CITY OF BOWLING GREEN CITY COUNCIL

 

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2008

 

 

The regular meeting of the Bowling Green City Council, held in the Council Chamber, 304 North Church Street, Bowling Green, Ohio was called to order at 8:00 p.m. by Council President Newlove.  The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

On roll call, Council Members Dunn, Heminger, McOmber, Newlove, Sorrells, and Zanfardino responded.  Council Member Frost was not present.  Also present were Mayor John Quinn, Municipal Administrator John Fawcett, City Attorney Michael Marsh, Public Works Director Brian Craft, Utilities Director Kevin Maynard, and Planning Director Rick Ketzenbarger.  Parks and Recreation Director Michelle Grigore was not present.

 

Council President Newlove declared the minutes of the meeting held January 22, 2008 approved as distributed.

 

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

            Clerk reported that an application was received from the Ohio Division of Liquor Control for a new Class C1 and C2 liquor permit for Moondawg, LLC, dba North Grove Carryout, located at 414 N. Grove Street, Bowling Green, Ohio.  Clerk noted that a check of the records was requested but not received at this point.

 

 

OFFICIAL REPORTS

 

            Mayor John Quinn reported that the annual industrial visits began today.

 

            Mayor John Quinn also reported that Bowling Green has been selected as a Tree City USA city for the 28^th consecutive year and will receive the Growth Award for the 15^th consecutive year.  Mayor Quinn noted that the annual Tree City USA ceremony will be held on April 16 in Wapakoneta and invited interested Council Members to attend.

 

            Mayor Quinn announced that a party honoring the 175^th birthday of Bowling Green will be held at the Woodland Mall on February 23 from 1-4 p.m. and invited all citizens to attend.

 

            Municipal Administrator John Fawcett had no report.

 

            Council Member Heminger noted that during the public hearing held earlier this evening a question was raised regarding an open space/green space policy and wondered if that was something ever considered by the administration.  Fawcett responded that there have been discussions of hiring a consultant to study the implementation of an impact fee for green space/park land which would partially address that issue.  Fawcett said that he also planned to contact his counterpart in the city of Perrysburg to discuss their policy.

 

            Planning Director Rick Ketzenbarger had no report.

 

            Parks and Recreation Director Michelle Grigore was not present.

 

            City Attorney Michael Marsh had no report.

 

            Utilities Director Kevin Maynard had no report.

 

            Public Works Director Brian Craft had no report.

 

 

NEW LEGISLATION

 

            The following new legislation was recommended by the Administration and presented to Council for introduction:

  

            Council Member Newlove, for the Finance Committee, introduced an ordinance authorizing the Municipal Administrator to enter into a contract with Best Equipment Company for the purchase of Toter refuse/recycling carts.

 

            Council Member McOmber, for the Planning, Zoning and Economic Development Committee, introduced an ordinance amending and adopting Section 70.40(C)(2) of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Bowling Green, Ohio, regarding inoperable vehicles.

 

 

COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

            There were no Council committee reports.

 

LOBBY VISITATIONS

 

            Sandy Rowland, Secretary of the Larch Landing Homeowners’ Association, read a letter to Council requesting that the City of Bowling Green accept Lindenwood, Pinewood and Willowood Streets as dedicated streets.  A copy of the letter read is attached and made a part of these minutes.

 

            Dick Horton, 1036 Willowood Circle, addressed Council and read some prepared remarks.  Mr. Horton submitted a written copy of his remarks and they are attached to and made a part of these minutes.

 

            Eldon Snyder, 222 Willowood Circle, also addressed Council regarding receiving city services in the Larch Landing development.

 

 

READING OF LEGISLATION

 

            Clerk read Ordinance #7753 authorizing the Municipal Administrator to enter into a contract with Best Equipment Company for the purchase of Toter refuse/recycling carts, for first reading.

 

            Clerk read Ordinance #7754 amending and adopting Section 70.40(C)(2) of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Bowling Green, Ohio, regarding inoperable vehicles, for first reading.

 

            Clerk read Ordinance #7742 amending and adopting Section 33.01(I), (M), (N), (O), and (P) of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Bowling Green, Ohio, relative to the non-bargaining salary schedule, for second reading.

 

            Clerk read Ordinance #7743 authorizing the Municipal Administrator to enter into a contract or contracts with specified vendors for work that may exceed $25,000 annually for calendar year 2008, for second reading.

 

            Clerk read Ordinance #7744 authorizing the Municipal Administrator to advertise for bids and enter into a contract or contracts for the cleaning of uniforms for the Department of Safety, for second reading.

 

            Clerk read Ordinance #7745 authorizing the Municipal Administrator to advertise for bids and enter into a contract or contracts and/or participate in State of Ohio purchasing programs for the purchase of vehicles and equipment as well as the trade-in or outright sale of vehicles and equipment being replaced, for second reading.

 

            Clerk read Ordinance #7746 authorizing the Municipal Administrator to advertise for bids and enter into a contract or contracts for sidewalk improvements, pavement striping, deicing salt, and improving streets, alleys, and other public ways in the City of Bowling Green, Ohio, for second reading.

 

            Clerk read Ordinance #7747 authorizing the Municipal Administrator to seek qualifications and enter into a contract or contracts for design, engineering, right-of-way acquisition, construction, and other services relating to the improvements on North Main Street, for second reading.

