Committee of the Whole

200 South Hamilton Road City of Gahanna Gahanna, Ohio 43230 Meeting Minutes Committee of the Whole Stephen A. Renner, Vice President, Chair Brian Metzbower, President Jamie Leeseberg Karen J. Angelou Brian D. Larick Nancy R. McGregor Michael Schnetzer April Beggerow, CMC, Clerk of Council Monday, December 9, 2019 7:00 PM Council Committee Room A. CALL TO ORDER B. ITEMS FROM THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES ORD-0120-2019 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE SALARIES FOR PERSONNEL OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1, 2020 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2020; AND DECLARING IT AN EMERGENCY. Ms. Vollmer said that she updated the salary ordinance, changes are in orange. (Files attached). Only changes to the salary ordinance itself was an update to minimum wage. Mrs. Angelou asked about the new additions. Ms. Vollmer said they were added at the request of the Mayor-elect. Mrs. Jadwin said she is having ongoing discussions with staff and her plan is to separate Development and Planning. Same positions, different title. She continued that she is taking the Safety Director position and there will be a part time Safety Director, part time Emergency Management Director who would work with Franklin County and focus on development of emergency plans, pending further discussion with the Chief. RECOMMENDATION: Regular Agenda. ORD-0121-2019 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE BENEFITS FOR PERSONNEL OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2020; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. City of Gahanna Page 1 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes December 9, 2019 Ms. Vollmer said no changes were made to that from the previous discussion. Mrs. McGregor asked if there was a limit to the sick time transfer. Ms. Vollmer said there was not. RECOMMENDATION: Regular Agenda. ORD-0124-2019 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AN EXTENSION TO THE CURRENT UNITED STEELWORKERS OF AMERICA (USW) CONTRACT; AND DECLARING IT AN EMERGENCY. Ms. Vollmer said they are currently negotiating that contract and anticipate it to be wrapped up in January. Next session is scheduled for January 7th so an extension is requested. RECOMMENDATION: Consent Agenda. C. ITEM FROM THE CHIEF OF POLICE RES-0017-2019 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ADOPTION OF THE FRANKLIN COUNTY NATURAL HAZARDS MITIGATION PLAN (FRANKLIN COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT & HOMELAND SECURITY) Chief Spence presented that they are requesting the adoption of the Franklin County Natural Hazards mitigation plan. Council has adopted similar plans. This allows us to work through the county to seek reimbursement for expenses. This will be incorporated with the City's Emergency Operation Plan. The base of which will be worked on first quarter to reflect the City's operating structure. Mr. Leeseberg asked how many municipalities have adopted this plan. Chief Spence replied that there are 41 jurisdictions in Franklin County. About half have passed resolutions in support. Franklin County adopted the plan in 2018 and rolled it out to the municipalities. RECOMMENDATION: Consent Agenda. D. ITEMS FROM THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND ENGINEERING ORD-0125-2019 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH ABM INDUSTRY GROUPS; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY. Mr. Crawford presented the contract award. This contract was a re-bid and he is asking for waiver and emergency due to the new year. City of Gahanna Page 2 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes December 9, 2019 RECOMMENDATION: Consent Agenda. ORD-0126-2019 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A WORKING AGREEMENT WITH FRANKLIN SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT (FSWCD) FOR NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) STORMWATER COMPLIANCE. Mr. Crawford presented the annual work agreement with Franklin Soil and Water who assists the City in meeting the NPDES requirements. RECOMMENDATION: Consent Agenda. ORD-0127-2019 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A WORKING AGREEMENT WITH FRANKLIN SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT (FSWCD) FOR NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) ILLICIT DISCHARGE DETECTION AND ELIMINATION (IDDE) COMPLIANCE. Mr. Crawford requested the agreement with Franklin County Soil and Water which is the sanitary portion of the previous agreement. Agreement and report are attached. RECOMMENDATION: Consent Agenda. E. UPDATE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY 2019-0177 Update from the Director of Public Safety The Director of Public Safety presented his report to Council. Report is attached herein. F. UPDATE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY Mr. Ewald reported that final invoices are coming in for the year. He would like bills that would normally run over into the next billing cycle be paid out of 2019. Also there have been additional calls from the tax lawsuit. The administrator has not dispersed the funds and do not expect to disperse the funds by the end of the year and the forms will be changed again next year so the 1099-g forms for 2020 will be different which means they'll be late. It is the counsel belief that the city is not required to do anything additional. The other side believes that the city should pay for the distribution of the 1099 which reports payments. We are not making the payments, the class action administrator is dispersing it. Typically there would be discernments and reporting done by the same entity and here that is trying to be shifted to the city. That was not what was agreed to City of Gahanna Page 3 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes December 9, 2019 and not what the court ordered, it's not what we discussed. We will probably be held responsible for the reporting, which is normal, but we would probably not be held responsible for the 1099s but it would be up to the judge if we allow it to go that far. They have offered to split the one time mailing for $8383 and they said they would pay for half of that mailing, it's a single mailing. It's over 48,000 1099s. This would be the best most cost effective way to get this out to our residents. But that is for Council to review. Mrs. McGregor said that we paid them 9.1 million dollars and now they're quivelling over $4,000. Mr. Ewald replied yes. Mr. Metzbower said and they received 45% of the settlement. Mr. Ewald replied yes. Ms. Bowers asked who typically bears the responsibility for the administration. Mr. Ewald replied that it is negotiated and in this case they agree to take care of all the administrative back office stuff. Ms. Bowers said so the verbal negotiation was that they would take care of all of the back office stuff. Mr. Ewald replied that that it’s in the settlement agreement that the judge signed off on. Ms. Bowers said, so it was discussed but the phrase 1099 wasn't explicitly in the settlement agreement correct? Mr. Ewald said it is part of the administration. This is the most cost effective way of getting this to the residents. They have legal representation that should have taken care of this. We don't have the ability to access the settlement fund which the court said all expenses come from the settlement fund- we don't have access to that so how are we going to pay for something we don't have access to. It wasn't a well thought out process on their part. It's not just 1099s, they are starting to try to shift stuff to us that we have no business trying to distribute. It is probably better to just represent our constituents even though we aren't supposed to be taking that role and getting this thing done and just move on. It will be cheaper than legal fees. City of Gahanna Page 4