CITY OF PICKERINGTON
SERVICE COMMITTEE
OF COUNCIL
CITY HALL, 100
LOCKVILLE ROAD
THURSDAY, JULY 8,
2004
REGULAR MEETING
7:30 P.M.
1. ROLL CALL. Mr. Hackworth called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M., with Mr. Parker, Mr. Hackworth, and Mr. O’Brien present. No members were absent. Others present were: Mike Sabatino, Judy Gilleland, Frank Wiseman, Lynda Yartin, Lance Schultz, Bob Mapes, Jerry Dailey, Jennifer Frommer, John Gallagher, Matt Schneider, Judge Luse, and others.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF June 10, 2004, Regular Meeting. Mr. Parker moved to approve; Mr. O’Brien
seconded the motion. Roll call was
taken with Mr. O’Brien, Mr. Hackworth, and Mr. Parker voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
3. COMMUNITY COMMENTS: Mr. Hackworth stated this item has been added to the agenda for any comments from residents and inquired if anyone would like to speak to the Committee this evening. There were no comments.
4. PLANNING AND ZONING
A. REPORTS:
(1) BZA Report. Mr. Schultz stated there were no cases in June and there are no cases scheduled for July.
(2) Planning and Zoning Representative Report (Mr. O’Brien) Mr. O’Brien stated Planning and Zoning Commission will meet next week.
B. ACTION ITEMS: Mr. Schultz stated there were no action items.
5. SERVICE DEPARTMENT
A. WATER UTILITY MAINTENANCE.
(1) Water services to Pearl Lane and Florence Drive (CIP# 98-01-002) – Update. Mr. Wiseman stated the project is complete and the Committee was provided a draft letter that will be sent to the residents. He stated if the committee would like to make any additions or corrections, please let him know and they will be incorporated into the letter. Mr. Wiseman stated he would like any comments back by next week so the letter can be mailed. He further stated they will be developing a form to allow residents to sign up for the ten year option and he is working with Mr. Mapes to do that. Mr. Hackworth clarified the residents will sign a note and a mortgage, their only costs will be the cost for filing the mortgage and release it, then the cost will be divided by however many payments for ten years and it will be put on their monthly bill. Mr. Mapes stated he anticipated the filing cost for the mortgage would be approximately $56. Further the payments over ten years will be interest free and when it is paid off the mortgage will be released. Mr. Mapes stated should the house be sold, it must be paid off at that time. Mr. Mapes stated this has been done in other situations in the past. Mr. Mapes stated this is a voluntary process, residents are not required to sign up for City water. Mr. Sabatino stated after the last Council meeting Mr. Myer had made comments that since some developers had their tap fees waived, he did not feel residents should have to pay theirs. Mr. Wiseman stated when developers build they put in the water lines and the City put this line in at no cost to the residents. Mr. Parker stated he felt this letter should explain to the residents that the City did pay for the water line. Mr. Hackworth clarified the cost to the resident would be the tap fee which is approximately $2,800 and they would be required to put in their own individual lines from their house to the water main so they would need to hire a contractor to do that. Mr. Mapes pointed out this option is only open for a six month timeframe, and after that time they would be required to pay the entire fee. Mr. Wiseman stated there is a water box at each yard so when they want to tap in, it will be easy to do. Mr. Parker stated he would also recommend that approximately 30 days prior to the six month expiration date, the residents should be reminded the time is running out for them to take advantage of this offer.
B. WASTEWATER UTILITY MAINTENANCE.
(1) Review and discussion regarding tertiary sand filter replacement. Mr. Wiseman stated we have had problems with the filters since installation. He stated the west bound train has been torn apart and repaired, but it continues to blow sand out from underneath the filter media. He stated the east bound train is starting to show the same type of characteristics. He stated this means that it does not work as a polishing agent like it should. He stated he has received a cost estimate from the company that installed the filters to completely repair and replace them for $150,000. He stated he is looking to see if we can do some modifications on the east train ourselves without having to do a complete rehab job and just do the rehab on the west train, but we need to be able to tear down the filter to do that and we have not had the opportunity to do that as yet. He stated he just wanted to let the Committee know we are having some difficulties, we are still well within our limits, but it is an expense that will be coming down the road. Mr. Sabatino clarified this is the same type filter that was discussed on the wastewater treatment plant project.
C. STREET MAINTENANCE.
(1) Annual Street Repaving Project – Update. Mr. Wiseman stated the legislation awarding the contract is going through the reading process on Council floor.
D. STORM WATER UTILITY MAINTENANCE.
(1) Long Road/Bowen Road Stormwater Discussion. Mr. Wiseman stated Mr. Hartman is not present this evening.
E. TREE COMMISSION. Mr. Drobina stated there was no report this evening.
F. SCIP (Formerly Issue II Program) – Update. Mr. Wiseman stated the application deadline is October 1, 2004, and this Committee has already authorized us to apply for the stormwater repairs at Long Road and Diley Road. Mr. Wiseman stated notice of award is normally announced around the first of the year.
Ms Frommer stated with regard to the funding for the Long Road and Bowen Road problem, Mr. Hartman did prepare a narrative and Stilson has approached the Corps of Engineers and will be meeting with them to see about funding. Ms Frommer stated she had been notified today that Mr. Hartman would not be in attendance this evening, however, he would have a final draft report for the next meeting. Mr. Hackworth stated he had noticed Metro Parks had put in a levee holding back a lot of water. Ms Frommer stated she understood Metro Parks had received a federal grant to do that work and that has been referenced in the narrative proposal for the Corps of Engineers as that might make it more attractive to them to fund our project.
G. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance to authorize the City Manager to write off uncollectible water, sanitary sewer, and stormwater charges. Mr. Hackworth stated he would like to continue this item on the agenda for the next meeting so Ms Gilleland can become more familiar with the issue.
H. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance to amend the Pickerington Codified Ordinances by adding a new Section 1050.011 and Section 1060.011 requiring landlords to co-sign their respective tenant’s water and sewer applications. Mr. Hackworth stated he would like for this item to be continued as well.
Mr. Hackworth stated Judge Luse is here to discuss an issue with his property and if there were no objections he would move to the Other Business portion of the agenda. Ms Gilleland stated Mr. Schultz had a presentation for the Committee with the background on this issue.
Mr. Schultz stated Judge Luse and the developer for the Zane property came in regarding developing a 15.87 acre parcel. He stated they are requesting a traffic signal in front of the proposed development. Mr. Schultz stated the site in question is located north of the Pickerington Medical Complex on the west side of S.R. 256. Mr. Schultz stated the proposal is to close the access point on S.R. 256 at the Pickerington Medical Complex and to put a new access in for the entire 15 acres. Mr. Schultz stated the proposal for Judge Luse’s property is for approximately 40,000 square feet of office space in eight buildings, and on the three acre outlet of the Zane property fronting S.R. 256 they are proposing a strip retail that would likely include a gas station. He stated the use for the remaining seven acres has not been identified but could be office or retail uses per the zoning code. Mr. Wiseman stated per our Access Management Plan a potential traffic signal has been identified at the entrance to Melrose. Mr. Schultz stated if the request for this traffic signal is approved, it would require a revision to our Access Management Plan. He stated further he would like to discuss relocating the access to Rutherford Auto Body to this light which could potentially eliminate the access at Old S.R. 256. Judge Luse stated there was an agreement entered into in 1989 between the previous owners of this tract and the City of Pickerington that any future development would access off of Black Cherry Drive, and has been recorded as a covenant to the property. Judge Luse continued that his concern was for the residents in Cherry Hill and that is why they would like to access off of S.R. 256 and never go through to the Cherry Hill subdivision. Judge Luse stated he understood the decision on the traffic signal probably would not be made this evening, however, they would like to have a decision on the access issue so they can move forward with the plans. Mr. O’Brien stated he would like to have a copy of this information prior to making any decision on this issue. Mr. Hackworth stated there are several accesses onto S.R. 256 in this area already and he would like