WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2010

REGULAR MEETING

7:30 P.M.

1. ROLL CALL. Mrs. Hammond called the meeting to order at 7:50 P.M., with roll call as follows: Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Barletta, and Mr. Blair were present. No members were absent. Others present were Commander Steve Annetts, Lynda Yartin, Ed Drobina, Chet Hopper, Greg Bachman, Alexa Libert, Rachel Scofield, and others.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF April 21, 2010, Regular Meeting. Mr. Barletta moved to approve; Mr. Blair seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Blair, Mr. Barletta, and Mrs. Hammond voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.

3. COMMUNITY COMMENTS: There were no community comments.

4. POLICE:

A. Chief’s Report. Acting Chief Annetts stated he had provided a written report and he would answer any questions. Commander Annetts stated there has been a set-back with our K-9 unit. He stated during the last week of training, the trainer had some concerns about officer safety results as when it came to protecting her handler, she was not doing that. He stated we have changed dogs and we now have a male Dutch Shepherd. He stated this dog is a little more aggressive and that is what we needed to protect the officer.

5. DEPARTMENT REPORTS:

A. Parks and Recreation:

(1) Director’s Report. Mr. Drobina stated he had provided a written report and he has received the sign for the Community Gardens and he will get that installed. He stated further they have not needed water out there yet, but the water tank will be installed next week.

a. Review and discussion regarding “No parking” signs on Mackenzie Drive near the Disc Golf Course. Mr. Drobina stated there are approximately 50 parking spots by the water tower and there is a large green area where people could pull off going up the road. He stated he would like to wait and see how the disc golf course goes because he would hate to put up signage that we do not really need. Mr. Bachman stated he agreed with Mr. Drobina that signage was not necessary at this time. Mrs. Hammond stated she was not inclined to put up no parking signs on public streets if it can be avoided. Mr. Barletta stated he would like to see if we have a problem before we do anything on this. Mrs. Hammond stated she would like to have this removed from the agenda at this time.

B. Building Regulations Department:

(1) Building Department/Chief Building Official’s Report. Mr. Hopper stated he had provided a written report and he would answer any questions. Mr. Hopper stated we have issued almost 40 building permits for homes and we had projected 50 for the year so it looks like we will meet that projected number. Mr. Hopper further stated Ryan Homes has purchased some lots from current developers and they are building a model home now.

(2) Code Enforcement Officer’s Report. Mr. Blair inquired if there has been any progress on the Green Leaf Grille sign on S.R. 256 and Mr. Hopper stated he had met with the prosecutor and a summons will be sent to the business owner. He stated it is in the hands of the prosecutor now. Mr. Hopper stated he does plan to review our sign code and he hoped to bring some recommendations to this Committee for review in the near future.

a. Review and discussion regarding roadway signage. Mrs. Hammond stated it is not that she does not understand that people want to advertise their business, but we ask the schools and other people to get permits to put signs in specific locations and it is not fair to them if these signs show up all over. Mr. Hopper stated he did attend a work session on code enforcement held by the Planning and Zoning Commission and there were comments about signs. Mr. Hopper stated that the Planning and Zoning Commission goes through a process for approving signs and then additional signs show up, etc. He stated this is something he plans to work on. Mrs. Hammond stated she felt this is an area we need to work on and make a decision on so staff has something to work with.

C. Service Department:

(1) Service Manager’s Report. Mr. Drobina stated he had provided a written report and he would answer any questions.

D. Engineering Department.

(1) City Engineer’s Report. Mr. Bachman stated he had provided a written report and he would answer any questions anyone might have.

(2) Review and discussion regarding abandoned gas well on Avalon Drive. Mr. Bachman stated we have not heard anything from ODNR on this issue, but he hoped to hear something this summer. Mr. Bachman stated when he hears ODNR has scheduled to cap the well he will report that to this Committee. Mrs. Hammond stated she would like to remove this item from the agenda.

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

7. OTHER BUSINESS: Mrs. Hammond stated she would like to discuss some amendments to the bicycle ordinance that was Tabled at Council. Mr. Barletta stated he felt the age requirement for wearing helmets is 18 in Columbus and he has looked at the requirements in other states; in California it is 17, New Jersey and Massachusetts it is 16. He stated it is good to have a helmet law and the states that have implemented helmet laws have fewer hospitalizations and less serious injuries from people falling while they are riding. He stated further from a parent’s perspective it gives them leverage because it is a law and that is a good thing. Mr. Barletta stated he would be in favor of making the age requirement 16. Mrs. Hammond stated she would just question how we could enforce this and Commander Annetts stated it would just be a matter of stopping them and finding out their age. Mrs. Hammond stated it was not that she was not in favor of this; she just did not like to set rules than cannot be effectively enforced. Mr. Blair clarified the Ohio Revised Code did not have anything dealing with bicycle helmets. Mr. Barletta stated a head injury resulting from riding a bicycle would be a tragedy and as a parental responsibility he feels parents should make that helmet available and enforce that it needs to be worn. He stated he did not feel it would be a bad thing to have it on the books and police officers could at least make riders aware of the requirement. Commander Annetts stated law enforcement personnel are required to wear helmets on the bike patrol. He stated he felt an awareness program with the bicycle rodeos and something like what we do now with giving children coupons from Children’s Hospital for free ice cream if they are wearing helmets. Mr. Blair stated he would like to see the age lowered from 18 to 16. Mrs. Hammond stated also there seemed to be a conflict in Section 1(b)(5) where it states you must have at least one hand on the handlebars; however Section 6(i) states you must have both hands on the handlebars. Mr. Blair stated he was comfortable with both sections requiring at least one hand on the handlbars and Mr. Barletta stated he was comfortable with that as well. Mrs. Hammond requested Mrs. Yartin relay these requested amendments to the law director for inclusion in the ordinance to be considered at the next Council meeting.

8. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mr. Blair moved to adjourn; Mr. Barletta seconded the motion. Mr. Blair, Mrs. Hammond, and Mr. Barletta voted "Aye." Motion carried, 3-0. The Safety Committee adjourned at 8:20 P.M., May 19, 2010.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

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Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk