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Marietta City Council continued the momentum of an active fight against blight and lack of property maintenance in the city through the adoption of a fine schedule for violations of the property maintenance code Thursday.
The legislators heard in Ordinance 220 the amended fines following a lapse in applicable fines for more than one year.
They unanimously suspended the second and third readings and provided full support for the adoption.
"Almost a year and a half since it expired, and in that year and a half the code enforcement (official) has not had the ability to levy fines on any property maintenance violations," said Councilman Bill Gossett, representative of the third ward. "There were no teeth in it for a year and a half … I didn't find out it was expired until June of 2020. As soon as I found out, I started working on getting something done about it."
Fines were also doubled from the last effective schedule with the first offense of a property maintenance code formerly costing the offender $25 and now seeing an initial fine of $50.
"The next fine schedule we're going to work on will be the nuisance complaint schedule," said Gossett.
Additional legislation introduced Thursday included:
¯ Ordinance 219: A standard transfer and appropriation of funds ordinance.
The second and third readings were unanimously suspended and the ordinance was adopted.
"The striper the city has 'gave up the ghost' so we've got to buy a new one," Finance Chairman Mike Scales explained.
¯ Ordinance 221: A change order for $5,062.50 for the ongoing upgrades to the city wastewater plant; also suspended readings and unanimously passed.
¯ Ordinance 222: Authorization for the Peoples Bank Theatre to install a hydraulic lift within city right-of-way; also suspended readings and unanimously passed.
"This will permit the Peoples Bank Theatre to install a lift right off Third Street," explained Councilwoman Susan Boyer, noting greater wheelchair access to the stage and events by the planned construction for this year.
¯ Ordinance 223: A boilerplate legislation authorizing the bidding of the year's asphalt program.
The ordinance also saw both second and third readings dispensed and unanimous support by council vote.
¯ Ordinance 224: Butler Street pavement markings and pedestrian improvement authorization near Marietta College.
The ordinance also saw both second and third readings dispensed, with unanimous approval for adoption.
¯ Ordinance 225: Water treatment plant upgrade planning continues with approval of a supplemental loan agreement with the Ohio Water Development Authority.
"The goal was to have this thing under contract by Dec. 31" said Scales.
The ordinance also saw both second and third readings dispensed, with unanimous approval for adoption.
¯ Ordinance 226: Friends of the Marietta Skate Park authorized to construct improvements.
"The group that volunteers are eager to get started with this project," said Councilman Bill Farnsworth, chair of Lands, Buildings and Parks Committee.
The ordinance also saw both second and third readings dispensed, with unanimous approval for adoption.
¯ Ordinance 227: Request for qualifications on a comprehensive update and re-write of city land use and zoning (chapter 11 of the city code).
"While I would like to move ahead and bring this to a vote tonight, I also want my committee to have the chance to comment before bringing it to a vote so we'll just do the first reading tonight," said Planning, Zoning, Annexation and Housing Chairman Geoff Schenkel.
The legislation moves on to the May 20 regular business meeting and committee next week for further discussion following its first reading Thursday. If passed this month, the projected deadline for proposals by bidders is late in June.
¯ Resolution 93: A preliminary tax budget for the calendar year 2022 as required by state law for submission to the county auditor.
"This tax budget is a blueprint for the 2022 budget," Scales noted, inviting councilmembers to begin reviewing to address concerns in advance of full budgeting this summer and fall.
The resolution saw no further readings Thursday.
Announcements and upcoming discussions
Mayor Josh Schlicher also announced that following the downgrade of the coronavirus threat level by the Ohio Department of Health, designating Washington County at the lowest "yellow" designation, he plans to reopen city offices to the public on May 17.
He also announced that May 29 will be the grand reopening of the city aquatic center, noting repair work throughout the spring.
Council is next scheduled to meet in executive session on Monday.
Rathbone stormwater issues are scheduled for discussion on May 13 at 4 p.m. in Streets Committee, to be followed in tandem by a Lands, Buildings and Parks Committee including review of recent organizational changes in the Historic Harmar Bridge Company and a public boat ramp in the Fourth Ward.
The committees will be followed by a Police and Fire Committee and thereafter by Planning, Zoning, Annexation and Housing Committee.
Old business
Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 199, vacating a portion of an unnamed alley on Harmar Hill.
The legislators also adopted on their third readings Ordinance 203 and Ordinance 207.
The former is preliminary legislation to begin sidewalk replacement, monument restoration and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliance in East Muskingum Park and the city's museum district.
The latter authorized the advertising for bids 205 Cedar Street, a blighted parcel in Norwood purchased by the city last year.
Legislation considered on second readings included:
¯ Ordinance 214: Step schedule changes for non-union employee positions.
"There were some titles that per the most recent table of organization that needed to be removed or changed and there were some math errors that we caught as well," Employee Relations Chairwoman Cassidi Shoaf explained of her motion to amend the exhibit attached.
The amendment passed unanimously.
Rather than letting the legislation run the course of a full three readings, Shoaf moved to suspend the rules and dispense with the third reading. The ordinance was unanimously adopted.
¯ Ordinance 217: Outlines an estimate of funding to be funneled to the city government between Sept. 2021 and Sept. 2026 from the most recent federal coronavirus relief package. The ordinance is expected to see a third reading and vote on May 20.
¯ Resolution 92: Would be the initial authorization for an Eagle Scout project under planning for Gold Star Park on Harmar Hill. The resolution is expected to see a third reading and vote on May 20.