In January, Council member Tavares created the Emergency Human Services Capital Fund with money generated through the city s hotel and motel tax as the first time for Council to earmark capital funds for emergency social service needs. Council continued a close partnership with Columbus Public Schools. In October, Council President Habash and School Board Vice President Stephanie Hightower signed an agreement in principle identifying the common interests and problems of both the city and the public schools. Council member Boyce chaired the Standing Committee, with Council member Sensenbrenner and Council member Tavares. Council member O Shaughnessy introduced legislation for improved crossing signals and signs for intersections near schools, and for building or replacing sidewalks around school property.
Clean water makes for livable neighborhoods.
For the second consecutive year, Columbus water and sanitary sewer customers received service at the same rate, under legislation introduced by Council member Bradley. Installation of a sanitary sewer in a neighborhood boosts the area s safety and health, but can cause a hardship for homeowners to pay for connection. Residents list reliable trash pick-up and convenient recycling as two indicators of a high quality of life. Shaughnessy helped coordinate a pilot project aimed at making recycling more convenient. The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio paid for the effort involving containers where one side holds trash, the other recyclable materials.