MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2007

REGULAR MEETING

7:30 P.M.

1. ROLL CALL. Mrs. Hammond called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M., with Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Hackworth, and Mr. Fix present. No members were absent. Others present were: Lynda Yartin, Lance Schultz, Ed Drobina, Brenda VanCleave, Scott Seaman, Jeff Monebrake, and others.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF May 21, 2007, Regular Meeting. Mr. Hackworth moved to approve; Mr. Fix seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Fix, Mr. Hackworth, and Mrs. Hammond voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.

3. COMMUNITY COMMENTS: There were no community comments.

4. PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT:

A. Planning and Zoning Director’s Report. Mr. Schultz stated he had provided a written report and he would answer any questions.

(1) Board of Zoning Appeals (Mr. Schultz). Mr. Schultz stated he had provided a written report and he would answer any questions.

(2) Planning and Zoning Representative Report (Mr. Hackworth) Mr. Hackworth stated Planning and Zoning met on June 12^th, and approved the site plan and the Certificate of Appropriateness for signs. He stated the action items this evening regarding outdoor patios and the landscaping on some lots in the city that have issues with how they were platted were approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission and forwarded to this Committee.

B. ACTION ITEMS:

(1) Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance approving the release of easement from B&K Enterprises. Mr. Schultz stated the Committee had received a draft ordinance and currently there is a waterline easement that extends from Black Cherry Drive to S.R. 256 that is either entirely on the Zane property or straddles the Zane and Luse properties. He stated the City and 5/3^rd Bank are the owners of the easement and the Zane property requested we vacate that easement and convey it to them as it will allow them more developable land in that area. Mr. Schultz stated further per our Thoroughfare Plan and Access Management Plan, Black Cherry Drive will not be extended to S.R. 256. Mr. Hackworth clarified that the City does not need this easement for a waterline and no waterlines are in that area now. Mr. Fix moved to approve the draft ordinance and forward to Council; Mr. Hackworth seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Hackworth, Mrs. Hammond, and Mr. Fix voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.

(2) Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance restricting the planting of landscaping material in certain residential front and side yard areas. Mr. Schultz stated this draft ordinance was approved by Planning and Zoning with one revision, and that was to allow landscaping not to exceed 24 inches in height to be planted in certain front and side yards. Mr. Schultz stated he has found three lots in the City that are affected by this as it is usually lots on cul de sacs. He stated there could be more lots affected, but he knows of three where there could be an issue. Mr. Fix stated he had brought this to the Planning and Zoning Commission at the request of a resident in the Manchester subdivision. He stated his cul de sac was designed in such a way that his neighbor’s lot line cuts directly in front of his house to the mailbox. Mr. Fix stated the resident was concerned that if the neighbor were to plant anything it would cut right across the middle of his front yard and devalue his home. Mrs. Hammond questioned if we would allow that anyway, and Mr. Schultz stated currently we do not have anything that would restrict it. Mr. Fix stated he would request amending the draft ordinance, Section 1, to remove the language “with a height in excess of two (2) feet” and then delete the last two sentences in Section 1. Mr. Hackworth stated the height language was added by Planning and Zoning Commission and if the height affects your neighbor it could become an issue. Mr. Fix stated he was talking about from the corner line from the house, not allowing anything to be planted in front of the house. Mr. Schultz stated he is only aware of two subdivisions where we have this problem, Manchester and The Landings. Mr. Hackworth clarified this would be enforced by complaint. Mr. Fix stated the homeowners have been unable to work this out and this legislation is a last resort. Mr. Fix moved to forward the draft ordinance to Council with the amendments discussed this evening; Mr. Hackworth seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Fix, Mrs. Hammond, and Mr. Hackworth voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.

a. Review and request for motion to set public hearing before Council regarding restricting the planting of landscaping material in certain residential front and side yard areas for 7:10 P.M., August 7, 2007. Mr. Fix moved to schedule the public hearing before Council for 7:10 P.M., August 7, 2007; Mr. Hackworth seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Hackworth, Mr. Fix, and Mrs. Hammond voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.

(3) Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance amending Chapter 1286 (Conditional Uses) of the Pickerington Codified Ordinances to add Section 1286.34 “Outdoor Service Facility Regulations.” Mr. Schultz stated this was approved by Planning and Zoning at their last meeting and will allow the City to require outdoor service facilities be a conditional use where we can have a review of them and put on restrictions based on uses, location, etc. Mr. Schultz stated this is similar to Dublin’s ordinance and they have found it to be effective. Mrs. Hammond clarified this can limit the time they are open and that sort of thing. Mr. Hackworth stated approximately two months ago a bar came in and we really did not have any guidelines and Planning and Zoning had to consider the bar and the patio as one item. He stated this should clarify the issue as we are beginning to get more requests for outdoor patios. Mr. Fix inquired how this would affect the large retailers that put things out on the sidewalk, such as Sears, Kroger, etc. Mr. Schultz stated he felt we would need to make an interpretation of what we would consider minor or major outdoor patio items. Mrs. Hammond stated she felt as long as they were not impeding traffic and customers were able to walk back and forth. Mr. Fix inquired if this would prohibit that or if they would have to get a permit? Mr. Schultz stated they would have to meet certain conditions and Planning and Zoning could restrict them based on use, location, etc. Mr. Fix inquired if an existing business would have to come in and get a permit and Mr. Schultz stated he thought they would be grandfathered. Mr. Hackworth stated he had asked about that, and he felt it was very unclear. He stated, as an example, at Kroger they have stacks of mulch that can be in the site triangle. Mr. Schultz stated that typically when you revise the zoning code if they were there prior to that, they are allowed to have those rights. He stated, however, there are some revisions that are made that retroactively require a permit. Mrs. Hammond stated as she understood it, then, for example, Sears would be fine right now, but if they left and something else came in they would have to get a conditional use permit. Mr. Schultz stated, that was correct, if there was a change of use. Mr. Fix inquired if this would impact, for example, the farmer’s market person that goes out on 256, and Mr. Schultz stated that is in the peddler’s code we just adopted where they have to be on their property selling things. Mr. Hackworth moved to approve and forward to Council; Mr. Fix seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Hackworth, and Mr. Fix voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.

