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, August 18, 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, August 18, 2025, in Council Chambers. President of Council Merisa K. Bowers called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Vice President of Council Trenton I. Weaver delivered an Invocation. Scouts Pack Troop 317 led members in the Pledge of Allegiance. The agenda was published on August 15, 2025. Present 7 - Merisa K. Bowers, Jamille Jones, Nancy R. McGregor, Kaylee Padova, Stephen A. Renner, Michael Schnetzer, and Trenton I. Weaver B. ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA: None. C. PRESENTATIONS: 1. Joint Resolution/Proclamation Presentation by Council & Mayor: Designating August 2025 as Share the Road and Distracted Driving Awareness Month, in memory of Roseann Peiffer President Bowers introduced a joint resolution and proclamation designating August 2025 as Share the Road and Distracted Driving Awareness Month in memory of Roseann Peiffer. She said Roseann was an experienced triathlete, a beloved mother, wife, and friend who died earlier in the year when a distracted driver crossed the center lane and struck her while she was cycling. Bowers said the resolution and proclamation served as a reminder that crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists were preventable only if people remained vigilant, urged drivers to slow down and put away distractions, and called on everyone, drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, to take responsibility for keeping one another safe. She said the proclamation also affirmed the City of Gahanna’s commitment to building safer City of Gahanna Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes August 18, 2025 infrastructure to support walking, cycling, and active transportation. She thanked the cyclists, cycling advocates, community members, and the Gahanna Division of Police for their work and dedication, announced that the Council would share a video comment from Roseann’s sister Kristen, and introduced Nicole Reece to speak on behalf of Roseann’s family after the video. Kristen Jindra, via video comment, said that on May 31, 2025, her life changed irreparably when her father called to tell her that her sister Roseann had been killed by a distracted driver. She described the screams she heard that day and said the deaths of Roseann, herself, Roseann’s husband Mike, and her parents destroyed the family they were. She said Roseann was her only sister, older by eighteen months, and that they did nearly everything together, including having their first children. She said Roseann’s daughter and her own child would grow up without memories of Roseann. Jindra recounted Roseann’s athletic achievements, triathlete, cyclist, marathoner, ultramarathoner, swimmer, hiker, and snowboarder, including winning a 212-mile gravel race in Michigan and competing at national and world levels, and said those achievements represented only one piece of Roseann’s life. Jindra said Roseann was a devout Catholic, loving sister, daughter, wife, incredible mother, and humble friend. She described the collision as occurring when a sober man crossed the entire road and struck Roseann. She asked what his punishment would be and said he would receive ninety days in jail and a license suspension. Jindra cited a new data tool from thewhiteline.org and said Ohio recorded roughly 3,100 vulnerable road user deaths between 2001 and 2023, about one human life taken every three days, and said Ohio ranked forty-eighth for accountability. She said the U.S. Department of Transportation estimated 39,345 traffic crash deaths in 2024 and questioned what incentives would exist to prevent such deaths if the law did not impose stricter consequences. Nicole Reece thanked the City of Gahanna and Councilwoman Bowers for raising awareness and giving the issue attention. Reece identified herself as the president of the Toledo Area Bicyclists, the largest cycling group in northwest Ohio, and said she represented the triathlon community as well. She said Roseann was her friend and coach and that the proclamation served as both a symbolic honor and a call to action. Reece said she convened a steering committee in northwest Ohio and urged coalition-building among advocates across the state to create change more efficiently and effectively. She challenged the community to join the coalition and help build safety for cyclists. President Bowers, Mayor Jadwin, and Councilmembers presented the resolution and proclamation to Nicole Reece on behalf of the City of Gahanna. Attendees applauded. City of Gahanna Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes August 18, 2025 D. HEARING OF VISITORS: Maximilian Orsley of Gahanna, OH, spoke on the joint resolution/proclamation and pedestrian and cyclist safety. Mr. Orsley thanked the City and Council for the proclamation and for recognizing the need to protect pedestrians and cyclists. He took issue with the proclamation’s wording that suggested increased individual attentiveness alone would prevent deaths, and he urged the Council to take action by building safer infrastructure, specifically separated bicycle lanes with concrete barriers to prevent cars from striking cyclists. Jessica Miller of Sunbury, OH, spoke on the joint resolution/proclamation presented in memory of Roseann Peiffer. Ms. Miller said she was Roseann Peiffer’s sister-in-law and thanked the Council and Mayor for the joint resolution and proclamation and for honoring Roseann’s memory and legacy. She urged Council members to “compete with yourselves” to leave Gahanna’s roads safer than they were when they took office. E. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Minutes - To Approve: 2025-0155 Council Regular Minutes 8.4.2025 The minutes were approved on the Consent Agenda. 2025-0156 Council Special Minutes 8.11.2025 The minutes were approved on the Consent Agenda. 2025-0157 Committee of the Whole Minutes 8.11.2025 The minutes were approved on the Consent Agenda. End of Consent Agenda A motion was made by Weaver, seconded by Renner, to Pass the Consent Agenda. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Bowers, Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver F. MOTIONS: City of Gahanna Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes August 18, 2025 MT-0010-2025 A MOTION TO APPOINT HOLLY HAINES TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, SEAT 1, FOR THE UNEXPIRED TERM ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2025 President Bowers noted the position was open due to a vacancy in July. Ms. Haines previously applied for the seat and was previously interviewed by Council. Bowers noted that Haines demonstrated impressive knowledge and stewardship of the natural environment and added that Haines would be a great addition to the Parks and Recreation Board. A motion was made by Schnetzer, seconded by Renner, that the Motion be Approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Bowers, Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver G. RESOLUTIONS: RES-0034-2025 A JOINT RESOLUTION AND PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING AUGUST 2025 AS SHARE THE ROAD AND DISTRACTED DRIVING AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF GAHANNA Vice President Weaver offered his heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Ms. Peiffer and thanked the advocates, family, and friends who joined the meeting that evening. He noted that with school back in session he observed children on roads that lacked sidewalks or trails and said that sight weighed heavily on his mind when he drove. He added that his wife worked as a public school teacher and urged drivers to pay attention. Weaver also recognized Mr. Orsley’s comments during the Hearing of Visitors. President Bowers acknowledged those in the audience who spoke regarding the resolution and referenced Mr. Orsley’s comments. She described a seminar video that showed a vehicle veering off a divided highway and crashing through a farm stand, noting the discussion about defensive architecture such as bollards or other proactive construction that could save lives. She said Gahanna and central Ohio were recognizing the critical need for such infrastructure, observed that the City of Gahanna incorporated it into the new library and the municipal complex designs, and stated that the resolution included a paragraph calling for continued investment in infrastructure that supported safety while also urging people to drive seriously. A motion was made by Renner, seconded by Weaver, that the Resolution be Adopted. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Bowers, Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver H. ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION / FIRST READING: ORD-0035-2025 AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING, APPROVING, AND RATIFYING THE City of Gahanna Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes August 18, 2025 SUBMITTED RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA TAX INCENTIVE REVIEW COUNCIL FOR TAX YEAR 2023 President Bowers introduced the Ordinance and the Clerk read it by title. I. ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING / ADOPTION: ORD-0031-2025 AN ORDINANCE TO LEVY SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS FOR CERTAIN REAL ESTATE WITHIN THE 2022 SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, TO APPROVE COSTS AND QUANTITIES, AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY President Bowers introduced the Ordinance and the Clerk read it by title. President Bowers announced an amendment required to accept a substitute EXHIBIT A. A motion was made by Weaver, seconded by Jones, that the Ordinance be Amended by Substitution of EXHIBIT A. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Bowers, Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver A motion was made by Weaver, seconded by Renner, that the Ordinance be Adopted, as Amended, as an Emergency. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Bowers, Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver ORD-0032-2025 AN ORDINANCE TO LEVY SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS FOR CERTAIN REAL ESTATE WITHIN THE 2024 SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, TO APPROVE COSTS AND QUANTITIES, AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY President Bowers introduced the Ordinance and read it by title. President Bowers noted that she appreciated the residents' comments at the Public Hearing on the assessments at the last Regular Meeting on August 4, 2025. She said their voices were heard and that the administration would continue to take those comments into consideration as it moved forward. She also recognized the constant cost of home ownership. A motion was made by Weaver, seconded by Renner, that the Ordinance be Adopted as an Emergency. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Bowers, Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver ORD-0034-2025 AN ORDINANCE TO REAUTHORIZE AND AMEND THE CREEKSIDE OUTDOOR REFRESHMENT AREA (CORA) IN ACCORDANCE WITH OHIO REVISED CODE 4301.82 City of Gahanna Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes August 18, 2025 President Bowers introduced the Ordinance and read it by title. A motion was made by Weaver, seconded by Renner, that the Ordinance be Adopted. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Bowers, Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver J. ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION, WAIVER & ADOPTION: ORD-0036-2025 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO AWARD AND ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH HGC CONSTRUCTION CO. FOR THE RENOVATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE PRICE ROAD HOUSE FACILITY; AUTHORIZING SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS; AND WAIVING SECOND READING President Bowers introduced the Ordinance and the Clerk read it by title. A motion was made by Renner, seconded by Padova, that the Ordinance be Waived for Second Reading. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Bowers, Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver President Bowers encouraged attendees to review last week's Committee of the Whole meeting on August 11, 2025, noting many guests attended tonight’s meeting and the meeting progressed quickly. She described the Price Road House project as an outdoor exploration center that would serve future generations, said they had a contract to move forward with the project, and thanked Parks and Recreation Director Ferrell for her tenacity in advancing it. A motion was made by Renner, seconded by Padova, that the Ordinance be Adopted. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Bowers, Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver K. ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION, WAIVER & EMERGENCY ADOPTION: ORD-0033-2025 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH WINSTED COMPANY, LLC, FOR FURNITURE PROCUREMENT AND INSTALLATION SERVICES RELATED TO THE RENOVATION AND EXPANSION OF 825 TECH CENTER DRIVE; WAIVING SECOND READING AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY President Bowers introduced the Ordinance and the Clerk read it by title. A motion was made by Renner, seconded by Padova, that the Ordinance be Waived for Second Reading. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Bowers, Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver A motion was made by Renner, seconded by Jones, that the Ordinance be Adopted as an Emergency. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Bowers, Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver City of Gahanna Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes August 18, 2025 L. CORRESPONDENCE AND ACTIONS: 1. Clerk - None. 2. Council - None. M. REPRESENTATIVES: 1. Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) - Renner, Padova Councilmember Renner said that a CIC meeting occurred that evening at 6:00 p.m., which he missed because the notice was difficult to find in his email. He reported that he confirmed the CIC’s regular meeting for the following morning at 7:30 a.m. Mayor Jadwin confirmed the meeting would begin at 7:30 the next morning and run from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. as an extended meeting due to the length of the agenda. Councilmember Renner acknowledged the schedule. 2. Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) - Weaver 2025-0162 Councilmember Weaver's MORPC Report to City Council 8.18.2025 Vice President Weaver thanked the Council Office for its assistance in preparing the report and encouraged members to review it. He reported that the commission met on August 14, 2025, and livestreamed the meeting, and he announced that the commission would next meet on September 11, 2025. He said Scott Brown, regional liaison from Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber’s office, presented the Auditor of State Award with Distinction to MORPC. He noted that the commission elected Mayor Jadwin to serve as secretary of the executive committee and congratulated her. He reported that Gahanna had become home to an air quality alert monitor and that the commission adopted MORPC’s 2025-2028 Regional Sustainability Agenda. He said the report included a link to MORPC’s complete legislative update and highlighted upcoming events: a forum on emerging energy technologies on August 27, 2025, at OSU, the Safe Streets Central Ohio meeting on September 9, 2025, at the Wigwam Event Center, and the Summit on Sustainability on September 30, 2025. He asked members to notify the Clerk if they wished to attend the summit. Mayor Jadwin said that MORPC officially adopted the 2025-2028 Regional Sustainability Agenda (RSA) the previous Thursday. She said the RSA provided a framework for MORPC members and regional partners to work City of Gahanna Page 7 City Council Meeting Minutes August 18, 2025 toward common goals and to advance a more sustainable region. She