President of Council Marjorie Harlow called Council to order on March 6, 2008, at 7:00 p.m.

    The governmental body and those in attendance recited the pledge of allegiance.

    Mr. Vanover took roll call. Present were Council members Danbury, Diehl, Galster, Squires, Vanover, Wilson and Harlow.

    The minutes of February 20, 2008 were approved with seven affirmative votes.

    COMMUNICATIONS                         -     none

    COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE

    Ed Knox, 881 Yorkhaven Road, said prior to leaving office Mayor Webster requested that I report to Council on the status of Springdale’s representation with the Northern Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau (NCCVB). He had asked what are the term limits set for the members of the NCCVB. We didn’t have any term limits for the members of the Board of Directors or the officers when we formed the bureau. Yesterday we resolved the terms. Revisions were made to the Code of Regulations which resulted in fixed terms for the members of the board and separately for the officers. One third of the entities holding the seats, the sustaining members of which Springdale is one, will be asked every year to reaffirm or reappoint their members to the board. Springdale’s term will be at 2010. The officers will serve a one-year term and are elected at the annual meeting held during the first quarter of the year. Yesterday I was elected to another one-year term as the treasurer of the NCCVB, which I would like to keep doing until we get the funding straightened out. The biggest problem is that there are people downtown who want to do away with the NCCVB. They like to overlook the fact that over half of the taxes that pay for the Convention and Visitors Bureau comes from the suburban communities. The years previous to the formation of a second Convention and Visitors Bureau very little was done for the suburban hotels. With the formation of our Convention and Visitors Bureau a lot has been done. We have generated many room nights. The first year we had about 18,000; 23,000 the second year plus a bowling convention of 13,000; and last year we were over 30,000. We are getting more funding this year at $730,000. Some of the supplemental funds have been released for this year but it is only for one year. Two County Commissioners wanted it for five years. The Convention Facility Authority was almost unanimously in favor of five year funding as well as most of City Council, but two members blocked it. The funding will give us 30 percent of the money that will go towards the Convention and Visitors Bureau and Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau will get the other 70 percent. We think that is fair.

    Mayor Webster asked is it a one-year appointment?

    Mr. Knox replied I’m the treasure for one year but as a representative I will be there until 2010. It’s a three-year appointment.

    Mr. Danbury asked have they ever discussed the history of the occupancy prior to the sales tax until now. Has it affected the suburbs as much as we thought it would?

Mr. Knox responded the occupancy has gone up. There are new hotels going up.

Mr. Wilson asked who shot down the five-year plan and how did they have more clout than everybody else?

Mr. Knox answered it was Chris Bortz and John Cranley. John Cranley seems to carry more weight than one out of nine down there.

Mrs. Harlow asked are all members elected officials or representatives appointed by communities?

Mr. Knox replied most of the members are hoteliers. I’m the only person not directly associated with a city.

Mrs. Harlow asked can you remain a member?

Mr. Knox replied I just have to be appointed by the City.

Mayor Webster asked is there a date in 2010 for appointment.

Mr. Knox replied March 1 would be a good date.

PARKS AND RECREATION AWARDS RECOGNITION -    Greg Karle

Greg Karle, Director of Parks and Recreation stated the Ohio Parks and Recreation Agency recognizes agencies who have displayed innovation and leadership in the field through their programs, marketing and facilities. I’m proud to announce that our department was awarded three awards of excellence at the OPAR Conference in Dayton last month. Springdale received outstanding awards in the three categories entered. The first category was Family Programs and Special Events. That was for the Hometown Family Fourth. Receiving the award allowed us to not only share the concept with our colleagues throughout the State, but also bring some well deserved recognition to the City. I would like to specifically recognize Sharon Casselman for her efforts on the Hometown Fourth. The second award was in Marketing in the category of Public Relations and/or Public Information Campaign for the “Forty Days to the Fourth” campaign. I would like to recognize Jackie O’Connell for this award. Our third award was for Facilities with Construction Costs Under $500,000. This was for the senior lounge and meeting room expansion project. The addition of substantial senior programming in 2006 brought the need to provide meeting room space specifically for seniors. We also recognized the need to expand our existing meeting room space. We created 1400 square feet of new usable space in a very cost effective manner. For this award I’d like to recognize CDS for their design services and oversight throughout the project.

    ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

ORDINANCE NO. 14-2008 “AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CLERK OF COUNCIL/FINANCE DIRECTOR TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH CDS ASSOCIATES, INC., FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES NECESSARY FOR THE 2008 STREET PROGRAM AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY”

Mr. Squires made a motion to adopt and Mr. Wilson seconded.

Mr. Galster said in the base bid I see Glensprings and Glenfalls for $1,000. What are we doing there?

Mr. Shvegzda said that is for regrinding and resurfacing an area that has begun to push.

Mr. Osborn said it is the area just west of the intersection as you are going eastbound. You may notice that there has been some sliding of the wearing surface and it creates a real jolting ride. This will strip off that wearing surface and smooth out that ride.

Mr. Galster said we also started doing complete curb replacement when we were looking at the street program a number of years ago. Are these numbers continuing that effort to where all that needed to be replaced have been replaced?

Mr. Osborn replied no, the curbing we are doing in this case are the intermittent repair. We don’t have any full subdivision projects in here. It just costs too much. We tried to prioritize those areas of the City that need the most attention. That comes out to an estimated $648,000. We have a remaining amount of engineering of $45,000. However, we have another project that we feel is a high priority and that is a redesign of the northeast corner of Walnut and Kemper where the school busses have to go around the corner. We are going to push that curb back sufficiently so that the buses can make that turn. That will probably cost around $35,000. The alternates do involve resurfacing certain areas of these streets as well as handicap ramps at the intersections. We currently have handicap ramps at these locations but they are not consistent with current ADA standards so we’re going to replace them as money is available.

Mr. Galster said when we originally did the full curb replacement it seems to me that we got through the majority of the City that was older with the exception of the cul de sacs off of Glensprings. These alternate bids are not full curb, just re-pavement of those streets.

Mr. Osborn replied not even full pavement, just areas.

Ordinance 14-2008 passed with seven affirmative votes.

    OLD BUSINESS                         -     none

    NEW BUSINESS

    There were no objections to a name change for the liquor license from Best Western to Shubh Hotels Springdale.

    Mr. Osborn stated the Golf Ranch on Tri-County Parkway recently purchased the liquor license from Snookers.

    Mr. Wilson said the Best Western sign has a different name on it. Does anyone know what they are going to call themselves?

    Mayor Webster said they are working to get that resolved and it hopefully will be a Crown Plaza. They have trailers out back that are housing some of the refurbishing materials that they are using inside and furniture.

    Mr. Wilson asked if they change their name do they have to change the liquor license again?

    Mayor Webster replied no, this is the corporate entity that owns the hotel.
   
    MEETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Planning Commission                         -     March 11
    Lions’ Club Pancake Breakfast                 -     March 15
    Board of Zoning Appeals                     -     March 18
    Licensing ordinance first reading                 -     March 19   
   
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE        -      none

UPDATE ON LEGISLATION STILL IN DEVELOPMENT    -    none




Council adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

                        Respectfully submitted,




                        Kathy McNear
                        Clerk of Council/Finance Director

Minutes Approved:

Marjorie Harlow, President of Council



__________________________, 2007



       

City of Springdale Council


    March 5    2008