Weekly Update to City Council

from the City Manager

January 17, 2010

Annual Council Retreat

It looks like we will hold our Annual Retreat on Jan. 30, pending finalization of the details of the location and the facilitators. The Mayor, Vice-mayor and I are meeting later this week to discuss the agenda. If any Council member has thoughts please feel free to contact one of us prior to Friday. Suggested agenda items that we’ve received so far include:

Review of the City’s Master Plan

Discussion of Housing Revitalization Strategy

Review and Discussion of the City’s Economic Development Projects and Strategies

Discussion of the Role of City Council

Discuss establishment of a Youth Commission

Review/update of all Boards and Commissions

Review Agenda 2009 accomplishments

Establish Agenda 2010 priorities

Annual Goals for 2010

Mentioned last update, but worth repeating since a significant amount of my time and staff time has been and will be spent to establish our departmental goals for the year and to review our accomplishments for 2009. We will provide the list to Council once it is compiled. As a result of our discussion at the Council retreat, we may have more goals to add.

Ohio receives report from Task Force focusing on Urban Centers

Significant for Middletown in that there is discussion at the State level on revitalizing urban cores rather than continuing to consume green space with suburban sprawl. The Task Force focuses on urban centers as the backbone of innovation, commerce, and quality living in our state.

This commitment was given form in the Compact with Ohio Cities; a diverse 29-member task force charged to identify the essential hardships of Ohio’s cities and to make recommendations for policy and legislation that will create greater opportunity for revitalization and successful growth in every region of our state. Visit this website for a listing of the Task Force recommendations: http://greaterohio.org/blog/2010/01/13/read-the-compact-with-cities-recommendations/

Library Levy

I met this past week with representatives from the Library. They are working through the logistics of including a levy on the May ballot. As the taxing authority, the ordinance to place the levy on the ballot needs to go through City Council. They had hoped to attend the meeting tonight to review the details of the levy with Council but asked to be rescheduled for the 1st meeting in February. In order to be placed on the May ballot, the ordinance needs to be given to the Board of Elections by mid-February.

Floodplain Map Updates

FEMA is in the process of updating all floodplain maps for Butler County which will convert the old paper maps into a digital format for easier access that also includes new data. All existing maps for the Butler County portion of the City are approximately 30 years old. The City has received preliminary maps from FEMA which include Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) that are the basis for floodplain management measures that FEMA requires in order to participate in the National Floodplain Insurance Program (NFIP).

There are some changes in BFEs on the updated maps that will potentially affect property owners in the Amanda-Oneida area along Oxford State Road adjacent to Dick’s Creek. As a courtesy, the Engineering Division will be notifying individual property owners if a change in their property’s floodplain status has occurred.

University Blvd. Lane Closure

The southbound right lane on the S. University Blvd. leg of the Roosevelt Blvd./University Blvd. railroad overpass bridge has been closed due to upcoming repairs to one of the outside steel beams. We are in the process of obtaining bids and would anticipate the work being completed by the end of February. A grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) was obtained for the project which will also include painting of the steel beams and repairs to the approach slabs that will be bid as a separate contract this spring.

Middletown Water wins Award for Fluoridation

I am pleased to announce the City of Middletown’s community water system has been awarded the Water Fluoridation Quality Award from the Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Oral Health Services. Fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride in the water to a level that is optimal

for preventing tooth decay. This award recognizes communities that have maintained a consistent level of optimally fluoridated water for the 2008 calendar year.

Community water fluoridation has been recognized by the Centers for Disease Control as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th Century. Fluoridating a community’s water supply is one of the most effective public health measures- every $1 invested in fluoridation saves approximately $38 in costs for dental treatment.

Congratulations to staff in consistently maintaining optimal fluoride levels in our water system and thus improving the oral health of the residents of Middletown!

Water Loss Program

In early November, the City conducted the initial phase of a leak detection survey as part of a new water loss program to locate and repair leaks discovered in the water distribution system. The survey of approximately 30 miles of water main (out of approximately 335 total miles of water main) uncovered 13 leaks at an estimated water loss of 170,700 gallons per day. All leaks were repaired by the end of 2009.

Keep Middletown Beautiful/Butler County Solid Waste District Recycling Incentive Program

The department is partnering with Keep Middletown Beautiful and the Butler County Solid Waste District to increase recycling efforts in the City of Middletown. This collaborative effort is aimed at increasing dollars refunded to the city from the District’s recycling incentive program. The funds will be used to enhance the City’s beautification activities in this community. More details about this effort will be presented to City Council in March.

Lefferson Park License Agreement

The termination of the 2009 lease agreement for use of Lefferson Park will allow the City to revisit the use of this facility. Staff will be soliciting proposals from interested parties for the operation and management of Lefferson Park. All proposals will be evaluated and a recommendation made to the Park Board for their consideration.

Traffic Signal conversion to LED

The Electronics Maintenance Division completed a multi-year project of converting all traffic signals at our 110 intersections to energy efficient LED indicators. The LED indicators are longer lasting than regular bulbs and are highly energy efficient, thus saving the City a great deal of money on maintenance and energy costs.

H1N1 Update

The Middletown City Health Department will be conducting a H1N1 clinic Tuesday, January 19, 2010 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Sonny Hill Jr. Community Center. The center is located at 800 LaFayette Avenue, Middletown, Ohio 45044. Please enter in side east door off of the parking

lot. All are welcome! Help us spread the word: Vaccinations are available to businesses and organizations at no cost. To arrange a clinic or if you have any questions please contact the Health Department at 513.425.1818.

Upcoming Events

January 19 Middletown Public Housing Agency in Council Chambers 5:30 p.m.

January 19 City Council in Council Chambers 6:30 p.m.

January 20 Tree Commission meeting Noon @ MUM Levey Hall. Lower Level

January 21 Chamber Annual Celebration for 2009 12:00- 1:30 p.m. Manchester Inn

February 1 Park Board Meeting- 2nd Floor Room 2C City Building 5:30 p.m.

February 3 Airport Commission meeting 5:00 p.m. @ FBO Hangar (B&B Aero) 2nd. Floor conference room

Links for additional information:

City Manager’s Weekly Update: www.cityofmiddletown.org

Middletown Community Calendar: http://www.calendarwiz.com/middletowncalendar (copy and paste in your web browser)

Pothole Patrol: www.cityofmiddletown.org or call 727-3691 (Option 2)

Have a great week! Judy