City Council

City of Groveport 655 Blacklick St. Groveport, OH 43125 614.830.2052 www.groveport.org . Meeting Minutes Monday, July 27, 2020 6:30 PM Council Chambers City Council Mayor Lance Westcamp Council Members - Jean Ann Hilbert, Ed Dildine, Shawn Cleary, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett & Chad Grashel City Council Meeting Minutes July 27, 2020 I. Call to Order Mayor Lance Westcamp called the July 27, 2020 City Council meeting to order at 6:36 p.m. noting that everyone was wearing a mask and practicing social distancing. Staff Present: Kevin Shannon - Law Director, Jason Carr - Director of Finance, Ralph Portier - Chief of Police Jeff Green - Assistant Administrator / Development Director Staff Virtually Present: BJ King - Administrator 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 Chief Portier led the Pledge of Allegiance. IV. Roll Call Council Members Hilbert and Grashel were present via Zoom. Present: 6 - Shawn M. Cleary, Edward Dildine, Chad T. Grashel, Jean Ann Hilbert, Becky Hutson, and Scott Lockett V. Approval of Minutes - July 13, 2020 Approved as submitted. #154-2020 City Council Minutes 7.13.2020 Attachments: City Council Minutes 7.13.2020.pdf VI. Business of Guests None. VII. Ordinances and Resolutions A. 3rd Readings Ord. 2020-013 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING PART ELEVEN - PLANNING AND City of Groveport Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes July 27, 2020 ZONING CODE, TITLE SEVEN - SUPPLEMENTAL LAND USE REGULATIONS, CHAPTER 1177 OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING, 1177.08 LIMITATION OF PARKING IN RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT AND THE DECLARATION OF AN EMERGENCY Sponsors: Dildine Attachments: 1177.08 Limitation of Parking in Residentail Zoning Districts.docx Law Director Kevin Shannon requested Council to consider making a motion to amend the attached Exhibit "A" to Ordinance 2020-013 to correctly state the spelled out verbiage for the weight, that being, "not exceeding nineteen thousand, five hundred pounds”. Everything else will remain the same. Clerk of Council Ross read by title Ordinance No. 2020-013. A motion was made by Council Member Dildine, seconded by Council Member Cleary, to amend the attached Exhibit "A" to correctly state the spelled out verbiage for the weight: "not exceeding nineteen thousand, five hundred pounds”. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Cleary, Dildine, Grashel, Hilbert, Hutson and Lockett Council Member Lockett commented that he had voted “no” on this item at the Committee of the Whole because from the beginning he thought this should be a permit issue allowing a resident to park a vehicle on their property. All the neighborhoods in Groveport are different. What may fit in and/or work in one neighborhood wouldn’t necessarily work in another. Mr. Randy Maynard has done an excellent job on his property putting in a nice concrete pad and his trucks are always spotless. But that may not fit in another neighborhood. Initially he was in favor of a permit process. What he would like to see is to bring it back down to a lower weight, like the 14,500 lb., and allow residents to apply for a use variance, or whatever process the City could use, to park something over the weight limit. This would give the communities a say in what is going to be parked in their neighborhoods. Council Member Dildine noted that the difference with this ordinance is that the committee wanted to make sure when a resident did park a vehicle on their own property other than their driveway, it has to be on a paved or concrete pad. A motion was made by Council Member Dildine, seconded by Council Member Hutson, to adopt as emergency legislation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5- Cleary, Dildine, Grashel, Hilbert and Hutson No: 1- Lockett City of Groveport Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes July 27, 2020 Ord. 2020-028 AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS IN THE AMOUNT OF NOT TO EXCEED $3,200,000 FOR THE PURPOSE OF CURRENTLY REFUNDING (I) A PORTION OF BONDS ISSUED IN 2010 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACQUIRING LAND AND INTERESTS IN LAND RELATING THERETO AND CONSTRUCTING AND RECONSTRUCTING BUILDINGS AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS ON SUCH PROPERTY, AND ACQUIRING AND INSTALLING EQUIPMENT, FURNISHINGS AND RELATED APPURTENANCES THERETO; AND (II) NOTES ISSUED IN 2020 FOR THE PURPOSE OF DESIGNING, ENGINEERING, AND CONSTRUCTING VARIOUS WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS, WITH RELATED SITE IMPROVEMENTS AND APPURTENANCES THERETO, AND RETIRING NOTES PREVIOUSLY ISSUED FOR SUCH PURPOSE; AND APPROVING RELATED MATTERS Sponsors: Cleary Clerk of Council Ross read by title Ordinance No. 2020-028. A motion was made by Council Member Cleary, seconded by Council Member Dildine, to adopt. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Cleary, Dildine, Grashel, Hilbert, Hutson and Lockett B. 2nd Readings None C. 1st Readings Ord. 2020-030 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 19-045 (ADOPTED 11/12/2019), THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FOR THE CITY OF GROVEPORT, OHIO, FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2020 AND FURTHER AMENDING ORDINANCE 2020-007 (ADOPTED 2/10/2020) WHICH AMENDED THE SAME Sponsors: Grashel Attachments: Ord. 2020-030 Exhibit A.pdf Law Director Kevin Shannon commented that staff has requested Council to consider making a motion to suspend the rules as to the three readings and the effective date. Finance Director Jason Carr stated the only change to the appropriations is to budget the coronavirus money the City received for $128,000 in Fund 223. Clerk of Council Ross read by title Ordinance No. 2020-030. A motion was made by Council Member Grashel, seconded by Council Member Hilbert, to suspend the rules as to the three readings. The motion carried by the following vote: City of Groveport Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes July 27, 2020 Yes: 6- Cleary, Dildine, Grashel, Hilbert, Hutson and Lockett A motion was made by Council Member Grashel, seconded by Council Member Hilbert, to adopt. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Cleary, Dildine, Grashel, Hilbert, Hutson and Lockett Ord. 2020-031 AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING CREDIT/DEBIT CARD CONVENIENCE FEES FOR PAYMENTS RECEIVED BY THE RECREATION AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS DEPARTMENTS AND THE DECLARATION OF AN EMERGENCY Sponsors: Hilbert Staff would like this Ordinance to be referred to the Committee of the Whole and go through its three readings. At the third reading, staff will ask for Council to consider making a motion to suspend the rules on the effective date so this Ordinance will be in effect before or by September 1, 2020. The purpose of this legislation is to establish a fixed credit/debit card convenience fee of 3% for on-line and counter terminal payments at the Recreation Center and at Town Hall. Town Hall will soon be implementing on-line payments. Clerk of Council Ross read by title Ordinance No. 2020-031. This Ordinance was referred to the Committee of the Whole. Ord. 2020-032 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE PAY GRADE FOR THE CAPTAIN CLASSIFICATION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF POLICE AND THE DECLARATION OF AN EMERGENCY Sponsors: Westcamp Mayor Lance Westcamp commented that this Ordinance will move the position of Captain up one pay grade because as it stands as of July 1, 2020 the Lieutenant was making a couple of dollars more than the Captain. Council Member Hilbert made a motion to suspend the rules as to the effective date. Mrs. Hilbert withdrew her motion to suspend the rules as to the effective date. Law Director Kevin Shannon requested Council to consider making a motion to amend Section 2 to state: “WHEREFORE, this Ordinance shall take effect upon its passage by Council and signature of the Mayor, further this Ordinance shall be retroactive back to July 1, 2020 in its application. A motion was made by Council Member Hilbert, seconded by Council Member Dildine, to amend Section 2 to state: “WHEREFORE, this Ordinance shall take effect upon its passage by Council and signature of the Mayor, further this Ordinance shall be retroactive back to July 1, 2020 in its application. The City of Groveport Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes July 27, 2020 motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Cleary, Dildine, Grashel, Hilbert, Hutson and Lockett A motion was made by Council Member Hilbert, seconded by Council Member Dildine, to suspend the rules as to the three readings and the effective date. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Cleary, Dildine, Grashel, Hilbert, Hutson and Lockett A motion was made by Council Member Hilbert, seconded by Council Member Hutson, to adopt as emergency legislation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Cleary, Dildine, Grashel, Hilbert, Hutson and Lockett VIII. Reports A. Mayor - Lance Westcamp Mayor Lance Westcamp thanked Mr. Carr, Senior Accountant Anna Krigbaum and Accounting Clerk Jason Cooper for another great audit. B. Administrator - BJ King Administrator BJ King praised Jason Carr and his department for another great audit this year. Things the auditors pointed out have already been put into place this year. He commended the efforts staff continues to make to adjust