PICKERINGTON CITY COUNCIL

CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD

 

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2009

7:20 P.M.

 

PUBLIC HEARING

OPEN DISCUSSION REGARDING PROPOSED REZONING OF PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF REFUGEE ROAD AND MILNOR ROAD INTERSECTION (GILLILAN PROPERTY)

 

 

 

1.         Call to Order.  Mayor O’Brien opened Public Hearing at 7:20 P.M.

 

2.         Roll Call:  Roll call was taken with Mrs. Sanders, Mr. Fix, Mr. Sauer, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Sabatino, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mayor O’Brien present.  Mr. Smith was absent.  Others present were:  Tim Hansley, Lynda Yartin, Lance Schultz, Chief Mike Taylor, Phil Hartmann, Ed Drobina, Mark Lecuru,  Nate Ellis, Rachel Scofield, Devin Reany, Pastor Con Stevens, and others. 

 

3.      Purpose of the Public Hearing:  To hear public comments on the proposed rezoning of the 5.82 +/- acres located at the northeast corner of the Refugee Road and Milnor Road intersection from C-2 (Limited Commercial – Violet Township) to C-3 (Community Commercial).     

 

4.         Presentation to Council: 

 

            A.        Mr. Lance Shultz, Planning and Zoning Director, stated this property is located across the street from the Spring Creek subdivision, and Planning and Zoning Commission approved the proposed rezoning in January 2009, and Service Committee approved it in October 2008.  Mr. Schultz continued this rezoning follows the annexation agreement of March 2005, when 362 acres were annexed into the City, and the owner would like to rezone the property so when the market turns it will be a marketable site for commercial development. 

 

5.         Resident Questions/Comments:  No questions/comments.   

 

6.         Council Comments/Questions:  No questions/comments.   

 

7.         Adjournment.  There being nothing further, Mayor O’Brien closed the public hearing at 7:24 P.M., February 3, 2009.

 

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: 

 

 

_______________________________

Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk

 

ATTEST:

 

 

________________________________

Mitch O’Brien, Mayor

PICKERINGTON CITY COUNCIL

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2009

CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD

 

 

REGULAR MEETING

7:30 P.M.

 

1.         ROLL CALL, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND INVOCATION. Council for the City of Pickerington met for a regular session Tuesday, February 3, 2009, at City Hall.  Mayor O’Brien called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M.  Roll call was taken as follows:  Mr. Fix, Mr. Sauer, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Sabatino, Mrs. Sanders, and Mayor O’Brien were present.  Mr. Smith was absent as he was out of town on business.  Others present were: Tim Hansley, Lynda Yartin, Linda Fersch, Chief Mike Taylor, Ed Drobina, Lance Schultz, Phil Hartmann, Pastor Con Stevens, Rachel Scofield, Mark Lecuru, James Moyer, Devin Reany, Gary Weltlich, Nate Ellis, and others.  Pastor Stevens delivered the invocation. 

 

2.         A.        APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JANUARY 20, 2009, PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING RED LIGHT CAMERAS.  Mr. Sabatino moved to approve; Mr. Fix seconded the motion.  Roll call was taken with Mr. Sabatino, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Sauer, Mr. Fix, and Mrs. Sanders voting “Yea.”  Motion passed, 6-0. 

 

B.         APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JANUARY 20, 2009, REGULAR MEETING.  Mr. Fix moved to approve; Mrs. Sanders seconded the motion.  Roll call was taken with Mr. Sabatino, Mr. Fix, Mr. Sauer, Mrs. Hammond, Mrs. Sanders, and Mr. Wisniewski voting “Yea.”  Motion passed, 6-0. 

 

3.         APPROVAL OF AGENDA.  Mrs. Hammond moved to approve; Mr. Fix seconded the motion.  Roll call was taken with Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Sauer, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Fix, Mrs. Sanders, and Mr. Sabatino voting “Yea.”  Motion passed, 6-0. 

