Amending Ordinance to bring Lorain into the Renewable Energy Age

Renewable Energy is globally such a hot topic and Lorain will be on the cutting edge regarding sustainable energy and our dependence on oil and fossil fuels.

A proposed amendment to our current ordinance 1173 will include wind turbines for the first time in Lorain's history. These wind turbines have popped up in Toledo, Oberlin and Cleveland and provide clean safe, renewable energy by using the force of wind to power businesses.

Many of the parts to power the wind turbine are already manufactured in Lorain and in Ohio so the project will have a local effect.

This amendment to the ordinance sponsored by Councilman Dennis Flores. Initially, the legislation amending Chapter 1173, I-2 Heavy Industrial District, to allow for wind turbines under Permitted Uses and change the area and height regulations must be presented to the Lorain City Planning Commission for review and be forwarded to Lorain City Council for consideration. This has been scheduled for May 7, 2008.

Should the Planning Commission recommend approval of the change, the recommendation will appear on the following Lorain City Council regular meeting agenda. At that time, the Clerk of Council will schedule a public hearing to be held within forty days and publish the notification in the local newspaper within thirty days, as required by state statutes. The estimated date of the public hearing is June 23, 2008. Once the public hearing is held, Council may approve, modify or deny the legislation during a Special Call of Council either on that evening or during the next regular meeting of Lorain City Council.

For more information about this exciting technology visit my links on the right hand side of my site.

Wind Turbine Memo (Word doc)
Ordinance (PDF)
http://www.greenenergyohio.org/page.cfm?pageID=1718
http://www.environmentohio.org/action/energy/signthebill?id4=ES
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/04/23/energy23.ART_ART_04-23-08_A1_2AA0LMO.html?sid=101

Public Notice Bridge Closing

The Charles Berry Bridge will be closing June 5-August 29th
for electrical maintenance and repair.

The Bridge will be open for the following events:
The Lorain International Festival
June 27-29, 2008

Fourth of July Fireworks
July 4, 2008

The Port Fest
July 18-20, 2008

Bridge Address:
103 East Erie Ave
Lorain Ohio 44052

You can monitor the Buckeye Traffic website www.buckeyetraffic.org for the most current information. Here is the planned schedule as outlined at the pre-construction meeting held this week:

• Daily Lane Closures from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

• Complete Closure June 5 to June 26; July 7 to July 17; and July 21 to August 28 (or longer to complete the required work).

Any questions please contact the ODOT public information officer
Brian Stacy
419-207-7182

Pride Week is Coming

May 10-17th is the official kick off of Pride Week in Lorain. Citizens are encouraged to adopt a spot that needs a little pride injected into it. It could be a public or private space that does not represent the pride we feel toward our city or community. It's your opportunity to make a difference. Clean up trash, remove garbage and generally beautify a space around you. Click here to download an adopt a spot commitment form. Fill out the form and turn it in at either a council meeting or the 7th floor of city hall.

Every Wednesday, the Pride Committee will be meeting at council chambers at 4:00 P.M. If you have questions or would like to learn more you can go to the City's website at http://www.cityoflorain.org/ .

On Saturday May 17, 2008 from 1-3PM, a rap up meeting for all volunteers will be held at the Black River Landing to close pride week.

Please post your projects in comments and include address and date and time of projects. If volunteers need to bring anything post it here so citizens can join your event and participate.

Green Team Lorain Resolution

Monday, March 3rd 2008

Proposed Resolution:

Introduced by Mr. Flores, a resolution adopting policies to establish a Green Team Lorain initiative for renewable portfolios standard to stimulate the market and promote city wide use of advanced energy technology products and services in the areas of solar, wind, Fuel cells, bio-energy and others to promote a coherent economic growth strategy for the City of Lorain.

REMARKS: MR. FLORES: There has been much information on new advanced energy technologies and I wish to open the door for discussion. There is a giant green wave surging across Ohio, we've been sitting at the red light for too long, waiting for it to change, well the light has changed to GREEN...I wanted to make sure this Council, and the administration are on the same page. Someday we will have legislation addressing the advanced technology and I wish to begin discussions to address this matter. Perhaps the Parks & Rec Department could dedicate some green space so we can have a “Green Tea Party” and attach a proclamation that will declare a Green Team Day in the City of Lorain.
Moved by Mr. Flores, supported by Mr. Given, to refer to Streets & Utilities Committee.

Motion carried.

Download Green Resolution

Welcome, To The 2nd Ward "The Heart of the City!"

Hi, I'm Councilman Dennis Flores and I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the 2nd Ward. At the time of this writing I am going over the council packet for Monday nights council meeting. I look forward to talking to all of you soon!