President of Council Kathy McNear
called Council to order on
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
COMMITTEE AND OFFICIAL REPORTS
Civil Service Commission – Mr.
Strange said I want to give you a review of the year. We administered the firefighter exam in March
and as a result three firefighters were hired.
We tested and interviewed for a violations bureau clerk in April. We used the 2005 list to hire four patrol
officers. We also tested and interviewed
for an administrative assistant and that decision has been delayed until
2007. We authorized the City to hire a
public health nurse, an adult senior programmer, fitness center manager and
assistant public works superintendent.
We also heard appeals. Not all of
these were new positions. In a lot of
cases we were waiting to backfill positions.
Rules and Laws - no report
Public Relations - no report
Public Health, Safety & Welfare - no report
Public Utilities - no report
Capital Improvements – Mr. Danbury said both westside ramps on I-275 of the CSX grade separation are
completed. The contractor will be
working on constructing new driveways, signals and overhead signage and
lighting during the winter. Work on the
Mr. Vanover asked is there going to be additional signage
for the thru and turn lane on SR 747? I
noticed people jumping over into the exit lane to get onto I-275 west and then
having to get back in to go through.
Mr. Shvegzda said part of that is the additional overhead
signage that they will be placing during the winter.
Finance Committee - Mr. Wilson said the Finance Committee
met last week to review the 2007 budget which we will go over later.
Planning Commission – Mr. Galster said they had election of
officers and Bill Siefert was re-elected chairman;
Dave Okum, vice-chairman and Lawrence Hawkins, secretary. The application for tree removal/landscape
plan at Jake Sweeney Dodge,
Board of Zoning Appeals – Mrs. Harlow said for the November
21 BZA meeting we had approval of a variance for a sign at
lawyer’s
sign. It was approved 5-0. A request for a garage 24’ x 40’ at
Mr. Squires said at the December 19 meeting Mr. Okum was
re-elected chairman; Mrs. Harlow, vice-chairman; and Jane Huber,
secretary. The first application was to
allow a 39 foot front yard setback at Maple Knoll and it was approved 6-1. The second request was for an existing deck
one foot from the property line at
Mr. Galster said the setback at Maple Knoll did not decrease
what they have presently. Instead of
single story buildings it would be two and three story buildings.
Board of Health – Mrs. Harlow reported Mrs. Mitrione
informed us that we have received a grant of $18,000 from the Public Health
Initiative. About $10,000 of that is
base money being given to the three outlying health departments in
Veteran’s Memorial Committee – Mr. Wilson said I will hold
off comment until we get to the budget.
O-K-I - no report
Mayor’s Report - no report
Clerk of Council/Finance Director – Mr. Knox said Ordinances
85 and 86 are highly recommended. This
is the six consecutive year Mr. Williams has garnered the award of excellence
for the CFR (Comprehensive Financial Report).
Administrator’s Report- Mr. Osborn stated we will be
requesting legislation for the SR 4 paving project that we expect will occur in
the first quarter of 2008. This will be
the resurfacing and repair of SR4 from the Glensprings intersection to 800 feet
south of
Mr. Osborn said we received word today that the City has
received a DARE grant in the amount of $18,462.
This represents fifty percent of one DARE officer for nine months. I congratulate Marsha Bemes
for her hard work in getting us this grant.
Mr. Osborn continued the 2007 annual appropriation
ordinance, a resolution authorizing the use of municipal funds and a resolution
requesting advance payment from the
Law Director’s Report - no report
Engineer’s Report - no report
COMMUNICATIONS
Mr. Knox read a letter from the
Mr. Knox said the second letter is
from Time-Warner: “Dear Mr. Osborn: I am writing in an on-going effort to keep
you apprised of the developments affecting the cable television system serving
your community. Our agreement
with programmers to carry their services routinely expire from time to
time. We are usually able to obtain
renewals and extensions of such agreements and carriage of programming services
is discontinued only in rare instances.
Our agreement with Encore channels, HGTV, Fox Sports Ohio, Showtime and
Movie Channel, and GAC on demand are due to expire soon and we may be required
to cease carriage of one or more of these channels or carried in the near
future. Pam McDonald, Vice-President of
Public and Government Affairs”
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE - none
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
Mr. Danbury said there are some
applicants who have shown interest in the positions being appointed by
Resolution R19-2006 and R20-2006 and Council members have not been able to get
in touch with them. I recommend that we
table these until the next meeting. Mr.
Vanover seconded. The motion passed with
seven affirmative votes.
Mrs. McNear said we have had a
request to move Ordinance 90-2006 to the first ordinance to take care of the
fact that we had out of town guest here for this issue.
ORDINANCE
NO. 90-2006 “DECLARING AN AMBULANCE AS SURPLUS PROPERTY
AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO ADVERTISE, AUCTION AND ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT FOR
Mr. Vanover made a motion to adopt
and Mr. Squires seconded.