to minimize those as much as possible. Mr. O’Brien stated he would like to have time to review this proposal prior to making any decision as he had just received the information this evening. Mr. O’Brien stated the City is currently working on a plan for all of our traffic signals and adding this light could cause a dramatic impact on that plan. Mr. Mapes stated as he understood it, the existing curb cut is on the south side of the Pickerington Medical Complex, and regardless of the light issue, they would like to know they can do their drawings showing the curb cut on the north side of the Pickerington Medical Complex. Mr. Sabatino stated then, the curb cut on the south would be eliminated if the new one to the north is approved. Mr. Hackworth stated he would still like to have some time to review this issue. Mr. Parker stated he agreed he would like time to review this issue and questioned what the timeframe was the developer was looking at because he got the impression they were trying to hit the building season. Judge Luse stated they want to proceed with the engineered plan, but they did not want to put the money into that before they knew the access issue was resolved. Mr. O’Brien stated he felt the relocation of the access was the most logical for these parcels, however, the light was another story. Mr. Hackworth stated if the Committee concurred, a Special Service Committee meeting could be scheduled once everyone has had the opportunity to review the entire issue. Mr. Sabatino stated as he understood it, they do not want to quibble about the light now, they want to get going with that access point and discuss the light at a future point. The developer concurred, however, they want to design it with the light in mind so that a light will work at that intersection if that is approved. He stated they would make a preliminary plan, not a fully engineered plan, so that all the Council and Planning and Zoning Commission members could have something to look at before making their decision. Mr. Parker moved to schedule a Special Service Committee meeting for 7:00 P.M., Tuesday, July 20, 2004, to review a motion to approve the relocation of the access point on S.R. 256; Mr. Hackworth seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Hackworth, Mr. Parker, and Mr. O’Brien voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
Mr. Schultz stated he would also like to update the Committee on the Fox Glen subdivision. He stated the initiative that was passed in November 2002 stated all land being developed for residential/multi-family purposes that was not subject to an approved final plat should be developed at a density of up to two (2) residential units per acre, multiplied by the number or contiguous acres in the project. He stated that Fox Glen was approved at 2.112 unit per acre (520 lots on 246 acres), and the final development plan was approved in July 2001. He continued that Fox Glen West was platted in November 2002, prior to the two units per acre initiative, at 2.43 unit per acre (256 lots on 105.332 acres). Mr. Schultz stated the final plat for Fox Glen East is now being presented with 1.87 units per acre (264 lots on 140.669 acres). Mr. Schultz stated the legal opinion is that although the final development plan was approved at 2.11 units per acre, the request for Fox Glen East to be platted at 1.87 units per acre. He stated the initiative petition refers to plats and not plans, and therefore, staff should approve the plat. Ms Gilleland stated she just wanted Council to be aware that this would be coming up. Mr. Mapes stated this is the only subdivision that has this situation. He stated the plats that they are submitting are less than two units per acre and, therefore, qualify to be approved. Ms Gilleland stated no action is required on this, she was just making Council aware of this situation.
6. ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT CAPITAL PROJECTS
A. WASTEWATER
(1) Wastewater Plant Expansion (CIP# 02-03-005) – Update. Mr. Wiseman stated we are waiting for the EPA to approve our planned stress test. He stated the tertiary filter discussed earlier does not affect the stress test at all.
B. TRANSPORTATION:
(1) Cycle Way/Freedom Way (CIP# 02-03-013) – Update. Mr. Dailey stated they have a schedule from the contractor to complete that project.
(2) Courtright Road.
(A) Courtright Road Extension Project, Phase III (CIP#s 03-03-011 and 03-03-012) – Update. Mr. Dailey stated he had no update at this time.