 

            Clerk read Ordinance #7748 authorizing the Municipal Administrator to advertise for bids and enter into a contract or contracts for roof repair and/or replacement and facility repairs at city-owned buildings, for second reading.

 

            Clerk read Ordinance #7749 authorizing the Municipal Administrator to seek proposals and enter into a contract or contracts for aquatic facility professional design services, for second reading.

 

            Clerk read Ordinance #7750 authorizing the Utilities Director to solicit requests for qualifications and to execute an agreement or agreements for engineering design services and alternatives for the Water Pollution Control facility’s tertiary filter upgrade, for second reading.

 

            Clerk read Ordinance #7751 authorizing the Utilities Director to enter into a contract or contracts for the purchase of and/or replacement of parts and labor installation for the final settling tank drives located at the Wastewater Treatment Plant without advertising for competitive bids, for second reading.

 

            Clerk read Ordinance #7739 authorizing an agreement between the City of Bowling Green, Ohio, and the Wood County Regional Airport Authority, for third reading.

 

            Council Member Newlove moved, Sorrells seconded, to adopt Ordinance #7739.  On roll call vote, Council Members Heminger, McOmber, Newlove, Sorrells, Zanfardino, and Dunn voted yes.  Council President Newlove declared motion carried, and Ordinance #7739 adopted.

 

            Clerk read Ordinance #7740 authorizing the Municipal Administrator to advertise for bids and enter into a contract or contracts for tree plantings and tree maintenance for trees located within the public right-of-way of the City of Bowling Green, for third reading.

 

            Council Member Newlove moved, Zanfardino seconded, to adopt Ordinance #7740.  On roll call vote, Council Members McOmber, Newlove, Sorrells, Zanfardino, Dunn, and Heminger voted yes.  Council President Newlove declared motion carried, and Ordinance #7740 adopted.

 

            Council Member McOmber moved, Heminger seconded, to adopt Ordinance #7736 amending Section 150.55(C) of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Bowling Green, Ohio, with respect to the parking of recreational vehicles.  On roll call vote, Council Members Newlove, Sorrells, Zanfardino, Dunn, Heminger, and McOmber voted yes.  Council President Newlove declared motion carried, and Ordinance #7736 adopted.

 

            Council Member McOmber moved, Sorrells seconded, to adopt Ordinance #7737 amending the Zoning District Map of the City of Bowling Green, Ohio, for approximately 0.36 acres of land on West Wooster Street from R-2 Residential zoning to S-3 Planned Institutional zoning as petitioned for by Wood County Hospital. 

 

            Council Member McOmber noted that the decision that Council must make is limited noting that he saw little negative incremental difference as a result of the rezoning because the hospital can already build 60 of the 86 parking spaces it wants without changing the zoning.  McOmber further noted that after talking with representatives from the hospital he knows that it is their intention to build the smaller parking lot even if the property in question is not rezoned.  In response to a question from Council Member Zanfardino, McOmber clarified that if the property is not rezoned the hospital would more than likely have to amend their S-District Site Plan for the smaller parking lot.  McOmber said that it makes sense to him that the hospital wants additional parking near what’s going to be the main entrance after the expansion.  Council Member Dunn commented that the parcel of land has been vacant for years and the neighbors in the vicinity have enjoyed that.  Dunn continued to say that the owner of the property has a right to make use of the property noting that the hospital expansion will benefit the total community.  Dunn added that he lives next door to the Bowling Green Country Club and their parking lot and the residents of Larch Landing west of the hospital reside adjacent to the hospital’s driveway and parking lots and it doesn’t have to be as bad as one might think.  Dunn said that landscaping can be added to provide a buffer between private property and the parking lot to allow people to make use of their property in the way they see fit.  On roll call vote, Council Members Sorrells, Zanfardino, Dunn, Heminger, McOmber, and Newlove voted yes.  Council President Newlove declared motion carried, and Ordinance #7737 adopted.

 

            Council Member Dunn commented that first reading was given to legislation to expending approximately $150,000 to provide recycling carts for citizens in Bowling Green.  Dunn noted that there is a concern among citizens that they are paying taxes for refuse service that they are not receiving.  Dunn noted that this is an issue that he believes cannot be solved one neighborhood at a time.  He said that he thinks Council needs to look at the overall picture rather than focus on one area (Larch Landing) and make Bowling Green a “green community” by providing recycling services to all residents.  After some discussion among Council Members regarding exactly what Council Member Dunn is asking, he clarified that he would like to see figures on what it would take financially to provide refuse service to all single family and two-family dwellings in the city.  Council Member Sorrells indicated that there is a letter on file from Mr. Fawcett regarding the costs involved and that Council Members had already received that information.  Mr. Fawcett indicated that if Council Member Dunn would like the information presented in another manner, he would be happy to provide that.  Council Member Dunn asked to have the report regenerated.  Council Member McOmber suggested that the numbers be recalculated leaving out the complete build-out of the various developments in the city given the current economic climate.

 

            Council Member Heminger moved, Sorrells seconded, to excuse Council Member Frost from this evening’s meeting.  On unanimous voice vote, Council President Newlove declared motion carried.

 

Council Member McOmber moved, Sorrells seconded, to adjourn.  On unanimous voice vote, Council President Newlove adjourned the February 4, 2008 regular meeting of the City Council at 8:50 p.m., subject to call.