APPROVAL TO DISCONTINE CITY COMMERCIAL GARBAGE SERVICE – Over the last several years, City Council has been discussing whether or not to completely eliminate the City's commercial garbage service. Several years ago City Council decided to allow the private market to serve commercial customers within the city. Up until that time the City had a monopoly on this service. Since then the City has lost over half of our customers who now use one of four local providers. However, in the last three months alone, another 25% of those customers have decided to go with a private service.
At our last meeting Council discussed several exit strategies concerning the elimination of this service. It was the consensus of Council to totally get out of this service with the possible exception of a couple of locations in the downtown area. Council also discussed possibly changing some of our ordinances and regulations if necessary to help maintain the health and sanitary conditions needed at these commercial locations. These could be reviewed in the future on a case by case basis to determine what, if any, changes are needed.
A letter was sent to all of our remaining commercial garbage accounts to let them know that on October 1, 2010, the City may discontinue our commercial garbage service. They were notified a public hearing would be held at tonight's meeting to give them an opportunity to express their thoughts and concerns involving this action. After hearing their concerns Council can then decide whether to continue or discontinue the service.
DISCUSSION OF ZERO BASED BUDGETING – Over the last several months, a couple of Councilmembers have asked that we consider the process of using zero based budgeting for the next fiscal year budget. Last week I met with the City of Greer's Manager, Ed Driggers, to discuss this issue since they recently went through this process. If you recall the City of Greer had over 40 community leaders visit Aiken last year since our cities are very similar in size and the services we provide. He stated they started in October and met approximately four times a month through January with the meetings lasting two to four hours. It gave the opportunity for each of the Department Heads to go over the budget line by line and to discuss with City Council the staffing, equipment and other operations within each of the service areas. Some, but not many, of the items were changed, but it gave everybody a much better idea as to what and how the services were provided.
Since it will take a few months to prepare this information we would like to formally know if Council would like to go through this process. If so, we would suggest setting aside the first and third Thursdays of every month and the second and fourth Tuesdays. This would mean having our Council meetings on Monday night followed by a budget meeting the next day. Or, we could do it any other day of the week should Council desire. Some of these meetings could be held during the mornings or later in the afternoons and some in the evenings. We understand that not every Councilmember will make it to every meeting, but we would like to make sure that if we use this process that as many Councilmembers as possible could be present. If Council approves this format, we would start with Public Safety in October, followed by Public Works, Parks & Recreation, and the various other departments thereafter. Altogether we will need to review approximately 60 divisions or areas during this process.
At tonight's meeting we would like to get a consensus or vote from Council on whether or not you would like us to begin the process for zero based budgeting for our next fiscal year which would be from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012.
USE OF CROSLAND PARK FUNDS FOR RENOVATIONS – Last April, City Council approved borrowing from reserve funds to start the Crosland Park Project. This money was used to purchase vacant lots and homes in Crosland Park and to renovate these homes. In total the City has purchased 32 properties, including 3 vacant lots. To date 2 vacant lots and 1 home have been sold. We have almost completed 3 more homes and 3 others are under construction. We would anticipate selling three more homes within the next 30 to 60 days and would like to use the funds from these sales to continue the renovation process on the remaining homes.
Our overall plan is to renovate 100 to 150 homes and at tonight's meeting we would like Council to approve the reuse of the $1.5M as a rollover fund until we complete this entire project. At the very end of the project after the last home is sold, the money would be paid back with interest to the City. In addition to the homes that we have already purchased, approximately 70 other homes are optioned by the City. These will be purchased over the next few years as we continue this renovation process. Most of the homes were purchased between $45,000 and $55,000 with the final renovation costs raising the market value of the home to the low 90's. The investment made by the City, in many cases doubles their value and increases the real estate taxes that we receive from this area. More importantly though, we are developing home ownership with families that are bringing new energy and stability to this community. The operating revenue and expenses which are shown on the attached sheets include the sale of properties and grants that we have received. The major portion of our expenses includes startup costs, consultant fees, equipment and materials and the primary contractor's overhead. Altogether we have $62,000 currently available as rollover funds for this project. With Council's permission tonight we would use this money and other funds to continue funding the project as homes are completed and sold.