a. Review and request for motion to set public hearing before Council regarding amending Chapter 1286 of the Pickerington Codified Ordinances to add Section 1286.34 “Outdoor Service Facility Regulations” for 7:20 P.M., August 7, 2007. Mr. Hackworth moved to schedule the public hearing before Council for 7:20 P.M., August 7, 2007; Mr. Fix seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Fix, Mr. Hackworth, and Mrs. Hammond voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.

5. SERVICE DEPARTMENT

A. REPORTS:

(1) Utility Fees Review Commission Representative Report (Mr. Hackworth) Mr. Hackworth stated a meeting of the Commission was scheduled for June 25^th, but due to vacations and other commitments we were unable to have a quorum. He stated we will try to schedule a meeting for sometime during July.

(2) Service Manager’s Report. Mr. Drobina stated he had provided a written report and he would be happy to answer any questions. Mr. Drobina stated during May we did hit a high of 2.5 million gallons per day at the water plant, and we hit a high yesterday of 3.03 million gallons. Mr. Fix clarified the highest we have had prior to that was 2.5 so we set a record yesterday. Mrs. Hammond inquired if the weather continues the way it has will we need to start restricting water usage, and Mr. Drobina stated he felt we might need to start thinking about that if the weather stays dry.

B. ACTION ITEMS: None.

C. WATER UTILITY: No Report.

D. WASTEWATER UTILITY MAINTENANCE:

(1) Biosolids Contract Update. Mr. Drobina stated he did receive a proposal from Synagro and it will be his recommendation to continue operating the facility the way we have been without doing any upgrades, and that will be at a cost of $355 per ton. He stated we are currently paying $415 per ton, but we are still paying off a capital item. Mr. Drobina stated he would have legislation on the contract extension at the next Service Committee meeting. Mr. Fix stated he would like to have information from other communities to ensure that this is a competitive price.

E. STREET MAINTENANCE. Mrs. Hammond stated we are glad to see the Drug Mart entrance completed.

F. STORMWATER : No Report.

6. ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT CAPITAL PROJECTS.

A. WASTEWATER

(1) Wastewater Plant Expansion - Update. Ms VanCleave stated she had provided a written report and would be happy to answer any questions.

(2) Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance approving the agreement for sanitary sewer cleaning and closed circuit television inspection between the City of Pickerington and Dreier & Maller, Inc. Ms VanCleave stated we did advertise this project and received one bid. She stated this is part of our CIP and the EPA is very excited that we are doing this. She stated she would recommend we award the contract Dreier & Maller, they are very reputable and they have worked in the City in the past. She stated further she would request we include a ten percent (10%) contingency to the contract in case we have any EPA questions. Mrs. Hammond moved to approve and forward to Council; Mr. Fix seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Hackworth, and Mr. Fix voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.

B. TRANSPORTATION:

(1) Diley Road Improvements Project:

a. MORPC/ODOT Project – Update.

(2) Presentation regarding Adaptive Control Systems (ACS). Mr. Scott Seaman of stated he had a brief power point presentation regarding the ACS system. (Attachment 1 to these minutes). Mr. Hackworth stated two years ago ODOT had the Far East Study going on and now that is not going anywhere. He inquired how we got ODOT fired up again on that before we have fatalities out here. Ms VanCleave stated she met with ODOT not long ago and they stated that ODOT did not see the Far East being planned any time in the next ten years. Mr. Drobina stated we presently have $143,000 in the budget for traffic signal improvements, and he would recommend this year that we start by updating the controllers and modems at eight intersections and installing the video detection systems at three intersections. He stated he would also recommend installing the battery back-up at the Diley and Hill Road signal, and changing out the remainder of the incandescent bulbs at our intersections. He stated the LED lights will save us approximately 75 percent on our electric bill. Mr. Drobina stated in January we paid $140 per month to operate the Refugee and 256 traffic signal, and in late January we changed the incandescent bulbs to LED lights. He stated in May we were paying $28.94 per month to operate that signal. Mr. Seaman stated that the FHWA has stated they are looking into funding sources to help fund this type of project. Mr. Fix clarified then there would be a possibility that the City would not have to fund the entire project. Mr. Hackworth inquired if Mr. Seaman would be prepared by the time we are working on next year’s budget, which is in September, to let us know if any of these grants would be available, and Mr. Seaman stated he felt sure he would have information by that time.

C. WATER: Ms VanCleave stated she hoped to have the painting of the East Columbus Street water tower out for bid in the next week or so.

D. STORMWATER. No Report.

7. CHAIRMAN. Mrs. Hammond stated she had nothing to bring forward this evening.

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

9. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mr. Fix moved to adjourn; Mr. Hackworth seconded the motion. Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Fix, and Mr. Hackworth voted “Aye.” Motion carried, 3-0. The Service Committee adjourned at 8:48 P.M., June 18, 2007.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

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Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk