City Council

City of Groveport 655 Blacklick St. Groveport, OH 43125 614.830.2052 www.groveport.org Meeting Minutes Monday, February 26, 2018 6:30 PM Council Chambers City Council Mayor Lance Westcamp Council Members - Jean Ann Hilbert, Ed Dildine, Shawn Cleary, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett & Marvin Stevens City Council Meeting Minutes February 26, 2018 I. Call to Order by Mayor Westcamp at 6:30 p.m. Staff Present: Kevin Shannon - Law Director, Jeff Green - Director of Finance, Kurt Blevins - Police Captain Guests Present: The Guest Book is on file with the Clerk of Council. II. Moment of Silence The Mayor asked everyone to join him in a moment of silence. III. Pledge of Allegiance Captain Blevins led the Pledge of Allegiance. IV. Roll Call Present: 7 - Shawn M. Cleary, Edward Dildine, Jean Ann Hilbert, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett, Marvin Stevens, and Lance Westcamp V. Approval of Minutes Approved as submitted. #054-2018 City Council Minutes 2.12.18 Attachments: City Council Minutes 2.12.18.pdf VI. Business of Guests The comments of tonight's guests can be found under Ordinance 18-003. VII. Ordinances and Resolutions A. 3rd Readings ORD. 18-001 AN ORDINANCE REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 17-016, PASSED APRIL 24, 2017 Sponsors: Cleary Clerk of Council Ross read by title Ordinance No. 18-001. A motion was made by Council Member Cleary, seconded by Council Member Dildine, to adopt. City of Groveport Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes February 26, 2018 The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Cleary, Dildine, Hilbert, Hutson, Lockett and Stevens #035-2018 ORD.18-001 Staff Report Attachments: ORD. 18-001 Staff Report.pdf ORD. 18-003 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATOR TO ISSUE REQUESTS FOR QUALIFICATIONS AND ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE MOST DESIRABLE COMPANY OR FIRM, TO ENGINEER, DESIGN, AND ESTIMATE CONSTRUCTION COSTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF TWO (2) ADDITIONAL TENNIS COURTS AT DEGENHART PARK Sponsors: Hilbert A. Chris Brown, 3731 Mulligan Drive, Carroll, Ohio 43112, wanted to take the opportunity to provide numbers associated with tennis as he was unprepared last week when the numbers were thrown out there regarding pickleball. Between 2010 to 2017, the City of Groveport has collected $99,393 from the tennis program he has run since 2010. At $10 per hour that comes to 9,939 hours of usage. As far as equipment and expenses go, they are paid for by grant monies that Mr. Brown has applied for or out of his own pocket. The Recreation Center does print off flyers. The City of Groveport Recreation Center collected $29,817. When compared to the amount of costs/overhead the City is putting in to the amount the City is taking in, it's a pretty good number. This does not include the roughly 3100 hours of usage for Mr. Brown's team tennis that he was running out of Reynoldsburg High School. If he has the ability to run the team tennis in Groveport, that would be an additional 3100 hours of usage, or income, for the City of Groveport. B. Heather Salva, 162 Green Avenue, addressed Council in support of the two additional tennis courts. She has two kids, who both love and play tennis. Her son has been in Chris Brown's program for the last five years. It would be wonderful if these kids could have a home court and host home matches here in Groveport. C. Cassie Salva, 162 Green Avenue, addressed Council in support of the two additional tennis courts. She thinks there needs to be two more tennis courts because every other sport has a place to go with enough room to play the sport. There are three tennis courts in all of Groveport for all the tennis players in the City. With the two additional tennis courts, home matches can be held in Groveport instead of Reynoldsburg. City of Groveport Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes February 26, 2018 Council Member Hilbert had asked Finance Director Jeff Green how much money was in the Park Fund. Mr. Green stated $106,000. The two courts would cost $216,000 without lights, with an additional $30,000 to move the sewer line. There is over $800,000 in the Sewer Fund, which is where that $30,000 would be funded. Council Member Dildine noted if everything is taken out of the Park Fund, there would be no money to fund anything in any other City park. Mrs. Hilbert countered that fund would build back up every time something comes in. Mr. Dildine wanted to know how long it would take to build the Park Fund back up. Mrs. Hilbert believes the City has a park budget. She made suggestions as to where the money could be found to pay for the two additional tennis courts. Mr. Green interjected, all that money in the Park Fund is not available. That money is spent on lease payments