City Council

200 South Hamilton Road City of Gahanna Gahanna, Ohio 43230 Meeting Minutes City Council Stephen A. Renner, President Merisa K. Bowers, Vice President Karen J. Angelou Nancy R. McGregor Kaylee Padova Michael Schnetzer Trenton I. Weaver Jeremy VanMeter, Clerk of Council Monday, April 4, 2022 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, April 4, 2022, in Council Chambers. President of Council Stephen Renner called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Vice President of Council Merisa Bowers delivered an Invocation and led members in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Agenda for this meeting was published on April 1, 2022. Present 7 - Nancy R. McGregor, Karen J. Angelou, Merisa K. Bowers, Trenton I. Weaver, Kaylee Padova, Michael Schnetzer, and Stephen A. Renner B. ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA President Renner stated that Mayor Jadwin would not be able to attend the meeting. Therefore, there would not be a presentation of a proclamation under Hearing of Visitors. C. HEARING OF VISITORS Sharon Montgomery, 572 Bonnington Way, Gahanna, Ohio: Spoke on National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and how the City can continue to improve its response to distracted driving. Ms. Montgomery thanked Chief Spence for recognizing this month each year. She believed his plans for the year are comprehensive and hoped that by next April there will be some new messages that are broader than texting. She said she is working with the Ohio Traffic Safety Office on this. Ms. Montgomery said that as an employer, one of the City's responsibilities is to keep employees safe. She acknowledged having read the Employee Handbook and the Technology Systems Use Policy. These address the danger of using e-devices while driving. She noted the Handbook specifically prohibits only texting and the Use policy requires obeying all laws. Additionally, she said that it is also a responsibility of the municipal government to keep safe the people who drive through Gahanna and use tax dollars carefully. For keeping drivers safe, Ms. City of Gahanna Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes April 4, 2022 Montgomery said the Council might need to enact a distracted driving law, as the current state law is weak. She noted a current bill that is getting attention claims to strengthen existing law but has been deemed to be very hard to enforce by police officers. Ms. Montgomery proposed that the in-depth education session she asked for in January could help the Council decide if, when, and how to enact a good local law. Ms. Montgomery noted that employee absenteeism costs money, as well as clearing a crash scene, investigating the crash, and prosecuting the offender all cost money. She said that Council would get a copy of the 2019 report by the ODOT Distracted Driving Task Force, which included alarming numbers on some of the costs. The report is intended to be a preparation, not a substitute, for the educational session. She hoped Council would read the full report, noting a breadth of expertise and perspectives that comprised the Task Force. Ms. Montgomery provided an example that each person in the room could conduct to better understand mental distraction. The next time you sit down to read a book to relax when you have been worrying about something, take a minute to notice when you have just read a paragraph and realize you have no idea what the paragraph said because the matter worrying you took over your brain. She said that our brains cannot perform two different cognitive tasks at the same time. The best it can do is go back and forth between the two and doing neither as well as if performed separately. This applies to paying attention to an e-device instead of attention to traffic. Ms. Montgomery hoped to work with Council more effectively to address what she noted as a growing problem of driving under the influence of electronics. D. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Minutes - To Approve: 2022-0093 COTW Meeting Minutes 3.14.2022 These Minutes were approved on the Consent Agenda. 2022-0099 CN Minutes 3.21.2022 These Minutes were approved on the Consent Agenda. 2022-0100 COTW Minutes 3.28.2022 These Minutes were approved on the Consent Agenda. 2. Ordinances for Second Reading: ORD-0013-2022 AN ORDINANCE AUTH O R I Z I N G A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION - SPLASH PAD This Ordinance was Adopted on the Consent Agenda. City of Gahanna Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes April 4, 2022 End of Consent Agenda A motion was made by Weaver, seconded by Angelou, to pass the Consent Agenda. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- McGregor, Angelou, Bowers, Weaver, Padova, Schnetzer and Renner E. ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION / FIRST READING: ORD-0016-2022 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH STRAWSER PAVING COMPANY, INC., FOR THE 2022 RESIDENTIAL STREET PROGRAM ST-1090 This Ordinance was Introduced. F. ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION, WAIVER & EMERGENCY ADOPTION: ORD-0015-2022 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORD-0107-2020 OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA, FRANKLIN COUNTY, OHIO: REPEALING AND REPLACING CHAPTER 780 CODE FOR RENTAL PROPERTY REGISTRATION AND INSPECTION, WAIVING SECOND READING AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY A motion was made by Bowers, seconded by Schnetzer, that the Ordinance be Introduced, Second Reading Waived, and Adopted as an Emergency. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- McGregor, Angelou, Bowers, Weaver, Padova, Schnetzer and Renner G. CORRESPONDENCE AND ACTIONS: None. H. REPRESENTATIVES: Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) - Renner, Weaver Council Member Weaver noted the CIC met on Tuesday, March 22nd. Prior to executive session, there were a couple updates, including announcements on The Crescent project coming in next couple weeks. Next meeting is April 19th at 8:00am in the Committee Room. Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) - Angelou Council Member Angelou said there would be an Executive Committee meeting this Thursday. She plans to attend the 2022 Diversity in Business Awards. MORPC's Niel Jurist will be receiving an award. Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) - Padova City of Gahanna Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes April 4, 2022 Council Member Padova reported that as a "Destination Marketing Organization," Visit Gahanna’s job is to promote Gahanna as a vibrant destination. Two ways the CVB accomplishes this mission is by seeking free publicity and by strategically placing advertising. So far this year, Gahanna businesses, attractions, and events have been featured in the following publications: 614 Magazine, Columbus Business First, Columbus Monthly, Ohio Has It Group Tour Planner, 614 Now, Biz Journals, Columbus Dispatch, Uniquely Gahanna (City publication), Columbus on the Cheap, Dayton Daily News, Columbus Navigator, Columbus Neighborhoods, CityScene, Ohio Travel Guide, Ohio Magazine, and Experience Columbus Visitors Guide. The Spring/Summer edition of the Herbal Cocktail Trail will be released on Monday, April 11. There are two new participants this time - Heart State Brewing and Signatures. The new prize for completion is a set of Herbal Cocktail Trail branded coasters. Early access tickets are being sold for the Herb Day Plant sale on May 7. Those who purchase tickets will have access one hour earlier than the general public. Tickets are $10. Members of the Ohio Herb Center will have the ability to pre-order plants, guaranteeing availability. Both options are available for purchase on OhioHerbCenter.org under classes/events. The volunteer sign-up link for Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival will go live on April 15 at www.creeksidebluesandjazz.com. School Board (SB) - Bowers Vice President Bowers stated that on April 18th the school district is hosting a community conversation on Building a Plan Focused on Equity & Access for All. This appears to be an interactive community event, and all are encouraged to attend. At the Board's March 15th Finance Committee meeting, there was an economic development tax incentive overview presented to board members. As an update, the revised proposal intends to bring the abatement compensation policy in line with state law. It is anticipated residential abatements would be compensated to the district. Bowers said that she met with board member and Finance Chair Daphne Moehring to touch on some issues pending between the City and the district. I. OFFICIAL REPORTS: Mayor - None. City Attorney - None. J. COUNCIL COMMENT City of Gahanna Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes April 4, 2022 Council Member Angelou said she attended part of the Planning Commission workshop. She commended the Commission on asking good questions during the school's presentation. She thought the school's team was not prepared, as questions were not answered well. She thought that people coming to talk with the Planning Commission about a $158 million project might have had a few more things to say. Her favorite part was the response that the school was going to ask for one variance. She thought that the school was not expecting to answer hard questions. Council Member McGregor - No comments. Council Member Weaver - No comments. Council Member Padova thanked Sharon Montgomery for attending Council and making everyone aware about Distracted Driving Awareness month, as well as Chief Spence for his efforts. Padova complimented the Parks & Rec Department for the Easter Egg Hunt that was on Saturday. She said it was good to see so many in the community outside and enjoying time with their kids. Council Member Schnetzer - No comments. Vice President Bowers thanked Ms. Angelou for bringing up the Planning Commission's Workshop with the school district. She reminded others that the workshop is available to view online. She thanked the IT department and staff for helping to bring the Commission's meetings online, as people in the community have asked for it. Bowers requested that her February constituent report be included in the minutes, which itemizes activities and communications with constituents. Also, Bowers corrected a statement made in her February 28th presentation on Fair Housing. On the slides it said the City has 13,000 housing units, but verbally she had said 13,000 rental units. The correction is 13,000 housing units with 28% of these being rental units. President Renner thanked Mayor Jadwin and staff for the State of the City event and the wonderful presentation. At some point, the briefing will be online. It was a great showcase for the City. Renner said the directors highlighted the things they were working on and that the City could be proud of. Regarding Planning Commission, Renner said he watched the workshop. He agreed with Angelou that the Commission asked a lot of good questions. He is a little apprehensive because of the school's timeline to start digging in August. Renner said the contractor for the school has a lot of work ahead. He is worried that the timeline is a little too tight. Also, Renner expressed his thanks to Sharon Montgomery for her efforts in reminding others of the dangers of distracted driving. He is very pro-education and happy that the City is getting the awareness out with the mobile street signs. This is a complicated issue that he has also been researching. He is hard-pressed about making a local law on the issue. If the state cannot make their decision about it, he is not in favor of a patchwork of laws for the City. What he did think was possible is education and awareness with residents. City of Gahanna Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes April 4, 2022 2022-0119 Vice President Bowers' Constituent Report - February 2022 K. EXECUTIVE SESSION A motion was made by Schnetzer, seconded by Padova, to enter Executive Session under the authority of Section 5.40(d) of the Council Rules of Procedure to prepare for, conducting, or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- McGregor, Angelou, Bowers, Weaver, Padova, Schnetzer and Renner The Council, City Attorney, Director of Administrative Services, and Director of Public Safety rose to report to Executive Session at 7:22 p.m. The Council rose to report from Executive Session at 7:48 p.m. with no further action. L. ADJOURNMENT With no further business before the Council, President Renner adjourned the meeting at 7:48 p.m. City of Gahanna Page 6