ThisWeek CW 06/23/2011
Canal Winchester City Council gave final and unanimous approval June 20 to zoning code amendments governing animal-grooming and training facilities.
Such facilities will be allowed to operate indoors within 200 feet of residential zoning districts, with certain restrictions. Council held a public hearing for the amendments at 6:45 p.m. prior to the council meeting but had no speakers.
Discussion around outdoor areas used by groomers and trainers for animals to relieve themselves led finance director Nanisa Osborn to request an amendment adding requirements for daily cleaning of these outdoor areas.
Council members also agreed Monday to approve a number of time-sensitive pieces of legislation.
Council voted unanimously to suspend the rules and to approve an ordinance to set the mayor’s salary and fringe benefits for the next four-year mayoral term, which begins next January. The mayoral race will be on the November ballot.
“The city charter requires that salary reviews must be completed by July 1 of the odd-numbered year, which then sets the salary and benefits for two years,” finance director Nanisa Osborn said. “So even though we aren’t changing it for 2012, in order to set it at $82,500 for 2013, council must suspend rules to waive further readings to make that July 1 date.”
The current mayoral salary is $80,000, which does not include benefits.
Also, council member James Wynkoop moved to suspend the rules to amend the zoning code to establish a city woodlands map. Council unanimously approved this ordinance on first reading.
Council also approved code regulations regarding contracting and competitive bidding, and to declare an emergency.
“We’ve been working with (attorneys from) Bricker & Eckler to work out our charter, because we are no longer tied to certain (Ohio Revised Code) contracting methods,” city law director Gene Hollins said. “(Bricker & Eckler) have contracting language that is as owner-favorable as possible, so we’re trying to get ahead of the game with good documents and get rid of as many loopholes as possible.
“Since we’re continually bidding out projects, to the extent we can get this adopted now, we can then continue to update the document as we continue to evolve,” he said.
A public hearing for the proposed 2012 budget will be held at 6:30 p.m. July 5, prior to the final reading of the budget ordinance at the next city council meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 10 N. High St.