Meeting Observed: Kent City Council

Date of Meeting: 10/20/2021

Format: Virtual

Meeting Summary:

This was a Regular Council Meeting and Caper Meeting.
Caper Report: $283,000 of $300,000 grant distributed (Aug. 2020 to July 2021) -- 90 percent went to extremely low-income homes and 8 percent went to low and moderate homes. 14 homes received direct housing assistance and 3000 homes reserved public services and public services through infrastructre improvements in low-income areas and rehab assistance; hot water tank and/or furnace replacements to 10 homes. Miller House assisted with Kitchen.

Regular Council Meeting:
Three people appeared. Barb Hipsman (League member and Kent resident) discussed the proposed 33 acres of Allerton transformation on the Kent State Campus, which will add approximately 1,000 voters to the rolls, not rental not student housing. Hipsman encourages city council involvement in this matter. Open hearing at Rec Center, Oct. 27***

The two speakers -- Mark Fankhauser and Kevin Poland -- are individuals who are running for office in the November election.

Committee legislation proposals:
Health & Safety Committee

• 2021- 103 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR HIS DESIGNEE TO ENTER INTO A COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE CONTRACT WITH THE BRIMFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING 911 DISPATCH SERVICES, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) -- see discussion in the report last Council meeting, approved unanimously.
• 2021-104 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE DOWNTOWN KENT DORA TO EXPAND THE BOUNDARIES TO INCLUDE TWO NEW BUSINESSES LOCATED AT 310 PARK AVE. (BELLTOWER BREWERY) AND 115 LAKE STREET (KENT CYCLE) AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY -- this is the expansion of the Dora across the bridge that was discussed at the last meeting. Approved unanimously.

Streets, Sidewalks and Utilities Committee:

• 2021-105 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF KENT TO SUBMIT A HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAM (HSP) GRANT TOTALING $230,843 TO IMPROVE RIVER AND GOUGLER STREETS, TO EXECUTE THE SUBSEQUENT AGREEMENT WITH THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (ODOT), AND TO ACCEPT THE GRANT, IF AWARDED, WITH CORRESPONDING APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. (Authorized) -- unanimously approved
• 2021-106 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR HIS DESIGNEE, TO ENTER INTO A LICENSE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF KENT AND 257 NORTH WATER, LTD. (257 NORTH WATER STREET) TO INSTALL A FENCED OUTDOOR PATIO TO EXPAND THE SERVICE AT THEIR DOWNTOWN LOCATION, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) -- approved unanimously
• 2021- 107 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR HIS DESIGNEE, TO RENEW THE NON-EXCLUSIVE EASEMENT FROM THE STATE OF OHIO (DAS FILE NO. 3180-A-2) ON BEHALF OF THE KENT STATE UNIVERSITY FOR THE CITY’S TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT AND THE EXPANDED USE OF A PERMANENT EASEMENT FOR THE AT&T CELL TOWER, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) -- approved unanimously

Finance Committee:

• 2021- 108 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2020-129, THE CURRENT APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE, PASSED DECEMBER 16, 2020; 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, 2021; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) -- approved unanimously
• 2021- 109 AN ORDINANCE DECLARING IMPROVEMENTS TO CERTAIN PARCELS OF REAL PROPERTY TO BE A PUBLIC PURPOSE, DESCRIBING THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE TO DIRECTLY BENEFIT SUCH PARCELS, REQUIRING THE OWNERS OF THE IMPROVEMENTS ON SUCH PARCELS TO MAKE SERVICE PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF TAXES, ESTABLISHING A DAVEY TREE EXPANSION PROJECT MUNICIPAL PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT TAX INCREMENT EQUIVALENT FUND FOR THE DEPOSIT OF SUCH SERVICE PAYMENTS PURSUANT TO OHIO REVISED CODE SECTIONS 5709.40, 5709.42 AND 5709.43, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) -- unanimously approved.
• 2021- 110 AN ORDINANCE DECLARING IMPROVEMENTS TO CERTAIN PARCELS OF REAL PROPERTY TO BE A PUBLIC PURPOSE, DESCRIBING THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE TO DIRECTLY BENEFIT SUCH PARCELS, REQUIRING THE OWNERS OF THE IMPROVEMENTS ON SUCH PARCELS TO MAKE SERVICE PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF TAXES, ESTABLISHING A DUNKIN DONUTS MUNICIPAL PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT TAX INCREMENT EQUIVALENT FUND FOR THE DEPOSIT OF SUCH SERVICE PAYMENTS PURSUANT TO OHIO REVISED CODE SECTIONS 5709.40, 5709.42 AND 5709.43, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) -- unanimously approved.
• 2021 111 AN ORDINANCE DECLARING IMPROVEMENTS TO CERTAIN PARCELS OF REAL PROPERTY TO BE A PUBLIC PURPOSE, DESCRIBING THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE TO DIRECTLY BENEFIT SUCH PARCELS, REQUIRING THE OWNERS OF THE IMPROVEMENTS ON SUCH PARCELS TO MAKE SERVICE PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF TAXES, ESTABLISHING A HASAWI’S MUNICIPAL PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT TAX INCREMENT EQUIVALENT FUND FOR THE DEPOSIT OF SUCH SERVICE PAYMENTS PURSUANT TO OHIO REVISED CODE SECTIONS 5709.40, 5709.42 AND 5709.43, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) -- unanimously approved
• 2021- 112 AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF BONDS IN THE MAXIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF $9,130,000 TO PROVODE FUNDS TO PAY COSTS OF CONSTRUCTING, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING A NEW CITY HALL AND IMPROVING THE SITE THEREOF, TOGETHER WITH THE NECESSARY APPURTENANCES AND WORK
• INCIDENTAL THERETO, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. (Authorized) -- this deals with the new city hall. In favor: 8; opposed 1 (Kuhar)
• 2021- 113 A RESOLUTION ESTIMATING THE AMOUNT OF ACTIVE, INTERIM, AND INACTIVE DEPOSITS TO BE AWARDED, FIXING PERIOD OF DESIGNATION AND DATE OF AWARDING AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) -- unanimously approved
• 2021-114 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO ACCEPT GRANT FUNDING FOR THE KENT HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $180,000 FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) -- all approved

Council Members' Comments:
Shaffer-Bish, Turner and Sidoti all discussed the proposed Allterton intergenerational Village on the KSU Campus.

The Council then went into executive session to discuss contract negotiations.

Which members of the board/council were present:  Garret Ferrara, Ward 1; Jack Amrhein, Ward 2;  John Kuhar, Ward 4; Heidi Shaffer Bish, Ward 5;  Tracy Wallach, Ward 6; Gwen Rosenberg, At Large;  Michael DeLeone, At Large; Roger Sidoti, At Large; Robin Turner, Ward 3.

Was there a public notice of the meeting that included the time and place of meeting: Yes

Was an agenda of the meeting or handouts available to visitors: Yes

Are minutes from previous meetings posted/available: Yes

https://www.kentohio.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10062021-919

Observer: Kathleen Endres