said the RSA aligned with and enhanced other regional plans, including the Metropolitan Transportation Plan and the Regional Trail Vision, and that the Sustainable 2050 program tied directly to the RSA. She described the RSA framework as including five overarching goals, 24 measurable objectives, and over 130 strategies. She said the RSA would provide a menu of activities that Sustainable 2050 members could use to document achievements and to earn elevated certification levels. She reported that the City of Gahanna recertified earlier in the year as a Sustainable 2050 member with an elevated status of Gold Plus Equity Champion. She said MORPC would develop an implementation resource guide for communities and would work with members to update the Sustainable 2050 certification process. She acknowledged the RSA subcommittee, led by Mike Shelton of the OSU Sustainability Initiative, and said the subcommittee vetted the agenda thoroughly and produced a thoughtful revised agenda. 3. Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) - Padova Councilmember Padova reported that Visit Gahanna would provide the music at the Gahanna Market the following Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. She said Jeff McCargish, who performed on the blues stage during the Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival this past summer, with the band North of Memphis, would perform. She invited members to stop by Creekside for the Gahanna Market. Padova stated that the Herb Center hosted a motor coach group that dined at 101 Craft Kitchen while in town. She said Visit Gahanna prepared welcome bags for guests who stayed in Gahanna for a wedding over the weekend. Padova noted that, although not a Visit Gahanna event, Visit Gahanna was helping to promote the Chamber’s Taste of Gahanna, which would take place that Sunday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Edison, and she said tickets were available on the Chamber’s website. 4. School Board (SB) - Jones Councilmember Jones provided highlights from the most recent board workshop meeting. She explained that the Board Workshop meetings travel around the district and that different directors present detailed information at those meetings. She reported that Principal Williams from the high school delivered a data update at the August 7, 2025, meeting and that the presentation included many statistics; she encouraged anyone interested to view the presentation online. Jones highlighted two statistics from the high school data: fighting incidents decreased by 28 percent, and students reported a 14 percent increase in belonging as measured by the Panorama survey. She observed that the decrease in fighting suggested positive progress regarding school resource officers and that staff across the district implemented initiatives that likely contributed to these results. She noted that City of Gahanna Page 8 City Council Meeting Minutes August 18, 2025 the August 7, 2025, data focused on the high school but that teachers, staff, and administrators districtwide were doing innovative work to produce similar outcomes. Jones announced upcoming meetings, which included a Finance and Facilities meeting scheduled for August 19, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., the Regular Board Meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 21, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at Clark Hall, and the next Board Workshop Meeting scheduled for September 4, 2025, with time and location to be announced. She also reported that Chief Spence and Dr. Deagle appeared in a video about safety, which emphasized increased safety measures as students returned to school amid increased bus, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic. N. OFFICIAL REPORTS: 1. Mayor Mayor Jadwin thanked Council for the opportunity to join the joint resolution and proclamation recognizing Share the Road and Distracted Driving Awareness Month. She said the proclamation honored Roseann Peiffer and reminded the audience that a similar tragedy occurred about a year earlier with the loss of Johnny Gaudreaux and his brother. She thanked Roseann’s family and friends for sharing her story, observed that such tragedies produced a ripple effect through families and communities, and said the incidents underscored the need for more intensive consideration of how the City of Gahanna handled and designed shared roadways. Mayor Jadwin remarked that, with school starting, pedestrian and bicycle traffic would increase and urged drivers to remain cognizant and focused. She referenced Mr. Orsley’s earlier comments about infrastructure and said investing in trails, multi-use paths, and safer roadway design formed a necessary part of the City of Gahanna’s response. She noted that the engineering team, including Senior Transportation Mobility Engineer Paige Wright, worked on these issues daily. Mayor Jadwin reported that the Franklin County Engineers Office led paving and construction work along the Morse Road corridor and that the City of Gahanna agreed to partner financially on the project with the City of New Albany because the corridor crossed municipal boundaries. She said the work would occur throughout September, advised travelers to consider alternate routes, and likened the temporary inconvenience to remodeling a kitchen with the expectation that the finished project would provide long-term benefit. Mayor Jadwin announced that the Division of Police had an on-site Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) assessor that week as the final phase of a multiyear accreditation process. She said the assessor would evaluate four pillars, which included recruiting, City of Gahanna Page 9 City Council Meeting Minutes August 18, 2025 training, community engagement, and mental health, and that the assessor toured the new municipal complex at 825 Tech Center Drive and reviewed police facilities. She said the assessor would conduct interviews with staff and community members and would be in the community that week, and she expressed the City of Gahanna’s hope to complete accreditation later in the year. Mayor Jadwin reported on community events. She noted that the final Creekside Live concert would occur on Friday, August 22, 2025, with an opening act beginning at 5:30 p.m. and Pop Gun performing later in the evening. She encouraged attendees to arrive early for good seating. Finally, Mayor Jadwin reminded the public of the Gahanna ice cream social on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Creekside Plaza. She said Planning NEXT and City of Gahanna staff would present the final draft review of the strategic plan at that event, described the engagement as the community’s last opportunity to provide input on the draft, and said subsequent pop-up events would follow. She directed attendees to the City of Gahanna website for additional information. 2. City Attorney City Attorney Tamilarasan provided two updates. She reported that the Pinnacle Pointe litigation involving Brookewood Construction concluded. The appeal period had run and no party filed a timely appeal, so the litigation ended. She also reported that the tobacco preemption litigation was appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court, which she expected. She said that the appeal process began but would move slowly and that she would keep Council apprised of any developments. She invited members to contact her with questions about any pending litigation. O. COUNCIL COMMENT: Councilmember McGregor thanked the Boy Scouts for attending and commended the troop as an impressive group. She reported that several scouts earned their Eagle Award through work with the Historical Society and encouraged others to seek that achievement. Councilmember Jones thanked the Boy Scouts and noted that she texted a photo of the scouts to her husband, an Eagle Scout. She thanked the scouts for spending their Monday evening with the Council. Councilmember Padova echoed thanks to the scouts, offered condolences to the family and friends of Roseann Peiffer, and thanked Roseann’s sister for submitting the video. She expressed appreciation for the advocacy on Roseann’s behalf. City of Gahanna Page 10 City Council Meeting Minutes August 18, 2025 Councilmember Renner thanked Troop 317 for providing such a large turnout and observed that many of the scouts were likely seeing government in action for the first time. He noted that the meeting recording would be available on YouTube, thanked those who attended and presented, said he was emotional during Kristen Jindra’s remarks, and urged greater attention to infrastructure and separation between bike lanes and roadways. He reported seeing motorists use the middle lane on Stygler as a passing lane and recounted an incident near Woodmark Run in which a vehicle used the middle lane. He expressed concern that a severe accident could occur. Vice President Weaver thanked the scouts for leading the Pledge of Allegiance and thanked the Division of Police for National Night Out, noting his participation in the dunk tank. He added that Ward 4 hosted many community events over the weekend and announced a constituent hour on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in the front lobby conference room. President Bowers thanked Troop 317 for leading the Pledge, recognized former Franklin County Engineer Cornell Robertson in attendance, and thanked Bicycle and Trails Advisory Committee (BTAC) members Mr. Miller and Mr. Drum for attending. She reported that she attached her bimonthly constituent report to the agenda. She discussed the Gahanna energy choice municipal aggregation program, noted that energy rates fluctuate, and said the City of Gahanna currently provided 100% renewable energy for customers who took no action. She explained that customers could opt to remain in the municipal program or shop the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) energy choice website for alternative contracts. She reported that the municipal program saved about ten dollars compared to the price-to-compare and said she identified another 100% renewable option that cost one cent less. She encouraged residents to review the energy choice options and to contact the administration or Councilmember Renner for guidance. 2025-0151 Councilmember Merisa K. Bowers' Constituent Report - June-July 2025 P. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business before the Council, President Bowers adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m. Jeremy A. VanMeter Clerk of Council City of Gahanna Page 11 City Council Meeting Minutes August 18, 2025 APPROVED by the City Council, this day of 2025. Merisa K. Bowers City of Gahanna Page 12