Council Highlights
October 22, 2007
IMPROVING SENIOR SERVICES: The Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA) administers a long list of vital services for senior citizens and will be able to continue them after City Council accepts grants from the Ohio Department of Aging, the Franklin County Office on Aging and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Recreation and Parks Committee Chair Priscilla R. Tyson is sponsoring ordinance 1559-2007 to accept grants totaling $11,305,342. Some of the services that these grants will fund include long-term care programs for seniors and the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).
RECOGNIZING A COMMUNITY PARTNER: Over the past twelve years, the Greater Linden Development Corporation (GLDC) has helped improve the quality of life in the Greater Linden community through housing and economic development, planning, coordination of services, and other community-building activities. Tonight, Judiciary and Court Administration Chair Hearcel F. Craig sponsors resolution 0174X-2007 to recognize the GLDC's extensive community outreach. Councilmember Craig will present the resolution to corporation representatives when he joins Mayor Coleman at the Point of Pride Building Dedication & Open House being held at the Clarence D. Lumpkin Point of Pride Building (1410 Cleveland Avenue) on Thursday, October 25, at 4:00 PM.
ATTRACTING AND RETAINING YOUNG PROFESSIONALS: Columbus companies looking to recruit members from a highly coveted sector in the workforce will soon have a new internet site to help identify qualified young professionals. Workforce Development Committee Chair Charleta B. Tavares is sponsoring ordinance 1624-2007 to use $65,000 from City Council's Job Growth Fund to help implement a Web-based internship portal that will be utilized by universities, students, job seekers, and local businesses. The portal will be administered by the Columbus Chamber of Commerce and will target workers under the age of 40.
NEW HELICOPTER FOR COLUMBUS POLICE: The police helicopters that patrol high above Columbus streets are called "force multipliers" because they perform a variety of law enforcement functions while being able to move from one area of the city to another in a matter of seconds. That's why Columbus City Council has invested city resources in these invaluable crime fighting tools. Safety Committee Chair Andrew J. Ginther is sponsoring ordinance 1611-2007 to appropriate $1,356,545 to purchase a new MD550E helicopter. This is a scheduled replacement and maintains the helicopter fleet at six.
Creating Homeless Advocacy POSITION: Making good on a promise to do everything possible to address homelessness, City Council President Michael C. Mentel continues to work on creating the position of Homeless Advocacy within city government. Ordinance 1537-2007, sponsored by President Mentel, will transfer $20,000 from the Department of Finance and Management to Mayor Michael B. Coleman's office. The yet to be filled new position will serve as the City's point of contact on all issues related to homelessness. The primary role of the position will be to coordinate efforts in the public and private sectors to transition people from the streets to permanent housing and address the critical issues of providing mental health and addiction services to the homeless, as well as job training and placement. The City has allocated over $3.7 million in 2007 to the Community Shelter Board for its efforts to address homelessness in Columbus along with a variety of community agencies working to create more affordable permanent housing.
COOPER STADIUM ANNEXATION: Since 1931, Columbus baseball fans have been flocking to what is now Cooper Stadium to enjoy America's favorite pastime. While the Columbus Clippers will move to a new Arena District ballpark in the spring of 2009, there has been considerable debate about the fate of the 47 acre county-owned property along West Mound Street. Ordinance 1665-2007, sponsored by Development Chair Maryellen O'Shaughnessy, will authorize the City to file a municipal petition for the annexation of 47.2 acres within Franklin Township. This petition is the first step in a lengthy process that may lead to the annexation and future economic development of the West Side site.
HEAD START PROGRAM SECURES FACILITIES: The Columbus Urban League's Head Start program is a comprehensive child development program offering high-quality early education and a wide array of other services that prepare children from three to five years of age for success in school and life. Tonight, Finance Committee Chair Kevin L. Boyce will sponsor ordinance 1693-2007 to authorize a lease agreement to allow the Columbus Urban League to house the program at 475 Elwood Avenue. The City of Columbus will enter into a one-year lease agreement, with proceeds made payable to the City Treasurer for deposit in the General Fund.