Upon call of the roll on the question of the motion, the following vote was recorded:
There being five (5) yea votes and no (0) nay votes thereon, said ordinance was declared duly passed and it was so ordered.
A copy of the ordinance, having been placed on the desks of each member of Council prior to introduction, was read by title.
Mr. Stephens explained that this is an ordinance to update the Oakwood Streets and Public Services Code. The ordinance was introduced with a first reading at the September 21st council meeting.
As a predominantly residential community, public safety is always a paramount concern in Oakwood. This includes keeping public streets free of obstructions and hazards that block critical visibility. The Oakwood Public Works and Leisure Services Departments routinely trim trees, bushes, and other vegetation near roadways to ensure that critical sightlines are kept open.
Sometimes sightlines are blocked by trees or vegetation growing on private property, adjacent to the street and outside the public right-of-way. Usually trimming can be done as needed with the property owner's consent, but occasionally the property owner will not consent. This results in enforcement action under the City's Property Maintenance Code, which involves a lengthy court process before the safety hazard is finally addressed.
This ordinance will create a streamlined mechanism to deal with these situations more quickly and effectively. It will allow the City to provide written notice to the property owner when trimming needs to be done, which will be based on objective traffic engineering standards from the Ohio Department of Transportation. The property owner can then choose whether to do the work himself or herself, or allow the City to perform the work. It also provides an appeal process in the event of a disagreement as to whether the work is necessary.
The goal of this ordinance is to establish a clear procedure that protects private property rights and affords due process to residents, while acknowledging the reality that safety concerns need to be addressed quickly.
Thereupon, it was moved by Mr. Stephens and seconded by Mrs. Hilton that the ordinance be passed.
Upon call of the roll on the question of the motion, the following vote was recorded:
There being five (5) yea votes and no (0) nay votes thereon, said ordinance was declared duly passed and it was so ordered.