MONDAY,
SEPTEMBER 11, 2006
REGULAR
MEETING
7:30
P.M.
1. ROLL CALL. Mr. Smith called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M., with roll call as follows: Mr. Smith, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mr. Sabatino were present. No members were absent. Others present were Lynda Yartin, Chief Taylor, Ed Drobina, Steve Carr, Paul Lane, Brenda VanCleave, Mike Stacy, Dick Huntwork, Dale Huntwork, Steve Brown, and others.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF August 7, 2006, Regular Meeting. Mr. Wisniewski moved to approve; Mr. Sabatino seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Sabatino, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mr. Smith voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
Mr. Smith stated in light of the date, he would request a moment of silence in recognition of the almost 3,000 lives lost, numerous families impacted, and those injured in the incidents associated with September 11, 2001.
Mr. Smith stated he understood Mr. Huntwork would like to address the Committee this evening and if there were no objections he would ask Mr. Huntwork to do so at this time.
Mr. Dick Huntwork stated he was present this evening to address the issue of the noise from the skate park. Mr. Huntwork read a prepared statement (Attachment 1 to these minutes).
Mr. Sabatino stated he had asked an individual about the noise in this area, and he was told it was a true problem for Mr. Huntwork’s tenants. Mr. Wisniewski clarified the Parks Department has not been contacted by anyone other than Mr. Huntwork. Mr. Carr stated there is one piece of equipment called a pyramid, and the cost of the equipment alone is estimated at $1500, we would need 600 square feet of sound deafening, and the installation would be approximately $4800. He stated that one piece of equipment is about one-tenth of what we need down there, so we would be looking at about $15,000 for the equipment and about $5,000 for installation. Mr. Wisniewski clarified that Mr. Carr was not aware of any skate park that was originally built to be an outdoor facility and then enclosed. Mr. Wisniewski stated prior to building the skate park we went through the normal channels of the Parks and Recreation Board, Safety Committee, three readings at Council, and to Mr. Carr’s knowledge no citizens raised any issues with the location of the park at the time it was built. Mr. Wisniewski further clarified there have been no other complaints regarding the park itself, whether from traffic or noise from baseball or soccer games, etc. Mr. Smith stated Mr. Huntwork had mentioned several options for abatement and questioned if we had looked at any options other than the sound abatement Mr. Carr had just referred to. Mr. Carr stated he has been on the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association’s web site twice asking other communities of their experience with this problem and any solutions they might have, and we have yet to receive an answer. Mr. Carr stated one community had looked into the sound deafening materials and determined it was too costly and did not follow through with it. He stated even with that, the manufacturer’s representative stated they could only estimate it would reduce the sound by ten percent. He stated that appeared to be an expensive solution that was less than adequate. Mr. Smith inquired if we had looked at any type of sound barrier such as a noise wall. He stated he did not mean the big walls put on the side of a road, but something like that, and questioned if that was an option. Mr. Smith stated he would like staff to look at the range of options and come back to the Committee with a recommendation that would address Mr. Huntwork’s concerns. Mr. Sabatino inquired if there was any one option that would really deal with the noise. Mr. Wisniewski stated this is the first time this Committee has heard of this problem. He stated we are a young community and we have a good parks system that we are trying to make use of. He stated he understood Mr. Huntwork’s concerns, however, his property does back up to a parks system, the parks are going to be used, and it will be used by youth. Mr. Huntwork stated he does not back up to the park, the park backs up to him. He stated further he had sold that property to the City. Mr. Sabatino stated he felt we needed to look at some type of solution that has a chance of being effective and we really don’t know what that will be. Mr. Smith stated as he understood it, Mr. Huntwork was proposing five options: Some sort of sound stopper; removing the skate ramps; a pole barn or some sort of enclosure; movement of the skate park; and, some sort of sound barrier/wall between the park and Mr. Huntwork’s property. Mr. Wisniewski asked if there was a particular time of day when the tenants complained, and Mr. Huntwork stated it goes on all day. He stated it is the constant thumping noise that comes from the skate park. Mr. Huntwork further stated he would invite all of the Council members to come over and listen to this constant thumping. Mr. Sabatino stated he would like to recommend staff look into the enclosure option, because as Mr. Huntwork had stated if it were enclosed it would provide some winter use of the facility as well. Mr. Smith stated he would like staff to bring back a couple of recommendations that seem plausible, affordable, and doable. Mr. Sabatino stated he would like to see the cost estimates so we knew what the range would be. Mr. Smith stated he would like to have Mr. Carr look into moving the facility as well. Mr. Wisniewski stated he would like to have Mr. Carr check with other surrounding residents as well to see if they have any problems with this noise. Mr. Brown stated he is Mr. Huntwork’s attorney and it seems like everyone is well motivated in trying to find a solution to this problem. Mr. Smith stated this Committee was not committing to a solution, but would be looking at options. Mr. Smith stated the next Safety Committee meeting is scheduled for October 2nd, at 7:30 P.M., and they would see what information staff could provide at that time.
