07/05/2000 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 7/5/2000 Finance Director Copfer: 1) She attended aweek-long local seminar sponsored by Kent State University in conjunction with the municipal treasurer's association. It was an excellent seminar. Some of the time topics included information on GASB 34, which is the new reporting model to be used starting in 2002; public records management; choosing a software vendor, including reading presentations and factors involved in successful upgrades. 2) She and the Mayor met with the city's investment banker and bond counsel to develop a time line for taking the existing bond. and anticipation notes out to the bond market in September. This includes presentations to the rating agencies in August, which Law Director Gareau will also attend. Mrs. Kasler, chairperson of the Intra-Governmental Relations and Legislation; Long- Range Planning Committee: 1) The committee met on June 28. In attendance were committee members Kasler, Nashar, Miller; Council members Limpert, McKay and Council President Saringer; Assistant Law Director Dubelko, Mayor Musial and Service Director Bohlmann. The committee discussed Ordinance 2000-78, which is an ordinance authorizing all actions necessary to effect a governmental electricity aggregation program with opt-out provisions pursuant to Section 4928.20, Ohio Revised Code, directing the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections to submit a ballot question to the electors and declaring an emergency. In 1997, North Olmsted passed a Charter amendment regarding an aggregation program. No state law existed at the time. However, in 1999 the state stepped in to promote aggregation programs in order to attempt to obtain lower utility rates for residents. Ordinance 2000-78 basically authorizes the city to prepare an electricity aggregation program with opt-out provisions and directs the city to place approval of this issue to the voters. If an aggregation program is created, the city will have the ability to negotiate with power companies for a lower utility rate, either jointly with other cities or independently. The opt-out provisions will allow individual residents to participate in the results of their negotiations or opt-out of the plan to obtain their services elsewhere. It is important to keep in mind that development of this aggregation program will not guarantee reduced rates, and in fact the stranded costs of seven million dollars is attributable to construction costs for utilities/facilities and that must be addressed. The ordinance, however, provides the potential to negotiate lower rates. Since the state law is broad on this issue, the committee unanimously agreed to the necessity for the ordinance in this city and recommends approval of Ordinance 2000-78. Mr. O'Grady, chairperson of the Public Safety, Health & Welfare Committee: 1) Council members have received a memo from Councilman Gareau asking that the Public Safety Committee discuss the question of parking on one side of W. 231 Street. The committee will address this issue on July 11, and he will need the following information for that meting: From the Director of Public Service and from Traffic Engineer Griffith, he will need to know the minimum width of a street which permits parking on one side and the width of West 231; From the Safety Director, he will need to know if there are any safety concerns with regard to parking as it currently exists on that street. Mr. Limpert, chairperson of the Recreation Committee: On June 27, a joint meeting of the Finance and Recreation Committees was held to discuss Resolution 2000-72 and 2