City Council Update from Dick Dewar

DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC PROBLEMS: I am aware of the significant problems we are experiencing from the SCDOT installation of a new traffic signal system in the downtown area. While complainants have been courteous in expressing their views, I sense the frustration and anger in changing a system that many though was working just fine. I expect that Council will discuss this issue at our Monday night meeting and ask for your patience as the system is adjusted to improve traffic flow. Public Safety is working with SCDOT on a daily basis to ensure the new system works more effectively.

SECRET SERVICE TRAINING - United States Secret Service personnel visited Aiken on February 24 and 25 to train local law enforcement officers in the art of protecting local dignitaries visiting our public buildings and riding our city streets. Cost of the training was less than $250 in order for these officers to visit Aiken and provide this valuable training. In an era of tight budgets and decreased revenues, the City is finding economy and value in inviting trainers to Aiken (who have enjoyed their time here immensely) versus sending our Public Safety Officers to conferences in other locations.

175th SPECIAL EVENT - Sunday, March 28, 2010 at 3:00 p.m., a reading for The Secret of Telfair Inn, a children’s book by noted local author Idella Bodie, will be held at the Aiken County Historical Museum. Tickets are being sold at the Aiken Center for the Performing Arts. This event is part of Celebrate Aiken!

EARTH DAY 2010 - Friday, April 23, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., our annual Earth Day Celebration will again be held in Hopelands Garden. Several exhibits on-site will explain our unique Aiken environment and responsible ecological practices, local programs and agencies, and other fascinating information.

RECOGNITION OF FORMER MEMBERS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS - The City of Aiken has always appreciated the hard work and effort that our members of the boards, commissions, and committees do as they serve the city. They give back to the city through their time and talents to assist City Council in formulating city policy and administering its regulations.

At tonight's meeting we would like to recognize the following individuals for their service to the City of Aiken:

Accommodations Tax Committee
Sam Erb January 27, 1986 - March 9, 2009
Joan Schisler February 24, 2003 - April 27, 2009
Neal Shah February 12, 2001 - March 9, 2009

Arts Commission
Mary Suber December 10, 2007 - September 28, 2009

Board of Zoning Appeals

Keith Coones November 13, 2000 - November 9, 2009
Robert Stallworth October 28, 1996 - December 14, 2009

Community Development Committee

Joseph Harrison November 22, 1999 - December 14, 2009
Keith Shaver December 11, 2006 - April 27, 2009

Design Review Board

Dennis Terry January 1, 2009 - November 23, 2009

Park Commission

W. A. Beasley May 22, 1972 - October 26, 2009
Kay Bodenheimer January 9, 2006 - January 11, 2010
Joan Bristol November 27, 1995 - February 8, 2010
Catherine Shirley February 25, 2002 - January 11, 2010

Planning Commission

Isaac Rucker January 28, 2008 - February 8, 2010

ACCESSORY BUILDINGS – At the last Council meeting we discussed the current side and rear yard setbacks for accessory buildings. In 1995 the Planning Commission reviewed the then current accessory building regulations and recommended that accessory building could be allowed 3 feet from the property line instead of the current 10 feet. However, after several meetings Council voted not to approve the 3 foot side and rear yard setback but to leave it at 10 feet.

Two of the concerns that staff has expressed concerning reducing the side and rear yard setbacks involve storing of combustible material in buildings over 6 feet in height and the possibility of buried utility lines within that area. Each of these could be dealt with on a staff level should Council decide to reduce the setback distance.

At the last meeting you asked our City Attorney, Gary Smith, to review the possibility of allowing the Planning Director and Chairman of the BZA to administratively approve some of these applications. In his memorandum, he states that Council cannot give the Planning Director and BZA Chair the authority to administratively approve a variance for an accessory building. However, he does state that if the Zoning Ordinance was modified the Planning Director could possibly waive this requirement allowing a building to be placed closer to the property lines. This modification would need clear restrictions and could require letters being sent to the adjoining property owners to see if they had any problems with the unit being closer to the property lines.

If Council would like the Planning Commission to review this, you could ask that they consider modifying the Zoning Ordinance to allow the Planning Director to review setbacks for accessory buildings. It would then be brought back to City Council for final review and approval.

PARKING IN DOWNTOWN AIKEN - On November 26, 2007, City Council unanimously approved a 2-hour parking limit for the downtown area.
In November, 2009, City Council allowed unlimited parking from Thanksgiving to January 1, 2010, throughout the downtown to allow extended hours during the Christmas season. Since that time a number of merchants have come forward asking that the City repeal the regulations they set forth in 2007.