Ordinance 90-2006 passed with seven
affirmative votes.
ORDINANCE
NO. 85-2006 “SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION
ORDINANCE TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR CURRENT EXPENSES AND OTHER EXPENDITURES
FOR THE CITY OF SPRINGDALE, OHIO DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,
2006”
Mr. Galster made a motion
to read by title only and Mr. Danbury seconded.
The motion passed with seven affirmative votes.
Mr. Galster made a motion
to adopt and Mr. Squires seconded.
Mr. Osborn said under
Section 3 there were no additional appropriations into the general fund. The City was able to alter line items within
the general fund without having to appropriate additional money.
Mayor Webster said if you
look at the first line item under Section 4, we have requested the
Ordinance 85-2006 passed
with seven affirmative votes.
ORDINANCE
NO. 86-2006 “TEMPORARY APPROPRIATION
ORDINANCE FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1, 2007 UNTIL THE FISCAL YEAR 2007
APPROPRIATION PERMANENT ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL”
Mr. Wilson made a motion to
adopt and Mr. Danbury seconded.
Mr. Osborn stated there
will be three business days in 2007 before the Council meeting on
Ordinance 86-2006 passed
with seven affirmative votes.
ORDINANCE NO. 87-2006 “AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 68-2005 TO
PROVIDE FOR WAGE INCREASES AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY”
Mr. Vanover made a motion to adopt and Mr. Danbury seconded.
Mr. Osborn said this ordinance increases wages by 3.5% for
2007. The firefighters are still in
negotiations so that is undetermined at this time. The Police Department and remainder of
full-time employees and part-time firefighters will receive 3.5%.
Mr. Galster said on Exhibit D, the teen advisor has no grade
or pay.
Mr. Osborn responded I’ll have to check on that.
Ordinance 87-2006 passed with seven affirmative votes.
ORDINANCE
NO.
88-2006 “ACCEPTING A BID AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND
CLERK OF COUNCIL/FINANCE DIRECTOR TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH PREMIER
MECHANICAL FOR SERVICING HVAC, HOT WATER AND CONTROL SYSTEMS AND DECLARING AN
EMERGENCY”
Mr. Vanover made a
motion to adopt and Mrs. Harlow seconded.
Mr. Osborn stated that
this company has provided its services to the City for the past three
years. They’ve done the best job of
anyone we’ve had. They have had a
contract with us and they have offered to renew it at the same rate. This rate was bid earlier, not at this point.
Ordinance 88-2006 passed
with seven affirmative votes.
ORDINANCE NO. 89-2006 “AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CLERK OF
COUNCIL/FINANCE DIRECTOR TO AMEND THE AGREEMENT WITH WOOD & LAMPING LLP FOR
LEGAL SERVICES TO THE CITY OF
Mr. Danbury made a motion to adopt and Mr. Wilson seconded.
Mr. Galster asked are these rates
up-to-date?
Mr. Schneider replied they are the rates we started with and
have increased on a regular basis. I am
providing services here $170 an hour. My
corporate rate is $325 an hour. It will
vary depending on what associate is working on a project.
Mr. Osborn said the rates are tracked more closely to the
cost of living.
Ordinance 89-2006 passed with seven affirmative votes.
RESOLUTION
R19-2006 “APPOINTING____________________________
AS A MEMBER OF CHARTER REVISION”
Tabled.
RESOLUTION
R20-2006 “APPOINTING ________________________
AS A MEMBER OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION”
Tabled.
RESOLUTION
R21-2006 “CONFIRMING THE MAYOR’S APPOINTMENT
OF RITA HART AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH”
Mrs.
Harlow made a motion to adopt and Mr. Squires seconded.
Mayor
Webster said both Mrs. Hart and Dr. Ketring have served for many years on the
Board of Health and are both valuable members.
Resolution
R21-2006 passed with seven affirmative votes.
RESOLUTION
R22-2006 “CONFIRMING THE MAYOR’S APPOINTMENT
OF KEVIN KETRING AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH”
Mr.
Vanover made a motion to adopt and Mr. Squires seconded.
Resolution
R22-2006 passed with seven affirmative votes.
BUDGET
DISCUSSION
Mr.
Wilson said we have a solid year end general surplus. However, there are some 2007 items that will
take two-thirds of the surplus revenue,
We have budgeted a flat return for 2007. The 2007 expenditures exceed 2006 by 10%. We’d like to bring the insurance fund up to
$5 million by adding $250,000 a year to the fund.
Mayor
Webster said the City’s 2004 note will be paid off in 2007 as well as the urban
renewal note. The only debt will be the
Community Center debt of $3.9 million.
Mr.
