City Council

City of Groveport 655 Blacklick St. Groveport, OH 43125 614.830.2052 www.groveport.org . Meeting Minutes Monday, September 23, 2024 6:30 PM Council Chambers City Council City Council Meeting Minutes September 23, 2024 I. Call to Order Mayor Lance Westcamp called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Staff Present: BJ King - Administrator, Kevin Shannon - Law Director, Jason Carr - Director of Finance, Casey Adams - Chief of Police, Joyce Myers - Personnel Director, Mindy Kay - Clerk of Council 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 Adams led the Pledge of Allegiance. IV. Roll Call Present: 6 - Edward Dildine, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett, Jack Rupp, Jean Ann Hilbert, and Shawn Cleary V. Approval of Minutes The September 9, 2024 City Council Minutes stand approved as submitted. #186-2024 September 9, 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes Attachments: 2024.09.09 City Council Meeting Minutes.pdf VI. Business of Guests A. Sandra Hooker Sandra Hooker introduced herself as a State of Ohio ambassador for change against distracted driving and crosswalk laws. She said she is advocating to change the culture of our State, to promote a more preventive measure to reduce distracted driving, harsher penalties, more rigid enforcement, and to make motorists more responsible for their actions behind the wheel. She spoke about the dangers of distracted driving and the effects it has on its victims. She expressed how the law should be changed to protect the injured parties and how distracted City of Groveport Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes September 23, 2024 drivers should be prosecuted to a higher degree. She asked the City of Groveport to raise its fees and penalties and shared her son’s story of being paralyzed by a distracted driver. She said her campaign has already changed Grove City’s penalty fee from $150 to $750. Council commended her for her efforts. Law Director Shannon let everyone know that the City of Groveport has already set a precedent of having stricter penalties for certain charges. For example, a standard reckless operation of a motor vehicle is a minor misdemeanor under the Ohio Revised Code with a penalty of up to $150.00. He said in his opinion it doesn’t take into consideration reckless wanton behavior. We have an M2 charge that Council agreed to adopt many years ago, which allows us to enforce a $750 fine and up to 90 days in jail as a possible penalty. He told Council he is more than happy to look into it and bring the discussion to a Committee of the Whole meeting. Mr. Rupp requested that Mr. Shannon also look into hit skips. Mr. Shannon added that we enforce hit skips to the highest degree possible, and if a fatality is caused we have the ability to charge an M1 for negligent homicide. He said we typically mirror state code unless we want to do something in addition, which we've done in the past and can certainly do again. VII. Ordinances and Resolutions A. 3rd Readings Ord. 2024-037 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING PART NINE - STREETS, UTILITIES AND PUBLIC SERVICES CODE OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GROVEPORT Sponsors: Cleary Attachments: Ord. 2024-037 Exhibit A.pdf A motion was made by Council Member Cleary, seconded by Council Member Hilbert, to adopt. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Dildine, Hutson, Lockett, Rupp, Hilbert and Cleary Ord. 2024-038 AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING BILLING RATES FOR WATER, SEWER, CLEAN RIVER AND STORMWATER UTILITIES Sponsors: Hutson A motion was made by Council Member Hutson, seconded by Council Member Dildine, to adopt. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Dildine, Hutson, Lockett, Rupp, Hilbert and Cleary City of Groveport Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes September 23, 2024 Ord. 2024-039 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COLUMBUS SEWER MAINTENANCE FUND Sponsors: Dildine A motion was made by Council Member Dildine, seconded by Council Member Rupp, to adopt. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Dildine, Hutson, Lockett, Rupp, Hilbert and Cleary ++Ord. 2024-040 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 15-083 AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COLUMBUS WATER MAINTENANCE FUND Sponsors: Hilbert A motion was made by Council Member Hilbert, seconded by Council Member Dildine, to adopt. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Dildine, Hutson, Lockett, Rupp, Hilbert and Cleary B. 2nd Readings Ord. 2024-032 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING, REVISING AND CHANGING ZONING CLASSIFICATIONS, USE AND USE REGULATIONS IN PART ELEVEN - PLANNING AND ZONING CODE OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF GROVEPORT, OHIO. Sponsors: Westcamp Attachments: Ord. 2024-032 Exhibit A.pdf Mr. Shannon stated that Council had received the original “red font” version of the proposed changes to the Planning and Zoning code. After which, we did an internal review and found other things we needed to change in respect to the group housing provision. We made those recommendations before the Planning and Zoning Commission. The recommendations were received very well and the Planning and Zoning Commission added a couple things as well. He explained that Council will be presented with all of the changes as follows. Outlined in red font will be what was originally introduced to Council at its first reading. Outlined in blue font will be the changes that staff made before presenting it to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Outlined in green font will be anything new coming from the Planning and Zoning Commission. This revised version will be presented at its public hearing and third reading on October 14th. He added that it will be made available for Council’s review prior to the meetings. City of Groveport Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes September 23, 2024 This Ordinance was read by title Ord. 2024-042 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2005-090 AUTHORIZING A CASH BENEFIT FOR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE HEALTH INSURANCE AND CHOOSE NOT TO RECEIVE SAID COVERAGE Sponsors: Lockett This Ordinance was read by title C. 1st Readings Ord. 2024-044 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT FOR THE PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES WITH THE DISTRICT ADVISORY COUNCIL OF THE FRANKLIN COUNTY GENERAL HEALTH DISTRICT Sponsors: Hilbert This Ordinance was referred to the Committee of the Whole VIII. Reports A. Mayor - Lance Westcamp Mayor Westcamp announced that there is a new local radio station, 103.9. He said he was interviewed by Woody Johnson at the radio station and it will air on Wednesday at 5:38pm. B. Administrator - BJ King C. Chief of Police - Casey Adams D. Director of Finance - Jason Carr Finance Director Carr shared that we received our 1014/1015 liability insurance update from CORMA. Overall the pool had a 30% increase of about $866,000. Our share of that was a 23.67% increase, which is about $29,822. This brings our total to about $156,000. The increase was driven by the pool doing a complete inventory of all the properties owned by every City in the pool, and by doing this it captured change in values. Our pool was the largest added value when compared to Northeast and Northwest Ohio. He added that hopefully it will level out next year but it’s hard to say. Mr. Rupp inquired about an opportunity to City of Groveport Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes September 23, 2024 look at another company for insurance. Mr. Carr replied that Mr. King had been a member of The Ohio Plan and that it has quite a few members. Our challenge is that out fiscal year is October through September and the Ohio Plan is more calendar year based. He said we could look into it going forward in 2027. E. Director of Law - Kevin Shannon F. Development Director - Michael Loges G. Council Members - Jean Ann Hilbert, Ed Dildine, Shawn Cleary, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett and Jack Rupp Mr. Rupp informed Council and staff of a program the school is endeavoring into with the old AEP building and what they plan on doing with additional classrooms and programs coming forth there. They are partnering with the PAST Foundation and are going after a grant. He said it’s pretty impressive what they are attempting to do and suggested scheduling somebody to come speak about it at a Committee of the Whole or Council meeting. H. Clerk of Council - Mindy Kay I. Standing Committees IX. Other Business Law Director Kevin Shannon requested Council consider going into executive session pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Sections 121.22(G) (1), 121.22(G)(2) and 121.22(G)(3) at 7:03 p.m. to discuss preparing for, conducting, or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment, and invited the Mayor, Council, Administrator, Finance Director, Police Chief, Personnel Director, and himself. A motion was made by Council Member Cleary, seconded by Council Member Dildine, to go into Executive Session at 6:58pm. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Dildine, Hutson, Lockett, Rupp, Hilbert and Cleary City of Groveport Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes September 23, 2024 A motion was made by Council Member Hilbert, seconded by Council Member Cleary, to come out of Executive Session at 7:58pm. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Dildine, Hutson, Lockett, Rupp, Hilbert and Cleary X. Adjournment Council Member Cleary made a motion, seconded by Council Member Dildine to adjourn at 7: 58 p.m. All in favor stated AYE, None Opposed. Motion passed. __________________________________________ Lance Westcamp, Mayor __________________________________________ Mindy Kay 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 6