5/17/2023 - Kent City Council - Observer Corps Report

5/17/2023 - Kent City Council - Observer Corps Report

Type: 
Blog Post

Meeting Observed: Kent City Council Regular Meeting

Date of Meeting: 5/17/2023

Format: Virtual

Meeting Summary:

Regular Kent City Council Meeting, May 17, 2023

Public Comment: Mark Seeman, 518 Rockwell, and Tim Cressell, 2025 Chestnut, both spoke in favor of extending the recycling contract so that Portage County Recycling could submit a bid.
Lots of written submissions, especially noteworthy emails from Georgia Quinn, Diane Stresing, and Renee Ruchotzke all wrote opposing the proposed detachment of land on Johnson Road from the city of Kent.

Committee of the Whole:

  • 2023- 027 A RESOLUTION APPOINTING Jack Murphy TO THE PORTAGE AREA REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY BOARD, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY --Amrhein abstained but rest approved.

Community Development:

  • 2023-028 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A REQUEST FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) ASSISTANCE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 UNDER TITLE I OF THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED, INCLUDING THE PY2023 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND FILING OF THE PY2023 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN, INCLUDING RELATED CERTIFICATIONS, AND UPON AWARDING OF THE GRANT, AUTHORIZING APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Unauthorized)-- approved unanimously.

Health & Safety Committee:

  • 2023- 029 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 351.99 TITLED “PENALTY,” AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized)--unanimously approved
  • 2023- 030 AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING A CERTAIN BID FROM REPUBLIC SERVICES FOR THE COLLECTION OF REFUSE AND RECYCLED MATERIALS FROM CITY CUSTOMERS; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) -- opposition to the suspension, failed to get the needed 7 votes so this measure now has to go thru three readings. The first reading passed 6 to 3. This gets back to the fact that the Portage County Recycling failed to submit a bid for recycling and the Trash and Recycling Contracts went to Republic.

Land Use Committee:

  • Deny petition for detachment of land for parcels 17-046-00-00-019-007 and 17-046-00-00-018-000 located in the Forest Lakes Subdivision. approved 8 to 1 with Kuhar opposing.

Streets, Sidewalks and Utilities:

  • 2023-031 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 353.02 “PARKING REGULATION AUTHORIZATION” OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF KENT TO CHANGE THE PERMISSIBLE PARKING CONDITIONS ON CUYAHOGA STREET ADJACENT TO THE OLD H-W INDUSTRIES BUILDING, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) -- unanimously approved.

Finance Committee:

  • 2023-032 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF KENT TO SUBMIT A FUNDING APPLICATION FOR A “SAFE STREETS FOR ALL” (SS4A) FEDERAL GRANT FOR THE EAST MAIN STREET AREA IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, AND TO ACCEPT THE GRANT, IF AWARDED, AND EXECUTE THE SUBSEQUENT GRANT AGREEMENT WITH CORRESPONDING APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized)--unanimously approved
  • 2023-033 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO ACCEPT A CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) PUBLIC HEALTH THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT 23 GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $360,000 AND REQUESTING TO APPLY FOR AN ADDITIONAL ENHANCED OPERATIONS (EO23) GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $70,832 FOR THE CITY OF KENT HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized)--unanimously approved
  • 2023-034 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
  • 2023-035 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH STRYKER FOR THE PURCHASE OF LUCAS MACHINE CPR DEVICES, WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Unauthorized)-- unanimously approved

New Business:

  • Sidoti moves that the new City building be dedicated before the end of the Council term so that Ferrara (who declined to run for another term) and Wallach (who was defeated in the primary) could have their names on the plaque -- approved by 7, Ferraro and Wallach abstained.
  • The most extended discussion was on the recycling contract. (Portage County Recycling did not submit a bid. Shaffer Bish moved that the Council rescind the cancellation letter sent to the Portage County Recycling Department -- failed 6 to 3.

Wallach moved that the Council support the Portage County Recycling Department in some way -- failed 6 to 3.

Council Member Comments:

  • Gerraro said Kent residents will continue to recycle.
  • Rosenberg congrats Water Department on its 100th anniversary.

Among Mayor comments: June 7 meeting will be the second reading of 2023-030, and the deadline for Heritage Festival applications is June 9. Heritage Festival is July 1 this year.

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, 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

League to which this content belongs: 
Kent

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