CITY OF PICKERINGTON

SAFETY COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL

CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD

MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 2005

7:30 P.M.

REGULAR MEETING AGENDA

1. ROLL CALL. Mr. Wisniewski called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. with Mrs. Riggs, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mr. Sabatino present. No members were absent. Others present were: Ted Hackworth, Mitch O’Brien, Judy Gilleland, Lynda Yartin, Commander Steve Annetts, Steve Carr, Frank Wiseman, John Gallagher, Keith Smith, and others.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF December 6, 2004, Regular Meeting. Mrs. Riggs moved to approve; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Sabatino abstaining, and Mrs. Riggs and Mr. Wisniewski voting "Yea." Motion passed, 2-0.

3. Property Maintenance Task Force Update – Mr. Smith. Mr. Keith Smith stated he is Chairman of the Property Maintenance Task Force and he would like to give the Committee a brief update on their progress. Mr. Smith stated they have met three times and they will be providing the Committee with a draft of proposed changes to the Code for their review. He stated he had provided the Committee with a draft of proposed changes they would be discussing at their next meeting with regard to Home Occupations. Mr. Smith stated they were currently reviewing the sections of the code dealing with home occupations, off street parking, and maintenance and upkeep of property. Mr. Smith stated they are researching how these issues are handled in surrounding communities, as well as, other areas. Mr. Sabatino inquired if it would be possible for the Task Force to provide the Committee with a narrative as to how they came to their recommendations. Mr. Smith stated the Task Force had discussed this and they would like to provide a package to the Committee that contained their recommended changes, a background as to where the suggestions came from, and the type of research that was done. Mr. Smith stated his original intent was to provide the Committee with a complete package of recommendations, however, if that is not possible he would like to provide them to the Committee in a logical grouping. Mr. Wisniewski stated he agreed, it seems that a piecemeal procedure might be more efficient due to the number of ordinances that may need to come out of this Committee and Council.

4. DEPARTMENT REPORTS:

A. Parks and Recreation.

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

a. Parks Master Plan Survey - Update. Mr. Carr stated Council budgeted $47,400 for a Parks Master Plan and staff has discussed sending out a Request for Proposals in the February/March timeframe. Mr. Carr stated he anticipated getting six to ten proposals back and staff would review these proposals and narrow them down to two or three to be forwarded to Parks and Recreation Board. He stated he anticipated the Parks and Recreation Board participating in the interviews of the finalists and making a recommendation to Safety Committee. He stated he would like to know if Safety Committee had any other recommendations to make to this process. Mr. Carr stated Mr. Lane, of our building department, has a degree in Landscape Architecture, and Mr. Schultz, our Planning and Zoning Director, have been working with him on this along with the City Manager. He stated these would be the staff members doing the initial review of the proposals. Ms Gilleland stated she would like to ensure that Safety Committee is comfortable with the top three firms being interviewed by the Parks Board for their recommendation to the Safety Committee. Mr. Wisniewski stated he felt that was a good plan and the Committee members concurred. Mr. Carr stated further the Parks Board has had some discussions of the formation of a Joint Parks District with Violet Township. He stated he would like to know as we move down the road to a Parks Master Plan if that is something this Committee felt should be explored during the time we are doing the Parks Master Plan. Mr. Wisniewski stated he hoped we would be able to come to an agreement with the Township and if that happens he would not like to have to redo work that is being done now. Ms Gilleland stated she would like to know if this Committee would like to authorize Mr. Carr to initiate discussions with the Township to investigate the possibility of a Joint Parks District. Mr. Wisniewski stated this would only be exploring the possibility. He stated we have not put this project out to bid, we have not begun looking at firms, or anything of that nature. He further stated if Mr. Carr begins conversation with the Township now, by the time we get to that point if we should be considering a Joint Parks District. Mr. Sabatino stated he did not want to complete a plan and then have to change it for a joint district. Mr. Wisniewski stated that is why he would like to have Mr. Carr begin those conversations now. Ms Gilleland stated Mr. Carr could report on the results of his conversations with the Township each month during his Director’s Report.

b. Skate Park Project – Update.

c. Handicap Garden – Update.

d. ODNR/NatureWorks Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Projects

1. NatureWorks Grant Project (Sycamore Park Dam Repair) – Update. Mr. Carr stated this project is complete and may be removed from the Agenda if the Committee so desired. Mr. Wisniewski stated he would like this item removed from the agenda.

e. Sycamore Park Tennis Court Repair Project – Update.

(2) Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance to accept a deed of land from Centex Homes. Mr. Carr stated this is 35 acres in the Preston Trails subdivision. Mr. Wisniewski clarified the maintenance fee of $60,000 that Centex would be providing the City was a negotiated amount based on the expected cost to maintain the retention pond over a period of time. Mr. Wiseman stated the hope was that the City would be able to use the interest to maintain the pond with the principal being available in the event a major repair would be necessary at some time. Ms Gilleland stated this was agreed to several years ago. Mr. Wiseman stated Centex did bring this up to City standards prior to bringing it to Safety Committee. Mrs. Riggs moved to approve and forward to Council the ordinance to accept a deed of land from Centex Homes; Mr. Sabatino seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Wisniewski abstaining and Mrs. Riggs and Mr. Sabatino voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 2-0.

B. Building Operations: No Report.

C. Service Department:

(1) Traffic Engineer

a. Review of recommended speed limit on Hill Road South. Mr. Gallagher stated due to weather conditions he has not been able to obtain sufficient information to make a recommendation on the speed limit. He stated he would continue to monitor this issue and hoped to provide the Committee with a recommendation at their next meeting.

b. S.R. 256/I-70 Signage – Update. Mr. Gallagher stated he had spoken to Mr. Bosch of ODOT several times with regard to City issues on this project. He stated Mr. Wiseman has provided them with a memorandum with recommendations for signage at this location. Mr. Gallagher stated ODOT has indicated they are addressing these items. Ms Gilleland stated she spoke with ODOT today and she understands they have been working on this issue. Ms Gilleland stated she had specifically spoken to them regarding signal timing, lane pavement marking, and signage. Ms Gilleland stated in essence ODOT has indicated they will do everything the City has recommended. She stated they have some signs on order and they are working on ordering other signage. She stated the pavement markings are the most challenging because the weather must be dry and 50 degrees before that can be done. Ms Gilleland stated ODOT had emphasized they did feel this work was a priority and would get it done as soon as possible. She stated they had indicated they would do overhead signs as we requested. Mr. Wisniewski stated as he recalled, ODOT had stated the project would not be finalized until they received a sign off from the City, Reynoldsburg, and themselves. Mr. Wisniewski questioned if that sign off had ever been done, and Mr. Wiseman stated the project is not finalized. Mr. Wiseman stated as far as ODOT is concerned, the project is still in the contractor’s hands and they have not signed off on his work as yet. Mr. Wiseman stated that sign off is still a ways away and this project has not been accepted as final yet.

Mr. Wisneiwski stated he would like to discuss the issue of reduction weight limits on roads briefly. He stated with the freezing and thawing, it seems a lot of the roads are getting beat up fairly quickly. He stated he would like to know if there is the possibility to authorize the City Manager to temporarily reduce the weight limit on certain roads for a given time frame. Ms Gileland stated she knew there was a restriction on what we could do on Diley Road since we are using federal funds, but as far as local roads she would have to do some research. Mr. Wisniewski stated he would like to have something done before spring if we can so he would like to have Ms Gilleland check with our legal department on what we can do, recommended fines, and things of that nature. He stated he would like to know if there is something global we can do to allow the City Manager to do this as needed instead of every year in the spring and fall changing things around. Ms Gilleland stated she would into this and see what she could find on this issue.

D. Code Enforcement: Update. Mr. Wisniewski stated Mr. Smith had provided a briefing on the Property Maintenance Task Force earlier in the meeting.

5. POLICE:

A. Chief’s Report. Commander Annetts stated Chief Taylor’s report had been distributed and he would answer any questions. Commander Annetts stated one dispatcher has resigned and they are very close to filling the one police officer position. Commander Annetts stated he had also provided a written report on the traffic study at Heritage Elementary School. He stated they will still have to have officers go through there frequently to remind people about parking in the middle of the street. Mr. Wiseman stated he had received a call from the principal at the school and he mentioned they were looking at the issue of adding more parking spaces on their own land so they can get some of the cars off the street. Mr. Wisniewski stated it seemed the situation has been helped considerably on East Street, and the situation at the junior high school has been resolved. Mr. Wisniewski stated there also is a situation in the morning and afternoon at Pickerington Elementary where traffic backs up onto the road and he felt we should look to see if something can be done there. Commander Annetts stated this occurs at most of the schools when parents are dropping off and picking up their children.

6. CHAIRMAN.

A. Review and discussion regarding safety issues on East Street. Mr. Wisniewski stated based on the above discussion, this item can be removed from the agenda.

B. Review and discussion regarding traffic calming by use of pavement markings. Mr. Gallagher stated he has done some research on this issue. He stated besides the painting of the speed limit on the street there is what is called “road thinning,” painting markings or putting in landscaping along each side of the street to narrow the street. Mr. Gallagher stated he would recommend using two of the six locations he had been requested to look into, and put in the pavement markings with the speed limit and measure the speeds for a period of time to see if that is working. He stated if that is not working then we could look into other options. Mr. Wisniewski stated he would like to see Mr. Gallagher make a determination on the areas to paint the speed limit on the roads and be ready to go with that as soon as the weather allows.

7. OTHER BUSINESS.

A. Review and discussion regarding propane storage facilities in the City of Pickerington. Mr. Sabatino stated Commander Annetts had provided a written report showing the location of businesses that have propane tanks on their premises and the number of tanks they have. Mr. Sabatino clarified in most cases the cages containing the tanks did not have protection or barriers around them. Ms Gilleland clarified the Fire Marshal does have regulations in place requiring pedestals in front of propane tanks. Mr. Sabatino stated the National Fire Code does have a specific section dealing with this issue. Mr. Wiseman stated we have requested the Fire Marshal investigate this issue, however, he has not received a response as yet. Ms Gilleland requested Commander Annetts to follow up with the Fire Marshal and provide something to this Committee for their next meeting.

Mr. Wisniewski stated he understood we were going to do some updating on the Emergency Preparedness Plan and he questioned if that would be coming through Safety Committee or what process we would be using. Ms Gilleland stated we are still working through some issues on this. She stated the Police Department has historically done the updates to the Plan, and she could certainly bring that to Safety Committee. Ms Gilleland stated she is planning to have some training for staff and for elected officials so everyone knows what they should be doing. Mr. Wisniewski stated he would like to have the Emergency Preparedness/Disaster Plan added to Safety Committee agenda as a discussion item. Ms Gilleland stated she thought would be a good idea. Mr. Sabatino stated he felt we should also do a better job of letting citizens know who they should call to get information when we have some type of emergency so they will be able to get important information.

8. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mr. Wisniewski moved to adjourn; Mr. Sabatino seconded the motion. Mr. Sabatino, Mrs. Riggs, and Mr. Wisniewski voted “Aye.” Motion carried, 3-0. The Safety Committee meeting adjourned at 8:25 P.M., January 10, 2005.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

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Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk