CITY OF PICKERINGTON

SAFETY COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL

CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD

MONDAY, JULY 7, 2003

7:30 P.M.

REGULAR MEETING AGENDA

1. ROLL CALL. Mr. Fox called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. with Mr. Sabatino and Mr. Fox present. Mrs. Riggs was absent. Others present were: Joyce Bushman, Frank Wiseman, Lynda Yartin, Chief Mike Taylor, Steve Carr, Bob Mapes, Leonard Lewis, Sandy Whittington, Jim Belshe, Don McMillen, and others.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF June 2, 2003, Regular Meeting. Mr. Sabatino moved to approve; Mr. Fox seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Fox, and Mr. Sabatino voting "Yea." Motion passed, 2-0.

Mr. Fox stated Committee meetings are less formal than Council and he would like to address issues any spectators would like to bring to the attention of the Committee at this time.

Mr. Don McMillen stated he was present this evening to address the item on the agenda regarding the sign at 18 E. Columbus Street. He stated this issue started back in about April of 1998. He stated he purchased the building in 1997 and he was given the regulations for signs that were in effect at that time. Mr. McMillen stated his sign pretty much fit those requirements and he had a tenant who moved out the first part of 1998. He continued he then moved his small appraisal company in at that time and he had the change of use inspection done. Mr. McMillen continued stating the street project was going on at that time and he met with Mrs. Bushman and told her he would like to get a panel put in the sign frame. He stated Mrs. Bushman told him the process and he gave her a description of what he wanted to do. Mr. McMillen stated he was living out of state at the time, and apparently there were no meetings in May or June of that year. He stated on July 22, 1998, he filled out an application for his sign and he was never notified of a meeting. He stated apparently the application went to a meeting and was discussed at length even though he was not aware of the meeting. Mr. McMillen stated further that when he contacted Mrs. Bushman she told him he would not be allowed what he had asked for because the fonts and colors were not what they would like to have. Mrs. Bushman told him he needed to go back and redesign the sign and he told her he would not go back and forth designing signs, but he asked her to tell him what was appropriate and would be approved as far as fonts and colors and then he would design a sign. Mr. McMillen stated that was the last he heard of it until about July 2001. He stated he did not take the sign frame down because he had been told that if he took it down he would no longer be allowed a sign that came out perpendicular to the building. Mr. McMillen continued his building is lot line built, and that is why he left the frame there. Mr. McMillen stated if he takes that frame down, he wants to know he will have permission to hang a similar out reaching sign. He stated no one has ever contacted him to tell him what he can and cannot do. Mr. Lewis stated written orders had been issued several years back, and he did not know of any discussions that had been held on the sign. Mr. Lewis stated at the request of Safety Committee he had issued new orders on the sign, and he felt the issue was if this was an abandoned sign. Mr. Lewis stated the Code is very specific that 90 days after a business has left, their sign is no longer grandfathered. Mrs. Bushman stated the sign was nonconforming back in 1998 when the orders were issued, and it did go to the Downtown Review Commission. Mrs. Bushman stated she could not speak to why the property owner felt he was not notified, but when the orders were issued there was no conformance. She stated as a result of this Committee’s concerns, the orders were issued again. Mr. McMillen stated he has never been given any literature on what kind of signs are acceptable. Mr. Sabatino stated he was on the Olde Downtown Commission when this issue came up, and the sign frame had been sitting there for a couple of years at that time. Mr. Sabatino stated there has not been a sign face on this frame in a long time. Mrs. Bushman stated the requirements for signs are in the Commercial Design Guidelines for the old village. Mrs. Bushman stated the bottom line is the sign is nonconforming, it was vacated for 90 days, and it has now been five years. She stated there is no way we can allow that sign to have anything put back in it. She stated it is possible that a smaller sign that is an overhanging sign could be approved by Planning and Zoning. She stated we have received a complaint on the sign and we are following through on it. Mrs. Bushman stated this Committee does not have the authority to change the process. She stated it would go to the Nuisance Abatement Board for the appeal process. Mr. Sabatino stated with the amount of time that has passed, he felt it was just as much the property owner’s responsibility to take the initiative to see that it is done as it is the city’s to cooperate. Mrs. Bushman stated she would strongly suggest the Committee have the law director provide a ruling on this situation. She further stated at the time of the downtown revitalization program the City offered to take the sign frame down so the property owner would have no cost involved, and the sign was nonconforming at that time. Mr. Fox stated it was not his intention to try and figure out in one night what has happened over a five year period. Mr. Fox stated he would like to ensure that a copy of the Commercial Design Guidelines for the old village and sign regulations be sent to Mr. McMillen and that the law director make some sort of ruling based upon what is in the Code as to whether this sign is nonconforming. Mr. Fox continued if it is nonconforming, the City has to follow the laws on what to do. Mr. Fox further stated if there is an appeal process he felt this Committee needed to know what that process was. Mr. Fox asked Mrs. Yartin to send the applicable regulations and guidelines to Mr. McMillen. Mr. Fox stated he would like whatever documentation Mr. McMillen and Mr. Lewis have be provided to the law director and he can provide a ruling to this Committee. Mrs. Bushman stated she would have the law director contact Mr. McMillen. Mr. Fox stated he would ask this be continued on the agenda for the next meeting.

