Meeting Observed: Kent City Council

Date of Meeting: 8/17/2022

Format: Virtual

Meeting Summary:

COMMUNICATION:
Four citizens (excuse the spelling of names: Mathias Haffler, Raymond Ademac, Ally Frasier and Carol Swalker) appeared before council as pro-life advocates

Written communication included:
Liquor License STOCK request from Kent ABC Holdings, LLC, DBA Treno Ristorante & Patio 152 Franklin Ave. 1st. Floor and Basement, Kent, was received on August 5, 2022. This was approved by Council unanimously

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE:

• 2022- 080 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION TO CHANGE THE CIVIL SERVICE TESTING RULES TO ALLOW FOR LATERAL TRANSFERS WITHOUT REQUIRING A FULL CIVIL SERVICE RE-TEST, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized)--approved unanimously
• 2022-094 A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS IN DISSENT OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISION OVERTURNING ROE v. WADE, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (UNAUTHORIZED)

Kuhar offered an amendment that suggested that the heartbeat law be rewritten to "determine what baby has to die." Ferraro seconded the amendment. Kuhar emphasized this isn't a woman's rights thing. Ferraro said because there are so many different opinions, all should write their own state representative on their opinion. Sidoti said he'd like to see the conversation change but he is personally against abortion. Turner said this resolution is in keeping with the Council's history. Kuhar's amendment was defeated 6-3 and the resolution passed 6-3 (Kuhar, Ferraro, and Sidoti against)

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT:

• 2022-081 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF A TREX LIQUOR LICENSE INTO THE CITY OF KENT BY THE WULFJAM, LLC, AN OHIO LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, CONDITIONED UPON THE EXECUTION OF A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF KENT, OHIO AND WULFJAM, LLC, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (AUTHORIZED) unanimously approved.

HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE:

• 2022-082 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR HIS DESIGNEE, TO AMEND THE LEASE AGREEMENT WITH PARTA AND THE CITY OF KENT HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE TO LEASE 201 EAST ERIE STREET AND TO INCLUDE BOTH SUITE G AND E TO THE LEASE WHICH IS THE 2ND FLOOR AND GROUND FLOOR FOR CLINICAL PURPOSES, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (AUTHORIZED)-- unanimously approved
• 2022-083 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR HIS DESIGNEE, TO APPROVE AND EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF KENT, OHIO AND THE KENT CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION REGARDING THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM, EXTENDING THIS AGREEMENT UNTIL JUNE 3, 2023, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (AUTHORIZED)--unanimously approved

STREETS , SIDEWALKS AND UTILITIES: Each of the 3 ordinances below were approved by Council but Wallach spoke out against 2022-086 because of global warming implications.

• 2022-084 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE EMERGENCY REPAIRS TO THE FAIRCHILD WATER TOWER COMPLETED BY KENMORE CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES, WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (AUTHORIZED)
• 2022-085 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO ALLOW THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH KENMORE CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS TO THE FAIRCHILD WATER TOWER, WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (AUTHORIZED)
• 2022-086 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO APPROVE A NEW SPECIAL EVENT APPLICATION FOR KENT STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE CITY OF KENT FOR AN ICE RINK THAT WILL START ON NOVEMBER 1st AND RUN THROUGH MARCH 15th OF EACH YEAR, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (AUTHORIZED)

FINANCE COMMITTEE: The ordinances below were all approved by the committee --

• 2022-087 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF AN AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING THE COMMUNITY UNIVERSITY EDUCATION PURCHASING REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (AUTHORIZED)
• 022-088 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO ACCEPT GRANT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $376,771.20 THROUGH THE OHIO VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION GRANT PROGRAM TO PAY SWORN OFFICERS AND DISPATCHERS A 10% BONUS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (AUTHORIZED)
• 2022-089 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO ACCEPT GRANT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $801.43 THROUGH THE 2022-2023 OHIO LAW ENFORCEMENT BODY ARMOR GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE PURCHASE OF EXPIRING BODY ARMOR, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (AUTHORIZED)
• 2022-090 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CERTIFICATION OF NON- PAYMENT OF BILLS FOR RESIDENTS RESULTING FROM THE 2021 HARRIS STREET REHABILITATION OF UNPAID STREET REHABILITATION PROGRAM, TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR THE PLACEMENT OF THE CERTIFIED AMOUNT ON THE REAL PROPERTY TAX LIST AND DUPLICATE AGAINST THE PROPERTY FOR THE NON-PAYMENT OF STREET REPAIRS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (AUTHORIZED)
• 2022-091 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CERTIFICATION OF NON-PAYMENT OF BILLS FOR RESIDENTS RESULTING FROM THE 2021 ANNUAL CONCRETE REPAIR PROGRAMS OF UNPAID CONCRETE SIDEWALK REPAIR ACCOUNTS, TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR THE PLACEMENT OF THE CERTIFIED AMOUNT ON THE REAL PROPERTY TAX LIST AND DUPLICATE AGAINST THE PROPERTY FOR THE NON-PAYMENT OF SIDEWALK REPAIRS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (AUTHORIZED)
• 2022-092 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CERTIFICATION OF NON-PAYMENT OF WATER USE CHARGES, WASTEWATER USE CHARGES, STORM WATER UTILITY CHARGES AND RECYCLING/SOLID WASTE COLLECTION CHARGES TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR THE PLACEMENT OF THE CERTIFIED AMOUNT ON THE REAL PROPERTY TAX LIST AND DUPLICATE AGAINST THE PROPERTY FOR THE NON-PAYMENT OF WATER USE CHARGES, WASTEWATER USE CHARGES, STORM WATER UTILITY CHARGES AND RECYCLING/SOLID WASTE COLLECTION CHARGES, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (AUTHORIZED)
• 2022-093 AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS AND DIRECTING PLACEMENT OF SUCH FUNDS IN A SEPARATE FUND, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (UNAUTHORIZED)
• 2022-095 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CERTIFICATION OF DELINQUENT MOWING BILLS, PROPERTY MAINTENANCE VIOLATIONS-CITATIONS, ZONING VIOLATIONS-CITATIONS, AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT VIOLATIONS-CITATIONS TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR THE PLACEMENT OF THE CERTIFIED AMOUNT ON THE REAL PROPERTY TAX LIST AND DUPLICATE AGAINST THE PROPERTY SERVED BY THE MOWING SERVICES, PROPERTY MAINTENANCE VIOLATION-CITATIONS, ZONING VIOLATIONS-CITATIONS, HEALTH DEPARTMENT VIOLATIONS-CITATIONS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (AUTHORIZED)
• 2022-096 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)

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Shaffer-Bish brought up the "opt up" from the state's ordinance on fireworks. After a discussion of Roberts Rules of order, Shaffer-Bish's attempt to educate the problem on the state's law on fireworks modeled on the backyard fire ordinance was defeated.

COUNCILMEMBER'S COMMENTS:

• Rosenberg welcomed KSU students.
• Kuhar isn't proud of being a Council member today (e.g. 2022-094)
• Sidoti saw a coyote on Elnore Ave.

Adjourned for executive session.

Which members of the board/council were present:  Garret Ferrara, Ward 1 (late); 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