and combat the COVID-19 pandemic. He thanked Assistant Administrator/Economic Developer Jeff Green and Personnel Director Sue Wadley for being sounding boards as we continue to work through this unprecedented time. Mr. King would like to schedule phone or in-person budget discussions with each Council Member this week or next week. #155-2020 Admin report to Council July 27 2020 Attachments: Admin report to Council July 27 2020 - Council.pdf C. Chief of Police - Ralph Portier Nothing to report. D. Director of Finance - Jason Carr Finance Director Jason Carr reported that the implementation of the credit/debit card convenience fees for Building & Zoning and Utilities has taken place and the machines are charging the proper amounts. City of Groveport Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes July 27, 2020 The City has had about 100 residents sign up for the ACH option. The Department will be monitoring to make sure it goes smoothly on Monday, August 3rd. In regard to the coronavirus money, notifications keep coming out with new changes on allowable uses of the funds. Municipalities can go back and recapture payroll costs for employees who were unable to telework during the time the City was shut down. This would include positions like lifeguards, and other recreation and golf course staff. Council Member Dildine would like to see articles and information on the City website address the matter of the new convenience fees. They are confusing to many people. He knows the information was included on the last bills that went out but many people didn’t take notice and don’t understand why there are fees now. Better education on all the options to pay their utility bill is needed for the public. #156-2020 Finance_Director_Report_07_23_2020 Attachments: Finance_Director_Report_07_23_2020.pdf E. Director of Law - Kevin Shannon Nothing further to report. F. Asst. Admin. / Development Dir. - Jeff Green Mr. Green confirmed that Cultivate, even though they currently have three other locations, are still very interested to add a Groveport location. G. Council Members - Jean Ann Hilbert, Ed Dildine, Shawn Cleary, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett and Chad Grashel Council Members Grashel and Hilbert thanked Administration for setting up the virtual meeting. Council Member Lockett asked for Mr. Shannon's opinion on how long he thinks virtual participation in these public meetings will be allowed to go on. Mr. Shannon thinks virtual participation will most likely go on for the rest of 2020. After that we will probably see a change issued by the Attorney General’s office, he assumes, early next year or early spring. H. Clerk of Council - Ruthanne Sargus Ross Nothing to report. City of Groveport Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes July 27, 2020 I. Standing Committees Cemetery Committee: Council Member Cleary reported there are issues with the well at the cemetery. A new pump was installed but there are cracks in the casing which causes the water to come out muddy. Costs of repairs are currently being ascertained. IX. Other Business Council Member Hutson mentioned that after she received a call from a resident, she searched the City’s website for a garage sale permit application and never found one. She only saw one for the community garage sale held at the Recreation Center. She would like to see the City website updated to make the garage sale permit application accessible. She would also like to see something on the City website about the matter of the electricity issues and the questionnaire for the Newport Village residents. Mrs. Hutson commented that after she visited the Farmers Market the last two weeks she noticed it is extremely hot where the City has it located. She had a couple of residents express their concerns about it also. Some vendors didn’t have concerns about the heat in the current location but Mrs. Hutson did. She expressed her concern with the response she was given from the person in charge of the event. If the vendors could be moved against the school building it would provide some shade. When temperatures are in the 90s the heat is extreme radiating off the blacktop. This year’s Farmers Market was set up to accommodate the requirements set forth by the State. Administrator King will look into the matter of getting people in the shade. X. Adjournment A motion was made by Council Member Cleary, seconded by Council Member Dildine, to adjourn at 7:16 p.m. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Cleary, Dildine, Grashel, Hilbert, Hutson and Lockett __________________________________________ Lance Westcamp, Mayor __________________________________________ Ruthanne Sargus Ross, CMC 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