3. PRESENTATION BY MR. JIM BELSHE OF WHELEN COMPANY ON WEATHER ALERT MONITORS/RADIOS. Mr. Belshe stated there are a lot of different kinds of weather alert systems. He stated some are weather alert radios that can be purchased at the hardware store and installed in homes, some are outdoor warning systems. He stated further there were a lot of decisions that communities have to make with a lot of information that manufacturers must supply to them. Mr. Belshe explained various warning systems and stated he would answer any questions the Committee might have. Mr. Sabatino inquired if these systems have an open architecture so if any of the commercial businesses have purchased another brand of system they could receive a signal from this system. Mr. Belshe stated if they were capable of receiving VHF signals and were on the same frequency, they could probably receive the signal. Mr. Sabatino stated his concern was if we would consider using this system, could it be coordinated with existing units that are already out there. Mr. Fox clarified that Mr. Belshe’s company did sell quite a few of the units to municipalities and they were frequently installed in schools and hospitals. Mr. Belshe stated normally municipalities make an announcement that they have negotiated a price on the units and they are available for any private concern that wants to purchase them, and that the police department will send out signals to turn the sirens on. There being no further questions, Mr. Fox thanked Mr. Belshe for coming to address the Committee this evening.

4. DEPARTMENT REPORTS:

A. Parks and Recreation.

(1) Reports

a. Parks and Recreation Board Council Representative Report (Mrs. Riggs). Mrs. Riggs was not present.

Mr. Fox stated he would like to thank the Director and all of his staff for all of their work during the Fourth of July celebration.

(2) Review and discussion regarding the Parks Master Plan. (TABLE, 7-01-02)

Mr. Carr stated the Committee is drafting a citizen survey and they are reviewing it so it could be sent out with the City’s newsletter.

(3) Skate Park Project

a. Review and request for motion to award contract for concrete pad – Bid Opening Date: 07/03/03. Mr. Carr stated the Committee had received a recommendation to award the bid to Central Ohio Building Co. for the concrete work for the skate park. Mr. Carr stated our engineer has checked out their references and they appear to be good, and their bid of $31,660 was below the engineer’s estimate of $35,000. Mr. Carr stated the bid sheet shows the engineer’s estimate at $50,000, however, an addendum was sent out eliminating some asphalt work, which brought their estimate to $35,000. Mr. Sabatino moved to award the contract for the concrete work to Central Ohio Building Co. at a price not to exceed $34,826, which includes a contingency amount of $3,166 or ten percent; Mr. Fox seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Sabatino and Mr. Fox voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 2-0.

(4) Handicap Garden – Update. Mr. Carr stated R.D. Zande has completed a land survey and they are in the process of preparing a topography map for the upper level of Sycamore Park. He stated when dealing with handicap accessibility it was important to know all of the grades and proper slopes. He stated the project is in the design phase now.