on trucks, mowers, etc. and equipment for the Parks Department. That $106,000 is the unencumbered balance of the Park Fund. Council Member Lockett thinks it has demonstrated that there is a need here in Groveport for additional tennis courts. If the funds are there to defray the costs, that's great, but he thinks it all has to do with the perception Groveport is trying to achieve. Council wants people to come to Groveport and take advantage of the City's facilities. He hates to think people are going elsewhere when they could be coming here to Groveport. He takes pride in the facilities available here and thinks these two tennis courts would be a nice addition. Mr. Dildine is opposed to constructing the additional two tennis courts at Degenhart Park. He understands the need for five tennis courts. He has already looked into grant opportunities. There are grants available for anything a city would want to construct; tennis courts, other sport venues, shelter houses, restrooms, etc. Regardless of the direction this Ordinance goes tonight, he will continue to pursue the grant opportunities. It will not be a short-term process. Mr. Dildine does not like to vote a matter down without looking into other alternatives to give the citizens of Groveport what they want and need from the City of Groveport Council. He has contacted the Groveport Madison Local School District which is building five tennis courts. He knows the City has zero control over those five courts but the District has used the City's courts this year while the high school's tennis courts are being constructed. The District has stated anything the City of Groveport needs with those five tennis courts will be available. That can certainly change in the future but for now that gives the City eight tennis courts. If the City builds two more courts that gives Groveport ten, if Groveport builds five that would be thirteen tennis courts. Mr. Dildine doesn't want to see the two additional tennis courts at Degenhart Park, but he is willing to look for alternative funding to get five tennis courts built at the Recreation Center in City of Groveport Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes February 26, 2018 Groveport Park. As part of Groveport's Master Park Plan, he would like to see a shelter house, restroom, playground equipment, etc. to be included in the development of the five tennis courts. Mayor Lance Westcamp noted it is his understanding that the proposed tennis courts, if constructed, would be adjacent to the property owned by his wife and himself at 282 Green Avenue. For this reason, Mayor Westcamp must abstain from voting to break the tie vote because it would be inappropriate for him to vote on a matter that could possibly affect or impact his property in some way. So, at that time he abstained. Clerk of Council Ross read by title Ordinance No.18-003. A motion was made by Council Member Hilbert, seconded by Council Member Lockett, to adopt. The motion failed by the following vote: Abstain: 1- Westcamp Yes: 3- Hilbert, Lockett and Stevens No: 3- Cleary, Dildine and Hutson Law Director Shannon advised Council that the legal effect of the abstention is that there are not four positive votes. In order for anything to pass in the City, there needs to be four affirmative votes as to any motion, ordinance or resolution. Mrs. Hilbert made a motion to build five tennis courts at the Recreation Center at Groveport Park and that they be constructed by the year 2018. Mr. Lockett seconded the motion. Mr. Shannon explained Council can formally act in one of three possible ways; by way of ordinance, resolution or motion. Mrs. Hilbert had sought to do this by way of motion and the problem is that in order to construct tennis courts, Mrs. Hilbert needs to go through the legislative process. Mr. Shannon advised Council would need legislative action in order to enter into any contractual arrangements which are necessary to build tennis courts. Typically it would be done by introducing new legislation as it relates to tennis courts at Groveport Park. In terms of making a motion to construct tennis courts, it is not a legally effective motion. Mr. Shannon advised Mrs. Hilbert a motion is not the proper avenue for her to choose to accomplish what she wants to accomplish. He thinks the proper thing for Mrs. Hilbert to do is to introduce new legislation to build five tennis courts at Groveport Park. Taking direction from Mrs. Hilbert, Mr. Shannon suggests that he draft an ordinance for first reading at the next regular City Council meeting. The language would mirror this Ordinance but changing the location and the number of tennis courts. He suggests that Mrs. Hilbert go with the legislation route opposed to the motion route. Council and the Mayor do not need to pass a motion to request the Law Director of the City to draft legislation