City Council - Special

200 South Hamilton Road City of Gahanna Gahanna, Ohio 43230 Meeting Minutes City Council - Special Jamie Leeseberg, President Nancy R. McGregor, Vice President Karen J. Angelou Merisa Bowers Brian D. Larick Stephen A. Renner Michael Schnetzer April Beggerow, CMC, Clerk of Council Friday, March 20, 2020 6:00 PM City Hall, Council Chambers Revised Special Meeting Agenda A. CALL MEETING TO ORDER - Roll Call. Gahanna City Council met in Special Session on Friday, March 20, 2020, in Council Chambers of City Hall, 200 South Hamilton Road, Gahanna, Ohio. President of Council, Jamie Leeseberg, called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Agenda for this meeting was published on March 19, 2020. Present 7 - Brian D. Larick, Jamie Leeseberg, Stephen A. Renner, Michael Schnetzer, Karen J. Angelou, Merisa Bowers, and Nancy R. McGregor B. LEGISLATION FOR INTRODUCTION/FIRST READING. ORD-033-2020 ORDINANCE TO DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN GAHANNA, OHIO, DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND TO EMPOWER THE MAYOR WITH EXTRAORDINARY POWERS DURING THE STATE OF EMERGENCY; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. This item has been introduced and stands for first reading. Action Notes: Mayor Jadwin explained that the as the COVID-19 situation developed, staff pointed out that there were problems that involve the need to suspend the Code. She discovered that the emergency powers that are granted under the code currently, do not allow the Mayor to handle things that are being brought about by our current situation with COVID-19 like suspending non-essential services including those that involve sending staff into houses that potentially expose them or residents to COVID-19; she cannot take actions to protect police officers- purchasing protective City of Gahanna Page 1 City Council - Special Meeting Minutes March 20, 2020 equipment, hiring temporary staff or paying for overtime. She, in discussion with the City Attorney have prepared two items to bring forward to Council. The first is a Resolution that was passed by Westerville, who determined their Code was ineffective against the current state of affairs. Their Code language is word for word the same as that of the City of Gahanna. The reason for this special meeting is to be open and transparent and to have the support of City Council. The second, is a request to amend the Code, to put in place a more updated emergency powers chapter. Mr. Mularski added that the with the exception of Section 1, the first ordinance is verbatim what Westerville recently passed. The added Section 1, contains the precise reason why we are bringing this forward. It gives those certain powers to allow her to suspend certain ordinances. That part is identical to Section e of the second ordinance brought forth this evening. Mrs. McGregor asked what year was the original ordinance presented. Mr. Mularski said it was 2001 right after 9/11. Mrs. Angelou asked about funding things. In order to make changes to what is being done. She wants to know on the expending such funds as she deems necessary, is there a way that we can have knowlege of this without having to call a meeting. Mr. Leeseberg said that in Section 8 it says the Mayor has to notify within 48 hours. Council discussed different options for the 48 hour notice and decided upon "as soon as possible, and no later than forty-eight hours". ORD-032-2020 ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA, OHIO: Amending Section 131.01 Emergency Powers, of Chapter 131 Mayor; AND DECLARING IT AN EMERGENCY This item has been introduced and stands for first reading. Action Notes: Mr. Leeseberg said that this is the more permanent, non COVID-19 specific language to change in the Code. City of Gahanna Page 2 City Council - Special Meeting Minutes March 20, 2020 Mr. Mularski said that the current code language is antiquated. Several city statutes were reviewed, many of which were the same as ours. The requested langauge orginates with the City of Upper Arlington. There are a couple of small changes that we've made. What with this code is that there is an order of succession, if the Mayor isn't available, the President of Council has the ability and so forth. Mr. Mularski read through changes in the other sections. He pointed out that the new legislation allows for Council to stop the emergency and doesn't allow for the emergency to be continued and continued. It puts back in the checks and balances. It gives the Mayor authority to put a moratorium on water shut offs which she doesn't have the power to do with the current ordinance. Council discussed minor changes to the text. Moving the last sentance in part E to the first sentance in part E and gramatical changes. C. ADJOURNMENT. Meeting was adjourned at 7:04 p.m. April Beggerow, MPA, CMC Clerk of Council APPROVED by the City Council - Special, this day of 2020. Jamie Leeseberg City of Gahanna Page 3