Meeting Observed: Kent City Council Regular Meeting

Date of Meeting: 7/19/2023

Format: Virtual

Meeting Summary:

Regular Kent City Council Meeting
July 19, 2023

Before the meeting, the members of the Kent City Council toured the City Hall, currently under construction.

Amrhein had compliments on the building.

Public Comment:

• Doug Fuller, 1431 River Edge, spoke about the proposed design guidelines for the city, complimented Bridget Tipton for her comments on the subject at the previous meeting, says the design guidelines need to be revised (need to address historic preservation, demolition guidelines, unclear what the role of Architectural Review Board would be, etc.)
• Sherry Rose, 1768 Elm, new president of League of Women Voters Kent, urged the city council to take a stand AGAINST Issue 1 on the August 8 ballot. Some of her points: those supporting Issue 1 represent special interests trying to limit democracy, Vote no to protect democracy. Asks City Council to join Akron City Council, Summit County Council and 238 other groups in opposing Issue 1 (SEE NEW BUSINESS)

Standing Committees and Legislation
Committee of the Whole:

• 2023-040 Ordinance approving the current replacement pages to the city of Kent codified ordinances (and declaring an emergeny) – passes unanimously

Health and Safety Committee

• 2023-041: Ordinance amending Section 509.12 of codified ordinance of city of Kent entitled “unlawful noise” (and declaring an emergency)
• Shaffer Bish ask that complaints be tracked, Kuhar wants complaints tracked as did Sidoti (This measure was discussed at length at the last council committee meeting)
• Approved unanimously.

Finance Committee

• 2023-042 (covering the contract of city manager David Ruller), -043, -044, -045, and -046 all approved unanimously

Unfinished business: None

New Business

• Amrhein moves that the League of Women Voters sent in be adopted, e.g. that the council goes on record to oppose the Issue 1 on August 8, Rosenberg seconded
• Amrhein, Shaffer Bish, Sidoti, and Turner speak against Issue 1.
• Kuhar said he had mixed feelings about this.
• Vote: 7 favor opposing Issue 1 on August 8, Ferraro voted against the measures, Kuhar opposed.

Wallach suggested that the issue of unoccupied cars idling be referred to committee, unanimously approved.

Council went into executive session but when they returned to deal with 2023-047, the ordinance amending ordinance No. 2022-137, the position allocation and general compensation plan and declaring an emergency, was not recorded.

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