 

4.         COMMUNITY COMMENTS:   

 

A.        Mr. James Moyer, Columbus, Ohio.  Mr. Moyer stated he would like to address the red light cameras that are being proposed in the City of Pickerington.  Mr. Moyer stated he has created a solution for some of the issues that Pickerington would be experiencing should they adopt the cameras.  Mr. Moyer stated he has created and written a proposal called the “Ethical Revenue Initiative,” as he believes the most important responsibility of any jurisdiction at any level is the maintenance of law and order and the preservation of public safety.  He stated, however, as long as there is a conflict of interest between the responsibilities of law enforcement and revenue collection, the responsibilities of law enforcement and the preservation of safety would be at odds.  He stated his initiative would prohibit any city from profiting off of red light running, speed camera, parking tickets, and traffic tickets.  He stated instead any of the revenues that would have gone to the city would be forced to go to charity instead, and charity to receive the funds would be at the option of the person who receives the ticket.  Mr. Moyer stated the purpose of this initiative was to recognize that red light cameras may play a role in improving public safety, however, many residents wonder if that may be done for purposes of revenue instead of safety, and this initiative takes care of that easily by denying the city that revenue.  Mr. Moyer stated he would be happy to answer any questions anyone might have. 

 

B.         Mr. Mark Lecuru, Pickerington, Ohio.  Mr. Lecuru stated he would like to address the issue of red light cameras.  Mr. Lecuru stated he has been a resident of the City since 1986 and he is opposed to red light cameras.  Mr. Lecuru read a statement into the record.  (Attachment 1 to these minutes)

 

5.         APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA:  Mayor O’Brien stated there were no consent agenda items. 

 

6.         COMMITTEE REPORTS:   

 

A.        SAFETY COMMITTEE.  Mr. Sabatino stated Safety Committee met on January 21st and had a lengthy discussion regarding our disturbing the peace issue.  He stated some changes were proposed to that ordinance and it will be dealt with again at the next Safety meeting. 

 

B.         SERVICE COMMITTEE.  Mr. Wisniewski stated Service Committee also met on January 21st.  He stated three items from that meeting are on the agenda this evening including the rezoning that was the subject of the public hearing earlier this evening and the annexation of the City swimming pool into the city limits, and the annual ordinance for the purchase of water meters.    

 

7.         REPORTS:

 

A.        MAYOR.  Mayor O’Brien stated the Monthly Mayor’s Court Report has been distributed.  He stated he had nothing further to report.     

 

B.         LAW DIRECTOR.  Mr. Hartmann stated he was not requesting multiple readings on the swimming pool annexation resolution and he would be happy to answer any questions. 

 

C.        FINANCE DIRECTOR.  Mrs. Fersch stated had no report this evening.   

 

D.        SERVICE MANAGER.  Mr. Drobina stated he had no report, but would be happy to answer any questions. 

 

E.         CITY MANAGER.  Mr. Hansley stated he had provided a written report and he would answer any questions.  Mr. Hansley further stated he would like to draw everyone’s attention to the Building Department report that was included in your last Safety Committee packet that indicated on February 9th we will begin application and inspection requirements for water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners, windows, siding, and roofing.  He stated that is a change to our Code to be consistent with the State and this information will be posted on the City’s web site.  Mr. Wisniewski stated Mr. Hansley had reported on a draft ordinance regarding Volunteer Energy and the gas aggregation program and he would like to know if we were going to do RFQs for this.  Mr. Wisniewski stated if Council were going to make a decision he would like to see more than one offer since it is a decision that will be citywide.  Mr. Hansley stated this was an item he was going to be forwarding to Service Committee for discussion and a decision as to whether they wanted to reach out to more firms.  Mr. Wisniewski stated he would make a motion on this issue later in the meeting.  Mayor O’Brien stated typically when a resident replaces a hot water heater they just do it, so how would they know to check the City web site to see if he needed a permit to install it.  Mr. Hansley stated we will be working with the Building Department to find a way to publicize this, and from what he understands from our Chief Building Official this is a requirement of the State Code for Certified Building Departments.  Mr. Sabatino inquired if a fee had been determined and Mr. Hansley stated he would have to follow-up on that.  Mayor O’Brien stated perhaps this is something that can be included on water bills as well.  Mr. Sabatino stated if a fee is changed or added the City Manager must notify council and if they do not object it is included on the fee schedule and Mr. Hansley stated that is correct. 

