Meeting Observed: City of Kent Regular City Council Meeting

Date of Meeting: 7/24/2024

Format: Virtual

Meeting Summary:

Communication:

Two notices required official action from the Ohio Division of Liquor Control:

• STOCK DBA Loft 1st Floor and Basement at 112 W. Main St.: The request was unanimously approved by the Kent City Council without comment.
• Transfer request for Blind Squirrel Pub, 802 N. Mantua: No opposition from the Sheriff. The transfer request was unanimously approved by the Kent City Council.

Committee of the Whole:

• 2024-066: An ordinance commemorating Juneteenth as an official city holiday for all employees of the City of Kent who are entitled to holidays and declaring an emergency – unanimously approved.

Community Development:

• 2024-067: An ordinance authorizing the city manager, or his designee, to enter into a dual-use operating agreement between the City of Kent and Slightly Toasted LLC (DBA Bliss Ohio) to continue operating as a medical marijuana dispensary and also as an adult-use cannabis dispensary, and declaring an emergency – unanimously approved.

• 2024-068: An ordinance amending the Downtown Kent DORA to expand the boundaries to include a new business located at 141 E. Summit, with emergency – unanimously approved.

Finance Committee:

• 2024-069: An ordinance establishing a codified ordinance for the City of Kent entitled “Employee Dishonesty and Faithful Performance of Duty Insurance Policy,” with emergency – unanimously approved.

• 2024-070: An ordinance amending ordinance 2023-97 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 Dec. 31, 2024, with emergency – unanimously approved.

• 2024-071: An ordinance authorizing the City of Kent to submit a funding application totaling $689,000 and to execute the subsequent agreement with the Ohio Public Works Commission and to accept the grant, if awarded, with corresponding appropriation of funds, with emergency – unanimously approved.

• 2024-072: An ordinance accepting and authorizing the city manager, or his designee, to execute agreements for the City of Kent to obtain permanent and temporary easements for the right-of-way purposes to install, construct, and reconstruct the roadway for the project known as the E. Main Street Improvement Project, with emergency – unanimously approved.

• 2024-976: An ordinance authorizing the city budget and finance director and law director, or their designees, to sign an employment contract between the City of Kent and David Ruller, with emergency – unanimously approved.

Council Members' Comments:

• Rosenberg congratulated Main Street Kent for the success of Wizardly Weekend.
• Shaffer-Bish praised the dual-use marijuana company as a good neighbor and noted that future adult recreational marijuana facilities will be located in the industrial area.
• Turner commended Susel, Ruller, and Baker for their "good approach" to the marijuana issue.
• Hook emphasized that the Council heard citizen comments and took quality action on the marijuana issue.

Mayor’s Report:

• The Mayor reported that downtown Kent is thriving throughout the summer, and noted the positive impact Dan Smith has had over the past 10 years.

Executive Session:

The City Council entered executive session to consider the purchase of property for public purposes, the sale of property at competitive bidding, or the sale or other disposition of unneeded, obsolete, or unfit-for-use property.

Upon returning, the Council unanimously approved the following ordinances:

• 2024-061: A resolution declaring the intent to appropriate property interests for the East Main Street Improvement Project, with emergency.
• 2024-073: An ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement between Maria C. Rock and the City, with the City obtaining a permanent or temporary easement for right-of-way for the East Main Street Improvement Project, with emergency.
• 2024-074: A similar ordinance with Faith Lutheran Church.
• 2024-075: A similar ordinance with Southward Preserve LLC.

Public Hearings:

1. In accordance with O.R.C. 5705.28, notice was given on June 17, that a public hearing would be held on the City of Kent’s Annual Tax Budget for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2025.
2. On June 25 and July 3, notice was given that the Kent City Council was conducting a public hearing to allow for public comments and questions regarding the City of Kent’s appropriation for a Designation Outdoor Refreshment Area Expansion (to 141 E. Summit).

Council Committee Meetings:

Committee of the Whole:

• Board and Commissions Interview Process: Gwen Rosenberg introduced an idea to simplify the interview process. She suggested moving the interviews to an executive session or before the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

• City Hall Project Update: Melanie Baker reported that work has moved inside (e.g., painting and drywall, finishing and closing the elevator, installation of light fixtures), and by July 22, lettering will be outside the window.

Community Development Committee:

• Decarbonization Planning for the City Building: In alignment with the environmental action plan to reduce carbon emissions, an energy consultant outlined that the water treatment plant and the reclamation plant had the greatest rate for carbon emissions. It was recommended that the Water Treatment Plant and the Fire Station be the first steps in the NOPEC-funded grant to curb carbonization. The motion passed unanimously.

• Proposed Operating Agreement for the Sale of Adult Use Marijuana: This long-discussed issue culminated in the decision to approve a dual-use facility at 331 E. Main Street, run by Bliss, which currently operates the medical marijuana facility in the city. The Council approved this unanimously, with no adult entertainment marijuana facility to be located elsewhere in the city now.

• DORA Expansion Request: The city staff recommended expanding the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area to 141 E. Summit. The motion to approve the new boundary with emergency was unanimously approved.

Finance Committee:

• Tax Budget: The motion to approve with an emergency was unanimously approved.

• Insurance Coverage: A shift in insurance coverage was discussed, with the motion to approve with emergency being unanimously approved.

• Budget Appropriation Amendment: The motion to approve with emergency was unanimously approved.

• OPWC (Ohio Public Works Commission) Grant/Loan Application Request: With grant availability starting on July 25, the motion to apply and receive the grant if won was unanimously approved.

Executive Session: The session was held to consider the purchase of property for public purposes, the sale of property at competitive bidding, or the sale or other disposition of unneeded, obsolete, or unfit-to-use property.

Which members of the board/council were present: Melissa Celko, Ward 1; Jack Amrhein, Ward 2; Robert Turner, Ward 3; Chris Hook, Ward 4; Heidi Shaffer Bish, Ward 5; Jeff Clapper, Ward 6; Michael DeLeone, At Large; Gwen Rosenberg, At Large. Absent was Roger Sidoti, At Large.

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