The agendas for the City Council Meeting 7pm Monday April 22, 2013 and the City Planning Commission 7pm Tuesday April 23, 2013 can be found on the city's website.  I can't attend either this week because I will be in meetings for work.  I appreciate your participation on our behalf. 

The major item Tuesday at the Planning commission is a Public Hearing about the Basic Development Plan and Rezoning request for the Music Center.  If you have not been to a Planning Commission meeting I recommend you attend this one.  My experience has been that the questions from members of this citizen based commission show a lot more insight than what you see from the questions our elected official pose in their meetings.  The scope of the Planning Commission's purpose means you can't get answers about budget, economic impact or logic but they are responsible for ensuring environmental, traffic and noise concerns are considered.   Also, keep in mind council will do what council wants to do so your highest expectation should be knowledge from hearing a good discussion. 

Monday Council will authorize the borrowing of the first $4.5 million dollars of the planned $18 million for the Music Center.  Has council provided as part of any public meeting the analysis that shows the city will be able to pay back the money they plan to borrow?   We definitely should have been provided this a long time ago.  Of course, if the few people that are interested enough to investigate do it privately then it is unlikely the public will ever be informed if the official position doesn't match reality.  It is only when there is public discussion about issues that we can be assured that the public is given the entire story.  That is why I would like to see at least five people sign up for citizen comments Monday night and say, "I am a resident of Huber Heights and I ask council to provide the analysis that shows how we will be able to afford to pay for the Music Center". 

Notice also that there is about $10 million dollars of other debt being re-financed during Monday's meeting.  This is largely debt incurred because of the Aquatic Center and Carriage Trails.  The city has chosen to keep borrowing this money as short term notes instead of turning them into long term bonds.  One of the main reasons for this is because short term interest rates are so low.  This is the same theory people use when they decide to finance their house using Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMS).  You pay lower rates at the beginning but take a chance that a couple years down the road interest rates will be so high that you end up paying more in the long run.  Without going into too much detail, ARMS can be a good strategy but the key to that strategy is having the discipline to make additional payments right after you borrow the money.  For example, suppose you borrow money for your house using an ARM and this lowers your payment from $1000 to $800, if you decide to pay the $1000 every month then when you are stuck paying the higher interest rate later you may still end up saving money.  This is because while the interest rate was low that extra $200 a month lowered your balance a lot.  So the city's refinancing using short term notes could be ok if they were using this opportunity to pay down the Aquatic Center debt.  But they are not!  Instead they are piling on an additional $18 million dollars.  In the mean time long term interest rates have increase .25% during this past 6 months. 

The other item of note is the new  bathroom / concession stand  planned for Thomas Cloud Park.  The example building doesn't look all that feasible  Item agenda J is where you can find the details.  There is an eleven page file with layout and pictures.  The "Example Concession Stand Building" doesn't show any exterior serving windows but the plans do.  I don't see any cost estimate or management agreement yet.  The public hearing on the proposal is one of the first things on the agenda. 

I'll leave the reading of the read aheads to you.  They can be found at the links above and I've reposted some agenda items below.

Planning Commission Tuesday April 23 7 pm City Hall 6131 Taylorsville Rd


G       New Business
 

1. PUBLIC HEARING - The applicant, THE CITY OF HUBER HEIGHTS, is requesting approval  of a Basic Development Plan and a Rezoning from Planned Employment Park (PEP) to Planned Mixed Use (PM) for The Music Center at The Heights (ZC 13-12).

 

1. MINOR CHANGE - The applicant, ANCHOR SIGN on behalf of Leslie's Pool Supplies, is requesting approval of a Minor Change for additional signage at the rear elevation of property located at 7757 Old Troy Pike (ZC 13-11).

 

1. FINAL PLAT - The applicant, DEC LAND CO I LLC, is requesting approval of a FInal Plat for Section 13, Phase III consisting of 8.020 acres of the Carriage Trails Development (ZC 13-13).

City Council Meeting Monday April 22, 7pm City Hall 6131 Taylorsville Road.

6.					Special Presentations/Announcements
				A.	United Water 2012 Annual Report Presentation - Ms. Pam Whited, Operations Manager, United Water
7.					Citizens Comments
8.					Citizens Registered to Speak on Agenda Items
9.					City Manager Report
10.					Pending Business
11.					New Business
					CITY COUNCIL
				A.	A Public Hearing Scheduled For April 22, 2013 By The Huber Heights City Council For Zoning Case 13-08.  The Applicant Is The City Of Huber Heights.  The Applicant Is Requesting Approval Of A Major Change To The Detailed Development Plan For Property Located At 4707 Brandt Pike, Also Known As Thomas Cloud Park, To Construct A New Concession Stand/Restrooms.
					ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Don Jones, Assistant City Manager
				B.	A Resolution Authorizing The Spending Limits With Vendor Joint Venture Advertising And Communications For The Purpose Of Marketing The City Of Huber Heights And The Heights For Economic Development Purposes, And Declaring An Emergency. (first reading)
				C.	A Resolution Authorizing The Spending Limits With Vendor Joint Venture Advertising And Communications For The Purpose Of A Community Open House At The Heights, And Declaring An Emergency. (first reading)
				D.	An Ordinance Providing For The Issuance And Sale Of Notes In The Maximum Principal Amount Of $4,500,000, In Anticipation Of The Issuance Of Bonds, For The Purpose Of Paying The Costs Of Improving The City’s Municipal Recreation Facilities By Constructing, Equipping And Furnishing A Multi-Purpose Facility, Including Among Other Amenities, Concession Facilities, Restrooms, Parking Facilities, Landscaping And Related Driveways And Roads, And Acquiring Real Estate And Interests Therein, Together With All Necessary And Related Appurtenances Thereto, And Declaring An Emergency. (first reading)
				E.	An Ordinance Providing For The Issuance And Sale Of Notes In The Maximum Principal Amount Of $335,000, In Anticipation Of The Issuance Of Bonds, For The Purpose Of Paying The Property Owners’ Portion, In Anticipation Of The Levy And Collection Of Special Assessments, Of The Costs Of Improving Public Streets And Easements Between Certain Termini By Constructing Certain Roadway Improvements, Including Excavating, Grading, Paving, Installing Drainage, Sanitary Sewer Laterals, Water Distribution Lines, Street Lighting, Irrigation And Signage, Together With All Necessary And Related Appurtenances, And Declaring An Emergency. (first reading)
				F.	An Ordinance Providing For The Issuance And Sale Of Notes In The Maximum Principal Amount Of $107,000, In Anticipation Of The Issuance Of Bonds, For The Purpose Of Paying The Property Owners’ Portion, In Anticipation Of The Levy And Collection Of Special Assessments, Of The Costs Of Improving Public Streets And Easements Between Certain Termini By Constructing Certain Roadway Improvements, Including Excavating, Grading, Paving, Installing Drainage, Sanitary Sewer Laterals, Water Distribution Lines, Street Lighting, Irrigation And Signage, Together With All Necessary And Related Appurtenances, And Declaring An Emergency. (first reading)
				G.	An Ordinance Providing For The Issuance And Sale Of Notes In The Maximum Principal Amount Of $967,000, In Anticipation Of The Issuance Of Bonds, For The Purpose Of Paying The Costs Of Improving Public Streets And Easements Between Certain Termini By Constructing Certain Roadway Improvements, Including Excavating, Grading, Paving, Installing Drainage, Sanitary Sewer Laterals, Water Distribution Lines, Street Lighting, Irrigation And Signage, Together With All Necessary And Related Appurtenances, And Declaring An Emergency. (first reading)
				H.	An Ordinance Providing For The Issuance And Sale Of Notes In The Maximum Principal Amount Of $8,020,000, In Anticipation Of The Issuance Of Bonds, For The Purpose Of Paying The Costs Of Improving The City’s Municipal Recreation Facilities By Constructing, Equipping And Furnishing A Multi-Purpose Municipal Recreation Complex To Include Among Other Things An Aquatic Center, Athletic Playing Fields, Outdoor Amphitheater, Recreational Trails, Picnic Shelters, Playgrounds, Dog Park, And Related Facilities, Including The Acquisition Of Real Property And Interests Therein And Improving The Site Therefor, Together With All Driveways, Roads, Parking Facilities, And Other Necessary Appurtenances Thereto, And Declaring An Emergency. (first reading)
					PLANNING DEPARTMENT Scott Falkowski, Assistant City Manager
				I.	A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Agreement With The Rozzi Company For The Purpose Of Providing A Municipal Fireworks Display In Celebration Of The Fourth Of July National Holiday For The Years Of 2013 And 2014, And Declaring An Emergency. (first reading)
				J.	An Ordinance To Approve A Major Change To A Previously Approved Development Plan For Thomas Cloud Park For Construction Of A New Concession/Restroom Facility Located At 4707 Brandt Pike, Huber Heights, Ohio 45424, And Further Described As Parcel Id Number P70-203913-0002 On The Montgomery County Auditor’s Tax Map (Zoning Case 13-08), And Declaring An Emergency. (first reading)
				K.	A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract Renewal With United Water For The Operation And Maintenance Of The Water And Wastewater Systems. (first reading)
				L.	A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Real Estate Option Agreement Between The City Of Huber Heights, Ohio As Purchaser And Meijer Stores Limited Partnership As Seller For The Acquisition Of Approximately 32 Acres +/- For The Location Of The Multi-Purpose Municipal Recreation Facility Previously Endorsed By Huber Heights City Council, And Declaring An Emergency. (first reading)
				M.	An Ordinance Approving And Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With MKSK For Professional Services With Respect To A Municipal Multi-Purpose Recreation Facility, And Declaring An Emergency. (first reading)
				N.	An Ordinance Approving And Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With GBBN Architects For Professional Services With Respect To A Municipal Multi-Purpose Recreation Facility, And Declaring An Emergency. (first reading)
				O.	An Ordinance Approving And Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With Norfleet, Brown & Petkewicz For Professional Services With Respect To A Municipal Multi-Purpose Recreation Facility, And Declaring An Emergency. (first reading)
				P.	An Ordinance Approving And Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into Two Separate Contracts With Geotechnical Consultants Inc. For Professional Services With Respect To A Municipal Multi-Purpose Recreation Facility, And Declaring An Emergency. (first reading)
				Q.	A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Proceed With The Due Diligence Necessary To Be Able To Proceed With Owning And Constructing A Digital Billboard Sign In The Heights Development, And Declaring An Emergency.  (first reading)
					PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT - POLICE DIVISION Rob Schommer, Police Chief and Public Services Director
				R.	A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Apply For And Accept Grant Funds From The Bureau Of Justice Assistance Bulletproof Vest Partnership For The Purpose Of Purchasing Replacement Protective Body Armor, And Declaring An Emergency. (first reading)
12.					City Official Reports and Comments