President of Council Kathy McNear called Council to order on March
21, 2007, at 7:00 p.m.
The governmental body and those in attendance recited the pledge of
allegiance. Mr. Knox gave the invocation.
Mr. Knox took roll call. Present were Council members Danbury, Galster,
Harlow, Squires, Vanover, Wilson and McNear.
The minutes of March 7, 2007 were approved with seven affirmative
votes.
COMMITTEE AND OFFICIAL REPORTS
Civil Service Commission
-
no report
Rules and Laws - no report
Public Relations – Mr. Danbury the Springdale newsletter should be arriving at
people’s homes shortly.
Public Health, Safety & Welfare -
no report
Public Works - no report
Public Utilities - no report
Capital Improvements – Mr. Danbury reported on the grade separation project, the
contractor is working on completing the signal ramps at Ramp D and Progress Place and Duke
will be starting the roadway lighting in April. Final asphalt should be done in mid May.
The Kemper Road Phase III construction is expected to begin in early April. The bridge
widening should begin in early April and be completed in September of this year. The
construction on SR 4 north of Glensprings to south of Crescentville Road will begin in
late April and should be completed by July. Trend Construction was the low bidder for the
East Kemper Road improvement at Tri-County Mall. Construction will be late April through
July. There should be a rough site grading plan for the Veteran’s Memorial completed
by the end of April.
Finance Committee - no report
Planning Commission – Mr. Galster said at the February 22nd meeting Springdale Town
Center was granted approval of a ground sign set back at the southwest corner. Angelic
Whisperers, 11465 Springfield Pike, asked for an exterior façade change. That was
approved 7-0. The parking was tabled until March’s meeting. The final item was
development plan approval for the Lakeview project at Maple Knoll Village redevelopment of
the existing cottages at the main entrance. That was approved 7-0.
Mr. Galster stated at the March 13 meeting Angelic Whisperers was back on the parking
issue. There are six or seven parking spaces that back out onto SR 4. We were able to put
in a quarter moon driveway so they can use that for handicap use. They need to add light
for the back parking lot but that was approved 7-0. A development plan for the Vineyard
Church building purchased adjacent to their site was approved with seven affirmative
votes.
Board of Zoning Appeals -
no report
Board of Health – Mrs. Harlow reported that they had a second reading of Regulation
R1-207 regarding pool fees and a discussion of a service agreement with Critt R Catch R.
The Board of Health will be offering cholesterol checks on the third Thursday of each
month.
Veteran’s Memorial Committee -
no report
O-K-I – Mr. Knox said the one item of interest to the residents of Springdale is that
SORTA has gotten increased funding for a fare box project, where you use an electronic
card to pay which will be faster for the patrons and also for traffic.
Mayor’s Report – Mayor Webster said Mr. Osborn, and Mr. Williams and I met with
Representative Raussen to discuss House Bills 3 and 4 that could have an effect on the
amount of estate tax that the City receives. We knew it was a good source of revenue for
us. Over the last ten years we’ve averaged about $880,000 in estate tax. It’s
not all windfall as we do have to provide services for the seniors. That’s why I was
not concerned about taking on the programming for the seniors. It looks like it’s the
second or third highest revenue in the City each year. We wanted to express our concern to
Mr. Raussen that if they tinker with this that we come out whole on this.
Mr. Knox said HB 3 sets a state minimum for estate taxes at $500,000. Anybody’s
estate up to that will pay no tax. In the past the State has gotten twenty percent of the
proceeds from estate taxes. Under HBs 3 and 4, the State would get no money. They would
receive it and pass it directly on to the municipalities. HB 4 starts at $366,675 and says
that the first $15,575 of tax is credit given to the heirs, which drives this up quite a
bit over $500,000. In both bills there are provisions for residents to ask that other
formulas be used. We did fairly well with HB 3. HB 4 as it was used last year would have
cost us $83,000. HB 4 has an escalator on it using the CPI from September. In December the
State Auditor figures out what the new base is. If they are going to pass one I prefer HB
3.
Clerk of Council/Finance Director – Mr. Knox recommended Ordinance 22-2007 for
passage.
Administrator’s Report – Mr. Osborn said we recently concluded the purchase of a
case wheel loader. At the time we had a 1981 Ford 340 tractor loader to trade in. Our best
offer on the trade-in was $3,500. The Public Works Department believes that they can get
more money than that by selling it on e-bay. We’d like to bring in an ordinance at
the next meeting authorizing the sale of that vehicle.
Mr. Osborn stated we have been approached by Lifesphere regarding some financing they are
going to be doing in support of the sixty-one independent living units they are building
in Springdale and the thirty units they are building in Oxford. The proposal is that
Butler County issue $40 million in health care facility bonds, and we would enter into a
public hospitals agency agreement with Butler County so that the money that is raised
through their bonds can be spent in another jurisdiction, specifically Springdale.
