City Council

200 South Hamilton Road City of Gahanna Gahanna, Ohio 43230 Meeting Minutes City Council Brian D. Larick, President Nancy R. McGregor, Vice President Karen J. Angelou Merisa Bowers Jamie Leeseberg Stephen A. Renner Michael Schnetzer April Beggerow, MPA, CMC, Clerk of Council Council may caucus at 6:45 p.m. Monday, March 1, 2021 7:00 PM Virtual Meeting Meeting Call-in Details: 513-306-4583 Conference ID: 874 547 420# Hearing of visitors - email your request not less than 1 hour before the meeting starts to: april.beggerow@gahanna.gov A. CALL TO ORDER - Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call Gahanna City Council met in virtual session on Monday, March 1, 2021, via Microsoft TEAMS. President of Council, Brian Larick, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Vice President of Council, Nancy McGregor, delivered an Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Agenda for this meeting was published on February 26, 2021. Present 7 - Jamie Leeseberg, Stephen A. Renner, Michael Schnetzer, Brian D. Larick, Nancy R. McGregor, Karen J. Angelou, and Merisa Bowers B. ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA. C. HEARING OF VISITORS. Catherine Bennett, 697 Penny Ln N. said she was reading over the resolution proposed by Ms. Bowers and wanted to know if everyone knows the value of listing the enumerations in the Resolution. When we don't use the enumeration it leaves too much room for a loophole and the reader only resonates with people like them rather than realizing that this covers a much larger group of people. She thinks we need to be more proactive in our strategy and less reactive strategy. It's important to highlight the diversity of the people that are in Gahanna. Thomas Grote, he runs the Edge Innovation Hub he wanted to thank City of Gahanna Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes March 1, 2021 Council and acknowledge the Resolution presented this evening and as a business owner he commends Council for standing up and making a strong statement against violence. This comes about from a friend who was threatened with racial threats and violence, Lisa Pugh. He would like to challenge Council to look at equality in relation to peer cities. Surrounding communities have already passed non discrimination laws for LGBTQ residents and Gahanna is lagging. D. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Minutes - To Approve: a. 2021-0040 Meeting Minutes for Approval Minutes approved on the consent agenda. 2. Ordinances for Second Reading: a. ORD-0006-2021 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENT WITH THE FRANKLIN COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS FOR USE OF CITY PROPERTY AS POLLING LOCATIONS FOR THE YEAR 2021. This item adopted on the consent agenda. End of/Pass the Consent Agenda A motion was made by Bowers, seconded by McGregor, to Pass the Consent Agenda.The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Leeseberg, Renner, Schnetzer, Larick, McGregor, Angelou and Bowers E. MOTIONS a. MT-0010-2021 MOTION TO APPOINT THE DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO THE ESID BOARD PURUSANT TO SECTION 16 OF RESOLUTION 024-2020 ADOPTED BY COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 2, 2020. A motion was made by Leeseberg, seconded by Renner, that the Motion be Approved.The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Leeseberg, Renner, Schnetzer, Larick, McGregor, Angelou and Bowers City of Gahanna Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes March 1, 2021 F. RESOLUTIONS a. RES-0006-2021 RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA CONDEMNING INTIMIDATION AND VIOLENCE, REAFFIRMING EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW, AND COMMITTING TO REVIVING CIVILITY. Mrs. McGregor moved to amend to add " by their creator " to the fourth "Whereas" section. Second by: Mr. Leeseberg Discussion on the amendment: Mr. Leeseberg would like to table the legislation as he hasn't had time to review and there are questions from other Council members. Mr. Larick asked to keep the discussion to the topic of the amendment. Additional amendments may be made after this amendment is completed. Ms. Bowers said she supported the amendment and thanked Mrs. McGregor for bringing it forward as this topic is tied to a higher power. Amendment carried by unanimous vote. Mr. Leeseberg moved to refer the legislation to Committee of the Whole. Second by Mrs. Angelou Discussion: Mrs. Angelou said she received this on Saturday, she knows what the emphasis is but feels we need to talk about what it means. For instance, the difference between equality, etc... She is more concerned about the parts after the whereas language because those can just go off. Specifically "to listen with compassion, to hold accountable those who fail to meet these standards, she doesn't know what that means, so if that means she has a comma in a wrong spot or says a wrong word, that she will be held accountable? She wants to talk about all of these things to see if we can move forward or not. She also thinks the title reviving civility makes us sound like everybody needs to revive. That there is something major wrong with the entire city. She wants to talk and have a conversation. She said the Upper Arlington Resolution had other things in it as well. She said you don't have to reinvent the wheel. In the budget book there is information about guiding principles and what she thinks is perfect which is our vision and mission statements. They are very powerful statements and says what our community is. Mr. Schnetzer said he was in support of sending the legislation to committee to review it further. City of Gahanna Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes March 1, 2021 Ms. Bowers said she appreciated the desire to have a deeper discussion on this Resolution. She appreciated the points raised by her colleagues. She wanted to share that she does feel that this is a time sensitive issue that we are experiencing in Gahanna. Business owners are being threatened and intimidated based on perceived identity. This is a bi-partisan effort supported across Ohio. Upper Arlington adopted the Resolution in 2018 as well. She appreciates the need to have the conversation and she requests it be brought back at the next Council meeting. Motion to refer to committee passed with a unanimous vote of Council. A motion was made by Leeseberg, seconded by Angelou, that the Resolution be referred to Committee.The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Leeseberg, Renner, Schnetzer, Larick, McGregor, Angelou and Bowers G. ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION / FIRST READING: Mr. Leeseberg introduced the items in Section G. a. ORD-0007-2021 AN ORDINANCE AUTH O R I Z I N G A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION This item was introduced. H. ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION, WAIVER & EMERGENCY ADOPTION: a. ORD-0008-2021 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN A REVISED OPTICAL FIBER USE AGREEMENT WITH GAHANNA-JEFFERSON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR INDEFEASIBLE RIGHT OF USE (IRU); WAIVING SECOND READING; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. A motion was made by Schnetzer, seconded by Leeseberg, that the Ordinance be Introduced, Second Reading Waived, and Adopted as an Emergency.The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Leeseberg, Renner, Schnetzer, Larick, McGregor, Angelou and Bowers City of Gahanna Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes March 1, 2021 I. CORRESPONDENCE AND ACTIONS: a. Clerk None. b. Council None. J. REPRESENTATIVES: a. Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) - Leeseberg No report. b. Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) - Angelou Mrs. Angelou said that she did some virtual work with representatives in Congress. Wednesday they met with Reps. Balderson and Stivers and they were supposed to meet with Joyce Beatty but met Trenton Weaver instead which was nice. They were able to thank all three of them for their leadership and they hope to see them in person next year. MORPC secured funding through the PPP which allowed them to maintain full staffing through June 30th. She said that the MORPC vision is one of prosperity and growth. There are 75 members today ready to welcome new businesses and growth. During the pandemic, MORPC never stopped preparing and working on the vision for central Ohio. c. Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) - Leeseberg Mr. Leeseberg said there is a new herbal cocktail trail out so get out and enjoy some of the warmer weather. d. School Board (SB) - Schnetzer No report. City of Gahanna Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes March 1, 2021 K. OFFICIAL REPORTS: a. Mayor Mayor Jadwin presented her report which is attached. She presented her proclamation for Women's History month. If there are any suggestions or stories about women that made and impact on Gahanna history, let them know. State of the City will be virtual on March 30th. Smart 911 will be coming online. GovDelivery noticing system is up and running you can subscribe to that on Gahanna.gov. 2021-0041 Mayor's Report; Proclamation, March 1, 2021 b. City Attorney No report. L. COUNCIL COMMENT Mrs. Angelou said today is the 218th birthday of the State of Ohio. Columbus took the top spot for remote ready cities in 2021. She wished Ryan Jolley the best in his new job. Ms. Bowers thanked the Mayor for the Proclamation on Women's History Month. She appreciates the discussion tonight on the Resolution and wanted to share more about the background and where it is coming from and why it is important. She thanked Ms. Bennett and Mr. Grote for their comments as well. In January a friend's business was shut down due to threatening calls directed at her race and sexual orientation. In Gahanna, a business got some hostile threats based upon the business' political views. Neighbors are being targeted based on perceived identities. There have been reported instances on streets and in neighborhoods and they are within our community. She doesn't feel that all residents need to revive civility, but emotions have been heightened and fear have been heightened especially during the pandemic and political climate. She said this isn't a partisan issue and we do need to have these conversations and that is reflected during this initiative. The intent is to show our solidarity against harmful words and she looks forward to the conversation. Mr. Schnetzer thanked the Mayor for the proclamation. Warren Buffet said "We've seen what can be accomplished when we use 50% of our human capacity. If you visualize what 100% can do, you'll join me as an unbridled optimist about America's future." to underscore this point of women's contribution to our nation, the NCES or the National Center for City of Gahanna Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes March 1, 2021 Education Statistics published date a few years back to show to 7.7 percentage point attainment gap in favor of women with respect to higher education. So in our increasingly knowledge based American economy, it would seem that women are poised to lead the way in lifting this country's economic growth. So just want to make sure that we kind of recognize that. Mrs. McGregor said she has 2 grandsons that were at a swim meet this weekend and they were able to watch it on Facebook. She was able to also see her son coach Fredericktown to a district championship. The historical society got a grant last year and Mr. Larick helped them install a ring door bell. While they were in Florida, someone came to the door and was just hanging around. They were able to watch the interaction with the PD from the camera. M. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 7:59 p.m. April Beggerow, MPA, CMC Clerk of Council APPROVED by the City Council, this day of 2021. Brian D. Larick City of Gahanna Page 7