PICKERINGTON CITY COUNCIL

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2011

CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD

 

REGULAR MEETING

 

7:30 P.M.

 

1.         ROLL CALL, INVOCATION, AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Council for the City of Pickerington met for a regular session Tuesday, October 4, 2011, at City Hall.  Mayor O’Brien called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M.  Roll call was taken as follows:  Mr. Barletta, Mr. Blair, Mrs. Hammond, Mrs. Sanders, Mr. Sauer, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mayor O’Brien were present.  Mr. Fix arrived at 7:34 P.M.  No members were absent.  Others present were: Lynda Yartin, Bill Vance, Chris Schornack, Chief Mike Taylor, Phil Hartmann, Ed Drobina, Greg Bachman, Joe Henderson, Chris Schweitzer, Carol Carter, Kathy Smith, Erin Seamster, Father Paul Williams, Janet Thiede, Nate Ellis, and others.  Father Williams delivered the invocation. 

 

2.         APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 20, 2011, REGULAR MEETING.  Mr. Blair moved to approve; Mrs. Sanders seconded the motion.  Roll call was taken with Mr. Barletta, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Blair, Mr. Sauer, and Mrs. Sanders voting “Yes.”  Motion passed, 6-0.  

 

3.         COMMUNITY COMMENTS.    There were no comments. 

 

4.         COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS.  Mrs. Hammond stated she would like to thank all of the City staff that helped with the Taste of Pickerington and further the winners of the Pizza Eating Contest were the Pickerington Police Department.

 

5.         APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA.  Mayor O’Brien stated there was one consent agenda item this evening. Mr. Sauer stated he would request this be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered on the regular Council agenda.  Mayor O’Brien stated that would be considered as Item 8.C. 

 

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

 

7.         REPORTS:   

 

A.        MAYOR.  Mayor O’Brien stated he had no report this evening. 

 

B.         LAW DIRECTOR.  Mr. Hartmann stated he had no report but would answer any questions.       

 

C.        FINANCE DIRECTOR.  Mr. Schornack stated he was happy to report the City has received the Auditor of State Award with Distinction for our 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. 

 

            D.         SERVICE MANAGER.  Mr. Drobina stated if the weather holds he plans to have the stripping done on S.R. 256 north, from Refugee Road to I-70, on Friday.  He stated this will not block traffic as it will be a moving work zone.  Mr. Drobina stated further that the City is hosting the Southeast Section meeting of the Ohio Water Environmental Association on Thursday and will provide tours of the water and wastewater plants for other entities. 

 

E.         CITY ENGINEER.  Mr. Bachman stated the CDBG ADA handicapped ramps in Pickerington Hills project will begin in the next couple of days.  He stated he has also been working on the upcoming CIP and that should be ready for the budget work session next Wednesday. 

 

F.         CITY MANAGER.  Mr. Vance stated he had submitted a written report and he would be happy to answer any questions. 

 

            G.        PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.  Mrs. Hammond stated the Committee met on September 22nd and two items on tonight’s agenda came from that meeting.  She stated the resolution that was removed from the Consent Agenda regarding the Central Ohio Green Pact was forwarded from the Public Safety Committee and the Committee did receive a presentation from MORPC on the Green Pact       

 

            H.        PLANNING, PROJECTS & SERVICES COMMITTEE.  Mr. Fix stated the Committee also met on September 22nd and forwarded two items to Council that are on tonight’s agenda.  He stated he would be happy to answer any questions. 

 

8.         PROCEDURAL READINGS: 

 

            A.        ORDINANCE 2011-38, “AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE REZONING AND FINAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE APPROXIMATE 5.82 ACRE GILLILAN PROPERTY FROM C-3 (COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT) TO PC-3 (PLANNED COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT) LOCATED ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE REFUGEE ROAD AND MILNOR ROAD INTERSECTION,” First Reading, Planning, Projects & Services Committee.  (TABLED, 07/19/11)

 

            B.         ORDINANCE 2011-51, “AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A PARKING/ACCESS EASEMENT AGREEMENT TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL CITY PARKING FACILITIES,” First Reading, Planning, Projects & Services Committee.  Mr. Fix stated this will basically document an agreement that has been in place for many years.  Mr. Fix moved to adopt; Mr. Barletta seconded the motion.  Roll call was taken with Mr. Barletta, Mr. Fix, Mr. Blair, Mr. Wisniewski, Mrs. Hammond, Mrs. Sanders, and Mr. Sauer voting “Yes.”  Motion passed, 7-0. 

 

            C.        RESOLUTION 2011-21R, “A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE CENTRAL OHIO GREEN PACT,” First Reading, Public Safety & Communications Committee.  Mr. Sauer stated he would voice his opposition to this is primarily for philosophical differences as he does not agree with a couple of the statements made with regard to reducing emissions and climate protection and greener public fleets.  Mr. Sauer stated while signing this pact may not be binding we would definitely be giving the indication that this is the way we are talking about going.  Mrs. Hammond stated the Public Safety Committee had this same discussion during the meeting and had the same questions; however, they were left with the impression we did not have to do everything on that list.  Mrs. Hammond stated we are currently engaged in practices that would be considered green, such as rain barrels, and we will continue to try to find areas to do this.  She stated this Pact does not bind us to anything.  Mr. Fix stated staff also supported this and we are already working on a variety of green initiatives so he did not see any harm in taking the opportunity to do things in a green way that are not costly to the City.  Mr. Sauer stated if we are already doing it, why do we need a Pact to say we are, and just by voting for this and passing it we are implying that the City endorses it.  He stated he felt there were a number of things on this that were positive, however, there are items that he does not agree with and therefore he will not vote for it.  Mrs. Sanders stated she supported being part of the MORPC group as she felt it was important to show a leap of good faith and that we are attempting to support the green initiative.  Mr. Barletta stated he also felt that the other members of the group are our competitors in attracting businesses and a lot of businesses like to do things for the environment and we need to attract those businesses and be mindful of what we can do to save money for the City by being more green.  Mr. Fix moved to adopt; Mrs. Sanders seconded the motion.  Roll call was taken with Mr. Sauer and Mr. Blair voting “No,” and Mrs. Hammond, Mrs. Sanders, Mr. Fix, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mr. Barletta voting “Yes.”  Motion passed, 5-2. 

 

            D.        RESOLUTION 2011-22R, “A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE OHIO DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION TO PROCEED WITH A PROJECT CONSTRUCTING CERTAIN NEW SIDEWALKS AND NEW BIKE PATHS IN PICKERINGTON,” First Reading, Public Safety & Communications Committee.  Mrs. Hammond stated this is preliminary legislation for the Safe Routes to Schools project and involves putting some sidewalks along Long Road near the Pickerington Elementary School, which is something that is greatly needed.  Mr. Fix moved to adopt; Mr. Blair seconded the motion.  Roll call was taken with Mr. Wisniewski, Mrs. Sanders, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Barletta, Mr. Blair, Mr. Sauer, and Mr. Fix voting “Yes.”  Motion passed, 7-0. 

 

            E.         ORDINANCE 2011-49, “AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING THE ROADWAY DEDICATION PLAT OF POSTAGE DRIVE FROM FAIRFIELD SQUARE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION TO THE CITY OF PICKERINGTON, COUNTY OF FAIRFIELD, STATE OF OHIO,” Second Reading, Planning, Projects & Services Committee.  Mr. Fix stated this simply took the ownership of Postage Drive from the condominium association and making it a City street.  Mr. Fix moved to adopt; Mr. Sauer seconded the motion.  Roll call was taken with Mrs. Sanders, Mr. Barletta, Mr. Fix, Mr. Wisniewski, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Blair, and Mr. Sauer voting “Yes.”  Motion passed, 7-0. 

 

9.         LEGISLATIVE READINGS:  NONE.

 

10.       DISCUSSION.  There was no discussion.     

 

11.       REFERRAL TO COMMITTEE.  Mayor O’Brien stated he had no items to refer to Committee.

 

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

 

13.       MOTIONS: 

 

            A.        MOTION TO FORWARD A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR HOUSE BILL 99 (BAN ON TEXTING WHILE DRIVING).  Mrs. Hammond moved to forward a letter of support for House Bill 99 which is a ban on texting while driving to the Senate Highway Committee; Mr. Sauer seconded the motion.  Roll call was taken with Mr. Barletta, Mr. Sauer, Mr. Fix, Mr. Blair, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mrs. Sanders voting “Yes.”  Motion passed, 7-0. 

 

14.       ADJOURNMENT.  There being nothing further, Mr. Fix moved to adjourn; Mrs. Hammond seconded the motion.  Mrs. Sanders, Mr. Fix, Mr. Blair, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Sauer, Mr. Barletta, and Mr. Wisniewski voted “Aye.”  Motion carried, 7-0.  The meeting adjourned at 7:50 P.M., October 4, 2011. 

 

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: 

 

 

_______________________________

Lynda D. Yartin, City Clerk

 

ATTEST:

 

 

_______________________________

Mitch O’Brien, Mayor