I’d like to invite representatives from Lifesphere to answer any questions you might
have, and have the ordinance before you at the next meeting. Bond Counsel on this is Mr.
Abbot Thayer with Peck, Shaffer, Williams.
Law Director’s Report
Engineer’s Report
COMMUNICATIONS
Mr. Knox read a letter from Mr. Schneider that said, “In deep
appreciation to the Springdale City Council and officials, thank you for your
thoughtfulness by making a contribution in my mother’s name to the Roger Bacon
Scholarship Fund. This will help pay tuition for students who need assistance. Ken and the
Schneider family”
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE
- none
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
ORDINANCE NO. 17-2007 “AMENDING THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF SPRINGDALE,
OHIO, TO AMEND SECTION 35.01(B) OF CHAPTER 35: POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PERTAINING TO THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT’S COMPLEMENT, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY”
Mr. Vanover made a motion to adopt and Mr. Galster seconded.
Ordinance 17-2007 passed with seven affirmative votes.
ORDINANCE NO. 18-2007 “AMENDING ORDINANCE 9-2007 AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY”
Mr. Galster made a motion to adopt and Mr. Vanover seconded.
Ordinance 18-2007 passed with seven affirmative votes.
ORDINANCE NO. 19-2007 “AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CLERK OF COUNCIL/FINANCE DIRECTOR TO
ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH TREND CONSTRUCTION ON KEMPER ROAD IMPROVEMENTS AT TRI-COUNTY
MALL AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY”
Mr. Vanover made a motion to adopt and Mrs. Harlow seconded.
Ordinance 19-2007 passed with seven affirmative votes.
Mayor Webster said on Ordinance 17-2007, I think it’s important for the public to
know that Ordinance 17-2007 increased our complement in our Police Department from 38
officers to 40. This will put one additional police officer on the street and greatly
enhance our administrative capabilities within the Police Department. I’d like to
thank Council for support in our restructure of the way we administer things in our Police
Department.
ORDINANCE NO. 20-2007 “AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CLERK OF COUNCIL/FINANCE DIRECTOR TO
ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH KINZELMAN, KLINE, GOSSMAN (KKG) FOR SERVICES INVOLVED IN
CONDUCTING THE SPRINGDALE RETAIL DISTRICT STUDY AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AN ACTION PLAN AND
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY”
Jeff Tulloch, Economic Development Director, stated the retail district in Springdale
covers about 500 acres or 15 percent of the City. There are about 4.5 million square feet
of retail space. The retail sales are close to $1 billion with returns to the State and
Hamilton County of well over $50 million annually in sales tax. The retail component
represents nineteen percent of the economy of Springdale. The retail district is strong
and vital but it needs some enhancement and redevelopment. KKG, in conjunction with Urban
Marketing Collaborative (UMC), has been chosen to help us with this need. Aaron Whitaker
of KKG has a presentation for you.
Mr. Whitaker gave a presentation to Council. Mr. Whitaker said you can create, in essence,
beachfront property in urban environments by leveraging green space. Some of the most
notable, livable communities in our nation have effectively knitted together commercial,
residential, office, park and path space to define themselves. The economic contributions,
both in the present and in the future, to the public economy are critical to our analysis.
There is a somewhat homogenous sense of suburban strip mall auto centric model. It
doesn’t seem to sense a pedestrian feel. It doesn’t appear to have a great depth
of mix of uses. Our situation in, summary, is shifting of conditions. We have some
turnover, some vacancy, a potential reputation issue, particularly in the retail tenant
recruitment area. We have perhaps a lack of identity and place here. It’s time to
retool, to maintain and expand our market position and move the district forward. Our
approach is a multi-disciplinary approach. We’ll take careful audit of the physical
and retail environment. We craft our research methodology to answer specific questions.
We’re about making change, about providing for catalytic opportunities, and we will
be looking for specific opportunities to engage the public.
Mr. Osborn said this is a forward looking plan. We are still a successful business
district but we have to recognize that there is more competition today in the retail
industry than any time in the past. In order for our retail district to remain competitive
we believe it has to plan to advance to that next level of development that we are seeing
in various areas around the Cincinnati region. This firm is an excellent firm. I have
gotten glowing reports about this firm from Colerain Township and Montgomery. The study
will take about nine months but the implementation will take years. It will be driven to a
great degree by early successes and attracting the attention of people who have the money
to reinvest in property, convincing those existing owners that it is time to reinvest.
We’re trying to take it to the next level.
Mr. Danbury asked do communities usually use tax abatements, TIFs, or use private funds to
finance something like this?
Mr. Whitaker replied it’s usually a combination of things.
Ordinance 20-2007 passed with seven affirmative votes.
