Meeting Observed: Kent City Council Regular Meeting

Date of Meeting: 2/15/2023

Format: Virtual

Meeting Summary:

Special Council Committee Meeting:

Streets, Sidewalks, and Utilities:
Request to close Erie St. on June 24 and June 25 for an outdoor wedding at the hotel. The tent goes up Friday, June 23, the outdoor wedding on June 24 (under tent) and the tent would come down June 25. Motion asks for Erie St to be closed for those June dates. Approved unanimously.

Public Hearing for the Community Development Black Grant Program Year 2023 Action Plan. Audio didn't work.

Regular Council Meeting Follows
Audio works

Kuhar opening remarks: "World-changing," need to take time and "mellow out"

Pledge of Allegiance.

Presentation of an Award to the Kent City Council Clerk. Amy Wilkens received her certification from the Municipal Clerks Assn. Only one of 100 in Ohio who has earned this award. Council gives Amy a standing ovation. The award is given by Helen Dunlap, VP of Ohio Municipal Clerks Association

Approval of Minutes of January 18, 2023 Regular Council Meeting

Communication
Written Communication (All placed on file in the Clerk of Council’s office)

• Official List of Elected Officials and Notification of Filing Requirement was received from the Ohio Ethics Commission and forwarded to Council on January 31, 2023.
• Standing Rock Cemetery Board of Trustees Agenda for February 9, 2023 was received on January 31, 2023.
• Email from Mr. Bill Wilen requesting Kent install solar canopies in large parking lots located throughout the city, was received and forwarded to council members on February 3, 2023.
• Kent City Board of Health Agenda and Statistical report for the February 13, 2023 meeting was received on February 8, 2023.
• Liquor License NEW request was received on February 8, 2023 for 265 West Inc., The Underground in Kent, 265 West Main. St. Lower Level, Kent. (Ohio Liquor Control reported that this area was dry, e.g. liquor licenses not allowed. Petition being circulated to get the redistricting on the November ballot. Council moves to approve unanimously.

Standing Committees & Legislation

Committee of the Whole

• 2023- 004 A RESOLUTION APPOINTING Patricia Lowry TO THE LOAN REVIEW BOARD AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) -- unanimously approved
• 2023- 005 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2014-115, PASSED OCTOBER 15, 2014, TO AMEND THE SPECIFIED QUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITIONS ON THE LOAN REVIEW BOARD; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) -- unanimously approved.

Community Development

• 2023- 006 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR HIS DESIGNEE, TO RENEW THE AGREEMENT WITH THE HAYMAKER FARMERS’ MARKET FOR THE SUB-LAND LEASE OF A PARKING LOT LOCATED NORTH OF SUMMIT STREET, WEST OF FRANKLIN AVENUE, AND EAST OF AKRON BARBERTON CLUSTER RAILWAY COMPANY’S MAIN LINE TRACK, CONTAINING 0.168 ACRES, FOR THE PERIOD OF APRIL 1, 2023 THROUGH NOVEMBER 25, 2023; CONTINGENT ON THE CONTINUATION OF THE CITY’S LEASE WITH THE AKRON BARBERTON CLUSTER RAILWAY COMPANY, FOR THE AMOUNT OF $1.00; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) -- unanimously approved.

Health & Safety Committee

• 2023- 007 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO ACCEPT GRANT FUNDING FOR THE KENT HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,000.00 FROM THE PUBLIC ENTITIES POOL (PEP) TO INSTALL TWO (2) PANIC BUTTONS AT FRONT DESK, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) -- unanimously approved
• 2023-008 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO ACCEPT GRANT FUNDING FOR THE KENT POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $102,500.00 FROM THE ARPA FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS, RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND RESILIENCY GRANT PROGRAM TO DEVELOP WELLNESS PROGRAMS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized)--unanimously approved.

Streets, Sidewalks and Utilities

• 2023-009 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR HIS DESIGNEE, TO ENTER INTO A CONSTRUCTION MAINTENANCE AND USE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF KENT AND SUMMIT METRO PARKS (SMP) FOR AN OFF-ROAD BIKE/HIKE TRAIL CONNECTION, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) -- unanimously approved
• 2023-010 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO APPROVE A NEW SPECIAL EVENT APPLICATION FROM DAVID SCHOEFFLER TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, JUNE 24 AND SUNDAY JUNE 25, 2023, AND THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF ERIE STREET BETWEEN SOUTH DEPEYSTER STREET AND ROUTE 59, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY -- unanimously approved

Finance Committee

• 2023-011 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO TAKE ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY TO ACCEPT THE NORTHEAST OHIO PUBLIC ENERGY COUNCIL (NOPEC) 2023 COMMUNITY EVENT SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,500.00, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) -- unanimously approved
• 2023- 012 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2022-138, THE CURRENT APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE, PASSED DECEMBER 21, 2022; 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, 2023; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) -- unanimously approved

Unfinished Business

• Kuhar noted that in 2009/2020 Council approved and recommended $33,000 for solar panels for hot water, and asked what happened to it. Mayor says he'll need to do research.

New Business

• Shaffer Bish asks that City Council to write a letter of support for a contractor who plans to ask for tax revision for improvements to the Summit Gardens apartment building. Kuhar supports any support for the tax credit. Turner supports. Shaffer Bish endorses "safe, decent, and affordable housing." Motion approved unanimously

Councilmembers' Comments: Sidoti encourages all council members to read the revised findings of CT Consulting.

Mayor's Report: Final beam placed on building. Anticipates a busier Downtown summer than in last three years.

Adjourn

Which members of the board/council were present: All 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, and 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://kentoh.portal.civicclerk.com/

Observer: Kathleen Endres