3. DEPARTMENT REPORTS: Mr. Carr stated he had provided a written report to the Committee and he would be happy to answer any questions.
A. Parks and Recreation:
(1) Director’s Report
a. Parks Master Plan. Mr. Carr stated a draft copy of the Master Plan had been provided to the Committee in their packets. He stated he would like to receive comments from Council and he hoped to bring it back to the Committee with a recommendation for adoption at the October 2nd Safety Committee meeting. Mr. Wisniewski stated his largest problem is that everyone wants good parks, but they do not want them in their back yard. Mr. Smith stated he has a couple of comments, but he wants to go through it once more before providing the comments to Mr. Carr. Mr. Carr stated if there are parts of the Plan where they are making recommendations that might be considered funding or policy decisions, then Council’s comments would be entertained on that. Mr. Wisniewski stated one item he wanted on the record concerned the Joint Parks District. He stated if we entered into this he would like to know how the City would be reimbursed for the costs of developing and maintaining the parks over the years. He stated he would also like something documenting the City would retain ownership of the land or something to that effect. Mr. Smith stated Mr. Edsall alluded to a logical sequence of getting the work done within available funding sources. Mr. Carr stated Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III has been incorporated into the plan, but it is a local decision as to what you want to do first, and how funding would become available. Mr. Smith clarified that we have not had parkland donated to the City from anyone other than developers in the past several years.
1. Joint Parks District – Update. No report. Mr. Carr stated he had no report this evening.
b. NatureWorks Grant Project – Update. Mr. Carr stated we have been granted a six-month extension, until June 30, 2007, to complete our Disc Golf Course project in Simsbury Park.. He stated we have delayed the start of that project until the decision is made on the location of our second water tower. He stated that decision should be coming shortly, but we have been granted the extension so we are not in danger of losing the State funding at this time.
c. Sycamore Park Tennis Court Resurfacing Project – Update. Mr. Carr stated the project is complete. Mr. Smith stated the tennis courts look really good.
B. Building Regulations Department:
(1) Building Department Report (Mr. Lane) Mr. Lane stated as of August 31st, impact fees total $778,068.72, with $101,126.72 from commercial and $676,942.00 from residential. He stated further with regard to permits, as of August 31, 2005, we had 169 residential permits and this year we have had 200 residential permits.
(2) Chief Building Official’s Report (Mr. Stacy) Mr. Stacy stated he apologized for his report being distributed late. He stated the Board of Building Standards approved the application for certification of the Residential Building Department and that certification will be effective January 1, 2007. He stated he would be happy to answer any questions.
C. Service Department:
(1) Traffic Engineer. Ms VanCleave stated she had spoken to Mr. Hartmann and the speed limit can be reduced by resolution and she will be getting with Mr. Hartmann to prepare that resolution. Ms VanCleave stated the timing change at the intersection of S.R. 256 and S.R. 204 seems to be working and the intersection appears to be clearing. She stated she would be happy to answer any questions anyone might have. Ms VanCleave stated we are also continuing to work on the Diley Road intersection and Drug Mart access.