ORDINANCE NO. 21-2007 “AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE
CITY OF SPRINGDALE TO PROVIDE FOR A NEW SECTION 153.534 ELECTRONIC HIGHWAY SIGNS IN
PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT ZONING DISTRICTS”
First reading.
Mr. Danbury asked did this come from a recommendation from Planning Commission? Mr.
Galster replied yes and Planning Commission forwarded it to Council.
Mr. Danbury asked shouldn’t there be a section that says Planning Commission passed
this with their vote count. If it comes with a 4-3 vote, then Council has to have at least
five votes. Mr. Schneider stated that should probably be in there.
Mr. Danbury made a motion to add a section stating that Planning Commission passed the
recommendation with six affirmative votes. Mr. Vanover seconded. The motion passed with
seven affirmative votes.
ORDINANCE NO. 22-2007 “AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF NOT TO EXCEED
$525,000 TAX INCREMENT REVENUE NOTES OF THE CITY OF SPRINGDALE; PROVIDING FOR THE PLEDGE
OF REVENUES FOR THE PAYMENT OF SUCH NOTES; AUTHORIZING NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE
DOCUMENTS; AND AUTHORIZING OTHER ACTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH NOTES AND
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY”
Mrs. Harlow made a motion to ready by title only and Mr. Danbury seconded. The motion
passed with seven affirmative votes.
Mr. Osborn stated in February 2005 we created a TIF district at Tri-County Mall
encompassing just those areas that are undergoing improvement. That TIF district has been
dormant to this point and now we are starting to see development. As part of that
development Tri-County would like to reconfigure their southern parking facility and the
access into that facility. A critical part of that is a new signalized intersection
directly across from the entrance into Cassinelli Square. When it is completed it will be
a full intersection with the south side serving Cassinelli Square and the north side
serving Tri-County Mall. The cost of this improvement is $523,000. We are not prepared to
issue long-term debt because there is no money there at this time. We will probably see
some revenues in 2009. In the interim, we’d like to issue a note for $523,092 that
will be used to build the intersection. We have negotiated with Thor UDR, the owners of
the mall that they will take direct placement of the note. They are the ones at risk. This
is a TIF note and is not secured by the good faith of credit of the City of Springdale.
The ordinance says that in several places. The City is fairly well protected for the debt
ever coming back on us. This will expedite the construction of that intersection and keep
the Tri-County Mall redevelopment on pace. We ask Council’s consent to this
legislation.
Mr. Vanover made a motion to adopt and Mr. Squires seconded.
Ordinance 22-2007 passed with seven affirmative votes.
RESOLUTION R7-2007 “APPROVING THE PAYMENT OF $10,000.00 TO THE CINCINNATI USA
PARTNERSHIP FOR THE YEAR 2007”
Mr. Danbury made a motion to adopt and Mr. Vanover seconded.
Mr. Osborn said this is not a new program. The purpose is to provide Cincinnati USA with
resources to promote this region nationally and internationally. Site Selection Magazine
has picked the Cincinnati area as one of the top ten metro areas for economic development.
This is based on criteria that measures investments of more than $1 million in private
capital, fifty or more new jobs created with a single deal or 20,000 square feet of space
built in a single deal. We have consistently been in that top ten. Last year Greater
Cincinnati had ninety-three projects that qualified under this program. This is the fifth
year this area has been part of the top ten list. We are part of that regional economy. If
we’re not part of it, we can work as hard as want to and not see any improvements in
our economics here in the City. This contribution gives us a seat at the table when it
comes to talking to the Chamber about our needs and our interests and eliciting support on
things that might be required. This is the fourth year of a five-year commitment.
Resolution R7-2007 passed with seven affirmative votes.
OLD BUSINESS
Mr. Wilson said I want to commend the Springdale Employees Committee who put on our
employee celebration Saturday. It was phenomenal. It was different. No one fell asleep.
People stayed well beyond 10:00 p.m. We need to keep on pressing.
Mr. Knox stated they are working on the Kenn Road bridge so it is one-way traffic during
the work day.
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Knox said we received our annual letter from the Ohio Department of Commerce Division
of Liquor Control in regard to permit renewal objections. Chief Laage told me there are no
establishments in the City that are continually being a problem. He would advise us not to
object to any of the licenses at this time.
Council had no objections.
MEETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Opening Day
-
April 28
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE - none
UPDATE ON LEGISLATION STILL IN DEVELOPMENT
Ordinance 21-2007
-
April 18
RECAP OF LEGISLATIVE ITEMS REQUESTED
Sale of tractor
-
April 4
LifeSphere agreement
-
April 4
Council adjourned at 8:18 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Edward
F. Knox
Clerk
of Council/Finance Director
Minutes Approved:
Kathy McNear, President of Council
__________________________, 2007
City of Springdale Council
March 21 2007