City Council

200 South Hamilton Road City of Gahanna Gahanna, Ohio 43230 Meeting Minutes City Council Brian Metzbower, President Stephen A. Renner, Vice President Karen J. Angelou Brian D. Larick Jamie Leeseberg Nancy R. McGregor Michael Schnetzer Krystal Gonchar, Deputy Clerk of Council Council may caucus at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 17, 2019 7:00 PM City Hall, Council Chambers A. CALL TO ORDER - Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call Gahanna City Council met in Regular Session on Monday, June 17, 2019, in Council Chambers of City Hall, 200 South Hamilton Road, Gahanna, Ohio. President of Council, Brian Metzbower, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Guest Chaplain David Bubb, Pastor at Mifflin Presbyterian, delivered an Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Vice President of Council, Stephen Renner. Agenda for this meeting was published on June 14, 2019. At 7:06 p.m. A motion was made by Leeseberg, seconded by Schnetzer, to suspend the Regular Meeting in order to reconvene the Special Meeting. At 7:42 p.m., the Regular Meeting reconvened. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Angelou, Leeseberg, Renner, Schnetzer, Metzbower and McGregor Absent: 1- Larick B. ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA: None. C. HEARING OF VISITORS. John Michael Spinelli, 97 Southwind Dr.; provided Council with an update on the Sanctuary Bell Tower lighting project; for the last 8 months we have talked about lighting the bell tower at the Gahanna Sanctuary; the church was built in 1895, and has undergone many changes; invited Council to stop by and visit; weddings and various events are held there; showed pictures of the lit tower; thanked Councilman Leeseberg and City Attorney Ewald as well as John Hicks for their assistance with the City of Gahanna Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes June 17, 2019 Gahanna Foundation, which raised the funds to light the tower. Sharon Montgomery, 572 Bonnington Way; stated that she appeared before Council in April to promote National Distracted Driving Awareness month, and wanted to return to thank the city for the things they did for that; Metzbower asked for a Resolution; Chief Spence has had bumper stickers placed on cruisers, had banners up and submitted an article he wrote for the Rocky Fork Enterprise regarding the topic; he had a letter up on the city website; the Chief also had his officers complete a survey for OSU; OSU has an initiative for distracted driving and I've been working with them; we needed more input from officers; wanted to thank everyone publicly for their efforts. John Hicks,381 Helmbright Dr.; here tonight to speak regarding ORD-0042; regarding changes to Planning & Zoning Code; as a member of Planning Commission over the past few years, common feedback from applicants is that the process is not efficient, and it takes too long; the timeline from when an application is submitted to the groundbreaking or start of a project can take months; this is the natural result of the evolution of our zoning code; the process that we enacted decades ago made sense at the time but in some cases has been antiquated; over the past couple of years, Planning Commission has submitted for your consideration, changes to the code; the intent was to improve the efficiency of the application process in order to make it more lean; those changes in the original ordinance submitted to you continues the progression of improved efficiency; one of those changes included uses that were previously conditional would now be permissible and would remove unnecessary variances; which remains in the approved ordinance; the sections removed included notices to the public; when the code was written, the only method of written communication was in a newspaper; what we have today in 2019, this requirement is antiquated; we should still require written notices be sent to contiguous property owners, which is the most effective way of communicating; but how best do we communicate efficiently with the rest of the population of the city; at the last regular meeting we heard from a resident that the newspaper is their primary method of receiving notifications of public hearings and applications; at the last Committee meeting it was said that if one person speaks out then we should wait; I greatly respect the resident that spoke out but respectfully disagree; in 2019, receiving notices primarily through the newspaper is the exception not the norm; we should make rules for the norm not the exception; newspaper readership, specifically print circulation, is on the decline; according to Pew Research Center, since the 90s (which was when this was last codified) newspaper readership has declined by 50% through 2017; would expect it to be lower now; how are newspapers combatting the loss, by moving to digital formats; by City of Gahanna Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes June 17, 2019 submitting notices to the newspaper, we will reach less of the public than by publishing online; the cost to publish in the newspaper is minimal, but today we are faced with cutting costs; would ask that the ordinance not be amended, and that all proposed changes be considered. Jeannie Hoffman, 708 Waybaugh Dr.; here to talk about the defunding of positions; Council should be approving dollar amounts not personnel or specific positions; with all the positions currently unfilled, there is enough money to cover the positions that were defunded; this would be a different conversation had issue 12 not passed; it should be pretty clear that residents value the Parks & Recreation Department; how can the entire department function without a director; would not make sense to defund a valuable position; regarding the forestry