MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2006

REGULAR MEETING

7:30 P.M.

1. ROLL CALL. Mr. Sabatino called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M., with roll call as follows: Mrs. Riggs, Mrs. Hammond, and Mr. Sabatino were present. Mr. Wisniewski was absent due to illness. Others present were Judy Gilleland, Lynda Yartin, Chief Mike Taylor, Phil Hartmann, Steve Carr, Brenda VanCleave, Paul Lane, Dick Huntwork, Dale Huntwork, Betty Huntwork, Anne Huntwork, Mark Huntwork, Barbara Huntwork, and others.

Mrs. Riggs moved for an Executive Session under Section 121.22(G)(2), Conference with the Law Director regarding pending or imminent court action; Mrs. Hammond seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Hammond, Mrs. Riggs, and Mr. Sabatino voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.

Safety Committee adjourned into Executive Session at 7:35 P.M., and reconvened in open session at 8:05 P.M.

Mr. Sabatino inquired if Mr. Huntwork would like to make his presentation at this time, and Mr. Mark Huntwork stated he would like to have his presentation documents made a part of the record of this meeting. (Attachment 1 to these minutes.) Mr. Dick Huntwork read a statement into the record. (Attachment 2 to these minutes.) Mr. Sabatino stated the Safety Committee will take these suggestions under advisement and we will have the Police Department and Zoning Department look at it in conjunction with the Law Director to see if there is something we need to do. He further stated as we have two new members on Safety Committee, he would like to give them time to get up to speed on this issue and at some point in the future we will be able to decide exactly how to deal with it. Mr. Huntwork stated he would encourage the new members of Safety to review the minutes of Safety Committee and the Parks and Recreation Board since 2003, as this has been an issue since that time.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF December 4, 2006, Regular Meeting. Mrs. Riggs moved to approve; Mrs. Hammond seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Hammond, Mrs. Riggs, and Mr. Sabatino voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.

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.

1. Mr. Carr stated the Parks Master Plan was adopted by Council in December and we have a couple of projects in the budget for this year. He stated our design engineers are preparing a design proposal for the entrance road and parking lot at Simsbury and we will be working on getting architectural services for the Victory Park project shortly. Mr. Sabatino requested this item be removed from the agenda. Mr. Carr stated he will continue to update the Committee on various capital improvement projects this year.

2. Joint Parks District – Update. Mr. Carr stated he understood this would be discussed at the next Council retreat. Ms Gilleland stated there have been preliminary discussions over the past year, and she felt it would be a good topic for the Council retreat in March.

b. NatureWorks Grant Project – Update. Mr. Carr stated the disc golf course will be a spring project.

(2) Review and discussion regarding Skate Park noise complaint and potential options. Mrs. Riggs stated Mr. Huntwork had mentioned complaints that were raised when we were in the process of building the skate park, and she did not recall that. Mr. Sabatino asked Mrs. Yartin if she could obtain these minutes and provide them to the Committee for review, and Mrs. Yartin stated she would get that information to them.

(3) Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance accepting the bid for contract mowing services for 2007. Mr. Carr stated the bid opening was held today at 11:30 A.M. and six bids were received. He stated after reviewing the bids, it was his recommendation the contract be awarded to Buckeye State Lawn Services. He stated they appeared to be the lowest responsive and responsible bid, and he had checked their references. Mrs. Hammond clarified the two cemeteries are the Pisgah Cemetery located at the corner of S.R. 256 and S.R. 204, and the Dovel Cemetery behind the church on S.R. 256 adjacent to Violet Cemetery. Mr. Carr stated both cemeteries are inactive and we acquired the responsibility of maintaining them when those areas were annexed into the City. Mr. Sabatino clarified the not to exceed cost of $42,500 is what we have in the budget this year. Mrs. Riggs moved to approve the draft ordinance authorizing the City Manager to accept the bid of Buckeye State Lawn Services for contract mowing services for 2007; Mr. Sabatino seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Sabatino, Mrs. Riggs, and Mrs. Hammond voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.

B. Building Regulations Department:

(1) Building Department Report (Mr. Lane) Mr. Lane stated his report had been distributed, and residential impact fees total $38,170 to date this year. Mr. Lane stated he would be happy to answer any questions.

(2) Chief Building Official’s Report (Mr. Stacy) Mr. Lane stated Mr. Stacy was not present, but he would try to answer any questions regarding his report. Mr. Sabatino asked Mr. Lane to clarify the Insurance Service Office (ISO) Classification in this report. Mr. Lane stated every four to five years the ISO does an internal review, essentially a testing of the building department. He stated we went through that process in the latter part of 2006, and we regressed from a Class 3 to a Class 4. Mr. Lane stated, however, the ISO has a method where the City can put together a program that will facilitate our getting back to a Class 3, and we are in that process right now. Mr. Sabatino inquired what it meant to go from a Class 3 to a Class 4, and Mr. Lane stated essentially we did not score as high in some categories as we have in the past, and the bottom line for the community is possibly higher insurance rates. Ms Gilleland stated she was not clear on the amount of increase in the insurance rates, but the rater stated we were on the bubble before and they had given us the benefit of the doubt. She stated when she met with the rater he had indicated we would probably be going from a Class 3 to a Class 4, and as Mr. Lane indicated there is a program we can participate in over an 18-month period. She stated the rating would not be reduced immediately, we are allowed to work on it to ensure we maintain our current rating. Ms Gilleland stated we will do more work on this, however, she did not know if we would be successful. She further stated she did not know the immediate effect as far as insurance ratings, etc., and the field agent did not have the information that we needed. She stated we are still looking into it.

