Committee of the Whole

200 South Hamilton Road City of Gahanna Gahanna, Ohio 43230 Meeting Minutes Committee of the Whole Trenton I. Weaver, Chair Merisa K. Bowers Jamille Jones Nancy R. McGregor Kaylee Padova Stephen A. Renner Michael Schnetzer Jeremy A. VanMeter, Clerk of Council Monday, October 14, 2024 7:00 PM City Hall, Council Chambers A. CALL TO ORDER: Vice President of Council Trenton I. Weaver, Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m., October 14, 2024. The agenda was published on October 11, 2024. All members were present for the meeting. There were no additions or corrections to the agenda. B. ITEMS FROM COUNCIL OFFICE: Community Reinvestment Area Housing Council Appointment Update President Bowers updated members on an appointment to the Community Reinvestment Area Housing Council. President Bowers noted Clerk VanMeter posted a public notice seeking applicants for a three-year term on the Community Reinvestment Area Housing Council (CRAHC). Clerk VanMeter published the notice on September 20, 2024. There were no applications received at this time. Applications are requested by October 18, 2024, at noon. More information is posted on the City website. President Bowers described the CRAHC as a board of seven members who work closely with the Department of Economic Development. Bowers explained the CRAHC conducts annual property inspections for the Gahanna’s CRAs (Community Reinvestment Areas) with the CRAHC acting as an appellant board for tax abatement disputes and recommending approval of the annual tax abatement report filed with the state. The CRAHC meets approximately once a year, potentially more, depending on appeals. Bowers described the opportunity as an important volunteer role with a relatively low time commitment. Bowers encouraged those who are interested to logon to the City website and visit onboard.gahanna.gov to apply, or to inquire through Clerk VanMeter at 614-342-4091. Bowers underscored her desire to bring attention to this opportunity and to ask her colleagues to circulate the information, promoting submittals of applications. Strategic Plan Steering Committee Meeting Report City of Gahanna Page 1 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes October 14, 2024 2024-0194 Strategic Plan Steering Committee Meeting Update 1 - 10.14.2024 Next, President Bowers provided a brief report for the Strategic Plan Steering Committee. The inaugural meeting was held the previous week, on September 9, 2024. Bowers described the work of the committee as important, with intentions of the Strategic Plan providing a guide for the City, over the next five to ten years. President Bowers explained that Councilmember Schnetzer serves as the Chair of the Finance Committee and also represents the City Council, alongside herself, on the Strategic Plan Steering Committee. Bowers noted the process was very well organized by the consultant and facilitated by Senior Director Miranda Vollmer. She shared there was clear direction on the intended next steps. Bowers expressed her appreciation and acknowledged her intention to provide insight to her colleagues regarding the meeting. RES-0037-2024 A JOINT RESOLUTION AND PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING OCTOBER 28, 2024, AS "HONORING FIRST RESPONDERS DAY" IN THE CITY OF GAHANNA President Bowers shared that a proposed draft, a joint Resolution and Proclamation, would designate October 28, 2024, as Honoring First Responders Day in Gahanna. President Bowers explained the draft represented a collaborative effort between the Council Office and the Mayor’s Office. Bowers noted Jessica Hilts, the Council Office Management Analyst (Communications & Legislative Research) has been working with the Mayor’s Office Administrative Assistant, Jen McBroom. President Bowers elaborated that the two offices would incorporate important information, including notable statistics. An updated copy of the joint document will be submitted for adoption at the next Regular Council Meeting on Monday, October 21, 2024. The Council Office contacted Mifflin Township Fire Chief Brian Dunlevy and Township Trustee, Chair Kevin Cavener, who indicated that they would join the recognition. Gahanna Police Chief Jeffrey Spence, along with his team, will also join the recognition. Vice President Weaver acknowledged his understanding that two more draft recognitions were presented to the Clerk of Council's office and anticipated for future consideration. Discussion was invited. As the Mayor’s Office is collaborating with the Council Office on the joint recognitions, the meeting now turned to Mayor Jadwin, who elaborated on the initiative. Recommendation: Introduction/Adoption pending revised drafts on Regular Agenda on 10/21/2024. C. ITEMS FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE: Joint Resolution/Proclamations: - National Domestic Violence Awareness Month - Hindu Heritage Month City of Gahanna Page 2 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes October 14, 2024 Mayor Jadwin shared draft documents, for two anticipated joint recognitions. The drafts are for National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Hindu Heritage Month. Discussion on these items is expected at a future meeting. D. ITEMS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE: RES-0036-2024 A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE AMOUNTS AND RATES AS DETERMINED BY THE BUDGET COMMISSION AND AUTHORIZING THE NECESSARY TAX LEVIES AND CERTIFYING THEM TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR Director Bury explained the action item for Council’s consideration is accepting the tax rates and amounts from the Franklin County Budget Commission. Director Bury explained the process essentially sets Gahanna’s rate, allocating it amongst the Bond Retirement Fund, the General Fund and the Police Pension Fund, the result of the tax budget provides Director Bury the authority to file with the county budget commission once the resolution is passed. Council is asked to consider this item for the Regular Council Meeting next week, on October 21, 2024. Recommendation: Introduction/Adoption on Consent Agenda on 10/21/2024. ORD-0063-2024 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS - TIF Fund (2240) Contract Services and Bond Retirement Fund (4310) Professional Services Director Bury described the legislation as a request for supplemental appropriations for the TIF (Tax Increment Financing) funds and the Bond Retirement Fund. Director Bury explained the City receives the final property tax settlement for the year, then calculates by parcel the percentage that is due by revenue sharing agreements. Director Bury continued, in this case, the revenue sharing agreement with Mifflin Township included an error when the budget was loaded, causing an improper amount to be placed. As such, there is a request for a supplemental appropriation for the Johnstown Road TIF Fund in the amount of $113,661. Also, for the Bond Retirement Fund, auditor and treasurer fees came in higher than anticipated, so staff are requesting a supplemental appropriation for $1,150 for the Bond Retirement Fund. Director Bury thanked Council for their time and invited discussion. Councilmember McGregor inquired about the balance in the Johnstown Road TIF Fund. Director Bury responded she would get back to Ms. McGregor with the amount, as there were multiple accounts and she did not have the information with her at that time. President Bowers asked for more information on the error that resulted in the discrepancy of $113,661. Director Bury explained there was a transposition of a number. Rather than the amount due to Mifflin Township being imported, another auditor and treasurer fee amount was imported. This resulted in the amount of $3,800 being imported, not $113,661. Vice President Weaver thanked Director Bury for her report and invited any City of Gahanna Page 3 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes October 14, 2024 further discussion for consideration by the Committee of the Whole before adjourning into the Finance Committee Meeting. There was agreement on this item moving forward for consideration at the October 21, 2024, Regular Council Meeting. Recommendation: Introduction / First Reading on Regular Agenda on 10/21/2024 and Second Reading / Adoption on Consent Agenda on 11/4/2024. E. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business before the Council, Vice President Weaver, Chair, adjourned the Committee of the Whole Meeting into the Finance Committee Meeting at 7:12 p.m. Jeremy A. VanMeter Clerk of Council APPROVED by the Committee of the Whole, this day of 2024. Trenton I. Weaver Chair City of Gahanna Page 4