Osborn reported we had a solid revenue for 2006. The operating budget was under spent by
$400,000. We have big expenditures for
capital improvements in 2007. We knew it
was coming. 2007-2008 are critical years
and then it should level out. We are
meeting our fiscal goals – to retire the debt and grow savings. Seventy-seven percent of the income in the
general fund comes from income tax.
Mrs.
Harlow said I heard the cities were losing the estate tax.
Mayor
Webster responded the State has talked about doing away with it for fifteen
years but the allocations have not changed.
Mr.
Knox said the legislature can only do things in two year increments but there
is no change for this biennium. However,
it may go away in 2016.
Mr.
Osborn said we are looking at a possible fire station on the other side of
town. We are recommending that we do a needs assessment and site location; and possibly partner
with Sharonville.
Mr.
Osborn reported even though we have altered the animal nuisance program, the
costs are still up.
Mr.
Osborn said we are doing active maintenance in the Parks and Recreation
Department, replacing fencing around the Community Center and Ross Park; also
backstops, and modifying the bleachers.
We have replaced the color copier, our primary bulk color copier for the
City.
Mr.
Danbury said the lighting in the concession stands and outside restrooms is
inferior. Mr. Osborn said he would look
into that.
Mr.
Osborn continued $33,500 has been budgeted for the 4th of July
festival and $48,500 for the Taste of Springdale. We felt that was a real success and want to
build on it.
Mr.
Osborn stated the waste collection contract goes through 2009 with a one-year
option.
Mr.
Osborn said the City donates $10,000 to the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of
Commerce and is going to donate $5,000 to the local Chamber next year.
Mayor
Webster said my daughter is executive director of the Chamber and if anybody
objects, I won’t sign off on the budget.
Mr.
Osborn stated the relationship goes back farther than the current director.
Mr.
Osborn reported they are working on replacing the traffic controllers. Seven on SR 747 have been replaced and the
remaining six will be replaced next year.
Mr.
Osborn reported the City received a Homeland Security grant for street security
around Tri-County Mall. It will identify
vehicles entering and existing the mall. It may expand to other key intersections in
the next five years.
Mr.
Osborn said the
Mayor
Webster said there is a potential Phase 2 for parking to entice a developer to
purchase properties on Springfield Pike.
Mr.
Osborn said a sidewalk will be put in from Olde Gate
to Springfield Pike.
Mr.
Osborn said Kemper Road Phase 3 will cost $2,489,000 and $1.6 million will be
our share.
Mr.
Danbury said I wonder if anybody has looked at where Glensprings dead ends into
SR 4. There is always a bottleneck and
people who want to turn right go over the curb and into the grass.
Mr.
Osborn responded we are engineering a project this coming year that will modify
the Glensprings intersection to some degree and add a continuous on-ramp to
eastbound I-275 through the intersection at the eastbound exit ramp off
I-275. We can take a look at that.
Mr.
Osborn reported we have budgeted $250,000 for the Veteran’s Memorial in next
year’s budget for Phase I. We will get a substantial amount of the site
improved for that first $250,000. I
think it’s a good investment because we are continuing our efforts for
fundraising from the private sector and public.
If we can show them some progress, that will make it easier to raise
additional funds to complete it. We put
another $250,000 in the budget for 2010.
Mr.
Osborn said we have a project in the works at SR 4 and
Mayor
Webster said I want to congratulate Mr. Osborn and his staff. I really appreciate their efforts. We are a community 10,000 people and we are
spending $10 million a year in capital projects. It’s not only our capability to generate that
kind of revenue but it’s a great reflection on Mr. Osborn to go out and find
sources of revenue.
Mr.
Osborn said I’d like to recognize the department directors, particularly our
Finance Officer, Jeff Williams, and Derrick Parham, as well as Martha Brillhart
and Marty Holden. In anticipation of
transition next year I’ve been drawing Jeff Williams into the process more and
more.
OLD BUSINESS
Mr. Danbury said at our last meeting
I brought up the issue of wood burning boilers.
I found some information if anyone is interested in looking at it. The State of
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Knox said we have a request for
a D5-B liquor license for BJ’s Restaurant which will
be operating in the Tri-County Mall.
There were no objections.
Mrs. McNear said the term of
vice-president expired in December so we will need to make an appointment at
the next meeting.
MEETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS - none
Mrs. Schneider said Jeff Forbes will be present at the next
two meetings.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE - none
UPDATE ON LEGISLATION STILL IN DEVELOPMENT - none
RECAP OF LEGISLATIVE ITEMS REQUESTED
Ordinance for SR 4 resurfacing - January 3
2007 Annual appropriations - January 3
Authorization of deposit of municipal funds - January 3
Request for advanced payment from Hamilton County Auditor January 3
Council adjourned at
Respectfully
submitted,
Edward F. Knox
Clerk of Council/Finance
Director
Minutes
Approved:
Kathy
McNear, President of Council
__________________________,
2007