Meeting Observed: Kent City Council

Date of Meeting: 5/4/2022

Format: Virtual

Meeting Summary:

councilclerk [at] kent-ohio.org. Any request for auxiliary aid or\nother accommodation should be made as soon as possible, but no later than forty-eight hours prior to the event.\n"}" data-sheets-userformat="0}">Committee of the Whole:
There were three items that the Committee of the Whole dealt with 3 matters:

• councilclerk [at] kent-ohio.org. Any request for auxiliary aid or\nother accommodation should be made as soon as possible, but no later than forty-eight hours prior to the event.\n"}" data-sheets-userformat="0}">Board and Commission Interviews: Naser Matar applied for both the Zoning Appeals and Planning Commissions (Citizens can only serve on one committee). Debra Redman and Michelle Sahr applied for Zoning Appeals, Melissa Zullo and Rose Penix both applied for the Board of Health (Both had health training and work at Kent State).
• councilclerk [at] kent-ohio.org. Any request for auxiliary aid or\nother accommodation should be made as soon as possible, but no later than forty-eight hours prior to the event.\n"}" data-sheets-userformat="0}">NAACP Presentation on Proposed Commission: Renee Romine, president of Portage County NAACP coordinated the presentation. The following presented Christie Anderson, affiliated with NAACP and Kent Interfaith Alliance, outlined employment relative to residents. One in five residents is a racial minority but only 3 percent of Kent employees are minorities. Romine discussed the importance of a formal process in a commission or a liaison to build an inclusive community. At the end of the NAACP presentation, Linda Sommers (from the audience) brought up the stigma associated with mental health and substance abuse disorders. A lengthy conversation with the council followed with the motion presented by Kuhar -- that the Council put this material and issue into committee to determine what is to be accomplished and come up with a creative composition to make it happen. Turner seconded it. The motion was approved unanimously.
• councilclerk [at] kent-ohio.org. Any request for auxiliary aid or\nother accommodation should be made as soon as possible, but no later than forty-eight hours prior to the event.\n"}" data-sheets-userformat="0}">KSU Town-Gown Update: Among the items reported: zero students issued conduct referrals on St. Patrick's Day; two farmer's markets on campus (well received); more than 5,000 students graduating. Fall enrollment looks strong on the main campus.

councilclerk [at] kent-ohio.org. Any request for auxiliary aid or\nother accommodation should be made as soon as possible, but no later than forty-eight hours prior to the event.\n"}" data-sheets-userformat="0}">Community Development Committee:

• councilclerk [at] kent-ohio.org. Any request for auxiliary aid or\nother accommodation should be made as soon as possible, but no later than forty-eight hours prior to the event.\n"}" data-sheets-userformat="0}">Main Street Kent Annual Update: The report focused on 2021. Among the items discussed: How Main Street Kent events benefit non-profits and city, including Food Drive helping Kent Social Services and Clean Up Kent. Big event was the July Wizardly event. Main Street Kent received a Heritage Ohio Award for the Kent Rainbow Weekend, which will move to October this year. There was a 2022 strategic planning work with volunteers. Volunteers love working with Main Street Kent and 60 percent want to do more. Main Street Kent will be featured in a PBS City Centric program.
• councilclerk [at] kent-ohio.org. Any request for auxiliary aid or\nother accommodation should be made as soon as possible, but no later than forty-eight hours prior to the event.\n"}" data-sheets-userformat="0}">Continuation of the Davey Tree Expert Co. EZ Agreement. The program was approved last year. Tax Incentive Review Committee recommended a continuation of the agreement, e.g. Davey had already invested $6.7 million out of the $13 million and created 10 new full-time jobs. Motion to approve the continuation of the Davey Tree Expert Co. EZ Agreement approved unanimously

Health and Public Safety Committee brought changes to the city's noise ordinance forward:

• councilclerk [at] kent-ohio.org. Any request for auxiliary aid or\nother accommodation should be made as soon as possible, but no later than forty-eight hours prior to the event.\n"}" data-sheets-userformat="0}">Changes to the City's Noise Ordinance. This came about after a citizen on Mogadore Road complained about the noise ordinance that represents undo problems. The biggest change was the addition of the word "unreasonably" to the noise ordinance. That will give the police some leeway in handling noise complaints. That change was approved unanimously.

councilclerk [at] kent-ohio.org. Any request for auxiliary aid or\nother accommodation should be made as soon as possible, but no later than forty-eight hours prior to the event.\n"}" data-sheets-userformat="0}">Finance Committee: Council approved unanimously the acceptance of a federal body camera grant.

councilclerk [at] kent-ohio.org. Any request for auxiliary aid or\nother accommodation should be made as soon as possible, but no later than forty-eight hours prior to the event.\n"}" data-sheets-userformat="0}">Then the council went into executive session.

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://www.kentohio.org/737/Agendas-and-Minutes

Observer: Kathleen Endres