This regular meeting included proclamations for Bike Month and National Police Week, introductions of new staff and promotions, a reconsideration motion regarding a denied conditional use for a hotel, approval of four resolutions, a second reading of a sign code amendment, denial of a variance request, and public comments on a hotel property and a fence/lighting issue.
The May 6, 2024 City of Andaya Council meeting is now called to order. We'll start with a moment of reflection, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Please stand for the pledge. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible liberty and justice for all. So moved. Second. I have a motion by Councilman Lewis and a second by Councilman Follick to add resolution 24-r34. Call the roll. Councilmember Fallett? Yes. Councilmember Farst? Yes. Councilmember Avalotus Weaver? Yes. Councilmember Lewis. Yes. Vice Mayor Blixley. Yes. Mayor Herbst. I will uh abstain. So the vote is approved 50 to 1. All right, Council, you've had an opportunity to review the study session minutes and the meeting minutes of the April 1st meeting and also the April 15th meeting minutes for the study session and the council meeting. We also have the council retreat minutes of April 17th. Are there any comments or corrections of that? Being none, they stand approved. That brings us to communications petitions and awards. And we'll begin this evening with a proclamation for bicycle month. Smith can join me at the podium. That's right. Good to see you. Okay, I'll like to go ahead and read the go ahead and like to read the proclamation for bicycle month. Whereas the month of May of 2024 has been proclaimed National Bike Month. And whereas the bicycle is a viable and environmentally sound form of transportation and an excellent form of recreation and can be used for commuting, shopping, and errands in lieu of operating a motor vehicle, thereby preserving natural resources and reducing air pollution. And whereas creating bicycle-friendly communities has been shown to improve citizens' health, well-being, and quality of life, to boost community spirit, to improve traffic safety, and to reduce pollution and congestion. Whereas the City of Andaya adopted a resolution in 1995 establishing a policy on designing, modifying and maintaining public streets to facilitate bicycle usage. And whereas it is consistent with the city's high level of environmental consciousness and concern to support and encourage the citizens of Vandalia to consider incorporating bicycling into their lifestyles and daily activities whenever possible. Now, therefore, I Richard Herbst, by the virtue of the authority vested in me as a mayor of the City of Andaya, do hereby proclaim May 2024 as bicycling month in the City of Andaya and encourage all persons to consider bicycling as a fitness and recreation activity and especially as an alternative means of transportations that saves energy and reduces pollution and traffic congestion. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very much, Mayor. And uh I did want to mention that uh our mayor and his son are bicyclists, and we have many other bicyclists in this room, I'm sure. Uh we appreciate the uh the city's great support for cycling over the years, and most recently, of course, uh the uh beginning of of construction on our connector connecting Vandalia to the Great Miami Trail and Taylor's Metro Park is something that we've actually been working on for 30 years. That's something that we've actually been working on for 30 years. I used to carry my bike across that track every day on my way home from work at Wright Parson Air Force Base. And uh starting uh the end of uh of this next year, that folks won't need to do that anymore. Uh we'll have a bridge, uh bicycle pedestrian bridge across the tracks, and uh a much better situation and uh thanks to the uh the city for for all the great work, city staff supporting us uh with the uh bicycle advisory committee, and uh we just uh thank the city very much. We appreciate it. We're all looking forward to that connector. Yes, much safer crossing your railroad tracks over a branch.