08/19/1997 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 8/19/97 chosen because it is a new revenue source and no city function has become dependent on it. Also, antennas are long-term contracts so it will provide stability. Ordinance 97-75 designates a portion of income taxes received as a result of economic development efforts to the fund. This will then act as an incentive to the program and will result in a secure money stream since the contracts are long-term, often seven to fifteen years. Although percentages have been placed in the legislation, the Finance Committee, with the guidance of the Finance Director, will have the opportunity to discuss those percentages. Economic development is important to the city and does need a stable funding source. 3) Resolution 97-72 authorizing the application for Issue 2 funds will be introduced tonight. The legislation may be amended to add another project. One of the projects being applied for is Phase 2 of Brookpark Road. Previously, the city had applied for Brookpark Road as one project. However, the city has recently been advised that it will receive in excess of $1 million now to begin the project if the project is split. We can then reapply for Phase 2. That is what will be done, and the first phase will include the area from Lorain Road to Great Northern Boulevard. Phase 2 will be the remainder of Brookpark Road from Great Northern Boulevard to the Fairview Park line. Both phases will include street renovation, sewers, curbs and appropriate esthetics. The city's share of Phase 1 will be approximately 10%, which is a bargain. 4) The Mayor recently testified before President Clinton's Commission on Working Conditions regarding the methods of monitoring the "sweatshop" legislation. His suggestions included the creation of a task force to define sweatshop conditions and prescribed independent auditing standards to detect and report on them--much like a financial audit. Since CPA's have been doing this for years, he would like the commission to engage the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants to help create the framework. Companies could then either include this in their financial audit or present it as a separate audit. If they pass the criteria, then. this fact could be displayed on a label or packaging. Hopefully, the market will reward these companies by purchasing their goods over similar goods without that designation. Law Director Gareau: 1) Negotiations have begun with the bus line union. Hopefully, the negotiations will be completed with 60 days. 2) Yesterday he received notice of a new arbitration for an AFSCME grievance. 3) He was contacted by the State Employees Relations Board regarding the firefighters' unfair labor practice with respect to the requirement to wear uniforms when in training at the fire station. He attempted to work out the mediation by telephone so that a mediator would not have to make the trip from Columbus. However, the firefighters refused to accept the telephone mediation. 4) Ordinance 97-76 before Council this evening is a bit unusual as it has to do with an initiated ordinance with respect to Parcel E. The City Charter permits the citizens to initiate ordinances. In other words, if someone comes before the Planning Commission or the Council and asks for an action to be taken, in this case for a zoning change, and both of those bodies refuse to act, the people then have the right to act. They do that by what is called an initiated ordinance. The citizens' committee, in this case a committee of three, who proposes the initiated ordinance must file a copy of that ordinance with the Clerk. of Council or the Finance Director prior to circulation, which was done in this case. Once 2