foreman position, personally sees the value of the position; the trees along Stygler Rd. were in bad shape; spoke with the forester a few years ago and was told that the trees would be back, they are now flowering again; the Mayor was elected by the city residents and has the authority to appoint directors; defunding a position that is spelled out in the charter is micromanaging the mayor and setting our city up for failure; we have to trust that the mayor and his staff have the best interests of the city always at the forefront of their minds; these positions had value when they were funded in 2019 and all years prior; budget time is the time to justify value and this is not that time. D. INTRODUCTIONS AND ASSIGNMENT TO COMMITTEE: Ordinances - To Be Introduced and Assigned to Committee: Vice President Renner introduced the items under Section D. ORD-0058-2019 TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH PIPETEK INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES FOR THE 2019 CCTV & SANITARY SEWER CLEANING PROJECT. This item was Introduced. ORD-0059-2019 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION- ODNR Wildlife Education Grant. This item was Introduced. ORD-0060-2019 TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS, OR NOTES, NOT TO EXCEED FIVE MILLION ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,100,000); IN ANCTICIPATION OF BONDS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PAYING A FINAL JUDGMENT, INCLUDING DEFENSE COSTS AND EXPENSES; AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING RELATED City of Gahanna Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes June 17, 2019 MATTERS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. This item was Introduced. ORD-0063-2019 TO AMEND PART ELEVEN, PLANNING AND ZONING CODE, CHAPTER 1193- STORMWATER MANAGEMENT POLICY, OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA. This item was Introduced. E. CONSENT AGENDA: Minutes - To Approve: 2019-0079 Council Meeting Minutes for Approval. These Minutes were approved on the Consent Agenda. Ordinances on Second Reading: ORD-0048-2019 TO LEVY THE ASSESSMENTS FOR CERTAIN REAL ESTATE ON PRICE ROAD AND JAMES ROAD, FOR SANITARY SERVICES. This Ordinance was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. ORD-0050-2019 TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH BRONSON BATTLE CREEK HOSPITAL, DBA HELPNET EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. This Ordinance was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. ORD-0053-2019 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION- Hamilton Road TIF. This Ordinance was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. ORD-0054-2019 TO AMEND SECTION 133.09 - CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND, OF CHAPTER 133 - DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, OF TITLE FIVE- ADMINISTRATIVE, OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA. This Ordinance was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. ORD-0055-2019 TO ESTABLISH THE FOLLOWING THREE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS: PUBLIC SAFETY FUND, PUBLIC SERVICE FUND, AND PARKS & RECREATION FUND; TO DEPOSIT MONEYS GENERATED FROM THE TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE ONE PERCENT INCOME TAX INCREASE AUTHORIZED BY THE VOTERS ON MAY 7, 2019. City of Gahanna Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes June 17, 2019 This Ordinance was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. Yes: 6- Angelou, Leeseberg, Renner, Schnetzer, Metzbower and McGregor Absent: 1- Larick ORD-0057-2019 TO APPOINT APRIL BEGGEROW AS CLERK OF COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF GAHANNA, AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. President Metzbower introduced April Beggerow, our new Clerk of Council, who will be joining us next week; April joins us from Reynoldsburg and we look forward to working with her. This Ordinance was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. Ordinance: Introduce, Waive Second Reading: ORD-0062-2019 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION- TEMPORARY WORK AT A HIGHER CLASSIFICATION FOR THE DEPUTY CLERK OF COUNCIL. This Ordinance was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. Pass the Consent Agenda End of the Consent Agenda F. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None. G. COMMITTEE UPDATES: None. H. CORRESPONDENCE AND ACTIONS: Clerk: None. Council: None. I. SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES: ORD-0056-2019 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION- 2019 Funding. A motion was made by McGregor, seconded by Leeseberg, that the Ordinance be Adopted. A motion was made by McGregor, seconded by Renner that the Ordinance be Amended to include adequate funding for the Planning and Zoning Administrator through 2019. A motion was made by McGregor, seconded by Renner that this Ordinance be Adopted as Amended. The motion City of Gahanna Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes June 17, 2019 carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Angelou, Leeseberg, Renner, Schnetzer, Metzbower and McGregor Absent: 1- Larick Ordinance - To Amend by Substitution and Adopt: ORD-0042-2019 TO AMEND PART ELEVEN, PLANNING AND ZONING CODE, CHAPTER 1153- GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS, OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA. Leeseberg asked for clarification, in the Ordinance, it mentions that Section 1193 was pulled out as a separate ordinance, to be voted on separately. Ewald confirmed. A motion was made by Renner, seconded by Angelou, that the Ordinance be Amended by Substitution, and Adopted. The motion carried by the following vote: J. FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES: Ordinance - Introduce, Waive Second Reading, and Adopt as Emergency: ORD-0061-2019 TO AMEND ORDINANCE 0016-2019 TO ESTABLISH THE SALARIES FOR PERSONNEL OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. Schnetzer wanted to verify that the attachment associated with the Ordinance to be voted on was titled UPDATED HR-ATT- amended 2019 salary ordinance 6.17.19. Gonchar confirmed. A motion was made by Angelou, seconded by Renner, that the Ordinance be Introduced, Second Reading Waived, and Adopted. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Angelou, Leeseberg, Renner, Schnetzer, Metzbower and McGregor Absent: 1- Larick K. RESOLUTIONS/MOTION RESOLUTIONS: None. L. REPRESENTATIVES: Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) - Larick Larick was not present. Metzbower informed everyone that there will be a CIC meeting tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. here at City Hall. City of Gahanna Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes June 17, 2019 Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) - Angelou Angelou stated there was a meeting last Thursday; welcomed Truro Twp. of Franklin County as newest member; safety was the major topic of discussion as part of the upcoming Central Ohio Transportation Safety Plan; the plan focuses on prioritizing safety and improvement on roads; thanked everyone for questions related to the plan; have been fortunate that Gahanna has never been at the top of the list of most dangerous intersections; since the red-light cameras were removed, there has been an increase in accidents at intersections; there is no July meeting; the June Board meeting updated fee schedule for assessing member fees; most recent Insight 2050 meeting focused on food waste with help of SWACO; Hamilton and Morse Rd. intersection will be widened; will start this year on that project; $13million project; a lane will be added east of Hamilton; go to MORPC website to see transportation plan and provide suggestions; we will accept applications for Insight 2050 tech programs on July 21; a few upcoming workshops include the 2019 Best Practices on Social Media, will be presented by Niel Jurist, formerly the PIO for the city; MORPC's 50th birthday is coming up; will have a night at the Clippers game in August; Erik Janas, Board Secretary will throw out first pitch; October 11 will be Summit on Sustainability to be held at Hilton; would like a table for that. Government Liaison - Metzbower No report. Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) - Schnetzer Schnetzer said the CVB just completed annual Blues & Jazz Festival; had 2 good days out of 3 as far as weather goes; it was well attended but figures are forthcoming; more information to follow. M. OFFICIAL REPORTS: Mayor No report. City Attorney Thanked all the speakers who came out tonight; was a great speech about city functions; thanked Montgomery for her diligence and working with our Police Department on distracted driving; hopes it gets more City of Gahanna Page 7 City Council Meeting Minutes June 17, 2019 attention as time goes on. N. COUNCIL COMMENT Leeseberg thanked the PD and Mifflin Twp. for hard work at the festival; thanked Parks & Recreation staff who made this a success; thanked his son who was a first time volunteer; learned that the PD is offering self-defense classes; recommends attending; will be information in the P&R publication. Angelou said ditto, spent 3 days at the festival; only heard an hour's worth of music due to selling memorabilia; the food was wonderful; was a great festival; thanked everyone from the city who worked hard and volunteered; today would have been her mother's 110th birthday; was a wonderful woman and she is missed; was glad tonight to pass legislation to move our city forward; the city is too good to not move forward; thanked everyone for everything they've done for moving out city forward; welcomed our new Clerk for being here tonight, said she just got back from London where she was doing clerk work. Renner said his hat is off to everyone in the city who worked at the festival; thanked the public for their patience as we ensured that we reset some of these ordinances after issue 12; congratulations, you have your raises and the positions have been refunded; the city is reset to the beginning and we are now funded into the future; we are happy about that; welcomed April to gahanna; will be out next week to explore the eastern states with his family. McGregor welcomed April and looks forward to working with her. Schnetzer thanked all the volunteers and city staff, PD and Mifflin Twp. employees; Kauser was there on hand with fire fighters and EMS; takes a lot to pull that off. Metzbower reiterated what Renner said; this year has been tumultuous; in these 6 months we have accomplished a lot and is thankful to colleagues; is optimistic for the city's future. O. EXECUTIVE SESSION A motion was made by Leeseberg, seconded by Renner, 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 or official, or the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual, unless the public employee, official, City of Gahanna Page 8 City Council Meeting Minutes June 17, 2019 licensee, or regulated individual requests a public hearing; and Section 5.40(c) of the Council Rules of Procedure to confer with the City Attorney for the public body concerning disputes involving the public body that are the subject of pending or imminent court action. Council rose to report to Executive Session at 8:24 p.m. Council rose to report from Executive Session at 8:47 p.m. with no action taken. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Angelou, Leeseberg, Renner, Schnetzer, Metzbower and McGregor Absent: 1- Larick P. ADJOURNMENT At 8:48 p.m. City of Gahanna Page 9