WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2009

REGULAR MEETING

7:40 P.M.

1. ROLL CALL. Mr. Sabatino called the meeting to order at 7:40 P.M., with roll call as follows: Mr. Sauer, Mrs. Sanders, and Mr. Sabatino were present. No members were absent. Others present were Chief Mike Taylor, Lynda Yartin, Jeff Fix, Lance Schultz, Greg Bachman, Don Phillips, Don Ross, Danny Mahaffey, Tony Barletta, Rachel Schofeld, Mike McKinley, Keeley Weaver, Dan Heitmeyer, and others.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF October 21, 2009, Regular Meeting. Mr. Sauer moved to approve; Mrs. Sanders seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Sabatino, Mrs. Sanders, and Mr. Sauer voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.

3. COMMUNITY COMMENTS:

A. Mike McKinley stated he would like to address the possibility of banning texting while driving that was referred to this committee at the council meeting last night. Mr. McKinley stated he would support such a ban and he felt this was something that should be looked at. Mr. McKinley stated he felt texting should be banned in the City for all drivers as there is no reason you need to be texting while driving as this is a dangerous habit and needs to be banned. Mr. McKinley stated he would also argue that it should be expanded to include a ban on cell phone usage for people who are 17 and under. He stated they are learning to drive and they do not need that extra distraction, especially when everyone else around them is on the cell phone talking. Mr. McKinley stated when they are 18 they can vote, and they could use the cell phone while driving, but before that they don’t need to use the cell phone. He stated he would like to see the City pass both of those very quickly.

4. COMMUNITY SAFETY CONCERNS: There were no safety concerns.

5. POLICE:

A. Chief’s Report. Chief Taylor stated he had provided a written report and he would answer any questions.

6. DEPARTMENT REPORTS:

A. Parks and Recreation:

(1) Director’s Report. Mr. Don Ross stated he was representing Mr. Carr this evening and he would try to answer any questions anyone might have regarding Mr. Carr’s written report. Mr. Ross stated as we move into the winter season we have so far had 15 teams for the adult sports programs.

B. Code Enforcement:

(1) Code Enforcement Officer’s Report. Mr. Schultz stated he had provided a written report and Mr. Mahaffey is also present to answer any questions anyone might have. Mrs. Sanders stated this report was very helpful and Mr. Sauer stated he agreed with Mrs. Sanders, he thought this report was exactly what they were asking for. Mr. Sabatino stated prior to the meeting he had spoken to Mr. Mahaffey regarding a situation where a resident had brought him a menu from an illegal home establishment selling BBQ. Mr. Sabatino stated Mr. Mahaffey has had an ongoing issue with this type of an operation and it is basically someone operating a food concession trailer from their driveway. Mr. Sabatino stated Mr. Mahaffey may need some help in tightening up our legislation on things like this. Mr. Schultz stated this had come up last summer and they had worked with the individual and he had moved to a location in Canal Winchester. Mr. Schultz stated that must not have worked out, and Mr. Fix stated he is still selling from his driveway because he passes this all the time. Mr. Schultz stated he would look into this. Mr. Sabatino stated he had also been contacted by an individual who stated he had some concerns about communication with Code Enforcement. He stated this individual is out of town until mid-December but he would like to come in and discuss the issue with Mr. Mahaffey when he returns to Pickerington. Mr. Sabatino further stated if Mr. Schultz did not mind he would call this individual and let him know that would be fine.

a. Code Enforcement Technology Update. Mr. Schultz stated the upgrade between City Hall and the building department was done last week and he would be contacting Franklin Systems in the near future to set up a training session, and he would utilize Don Phillips’ knowledge until the end of the year.

b. Review and discussion of Long Term Code Complaint Report. This report was discussed earlier in the meeting.

Mr. Bachman stated an issue has come up about sidewalk repair and maintenance of sidewalks. Mr. Bachman stated he would work with Mr. Schultz and try to come up with some draft criteria for the Committee to look at as to what constitutes when we require a homeowner to repair or replace the sidewalk. Mr. Sabatino inquired if Mr. Bachman would take into consideration areas such as where street trees are causing the sidewalks to heave. Mr. Bachman stated that would be addressed in the draft criteria he would prepare.

