reimbursement for the overtime costs of sworn personnel working on the project and for minor equipment for a BAC truck to assist with onsite project activities. Ordinance 2193-2012 authorizes a second agreement with OTSO for the High Visibility Enforcement Overtime 2013 project and to appropriate funds to cover the costs of the project. This project will target reducing fatal crashes through strict enforcement on speed, aggressive driving behaviors, OVI, seat belt violations and driver inattention within the interstate system in the City of Columbus and major arterial streets during specific holiday and national mobilization periods.

MORE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS: In addition to the OVI enforcement pieces in the Public Safety and Judiciary Committee, Health and Human Services Committee Chair Priscilla R. Tyson is sponsoring ordinance 2096-2012 that will allow the Columbus Public Health Department to accept a $125,000 grant from the State of Ohio for the Safe Communities Program. The Franklin County Safe Communities Project promotes traffic safety through a coalition of partners from law enforcement, health, education, engineering, transportation and planning, together with community residents to reduce traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities in Franklin County by focusing on safety belt use, drinking and driving, speed, pedestrian safety, teen driving, and running of red lights.

BUILDING A BIKE FRIENDLY COLUMBUS: For many years the City of Columbus has worked to become the most bicycle friendly community possible. One way to advance this environmentally friendly activity that also promotes a healthier Columbus is to invest in bike lanes and trails. Resolution 0123x-2012, sponsored by Public Service and Transportation Committee Chair Eileen Y. Paley, formally asserts Columbus’ support for the United States Bike Route 50 initiative, a plan to build approximately 5.2 miles of bike routes, 16.3 miles of shared use path within the City of Columbus and 25.3 miles of the route in Franklin County that are not in the City of Columbus.

-30-

JOHN IVANIC

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

_____________________________________________________