Parks and Recreation Earns Accreditation
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December 2014 A Publication of the City of Fairfield, Ohio Parks and Recreation earns accreditation esidents who participate in recreational arduous, multi-year process which includes The CAPRA process helped the Fairfield Ractivities or programs know that the completion of an application and detailed Parks Department focus on long term goals Fairfield’s Parks and Recreation self-assessment report, a site visit by a and plans, organize key documents so they are Department is dedicated to excellence. Just committee of experienced parks and more accessible, identify areas for how those programs compare to others in the recreation professionals, and a improvement, and collaborate more nation wasn’t fully known... until now. final assessment completed by effectively with other City the agency and the departments as well as outside The National Recreation and Parks Commission. Accreditation organizations, according to Association (NRPA), the leading advocacy requires agencies to Parks and Recreation Director organization dedicated to the advancement of respond to 144 standards Jim Bell. public parks, recreation and conservation, has representing elements of announced that Fairfield’s Parks and effective and efficient parks CAPRA accreditation is the Recreation Department has earned a five-year and recreation operations. only national accreditation for accreditation for standards of excellence in To become accredited, parks and recreation agencies, and quality and efficiency from the Commission agencies must fully meet 36 is a measure of an agency’s overall for Accreditation of Park and Recreation standards deemed fundamental to a quality of operation, management and Agencies (CAPRA). quality agency and at least 92 of the service to the community. The Commission remaining standards. is comprised of representatives from NRPA, In addition to being one of only 135 the American Academy for Park and accredited parks and recreation agencies in the “Achieving this honor demonstrates that Recreation Administration, the National United States, Fairfield is now distinguished Fairfield’s programs meet stringent national Association of County Park and Recreation as one of only nine entities in the state of standards of excellence,” said Parks and Officials, the International City/County Ohio to earn accreditation. Recreation Director Jim Bell. “Accreditation Management Association, the American affirms to residents and our staff that Parks Association for Physical Activity and Earning the prestigious honor is no easy task. and Recreation programming and personnel Recreation, the Armed Forces Recreation National accreditation through CAPRA is an are among the best of the best.” Society and the Council of State Executive Directors. Wanted: Residents to serve on Similar national accreditations are held by other City departments. The Police Fairfield’s boards and commissions Department is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement rom the dawn of American The only requirement for consideration is Agencies. The Public Works Department and Fdemocracy, government has been of that applicants for these non-compensated, the Public Utilities Department are accredited the people and by the people. volunteer positions must reside in the City of by the American Public Works Association. Nowhere is that principle more evident Fairfield. Questions regarding the following than Fairfield’s boards and commissions, available positions should be directed to the all comprised of volunteers to assist the Clerk of Council at 867-5383. City in a variety of ways. Annually Inside Board of Building Appeals vacancies occur, providing an opportunity Leaf collection underway ....................... 2 to serve the community. (Four year term of office) Common property maintenance violations ...2 The Board of Building Appeals hears Rotary honors Officer, Firefighter of Year ...33 Beginning in January 2015, information and appeals by any interested party aggrieved applications will be available online at by the Building Superintendent’s denial of How you can help snow crews ................34 www.fairfield-city.org, or at the Fairfield a building or occupancy permit based on Simple steps can prevent holiday crime ....34 Municipal Building, 5350 Pleasant Avenue, the requirements of the Building Code. Wintertime poses unique safety threats.....35 Meetings are held as needed. for the following boards and commissions. See you at Snow Hill!.................Back Page Continued on page 32 THE FAIRFIELD FLYER Maintenance codes protect home values ost homeowners take great pride grass cut below a height of 8 inches. All Min their home and make diligent obnoxious weeds, brush, stumps and efforts to maintain every aspect of other vegetative overgrowth must be cut their property. The collective effort of down or destroyed and disposed of homeowners has a significant impact on properly. the desirability of a community. When Garbage & Debris: Property owners and one property falls into disrepair or fails to tenants must not permit litter and debris meet community standards, adjacent to collect and remain on their property. homes can be negatively impacted, along Typical violations involve broken or with overall property values. dilapidated furniture, household products, construction materials, and Many years ago, Fairfield adopted other unsightly or unsanitary items. legislation, known as the Property Maintenance Code, in order to establish Parking: Parking a motor vehicle or minimum standards that must be met on trailer on grass or on gravel is prohibited. private property. When violations of the All off-street driveways and parking areas code are identified, the property owner must be paved. and/or tenant are formally notified of the Accessory Structures: All accessory violation and provided a time period to structures, including garages, sheds, correct the situation. In the vast majority maintenance code violations in Fairfield fences, retaining walls and swimming pools, of these cases, the property owner will remedy through the first nine months of 2014 must be properly maintained and in good the situation. In a small percentage of cases, include: working condition. legal action is required to ensure compliance. Overgrowth: All property owners and/or Inoperative/Unlicensed Vehicles: All motor The most common residential property tenants in the City are required to keep their vehicles or trailers must be operative and properly licensed. Vehicles parked outside with flat or missing tires, with inoperable Leaf collection now underway engines, or with missing/expired license plates are in violation of the code. all leaf collection has commenced and In addition, debris in the street and gutter can House Maintenance: will rotate across the City through block stormwater runoff. Typical house structure F violations include broken windows, roof and January 2. Crews begin collection as early as 7 a.m. and continue until as late as Due to the large volume of leaves crews may, gutter problems, missing wall siding, and 8 p.m. In order to facilitate pick up, residents at times, run a bit behind schedule. In order peeling paint. should avoid parking in front of leaf piles. to ensure collection, place leaves behind the For information about the code or to report a property Blocked piles cannot be picked up. curb by the posted dates. Special collections that may be in violation, call the Property Maintenance Fairfield’s 2014 Leaf Collection Schedule will not be made Hotline at 867-5321. In order to Between Pleasant by crews after facilitate and Winton they have West of Pleasant Nov 10 - 14 collection, place completed an Nov 3 - 7 Dec 1 - 5 Plan ahead for filing leaves (and Nov 24 - 28 Dec 22 - 26 East of Winton area. leaves only) in Dec 15 - 19 Nov 17 - 21 City income taxes rows or piles Dec 8 - 12 Progress of the Dec 29 - Jan 2 between the leaf collection ncome tax returns for 2014 are due by curb and effort — April 15, 2015. Estimated tax payments sidewalk. Do including Ifor 2014 are due by January 31, 2015. not place them significant delays in the street or — will be posted Payment of 100 percent of last year’s tax is gutter. Leaves should be piled adjacent to the on the City’s website, included in utility due or 90% of the current year’s tax due street in areas without curbs or gutters. bills, or placed on Fairfield cable television must be paid by January 31st to avoid a channel 18. penalty. Federal mandates prohibit the placement of If you need assistance with your Fairfield tax leaves in the street or gutter due to their Residents who miss the annual collection return or have questions, you can call the potential to contaminate nearby streams in the program or have a small amount of leaves Income Tax office at 867-5327 or visit the form of stormwater runoff . Contaminants may want to bag their leaves for curbside office located in the Municipal Building also have the potential to leach into the pick-up as part of their regularly scheduled Annex at 701 Wessel Drive. aquifer, the source of the area’s drinking water. trash collection. 2 C ITY OF F AIRFIELD, O HIO www.fairfield-city.org December 2014 Ten reasons to buy local Local Character and Prosperity In an increasingly homogenized world, communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character have an economic advantage. Community Well-Being Locally owned businesses build strong communities by sustaining vibrant town centers, linking neighbors in a web of economic and social relationships, and contributing to local causes. Chamber Showcase Local Decision-Making Residents urged to Local ownership ensures that important decisions are draws thousands made locally by people who live in the community support local business and who will feel the impacts of those decisions. The Fairfield Chamber of Keeping Dollars in the Local Economy Commerce held its annual Compared to chain stores, locally owned businesses Business Showcase on This holiday season, as to communities; they foster people are doing their local job creation; and they recycle a much larger share of their revenue back into October 1.