Meeting Observed: Kent City Council

Date of Meeting: 3/16/2022

Format: Virtual

Meeting Summary:

Public Communication:

• Brian Sutterson of the Sensible Marijuana Initiative (on ballot in November) from Lodi, Ohio. His organization opposes statements by Kent Police Official to The Portager and others. Statements designed to influence vote are against state and federal law (e.g. Hatch Act) and encourages City Council to encourage police to withhold any comment and withdraw comments already made.
• J. Michael Fiala of 325 Highland Ave., spoke about Street Food Truck legislation and aked that city call in representatives from this group to revise code.

Written communication:

• Among other things: New D1 Liquor License to Twisted Root Cellars, 257 N. Water Street, unanimously approved.
• Jordan Cinderich's resignation from the Fair Housing Board was accepted unanimously.

Committee of the Whole:

• 2022-021: A RESOLUTION APPOINTING Rebekkah Berryhill and Jason Knowles TO THE SHADE TREE COMMISSION AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. (Authorized) : approved unanimously.

Community Development:

• 2022-022 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR HIS DESIGNEE, TO ADJUST THE APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR FUNDING ASSISTANCE CURRENTLY UTILIZED FOR THE CELEBRATE KENT! AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT PROGRAM (NGP) TO SUPPORT MULTI-CULTURAL EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE AWARENESS, INCLUSION, AND DIVERSITY; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized): first reading approved unanimously

Land Use Committee:

• 2022-023 AN ORDINANCE ACKNOWLEDGING THE NORTHERN JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARY RECORDED ON THE TAX MAP FOR THE ANNEXATION OF TERRITORY PETITION PASSED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF KENT, OHIO, ON THE 26TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 1917 DOES NOT ALIGN WITH THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF THE 1917 PETITION AND TO CORRECT THE ERROR, CITY OF KENT AFFIRMS THE NORTHERN JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARY IS THE CENTER OF THE CUYAHOGA RIVER AND PARCEL 12-050-00-00-011-000 AND PARCEL 12-050-00-00-012-000, CURRENTLY RECORDED BY PORTAGE COUNTY IN THE BOUNDARY OF FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, ARE WITHIN THE JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARY OF THE CITY OF KENT; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized): first reading unanimously passed.

Streets, sidewalks & utilities:

• 2022-024 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO APPROVE A NEW SPECIAL EVENT APPLICATION FOR MAIN STREET KENT ART & WINE FESTIVAL FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2022, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized)first reading, unanimously approved.
• 2022-025 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE WATER TAP-IN FOR THE HUMAN BEAN LOCATED AT 1713 EAST MAIN STREET/STATE ROUTE 59, OUTSIDE THE CITY OF KENT, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized): first reading unanimously approved.

Finance Committee:

• 2022-026 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SALE BY INTERNET AUCTION OF SURPLUS PROPERTY NOT NEEDED FOR MUNICIPAL PURPOSES PURSUANT TO SECTION 721.15 OF THE OHIO REVISED CODE, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized): first reading unanimously approved
• 2022-027 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR HIS DESIGNEE, TO RENEW THE AGREEMENT WITH QUALITY IP AND THE CITY OF KENT TO HELP WITH BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY NEEDS, WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized): first report, unanimously approved.
• Draft 2022-028 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): first reading unanimously approved
• 2022-029 AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING A DONATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $875.00 TO THE CITY OF KENT PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO BE USED FOR CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Unauthorized): first reading, unanimously approved.

Unfinished Business:

• Some discussion of food truck issue.

New Business:

• Sidoti applauds Tom Wilke's monthly reports e.g. on new business.

Mayor's Report:

• Old police building is being demolished to make way for new city hall.

Which members of the board/council were present:  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. Excused were Garret Ferrara, Ward 1; Jack Amrhein Ward 2; John Kuhar, Ward 4. This directly impacted the ability to pass legislation.

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