| COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS For Immediate Release: November 5, 2012 For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 |
POLICE AND FIRE TESTING: Before recruits for the Columbus Divisons of Police and Fire begin their training, they must first pass a series of tests designed to assess their physical readiness and abilities. Ordinance 2233-2012, sponsored by Public Safety and Judiciary Committee Chair Michelle M. Mills, allows the City of Columbus to modify a contract for pre-employment physicals with The Ohio State University. The legislation will ensure police and fire applicants during the fall and winter will be processed for December and June recruit classes.
INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS: The City of Columbus continues to search for ways to partner with governmental agencies and regional planners to make area roadways as safe as possible. That is why Councilmember Eileen Y. Paley, Chair of the Public Service and Transportation Committee, is sponsoring ordinance 2326-2012 that will allow Columbus to accept a pair of grants to improve the operation and safety of the intersection of Gender and Refugee Roads. The first grant is a Highway Safety Program grant. This grant will provide up to 90% of the funding and the City will provide a 10% match. The Department of Public Service has also requested funding in the amount of $1,360,000.00 for the construction of the project from the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.
CREATING A HEALTHY COLUMBUS: Under the leadership of Dr. Teresa Long, MD, MPH, the Columbus Public Health (CPH) Department employees some 400 committed professionals who oversee dozens of programs that are designed to keep Columbus residents and visitors healthy, safe, and active. In order to fulfill that role, CPH employees must maintain the highest standard of training and education possible. Ordinance 2318-2012, sponsored by Health and Human Service Committee Chair Priscilla R. Tyson, will allow CPH to accept a $65,000 grant from the National Association of County and City Health Officials to begin a national accreditation program to ensure those high standards are being achieved.
SALUTING VETERANS: Councilmember Hearcel F. Craig, chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee and U. S. Army Vietnam-era veteran, would like to invite all Columbus residents to participate in the annual Veterans Day ceremonies and parade. The activities will take place Friday, November 9, beginning at 10:30 am in City Council Chambers with a program honoring our men and women who have served or are currently serving our nation. The parade begins at Noon at the corner of High Street and Nationwide Boulevard traveling south to Broad Street and then west on Broad to Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium.
CODE AND ZONING DISCUSSION: Columbus City Councilmembers Zach M. Klein and A. Troy Miller, along with the Columbus Departments of Development and Building & Zoning Services, will host community presentations on Code Enforcement and Zoning this Thursday, November 8, 5:30 pm at the Martin Janis Senior Center, 600 East 11th Avenue. The first segment of the presentation will address common code violations in the City of Columbus, as well as code enforcement procedures and how to accurately report code violations via the City’s 311 services. The second segment will deal with the 19-step zoning process known as “zoning 101” in the City of Columbus, specifically the process through which developers and private citizens go to re-zone and obtain variances for specific properties and parcels. Each segment will have a presentation that will last approximately 20 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of questions and answers.
TUESDAY IS ELECTION DAY!: Council President Andrew J. Ginther reminds all Columbus residents that Tuesday is election day and to exercise your constitutional right to cast a ballot.
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JOHN IVANIC
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
_____________________________________________________
90 W. Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Direct: 614-645-6798
Cell: 614-701-1411