APPROVAL AND MODIFICATION OF LOCAL SALES TAX MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING – At the April 26, 2010 City Council meeting, Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding that listed projects for the One Cent Sales Tax totaling $38.6 million. On July 6, 2010, the County appointed Local Option Sales Tax Committee did not meet. They are meeting on July 12 at 6:00 P.M. to discuss the City LOST projects. At that meeting they will review the non-city projects originally in the City's Local Option Sales Tax Memorandum of Understanding. These include the SPCA, the Center for African American History, Arts, and Culture, the Galaxi Teen Center, the Railroad Depot, and the YMCA. Depending upon how they vote on these listed projects, Council may need to re-allocate the funding from these projects by either increasing the funding for projects already approved, adding new projects, or reconsidering some of the projects that you did not originally approve. Assistant City Manager Richard Pearce will attend their meeting and then report to Council how the LOST Commission voted. Therefore, at tonight's meeting we would like Council to review the action taken by the LOST Commission and see what further action, if any, needs to be taken.
MANURE CONTAINERS: Our Equine Committee has resolved to make recommendations to City Council regarding the placement of manure containers within the city limits. A copy of Equine Committee Chair Lucy Knowles’ letter to Mayor Cavanaugh is attached for your information. Planning Director Ed Evans has informed me that he anticipates this matter will be reviewed by the Planning Commission later this year, and definitely no later than the first of next year. After that review, Ed anticipates forwarding Planning Commission’s recommendations to you for your review.
SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO APPROVE THE ANNEXATION AND CONCEPT PLAN FOR WOODSIDE PROFESSIONAL SUITES – Sidewood Development LLC is requesting annexation of 2.25 acres of a total 3.88 acre tract, , 350 feet north of the Woodside entrance on Silver Bluff Road. In addition, they are requesting approval of a Concept Plan which would allow a maximum of four professional/medical buildings totaling 16,000 square feet to be built on the 3.88 acre property. The 1.63 acre portion which is already in the City was annexed as part of the first phase of Woodside in 1985 and is zoned as part of the Planned Residential zoning for the entire Woodside development. Under the PR zone 5% of this property can be used for commercial development of which only slightly over 3% has been used for this portion to date. The area just to the north of this development is currently occupied by Harbor Chase Assisted Living Center (formerly Eden Gardens) and a cross easement with this development is one of the conditions for approval of this annexation and Concept Plan.
Silver Bluff Road is planned to be widened in the next couple of years to a three lane section in front of this location which will provide some additional capacity and safety for individuals entering and leaving this location. For this reason a single access driveway is provided and turn lanes are not warranted due to the continuous center lane which will serve as the southbound left turn lane.
The Planning Commission unanimously approved the annexation and Concept Plan with the following conditions:
1. that the development comply with the submitted concept plan, building elevations, signage plan, and narrative;
2. that prior to annexation becoming effective, a plat combining the lots be approved by the City and recorded at the RMC office;
3. that minor changes to the buildings and site, including tree preservation, be approved by the Planning Director;
4. that the proposed driveway access to Silver Bluff Road be allowed;
5. that prior to approval of the site/landscape plan, an easement be granted and recorded with the RMC to allow the property to the north occupied by a nursing home to connect to the subject property;
6. that there be a note added to the Concept Plan that the project will comply with the Planned Commercial provisions at 4.3.8 which includes the lighting provisions;
7. that the signage comply with the signage plan submitted as part of the Concept Plan and that the Planning Director have the authority to approve minor changes in the signage;
8. that the owner execute an agreement listing the conditions of approval and that the agreement be recorded by the City at the RMC office within 90 days of approval by City Council
SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE CONCERNING ACCESSORY BUILDINGS – This past spring, City Council discussed the current side and rear yard setbacks for accessory buildings. In 2005 the Planning Commission reviewed the then current accessory building regulations and recommended that accessory buildings 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 setbacks but to leave it at 10 feet. Two of the concerns brought to Council by staff this past spring concerned reducing the side and rear yard setbacks for buildings that could store combustible materials and locations where buried utility lines were located. We feel that each of these concerns could be dealt with on a staff level should Council decide to reduce the setback distance.
