07/03/2001 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 7/3/2001 ~ Gordon Thompson, who teaches art to elderly people in retirement homes. He has contact with the Department of Aging, with the Ohio Arts Council in Columbus and is active in our community and has an obvious and sincere enjoyment of the arts and would like to be a promoter of the arts in our city. The committee unanimously recommended approval of Gordon Thompson to the Cultural Arts Commission. Mrs. Kasler moved that Council approve the appointment of Gordon Thompson to the Cultural Arts Commission. The motion was seconded by Councilman Nashar and unanimously approved. 2) The Legislative Committee continued its meeting to discuss several pieces of legislation. In attendance were Councilmen O'Grady, Nashar, Dailey, Kasler, Lirnpert and McKay; Council President Saringer, Mayor Musial, Assistant Law Director Dubelko, Service Director Bohlmann and several guests. The following items were discussed: Ordinance 2001-OS which had been previously discussed in committee. This ordinance creates new Chapter 177 of the city Administrative Code entitled "Community Access" in order to establish non public fora permitting community organizations to announce community events in certain media owned and operated by the city and further to permit such organizations to announce such events on banners erected in a limited air space above Lorain Road near the North Olmsted Community Park. The committee has worked on this ordinance on several occasions and at this meeting solidified a few of their concerns, comments and changes that will be made to the ordinance. One of the things that was agreed upon is that there will be no fees. The ordinance will be amended to reflect no fees to be charged with regard to the banners being posted. Also, the frequency of use by an organization will not be limited initially. Each application will be looked at on a case by case basis and, after a period of time, it may be decided to put the frequency of use on a rotating basis to organizations so that everyone has an opportunity to advertise. Also, the committee discussed the requirements placed upon organizations with regard to who can put signs up. The only requirement is that there would be a presence for two years within the city for any organization wanting to use that space. The Law Department is going to refine and make a more explicit definition that would be appropriate and that will be worked on in the near future. The committee received feedback from two directors on issues that need to be clarified. One issue was with regard to city liability for the banner being erected. According to the response received from the administration, the city has insurance that will cover that liability. The insurance company's personal response to us was that they feel the ordinance reads well with regard to risk management. Secondly, the committee asked Mr. Bohlmann if there was any additional structural language that he may want to see in the ordinance based on input from the Engineering Department. The committee was told that what is in the ordinance is sufficient. The only thing additional is that CEI will require two additional poles be posted-probably at CEI's cost and, if not, it will be at a minimal cost to the city. There were several comments by guests. Mr. Burns said the sign ordinance which is in place conflicts with this ordinance with regard to limiting a banner from across the roadway. The Law Department addres~d that issue in a committee meeting and expressed that it is a legislative choice as to how this 4