Committee of the Whole

City of Gahanna 200 South Hamilton Road Gahanna, Ohio 43230 Meeting Minutes Tuesday, November 12, 2013 7:00 PM Council Committee Rooms Committee of the Whole Stephen A. Renner Brandon Wright Beryl D. Anderson Karen J. Angelou Brian D. Larick Ryan P. Jolley Thomas R Kneeland Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes November 12, 2013 Present 6 - Stephen A. Renner, Brandon Wright, Karen J. Angelou, Brian D. Larick, Ryan P. Jolley, and Thomas R. Kneeland Absent 1 - Beryl D. Anderson ADDITIONAL ATTENDEES: Mayor Stinchcomb, Brandi Braun, Isobel Sherwood, Chief Murphy, Lt. Spence, Gen. Williams, Dottie Franey, Karl Wetherholt, Jennifer Teal, Joann Bury, Sue Wadley, Tony Collins, Anthony Jones; press; newly elected Council Members Michael Schnetzer and Jamie Leeseburg. ISSUES - From Director of Development: Establishment of Central Park TIF Jones said we are asking Council to authorize the Mayor to establish a TIF district for Central Park; we have invested a great deal of resources and time to make the area ripe for commercial development; in my opinion this is where a large portion of our growth potential will be in the next several years; in order to improve the area and capitalize on current investment that is underway; I'm referring to the hotels at Claycraft and Morrison Road being constructed; we are asking Council to authorize us to establish a non-school TIF within Central Park; the school district will not be impacted at this time; the development of the hotel will generate approximately $150,000 to $200,000 a year that could be put into a TIF and leveraged for various infrastructure improvements we have identified within the district; such as Morrison, Claycraft and Science Blvd. improvements, as well as Leavitt Service Road and Bricklawn; also for fiber optic expansion; many items that are on the capital needs assessment could be targeted from the resources we would get from this fund over a period of time; the revenue would be for a 30 year time period and would be established next year; it is important to note that the improvements are currently underway on Claycraft and Morrison and it is imperative if we are going to establish a TIF and capture that significant increment we are going to have to establish the TIF this year in order for the County Auditor to accept it to capture that increment once the hotel is complete. The boundary for the TIF would be Taylor Road to the north, Morrison Road to the west, our City boundaries to the south, and Taylor Station barring a few parcels to the east, and encompassing all of Central Park. Angelou asked where do you think that most of the new development will be on this map? Jones said along Techcenter Drive, Claycraft and City of Gahanna Page 1 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes November 12, 2013 Taylor Road; Angelou asked what kind of commercial development? Jones said office and corporate headquarters along Techcenter Drive which is our major employment road in our community; on the southern part of Claycraft more logistics with our rail line being adjacent to a 35 acre vacant parcel will be a primary component; Leavitt Service Road and Bricklawn would connect directly into once improvements are made; can see that being a large area for growth as well; also Technology Drive; there are a few pockets for growth for commercial; are working to establish as much commercial as possible. There was discussion about development that might be in the flight path. Jones said all of the City of Gahanna is obligated to the FAA standards of height restrictions; you cannot pass the lower threshold of the flight path; have heard in some places it can be as much as 7 stories and not be in violation; would be a concern during construction with cranes and that encroachment. Kneeland asked if the revenue from this TIF would have any negative impact on the General Fund? Teal said currently we receive under 3% of the property taxes paid on any particular property, and most of that revenue comes to the general fund; when we have a TIF in place we receive just under half of the property tax for any given property and those funds do go into the TIF fund; so theoretically you would be losing 3% of taxes paid on those properties in the General Fund, but then getting just under 50% in the TIF; without the TIF any infrastructure requirements would have to be paid out of the general fund; not losing much to gain quite a bit. Jolley clarified that the reason for requesting emergency was so that the TIF could be passed and downtown by the end of the year for the County Auditor to approve. Jones said that is correct. Recommendation: 1st Reading, Consent; no need to come back; 2nd Reading, Consent. ISSUES - From Director of Human Resources: Steelworkers Health & Welfare Agreement Wadley said with the Steelworkers Health & Welfare Agreement they are under their own medical plan based on the union contract; there is a process in place where we evaluate the net cost of that plan versus the plan we offer to non bargaining unit employees; if the cost is the same or less than then they would merge over to the non bargaining unit; we did that analysis of the rates and they are slightly below the cost of our plan so based on the current union contract they would remain with the Steelworkers for the 2014 year; as we start City of Gahanna Page 2 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes November 12, 2013 negotiations we will have discussion for future plans. Jolley said you did request emergency on this, and Wadley said yes. Recommendation: 1st Reading, Consent; no need to come back; 2nd Reading, Consent. Director of Emergency Management - Position Renewal Wadley said it is time to renew the Director of Emergency Management position; are requesting a two year contract as we have done in the past; this is a part-time position; we are not raising the salary; a lot of entities have this position as full time; there is a great need to have him continue on in this position; he is just paid for the hours he works. Recommendation: 1st Reading, Consent; no need to come back; 2nd Reading, Consent. ISSUES - From Director of Finance: 2014 Appropriations Teal presented the Five Year Forecast & 2014 Proposed Budget, available in the office of the Clerk of Council; review of the budget will begin at Committees on November 25, 2013. ISSUES - From Council: Ward Redistricting Wright said he would like to postpone this discussion until the next committees, as he was not able to contact everyone he needed to. Kneeland requested information about the ward redistricting as he was not on Council at the time. Ewald said the existing legislation would not go into effect until 2017. City of Gahanna Page 3 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes November 12, 2013 Isobel L. Sherwood, MMC Clerk of Council APPROVED by the Committee of the Whole, this day of 2013. Stephen A. Renner City of Gahanna Page 4