that any member of Council wishes to sponsor and initiate. Mrs. Hilbert withdrew her motion and Mr. Lockett withdrew his second, and she directed Law Director Shannon to draft legislation stating what Ordinance No. 18-003 states but changing two tennis courts to five tennis courts and City of Groveport Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes February 26, 2018 Degenhart Park to Groveport Park. Mr. Shannon will draft the legislation and forward the draft to Mrs. Hilbert for her review before the first reading in March.Mayor Westcamp announced that Council Member Hutson needs to be excused from the rest of tonight’s meeting. Mrs. Hutson left the meeting at 6:52 p.m. B. 2nd Readings ORD. 18-004 AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A FRANCHISE TO OHIO POWER COMPANY, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, FOR THE RIGHT TO ACQUIRE, CONSTRUCT, MAINTAIN, AND OPERATE IN THE STREETS, THOROUGHFARES, ALLEYS, BRIDGES, AND PUBLIC PLACES OF THE CITY OF GROVEPORT, STATE OF OHIO, AND ITS SUCCESSORS, LINES FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC ENERGY TO THE CITY OF GROVEPORT, AND ITS INHABITANTS THEREOF FOR LIGHT, HEAT, POWER, AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE SAME WITHIN, THROUGH, OR ACROSS SAID CITY OF GROVEPORT, STATE OF OHIO Sponsors: Lockett Clerk of Council Ross read by title Ordinance No.18-004. ORD. 18-008 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 15-002 (ADOPTED 2/9/2015) WHICH ESTABLISHED IN SEASON GOLF FEES FOR THE LINKS AT GROVEPORT GOLF COURSE Sponsors: Hutson Attachments: ORD. 18-008 Exhibit A 2018 Golf Rates.pdf Clerk of Council Ross read by title Ordinance No.18-008. C. 1st Readings ORD. 18-009 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE GROVEPORT SPECIAL OLYMPICS OHIO COLLECTION FOR CHARITABLE DONATIONS TO THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS OHIO Sponsors: Hilbert Clerk of Council Ross read by title Ordinance No.18-009. This Ordinance was referred to the Committee of the Whole. VIII. Reports City of Groveport Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes February 26, 2018 A. Mayor - Lance Westcamp Mayor Lance Westcamp reported that he and Council Members Cleary and Dildine attended the retirement party for retired Madison Township Fire Chief Bates at The Old Blue Rooster. There was a good turnout. They thanked Chief Bates for his service. Mayor Westcamp commented on Larry Dowler's performance in the Groveport Madison Area Community Choir's production of "THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT: A SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY". B. Administrator - Marsha Hall Administrator Marsha Hall was not present. Finance Director Jeff Green noted that he checked the fund balances in the Park Fund and the lease has been paid off for 2018. There is not another payment due this year but the department just bought another pickup truck. Mrs. Hilbert commented the money in the Park Fund comes from the City's developments. Mr. Green stated money still comes in from development but not at the same scale as in the beginning. Money is transferred from the General Fund into the Park Fund to pay for equipment. Mr. Green wanted it on the record that there is $106,000 in the Park Fund. The Annual Report is now at the printers and should be available in a couple of weeks. #055-2018 Adm Report to Council - Feb 26 Attachments: Adm Report to Council - Feb 26.pdf C. Chief of Police - Ralph Portier Chief Portier was not present.Captain Blevins had nothing to report. D. Director of Finance - Jeff Green Nothing further to report. #056-2018 Finance Report Attachments: Finance Report.pdf E. Director of Law - Kevin Shannon Nothing further to report. City of Groveport Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes February 26, 2018 F. Council Members - Jean Ann Hilbert, Ed Dildine, Shawn Cleary, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett and Marvin Stevens Council Member Dildine inadvertently left Law Director Kevin Shannon out of his compliments at last week's meeting. He wants it on the record that Mr. Shannon does a fantastic job for the City by keeping Council out of trouble. G. Clerk of Council - Ruthanne Sargus Ross Nothing to report. H. Standing Committees None. IX. Other Business None. X. Adjournment A motion was made by Council Member Cleary, seconded by Council Member Hilbert, to adjourn at 7:01 p.m. The motion carried by the following vote: Excused: 1- Hutson Yes: 5- Cleary, Dildine, Hilbert, Lockett and Stevens __________________________________________ Lance Westcamp, Mayor __________________________________________ Ruthanne Sargus Ross, Clerk of Council PLEASE NOTE: THESE MINUTES ARE NOT VERBATIM. A RECORDING OF THE MEETING IS AVAILABLE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS. City of Groveport Page 7