 

8.         PROCEDURAL READINGS:

 

            A.        ORDINANCE 2009-03, “AN ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH NEPTUNE EQUIPMENT COMPANY,” First Reading, Service Committee.  Mr. Wisniewski moved to adopt; Mrs. Hammond seconded the motion.  Mr. Wisniewski stated this is our annual ordinance to purchase water heaters.  Roll call was taken with Mrs. Hammond, Mrs. Sanders, Mr. Fix, Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Sabatino, and Mr. Sauer voting “Yea.”  Motion passed, 6-0. 

 

            B.         ORDINANCE 2009-04, “AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE REZONING OF 5.82 +/- ACRES (PARCEL ID 0411122200) FROM C-2 LIMITED COMMERCIAL (VIOLET TOWNSHIP) TO C-3 COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL LOCATED AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE REFUGEE ROAD AND MILNOR ROAD INTERSECTION (GILLILAN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP), First Reading, Service Committee.  Mr. Wisniewski moved to adopt; Mrs. Hammond seconded the motion.  Mr. Wisniewski stated this was the subject of the earlier public hearing and he would answer any questions.  Roll call was taken with Mr. Sabatino, Mr. Fix, Mr. Wisniewski, Mrs. Hammond, Mrs. Sanders, and Mr. Sauer voting “Yea.”  Motion passed, 6-0. 

 

            C.        RESOLUTION 2009-03R, “A RESOLUTION AUTORIZING THE PETITION FOR ANNEXATION OF 4.088 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, LOCATED IN VIOLET TOWNSHIP, FAIRFIELD COUNTY, TO THE CITY OF PICKERINGTON (SWIMMING POOL),” First Reading, Service Committee.  Mr. Wisniewski moved to adopt; Mrs. Hammond seconded the motion.  Roll call was taken with Mr. Sabatino, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Fix, Mr. Wisniewski, Mrs. Sanders, and Mr. Sauer voting “Yea.”  Motion passed, 6-0. 

 

            D.        ORDINANCE 2008-90, “AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF UTILIZING THE REGIONAL INCOME TAX AGENCY TO ADMINISTER AND ENFORCE THE CITY OF PICKERINGTON’S INCOME TAX ORDINANCES,” Second Reading, Finance Committee.  (TABLED, 12/16/08)

 

            E.         ORDINANCE 2009-02, “AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT FOR A PHOTO RED LIGHT ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM WITH RED FLEX TRAFFIC SYSTEMS, INC.,” Second Reading, Service Committee.  Mr. Fix moved to adopt; Mrs. Sanders seconded the motion.  Mayor O’Brien stated he would like to encourage Council to Table this item.  He stated the issues of safety and revenue generation can be debated endlessly, however, the City has spent a great deal of money to install the ACS system on our traffic signals and he would like to give that system a chance before we add anything else to our system.  Mr. Fix stated Council passed the first reading at the last meeting with the understanding that there was work yet to be done on the contract.  He stated the City Manager and Law Director have been working on this; however, an amended contract has not been completed.  Mr. Fix moved to Table; Mr. Sabatino seconded the motion.  Roll call was taken with Mr. Sabatino, Mr. Fix, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Sauer, Mrs. Sanders, and Mr. Wisniewski voting “Yea.”  Motion passed, 6-0.  (TABLED)

 

9.         LEGISLATIVE READINGS:  NONE.

 

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

 

11.       MOTIONS: 

 

            A.        Mr. Wisniewski moved to authorize the City Manager to go out for RFQs for the City’s Gas Aggregation Program; Mr. Fix seconded the motion.  Roll call was taken with Mrs. Sanders, Mr. Fix, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Sauer, Mr. Sabatino, and Mr. Wisniewski voting “Yea.”  Motion passed, 6-0. 

 

12.       ADJOURNMENT.  There being nothing further, Mr. Fix moved to adjourn; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion.  Mrs. Sanders, Mr. Fix, Mr. Sauer, Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Sabatino, and Mrs. Hammond voted “Aye.”  Motion carried, 6-0.  The meeting adjourned at 8:00 P.M., February 3, 2009. 

 

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: 

 

 

_______________________________

Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk

 

 

ATTEST:

 

 

_______________________________

Mitch O’Brien, Mayor