City Council

City of Trotwood 3035 Olive Road Trotwood, Ohio 45426 937.837.7771 www.trotwood.org Meeting Minutes - Final Monday, June 7, 2021 6:30 PM Executive Session 6:00 P.M. Trotwood Community and Cultural Arts Center 4000 Lake Center Drive, Trotwood, Ohio 45426 City Council Mayor Mary A. McDonald Vice Mayor Tyna R. Brown Council Member Charles Ron Vaughn Council Member Rhonda C. Finley Council Member Robert L. Kelley, Jr. Council Member Yvette Page Council Member Bettye L. Gales Clerk of Council Kara B. Landis City Council Meeting Minutes - Final June 7, 2021 VISITORS AND COMMUNICATIONS: Due to COVID-19, this will be a virtual meeting. Please visit the City's website at www.trotwood.org, for details on how to view the Council Meeting. Comments may be submitted to the Clerk of Council no later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday, June 7, 2021. I. Call to Order: Mayor Mary A. McDonald Mayor McDonald called the meeting to Order at 6:00 p.m. II. Invocation: Elder Belinda Mitchell Elder Mitchell gave the Invocation. III. Pledge of Allegiance Mayor McDonald led the Pledge of Allegiance. IV. Roll Call: Clerk of Council Clerk Landis took Roll Call. Present: 7 - Mayor Mary A. McDonald, Councilmember Charles Ron Vaughn, Councilmember Rhonda C. Finley, Councilmember Robert L. Kelley Jr., Councilmember Yvette Page, Councilmember Bettye L. Gales and Vice Mayor Tyna R. Brown Staff Members Present: Law Director Steve McHugh, City Manager Quincy Pope, Clerk of Council Kara Landis, Deputy City Manager Stephanie Kellum, Police Chief Erik Wilson, Deputy Police Chief Mark Ecton, and Public Works Supervisor Johnny McCluskey. V. Motion to Approve the Agenda Mayor McDonald requested a Motion on this item. Vice Mayor Brown made a Motion, seconded by Council Member Kelley, to approve the Agenda. The Motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 7- Mayor McDonald, Councilmember Vaughn, Councilmember Finley, Councilmember Kelley Jr., Councilmember Page, Councilmember Gales and Vice Mayor Brown VI. Motion to Enter into Executive Session Mayor McDonald requested a Motion on this item. Vice Mayor Brown made a Motion, seconded by Council Member Gales, to enter into Executive Session. The Motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 7- Mayor McDonald, Councilmember Vaughn, Councilmember Finley, Councilmember Kelley Jr., Councilmember Page, Councilmember Gales and Vice Mayor Brown City of Trotwood Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final June 7, 2021 SR21-18 The Trotwood City Council will move into Executive Session pursuant to Section 121.22(G)(1) of the Ohio Revised Code, for the purpose of discussing a personnel matter, specifically the compensation of a public employee. VII. Motion to Adjourn the Executive Session Mayor McDonald requested a Motion on this item. Council Member Gales made a Motion, seconded by Vice Mayor Brown, to adjourn the Executive Session. The Motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 7- Mayor McDonald, Councilmember Vaughn, Councilmember Finley, Councilmember Kelley Jr., Councilmember Page, Councilmember Gales and Vice Mayor Brown VIII. Motion to Approve the Consent Agenda Mayor McDonald requested a Motion on this item. Vice Mayor Brown made a Motion, seconded by Council Member Gales, to approve the Consent Agenda. The Motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 7- Mayor McDonald, Councilmember Vaughn, Councilmember Finley, Councilmember Kelley Jr., Councilmember Page, Councilmember Gales and Vice Mayor Brown SR21-19 Approval of the Regular City Council Meeting Minutes from May 3, 2021. Attachments: 2021-05-03 DRAFT Meeting Minutes This Staff Report was filed. SR21-20 Approval of the Special City Council Meeting Minutes from May 18, 2021. Attachments: 2021-05-18 DRAFT Special Meeting Minutes This Staff Report was filed. IX. Motion to Open Public Hearings Public Hearings/Ordinances Mayor McDonald requested a Motion on this item. Council Member Gales made a Motion, seconded by Vice Mayor Brown, to open the Public Hearings. The Motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 7- Mayor McDonald, Councilmember Vaughn, Councilmember Finley, Councilmember Kelley Jr., Councilmember Page, Councilmember Gales and Vice Mayor Brown City of Trotwood Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final June 7, 2021 OR18-21 AN ORDINANCE BY THE TROTWOOD CITY COUNCIL ESTABLISHING A NEW GRANT FUND IN CONFORMITY WITH FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS AND GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES FOR FUNDS RECEIVED FROM THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA) AS A RESULT OF THE 2019 MEMORIAL DAY TORNADOES. Attachments: OR18-21 City Manager Pope explained that this ordinance, along with the other two ordinances on the agenda, creates and memorializes the account necessary to meet the statutory requirements to document expenditures and dollars received by the City. Mayor McDonald requested a Motion on this item. Council Member Kelley made a