Twice in February, 2010, the City met with most of the shop owners and businesses in the downtown concerning these issues. Everyone present at those meetings agreed that the city needs to welcome shoppers and visitors to our downtown and to try to avoid any confusion as to where persons should park when shopping in our downtown. In between the two meetings the City Manager spoke with the majority of the businesses downtown and except for a couple of merchants it was evident that we needed to make some changes. One of those changes would be taking the 30 minute parking places that we have at several locations in the median and moving them in front of store fronts where in and out business takes place on a daily basis. It was also evident that although we meet the minimum standards for the number of handicapped spaces, we should add additional handicap locations in the downtown area. Beyond those two changes there was a variety of opinions as to what parking changes are needed. In talking to the merchants individually, the majority are willing to have more long term parking in the median on Laurens and Richland and keep some type of restriction along the store fronts of Richland and Laurens. There were, however, several businesses that would like to totally rescind the parking restrictions that the City set in November, 2007. All the shop owners feel that we need to send a more positive message that you can park in the downtown area and stay as long as you like. They realize that some shop owners will not insist that their employees park elsewhere even when alternatives are available to them. However, they want to send a more welcoming message to shoppers.

At the February 24, 2010, meeting a consensus couldn't be reached on one proposal to bring back to City Council, other than to add the 30-minute parking spaces in front of businesses and additional handicapped parking. Therefore tonight two proposals are being presented to City Council.

Proposal A would consist of maintaining parking limits in front of the stores on Laurens and Richland consisting of either 2-hour or 4-hour parking times and the hours from either the current 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. or 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. In all other areas of the downtown owners and shoppers could stay all day long, including the medians of Richland and Laurens. If Council chooses proposal A it would need to be signed clearly as to what areas have limited parking on Richland and Laurens versus what areas are open to unlimited parking on these and other streets.

Proposal B would be to rescind the parking limits from 2007 and allow all day parking throughout the downtown area.
NOTE: Public input in this issue has been very light. Please let your Councilmember (s) know how you feel about downtown parking.

FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 32 OF THE AIKEN CITY CODE REGARDING COMMERCIAL GARBAGE Over the last several months, City Council has discussed our commercial garbage rates and whether or not to maintain this service. At our last Council meeting the general discussion based around keeping the service and increasing the rate in order for us to break even.
Last year City Council decided not to increase the rates due to the recessionary period, but to maintain the rates even though it meant a loss within the City of Aiken. We are now experiencing a shortfall of approximately $85,000 and are recommending increasing the cubic yard collection fee from $5.20 to $6.60 and maintaining the rate for each service trip at $48.27. We will still allow the four private companies currently providing commercial garbage in the City of Aiken to serve any new or existing business. With the rate increase the City of Aiken will be lower than two of the providers and higher than the other two. This rate increase would take effect with the April 1, 2010, billing.

APPROVAL OF USE OF TIF FUNDS – In 1995 City Council approved a TIF District which allowed for improvements to the downtown and surrounding areas. These improvements consist of new streetscape, economic development, public safety presence, lighting, land acquisition, and other items to improve the core area of our city.
Earlier this year we paid off the remaining portion of that loan and will have approximately $800,000 remaining by the end of this year. At our first meeting in February Council approved the use of a portion of these funds for the final land payment for expansion of the Municipal Building at the corner of Newberry and The Alley and the funding to purchase the land for a park at the northeast corner of York and Richland.
We still have approximately $300,000 remaining that can be used for a variety of projects which we would like to bring to Council at this time. We propose the following TIF projects in order of priority.

1. Charrette for the Union Street area - $25,000
2. Electric and Water for Aiken Makin area - $20,000
3. Park at the corner of York and Richland - $115,000
4. Sea Lane streetscape - $91,500
5. Bee Lane streetscape* - $48,500

Total $300,000

*Total cost for Bee Lane is estimated at $129,000. The remaining $80,500 would be taken from the Local Option Sales Tax which had allotted up to $200,000 for this project.

NOTE: This money must be spent within the TIF District.

SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO EXPAND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN NORTH OF TOOLEBECK ROAD: One of the major items that City Council asked the Planning Commission to address on their last Action Agenda was to expand the Comprehensive Plan to the area north of Toolebeck Road. This area is located between Banks Mill Road and US 78 with East Pine Log as the northern boundary and Old Dibble Road approximately as the southern boundary. The area is currently primarily low density residential and the recommendation is to maintain this character.
As shown on the future land use map there are a couple of pockets of industrial warehouses along Toolebeck and Woodward Drive and an area along Pine Log Road as commercial. There could be some other retail operations within this area. However, this development would be small in nature. The district is currently made up largely of undeveloped areas and in the future we would expect to see a steady growth with the typical neighborhood type development. The Planning Commission held a work session in December, 2009, with a public hearing in January, 2010. We have advertised that City Council would be receiving this information starting at their February 22, 2010, meeting. At the January, 2010 Planning Commission meeting, they unanimously recommended this Comprehensive Plan to City Council.

SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO ANNEX PROPERTY AT 371-373 JEHOSSEE DRIVE: The owners of a 0.18 acre lot at 371-373 Jehossee Drive are requesting annexation for their duplex. The parcel is contiguous to the City through the Governor Aiken Park neighborhood. The proposed RS-8 zoning is compatible with the other properties within this area although the lot is just slightly smaller than the minimum 8,000 square feet. However, it does exceed the 70 foot minimum lot width as proposed in the RS-8 zone. All other aspects within the proposed zone are consistent with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan which recommends low density residential. The Planning Commission also recommends that the right of way of Jehossee Drive be included in the annexation. At their February 9, 2010 meeting they unanimously recommended approval of the annexation of this property with no conditions.