PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING - Tuesday, June 15, 2010 the Planning Commission meets at 5:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers to conduct a public meeting regarding tree pruning. Liz Galland and Frances Waite from the South Carolina Forestry Commission are scheduled to talk. Also to be discussed are proposed amendments regarding accessory building setbacks.
SMALL BUSINESS MEETING - Monday, June 21, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. City Council will hold the special meeting scheduled by Council continuing to address issues affecting small businesses in Aiken.
BUSINESS INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY EXPO - Saturday, July 17 is the Business Innovation and Technology Expo at the USCA Convocation Center from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. This Expo is part of our Celebrate Aiken Third Quarter: Business, Innovation, and Technology. Many local companies have signed up for table space at this free event. We will share a complete list with you once the registration period is completed.
BIO-RETENTION PROJECT UPDATE - Work continues in the parkways and their adjacent parking spaces with our stormwater abatement project. The next phase of construction will see the installation of engineered soil [reconditioned soil made from the dirt previously removed] to refill the existing bioswales within 6” to 12” of their rim. After this engineered soil is put in place, native plant material will then be installed. We anticipate this work will be done by the end of August.
BIO-RETENTION PROJECT RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION - The Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) has recognized our city bio-retention project – The Sand River Headwaters Green Infrastructure Project – for inclusion in a pilot program to develop an international rating system for sustainable landscape installations, whether done with or without buildings. This recognition could be potentially helpful as we see other grant money to expand our stormwater abatement infrastructure.
AIKEN’S TOMORROW PROJECT - The public meetings and online survey segments of our Strategic Plan Update – Aiken’s Tomorrow: Local Acts/Global Impacts is completed. Over the summer, the data obtained so far will be analyzed. We anticipate providing you with a preliminary report after the Labor Day holiday.
APPROVAL OF WORK ON NEWBERRY STREET FOUNTAIN – A couple of months ago, City Council heard a report from the Aiken Arts Commission concerning the fountain on Newberry Street. A sub-committee was developed and after receiving their recommendation the Arts Commission asked Commissioners Lattimore and Thomas to present a plan to City Council. This plan was presented at a work session on April 12, 2010. They have now developed renderings of the William Aiken statue seated on a bench near the fountain. Attached is the suggested wording that will appear on the plaque. Some other suggested improvements include:
1. Remove the pavers in the immediate area around the fountain to provide more green space.
2. Enhance plantings around the fountain and arbor and add irrigation to these plantings.
3. Stain the exterior of the fountain a darker color.
4. Add an inner tier so a planter could be established inside the outside wall of the fountain.
5. Add benches around the fountain, one for the William Aiken statue and others for patrons to rest upon.
6. As funding becomes available, we plan to up light the festival area.
The estimates for the renovations would be approximately $10,000. The cost of the statue of William Aiken is estimated at $25,000. A corporation has agreed to pay for the cost of the statue up to $25,000 and would soon be recognized through a news release if Council accepts their donation. At the proper time a plaque would be placed near the statue recognizing William Aiken and their contribution.
ESTABLISHMENT OF SENIOR TASK FORCE – At our last City Council meeting, Scott Murphy, Director of the Council on Aging, discussed with City Council several financial concerns they are facing in serving the seniors within our community.
Council asked staff to develop a list of possible agencies that could meet and determine whether an umbrella organization for seniors is needed. A few years ago, Council developed a similar organization, the Arts Commission, based on recommendations from a Task Force headed by Bill Reynolds. They solicited information from several organizations and then developed a mission statement for the organization. I have attached the Aiken Arts Task Force's mission, task, and suggested process for City Council's review.
We suggest possible representatives for the Task Force from organizations like the Lower Savannah Council of Governments, Council on Aging, United Way, County of Aiken, USC Aiken, AARP, City of Aiken, Aiken Regional Medical Centers, and someone representing the assisted living facilities in our community. There may also be others that you would like to consider for the Task Force to begin this process.