B. Community Outreach:

(1) Violet Festival Board Report. Ms Whittington stated the Festival is two weeks away and they are in final preparation for that. She stated she had provided the current flyers to the Committee.

(2) Olde Pickerington Village Business Association Report. Ms. Whittington stated they are continuing their efforts to expand the Farmer’s Market, and they are preparing for the Jazz and Rib Fest in August.

C. Building Operations: No Report.

D. Streets:

(1) Tree Commission. Mr. Wiseman stated as most of the street trees are now planted by the City, the Commission wants to broaden the Street Tree Brochure and into a Tree Brochure.

E. Code Enforcement:

(1) Nuisance Abatement Board.

a. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance amending Section 1482.02 of the Pickerington Codified Ordinances relative to members of the Nuisance Abatement Board. Mr. Fox stated the Committee did receive a draft ordinance, and Rules Committee has approved this same draft since it fell under two committees. Mr. Fox clarified the major change in the ordinance would to remove the Violet Township Fire Chief from the Board, and to provide the Board be comprised of the Manager, Safety Committee Representative, and the Mayor, or their duly authorized representatives. Mr. Sabatino moved to approve and forward to Council; Mr. Fox seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Sabatino and Mr. Fox voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 2-0.

b. Review of Nuisance Abatement procedures regarding sign at 18 E. Columbus Street. Mr. Fox stated this had been covered earlier in the evening, and the law director would provide a ruling to this Committee.

(2) Containment of Developer Trash. Mr. Lewis stated he was not aware of any new complaints and he has instructed all of his inspectors to make the superintendents aware of any problems when they see them.

4. POLICE:

A. Chief’s Report. Chief Taylor stated his report had been distributed. He stated the Department had applied for a grant for bullet proof vests, and they received over $1,100 to purchase more vests. Mr. Fox clarified this grant will purchase three vests. Chief Taylor further stated the Department raised over $3,100 at their golf outing for the DARE program.

B. Police Facility – Update. Chief Taylor stated he is still working on the heating and cooling issue and he hoped it would be resolved this week.

C. Parade of Homes – Outbrief. Chief Taylor stated the Department had nothing to report other than that the event went very well.

D. Tornado Sirens/Weather Alert Monitors. Mr. Fox stated Mr. Wiseman has suggested these be installed in municipal buildings. Mr. Wiseman stated he would like to coordinate with the Chief of Police and he would brief the Committee on their findings. Mr. Wiseman stated this is still a topic of the Fairfield County Emergency Management, and he will be tracking it in those meetings.

5. CHAIRMAN.

A. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance enacting Section 1478.11 of the Pickerington Codified Ordinances to provide for the preservation of notable structures within the City. Mr. Fox stated the committee had been provided a new draft ordinance prepared by the law director. He stated the new draft basically allows the City to prevent a developer from destroying a structure that the City believes is historic or notable and worthy of protection. He stated he had also asked the law director to ensure that this legislation did not interfere with an individual owner’s ability to put on a deck, paint the house, or something of that nature. He stated he wanted to have some ability to protect structures once property goes for development if the City felt that structure should be protected. Mr. Fox asked that the Committee be provided copies of all of the referenced information in this draft legislation for review prior to the next meeting. Mr. Sabatino stated his primary concern was limiting an individual property owner’s rights to do something with their own building, but property being sold for development is a different situation. Mr. Fox stated he would ask this be carried on the agenda for the next meeting.

B. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance regarding tattoo and/or body piercing businesses. Mr. Fox stated the Committee had received a draft ordinance on this issue that was prepared by the law director. Mr. Fox stated this would provide specific zoning areas for these types of businesses and to make them a conditional use. Mr. Sabatino stated as long as the law director was satisfied with this language then he had no objections to it. Mr. Sabatino moved to approve and forward to Council; Mr. Fox seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Fox and Mr. Sabatino voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 2-0.

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

7. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mr. Sabatino moved to adjourn; Mr. Fox seconded the motion. Mr. Sabatino and Mr. Fox voted “Aye.” Motion carried, 2-0. The Safety Committee meeting adjourned at 8:40 P.M., July 7, 2003.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

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Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk