Date of Meeting: 8/18/2021

Meeting Observed: Kent City Council Meeting

Format: Virtual

Meeting Summary:

The Council received public comments via testimony, letters and email.

The following actions were taken:

• 2021- 076 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO APPROVE THE INSTALLATION OF A PUBLIC-PRIVATE SHARED USE SIGN ON THE WEST SIDE OF GOUGLER AVENUE, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY This was tabled for the September meeting so additional public comments could be received.

Health & Safety Committee--four measures recommended.

• 2021- 091 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR HIS DESIGNEE, TO AMEND THE CITY OF KENT'S RECYCLING SERVICE CONTRACT WITH PORTAGE COUNTY SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT SPECIFICALLY TO CHANGE THE PICK-UP SCHEDULE; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Unauthorized) This means that recycling will shift to a biweekly schedule. Unanimously approved.
• 2021- 077 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO AMEND THE APPROVED STREET CLOSURE FOR THE KENT OKTOBERFEST BEING HELD ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2021 TO BEGIN AT THE INTERSECTION OF FRANKLIN AVENUE AND ERIE STREET AND PROCEEDING NORTH TO INCLUDE THE CLOSURE OF A PORTION OF MAIN STREET THAT FRONTS HOMETOWN PLAZA, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized). Unanimously approved.
• 2021- 078 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE KENT CODIFIED ORDINANCES, TITLED "GARBAGE," CHAPTERS 933, 935 AND 936; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) Unanimously approved
• 2021-079 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH KENT STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE CITY OF KENT FOR A TEMPORARY OUTDOOR ICE RINK FOR THE 2021-2022 WINTER SEASON, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) Unanimously approved

Finance Committee--six measures recommended.

• 2021- 080 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, 2022, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized). Unanimously approved
• 2021- 081 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CERTIFICATION OF NON-PAYMENT OF BILLS FOR RESIDENTS RESULTING FROM THE 2018 ANNUAL CONCRETE REPAIR 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 SIDEWALK REPAIRS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) Unanimously approved.
• 2021- 082 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CERTIFICATION OF NON-PAYMENT OF WATER USE CHARGES, WASTEWATER USE CHARGES, STORMWATER 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) --Unanimously approved.
• 2021- 083 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) -- 7 in favor, Kohar abstained.
• 2021- 084 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO SUBMIT A REQUEST TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION (EDA) FOR THE RELEASE OF FEDERAL INTEREST IN THE CITY OF KENT EDA REVOLVING LOAN FUND (RLF) PROGRAM AND IF APPROVED BY THE EDA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR HIS DESIGNEE, TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT TO RELEASE THE EDA FEDERAL INTEREST IN THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION REVOLVING LOAN FUND PROGRAM (EDA RLF), AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) -- unanimously approved
• 2021- 085 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE AMENDMENTS OF THE CITY OF KENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION REVOLVING LOAN FUND PLAN (EDA RLF PLAN) TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE EDA FOR APPROVAL, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) -- Unanimously approved
• 2021- 086 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2020-129, THE CURRENT APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE, PASSED DECEMBER 16, 2020; 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, 2021; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Authorized) -- unanimously approved
• 2021- 087 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING RECOMMENDATION TO ACCEPT THE ONE OHIO OPIOID SETTLEMENT AND ENTER INTO THE PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT WITH OPIOID DISTRIBUTORS AMERISOURCE BERGEN, MCKESSON, AND CARDINAL HEALTH; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Unauthorized)
• 5.5.11 Draft No. 2021- 088 AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING A DONATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $200.00 TO THE CITY OF KENT PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT TOWARDS THE YOUTH TACKLE FOOTBALL PLAYER SPONSOR FUND, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Unauthorized)
• 2021-089 AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING A DONATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $200.00 TO THE CITY OF KENT PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A MEMORIAL TREE FOR THE KENT PARKS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Unauthorized) -- Unanimously approved
• 2021-090 AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING A DONATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $700.00 TO THE CITY OF KENT PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT TOWARDS THE PLANTING OF A MEMORIAL TREE AND THE ADDITION OF A MEMORIAL BENCH FOR THE KENT PARKS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY (Unauthorized) -- Unanimously approved.

New Business:

• The Absences issue (this was brought up in written/oral comments -- and in a number of earlier meetings.) -- motion to move to committee, passed 7-1 (Ferraro no)
• Noise/sound ordinance (issue associated with noise/sound ordinance was brought up in open comments to committee) -- motion to move to committee, passed unanimously
• Delta Variant -- motion sent to committee on reinstating the the mask mandate in Kent (asks Joan Sidell to address it), passed unanimously
• Environmental motion -- wants sustainability commission to report back on what can be done, passed unanimously
• Discussion on design guidelines for Architectural review board -- report expected at September meeting so the measure was tabled
• Council members comments ranged from commending budget audit and Main Street Kent, death from covid

Mayor's Report -- outlines upcoming events.

Executive Session -- closed to the public: "To consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion or compensation of a public employee or official.

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; Mr. Roger Sidoti, At Large. Absent was 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/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08182021-898

Observer: Kathleen Endres