City Council

City of Gahanna 200 South Hamilton Road Gahanna, Ohio 43230 Meeting Minutes Monday, December 16, 2013 7:00 PM City Hall City Council Stephen A. Renner, President of Council Ryan P. Jolley, Vice President of Council Brian D. Larick Karen J. Angelou Beryl D. Anderson Brandon Wright Thomas R. Kneeland Isobel L. Sherwood, MMC, Clerk of Council City Council Meeting Minutes December 16, 2013 A. CALL TO ORDER - Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call Gahanna City Council met in Regular Session on Monday, December 16, 2013, in Council Chambers of City Hall, 200 South Hamilton Road, Gahanna, Ohio. President of Council Stephen A. Renner called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Vice President of Council Jolley delivered an Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Alaina West, daughter of Council Member Anderson. Agenda for this meeting was published on December 13, 2013 Present 6 - President Stephen A. Renner, Ryan P. Jolley, Brian D. Larick, Beryl D. Anderson, Brandon Wright, and Thomas R. Kneeland Absent 1 - Karen J. Angelou B. ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA. President Renner indicated Executive Session will be added at the end of the meeting after Council Comment. C. HEARING OF VISITORS. Claire Yoder, Gahanna-Jefferson Board of Education, said they voted to approve the bus driver contract; purchased three new buses that will be on five year rotation. Larick stated best of luck to school board moving forward and congratulated her on her new position as Jefferson Township Trustee ; thanked for hard work on the JEDZ; Yoder said last time reporting for the school board. Edward Toney, 626 Harrow Court, Gahanna, apologized to Council that levy failed; he was confident that it would succeed and was disappointed that it failed; he appreciates all the hard work that they have done in a very short time; thanked Wright and Anderson for their service. D. INTRODUCTIONS AND ASSIGNMENT TO COMMITTEE: None E. CONSENT AGENDA: Minutes - To Approve: 2013-0043 To approve the following sets of minutes: 1) December 2, 2013 Regular Meeting Minutes 2) December 9, 2013 Special Meeting Minutes City of Gahanna Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes December 16, 2013 These Minutes were Approved and Filed on the Consent Agenda. Ordinance: Introduce, Waive Second Reading , Adopt: ORD-0162-2013 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION - Traffic Light Maintenance This Ordinance was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. Ordinance: Introduce, Waive Second Reading, Adopt as Emergency: ORD-0160-2013 TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENT WITH THE GAHANNA COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION (CIC) FOR THE YEAR 2014; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. This Ordinance was Adopted as an emergency on the Consent Agenda. ORD-0161-2013 TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO FIRST AMENDMENT TO MASTER MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REGARDING RECLAMATION, REHABILITATION, AND REUTILIZATION OF VACANT, ABANDONED, TAX-FORECLOSED OR OTHER REAL PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF GAHANNA, OHIO, WITH THE CENTRAL OHIO COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION (COCIC); AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. This Ordinance was Adopted as an emergency on the Consent Agenda. ORD-0163-2013 TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH THE FRANKLIN COUNTY GENERAL HEALTH DISTRICT AND VECTOR DISEASE CONTROL INTERNATIONAL, LLC, FOR INTEGRATED MOSQUITO MANAGEMENT SERVICES; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. This Ordinance was Adopted as an emergency on the Consent Agenda. Ordinances on Second Reading: ORD-0141-2013 DECLARING THE IMPROVEMENT TO CERTAIN PARCELS OF REAL PROPERTY IN THE CITY’S CENTRAL PARK AREA TO BE A PUBLIC PURPOSE AND EXEMPT FROM TAXATION; REQUIRING THE OWNERS OF THOSE PARCELS TO MAKE SERVICE PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF TAXES; PROVIDING FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE APPLICABLE PORTION OF THOSE City of Gahanna Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes December 16, 2013 SERVICE PAYMENTS TO THE GAHANNA-JEFFERSON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE EASTLAND-FAIRFIELD CAREER & TECHNICAL SCHOOLS; ESTABLISHING A TAX INCREMENT EQUIVALENT FUND AND PROVIDING FOR THE COLLECTION AND DEPOSIT OF SERVICE PAYMENTS INTO THAT FUND; SPECIFYING THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS DIRECTLY BENEFITING THE PARCELS; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. This Ordinance was Adopted as an emergency on the Consent Agenda. ORD-0155-2013 TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO AWARD AND THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH JESS HOWARD ELECTRIC COMPANY FOR STREET LIGHT