City Council

MINUTES City of Geneva Council Meeting June 12, 2023 6:00 p.m. Mr. Butera opened the Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. Roll Call – Mario Butera, Phillip Cordova, Robert Rosebrugh, Jeffrey Griffiths, James Baehr, John Barbo and William Baker Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was said and prayer was offered by Mario Butera, President of Council. No minutes were presented. Presentation – Income Tax Department, Nadine Mooneyham presenting April was a stellar month with collections of approximately $550,000.00. The month of May is not closed at this time but revenue is approximately $231,000.00. The income tax collections for May compared to 2022 are up approximately 30,000.00 dollars. Legislation Bill 105 will affect the revenue collected if passed due to the reduced filing penalties from $125.00 to $25.00. Also, non-filer letters cannot be mailed out until after October 15th if the bill passes. The flowers for the city were from a new grower with the cost of $3000.00. A total of $2500.00 was donated covering the majority of the cost. Citizens – None City Manager Report: Mr. Varckette reviewed the Austin Rd. Pavement Improvement Project stating our OPWC (Round 38) Pre-application Austin Rd. Pavement Improvement Project, has been submitted. While we initially looked at submitting an application for paving Centennial Street, we ended up instead shifting our focus to paving Austin Road (from Cugel Farm to the City/Twp line). The shift was due primarily to the degree of degradation on Austin in comparison to Centennial. The total estimated project cost as outlined in our pre-application is $127,100: $38,200 local revenues, $38,900 grant, $50,000 at 0% loan. We should know by the end of the month if our pre-application is chosen to submit a full-application to the OPWC. Mr. Varckette reviewed the Ohio Nature Works Grant Application, reporting we did re-submit our 2022, Round 28 Ohio Nature Works Grant Application for reconsideration of funding in Round 29. The application is seeking grant funding of approximately $16,000 for the placement of bollards around the newly paved track and the possibility of cameras at Memorial Field, to help keep vehicles off the track. The total estimated cost for the project is approximately $24,000. Timeline for a decision is unknown. Mr. Varckette gave an update on the CDBG Grant Application we’re happy to announce that our application, Senior Center Rear Entrance Improvement, has been selected for funding at the amount of $137,200. We will be working with the Ashtabula County Department of Planning and Development to shore up additional information prior to the submittal of our application to the Ohio Department of Development. The total estimated cost of the project is $137,285. Project Rationale: The rear entrance from the parking lot at the senior center has a non-compliant ramp which is hazardous for patrons of the senior center. There is no room on the interior of the room / building to construct a compliant ramp. The current ramp is at a 16% slope. ADA requirements mandate an 8.3% slope which is much flatter. Project Description: The project includes cutting and demolishing the interior concrete ramp. Construct a level landing with footing / block flat concrete slab for the landing. Vertical platform lift, handrails / guardrails, stair (wooden is acceptable) unit heater in the entryway. Electrical work for new lighting, power to the Vertical Lift and power to push pads for door openers. Two new doors with openers. Patch and paint room walls and ceilings as required. Mr. Varckette announced that our application Geneva Memorial Playground, submitted through the 2023 Keep Ohio Beautiful Paint Program, has been selected for funding! Under the program, we’re eligible for up to 40 gallons of stain through the Sherwin-Williams Company. Our Recreation Coordinator, Myke Dowd, was the force behind the application and will be working directly with representatives from the Sherwin-Williams Company handling the details going forward. We’ll have until September to complete the project. The city was also successful in securing stain and paint in 2015 and 2016. The Keep Ohio Beautiful Paint Grant is a program designed to provide community groups with paint (or stain) and supplies enabling them to renew a community structure in need, thus beautifying and protecting the structure. Mr. Varckette gave a brief update on the $3M application through the W/WWGP for the West Main Street Infrastructure Improvement Project is still being evaluated by the Community Services Division of the Ohio Department of Development. Several weeks ago, we were told we should have an answer by June. As it’s now June, we’re anticipating a decision anytime now. The two main reasons this money is vitally important for this project is 1) It will enable us to increase our estimated project cost to accommodate the increase of supply costs and 2) It will enable us to reduce our total debt financing obligation through the WPCLF. Achieving both would enable us to get this project back out to bid ASAP. Mr. Griffith questioned the status of the funds the city has already received for the project, Mr. Varckette stated he has gotten extensions on the grant funds for the project. Mr. Varckette stated that In cooperation with the Ashtabula County Landbank and through the Appalachian Community Grant Program, an informational stakeholder meeting to help define a potential Downtown themed