CITY OF PICKERINGTON

                                             SAFETY COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL

                                               CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD

                                                      MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 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, Mrs. Riggs, and Mr. Fox present. No members were absent.  Others present were:  Frank Wiseman, Lynda Yartin, Chief Mike Taylor, Steve Carr, Bob Mapes, Helen Mayle, Frank Avallone, and others. 

 

2.         APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF July 7, 2003, Regular Meeting.  Mr. Sabatino moved to approve; Mrs. Riggs seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Riggs, Mr. Fox, and Mr. Sabatino voting "Yea."  Motion passed, 3-0.

 

Mr. Fox stated Mr. Mapes was present to brief the Committee on several items they had requested. 

 

Mr. Mapes stated since the last Safety meeting he had met with Mr. McMillen regarding the sign at 18 E. Columbus Street.  Mr. Mapes stated he had reviewed Mr. McMillen’s materials and provided him with information in terms of what our sign code requires and the Nuisance Abatement procedures.  Mr. Mapes stated he is working to document what has occurred on this issue, and he hoped to have a recommendation for the Committee at their next meeting. 

 

Mr. Mapes stated further with regard to the questions on the notable structure preservation ordinance, the way it is set up is to take advantage of the existing procedures and criteria that we already have for the old downtown.  He stated this legislation is limited only to those circumstances were a developer may be developing a large area, such as the apartments at Turnberry where they were able to preserve that structure and make it part of the party house and administration instead of losing it.  He stated if a structure is culturally, historically, or architecturally notable, this will allow us the ability to preserve it.  He continued he felt this addressed the concern of tearing down a notable structure just to build more houses. 

 

Mr. Mapes further stated he had received inquiries on the group home situation, and he is reviewing other communities to see what limitations they have put on such facilities.  Mr. Mapes stated with regard to the immediate concern, that property has been purchased by an individual who has no intention of developing it as a group home.  He stated he is continuing to work on coming up with something that addresses the long range in terms of these facilities. 

 

Mr. Fox stated Mr. Frank Avallone was present to address the Committee regarding the light curfews at the ball fields. 

 

Mr. Avallone stated he is President of the Pony/Babe Ruth Travel Baseball program for the Pickerington Youth Athletic Association, that oversees baseball for boys 13 to 17.  Mr. Avallone stated his fields are on the back side of the creek and there are four fields there.  He stated he was present this evening to request a permanent one hour extension on the light curfew on Field 7 each year on Fridays and Saturdays only beginning with the first Friday after Memorial Day and continuing to the third Saturday in July.  He stated the current curfew on this field is 10:00 P.M., so this request would allow the lights to remain on until 11:00 P.M. on those Fridays and Saturdays.  Mr. Avallone stated this will allow him time to reschedule make up games due to weather and to allow more games to be played during tournaments, etc.  Mr. Avallone stated in the past three years he is aware of no incidents of a violation of the 10:00 P.M. curfew.  Mr. Fox clarified the Police Department does receive complaints from residents of Melrose when the lights do not go off on time on the other fields.  Chief Taylor stated the complaints occur mainly on week days.  Mr. Sabatino moved to approve the permanent one hour extension for the lighting curfew, from 10:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M., Fridays and Saturdays only, beginning with the first Friday after Memorial Day and continuing through the third Saturday in July; Mrs. Riggs seconded the motion.  Roll call was taken with Mrs. Riggs, Mr. Sabatino, and Mr. Fox voting “Yea.”  Motion passed, 3-0. 

 

Mr. Fox stated Ms. Mayle was present this evening to report on the Violet Festival. 

 

Ms. Mayle stated the Festival was held July 23-26th, and next year the dates are July 21-24th.  She stated the event was very successful, and she would like to thank the City for all the help supplied by the Parks and Recreation Department and the Service Department as well as the Police Department. Ms. Mayle stated the board will hold their wrap up meeting later in the week so she does not have any information on the finances as yet, however, a report will be provided to the Safety Committee after it is completed.  Ms. Mayle stated she would be happy to answer any questions anyone might have.  Mrs. Riggs stated she felt the parade was extremely well organized and professional, and the entire festival was a big success. 

