City Council

200 South Hamilton Road City of Gahanna Gahanna, Ohio 43230 Meeting Minutes City Council Stephen A. Renner, President Trenton I. Weaver, Vice President Karen J. Angelou Merisa K. Bowers Nancy R. McGregor Kaylee Padova Michael Schnetzer Jeremy A. VanMeter, Clerk of Council Monday, October 2, 2023 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, October 2, 2023, in Council Chambers. President of Council Stephen A. Renner called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Vice President of Council Trenton I. Weaver delivered an Invocation and led members in the Pledge of Allegiance. The agenda was published on September 29, 2023. Present 7 - Karen J. Angelou, Merisa K. Bowers, Nancy R. McGregor, Kaylee Padova, Stephen A. Renner, Michael Schnetzer, and Trenton I. Weaver B. ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA: None. C. HEARING OF VISITORS: 1. Joint Resolution Presentation by Council and Mayor Vice President Weaver expressed his delight in working collaboratively with the Mayor on a joint resolution to honor Mr. Mark Lowrie, a distinguished member of the Gahanna community. Mr. Lowrie was recognized as the 2024 Ohio Teacher of the Year by the Ohio Department of Education. Vice President Weaver shared his excitement about witnessing the positive reactions of Mr. Lowrie's students upon learning about his achievement. Since joining Gahanna Lincoln, Mr. Lowrie had made significant contributions, including designing four new courses and significantly increasing program enrollment from 27 to over 130 students within three years. Under Mr. Lowrie's guidance, the student broadcast journalism program received numerous accolades, including seven National Student Production Awards and 79 Regional SPAs (Student Production Awards), equivalent to the student Emmy Awards, from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Vice President Weaver invited Council and the Mayor to join him for a photo with Mr. Lowrie and noted that Mr. Lowrie would share a few words. City of Gahanna Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes October 2, 2023 Mr. Mark Lowrie expressed his gratitude for being honored and thanked everyone for having him. He shared his unexpected journey to Gahanna, which started with a relationship that led him to move to the city. He emphasized his belief in the interconnectedness of the schools and the city, viewing them as serving the same people. He highlighted the collaborative efforts between his students and the city, including covering events like the Blues and Jazz Fest and producing shows featuring Mayor Jadwin during the pandemic. Mr. Lowrie underscored that the recognition as the Ohio Teacher of the Year was not just a personal achievement but a positive reflection on the entire city. He acknowledged the pride the city could take in this honor and how it provided an opportunity to promote Gahanna Lincoln High School and advocate for teachers both locally and across the state. He spoke about his upcoming responsibilities, including engaging in professional development and advocating for important education issues in collaboration with educators from across the country. Despite the challenges ahead, he expressed his enthusiasm and commitment to fulfilling this role before passing the torch to someone else in the future. Mr. Lowrie concluded by expressing his appreciation for the recognition and attention. D. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Minutes - To Approve: 2023-0167 FIN Minutes 9.18.2023 The minutes were approved on the Consent Agenda. 2023-0168 CN Minutes 9.18.2023 The minutes were approved on the Consent Agenda. 2023-0169 CN Special Minutes 9.25.2023 The minutes were approved on the Consent Agenda. 2023-0170 COTW Minutes 9.25.2023 The minutes were approved on the Consent Agenda. 2023-0171 FIN Minutes 9.25.2023 The minutes were approved on the Consent Agenda. 2. Resolutions: RES-0032-2023 A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND HONORING MR. MARK LOWRIE City of Gahanna Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes October 2, 2023 The Resolution was adopted on the Consent Agenda. End of Consent Agenda A motion was made by Schnetzer, seconded by Angelou, to Pass the Consent Agenda. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Angelou, Bowers, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver E. ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION / FIRST READING: ORD-0068-2023 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS - Water Meter Fees President Renner introduced the Ordinance and read it by title. ORD-0070-2023 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS - Developers Escrow Fund and Capital Improvement Fund President Renner introduced the Ordinance and read it by title. F. CORRESPONDENCE AND ACTIONS: 1. Clerk - None. 2. Council - None. G. REPRESENTATIVES: 1. Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) - Renner, Weaver Vice President Weaver provided a summary of the Community Improvement Corporation meeting held on Tuesday, September 26th, at 8 A.M. He reported that the meeting commenced with an update from the administration. The discussion revolved around the zoning code rewrite input survey, which was made accessible on Facebook and the city's website. Director Blackford's team, along with other city representatives, gathered feedback from the community at the Mill Street Market. Residents engaged positively with the open setting, preferring it over a formal Town Hall format. The survey would remain open until October 8th, with the anticipation of legislative action before Council by the end of the year. Vice President Weaver announced that on Friday, October 20th, Columbus Business First would host a breakfast at the library, with more details to follow. He noted the Development Department's ongoing efforts to assist small and medium-sized businesses in Gahanna as they sought expansion opportunities within the city. Additionally, there was an expectation of news regarding new businesses filling locations in Creekside in the near future. The meeting also included an executive session pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code 121.22 (G)(8). Vice President Weaver mentioned that City of Gahanna Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes October 2, 2023 the next meeting of the Community Improvement Corporation would take place on Tuesday, October 24th, in the Committee Room at 8 A.M. He expressed gratitude to the administration and staff for updating the minutes on Gahannacic.com and concluded his report. 2. Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) - Angelou 2023-0172 Councilmember Angelou's MORPC Report to City Council 9.29.2023 Councilmember Angelou reported on recent meetings and engagements. She mentioned that the executive committee meeting was scheduled for October 5th, which was a Thursday. Additionally, she informed the council that the full Planning Commission meeting would be held on October 12th. Councilmember Angelou highlighted a meeting she attended with Mayor Jadwin at MORPC. At this meeting, they engaged with William Murdock and Eileen Leuby. This annual meeting focused on discussing ways MORPC could assist Gahanna and vice versa. Councilmember Angelou expressed that both she and Mayor Jadwin had positive remarks about MORPC's support for Gahanna and indicated that Mayor Jadwin would provide more detailed information about the beneficial aspects of MORPC's assistance to the city. Mayor Jadwin provided an overview of the recent MORPC meeting. She expressed gratitude for the discussion and briefly outlined the key points of the conversation. The mayor highlighted the focus on new grant funding projects that MORPC has initiated. She informed the council about the upcoming state capital budget submissions, emphasizing the opportunity to propose projects for funding later in the year. During the meeting, the participants discussed ongoing projects in Gahanna, as well as initiatives planned for the next three years. Mayor Jadwin underscored the valuable insights shared by MORPC regarding the application process for Community Grant funds, considering it one of the most beneficial aspects of the discussion. Additionally, sustainability opportunities and the potential impact of the rail, light rail, project on Gahanna were addressed during the meeting. Councilmember Angelou provided an update on the upcoming Summit on Sustainability, scheduled for October 26th. She expressed her hope that all council members would attend the event, emphasizing its significance. She highlighted Todd Brady, Vice President of Global Public Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer at Intel Corporation, as the keynote speaker for the summit. Councilmember Angelou commended Mayor Jadwin's active involvement in the event. She acknowledged Mayor Jadwin's integral role in the summit and shared details about the discussions with William Murdock and Eileen Leuby from MORPC. She expressed her admiration for the work being done at MORPC and the overwhelming number of initiatives underway. Councilmember Angelou mentioned a framework document from September 28th, which she intended to leave with the clerk for further review. She appreciated the collaborative efforts in preparing the agenda file attachments and concluded her report. City of Gahanna Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes October 2, 2023 3. Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) - Padova Councilmember Padova highlighted Amanda Ferguson from the Ohio Herb Center, mentioning her feature in the recent issue of Columbus Monthly. Amanda was recognized with a full-page article that showcased the unique aspects of Gahanna, including its distinction as Ohio's Herb Capital. Councilmember Padova congratulated Amanda Ferguson on her successful interview. 4. School Board (SB) - Bowers Councilmember Bowers reported on the board of education's regular meeting held on September 21st. During the meeting, Mr. Lowrie was recognized as the 2024 Ohio Teacher of the Year, and Councilmember Bowers congratulated him and Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools (GJPS) on this significant achievement. She also acknowledged nine Gahanna Lincoln High School students who received recognition from the College Board's National African-American Recognition Awards. Councilmember Bowers provided an update on the district's capital projects. The foundation for the new high school building was nearing completion, with concrete footings finished for the academic wing. Foundation work was ongoing, and structural steel installation was expected to commence in mid-October. Construction at Middle School East was progressing, with a renovation