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Council of the Village of Yellow SpringsVILLAGE OF YELLOW SPRINGS IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS June 19, 2006 ANNOUNCEMENTS Swansen explained that there was a water main break that affected residents south of Allen Street on June 16 th . There was also a boil alert given through the Code Red Program. The main has been repaired and Swansen expects the boil alert to end sometime on Tuesday, June 20 th . Rickenbach will be driving his 2003 Anniversary Edition Corvette in the 4 th of July Parade and supported participation from other Council members, employees and staff. Anyone interested should contact Dave Triplett.
REVIEW OF THE MINUTESReview of the minutes from June 5, 2006 regular meeting. Rickenbach MOVED and Hempfling SECONDED a MOTION to APPROVE the minutes as amended. The MOTION PASSED, with an abstention from Wintrow who was absent from the June 5 th meeting. REVIEW OF AGENDAAdd: Charter Review Committee to Agenda Planning
PETITIONS/COMMUNICATIONSThe Clerk will receive and file: AMP-Ohio Newsletter(s) Anita Kohler re: Speed Limits: Police Chief Grote stated that he had been in contact with Kohler and had explained the method in which speed limits are set. Swansen explained that the Police Dept. averages two-thirds warning tickets to one-third traffic violations. He added that the ticket fines increase with the increased speed over the limit.
PUBLIC HEARINGS/LEGISLATION 2 nd Reading and PH of Ordinance 2006-14 Amend Cable Advisory. Chase MOVED and Rickenbach SECONDED a MOTION for APPROVAL. This amended ordinance increased the Panel membership by one and decreased the terms to two-years. Hardman opened the public hearing. Because the Panel membership was now six, Hardman asked how would the Panel reach a vote if there were a tie? Panel member Paul Abendroth explained that they have not had a tie vote, but he believed the Panel would work to reach a consensus. Hardman closed the public hearing. Chase explained that the Council liaison was a nonvoting member, which meant that the member could not be included in a vote or count in the quorum. She further explained that the reason was to keep a separation between government and media. The roll was called. The MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. 1 st Reading of Ordinance 2006-15 Approving Stancliff Neighborhood. Rickenbach MOVED and Wintrow SECONDED a MOTION for APPROVAL. This ordinance would approve the final development plan of the Planned Unit Development-Residence (PUD-R) known as the Stancliff Neighborhood. Rickenbach explained that there would be ten smaller homes built on individual lots, which is effectively a subdivision. Rickenbach further explained that if the development projects that Planning Commission has recommended moves forward, there would be approximately 70 new homes built within the Village. Hempfling voiced support of the development. In answering a question by Chase regarding the detention pond, Rickenbach explained that any detention within a development must stand alone and handle its own storm water. This particular pond has been calculated and exceeds those requirements. The roll was called. The MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. The public hearing was scheduled for July 17 th . Resolution #2006-18 Authorizing Collections-RITA. Swansen explained that RITA has ascertained that there are "under paid" taxes due to the Village. This legislation allows pursuit of those 6 to 8 individuals. Each underpay is between $380 and $2500. Swansen would keep Council informed of the progress on these collections. Becky Campbell asked if the individual rather than the village, could pay court costs? Swansen explained that the court generally sees that this is the cost for doing business and does not award those fees to the municipality. The MOTION PASSED 4-0. Hempfling was absent during part of the discussion and the vote. She returned for the discussions listed under Old Business.
CITIZENS CONCERNS There were no comments from the audience.
SPECIAL REPORTSThere were no items listed under Special Reports. OLD BUSINESSVolunteer Appointment Process. Wintrow reviewed her draft of the process, which included notification, Interviews and Selection. After a brief discussion regarding the Interview section, Council agreed that the Council liaison with the aid of another Council member would conduct the interviews. For boards and commissions without a council rep, individual council members volunteered their assistance. Hardman would aid the Board of Zoning Appeals, Hempfling the Board of Tax Appeals and Wintrow the Design Advisory and Economic Revolving Loan Committee.Review of the HRC Brochure. Hempfling reviewed the brochure. Council suggested some amendments. Hempfling would get the cost of the printing and report back to Council. Council Goal-Internet Wireless. Swansen explained that the Village needs affordable high-speed internet access, but given the Village's present finances there is little money to fund non-mandated services. Swansen explained that current services could be available through broadband over cable wires, broadband over power lines, telephone DSL or wireless mesh. Swansen suggested and Council agreed that a group made up of staff and community members begin to work on further investigating this goal. The group would use the goal outline presented by Swansen as its format. This would include a review of available technology, determining which service model would best address the village's needs and making recommendations for implementation.
NEW BUSINESSGuidelines for Utility Resolution Dispute Commission. Swansen explained that there was an accumulated $225,000 in bad debt expenses in the enterprise funds. This debt was accumulated over several years. Swansen also explained that the Village is able to self-regulate its utility operation because the Public Utilities Commission (PUCO) does not currently regulate the Village. Swansen and Council supported the Village keeping as closely aligned with PUCO rules as possible. Swansen reviewed the amendments suggested by the Dispute Resolution Utility Committee regarding the Application, Deposit and Disconnection forms. Swansen suggested and Council agreed that the forms should not be adopted by ordinance in order to give staff flexibility. Council also discussed the change related to shut-offs from 60 days to 30 days delinquent and shut-offs during the winter months can be avoided with a $175 monthly payment Hempfling did not support changes in the delinquent utility bill policy expressing strong concern that residents who are already struggling to pay their bills not be further penalized with additional surcharges. She supported earlier intervention. Swansen explained that there are programs in place that would aid low-income residents in paying their utility bills and preventing shut-offs. Swansen also reported that the Village has found a new collection agency, which is already actively pursuing collection of the $225,000 debt. He further reported that he would be drafting language to close the loophole in the definition of "new customer". Council agreed, with the exception of Hempfling that the deposits would increase to $250 for residential customers and $350 for residential customers with electric heat and commercial customers. Hempfling argued that the increase in residential deposits could put an additional strain on people who are already facing the high expenses of moving into the Village. Council also discussed the use of a lockbox to receive utility payments, outsourcing for printing of the utility bills and reducing window hours. Discussion re: Capital Needs/Water. Swansen made a presentation to Council regarding the capital needs of the Water and Electric Funds. He began his presentation by explaining that we have to pump and push more water that most other communities. The village also operates two storage reservoirs that provide a million gallons each of storage. Most of the water capital projects were identified using a hydraulic analysis. The Village currently has 1574 residential customers and 138 commercial customers. Swansen explained that there was a bottleneck at Xenia Avenue/Spillan Avenue to Miami Drive that is a top priority on the capital improvements list. Swansen further explained that the replacements needed throughout the Village would increase the pipe size to improve fire flow and replace worn pipes and valves. In addition, Swansen pointed out that the water treatment plant is aging and suggested a study to examine several operational methods used at the plant. The capital projects that must be done would cost approximately $360,000 per year for the next 10 years. Swansen reviewed the options available to make these improvements, which included raising rates and/or revenue bond financing. Discussion re: Capital Needs/Electric. Swansen explained that the Village is fed from DP&L at Fairfield Road from Snypp Road substation using a 12.47 kV service line. Swansen added that the Village might want to consider increasing the kV service line to 69 kV. Swansen reviewed the various sources of power that the Village currently uses. Swansen informed Council that the Village has not been setting aside funds for capital projects. Of the capital improvement projects listed over the next ten years, the substation upgrade is the top priority with a cost of $3,346,000. Swansen cautioned that the Village would be hard pressed to supply electricity to any new high energy-user considering locating into the Village. The substation upgrade would eliminate this problem. Swansen suggested covering the cost of this project through long-term financing.
MANAGER'S REPORT Swansen answered yes to a request made by Hempfling asking if the Power Point presentations regarding the Villages financial issues could be placed onto the website. Swansen reported that the request to postpone the Northern Gateway Project has been accepted by MVRPC and ODOT. He also reported that the process between the Center for Business and Education and the Army Corps of Engineers was moving along.
STANDING REPORTSKathryn Chase Village Mediation Program AGENDA PLANNING The next meeting of the Council of the Village of Yellow Springs will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, July 3, 2006 in Council Chambers, John Bryan Community Center , 100 Dayton Street .
Items for discussion on Monday, July 3 rd : Planning/Zoning Quarterly Report
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