MAINTENANCE; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. This Ordinance was Adopted as an emergency on the Consent Agenda. ORD-0156-2013 TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH HIMES VENDING, INC. FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICE IN GAHANNA CITY HALL; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. This Ordinance was Adopted as an emergency on the Consent Agenda. ORD-0157-2013 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION - Sanitary Sewer Fund This Ordinance was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. ORD-0158-2013 TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENT WITH THE GAHANNA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU FOR THE 2014 CALENDAR YEAR FOR THE PROMOTION AND PUBLICITY OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA This Ordinance was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. ORD-0159-2013 TO REAPPOINT RICHARD PECK AS TRUSTEE TO THE MEMBERSHIP OF GAHANNA COMMUNITY URBAN REDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (CURC) This Ordinance was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. Resolutions to Adopt on First Reading: RES-0019-2013 TO HONOR AND COMMEND CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATE, AUTHOR, AND LAW PROFESSOR MICHELLE ALEXANDER FOR HER HARD City of Gahanna Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes December 16, 2013 WORK AND DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY. This Resolution was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. RES-0020-2013 TO HONOR AND COMMEND BERYL ANDERSON FOR SIX YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AS CITY OF GAHANNA MEMBER WARD 4 REPRESENTATIVE. This Resolution was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. RES-0021-2013 TO HONOR AND COMMEND BRANDON WRIGHT FOR SERVICE AS GAHANNA CITY COUNCIL MEMBER WARD 2 REPRESENTATIVE. This Resolution was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. RES-0022-2013 TO HONOR AND COMMEND ISOBEL L. SHERWOOD FOR 30 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CITY OF GAHANNA. This Resolution was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. RES-0023-2013 A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF AN APPLICATION FOR GEIGER EXCAVATING, INC. TO THE OHIO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AGENCY. This Resolution was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. Approval of the Consent Agenda A motion was made by Anderson, seconded by Kneeland, to approve the Consent Agenda. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- President Renner, Jolley, Larick, Anderson, Wright and Kneeland Absent: 1- Angelou End of the Consent Agenda HONOR & COMMEND MICHELLE ALEXANDER Anderson read a Resolution honoring civil-rights advocate, author and law professor Michelle Alexander for her work and dedication to the community. F. PUBLIC HEARINGS/PUBLIC FORUM - 2014 APPROPRIATIONS Renner said they are committed to public comment; asked for anyone to discuss appropriations. City of Gahanna Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes December 16, 2013 Alicia Holloway, 962 Bryn Mawr Drive, Gahanna; told Council many residents would like to see infrastructure improvements defined in dollar amounts on a limited-term ballot initiative; that would give confidence to vote for a future ballot initiative; like to show what's needed; that would hold Council responsible for those specific projects; concerned that projects were financed but maintenance on them has been overlooked, such as maintenance on bike trails and pools; like to see the numbers needed specifically for a yearly basis and have that as a percentage in the budget every year; noted a lot of people don't understand what occurs at City Hall; pointed out the past several years Council Member Larick has worked to make the budget process more than just line items on a spreadsheet and said he implemented a budget process that helped define the costs compared to revenues and the gaps or surpluses that result; need to move forward in a thoughtful manner, showing this is how much money we have, what are the priorities and what can wait; I'm not here to say cut this or that. G. STANDING COMMITTEES: Committee of the Whole - Jolley Jolley said they had some good discussions at the last Committee of the Whole and will continue at tonight's special Committee of the Whole, scheduled after the Council Meeting, to address concerns with the budget. Finance, Service & Safety - Larick Larick said that they have conducted review of the reserve policy and expect that there will significant discussions at the beginning of the new year. Development & Parks - Wright: No report. H. CORRESPONDENCE AND ACTIONS: Clerk 2013-0041 Certificate of Result of Election on Question or Issue received December 11, 2013, from the Franklin County Board of Elections of the failure of the income tax increase on the November 2013 ballot; votes for 3,883; votes against 4,552. City of Gahanna Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes December 16, 2013 This Communication was Received and Filed. Council I. SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES: Ordinances Reported Out of Committee: ORD-0112-2013 TO AMEND SECTION 161.03, IMPOSITION OF TAX, OF CHAPTER 161, INCOME TAX, OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA, RELATED TO INCREASING THE CITY INCOME TAX RATE TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA A motion was made by Anderson, seconded by Jolley, that this Ordinance be Adopted. The motion failed by the following vote: Yes: 0 No: 6- President Renner, Jolley, Larick, Anderson, Wright and Kneeland Absent: 1- Angelou J. FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES: None K. MOTIONS/RESOLUTIONS: None L. REPRESENTATIVES: Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) - Larick/Renner Larick said last meeting of the year is tomorrow (12-17-13) morning at 7:30 a.m. at City Hall. Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) - Angelou Angelou was not present to give a report. Bd. of Education, Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools - Larick Larick said significant change in number of people that are retiring; four additional retirees on board; change in teacher base in the entire school system; and believes this will continue due to the changes in the state teacher's retirement program. Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) - Jolley: No report. City of Gahanna Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes December 16, 2013 M. OFFICIAL REPORTS: Mayor Mayor Stinchcomb indicated it has been our tradition to present a City flag to our President of Council, would take this opportunity to present our flag to Mr. Renner; has been embroidered with his name and year of service as President of Council; have enjoyed getting to know you; think we have done great things this year; lastly thank leadership of Council; Wright and Anderson for their work; wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. City Attorney Ewald echoed the sentiments of the Mayor regarding the outgoing members and thanked them for their service. N. COUNCIL COMMENT Jolley presented Wright with a Resolution recognizing and honoring him for two years of service as Ward 2 representative to Council. Wright said he enjoyed all of his time on Council; he thanked God and his family for their support; they inspired him to get involved and to serve the community; he hopes to have been a sound voice to address problems and concerns; he thanked staff; hopes that he has grown from this opportunity; thanked the Mayor for sending him a letter after the election; thanked Ewald for sharing his experiences; thanked Council for serving with him for two years; it was overall a good experience; thanked Jolley for inspiring him to run; realizes it will be hard times for Gahanna; needs to be a team and stay on top of innovation and not be bogged down with bickering and push forward; passion of serving was due to his father, who served as an activist for Cleveland. Renner presented Anderson with a Resolution honoring and commending her for six years of dedicated service as Ward 4 representative to Council. Anderson said it is bitter sweet; met many directors along the way; read a speech outlining her love for the community; stated service is inherent to who I am and a part of my family; have served the City for the past 7 years in different capacities; first as a Mayoral appointment to the Board of Zoning and Building Appeals and for almost 6 years as an elected official on Council; have been committed in my service, because of my love for the City and my passion to share my talents and experience; have served in leadership City of Gahanna Page 7 City Council Meeting Minutes December 16, 2013 in chairing the Finance Committee, Planning & Development and Parks & Recreation Committee as well as on the Finance, Service & Safety Committee; have served on the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, the CVB, the Community Urban Redevelopment Committee, Communications Committee, and have participated in the Ohio Municipal League, National league of Cities, CIC, facilitating Council leadership retreats, working at the Blues & Jazz Festival, the Freedom Festival, numerous ribbon cuttings and business openings, and singing solo performances at Gahanna's National Day of Prayer, Memorial Day bricklaying, and the high school concert celebration of President Lincoln's 200th birthday; have also served nationally on the Census Monitoring Board, Deputy Secretary of State, the Count Me Ohio campaign, leading Election Reform through the National Organization, the Election Center; working and traveling with the legendary Rosa Parks; and producing and hosting programs as a national television anchor/host covering the US Supreme Court and select issues at The White House and Congress; comes a time when one focuses their energy in another direction and that time has come for me; look forward to other opportunities that are on the horizon that will allow me to utilize my leadership skills, law degree, business training and other talents for the betterment of humanity; will also spend more time with my family and assist my husband's and my aging parents who live out of town; thank you to those who supported me, voted for me, and believed in me to represent them; has been a pleasure to work with so many people dedicated to Gahanna; thank you to my family and especially my husband; am committed to end strong in my service to the people of Ward 4 and to the City; look forward to working with everyone as we decide what kind of Gahanna we want to live in which will lay the groundwork for generations to come; encourage others to get more involved in the community and to be of service; in the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr "Drum Major Instinct" sermon on February 4, 1968, he said, "Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love"; will miss you all next term but I'll be back and will continue throughout my life to be a Drum Major for justice and service. Renner, on behalf of all Council, presented a Resolution that honored and recognized Council Clerk Isobel Sherwood for 30 years of service to the City; thanked her for help and guidance over the years; Sherwood responded thanking everyone for their support; noted have not heard the last of her; she is a resident and will stay involved with the City. Kneeland thanked Wright, Anderson and Sherwood for their service; thanked them for their friendship and said they will be missed; noted City of Gahanna Page 8 City Council Meeting Minutes December 16, 2013 have monumental task ahead of us to see how City funds are used; 2014 will be a year of change and he looks forward to the challenge; need to move forward; is proud he raised his family here in Gahanna; wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Larick wished Wright and Anderson well and thanked them for their service to the community; said Sherwood has been a great resource on how the City works and taught him to be a functional Council Member; 2014 will represent opportunity as well as significant challenges; will work hard to show its value is understood; wished everyone Happy Holidays. Jolley presented Renner with a card; Renner had asked that the money that would have been spent on the plaque he would have received as President to be donated to GRIN (Gahanna Residents in Need). Renner thanked Sherwood for helping him with his duties as President and the guidance while he served on the Civil Service Commission; he asked that the residents get involved and let Council know what they want; said it has been an interesting year for everyone; the income tax became our issue; there were multiple questions to multiple people; we asked what kind of Gahanna do you want; the question is still unanswered; want to know what do the people want; we really need more civic engagement; we need you to go out to neighbors; coming to City Hall not just to voice negative; to have a voice; residents need to express desires and visions; he likes to use the Mayor's phrase: "We can disagree agreeably"; follow our code of ethics; pointed out local government is the most important and valuable thing we have in democracy; his boss, Franklin County Commissioner Paula Brooks, was nominated to a special committee called President Obama's Climate Preparedness and Resilience Task Force; outlining what it can do at the local level; Commissioner Brooks asked him to travel to Washington DC; he met mayors and governors from 23 different task forces representing many areas; the question is always asked what can we do for the local government; the need for a strong local government to be in tuned with the people is vital; thanked everyone for their support. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion was made by Anderson, seconded by Kneeland, to go to go into Executive Session under authority of Section 5.40(a) of the Council Rules of Procedure to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion or compensation of a public employee, official, licensee or regulated individual unless such public employee, official, licensee or City of Gahanna Page 9 City Council Meeting Minutes December 16, 2013 regulated individual requests a public hearing. The motion carried by the following vote: Council rose to Executive Session at 8:02 p.m. President Renner invited Council Members and incoming Council Members Leeseberg and Schnetzer to attend. Council rose to report from Executive session at 8:13 p.m. with all members returning to the dais. O. ADJOURNMENT - 8:13 p.m. - Motion by Larick. Kimberly McWilliams, CMC Clerk of Council APPROVED by the City Council, this day of 2013. Stephen A. Renner President City of Gahanna Page 10