| COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS For Immediate Release: September 23, 2013 For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 |
HEALTHY MOMS AND HEALTHY BABIES: The Child and Family Health Services Perinatal Program is designed to eliminate health disparities, improve birth outcomes and improve the health of women, infants and children in Ohio. Ordinance 2135-2013, sponsored by Health and Human Services Committee chair Priscilla R. Tyson, will allow the City to enter into a $50,000 contract with Neighborhood Health Center, Inc., to use grant funds from the state to support a variety of medical services for women and children.
CAR2GO: Councilmember Eileen Y. Paley, chair of the Public Service and Transportation Committee, is sponsoring ordinance 2105-2013, to allow Car2Go, a car sharing service, to park their vehicles in residential permit parking areas and at certain parking meters. The legislation suspends two sections of the City Code and puts in place a 12-month pilot program to study the effects of a car sharing program on mobility options and Columbus neighborhoods and businesses.
KICKSTART WIDGETPITCH: Councilmember A. Troy Miller, chair of the Small & Minority Business Development and Technology Committees, is partnering with the Economic & Community Development Institute (ECDI) to sponsor KickStart WIDGETPITCH. WIDGETPITCH is an innovative competition that will allow startup and existing businesses or individuals to compete for investments with the goal of helping to get products to market. Five finalists will make their pitches to a panel of community judges at 7pm on September 26, during Mayor Coleman’s Small Business Conference at the Hyatt Regency Columbus.
PROTECTING THE PUBLIC: The Columbus City Council is proud to invest in equipment to help our safety forces protect the public and improve the quality of life in Columbus. Councilmember Michelle M. Mills, chair of the Public Safety and Judiciary Committee, is sponsoring ordinance 1969-2013 to spend $1,900,582.16 to purchase eight new custom build medium duty medics for the Division of Fire from Horton Emergency Vehicles. The vehicle body is locally manufactured and Horton has provided excellent service to the Division of Fire and the Fleet Management Division. The new medics will replace medics that are beyond their useful lives and have high maintenance costs.
BIKEWAY ADDITIONS: Columbus is committed to becoming the most bike-friendly community possible, and the creation of trails and recreational spaces is an important component of that plan. Recreation and Parks Committee chair Zach M. Klein is sponsoring ordinance 2114-2013 to fund the Goodale Street Bikeway Project. The $5,570,703.00 project will build a dedicated trail facility along Goodale Street, providing access for downtown workers and residents of Harrison West and Grandview Heights to the Olentangy Trail and the Arena District. The project increases safety for cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists. The work for which proposals were invited consists of the following: Construction of trail improvements along Goodale Street, from Olentangy River Road to Michigan Avenue, including a connector ramp to the Olentangy Trail. Work items for the project include bridge construction, concrete, lighting, asphalt pavement, signage, and maintenance of traffic
FREEDOM AWARD: Councilmember Hearcel F. Craig, chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee, will visit Washington, D.C., to accept the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award on behalf of the City of Columbus. The Freedom Award is the Department of Defense’s highest recognition given to employers for exceptional support of Guard and Reserve employees. More details on the award will be released later this week.
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JOHN IVANIC
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
_____________________________________________________
90 W. Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Direct: 614-645-6798
Cell: 614-701-1411
