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Press Release:
COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
November 12, 2012
DEVELOPING FRANKLINTON: Franklinton, Columbus' first neighborhood, is in the midst of an exciting urban renewal. Businesses and residents are rediscovering the endless possibilities the near west side has to offer. Development Committee Chair Zach M. Klein is sponsoring two ordinances tonight designed to encourage investment in this community. Ordinance 2238-2012 establishes a tax increment finance (TIF) district that provides for a 100% exemption from real property taxation on all nonresidential development on the TIF parcels for a period of not more than 30 years. The Columbus City School District will receive all amounts that it would have received in real property taxes had the tax exemption not been granted. The TIF is bound on the north by the railroad tracks north of West Broad Street near Scott Street, on the south by 70 East and the Scioto River, on the west by State Route 315, and on the east by the railroad tracks that cross Rich, Town, State and West Broad Streets. The TIF funds will help provide the city with additional funds to promote redevelopment, including public improvements such as infrastructure and all costs related to planning, designing, and constructing those improvements. Ordinance 2315-2012 allows the City to accept the East Franklinton Creative Community District Plan to help intelligently guide the transformation during the next few years in the neighborhood.
SOLAR POWERING COLUMBUS: Columbus continues to explore ways to become a green and self-sustaining city. Ordinance 2393-2012, sponsored by Finance Committee Chair Priscilla R. Tyson, modifies a contract that will place solar power cells on top of the Groves Road Fleet Facility for use at the site. The project has experienced a series of delays because of circumstances beyond the City's control. This ordinance will allow the project to move forward as quickly as possible to help the city realize maximum energy savings.
TECHNOLOGY UPGRADE: Technology Committee Chair A. Troy Miller is always interested in creating an environment that increases government efficiencies to save taxpayer dollars. Ordinance 2278-2012 allows the Director of Technology to enter into a contract with GBA Master Series Inc. to implement an enterprise asset and work order management software system and acquire professional services to assist in the system implementation. The City requires an enterprise asset and work order management system to better track inventory, assets, service requests and work orders. The goal of this project is to improve service responsiveness and speed, and to reduce costs.
PARTNERING FOR GROWTH: Many capital projects in Columbus are the result of partnerships with regional, state and federal agencies. One such example of these partnerships is ordinance 2297-2012, sponsored by Public Utilities Committee Chair Eileen Y. Paley, allows the City to reimburse Franklin County for construction of a 24 inch water main allow Georgesville Road. The County will do the work to limit the disruption in the community. The cost of the project is $1,400,000.
MUNICIPAL COURT IMPROVEMENTS: The Franklin County Municipal Court is the largest and busiest municipal court in Ohio and handled more than 170,000 new cases last year. To help this important branch of the public safety system function properly, hundreds of highly trained and skills staff members work 24 hours a day. Ordinance 2275-2012, sponsored by Public Safety & Judiciary Committee Chair Michelle M. Mills, will allow the court to enter into a $28,465 contract with the Archer Company to complete a job classification study. The information will help Administrating and Presiding Judge attract, retain and fairly compensate court workers.
HELPING VETERANS: As Americans take time to thank Veterans for their service to our nation, Councilmember Hearcel F. Craig, a Vietnam-era veteran, reminds Columbus residents about the Better Municipal Care for Veterans - Home Fund. The program provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners for home improvements. This pilot project is intended to help up to eligible homeowners invest in exterior home improvements – up to $15,000 per home located within the boundaries of the Southern Gateway Initiative, which have been established as: High Street on the west, Morrill Ave. on the north, Parsons Ave. on the East and Hosack Ave. on the south. To apply for this new project, contact Rev. John Edgar, Pastor and Executive Director, Community Development for All People at 614-445-7342 or 946 Parsons Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43206.
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