City Council

200 South Hamilton Road City of Gahanna Gahanna, Ohio 43230 Meeting Minutes City Council Merisa K. Bowers, President Trenton I. Weaver, Vice President Jamille Jones Nancy R. McGregor Kaylee Padova Stephen A. Renner Michael Schnetzer Jeremy A. VanMeter, Clerk of Council Monday, July 21, 2025 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, July 21, 2025, in Council Chambers. Vice President of Council Trenton I. Weaver called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilmember Stephen A. Renner delivered an Invocation and led members in the Pledge of Allegiance. The agenda was published on July 18, 2025. Present 6 - Jamille Jones, Nancy R. McGregor, Kaylee Padova, Stephen A. Renner, Michael Schnetzer, and Trenton I. Weaver Absent 1 - Merisa K. Bowers B. ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA: None. C. PRESENTATIONS: Swearing-in Ceremony - Division of Police Luke Guthrie, Police Officer, and Amber Ramsey, Communication Technician II Mayor Jadwin invited Director of Public Safety Tim Becker to introduce the swearing-in ceremonies. Director Becker reminded the Council that he and Chief Spence appeared before them the previous fall to request a second communications technician supervisor for the radio room, that the Council approved the request, and that they promoted Amber Ramsey for the second half of the year. He noted that she performed excellently in the radio room and was ready to assume supervisory responsibilities. Mayor Jadwin administered the oath of office to Amber Ramsey as Communications Technician II for the Gahanna Division of Police. Director Becker then introduced Luke Guthrie, whom he said was joining the city from Knox County as an established deputy. Guthrie would enter field training the following week City of Gahanna Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes July 21, 2025 and begin protecting Gahanna as a police officer. Mayor Jadwin administered the oath of office to Luke Guthrie. Mayor Jadwin congratulated both Ramsey and Guthrie. Director Becker expressed enthusiasm about the two new members beginning and noted that additional new personnel would appear before the Council shortly; he thanked the Council for its continued investment in public safety and said he hoped residents would have the opportunity to meet them soon. Vice President Weaver congratulated Officer Guthrie and Ms. Ramsey and their families, remarking that although he might say “welcome to Gahanna,” they already appeared familiar with the city, and thanked their colleagues for attending, commenting that he appreciated having a full house. D. HEARING OF VISITORS: Craig Clawson of Gahanna, OH, spoke on the proposed Velocis tax abatement. Mr. Clawson thanked the Council for pausing the tax abatement for the Velocis warehouse project. He said Council’s willingness to slow down and investigate the developer’s background showed real diligence and he appreciated their commitment to protecting the public’s interest. As Council continued to evaluate the proposal, he offered a broader perspective on the use of tax abatements in the current economic landscape. He said municipal budgets were shrinking, revenue from state and federal sources was becoming less reliable, and the cost of providing basic services, such as public safety, roads, and schools, continued to grow. In that context, he said, offering an 80% tax abatement worth over $3.7 million across 12 years constituted a serious financial decision with long-term consequences, not a minor incentive. He noted that such deals often relied on the promise of job creation, but that premise deserved closer examination because the job market faced extreme uncertainty due to automation and artificial intelligence. He added that warehouses already were moving toward robotics and reduced headcounts, so the 37 jobs being promised might look very different in five years, and without enforceable guarantees, the projects remained speculative. He recalled that in 2019 Gahanna raised taxes on its residents to fund essential services and said that when the city turned around and offered massive abatements to private developers, it unfairly shifted the tax burden away from businesses and onto families; he characterized that as neither sustainable nor equitable. He urged the Council to continue applying the same careful scrutiny they had shown so far and said economic development needed to rest on fair, transparent, and future-ready policies. E. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Minutes - To Approve: City of Gahanna Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes July 21, 2025 2025-0145 Council Regular Minutes 7.7.2025 The minutes were approved on the Consent Agenda. 2025-0146 Council Special Minutes 7.10.2025 The minutes were approved on the Consent Agenda. End of Consent Agenda A motion was made by Schnetzer, seconded by Renner, to Pass the Consent Agenda. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver Absent: 1- Bowers F. CORRESPONDENCE AND ACTIONS: 1. Clerk - None. 2. Council - None. G. REPRESENTATIVES: 1. Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) - Renner, Padova Councilmember Padova reported that their last meeting occurred on July 15, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. She said Mayor Jadwin informed them that Uniquely Gahanna was arriving in mailboxes. Mayor Jadwin also updated the CIC about the strategic planning event at Creekside scheduled for August 26, 2025, and advised them to watch for the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that would come to Council in August 2025. On planning, Director Blackford said projects were a bit slow, so staff were shifting their focus to working on code. On development, the administration reported that the CORA (Creekside Outdoor Refreshment Area) renewal would go to the Committee of the Whole, at the following meeting, and that the annexation on Johnstown Road moved to the county level, so it was no longer before the City of Gahanna. The CIC then went into Executive Session and reconvened shortly after 9:00 a.m., after which they adjourned the meeting. Padova noted that their next meeting would be Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. 2. Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) - Weaver 2025-0147 Councilmember Weaver's MORPC Report to City Council 7.21.2025 City of Gahanna Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes July 21, 2025 Vice President Weaver stated that members would find his MORPC Report attached to the agenda. He said the agenda included links to a couple of attachments that he and Mayor Jadwin received during their membership services meeting with Executive Director William Murdock and Membership Services Officer Eileen Leuby of MORPC, and that the attachments contained some good information. He added that the agenda attachment also included MORPC’s July legislative update, noting that the update was published before that week’s actions at the Statehouse, asking the members to take a look. He said the commission would meet again in August 2025. 3. Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) - Padova Councilmember Padova reported that the next farmers market was scheduled for Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at Creekside. She asked the Council to save the date of August 2, 2025, for the Pelotonia cheering station in Gahanna, which Visit Gahanna would host at 7:30 a.m., and said people could contact Visit Gahanna for more information. 4. School Board (SB) - Jones None. H. OFFICIAL REPORTS: 1. Mayor Mayor Jadwin shared several items. She welcomed Officer Luke Guthrie to the public safety team and congratulated Amber Ramsey on her promotion, stating that those roles were critical to public safety and the delivery of services to the community. She said from the first call to the final response they served with professionalism, dedication, and commitment. She expressed confidence that Ramsey would continue in that regard and noted that Guthrie was bringing a wealth of experience. She said she looked forward to having them as part of the team. Several weeks earlier, Director Anverse from the Department of Public Service provided an update on the department’s work, the projects underway, and the investments the city was making. He specifically mentioned the investment in a new street sweeper, the creation of the new program, and bringing that function in-house, which enabled the city to expand the level of services while reducing costs. The program divided the city into five zones. The goal was to sweep all roadways three to five times a year; previously contracted work covered roadways twice a year and after special events. The crews had already begun their work. The city posted a map on Gahanna.gov showing projected time frames; they estimated a two-week window to cover each zone. The website also included a detailed explanation of the benefits of the street sweeping program, City of Gahanna Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes July 21, 2025 including improving aesthetics, helping with flood prevention, and improving water quality in local streams by removing debris. She said the team was very excited about the program, comparing their enthusiasm to little kids with Legos and cars, describing them as eager to train and begin. She encouraged members to look for the crews in their neighborhoods soon. Mayor Jadwin then outlined upcoming events. She said Uniquely Gahanna hit mailboxes and asked those who had not yet received their copies to watch for them; the publication featured stories on new businesses, development projects, the Our Gahanna strategic plan, the recent Citizens Academy, and the upcoming alumni musical that weekend. She deferred to Councilman Weaver to speak further about the musical and noted that she had tickets for both Friday and Sunday and offered extras to anyone who needed them. She said the Gahanna Market would take place that Wednesday, July 23, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Creekside Plaza; they had about 30 vendors previously and many, if not more, lined up for the market. Because the Council would not meet again before then, she mentioned that Saturday, August 2, 2025, would be a busy day in Gahanna. Pelotonia would ride through the city in the morning, taking the same path as before, entering northbound on Hamilton Road to Tech Center, Morrison, and then east on Taylor Road. She said Visit Gahanna and Make Gahanna Yours were partnering again on spirit stations to cheer riders. The ride would precede the Capital City Corvette car show at Creekside, which would run from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the city would post road closures along the roadways. That evening the Columbus Jazz Orchestra would perform at Headley Park as presented by the Gahanna Area Arts Council. Mayor Jadwin concluded by noting that the following week, Tuesday, August 5, 2025, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., the Division of Police would host National Night Out at Headley Park. She believed Councilman Weaver, she, and Chief Spence were all in line for the dunk tank and asked people to save their coins, saying she did not know the exact cost but hoped they would make it a good donation. She said more information about that event appeared on Gahanna.gov. She stated that the event always proved great, that officers looked forward to engaging with the community and the children, and that the children always enjoyed exploring the vehicles and equipment. She said she hoped to see everyone out there. 2. City Attorney City Attorney Tamilarasan reported that the Brookewood Construction versus City of Gahanna litigation in federal court reached an outcome. She said the lawsuit, which the plaintiff filed in January 2023, and which included various federal and state claims, resulted in the court granting a motion for summary judgment in favor of the city and the federal court declining to hear the state City of Gahanna Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes July 21, 2025 claim. She said the case was now dismissed and closed. She added that she would provide an update if any appeals arose and characterized the decision as very thorough and favorable to the city. I. COUNCIL COMMENT: Vice President Weaver reported that the first-ever Gahanna Lincoln High School (GLHS) Alumni Musical would take place the coming weekend, July 25 through July 27, 2025. He said he remained a proud alum of Gahanna schools and the theater program but clarified that he would not tap dance in the show, noting that nobody wanted to see him tap dance. He said the number of alumni participating impressed him, with the age range spanning 60 years of graduating classes. Because he had a little one on the way during the rehearsal process, he could not perform, but he stayed involved by assisting on the production team. He encouraged alumni to take advantage of one last chance to perform on the current GLHS theater stage and to get their tickets at glhsalumnimusical.com. He reminded the members that they would not meet the following week and that the next regularly scheduled Council meeting would occur on August 4, 2025. J. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business before the Council, Vice President Weaver adjourned the meeting at 7:21 p.m. Jeremy A. VanMeter Clerk of Council APPROVED by the City Council, this day of 2025. Merisa K. Bowers City of Gahanna Page 6