 

3.         DEPARTMENT REPORTS:

 

A.        Parks and Recreation.

 

(1)        Reports

a.         Parks and Recreation Board Council Representative Report  (Mrs. Riggs). Mrs. Riggs stated since Mr. Carr is here, she would request he give his report and she would add anything she felt necessary when he was done.        

 

            (2)        Discussion regarding the Parks Master Plan.  Mr. Carr stated the Committee received a monthly status report in their packets as well as a draft copy of a citizens survey questionnaire.  Mr. Carr stated if the Committee members felt anything should be added or if they felt anything was confusing, if they would let him know, changes could be made to the form.  He stated they would like any comments back by the middle of this month so the survey can be included as an insert to the City newsletter.  Mrs. Riggs clarified that they hoped to get information that will identify needs and help plan for the future.  Mr. Fox clarified there would be no cost for the survey other than the postage so the residents can mail it back to the City.  Mr. Carr stated all suggestions were welcome and the copy provided to the Committee this evening is a draft starting point.      

 

            (3)        Skate Park Project – Update.  Mr. Carr stated the award of the contract for the concrete pad is going through the process on Council floor.  He stated if it continues on schedule, he hoped to have construction begin approximately September 22nd, and have the project completed yet this fall. 

 

            (4)        Handicap Garden – Update.  Mr. Carr stated R.D. Zande has an initial preliminary design and they will be scheduling a meeting with the City Manager when she returns from vacation.   

 

B.                 Community Outreach:

 

            (1)        Violet Festival Board Report.  Mr. Fox stated Ms. Mayle had briefed the Committee earlier.  . 

 

            (2)        Olde Pickerington Village Business Association Report.  Mr. Carr stated the Association would like to thank the City for providing umbrellas for the corner lot.  He further stated the Jazz and Rib Fest was held this past weekend, and he has no information on that as yet.  Mr. Carr further stated they are in the process of preparing for their annual Pet Fest on September 5th.     Mr. Wiseman stated he has contacted the Association to see how the pet parade can work with the construction schedule in the downtown.  Mr. Wiseman clarified that if the street was torn up as it is now, it would not be prudent to have people walking down the street.  

 

Mr. Sabatino stated he had been contacted by a resident on how to be considered for bidding on the landscaping for the City.  Mr. Carr stated the landscaping is done by formal bid and if the resident will contact him he will include their name on the bid list so the specifications will be sent to them when the bidding is done. 

 

C.        Building Operations:  No Report. 

 

D.        Streets:

 

            (1)        Tree Commission.  Mr. Wiseman stated he is preparing to bid for the fall tree planting. 

 

E.         Code Enforcement:

 

            (1)        Nuisance Abatement Board. 

                        a.         Nuisance Abatement procedures regarding sign at 18 E. Columbus Street – Update.  Mr. Fox stated Mr. Mapes had updated the Committee earlier and this would remain on the agenda. 

 

            (2)        Containment of Developer Trash.  Mr. Fox ascertained there have been no recent complaints. 

 

4.         POLICE:

 

A.        Chief’s Report.  Chief Taylor stated his report had been distributed.  He stated it was estimated that through the four days of the Violet Festival, there were over 20,000 visitors.  He stated no accidents, no arrests, and no situations occurred at the Festival.  He further stated his department worked 147 extra hours during the Festival.  Mr. Fox stated manpower is a constant concern, and asked if Chief Taylor would be requesting additional officers in the near future.  Chief Taylor stated he has considered this since he has had to deny vacations and cancel training for the current officers.  Chief Taylor stated he could use a minimum of three additional officers.  Mr. Fox asked Chief Taylor to start working on some numbers for this Committee to look at, and Mrs. Riggs stated she felt this was a good idea.  Mr. Fox asked if the Chief could include the police officer/population ratio.    

 

B.         Police Facility – Update.  Chief Taylor the only remaining issue with the building dealt with the heating and cooling system.  He stated that has been taken care of and they are dealing with typical warranty issues at this time.  Mr. Fox stated he would like this item to remain on the agenda.       