Motion, seconded by Vice Mayor Brown, to adopt this Ordinance. The Motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 7- Mayor McDonald, Councilmember Vaughn, Councilmember Finley, Councilmember Kelley Jr., Councilmember Page, Councilmember Gales and Vice Mayor Brown OR19-21 AN ORDINANCE BY THE TROTWOOD CITY COUNCIL ESTABLISHING A NEW SPECIAL REVENUE FUND IN CONFORMITY WITH FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS AND GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES FOR FUNDS RECEIVED AS A RESULT OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021. Attachments: OR19-21 CIty Manager Pope stated that this account is being created and memorialized to meet the statutory requirements to document expenditures to be made and dollars to be received by the City. Mayor McDonald requested a Motion on this item. Council Member Kelley made a Motion, seconded by Vice Mayor Brown, to adopt this ordinance. The Motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 7- Mayor McDonald, Councilmember Vaughn, Councilmember Finley, Councilmember Kelley Jr., Councilmember Page, Councilmember Gales and Vice Mayor Brown City of Trotwood Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final June 7, 2021 OR20-21 AN ORDINANCE BY THE TROTWOOD CITY COUNCIL ESTABLISHING A NEW GRANT FUND IN CONFORMITY WITH FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS AND GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES FOR FUNDS RECEIVED FROM THE COUNTY CORONAVIRUS RELIEF DISTRIBUTION FUND AS A RESULT OF THE CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT. Attachments: OR20-21 City Manager Pope advised that this account is being created and memorialized to document expenditures and funds received by the City. Council Member Vaughn asked City Manager Pope if these three funds will occasionally be reviewed by Council. City Manager Pope advised the information will be provided to Council in the normal course of business during budget time. City Manager Pope explained further that he previously reached out to Council and plans to further discuss their priorities as the City prepares to receive funds from the American Rescue Act. He also shared that City staff are working on their recommendations to present to Council. Council Member Finley asked what the period of performance is on those dollars. City Manager Pope advised they have until 2024 to expend the funds and because this is a one-time funding event that will most likely never happen again, this is an opportunity to make an impact on this community far beyond the City Manager and Council. Examples of ideas that have been discussed include helping small businesses affected by the pandemic and helping the community's senior population with property maintenance issues. Mayor McDonald asked City Manager Pope when he will have a list of recommendations available for Council to review. City Manager Pope estimated he will have a list to Council in the next four to six weeks. City Manager Pope also referred to the City's strategic plan, which was updated a couple of years ago and includes input from over 500 people including citizens, staff, and Council members. Mayor McDonald mentioned there is significant investment coming to the Main Street corridor so efforts need to include paying close attention to the needs of that area. City Manager Pope shared that the City is in the process of implementing some new technology where citizens can have their concerns regarding code violations heard. In addition, City Manager Pope plans to provide Council with a list of what is going on with properties in the community so they can better address questions from their constitutes. There are also plans to address the vacant and burned down houses in the community, keeping in mind there are laws that have to be followed and it takes time for the process to work. Mayor McDonald asked if anything has changed regarding the strategic plan due to COVID-19. City Manager Pope shared that because the strategic plan was created around the future, the pandemic has had no affect on the plan. City Manager Pope commented that another area being explored is broadband. Deputy City Manager Kellum has led some discussions in the northwest corridor on this topic and the Community will be getting broadband, City of Trotwood Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final June 7, 2021 which will lower expenses to citizens. Mayor McDonald mentioned that she hopes code enforcement is at the top of next year's budget as she has not been happy with property care and people understanding the importance of taking care of their property. Council Member Gales asked if the City is partnering with the schools on the broadband project. City Manager Pope advised the school is one of the partners who has already committed funds toward the broadband project. Council Member Finley suggested that the City look into cybersecurity due to enhancing technology. In addition, she would like to see citizen's receive some type of immediate impact from the funds to be received. City Manager Pope reminded Council that while the City had previously implemented an increase to water rates of 9% each year for five years, Council voted to suspend the increase and decided to not collect the additional dollars. Council Member Vaughn commented that he does not endorse recreating the strategic plan, but feels it should be revisited with consideration of affordability because of new funding. Council Member Page wanted clarification that these three funds will be three separate line items in the budget. City Manager Pope agreed. Council Member Page further stated that she has interest in the tornado fund; however, Deputy City Manager Kellum clarified that the new FEMA account is only for reimbursement dollars, dollars that have already been spent. Mayor McDonald requested a Motion on this item. Council Member Vaughn made a Motion, seconded by Council Member Finley, to adopt this ordinance. The Motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 7- Mayor McDonald, Councilmember Vaughn, Councilmember Finley, Councilmember Kelley Jr., Councilmember Page, Councilmember Gales and Vice Mayor Brown X. Motion to Close Public Hearings Mayor McDonald requested a Motion on this item. A Motion was made by Council Member Gales, seconded by Vice Mayor Brown, to close the Public Hearings. The Motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 7- Mayor McDonald, Councilmember Vaughn, Councilmember Finley, Councilmember Kelley Jr., Councilmember Page, Councilmember Gales and Vice Mayor Brown XI. Old and New Business City of Trotwood Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final June 7, 2021 Vice Mayor Brown made a Motion to Reconsider the vote to amend Section 3-5 SALARIES of the City Charter. Law Director McHugh advised the Motion is allowable under Robert's Rules of Order. Mayor McDonald asked Vice Mayor Brown to give a background on what she is asking. Vice Mayor Brown shared a handout that showed the current language of Section 3-5 SALARIES of the City Charter as well as the recommendation from the Charter Review Commission, which was voted on during the May 18, 2021 Special Meeting and failed. Vice Mayor Brown recommended the language as indicated in the third column on her handout (attached). Council Member Page seconded the Motion. A roll call vote was taken and the motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 4- Councilmember Finley, Councilmember Kelley Jr., Councilmember Page and Vice Mayor Brown Nay: 3- Mayor McDonald, Councilmember Vaughn and Councilmember Gales Vice Mayor Brown made a Motion to amend Section 3-5 SALARIES of the City Charter with the amendments as she proposed and authorize the Law Director to add the amended Section as approved to the ordinance being drafted with previously approved amendments to other sections of the City Charter. Council Member Page seconded the Motion. A roll call vote was taken and the motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 4- Councilmember Finley, Councilmember Kelley Jr., Councilmember Page and Vice Mayor Brown Nay: 3- Mayor McDonald, Councilmember Vaughn and Councilmember Gales a. Staff Reports SR21-17 A Motion to Approve the One-Year Performance Evaluation and Compensation Increase for the Clerk of Council. Mayor McDonald requested a Motion on this item. A Motion was made by Vice Mayor Brown, seconded by Council Member Page, to approve the one-year evaluation and compensation increase for the Clerk of Council. The Motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 7- Mayor McDonald, Councilmember Vaughn, Councilmember Finley, Councilmember Kelley Jr., Councilmember Page, Councilmember Gales and Vice Mayor Brown b. City Manager: Reminder to visit the City of Trotwood's website at www.trotwood.org for updated information and events in our City. City of Trotwood Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final June 7, 2021 c. Mayor: To schedule an appointment with the Mayor, please contact the Clerk of Council at 937-854-7212, between the hours of 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. d. Clerk of Council: Announcements Clerk Landis advised that the City is looking to fill several vacancies on Boards and Commissions. Electors of the City who are interested in volunteering can go on the website for more details. Currently there are vacancies on the Parks and Recreation Board, Board of Zoning Appeals, Civil Service Board, and the Public Safety Committee. Mayor McDonald mentioned the Compensation Board and Clerk Landis advised that she will review the requirements and determine what specific representation is needed. XII. Motion to Adjourn Mayor McDonald requested a Motion on this item. Vice Mayor Brown made a Motion, then Council Member Kelley added a comment thanking Vice Mayor Brown for having the wisdom and courage to recommend the amendment she brought forward. The motion to Adjourn was seconded by Council Member Gales. Council Members were all In Favor and the meeting was Adjourned at 7:15 p.m. City of Trotwood Page 7