04/03/2001 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 4/3/2001 ,,~, 2) A meeting of the Intra-Governmental Relations and Legislation; Long-Range Planning ~= Committee was held on March 26. Present were all of Council, President Saringer, Human Resources Director Copeland and Director of Law Dubelko. The following items were discussed: • The Faith Communities Forum, which consists of representatives from the schools, the city and the majority of the North Olmsted religious community. The purpose is to address issues which will help to make our city a better place to live. It is Council's privilege to provide a representative to this forum, and it was the committee's decision, and the majority of Council's decision, to appoint President of Council Janet Saringer as Council's representative to the forum. Mrs. Kesler moved that Council appoint President Saringer as a representative to the Faith Communities Forum. The motion was seconded by Mr. Miller. Roll call: Kesler, yes; Miller, yes; Nashar, yes; O'Grady, no; Limpert, no; McKay, yes; Dailey, yes. The motion passed with five yeas and two nays. • Ordinance 2001-05, which is an ordinance creating 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 area above Lorain Road near the North Olmsted Community Park. This ordinance was discussed at a prior committee meeting and several questions were submitted to the Law Department at that time. A detailed and informative response was prepared by Assistant Law Director Dubelko. Based on his response, the committee discussed charging permit fees for those organizations wishing to have access to city media forums. After a detailed discussion, it was determined that no fees would be charged. A fee is not legally required; and, in fact, it may be a violation to charge for the cost of public officials performing their duties. An actual cost may be very difficult to determine. The next issue was whether to restrict the months when banner signage would be permitted across the right-of--way. It was originally suggested that banners not be permitted between November and March because of inclement weather to avoid the potential danger should the sign fall as a result of the weather. This issue remains on the table with further input being sought from the Service Director regarding sign construction and the potential for danger related to hanging banners in inclement weather, and input from the Director of Personnel and Administration regarding insurance coverage and liability issues with these banners. It was next determined that, should the ordinance go forward, it would require that an organization be "in existence" or gave a city presence"-the term is yet to be determined-in the city for two years. The committee further decided, however, that the suggested requirement that members of the organization be two-year residents not be included. The committee also agreed that a requirement would be added that the Law Department, along with the administration, review the validity of any permit application denials. Outstanding issues on this particular ordinance include how often any given organization will be given to utilize this forum, whether the increased construction standards are necessary, whether this legislation mandates rules to live by and is, therefore, praactive, or whether the ordinance allows advertising that may "~'"" appear to be city endorsements of that organization's philosophy. It was agreed that P 5