 

            C.        Tornado Sirens/Weather Alert Monitors.  Mr. Wiseman stated he has no report this month and he will continue trying to pursue this issue and potential funding through the Fairfield County Emergency Planning Commission.  Mr. Fox stated he would like to have this remain on the agenda. 

 

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 law director had prepared a new draft of this ordinance that was distributed to the Committee in their packets.  He stated basically this ordinance would give Planning and Zoning Commission, or some authority in the City, the ability to prevent developers from destroying notable structures such as historic houses, historic buildings, or whatever, without some review process by the City.  Mr. Fox stated this would not stop individual owners, non-developers, from destroying their buildings.  Mr. Fox stated the Committee had received in their packet the criteria that the City can use to determine if a building is a notable structure.  He further stated this list of criteria was used for the old downtown Pickerington Village district, and this legislation would allow the City to use this same criteria to protect structures anywhere in the City.  Mr. Sabatino clarified the Commission referred to in the legislation is the Planning and Zoning Commission.    Mr. Sabatino stated if an owner wanted to develop their property, they could still tear the building down themselves and then sell it to a developer.  Mr. Fox stated that was correct, and perhaps a timeframe between the destruction and sale of property should be added.  Mr. Sabatino stated he felt this stepped on property owner’s rights, and he further questioned what the penalty would be for a violation of this ordinance.  Mr. Fox stated there is no penalty as such.  Mr. Fox stated once a developer owns a piece of property and comes to Planning and Zoning to develop it, Planning and Zoning has the authority to state that a structure on the property will not be altered or destroyed because the City deems it notable based on the listed criteria.  Mr. Sabatino stated his concern was that a property owner could not receive the full value of their land by stating a structure could not be destroyed.  Mr. Fox stated if the developer is aware of this prior to purchasing the property, he may decide he did not want to purchase the property.  Mr. Sabatino stated a developer might also reduce the price he would pay the owner, and he felt that would be depriving them of the full value of their land, and he did not know that the City should be able to economically impact the landowner.  Mr. Fox stated what he was trying to do was not be invasive, an owner could still do whatever they wanted with their property, but once a developer has the property he felt the City had every right to tell the developer they could not destroy a notable structure.  Mrs. Riggs stated her concern was that the developer would not know when they purchased the property that the City could determine a building would not be destroyed.  Mr. Sabatino stated his concern also was what type of situation would exist as far as the landowner knowing this legislation exists and that it may be to his detriment.  He stated usually when someone wants to sell their land, they get with the developer, and work up a deal.  Mr. Wiseman stated typically a developer contacts the Planning and Zoning Director, and that would be the time this issue could be raised.  Mr. Fox stated the Director may not know at that time if there was a structure on the property, however, he could let them know about this legislation at that time.  Mr. Sabatino stated he felt the City should be up front about notifying property owners of this legislation, and Mr. Wiseman stated it could be a part of our building packet that lists all the criteria about building a home or building in the City.  Mr. Fox stated he felt that would be a good idea.  Mr. Sabatino stated he would like to see the legislation reflect the process that would be followed so everyone would know exactly what it was, and he would like to have this incorporated into the legislation.  Mrs. Riggs stated she agreed with Mr. Sabatino that the process should be specified in the legislation.  Mr. Sabatino stated if the law director would incorporate the criteria, the process, and notification procedure into an Exhibit to be attached and incorporated into the legislation he would support moving it out of Committee.  Mr. Fox moved to forward to Council subject to approving the revised legislation prepared by the law director that reflects the process; Mr. Sabatino seconded the motion.  Roll call was taken with Mr. Sabatino, Mrs. Riggs, and Mr. Fox voting “Yea.”  Motion passed, 3-0.   

 

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

 

7.         ADJOURNMENT.  There being nothing further, Mr. Sabatino moved to adjourn; Mrs. Riggs seconded the motion.  Mr. Sabatino, Mrs. Riggs, and Mr. Fox voted “Aye.”  Motion carried, 3-0.  The Safety Committee meeting adjourned at 8:55 P.M., August 4, 2003. 

 

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

________________________________

Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk