No parking allowed

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SIDNEY — Parking is now prohibited in the grass area of residential side or front lawns.

Sidney City Council passed an amended ordinance Monday evening that clarified language which defines a driveway, location of parking spaces and the surfacing for parking spaces.

Barbara Dulworth, community development director, said vehicles that regularly park in the grass area of the front and side yards “causes erosion control issues, is unsightly, and is a blighting influence for a neighborhood.“

The following changes were made to two chapters of the zoning code:

• Update the definition of a driveway in chapter 1103 to mean an improved area, constructed of asphalt, concrete, gravel, brick, pervious-type pavers, or similar materials, used as a means of ingress and egress.

• Clarify off-street parking in chapter 1141 to: No person shall park or leave unattended, or cause to leave parked or unattended, a vehicle, motorcycle, boat, recreational vehicle or similar device, wholly or partially within a front yard or side yard of any re sidential property, regardless of type, unless such vehicle, motorcycle, boat, recreational vehicle or similar device is wholly within a driveway or parking space or lots.

• Sections (a) and (b) of chapter 1141 on surfacing, will change to:

(a) Within the office, business, and industrial districts, all open off-street parking and loading facilities and vehicular use areas, shall be graded and provided with a paved surface, and shall comply with city engineering standards.

(b) Within the non-urban, suburban and residential districts, all driveway, parking spaces, and parking lots, wholly or partially within a front yard or side yard shall be constructed of concrete, asphalt, gravel or permeable type pavers and shall be maintained free of excessive weeds and grass intrusion. Within the N, S, and R Districts, no parking surface shall cover more than 35 percent of the front yard. Parking on an established lawn is prohibited.

Council also adopted the following three other ordinances:

• To amend water, sewer, stormwater and solid waste collection rates. The low volume user’s bill will increase by $1.35 per month. The average family of four should see an increase of $2.92 per month. The new water and sewer rates will become effective Jan. 1, 2019. The new refuse and stormwater rates will become effective April 1, 2019.

• To accept the annexation for the future animal shelter on 6.855 acres of land on the north side of Gearhart Road and to the east of Children’s Home Road.

• To establish zoning for the animal shelter by designating the entire annexation area to become a B-2 community business district.

Council was introduced to the following four ordinances Monday:

• To authorize appropriations for expenditures for the year 2019;

• To authorize appropriations for expenditures for the year 2018;

• To assess the cost of the removal of litter or junk or weed cutting for outstanding invoices through Oct. 24, which remain outstanding as of Nov. 15. For weed mowing violations, the invoiced amount is the actual cost of the mowing plus $50 for the first weed cutting, $75 for the second cutting and $100 for each cutting thereafter. For junk removal violations, the invoiced amount is the actual cost of the junk removal plus 20 percent. A total of 65 properties will be assessed a total of $15,117.40 for weed cutting and another 14 properties will be assessed a total of $3,802.50 for junk removal.

• To amend changes to city employees’ personnel policies, procedures and regulations.

• To amend the pay classification plan and pay tables for city management, confidential and Municipal Court employees, as well as part-time employees by a 2 percent increase. The exceptions are for the city manager, law director and city clerk, which are set by City Council.

Human Resource Coordinator Kelly Holthaus asked council to pass the ordinance as an emergency so that it would become effective upon adoption to ensure the first pay of 2019 will be based on the new rates.

All four of the ordinances introduced Monday will return for future consideration at the Dec. 10 meeting.

Council also adopted the following three resolution, and they are:

• The adoption of two resolutions dealing with the lot split of property at 808 Broadway Ave., and then replat to transfer property to three adjacent lots.

• Authorization for the submittal of an application to the Ohio Department of Transportation Office of Aviation for 2019 funding from the Ohio Airport Matching Grant Program. Transit Manager Ron Schalow said the application submission is for an estimated $9,735, which represents 5 percent of the total cost of FAA-approved projects for Federal year 2019.

Vice Mayor Mardie Milligan was absent at Monday’s meeting. Her absence was excused by council.

Council amends zoning code for parking in homes’ front, side yard

By Sheryl Roadcap

[email protected]

Reach the writer at 937-538-4823.

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