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Mayor DeGraw requested the confirmation of City Council of the appointment of Steve Shaner as the City’s Fire Chief.

Res. 2009-08: A Resolution approving the Grant of Job Creation Tax Credit for Businesses within the Grandview Yard Site. This was the big ord. that set the tax rates for the G.Y. developers (the number of this ord. was later substituted to 2009-29).

…Gladman stated that throughout the process he has expressed his concern about the use of income tax to pay any debt service that the City might have. He is especially concerned that the City is giving a substantial subsidy to the developer, which he thinks is not needed and could better be used for debt service. Gladman commended the Economic Development Committee Chair and members for making this into a much better form that what it was originally but he is still not supportive of it.

Vote on approval: Hastie – yes, Jagers – yes, Koelker – yes, Panzera – yes, Von Jasinski – yes, Gladman – no, President Reynolds – yes. LEGISLATION PASSED – ORDINANCE 2009-29.

Ord. 2009-24: An Ordinance authorizing Real Property Tax Exemption with respect to Certain Real Property within the Grandview Yard Site. This was the second large ord. needed to finalize the G.Y. project. All voted yes.

Following the passage of these the council members joined the NRI bigshots in a toast to the completion of the G.Y. negotiations.

Chicken Ord. - Koelker requested that this particular version of the proposed legislation be withdrawn. She stated that it is not in a form that is workable.

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Director Bowman reported that the City received an Industrial Site Improvement Fund Grant of $750,000 from the Ohio Department of Development.

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3 residents addressed City Council once again for speed calming devices on Oakland Avenue.

Von Jasinski moved to take a vote to remove proposed legislation Ordinance 2009-12 (chickens) from the table and have it on the next subsequent Council meeting for consideration. A long discussion of Roberts Rules followed. The council voted to keep the chickens on the Aug. 3 schedule.

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8 residents spoke before the council on the the proposed chicken legislation. All were supportive of at least a trial period. After discussion the council voted to postpone a vote until August 3.

Not posted - May 18, 2009 Special Meeting.

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…Koelker asked Director Kuss his position on the proposed chicken legislation. He stated that the Building Department would receive all the calls and complaints if the chicken legislation was to be adopted. He does not feel the keeping of chickens belongs within the City.

Director Bowman stated that the State Development Grant is competitive and that there will probably be only 4-5 projects funded Statewide. The City should know early June if awarded the grant.

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Andy Smigelski, 1237 Broadview Avenue, requested Council consider amending Section 505.01 (a) of the Codified Ordinances. His family would like to keep a small number of chickens (4-6) in their yard. The hens would be enclosed in a coop with a run and would not be roaming the yard. …Koelker stated she would sponsor the propose change in the City’s ordinances.

Ord. 2008-34: An Ordinance Amending Chapter 191.02 of the Administrative Code of the Grandview Heights Codified Ordinances to provide for the imposition of 3% transient occupancy tax to be dedicated to the Parks and Recreation Capital Fund. …Gladman moved for approval and Koelker seconded. Vote on approval: All ayes.

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Director Bowman stated that MORPC is spending a lot of time trying to figure out the stimulus package. They were not necessarily appointed to do so but they thought they were a pretty good conduit for it.

Mayor DeGraw further noted: 1. The City is in for about $30 million of stimulus money between the work in the City and Columbus; 2. Negotiations continue with Columbus trying to reach an agreement of support and sharing for the Grandview Yard project.

Panzera commented that the report from the Service Department reflects that from 2001 to the present recycling collected went from less than 5% to 28% of the refuse collected.

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The FEMA reimbursement from the September windstorm will be for $65,182.

An article from the Columbus Dispatch stated that local government funds are being cut by 6.8% which will impact the City by $38,000.

…Hastie commented that since the demolition work at the former Big Bear site there has been an unbelievable amount of mud on the roads in that area and asked if they had any requirements to keep the roads clear.

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… Mayor DeGraw explained that Acock would be doing a design in a section of the Grandview Yard Project, which means he would have a conflict when it appears before the Planning Commission and will need to remove himself from voting on that item.

...Hastie commented that in reviewing statistics on OVI violations, the City of Columbus averages eleven (11) OVI’s per square mile and the City of Grandview Heights averages sixty-four (64). The City is by far the highest in the County. … Hastie encouraged everyone to take a cab.

Mayor DeGraw reported he received a letter from Columbus Mayor Coleman requesting additional information about the Grandview Yard project.

Not posted here – Dec. 8 special meeting notes

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The City income tax reduction to 2.25% begins in 2009 ...

Ord. 2008-41: An Ordinance to establish an underground utilities district to be identified as the “Grandview Yard Underground Utilities District”.… In response to Koelker’s inquiry, City Attorney Khouzam stated that the underground utilities district was presented to the City as a way to maintain control on the aesthetics of the Grandview Yard project.

Not posted here – Nov. 17 special meeting notes