Meeting Observed: Kent City Council

Date of Meeting: 9/21/2022

Format: Virtual

Meeting Summary:

Public Comment:

• 4 Students from the Northeast Ohio Medical University (Rootstown) (Max Buckwell, Michael Massey, Rahan Hassif, and James Moore) spoke in favor of Medicare for all and encouraged Kent City Council support for the measure.
• Diane Smith of the Record-Courier outlined the Gannett layoff at the newspaper, invited all to participate in Alternate Town Hall, Oct 6 and said she should get the press releases for publicity for local events.
• John Riddinger provided an update on Kent Flag committee, 68 total designs submitted from 33 separate individuals, should have a report by end of the calendar year.

Committee of the Whole:

• 2022-097 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE CURRENT REPLACEMENT PAGES TO THE CITY OF KENT CODIFIED ORDINANCES AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (AUTHORIZED) -- approved unanimously.

Land Use Committee:

• 2022-098 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF A PETITION WITH THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF PORTAGE COUNTY, OHIO TO CHANGE THE FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP BOUNDARY LINES IN ORDER TO REMOVE 174.828 ACRES OF TERRITORY FROM FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP AND MAKE THE TOWNSHIP LINES IDENTICAL WITH THE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF KENT, OHIO, AS A RESULT OF REMOVING SAID TERRITORY FROM THE TOWNSHIP, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (AUTHORIZED 4/20/2022) -- approved unanimously
• 2022-099 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY OF KENT’S ZONING CODE IN ORDER TO GREATER CLARIFY TEXT OR CORRECT ERRORS IN THE CODE, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (AUTHORIZED)--approved unanimously

Streets, Sidewalks and Utilities Committee:

• 2022-100 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR HIS DESIGNEE, TO EXECUTE THE NORTH MANTUA STREET IMPROVEMENTS AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF KENT, KENT CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE DAVEY TREE EXPERT COMPANY TO ADDRESS EXISTING NEEDS ALONG THE ROADWAY, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (AUTHORIZED)--approved unanimously.

Finance Committee

• 2022-101 RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE AMOUNTS AND RATES AS DETERMINED BY THE BUDGET COMMISSION AND AUTHORIZING THE NECESSARY TAX LEVIES AND CERTIFYING THEM TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR. (AUTHORIZED)--approved unanimously
• 2022-102 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF KENT’S BUDGET & FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH CIVICA AUTHORITY TO UPDATE THE UTILITY BILLING SOFTWARE, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (AUTHORIZED)--approved unanimously
• 2022-103 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2021-133, THE CURRENT APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE, PASSED DECEMBER 15, 2021; 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, 2022; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (AUTHORIZED)--approved unanimously
• 2022-104 AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING A DONATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,000.00 TO THE CITY OF KENT PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT FROM ADAM HAMILTON MEMORIAL ACADEMIC & ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR KENT PARKS AND RECREATION YOUTH TACKLE FOOTBALL AND CHEER PROGRAM, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.(UNAUTHORIZED-- approved unanimously

New Business

• Shafer-Bish moved to put the medicare for all recommendation be put in the Health and Safety Committee to be considered in committee for possible council action. Wallach, Sidoti, Amrhein, and Turner all spoke in favorite, unanimous approval to send to committee.

Mayor's Report:

• There are many openings on boards and commissions, encouraged all to apply online or by calling Clerk of Council

The council went into an executive session to discuss employee evaluations 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; Tracy Wallach, Ward 6; Michael DeLeone, At Large; Roger Sidoti, At Large; and Robin Turner, Ward 3. Absent was Gwen Rosenberg, At Large.

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