We also suggest that the Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department oversee the Task Force during this initial process.
The Task Force would meet one to two times a month over the next several months and report back to City Council on how we can best represent the interests of the entire senior community.
DEEDS FOR CROSLAND PARK LOTS TO AIKEN CORPORATION – As part of our ongoing Northside Revitalization Project, we are continuing to renovate homes in Crosland Park. As you are aware, the Award-Winning Crosland Park work represents a coalition of public, private, and nonprofit organizations coming together to make this neighborhood a better place to live.
Aiken Corporation was provided funds for the City to option dozens of houses in this neighborhood. Our goal is to renovate these optioned homes in the next phases of this effort.
In addition, the Executive Board of Aiken Corporation has voted to renovate four houses in Crosland Park. After our Neighborhood Division staff's review of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and its Home Investment Partnerships Program funding opportunities to best leverage grant money and have an impact throughout this subdivision, it will be best for us to convey four houses to Aiken Corporation so that they are titled in the nonprofit's name. In addition, under ARRA funding parameters, it will also be beneficial for the city to accept back three properties that were previously conveyed to Aiken Corporation. This conveyance will allow Workplace Investment Act, Community Development Block Grant, and ARRA funds to be used when renovating these homes.
Staff Attorney Ben Moore has prepared the necessary deeds, ordinance, and resolution to accomplish this land swap. We believe this exchange will result in the maximum return on the grant funds awarded to the City of Aiken and the Aiken Corporation for these houses.
GEORGE’S POND PROPERTY PURCHASE – In the early 1990s, local media covered the significant flooding experienced in the Powderhouse Road and College Acres area. Since that time, we have been exploring best practices to abate this storm water runoff. Since last fall, we have been in discussions with John and Ruth George about the City's potential purchase of a 5.35 acre parcel from a tract of land they own in order to construct a detention pond. This detention pond would be built at the George's Pond location to applicable standards. Since it is visible to Whiskey Road businesses, we will ensure a tasteful installation through the planting of appropriate material and a wood chip base walking trail.
We believe this installation, with a basic spray fountain feature, will alleviate storm water pooling on Whiskey Road and Powderhouse Roads and ensure that College Acres will not be flooded again. Our investigation of this situation points to this regional detention pond as the best method to handle water runoff in this area. It will provide a drainage basin area of approximately 300 acres.
As you will see in Larry's (Larry Morris, Public Works Director) attached memo, we anticipate future developers to reimburse the City for our costs on a prorata basis if their development will utilize this regional detention pond. The Georges are reserving the right to utilize this detention pond if they develop the remainder of their adjacent tract, which totals about 6.36 acres.
We have had this property appraised. The 5.35 acres was appraised for $321,000. The Georges have indicated they will accept this amount.
REQUEST FROM RUSS FERRARA TO DISCUSS WHISKEY ROAD – At the last meeting, Russ Ferrara gave City Council a memo raising concerns about our annexation of Whiskey Road several years ago. As many of you will recall, Public Safety had several concerns about the traffic management and traffic enforcement on Whiskey Road which was in the County from Pine Log Road South to Talatha Church Road.
Council then asked staff to proceed with the annexation of this portion of Whiskey Road. After the second reading and approval of this annexation, paper work concerning Council's action was sent to several different agencies as per the state law. Several months later the South Carolina Department of Transportation challenged the annexation. However, the statutory time had passed and Judge Early ordered the annexation as formally binding. We have attached a copy of this order from Judge Early.
Ben Moore should be able to answer any questions concerning this order. Gary Smith and Richard Pearce are also very familiar with this action should you desire their input.
SCHEDULE FOR COUNCIL MEETINGS IN JULY AND AUGUST 2010 – As we approach summer, Council typically does not schedule a second meeting in July and August so individuals can plan vacations. We are again suggesting that we cancel these meetings and hold Council meetings on Monday, July 12 and August 9 only. If some important issue comes up, we can always schedule a second meeting during this time.
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