D. Facilities Operations:
(1) Update of City Hall Renovation Project. Mr. Smith stated the renovation project seems to be moving along on schedule.
4. POLICE:
A. Chief’s Report. Chief Taylor stated he had provided his report to the Committee and he would be happy to answer any questions. Mr. Wisniewski stated from the Chief’s report reflects that we spent about 300 hours of our officer’s time for the Violet Festival. He stated he hoped that Violet Township would provide more support to the Festival in the future.
5. CHAIRMAN:
A. Review and discussion regarding Peddlers and Solicitors Regulations. Mr. Wisniewski stated he had requested this item be placed on the agenda. He stated he would like to see what we can do to further enforce or define our Code to allow the police to stop anyone who is soliciting or peddling in neighborhoods. Chief Taylor stated he does have some people who come to the Police Department for a permit. Mr. Smith stated as he understood our Code, everyone who goes door to door is required to have a permit, the exception comes with who is required to pay a fee. Mr. Wisniewski stated he felt we should clean this up a little bit so that organizations such as the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, School organizations, etc., are not required to obtain a permit. Chief Taylor stated in the past he has done a background check on the individuals applying for the permit to see if they have a criminal background, however, the State no longer allows them to use the LEADS system for this purpose. Mr. Smith clarified we can fingerprint the applicants, however, it takes about two weeks to get the results back on the prints. Mr. Sabatino stated some places of employment require you to provide a record showing you do not have a criminal record, and questioned if we could require that from someone applying for a permit. Chief Taylor stated he can only run a local records check for individuals who request it. Mr. Wisniewski stated he would like to see Section 852.05 amended to require that the permit must be displayed when they are soliciting in neighborhoods. He stated that provides the residents the information that the individual has been to the police station and received a permit to solicit door to door. He stated he would also like to see the hours more restrictive, and signage that homeowner’s associations could post at the entrances to the subdivision prohibiting door-to-door solicitation if the residents desire. Mr. Wisniewski stated he would like to have input from this Committee on any other changes they felt should be made to these regulations. Mr. Smith stated he also understood that this did not apply to someone, such as the Girl Scouts selling cookies at the local Kroger, because they were on private property. He stated this focused more on people going door to door and not on preventing fund raising activities. Mr. Wisniewski stated he would work with the law director and bring those revisions back to this Committee.
6. OTHER BUSINESS:
A. Committee notification of surplus items. Mr. Smith stated the Committee had received a Surplus Auction List and ascertained there were no questions from the Committee on these items. Mr. Smith stated no action is required other than notification to the Committee.
B. Review of 2007-2011 Capital Improvements Plan (CIP). Ms VanCleave reviewed the draft CIP provided to the Committee regarding Lands and Buildings, Parks and Recreation, and the Police Department. She stated there are some changes in the costs provided due to inflation, rising fuel costs, etc. Mr. Carr stated items from the Parks Master Plan are not included in the CIP at this time.
Mr. Sabatino stated the Council members had received a letter from Mr. Ron Ebright requesting signage directing people to locations in the City, such as the various schools, the Police Department, Fire Department, City Hall, etc. He stated, for example, when people come to the City for sports activities at the high schools, it would be nice to have signage showing them where the schools are located. Mr. Sabatino further stated Mr. Ebright questioned why there was no street in the City named in honor of Tully Otto Ebright, who is the longest serving Mayor in the history of Pickerington. He stated Mr. Ebright was Mayor for 21 years, between 1930 and 1951. Mr. Smith stated he would like staff to check into the possibility of this type of directional signage. He further stated he felt Mr. Ebright met the criteria of having served the community for a long period of time. Mr. Wisniewski and Mr. Sabatino stated they concurred with Mr. Smith to have staff look into the possibility of the directional signage. Ms VanCleave stated she would look into this matter and get back to the Committee.
7. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mr. Wisniewski moved to adjourn; Mr. Sabatino seconded the motion. Mr. Smith, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mr. Sabatino voted "Aye." Motion carried, 3-0. The Safety Committee adjourned at 9:05 P.M., September 11, 2006.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
________________________________