City Council Update

AIKEN CORPORATION WORK SESSION – My last two emails mentioned a work session between the Council and the Aiken Corporation. Minutes of that session are now available and can be viewed at the City’s web site. That portion of the web site, however, is temporarily off-line for maintenance. I will post the link on the next Council Update.

WORK SESSION TO CONSIDER REQUEST BY ST. JOHN’S METHODIST CHURCH FOR PARKWAY CUTS – The church has requested cut-throughs in the parkways on Chesterfield Street and Newberry to resolve some safety issues. The Park Commission reviewed the request and unanimously denied the two cut-throughs. It has been several decades since the City has approved any cut through. In fact, the City has closed several of them.

175th CELEBRATION UPDATE – All subcommittees have met and elected their leadership. There are many volunteers working to plan a year of celebrating the 175th birthday of Aiken. Plans are underway to announce a calendar of 2010 events this fall.

UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL DOCTORS’ OFFICE BULDING – The Planning Department will consider this issue at its meeting on Tuesday, April 14.

ADPS REACCREDITED - The Aiken Department of Public Safety has been reaccredited. Over 460 professional standards had to be met for this event to occur. Congratulations to Chief Pete Frommer and his department. There are very few police departments of the size of Aiken that have been accredited. It is a very unusual award which should make us proud of our public safety department.

VOLUNTEER LUNCHEON – On Thursday, April 23, the City will hold the annual luncheon recognizing our board, commission, and committee volunteers. Including those involved with the 175th Celebration, the number of volunteers is in the hundreds. They provide valuable services at no cost to the City and represent a high level of community service to the community.

2009 DUI ENFORCEMENT AWARD – The Office of Highway Safety in Columbia recently presented the City of Aiken, the Agency of the Year Award due to our 100% reduction in fatalities from 6 to 0 from the previous year and our 100% reduction in alcohol related fatalities from 3 to 0 over the previous year. During that time the Department of Public Safety also increased their DUI arrest and conducted over 20 DUI Awareness and Traffic Safety presentations. Congratulations to Corporal Chris Carter, PSO Ronald Griffin and PSO Christopher Hammell. They will be recognized during our Council meeting on Monday night.

BUDGET WORK SESSION – On March 23 Council had the first of several sessions on next year’s budget. The proposed budget will be $1.8 million less that it was last year. It appears that we can meet our fiscal needs for next year without a tax increase, but there may be some increased in city services. Final details will be formulated as we get closer to budget approval time. Minutes of the work session are on line and are included in the Agenda for the April 13 meeting.

SILVER BLUFF ROAD REZONING – There was a work session prior to our last Council meeting at the request of the owner of property on Silver Bluff Road. This was the project to rezone property on Silver Bluff Road to permit construction of a Tae Kwan Do facility. Nearby property owners strongly objected and the project was defeated on a 4-3 vote with Mayor Cavanaugh, and Council members Smith, Vaughters and Dewar against approval. The work session was held to determine interest in approving the project if the developer donated a large portion of the land to the City as open space. Those owners, present at the work session, again objected to the project although one neighbor seemed willing to consider the project. According to Council rules the project could not be considered without a motion and two seconds by Council. When Councilman Wells made a motion to place the item on the agenda, it was seconded by Council members Price and Clyburn. Hence, the item will be on our Agenda for First Reading on Monday’s meeting. It is possible that the Developer will not have a tenant for the proposed building which means that any type of business that meets the zoning requirements can build at the site. There will be, however, a restriction as to the number of trips per day that will be allowed so that will ensure there will not be a high-volume business built.

CONVEYING LOTS TO HABITAT – We will have second reading of an Ordinance to convey lots to Habitat. They hope to build three homes each year. The first will be built cooperatively by the Aiken Rotary Club and First Baptist Church.

AMENDMENTS TO LIMITED BUSINESS (LB) ZONE - The Planning Commission has recommended that the Zoning Ordinance be amended for Limited Business zone so that other retail sales or service, which are currently permitted by right, be allowed in the future by Special Exception through the Board of Zoning Appeals. They based this decision on the premise that some retail sales or services may not be appropriate in the LB. zone. Letters were sent to property owners and no responses have been received. We will have Second Reading of this item on Monday night.

$1.5 MILLION LOAN FOR CROSLAND PARK - We will have Second Reading of an Ordinance for a $1.5 million loan for Crosland Park. The City plans on acquiring approximately twenty homes in Crosland Park and totally rehabbing those for future purchase by non-profit corporations and the CDIC. This would permit the City to get started on the Crosland Park project immediately and for certain improvements to be made that could not be made under the normal grant process. The intent is to make these homes as energy efficient as possible, completing all normal renovations that would occur in an older home, plus installing irrigation systems for new grass and shrubbery in the yards. Kim Abney, our Finance Director, and Ben Moore, our Staff Attorney, have developed a short term loan which should be paid back this fall for the $1.5 million. The loan note in our packet authorizes repayment within a five year period, however. I expect the discussion tonight will clarify the disparity.

SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CITY OF AIKEN’S COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND TO ADOPT THE 10 YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ELEMENT. – In 2007 the State Priority Investment Act required 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.

APPROVAL OF ELECTION SCHEDULE – At last Council meeting, the City Election Commission presented a proposed schedule for the City Council election later this year. They also asked at the request of the Aiken County School System that we move the voting location for Precinct 53. Precinct 53 (Hollow Creek) currently votes at Chukker Creek Elementary School and the school has complained about voting traffic during school hours. The proposed location advocated by the City Elections Commission may not be suitable if it places too great a burden on the voter. We also discussed the law regarding the location of precincts relative to where the voters live. Our City Attorney has prepared a paper for our consideration. As currently proposed the opening date for filing is Aug 3 and closing date is Aug 10. The Primary election would be held on September 8 with September 22 selected as a run-off date. Election Day would be on November 3.

APPROVAL OF PUBLIC SAFETY GRANT – Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the City of Aiken is receiving $62,119.82 requiring no matching funds. This funding helps us purchase equipment that we cannot afford through the normal budgetary process. This money comes from the Stimulus Law Enforcement Grant from the Department of Justice.

FIRST READING OF A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR CITY RENTAL PROGRAM – Over the next several weeks, the City of Aiken will be purchasing several homes in Crosland Park that are currently occupied. We need to approve a lease agreement that we could use for renting our property.

SALE OF CONFISCATED WEAPONS – Council will discuss sale of confiscated weapons to registered gun dealers which could net the City from $15,000 to $20,000. Sale of these weapons will comply with all existing laws. Our local Solicitor has stated that we have the authority to sell such weapons.