At the March 8, 2010, City Council meeting Council asked the Planning Commission to develop amendments to the Zoning Ordinance that would allow the Planning Director to waive the requirements for an accessory building to be at least 10 feet from the side and rear property line. There already are precedents in the Zoning Ordinance which allows the City Engineer, the Planning Director, or City Manager to allow administrative waivers. The proposed changes to the Zoning Ordinance regarding accessory building setbacks would allow the Planning Director the ability to have an administrative waiver to reduce the setback.
When an application is filed prior to receiving any waivers, the Planning Department will mail a letter to the owners of each of the lots directly contiguous to the subject lot. Once the letters have been mailed, the request cannot be approved for at least 15 days to allow time for the neighbors to comment should they desire. In addition the Planning Director will also receive input prior to approval from the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Public Works/Engineering to address their concerns.
At the June 15, 2010, Planning Commission meeting, they unanimously approved amending the Zoning Ordinance which allows the Planning Director to reduce the side and rear yard setback for an accessory building if the applicant can demonstrate that there is no other reasonable place for the building that would meet the required setback and can justify the request based on one or more of the following:
1. The size, shape and/or topography of the property would make it difficult to comply.
2. Compliance would substantially affect the usability of the property.
3. The location of other structures on the property would make it difficult to comply.
4. The location of vegetation would make it difficult to comply.
5. The proposed location would allow preservation of valuable vegetation.
6. The area of the reduced setback is adjacent to land that will not be developed.
When an application is filed prior to receiving any waivers, the Planning Department will mail a letter to the owners of each of the lots directly contiguous to the subject lot. Once the letters have been mailed the request cannot be approved for at least 15 days to allow time for the neighbors to comment should they desire. In addition the Planning Director will also receive input prior to approval from the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Public Works/Engineering to address their concerns.
SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE REVISING RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR TRESPASS NOTICE – Unfortunately due to the behavior of certain individuals, the City has had to place them on trespass notice, therefore restricting them from certain city buildings or certain properties. These notices could involve individuals who had acted unruly, made threats or gotten into altercations with the public or city staff. Trespass notices have been issued by Public Safety in the past for H. O. Weeks, Virginia Acres, Smith-Hazel, Municipal Building, Public Safety, etc. Most of the time the trespass notice is for a set period of time and when that time expires, the individual is allowed back on the property if they follow the rules and regulations and conduct themselves in a proper manner. We have attached the Building Rules which our Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department use for their facilities. This is one of the tools that helps us maintain a safe environment at their facilities.
We recently discovered that the South Carolina Trespassing statute that the City has used over the years may not apply to public places. In order for the City to place individuals on trespass notice for city facilities, it is necessary to revise our City Code concerning rules and regulations for public parks and public facilities. Therefore, to assist us in maintaining the preservation of health, peace, and safety in our public facilities, we recommend that Council approve the attached trespass ordinance.
BUSINESS INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY EXPO - 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. It is a free event. Over 40 Exhibitors are scheduled to appear and include: the national champion M’Aiken Magic Robotics team, the American Chemical Society, the S.C. National Guard, Aiken Electric Cooperative, Aiken Regional Medical Centers, Bridgestone-Firestone, Kentucky-Tennessee Clay Company, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Savannah River Remediation, USC Aiken, Vista Bank, Aiken Technical College, the Center for Hydrogen Research, the world-leading hydrogen home construction being developed at The Ridge at Chukker Creek, Sitec, Aiken School of Cosmetology; an Amateur Radio Group; Advanced Chiropractic, MTU Diesel, Glaxo-Smith Kline; MOX Services; MTV; URS; Honda Cars of Aiken, and much, much more.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2010 at 7:00 p.m., City Council will hold Talking Shop with Aiken Businesses, our focus groups, to discuss issues affecting the Business City, in the City Hall Conference Center.
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