City Council

City of Kent Regular City Council Meeting 319 S. Water Street, Kent, Ohio 44240 Council Chambers Wednesday, July 15, 2026 AGENDA 6:55PM BOARD OF CONTROL REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING will begin immediately after Board of Control 1. ROLL CALL 2. OPENING REMARKS AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Mr. Hook 3. COMMUNICATIONS 3.1 Public Comment – Anyone wishing to address Council must submit their written comments to the Clerk of Council at councilclerk@kentohio.gov by 4:30pm on the meeting day. If also requesting to speak at the meeting, comments are limited to three (3) minutes. 3.2 Written Communication (on file in Clerk of Council’s office) 3.2.1 On June 25, 2026, the Clerk’s office was notified that, due to a lack of agenda items, there will be no Planning Commission meeting in July. 3.2.2 On June 30, 2026, the June minutes and July agenda of the Standing Rock Cemetery Board of Trustees were received and posted online. 3.2.3 On July 2, 2026, an email was received from Rick Hawksley, inquiring about the progress on establishing a snow and ice management strategy for the coming winter. The email was shared with Council. 3.2.4 On July 2, 2206, the Clerk’s office, along with some members of Council, received an email from Alex Bladwin regarding the trees and landscaping on Haymaker Parkway. Mr. Dreger responded to the email. 3.3 City Manager’s Report 4. CONSENT AGENDA Items listed under the Consent Agenda are considered routine. Each item will be read individually into the record and Consent Agenda will then be enacted as a whole by one motion and one roll call. There will be no separate discussion of these items. If discussion by Council is desired on any item on the Consent Agenda, that item will be removed from the Consent Any person who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication or a modification of policies and procedures to participate in any City or City Council public meeting or event should contact the Clerk of Council at 330-678-8007. Any request for auxiliary aid or other accommodation should be made as soon as possible, but no later than forty-eight hours prior to the event. July 15, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting Agenda P a g e |2 Agenda by Council motion and considered in its normal sequence under the Regular Order of Business. 4.1 Approval of June regular Council meeting minutes 4.2 Approval of July Council committee meeting minutes 4.3 DRAFT 2026-61 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, UPON THE ISSUANCE OF A CERTIFICATE OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS, TO PAY CERTAIN PURCHASE ORDERS MADE THAT EXCEED $3000.00; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. 4.4 DRAFT 2026-62 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY BUDGET & FINANCE DIRECTOR AND LAW DIRECTOR, OR THEIR DESIGNEES, TO SIGN AN ADDENDUM TO THE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF KENT AND DAVID RULLER AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. 4.5 DRAFT 2026-63 A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE TAX BUDGET OF THE CITY OF KENT, OHIO, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2027, SUBMITTING THE SAME TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. 4.6 DRAFT 2026-64 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2025-111, THE CURRENT APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE, PASSED DECEMBER 17, 2025; SO AS TO ADJUST APPROPRIATIONS, TRANSFERS AND ADVANCES FROM THE VARIOUS FUNDS OF THE CITY OF KENT TO INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE CURRENT EXPENSES OF THE CITY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2026; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. 4.7 DRAFT 2026-65 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE KENT FIRE DEPARTMENT TO APPLY FOR THE STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (SAFER) GRANT THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND FEMA, AND TO ACCEPT ANY GRANT, IF AWARDED, WITH CORRESPONDING APPROPRIATIONS OF FUNDS WHICH PROVIDES FUNDING FOR THREE (3) FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC POSITIONS FOR A PERIOD OF THREE (3) YEARS AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. 4.8 DRAFT 2026-66 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE KENT FIRE DEPARTMENT TO APPLY FOR THE FIRE PREVENTION AND SAFETY GRANT (FP&S) THROUGH FEMA, AND TO ACCEPT ANY GRANT, IF AWARDED, WITH CORRESPONDING APPROPRIATIONS TO PURCHASE A MODEL TECH HAZARD KITCHEN SAFETY PROP AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. 4.9 DRAFT 2026-67 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE KENT FIRE DEPARTMENT TO APPLY FOR THE ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT (AFG) THROUGH FEMA, AND TO ACCEPT ANY GRANT, IF AWARDED, WITH CORRESPONDING APPROPRIATIONS TO PURCHASE TEN (10) SETS OF FIREFIGHTER’S TURNOUT GEAR AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Any person who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication or a modification of policies and procedures to participate in any City or City Council public meeting or event should contact the Clerk of Council at 330-678-8007. Any request for auxiliary aid or other accommodation should be made as soon as possible, but no later than forty-eight hours prior to the event. July 15, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting Agenda P a g e |3 4.10 DRAFT 2026-68 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR HIS DESIGNEE, TO ENTER INTO A JOINT USE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF KENT, THE DAVEY TREE EXPERT COMPANY AND KENT CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO OUTLINE THE SHARED USE OF THE EXISTING JOHN DAVEY ARBORETUM IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NEW DAVEY SEED CAMPUS AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. 4.11 DRAFT 2026-69 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OHIO PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION STATE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND / OR LOCAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM(S) AND TO EXECUTE CONTRACTS AS REQUIRED (WRF SCADA Replacement) 4.12 DRAFT 2026-70 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OHIO PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION STATE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND / OR LOCAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM(S) AND TO EXECUTE CONTRACTS AS REQUIRED (SR 59 Alternative Transportation Improvements) 4.13 DRAFT 2026-71 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 509.12 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF KENT TITLED "UNLAWFUL NOISE”, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. 5. STANDING COMMITTEES AND LEGISLATION 5.1 Committee of the Whole – Chair Amrhein/Vice-Chair Clapper 5.1.1 Sustainability Commission Appointment – Ash D’Angelo 5.1.1.1 MOTION TO APPOINT ASH D’ANGELO TO THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION 5.1.1.2 MOTION TO AUTHORIZE INSERTION OF NAME INTO DRAFT 2026-72 5.1.1.3 MOTION TO SUSPEND THREE READINGS OF DRAFT 2026-72 5.1.1.4 MOTION TO APPROVE DRAFT 2026-72 A RESOLUTION APPOINTING ASH D’ANGELO TO THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. 5.2 Community Development Committee – Chair Shaffer Bish/Vice-Chair Wallach No business Any person who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication or a modification of policies and procedures to participate in any City or City Council public meeting or event should contact the Clerk of Council at 330-678-8007. Any request for auxiliary aid or other accommodation should be made as soon as possible, but no later than forty-eight hours prior to the event. July 15, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting Agenda P a g e |4 5.3 Finance Committee – Chair Celko/Vice-Chair Tipton No business 5.4 Health & Safety Committee – Chair Hook/Vice-Chair Clapper No business 5.5 Land Use Committee – Chair Clapper/Vice-Chair Hook No business 5.6 Streets, Sidewalks & Utilities Committee – Chair Wallach/Vice-Chair Tipton No business 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 7. NEW BUSINESS 8. COUNCIL MEMBERS’ COMMENTS 9. MAYOR’S REPORT 10. ADJOURN Council workshop will immediately follow the meeting Any person who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication or a modification of policies and procedures to participate in any City or City Council public meeting or event should contact the Clerk of Council at 330-678-8007. Any request for auxiliary aid or other accommodation should be made as soon as possible, but no later than forty-eight hours prior to the event.