portion completed before the school year started. Efforts were focused on the addition at Middle School East, slated for completion by the end of 2023. Other components of phase two, including Blacklick and High Point projects as well as the Athletics complex and GLHS Stadium, were nearing substantial completion. H. OFFICIAL REPORTS: 1. Mayor Mayor Jadwin provided updates on various initiatives and events in the city. The new city website, gahanna.gov, was launched after over a year's worth of work. The updated layout makes it easier to access information and includes new features allowing residents to reserve golf course tee times and shelter houses online. Mayor Jadwin expressed gratitude to Director Schultz, IT Manager Rene Carter, the communication and marketing team, and Kelsey Bartholomew for their work on the website. Mayor Jadwin highlighted the success of the flea market booth, where Director Blackford and his team engaged with residents, receiving valuable feedback. She encouraged residents to participate in the ongoing zoning code survey, available on the city's website until Sunday evening. The Mayor emphasized the importance of public engagement in shaping the community's future and requested assistance from Council members in encouraging participation. Additionally, Mayor Jadwin announced National Coffee with a Cop Day on October 4th from 4 to 6 PM at Starbucks, featuring a relaxed environment for residents to interact with police officers. She reminded residents about the expiration of the grace period for distracted driving legislation, urging everyone to refrain City of Gahanna Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes October 2, 2023 from texting and driving and to prioritize road safety, especially in school zones. 2. City Attorney City Attorney Mularski informed the council that he didn't want to take away from Councilwoman Padova's topic, as it was her area of expertise. He stated that he would defer to her to provide details about their meeting on Wednesday. He assured the council that aside from that topic, everything was running smoothly, and he had no further updates to add. I. COUNCIL COMMENT: Councilmember McGregor expressed her gratitude to everyone who attended the Mill Street Market on the 24th. She mentioned that the weather was wonderful, and it turned out to be a great day. Many attendees enjoyed visiting the various booths, and the vendors were happy, which pleased the organizers. Councilmember McGregor shared an email from a lady who attended, stating that the best thing about the event was the opportunity to visit with friends and neighbors. She highlighted that the essence of such festivals lies in providing a space for the community to gather and connect. Councilmember Bowers began by congratulating the Historical Society on the successful Mill Street Market. She expressed her pleasure at interacting with residents during the event, discussing their views on ongoing land use in the community. Councilmember Bowers also took a moment to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. She emphasized the importance of screenings and self-education about detecting breast cancer, noting that it can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. She shared a personal story about a friend who survived breast cancer, highlighting that the disease can also impact younger women. Additionally, Councilmember Bowers expressed her appreciation for the mayor circulating the executive order appointing the Arts Policy Committee. She mentioned that she had briefly reviewed the order and looked forward to discussing it further at the next week's committee meeting. She expressed a desire to understand the authority behind the order and the expectations regarding the proposed policy from the committee. Councilmember Padova expressed her gratitude to the Historical Society for organizing the Mill Street Market. She described it as a great festival where she had the opportunity to meet many friends and neighbors. She highlighted the value of such local festivals, emphasizing the joy of connecting with both new and familiar faces. Councilmember Padova shared a personal experience about her daughter purchasing a small fire truck at the event, indicating that it has become a cherished possession, making the four dollars spent well worth it. Vice President Weaver began by expressing his appreciation for the Historical Society's efforts in organizing the Mill Street Market. He thanked Make Gahanna Yours and all the volunteers who contributed to the success of the farmers market over several seasons. Vice President Weaver acknowledged the hard work and dedication of community members involved in these City of Gahanna Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes October 2, 2023 events. He emphasized the importance of community support and participation, expressing a desire for a larger turnout. Vice President Weaver recognized the collaborative effort required from the entire community, emphasizing the significance of community members actively engaging and participating in these events for their success. J. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business before the Council, President Renner adjourned the meeting at 7:27 p.m. Jeremy A. VanMeter Clerk of Council APPROVED by the City Council, this day of 2023. Stephen A. Renner City of Gahanna Page 7