Meeting Observed: Kent City Council

Date of Meeting: 9/7/2022

Format: Virtual

Meeting Summary:

City Council Committee Meetings

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Gail Pavliga (R-District 75, Ohio House) addressed the council, outlining her various accomplishments since taking office in 2021 (e.g. House Bill 193 on mental health and addiction, child support for non-married couples moved to domestic relations court, being named to Ohio Foundation that will det3ermine how Ohio will spend Opiate money, court-appointed special advocacy program that will follow children in the foster system, joint sponsor for a bill establishing affording housing, part of I-76 approved to honor Edinboro police officer killed in action, commended Kent head of police and firefighters);

Community Engagement Coordinator Revision and Update:
Below is the proposed job description discussed at the Sept 7 meeting --

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
Department: Office of the City Manager Reports to: City Manager.
Non-Exempt, Unclassified, Part-Time Updated: August 2022

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
The Community Engagement Coordinator is a part-time position under the general supervision of the City Manager. This position works closely with City Departments, local businesses, Kent State University, community organizations, and City residents to advance equitable outcomes and foster an environment of inclusion. The Coordinator promotes community engagement; enhances access to City services, employment, and contracts; assists residents with City service concerns; and coordinates efforts to ensure that Kent is a welcoming and culturally vibrant community. This position assists in developing goals and expectations to advance equi+abte outcomes and opportunities in the workplace and the community.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as a point of contact and liaison to assist residents to navigate the administrative procedures related to City service opportunities, complaints, and concerns.
• Coordinates instructional sessions for City employment opportunities on how to prepare to take the Civil Service Exam, bidding on City projects, and doing business with the City.
• Works with community members, Council, and City staff to develop multicultural program priorities and goals.
• Researches, recommends, and assists City Departments in adopting best practices and policies to support workforce diversity, supplier diversity, and diversity on City boards and commissions.
• Participates in the City's recruitment, onboarding, promotion, and employee retention with a goal of leveraging the value of a diverse City staff.
• (A LINE MAY BE MISSING HERE -- IT DOESN'T APPEAR IN THE CITY MANAGER'S DRAFT)
• suggest, interpret, and deliver policy directives: must possess excellent written and verbal communication skills; must be able to establish effective working relationships with coworkers, City officials, and the public; must understand and carry out written and oral instructions: to read and interpret information; and to exercise tact and discretion when dealing with confidential matters and the public. Must possess skills to include proficiency in the use of a personal computer and software applications in the Windows operating system, including Word processing, Excel spreadsheets, and data management programs; mathematical skills to indicate high school level or equivalent competency; and organizational skills to include the ability to coordinate daily office activities, and to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. Ability to develop a working knowledge of standard operating procedures as well as new procedures as they are developed. Must be willing to take on additional duties as assigned.

PREFERRED EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with course work in Social Work, Public Health, Communication, Marketing, Public Relations, or a closely related field. Two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in a public or private service organization involving tasks similar to the previously described duties.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Possession of a valid State of Ohio driver's license and driving record sufficient to meet the City's insurance carrier requirements. The duties listed above are intended only C7S illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment contract and is subject to change os the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
• The City of Kent provides equal employment opportunities and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, military status, familial status, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation in all employment practices in accordance with applicable federal, state and /OCO/ /OWS.

Council members seemed to be comfortable with this draft. No action taken.

City Hall Construction Update: Melanie Baker outlined some of color, tile and carpet selection but noted there is a 20 to 30 week lead time

Ordinance Replacement Pages: These were all approved unanimously

LAND USE COMMITTEE:
Zoning Code Updates -- pages and pages of them but the council approved them as a group unanimously.

STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND UTILITIES COMMITTEE:
The big news of the evening came from this committee.

Will Kent get a gateway into the city on North Mantua Street? It appears that may be coming. It may be brought about because of the proposed Davey Tree's Training Institute, Roosevelt High School accessibility, and continuing issues associated with getting out of the River Bend subdivision. Conversations have taken place with Davey Tree and the Board of Education. Now residents of River Bend will be included in the conversation.

Lots of discussion with regard to this: Gateway into the city will require a way to slow down traffic into town, make left turns onto N. Mantua easier for Davey Tree and River Bend and make the pedestrian crossing at N. Mantua easier and safer. The design for this needs to be done by Oct. 2023 with possible completion in 2027 (or maybe earlier, depending). A possible way of achieving this is a roundabout, but nothing is definite. The North Mantua Street Improvements Agreement was approved unanimously.

FINANCE COMMITTEE:
The certifying tax rates to the county, request for new utility billing software, and budget appropriations amendment were all approved unanimously.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:
The council then went into an executive session to discuss an employee's evaluation and compensation.

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; Gwen Rosenberg, At Large; Michael DeLeone, At Large; Roger Sidoti, At Large, and Robin Turner, Ward 3. Absent was Tracy Wallach, Ward 6.

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/737/Agendas-and-Minutes

Observer: Kathleen Endres