project in Geneva has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 20th 2023 from 5:30 PM to 7 PM in the Council Chambers at Geneva City Hall, 44 North Forest St. Geneva, OH 44041 Environmental Design Group (EDG) has been tasked with leading this brainstorming discussion. The meeting will help the EDG team understand and visualize our ideas, possible collaborations and contemplate potential integration with other regional ideas. We will listen to and discuss how these projects fit within ARPA funding through HB 377, and how the ARC grant funds can support regionally transformational projects. EDG will have 2-3 representatives attend the meeting and will also make a short presentation about the ODOD Program, supported with visual boards. EDG has requested local government officials, area business owners and any other stakeholders in the city’s growth and development consider attending this first session. Items for Consideration of Council: Ordinance No. 3334 – Second Reading. An Ordinance regulating rank vegetation, noxious weeds, and tree planting. Motion by William Baker, seconded by James Baehr that the rule of law requiring certain ordinances be read at three separate meetings be waived and suspended and Ordinance No. 3334 be placed on the final roll for passage. Roll call, 7 yeas (Butera, Cordova, Baehr, Baker, Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths). Motion by William Baker to declare and pass Ordinance No. 3334 as an emergency measure, seconded by James Baehr. Roll call, 7yeas (Butera, Cordova, Baehr, Baker, Barbo), Rosebrugh, Griffiths). Roll call on passage, 7 yeas (Butera, Cordova, Baehr, Baker, Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths). Ordinance No. 3334 duly passed. Ordinance No. 3333 – Second reading. An Ordinance to establish a program for identifying and registering vacant residential and commercial buildings. Motion by Baehr seconded by Cordova that the rule of law requiring certain ordinances be read at three separate meeting be waived and suspended and Ordinance No. 3333 be placed on the final roll for passage. Roll call, 5 yeas (Butera, Cordova, Baehr, Baker, Barbo), 2 nays (Rosebrugh, Griffiths). Motion by William Baker to declare and pass Ordinance No. 3333 as an emergency measure, seconded by James Baehr. Roll call, 5 yeas (Butera, Cordova, Baehr, Baker, Barbo), 2 nays (Rosebrugh, Griffiths). Roll call on passage 5 yeas (Butera, Cordova, Baehr, Baker, Barbo), 2 nays (Rosebrugh, Griffiths). Ordinance No. 3334 duly passed. Ordinance No. 3335. An Ordinance to amend the 2023 Budget through appropriations and fund transfers, attached hereto and marked Exhibit A, and declaring an emergency. Motion by Baehr seconded by Cordova that the rule of law requiring certain ordinances be read at three separate meeting be waived and suspended and Ordinance No. 3335 be placed on the final roll for passage. Roll call, 7 yeas (Butera, Cordova, Baehr, Baker, Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths). Motion by John Barbo to declare and pass Ordinance No. 3335 as an emergency measure, seconded by Phillip Cordova. Roll call, 7 yeas (Butera, Cordova, Baehr, Baker, Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths). Roll call on passage, 7 yeas (Butera, Cordova, Baehr, Baker, Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths). Ordinance No. 3335 duly passed. Resolution No. 3574. Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the State of Ohio, Department of Transportation for sign installation and maintenance , and declaring an emergency. Motion by Jeffrey Griffiths, seconded by James Baehr that the rule of law requiring certain ordinances be read at three separate meeting be waived and suspended and Resolution No. 3574 be placed on final roll for passage. Roll call, 7 yeas (Butera, Cordova, Baehr, Baker, Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths). Motion by John Barbo to declare and pass Resolution No. 3574 as an emergency measure, seconded by James Baehr. Roll call, 7 yeas (Butera, Cordova, Baehr, Baker, Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths). Roll call on passage, 7 yeas (Butera, Cordova, Baehr, Baker, Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths) Resolution No. 3574 duly passed. Unfinished Business: New Business: Mr. Varckette made the recommendation to fill a vacancy of the city representative to the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) Board, recommending the appointment of Ella Stanton, Administrative Assistant, to the seat to become effective June 12, 2023. The seat was recently vacated by Tammy Caya. Mr. Butera announced there will be a public hearing on the 2024 tax budget on July 10, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers. Committee Reports: None Citizen – None Mr. Griffith made a motion to adjourn to executive session at 6:49 to discuss personnel, compensation of a public employee with no action to be taken, seconded by John Barbo. Roll call, 7 yeas (Butera, Cordova, Baehr, Baker, Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths) William Baker made a motion to come out of executive session at 7:10, seconded by John Barbo. Roll call, 7 yeas (Butera, Cordova, Baehr, Baker, Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths) William Baker made a motion to adjourn John Barbo seconded Council meeting adjourned at 7:11 p.m. Recorded by: Ella Stanton _______________________________ President of Council __________________________________ Clerk of Council