President of Council Kathy McNear called Council to order on April 4, 2007, at 7:00
p.m.
The governmental body and those in attendance recited the pledge of
allegiance.
Mr. Knox took roll call. Present were Council members Danbury (7:05
p.m.), Galster, Harlow, Squires, Vanover, Wilson and McNear.
The minutes of March 21, 2007 were approved with six affirmative votes.
COMMUNICATIONS
Mr. Knox said the first communication pertains to a city ordinance
about dogs on leashes: I have a neighbor in Oxford Hills who walks her lab on a
retractable lease and lets it come all the way up to my Greencastle propertys porch,
the garage door and landscaping across the entry walkway. It is very distressing to my dog
that is inside and can see her and her dog. I told her I didnt really appreciate her
letting her dog have free access to my entire front yard. I think the sidewalk and parking
strip should be enough space for her dog walking. She showed her disgust at me by huffing
at me and walking away. I dont want to be nasty but she has done this before. In
fact, just the past weekend she did it. As I came out of my garage from my kitchen I found
her dog right in my path almost to the door. Isnt that pushing the leash ordinance?
If I had been coming out of the garage with my dog it could have been very
confrontational. My dog was attacked ten years ago by a dog that charged us in the same
location but that dog wasnt on a leash but with the same possibility of injury if
the dog attacked. The owner was ten to fifteen feet from her dog on the public sidewalk
where I think the dog should have been. I think the leash is meant to be four to five feet
long and those retractable ones can go out to twenty feet plus. Please forward my comments
to City Council and make it clear what leash is appropriate to use in residential yards.
Ken and Sharon Broenner, Greencastle Drive
Mr. Knox read the second letter: Dear Mr. Knox: The scouts and
leaders and members of the committee of Boy Scout Troop 912 take great pleasure in
announcing that having completed the requirements for and having been examined by the
Eagle Scout Board of Review, Richard Ian Cotterill is now worthy of the rank of Eagle
Scout. In honor of this achievement we have scheduled an Eagle Scout Court of Honor for
April 22 at 3:00 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, Glendale. We would appreciate a letter
or certificate acknowledging his achievement. We will compile it with other
acknowledgements and place in a scrapbook in memory of this special occasion. Thanks for
taking the time. Signed by a member of the committee.
Mayor Webster said Mrs. Broenner has been delivered a copy of the leash
law by a police officer, and that person is in violation. Even though you have the dog on
a leash that lets the dog roam, you still have to keep the dog under control, keep it off
private party. The next stop on the officers route was to the offending party, and
Mrs. Broenner asked us not to do that. She said she thinks the situation has been taken
care of. We will emphasize that in future block meetings, that even though you have the
dog on one of these leashes, you are in violation if you let the dog roam on someone
elses property.
Mayor Webster said we normally issue a proclamation for Eagle Scouts.
We have contacted that scout leader for more information and we will issue a proclamation.
Mr. Knox said the scout and his mother will be at the next Council
meeting so we could present it at that time.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE -
none
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
ORDINANCE NO. 23-2007 ORDINANCE APPROVING, SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECTION 147(f)
OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, THE ISSUANCE OF ADJUSTABLE RATE DEMAND HEALTHCARE
FACILITIES BONDS, SERIES 2007 (LIFESPHERE PROJECT), BY THE COUNTY OF BUTLER, OHIO;
AUTHORIZING A PUBLIC HOSPITAL AGENCIES AGREEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH THAT APPROVAL; AND
AUTHORIZING OTHER DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS
Mr. Vanover made a motion to adopt and Mr. Galster seconded.
Mr. Danbury said on page 3, it says County of Butler, Ohio with no reference of Hamilton
County.
Mr. Osborn responded no, we are entering into a facilities agreement that will authorize
the expenditure of funds raised by bonds issued in Butler County to make improvements
within Hamilton County.
Mr. Osborn introduced Ken Huff, Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of LifeSphere
and Abbott Thayer from Peck, Shaffer and Williams, bond counsel on this project.
Mr. Thayer said it is cheaper if LifeSphere is able to combine the issuance and have one
political subdivision issue the bonds on behalf of two or more subdivisions.
Mr. Huff stated we are replacing thirty cottages built in the 1970s. They are not
desirable anymore. They are 830 square feet and hard for a couple to move into with that
square footage. We are looking at two or three story buildings. A first floor building
closest to the existing is there for sunlight.
Mr. Wilson asked are these rental units or for purchase? What is the cost?
Mr. Huff replied the resident coming in will pay an entrance fee. We will use that
entrance fee to pay back our debt. There is an entrance fee and a monthly maintenance fee.
