City Council

City of Groveport 655 Blacklick St. Groveport, OH 43125 614.830.2052 www.groveport.org . Meeting Minutes Monday, November 25, 2024 6:30 PM Council Chambers City Council City Council Meeting Minutes November 25, 2024 I. Call to Order Mayor Lance Westcamp called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Staff Present: Kevin Shannon - Law Director, Jason Carr - Director of Finance, Casey Adams - Chief of Police, Brian Strayer - Public Services Director, Mike Poirier - Chief Building Official, Michael Loges - Development 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 November 12, 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes stand approved as submitted. #233-2024 November 12, 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes Attachments: 2024.11.12 City Council Meeting Minutes.pdf VI. Business of Guests A. Eric Dehays Eric Dehays greeted Council and gave praise for how good things are in our community. He gave kudos to the Public Services Department for their snow and leaf removal, and the Golf course staff for keeping in his opinion the best maintained public course in central Ohio. He said the family events the City puts on are fantastic, the Police force is top notch, and Groveport is just overall a great community to live in. He expressed how proud he is to live here, and said since retiring he's been walking fifty to sixty miles a month around Groveport road and Bixby road from City of Groveport Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes November 25, 2024 alum creek to Hamilton road to get exercise and pick up litter. He stated he picks up a hundred pounds of litter every month. He said he is working with Griffin Wheel and showed a tag from one of their finished products as an example of regular litter he picks up. They are now trying to do their part. He suggested the City post no littering signs with fines listed on them to encourage drivers from littering. Mr. Cleary inquired which areas are the worst, leading Council, staff, and Mr. Dehays to further discuss the litter issue, ways the City can get involved, and signage. B. SWACO SWACO's Karen Seidel and Andrew Booker presented a PowerPoint presentation entitled Groveport Recycling Opportunities & Collection Services. Mrs. Seidel outlined topics in the presentation, including SWACO's Consortium Program, Groveport's next round of contracts with SWACO, recycling carts and available grants for them, and volume-based collection. Council, staff and the SWACO Team discussed topics in the presentation at length. Mr. Rupp inquired how SWACO reaches out to local businesses to help them recycle. Mrs. Seidel stated that Business Administrator Sheila Davis does a phenomenal job at meeting with and providing resources to businesses and that there is a recycling container program available to provide them with recycling containers for free. She proceeded with the presentation and spoke about the Consortium Program, noting that twenty five of the forty one communities are now participating in the program. She moved on to outline Groveport's contracts and pricing guidelines for new contracts going up for bid soon, including the Recycling Process agreement, which establishes pricing on recycling, and Collection Services, which establishes pricing for curbside trash collection and yard waste. Historically, yard waste collection has been free, and it is anticipated to stay that way with this next bid. She recapped on Groveport's current collection prices and said they would stay the same in 2025. She said SWACO will have draft bids out to communities toward the end of this month, and that bid packages will be coming out early next year, in hopes of receiving Groveport's resolution to award by late June. The presentation moved on to cover potentially upgrading Groveport's 18 gallon recycle bins to a 65 gallon wheeled recycling cart, to reduce the amount of litter being blown from the bins. Mr. Booker outlined certain benefits and pricing on the carts vs the bins as well. The City of Groveport would pay $5 pre household to utilize the carts, and have three years to pay SWACO back. Council, staff, and the SWACO team further discussed the topic of recycle carts, automated trash collection and volume-based collection, composting services, and recycling best practices. VII. Ordinances and Resolutions City of Groveport Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes November 25, 2024 A. 3rd Readings Ord. 2024-049 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF GROVEPORT - PART THREE - TRAFFIC CODE, TITLE FIVE - VEHICLES, CHAPTER 333 OVI; WILLFUL MISCONDUCT; SPEED, SECTION 333.11 ELECTRONIC WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE USE PROHIBITED WHILE DRIVING Sponsors: Dildine Attachments: Ord. 2024-049 Exhibit A.pdf A motion was made by Council Member Dildine, seconded by Council Member Hilbert, to adopt. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Dildine, Hutson, Lockett, Rupp, Hilbert and Cleary Ord. 2024-050 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING PART NINE - STREETS, UTILITIES AND PUBLIC SERVICES CODE, TITLE ONE - STREET AND SIDEWALK AREA, CHAPTER 911 TREES AND SHRUBS, SECTION 911.04 TREE MAINTENANCE OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GROVEPORT Sponsors: Hilbert Attachments: Ord. 2024-050 Exhibit A.pdf A motion was made by Council Member Hilbert, seconded by Council Member Hutson, to adopt. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Dildine, Hutson, Lockett, Rupp, Hilbert and Cleary B. 2nd Readings Ord. 2024-052 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING PART THREE - TRAFFIC CODE, TITLE FIVE - VEHICLES, CHAPTER 333 - OVI; WILLFUL MISCONDUCT; SPEED OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GROVEPORT Sponsors: Lockett Attachments: Ord. 2024-052 Exhibit A.pdf This Ordinance was read by title C. 1st Readings City of Groveport Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes November 25, 2024 Ord. 2024-053 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATOR TO SOLICIT BIDS AND TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER FOR THE PORT ROAD RECONSTRUCTION PHASE 2 PROJECT Sponsors: Cleary This Ordinance was referred to the Committee of the Whole Ord. 2024-054 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATOR TO SOLICIT BIDS AND TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER FOR THE STATE ROUTE 317 AT FIREHOUSE LANE PHASE 2 STREET IMPROVEMENT Sponsors: Hutson This Ordinance was referred to the Committee of the Whole Ord. 2024-055 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATOR TO SOLICIT BIDS AND TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER FOR THE DIRECTORS BLVD. STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT Sponsors: Dildine This Ordinance was referred to the Committee of the Whole Ord. 2024-056 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATOR TO SOLICIT BIDS AND TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE 2025 STREET MAINTENANCE PROGRAM Sponsors: Hilbert This Ordinance was referred to the Committee of the Whole Ord. 2024-057 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2024-041 AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF PARCEL NOS. 185-000489, 185-000266, A PORTION OF 185-000321 AND A PORTION OF 185-000046 LOCATED ON MAIN STREET IN THE CITY OF GROVEPORT, AND THE DECLARATION OF AN EMERGENCY Sponsors: Lockett City of Groveport Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes November 25, 2024 Law Director Kevin Shannon requested Council to consider making a motion to suspend the rules as to the three readings and the effective date. A motion was made by Council Member Lockett, 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- Dildine, Hutson, Lockett, Rupp, Hilbert and Cleary A motion was made by Council Member Lockett, seconded by Council Member Cleary, to adopt. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Dildine, Hutson, Lockett, Rupp, Hilbert and Cleary VIII. Reports A. Mayor - Lance Westcamp Mayor Westcamp wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. B. Administrator - BJ King C. Chief of Police - Casey Adams Chief Adams expressed his appreciation for Mr. Dehays' litter cleaning efforts and mentioned another gentleman who also cleans litter at Founders Bend and the eastern part of Bixby road. He then reported that Lieutenant Short has organized with Little Italy to do another PoPo-roni event on Tuesday, December 3rd 5:00-8:30p.m., where officers will volunteer their time to serve and bus tables. They will not be delivering this year. He said some of the proceeds will go toward supplying children in our local district with Christmas gifts. D. Director of Finance - Jason Carr Finance Director Carr informed Council that there will be some year-end budgetary and accounting ordinances introduced on Monday, December 16th. That legislation will need to be passed by emergency. E. Director of Law - Kevin Shannon Law Director Shannon reported that it's that time of year where we receive notice from the Department of Commerce as it relates to liquor establishments, and this is our opportunity if we know of any issues to request a hearing. The deadline to request a hearing is January 2nd. He said to his knowledge there are no complaints and we will not be seeking City of Groveport Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes November 25, 2024 a hearing. F. Development Director - Michael Loges Development Director Loges reminded staff and Council that this Saturday is small business Saturday. G. Council Members - Jean Ann Hilbert, Ed Dildine, Shawn Cleary, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett and Jack Rupp Council wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Mr. Cleary stated he wants to discuss the bricks at Veteran's Park at the December 9th Committee of the Whole meeting. he also announced that he and other members of Council will be shopping with cash donations for the Firefighter's 4 Kids Toy Drive to provide Christmas gifts to children and families in need. Donations will be collected from Council Chambers at the December 9th meeting by members of the Madison-Township Fire Department. He emphasized that donations are most needed for age ranges 0-3 and 10-12. Council and staff coordinated shopping on Sunday the 8th at 6:30, after Heritage Holiday. Mrs. Hilbert reminded all that Sunday the 8th at 8:00 is also the last mass at St. Mary's. H. Clerk of Council - Mindy Kay I. Standing Committees A. Cemetery Update Mr. Cleary shared photos of the newly painted fence and gave a brief update on the Groveport Cemetery and the Cemetery Committee proceedings, including the topic of discussion on veteran discounts. IX. Other Business Mrs. Hilbert mentioned seeing another municipality utilizing their water tower as a cell phone tower and suggested Groveport could do the same. Mr. Dildine said that when we redid the water tower, we were told the extra weight of the cell phone tower equipment would damage the water tower. Mrs. Hilbert added that having cell phone towers would be a good way to bring us some extra money. Resident and former council member John Hougland approached the podium and mentioned that there is a cell tower at the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Hilbert expressed that the City could do the same thing as the church and gain some easy revenue. Mr. Dildine stated the first three companies that came to us with the intention of putting in a cell tower here folded, so that's why we don't City of Groveport Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes November 25, 2024 have any. Mr. Cleary mentioned there are cell tower on the lights on the high school football field and Mr. Dildine mentioned a tower on Ebright road. Mr. Dildine said he was advised at the time they were looking into more towers that too many would interfere with service, so the City never put more in. X. Adjournment Council Member Cleary made a motion, seconded by Council Member Hutson to adjourn at 7: 49 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 7