C. Building Regulations Department:

(1) Building Department Report. Mr. Bachman stated Mr. Phillips has accepted a position with the City of Worthington and would be leaving at the end of the year. Mr. Phillips stated he had provided a written report and would be happy to answer any questions.

(2) Chief Building Official’s Report (Mr. Phillips) Mr. Phillips stated this report had been included with the Building Department Report, and again he would be happy to answer any questions.

D. Service Department: There was no report from Service Department. Mr. Sauer clarified that the speed limit on Diley Road had been referred to Safety Committee by the Service Committee and information would be available for the next Safety Committee meeting.

7. CHAIRMAN:

A. Discussion regarding Tornado Sirens. Mr. Sabatino stated he had requested Mrs. Yartin check on the availability of tornado sirens. Mrs. Yartin stated she had been discussing this issue with the Fire Department and also Mr. Bachman had received some information from the Fairfield County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security that he was going to forward to her. Mrs. Yartin stated the Violet Township Fire Department has installed all of the sirens they are scheduled to receive. Mr. Bachman stated he has been reviewing possible locations for an additional siren near the Sycamore Creek Elementary School. He stated he had been informed the cost to refurbish a siren would be about $11,000 and previously the County Commissioners had split the cost with the City, but he did not know if that would be possible at this time. Mr. Bachman stated that cost normally included installation, but that would depend on the utility. Mr. Sabatino stated he would like this to remain on the agenda and have more information by the next meeting.

8. OTHER BUSINESS:

A. Review and discussion regarding noise at Doolin’s Pub. Mrs. Yartin stated Mr. Hartmann had asked that she let the Committee know he working on a cross-jurisdictional agreement with the Township. Mr. Sabatino stated he would like to have this remain on the agenda. Mr. Fix clarified that the police department still receives calls on noise from this establishment.

B. Review and discussion regarding request for waiver of alcohol restriction in Victory Park for the Rib Fest. Mrs. Yartin stated a legal opinion from our law director had been distributed to the Committee. Mrs. Sanders stated she was not in favor of this originally because it is so close to the schools, but in looking at other municipalities that have festivals, they have not had any problems and we are smaller than a lot of them. Mrs. Sanders stated it doesn’t appear there would be a problem and she would support this for a two day function on a trial basis. She stated if there were problems it could be revisited. Ms Weaver stated the Violet Festival has also indicated they will be making the same request. Mr. Sauer stated he fully supported allowing this because it is contained in an enclosed area. He stated many of the other festivals that are referenced in the law director’s report are not contained, and although having alcohol in the park is not an ideal situation, he felt it was much better than what we previously had. Mr. Sabatino stated he felt the question wasn’t how close this would be to the schools, but we have an ordinance now that bans alcohol consumption in the parks and when this land was deeded with these restrictions times were much different than they are today. He continued that he felt we should respect the ordinances that we have and respect how he interpreted the original intent of the people that made the land donation. Mr. Sabatino stated he just does not feel it is a good idea to have the beer garden in the park. He stated he did not have an issue with the event being in the park, and he did not have an issue with having alcohol, he just did not feel the beer garden needed to be in the park and he would not support this. Mrs. Sanders clarified this discussion was with regard to the request by the Jazz and Rib Fest and any other event would have to make a separate request. Mr. Heitmeyer stated the Violet Festival would be making the same request. Mr. Sauer moved to approve the request to locate the beer garden and the Jazz and Rib Fest in Victory Park for the 2010 event; Mrs. Sanders seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Sabatino voting “Nay,” and Mr. Sauer and Mrs. Sanders voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 2-1.

9. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mr. Sauer moved to adjourn; Mrs. Sanders seconded the motion. Mr. Sauer, Mrs. Sanders, and Mr. Sabatino voted "Aye." Motion carried, 3-0. The Safety Committee adjourned at 8:05 P.M., November 18, 2009.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

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Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk