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 Krystal Gonchar, MPA, Clerk of Council Council may caucus at 6:45 p.m. Monday, April 19, 2021 7:00 PM Virtual Meeting Meeting Call-in Details: 513-306-4583 Conference ID: 718 110 791# Hearing of visitors - email your request not less than 1 hour before the meeting starts to: council@gahanna.gov A. CALL TO ORDER - Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call Gahanna City Council met in virtual session on Monday, April 19, 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 April 16, 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: None. C. HEARING OF VISITORS: None. D. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Minutes - To Approve: 2021-0066 Council meeting minutes for approval. These minutes were approved on the Consent Agenda. City of Gahanna Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes April 19, 2021 2. Ordinances for Second Reading: a. ORD-0014-2021 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH STRAWSER PAVING COMPANY, INC., FOR THE 2021 RESIDENTIAL STREET PROGRAM ST-1075. This Ordinance was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. b. ORD-0015-2021 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH VORTEX FOR THE EQUIPMENT PURCHASE OF A SPLASH PAD AT GAHANNA SWIMMING POOL. This Ordinance was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. c. ORD-0018-2021 AN ORDINANCE AUTH O R I Z I N G A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION - Federal Law Enforcement Trust Fund. This Ordinance was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. End of/Pass Consent Agenda A motion was made by Renner, seconded by Bowers, to pass the Consent Agenda. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Leeseberg, Renner, Schnetzer, Larick, McGregor, Angelou and Bowers E. ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION / FIRST READING: Angelou Introduced the items under Section E. a. ORD-0022-2021 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT WITH TAYLOR INDUSTRIAL PARK, LLC, FOR TAX ABATEMENT FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 6579 TAYLOR ROAD; PARCEL ID NO. 025-000008; PART OF COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AREA #1. This item was introduced. b. ORD-0023-2021 ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE A SHARED SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF GAHANNA AND CITY OF NEW ALBANY FOR MAYOR'S COURT SERVICES AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. This item was introduced. c. ORD-0024-2021 ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER (SRO) CONTRACT WITH GAHANNA JEFFERSON PUBLIC SCHOOLS (GJPS) FOR THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR. This item was introduced. City of Gahanna Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes April 19, 2021 F. ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING / ADOPTION: a. ORD-0019-2021 AN ORDINANCE DETERMINING TO PROCEED WITH THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS FOR CERTAIN REAL ESTATE FOR SANITARY SERVICES FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3737 HINES ROAD, PARCEL ID NO. 025-004321-00. A motion was made by Renner, seconded by Leeseberg, that the Ordinance be Adopted. The motion carried by the following vote: G. ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION, WAIVER & ADOPTION: a. ORD-0025-2021 ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH CRESCENT AT CENTRAL PARK LLC, CP CRESCENT LLC, AND ANDRE M. BUCKLES, TO FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MIXED USE PROJECT ON 41.0+/- ACRES LOCATED IN THE CITY GENERALLY TO THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST OF AND ADJACENT TO THE INTERSTATE 270-HAMILTON ROAD INTERCHANGE, AND THE DEDICATION OF 34.0+/- ACRES LOCATED TO THE SOUTH THEREOF TO THE CITY FOR USE AS PARKLAND; WAIVE SECOND READING. Leeseberg said he is happy that this has come back to council; will be in support. Bowers said she wanted to make sure that her position is on the record; thanked those who worked on the development agreement; a lot of hours have been put in; thanked Casto and Canini for making adjustments to the project; will be voting yes; listening to the professionals on staff who have indicated this project is a catalyst; professionals from various industries are also discussing the housing shortage; wants to ensure that we are thinking about that when constructing; best to have housing at all price points; the waiver of second reading is difficult because we want to follow processes and policies; this project has been discussed for months and so the public and council has had a lot of opportunity to discuss and so she feels more comfortable voting for the waiver tonight; other places are not voting on tax abatements for residential projects; appreciates Schnetzer's concerns. Schnetzer said the developer's broader vision was presented to council over one year ago; reviewed land use plan; 6 months ago there was a request for rezoning to allow for housing; the land was previously undeveloped under commercial zoning; following concerns, the development was scaled down to 14 acres; was presented as a larger domino project for the entire area, specifically hotel and office space; $1.4M was requested by the developer to offset utilities and a stub street; requested to make that $1.4M contingent upon development those City of Gahanna Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes April 19, 2021 aforementioned higher valued uses; wishes to align interests of applicant with those of the city; residents of Gahanna have reached out to voice their opinions; striving to ensure the city receives a square deal. Renner said this has been on a council agenda for a long time; applauds administration and staff, the developer; thanked him for bringing this back; applauds colleagues on council; respects their opinions; has enjoyed this project and is in favor. Jennifer Syx, Interim Economic Development Director, said this process and developer have been vetted; sought advice of legal counsel; residential abatement is given under current school compensation agreements; will see a shift in mentality as it relates to tax abatement on residential; will continue to see larger development projects brought to council; appreciates it can be uncomfortable at times; appreciates the debate. Larick said there was a change in language; sees change in NCA description from 5mil cap to 9mil cap; extension possible within authority beyond 30 years. Syx said yes on the commercial but no on the residential. Mayor Jadwin thanked council for the feedback; we all feel a duty to the residents of the city; want to be good stewards of their money; opinions won't always align but thanked them for the honest dialogue; have been in favor of this project since early on; will bring fully vetted projects forward that have had thought and consideration and feedback. Larick said he was against residential on this property; looked at reasonable path forward as it relates to economics for the area; this is not perfect but other future development will have a lot of weight depending on how this is developed. A motion was made by Renner, seconded by Angelou, that the Ordinance be Introduced, Second Reading Waived, and Adopted. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Leeseberg, Renner, Larick, McGregor, Angelou and Bowers No: 1- Schnetzer H. CORRESPONDENCE AND ACTIONS: Clerk: none. Council: none. I. REPRESENTATIVES: Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) - Leeseberg City of Gahanna Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes April 19, 2021 Leeseberg said there will be a meeting tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) - Angelou Angelou provided a summary of the MORPC meeting, meeting packet available at https://www.morpc.org/committees/executive-committee; stated that the State of the Region was discussed; have a new partnership with the Easton Community Fellowship and OSU Knowlton School to provide matching support for fellows; will add value to our trails network; a diversity training will be hosted at YWCA, discounts available; stated that this is final year as Chair of MORPC; ADAMH Board provided overview of health programs; developing a thoroughfare plan for Madison County; working with Knox/Morrow on freeway access study; working on regional data study for mapping; received 2020 Census update, redistricting data expected in September; reviewed American Rescue Plan; Steve Stivers is stepping down from Congress to lead Ohio Chamber of Commerce; is a good congressman and hates to see him leave; Dayton Mayor said she will run for governor in 2022. Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) - Leeseberg Leeseberg provided some updates from the CVB: The Spring Herbal Cocktail Trail is now underway with a new addition: Crafted Culture Brewing Co. A full-page ad was placed in Woman’s Day Magazine and Good Housekeeping Magazine promoting Girlfriends Getaway ideas in Gahanna. Reminder: Herb Day will be held on Saturday, May 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Plant bundles can be pre-ordered on www.ohioherbcenter.org <http://www.ohioherbcenter.org>. Don’t forget that Herb’n Restaurant Week will take place from May 2-8. There will be 13 locations featuring herb-infused entrees, drinks, and desserts that week. Find the list of participants later this week on VisitGahanna.com and on Visit Gahanna’s Facebook page. School Board (SB) - Schnetzer No report. City of Gahanna Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes April 19, 2021 J. OFFICIAL REPORTS: Mayor Mayor provided summary of the attached report; Franklin County has been elevated to Purple status; no new protocols in place; updated COVID page on gahanna.gov; over the weekend we became aware of intersections that need work; repairs will be initiated right away and will have temporary light signals; expected to last for a few months; looking for feedback on ADA transition plan; have a desperate need for parks seasonal employees; will have new partnership with SWACO and more announcements coming up; Thursday is Earth Day and Make Gahanna Yours will host a clean up litter day on Saturday; we are awaiting official confirmation on funds the city will receive from American Rescue Plan; funds go to state from federal government and then the state distributes to city; will engage with council on the use of those funds; Columbus Metro Library will be constructing a new branch in Gahanna; existing branch will close in May and will open a temporary branch in Hunters Ridge; hope to complete in 2022. 2021-0068 Mayor's report to Council for April 19, 2021. City Attorney No report but hopes to see a lot of people out this weekend to help clean up. K. COUNCIL COMMENT Angelou said she is happy to see the Crescent project moving forward; because we can't expect everything to go perfectly you have to trust your instincts; excited to see people move in there and work there. Bowers welcomed Nathan Strum to Gahanna; hopes that Syx continues to work with the city; glad to hear that there is interest in reassessing abatements in the future; vaccines are now available for everyone over 16 years old; Columbus Public Health has vaccines available at Celeste Center drive thru; no insurance required; this week is National Infertility Awareness week; over 17M Americans are facing infertility; encourages people to learn about reproductive medicine and support friends and neighbors who experience this; is trying to locate CIC meeting minutes and unable to find those; hopes to be able to obtain those in the near future. Renner said he had a great weekend riding his bike, encourages people to keep going outdoors and enjoy our parks. Schnetzer said he appreciates Angelou calling attention to Stivers retiring from congress; he serves as City of Gahanna Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes April 19, 2021 co-chair of House Bipartisan Municipal Finance Caucus; he is an advocate for state and local governments; that is a critical component of the daily life for every citizen. L. EXECUTIVE SESSION: none. M. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m. City of Gahanna Page 7