The entrance fee, depending on the contract, is ninety percent refundable, where it
amortizes over 8 1/3 or 16 2/3 years. The units will range from $180,000 to $300,000.
Monthly fees, depending on the contract, will be $1,400 to $2,000.
Mr. Galster said Planning Commission did review this over a couple of months. A major
concern was that the three-story buildings were closest to SR 4 so we were concerned about
the landscaping, different facades to change the elevation so we didnt end up with
solid walls and we were very happy with the ultimate submittal and approved it with a 6-1
vote.
Ordinance 23-2007 passed with seven affirmative votes.
ORDINANCE NO. 24-2007 DECLARING ONE TRACTOR/LOADER, WITH SICKLE, AS SURPLUS PROPERTY
AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO ADVERTISE, AUCTION AND ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR
SALE OF SAID PROPERTY AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
Mr. Vanover made a motion to adopt and Mr. Squires seconded.
Mr. Vanover asked do you hold a reserve on that?
Mr. Knox replied I have some experience in that and I think, in this case, there would be
a reserve figure.
Mr. Galster asked did we sell the police vehicles on e-bay?
Mr. Osborn replied we have sold police radios, etc., but I dont think we have sold
those vehicles yet. We did sell an ambulance from the Fire Department.
Ordinance 24-2007 passed with seven affirmative votes.
OLD BUSINESS
Mr. Danbury said I have Reds baseball tickets. They are $20 and we are
selling them for $10. I have an order form for people who want to sit closer to the field.
You can get $40 tickets for $20. We have until the second week of April to send back the
tickets we dont sell. The date is May 5th.
Mr. Knox said I have a reminder notice from the Ohio Ethics Committee
that all disclosure statements are due by April 16.
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Osborn said I would like to request legislation for a contract with
CDS for design services for the improvements on West Kemper Road just east of Springfield
Pike. We anticipate construction in 2008. The purpose of the project is to create
additional turning capacity into the elementary school as well as well as additional
traffic capacity to turn into the new shopping center across the street. It will widen the
road from Springfield Pike to Walnut. The cost for the design is $49,800.
Mr. Osborn said I have a piece of legislation from the State of Ohio.
In 2010 were hoping to create a double left turn from SR 747 to westbound I-275 and
also relocate the eastbound exit ramp to make it more conducive to traffic control. The
project legislation commits both parties to the project. When I got the letter I found
that the funding that they authorized does not appear to be what I understood it was going
to be. Its 70/30 but Id like to see if that can be improved on. I anticipate
legislation within the next two meetings.
Mr. Knox said I would like to bring in a resolution raising the limit
on purchase orders from $200 to $500. It was raised to $200 in 1996. This is in line with
other cities.
Mr. Parham requested legislation for health insurance for both
reinsurance with the third party administrator and stop-loss insurance.
Mr. Osborn said I would like to comment on the purchase order limit.
Even though it would go to $500, that doesnt mean there is no control over expenses.
We still use a requisition process. The purchase order has to be signed by the Mayor, the
Clerk and me, and quite honestly, it takes some time for everyones signature. We are
hoping that on small purchases we can expedite those. Even without a purchase order, there
still has to be a request. It would dramatically improve our purchasing process.
Thirty-six percent of all purchase orders are under $500, and between $200 and $500.
Raising this would cut down on internal paperwork considerably.
Mr. Danbury asked do you think $500 is high enough.
Mr. Knox replied I think $500 should cover us barring a big leap in
inflation in the foreseeable future.
Mrs. McNear said I just wondered if they are going to pave the I-275
eastbound direction better than it is. It is very difficult to get on at that entrance
ramp. Those lanes seem to be narrower than those further east. Right over SR 4 there is a
lot of patchwork and the lanes are very narrow.
Mr. Shvegzda responded the eastbound lanes are the ones they are going
to do the initial construction on so they will be paved but there will be a considerable
amount of time before that happens. We have a meeting with ODOT tomorrow and I can relay
that information.
MEETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Board of Health
-
April 12
Board of Zoning Appeals
-
April 17
Opening Day
-
April 28
Arbor Day
-
April 27
Planning Commission
-
no April meeting
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE - none
UPDATE ON LEGISLATION STILL IN DEVELOPMENT
Amending zoning codes for electronic signs -
April 18
RECAP OF LEGISLATIVE ITEMS REQUESTED
CDS design work West Kemper Road -
April 18
Health insurance (2)
-
April 18
PO increase
-
April 18
Springdale/ODOT I-275/SR747 project -
April 18 or May 2
Council adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Edward
F. Knox
Clerk
of Council/Finance Director
Minutes Approved:
Kathy McNear, President of Council
__________________________, 2007
City of Springdale Council
April 4 2007