City Council

MINUTES City of Geneva Council Meeting August 11, 2025 6:05 p.m. President John Barbo opened the Council meeting at 6:05 p.m. Roll Call: John Barbo, Robert Rosebrugh, Jeffrey Griffiths, William Baker, John Travis Absent: James Baehr, Dana Schenk Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was said and prayer was offered by Pastor David Yarbrough, New Life Assembly of God. Motion was made by William Baker to approve the minutes of the July 14, 2025, regular council meeting, seconded by Jeffrey Griffiths. Roll call, 4 yeas, (Barbo, Griffiths, Baker, Travis), 1 abstention (Rosebrugh). Motion duly passed. Presentations – Legal Department, Gary Pasqualone Presenting Mr. Pasqualone provided an update. Ninety percent of the cases are traffic related, driving with a suspended license or domestic cases. Tax administration collection cases - Nadine does a fantastic job at making arrangements for payment plans. For those that follow through, the charges are dropped. If they do not try to make the payments, they have to show cause. Zoning cases - people are complying. Felony cases go to the County Prosecutor. Worker’s Compensation cases – in July the City settled a Police case. There is one still pending for another policeman. There have been a number of CHIP foreclosure actions filed by first mortgage holders this year. Opioid funds have been received. Mr. Pasqualone and Mr. Varckette have been working with Spire and it is going well. Spire representatives will attend the next council meeting. Citizens – None. 1 City Manager Report: West Main Street The contractor has agreed to add an additional crew to do service connections. The sanitary line should be done this week. The additional crew will begin to tie in the laterals. This has forced additional closures by Lockwood as the contractor has to cut through the south lane to do the Sanctuary lateral connection. The contractor has flaggers helping people to get where they need to go. Once the sanitary line is completed the work will go faster. The installation of the storm sewer between Lockwood and West Street will be under construction through September 24. Roadwork and paving will continue through October. ACGP – Streetscape Project, Phase 1: The bid schedule has been adjusted. The project will advertise on July 25th and August 1st. The bid opening has been extended to August 15th. The completion date for work at the Rotary Pavilion Park and Community Center/Senior Center Parking Lot plantings was extended to November 24, 2025. The completion date for the planting and seeding at the Pocket Park was extended to May 22, 2026. Eastgate and Verdantas are handling the construction management for this project. ACGP – Storefront Upgrade (Façade) Project Update: LDA Architects is finishing up the scope of work for the 20 projects. Once all of the applicant agreements are signed the projects will be able to start getting quotes. Housing Technical Assistance Program (HTAP) Grant Update: Seventeen people will comprise the advisory committee for the Comprehensive Plan. A number of committee members have had a one-on-one interview with the Planners. The first initial meeting will take place later this month. There will also be public sessions for residents and business owners to participate. County/City Water Tower Project Update: The City received the final project drawings for the county/city water tower project last week. Ashtabula County Environmental Services Director Douglas Starkey met with the City’s engineer and the County’s engineer to discuss the impact on the Water Distribution System. The County believes all the funding will be in place by October 1st and would like to get the project out to bid next month. Funding Overview: Estimated cost $3.5 million. Funding - $1.72 million federal grant funding; $250,000 State ARC funding. Unfunded amount to be covered by the County and the City is estimated at $1.5 million. The City’s obligation is thirty-five percent. The County has nominated the project for OEPA WSRLA 30-year loan. Repayment of the loan will likely begin in 2028. These are pre-bid numbers. Street Department Updates: The following streets have been chip sealed: Eastlawn, Walnut, Ansel and Kiwanis Drive. W. Liberty was paved between the bridge and S. Eagle St. Line stripping has also been done. 2 CDBG Stormwater infrastructure Project Funding Concern: The President’s FY 2026 HUD Budget proposal recommends eliminating the CDBG Program and the HOME Program. If that were to happen, it would be detrimental to the future community project funding strategy. The City benefits from the important program. Currently the stormwater project needs to be done in Depot Lot before the Phase 2 of the ACGP can commence. Hopefully those funds will remain. Laborers’ Int. Union of N.A. Local 860 Contract Ratification: An agreement has been reached with the Public Works Union for the 2025, 2026 and 2027 contract period. The updated agreement will be available for the next council meeting. OPBA Contract Discussions Ongoing: The Patrolman’s and Dispatch discussions continue tomorrow. The City believes an agreement is close. Next Month Council Presentations: The City hopes to have three council presentations next month including the Spire Institute’s Community Park Concept; Recreation Department upcoming community events and activities; and Chief Camper to present the proposed K-9 Program. Geneva Public Library Grant Opening: The open house of the Geneva Public Library is August 17th from 2 to 5:00 p.m. Council requested that the information for the K-9 Program be distributed prior to the council meeting. Items for Consideration of Council Ordinance No. 3386 – Second Reading. An Ordinance to Approve the Editing and Inclusion of Certain Ordinances as Parts of the Various Component Codes of the Codified Ordinances; to Provide for the Adoption of New Matter in the Updated and Revised Codified Ordinances; to Provide for the Publication of Such New Matter; to Repeal Ordinances and Resolutions in Conflict therewith; and to declare an emergency. Ordinance No. 3387. An Ordinance Determining Council Intent to Proceed with Improving the Streets in the City of Geneva by Supplying Street Lighting, and to Levy Assessments for such Lighting, and declaring an emergency. Motion by Jeffrey Griffiths, seconded by William Baker that the rule of law requiring certain ordinances be read at three separate meetings be waived and suspended and Ordinance No. 3387 be on final roll for passage. Roll call, 5 yeas, (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baker, Travis). Motion by John Travis to declare and pass Ordinance No. 3387 as an emergency measure, seconded by William Baker. Roll call, 5 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baker, Travis). Roll call on passage, 5 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baker, Travis). Ordinance No. 3387 duly passed. 3 Ordinance No. 3388. An Ordinance to Amend the 2025 Budget through Appropriations and/or Fund Transfers, Attached Hereto and Marked Exhibit “A,” and declaring an emergency. Motion by William Baker, seconded by John Travis that the rule of law requiring certain ordinances be read at three separate meetings be waived and suspended and Ordinance No. 3388 be on final roll for passage. Roll call, 5 yeas, (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baker, Travis). Motion by William Baker to declare and pass Ordinance No. 3388 as an emergency measure, seconded by William Baker. Roll call, 5 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baker, Travis). Roll call on passage, 5 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baker, Travis). Ordinance No. 3388 duly passed. Unfinished Business – None. New Business: Parking of junk cars was discussed. Question of whether the current ordinances have enough teeth. Mr. Griffiths requested that any proposed new language also be presented with the current language for comparison. Mr. Pasqualone will review the current ordinances and bring something back to council for review. Mr. Barbo noted that the annual fall sports event is 6:30 p.m. this Saturday at Memorial Park. Payment of Bills – none. Committee Reports – None. Citizen – None. William Baker made a motion to adjourn. John Travis seconded the motion. Council meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m. Recorded by: Phyllis Dunlap Clerk of Council _______________________________ President of Council __________________________________ Clerk of Council 4