AIKEN CORPORATION WORK SESSION – On Monday February 23 at 6 P. M. City Council will meet with the Aiken Corporation to review the various projects that Aiken Corporation has worked on or is currently working on. We will discuss the charter of the Aiken Corporation to ensure that it relates to current projects. As many residents know, the Aiken Corporation is building the Railroad Depot and supporting the building of the African-American Cultural Museum. In reviewing the information provided by the City Manager, it is clear that City Council, with the exception of Dick Smith and Jane Vaughters, has enthusiastically supported the use of public monies for each of these projects. Since 2004 Council has agreed to provide maintenance of the Railroad Depot, staff the Railroad Depot with the City Tourism Department, and accept the building when it is completed.
BEST FRIEND EXPRESS – We have received the 2008-2009 second quarter report from the Best Friend Express operation by Aiken County. The Lower Savannah Council of Governments reports ridership is up 27% from this time last year. In addition, their Dial-A-Ride program remains very popular, delivering 142 riders a total of 13,252 miles. Citizens, with a doctor’s statement indicating that their patient cannot physically access a regular Best Friend Express stop, can call Dial-A-Ride instead. More that 1/3 of the Dial-A-Ride participants are senior citizens who would not be otherwise able to travel to their medical, educational, or employment services destination.
DOWNTOWN PARKING ISSUE – Public Safety Chief Pete Frommer and his staff have investigated the concerns sent to Council about larger vehicles parking downtown. The particular area of concern they discovered was Richland Avenue between Laurens and Newberry Streets. We are working with SCDOT which owns the road. The problem can be easily fixed if the center lane marker is relocated. Hopefully, this will not take too long to complete.
SILVER BLUFF REZONING REQUEST – Council will consider a request to rezone 1.64 acres on Silver Bluff across from Hamilton Drive from Residential Multi-Family Low Density to General Business. The rezoning would consist of one lot fronting on Silver Bluff Road. The owner’s intent is to sell a portion of this rezoned property for a martial arts studio. The owner is asking that the traffic study be waived in return for him restricting the property to 1,000 or fewer trips per day. At the Planning Commission, many residents in the area were strongly opposed to this request.
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CITY OF AIKEN’S COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE AND TRANSPORTION AND TO ADOPT THE 10 YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ELEMENT – State law requires that a 10 year Capital Element be adopted as part of our Comprehensive Plan. This plan looks at potential funding for public infrastructure and facilities during the next 10 years and recommends the projects for expenditure for facilities such as water, sewer, and roads. Once this plan is adopted, it would then be coordinated with adjacent and relevant jurisdictions and agencies.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN STUDY AREA – The Planning Commission has recommended that the Comprehensive Plan boundary should generally match the city’s water district line unless there is a good reason for a different boundary. They also felt that the Comprehensive Planning Area should expand further to the east. This would include the water district behind Rudy Mason Parkway and a large portion of the area between Toolebeck and U. S. 78.
IDENTITY THEFT POLICY – Council will be asked to approve a resolution establishing an Identity Theft Policy in compliance with recent federal and state legislation and regulation.
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA – Keep in mind that City Council agendas are available on line. The complete agenda includes supporting documents that we review to determine a course of action. The link for Monday’s City Council agenda is http://www.aiken.net/weblink7/docview.aspx?id=100645.
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