C. Service Department:

(1) Traffic Engineer.

a. Review and discussion regarding Drug Mart Access issues. Ms VanCleave stated we have reached an agreement with Giltz Development, who are no longer the owners, but the manager of the site. She stated we met with the tenants today and explained what would be done, and this solution is in the best interest of public safety. Mr. Sabatino inquired if we had an implementation date, and Ms VanCleave stated it will be accomplished in two phases. She stated as asphalt plants are closed right now, the first stage will be creating a full movement turnaround in the rear for trucks, and removing the pork chop at the S.R. 256 access point and new stripping to allow for a protected left turn into the center going north on S.R. 256. She stated once that is completed we will put up median sticks to restrict movement at the Diley Road entrance point. She stated once the weather is warmer we will go back and do the more permanent fixes such as removing some curb to allow for three lanes at the S.R. 256 entrance. Mr. Sabatino clarified that left turns would be allowed out onto S.R. 256. Ms VanCleave stated again she would emphasize there is no ideal solution, but we hoped this was better than what we have and we will continue to evaluate it as we go along.

Ms VanCleave stated she had received an e-mail from Mr. Wisniewski regarding concerns over the enforceability of pork chops due to inadequate signage. Ms VanCleave stated Mr. Drobina and Chief Taylor had put together a list of locations that need signs such as “No Left Turn,” Stop signs, etc. She stated six locations have been identified and she was requesting a motion from this Committee to authorize the signage to be installed. Mr. Drobina clarified they were requesting “No Left Turn” signs be installed on S.R. 256 at Creekside Lane, Hunter’s Run, and Turnberry Golf Course, and “No Left Turn” and “Stop” signs at Clint Drive, Brookview Center, and the Get & Go at Giant Eagle. Ms VanCleave stated she will verify with the law director that we have the authority to place this signage on a private road. She stated she is now including the requirement for this type of signage when she is doing plans reviews, and these signs are being requested in order to clean up some areas. Ms Gilleland stated since we now have a staff engineer we are reviewing plans at a finer level of detail. Mr. Sabatino moved to approve the installation of “No Left Turn” signs on S.R. 256 at Creekside Lane, Hunter’s Run, and Turnberry Golf Course, and “No Left Turn” and Stop signs Clint Drive, Brookview Center, and the Get & Go at Giant Eagle; Mrs. Hammond seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Sabatino, Mrs. Riggs, and Mrs. Hammond voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.

Mr. Drobina stated he would also like to request a fourth stop sign at the intersection of Shawnee Crossing and Blue Jacket Circle, making it a four-way stop instead of a three-way stop. He stated Chief Taylor, Ms VanCleave, and our traffic engineer have also looked at this intersection and they believe it should be a four-way stop. Mr. Sabatino moved to approve the installation of a fourth stop sign at the Shawnee Crossing and Blue Jackets Circle intersection making it a four-way stop; Mrs. Hammond seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Sabatino, Mrs. Riggs, and Mrs. Hammond voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.

D. Facilities Operations:

(1) Update of City Hall Renovation Project. Ms Gilleland stated she hoped the renovation would be complete within the next month.

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.

B. Review and request for motion to approve draft resolution establishing a mounted patrol for the City of Pickerington Division of Police and accepting the donation of an American Quarter Horse for use in the mounted patrol. Chief Taylor stated Officer Bartek was present this evening to answer any questions the Committee members may have. Officer Bartek stated Prince was donated to the City, and he is a 14 year-old palomino and is over 16 hands tall. Officer Bartek stated he has a wonderful disposition and he will be great around children. Officer Bartek stated he would like to use Prince for public relations and in events such as the Violet Festival, parades, and any other events where the City may need a mounted patrol. Mr. Sabatino clarified that Officer Bartek will coordinate with the DARE Officer for use with the DARE program as well. Chief Taylor stated we will have an agreement with Officer Bartek coming forward shortly for him to house the horse free of charge, he will transport the horse at his expense, and the City will provide feed for the horse, ferrier service four times a year, and annual veterinary care. Chief Taylor stated the total cost to the City is minimal. He further stated this is a tremendous undertaking by Officer Bartek, however, he has volunteered to do this. Ms Gilleland clarified that Officer Bartek currently has three horses of his own and he is well aware of the expense and the maintenance involved in taking care of a horse. Mrs. Riggs inquired if the age of the horse was a detriment, and Officer Bartek stated he would request something similar to what we do with dogs. He stated he would like to see Prince being used for about five years, and then perhaps he could be donated or sold back to him to live out his last years. Mrs. Riggs clarified that if he had to chase someone down, it could be done very easily. Mrs. Hammond stated she felt the mounted patrol was a very good PR program, but also when they are used for crowd control they are very effective. Mrs. Hammond moved to approve the draft resolution establishing a mounted patrol for the City of Pickerington and accepting the donation of an American Quarter Horse; Mrs. Riggs seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Hammond, Mrs. Riggs, and Mr. Sabatino voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.

5. CHAIRMAN:

A. Peddlers and Solicitors Regulations Revisions - Update. Ms Gilleland stated she hoped to have something for the Committee at the next meeting.

B. Review and discussion regarding proposed amendments to Ordinance 89-20 regarding Hotel and Motel Excise Tax. Mr. Sabatino stated he was working with Mr. Hansley on this and they do not have anything ready to bring forward at this point. He stated he would like to have this item remain on the agenda.

6. OTHER BUSINESS: No other business was brought forward.

7. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mrs. Hammond moved to adjourn; Mr. Sabatino seconded the motion. Mrs. Riggs, Mrs. Hammond, and Mr. Sabatino voted "Aye." Motion carried, 3-0. The Safety Committee adjourned at 8:50 P.M., February 5, 2007.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

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Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk