Columbus City Council Meeting 2/1/2016

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• published: 02 Feb 2016
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Columbus City Council Meeting Highlights: ENHANCING INFRASTRUCTURE: Public Utilities Chair Michael Stinziano is sponsoring ordinance 0011-2016, which authorizes the city to augment the professional engineering services agreement with CH2M Hill Engineers for the Dublin Road Water Treatment Plant Capacity Increase Project. The ordinance also earmarks $3 million in connection with the project, which is needed to meet the demand projected for the water plan and will also help the city meet drinking water nitrate regulations. SAVING TAXPAYER DOLLARS: Finance Chair Priscilla R. Tyson is sponsoring ordinances 0234-2016 and 0235-2016. Both authorize the issuance of tax bonds - $410.3 million for ordinance 0234-2016 and $48 million for ordinance 0235-2016 – allowing for lower interest rates in connection with the funding of capital projects, saving the city money on interest payments. AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Housing Chair Jaiza Page is offering ordinance 0149-2016, legislation authorizes the city to enter into an option agreement to sell and transfer 15 parcels located in the Franklinton neighborhood to the Franklinton Development Association or other entities. The sites are a part of a 39-unit scattered site, lease-to-own single-family project the FDA will develop. The project will include new construction and is contingent on the allocation of 2016 Low Income Housing Tax Credits. RETIRING BOMB DOG: Councilmember Mitchell Brown, Chair of the Public Safety Committee, is sponsoring ordinance 0105-2016, which authorizes the city to sell a retiring, long-time bomb squad dog, “Marley,” to his firefighter handler for $1. “Marley” has been a Fire Division bomb squad dog serving the citizens of Columbus loyally since 2006. NATIONAL BLACK HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY: Councilmember Shannon G. Hardin is sponsoring resolution 0024X-2016, a resolution designating February 7 th as “National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day” in Columbus. This observance is a nationwide effort to mobilize Black communities to geteducated, get tested, get involved and get treated around HIV/AIDS, as it continues to afflict Black communities including residents of Franklin County where 33 percent of men and women living with HIV are Black. HONORING JUDGE VANDERKARR: Councilmember Zach Klein is presenting a resolution to congratulate Judge Scott D. VanDerKarr on his retirement after 20 years on the Franklin County Municipal Court bench and thank him for his dedication and continued service. Judge VanDerKarr’s specialty dockets work to “stop the revolving door” of repeat offenders and give drug offenders a second chance through redemptive-justice programs, which have saved numerous lives, reduced incarceration and recidivism rates, all while maintaining a graduation rate of 70%.