(3) Diley Road Realignment:
(A) Diley Road/256 Intersection Improvement Project, Phase II – Update. Mr. Dailey stated the project is under construction.
(B) Diley Road/S.R. 256 Intersection Improvement Project, Phase III – Update. Mr. Dailey stated the contract award is currently on Council agenda.
(4) Diley Road Improvements Project:
(A) MORPC/ODOT Project (CIP#98-03-005 and 03-03-005) Mr. Dailey stated a public meeting has been scheduled for July 22, 2004, at 7:00 P.M. Ms Gilleland stated a tentative plan will be available for the residents to review, however, the plan will not be finalized until after we receive all of the public input.
(5) Downtown Revitalization Project Phase III, IV, and V and West Columbus Street Public Parking Lot (CIP#s 02-06-001, 03-06-001, & 03-06-003) – Update. Mr. Dailey stated this project is in the punch list stage and there is some pavement repair yet to be done. Mr. O’Brien stated going on east on S.R. 256, as you cross the railroad tracks, there is an apparent patch in the center that is already starting to get a waver to it that the rest of the pavement does not have. He stated it appears that is a prime target for early failure. Mr. Wiseman stated he will check into that area. Mr. Sabatino stated he had asked that someone check into the parking lot problems at Sterling Coach that had been caused by parking contractor’s vehicles on it. Mr. Wiseman stated he thought that had been taken care of, but he will double check.
(6) Cover/Ebright Connector (CIP#02-03-010)
(A) Pickerington Health Care Access Road – Update. Mr. Dailey stated he had no update on this issue.
(7) I-70/S.R. 256 Joint Improvements Project with Reynoldsburg and ODOT – Update. Mr. Hackworth stated the final legislation was passed at the last Council meeting and we are waiting for the project to proceed.
(8) Traffic Signal Update. Mr. Dailey stated Mr. Gallagher was present this evening to discuss this issue and he had also prepared a cost estimate for the plan presented at the last meeting. Mr. Gallagher stated he had presented a short term plan that he would recommend be accomplished as soon as possible, as well as the medium term and long term projects. He stated he had also provided a list of on-going improvements he would recommend. Mr. Dailey stated the City can review these recommendations and determine what they would like to do.
(9) Traffic Improvement Plan (TIP) – Update. No Report.
(10) Review of Ordinance 2004-41, “An ordinance amending the Traffic control Map to raise speed limits on portions of Long Road and East Columbus Street,” and discussion regarding the residgnation of Long Road from “major collector” to “minor arterial.” Mr. Hackworth stated he had received a lot of information in his packet on this issue and he would like to have time to review all of it before addressing this issue. Mr. Sabatino stated his question was how this legislation went from Safety Committee as a request to increase the speed limit, to changing the classification. Mr. O’Brien stated when he originally proposed this speed limit change he was very specific to not infringe on that barrier, and he was not sure how the reclassification got into the ordinance. Mr. O’Brien stated once he receives the information and if the speed limit increase requires the reclassification, he would not support the increase.
D. STORMWATER. No Report.
7. CHAIRMAN.
A. Review and discussion regarding Community First requested traffic study. Mr. Hackworth stated he would like to have this remain on the agenda.
B. Presentation to Frank Wiseman of award from the Water Environment Federation. Mr. Wiseman received an award from the Water Environment Federation for bringing members into the Federation. Mr. Dailey stated Mr. Wiseman is a positive influence on new members and encouraging people to join. Mr. Wiseman stated his philosophy is to be involved with the Federation and the Water Works Association for utilities and he encourages all of his employees to be involved as well.
8. OTHER BUSINESS.
9. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mr. O’Brien moved to adjourn; Mr. Parker seconded the motion. Mr. Hackworth, Mr. Parker, and Mr. O’Brien voted “Aye.” Motion carried, 3-0. The Service Committee adjourned at 9:35 P.M., July 8, 2004.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
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Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk