[0:30] Anyway, thank you, everyone.

[0:40] Redeter in special...

[0:44] Is a special one.

[0:49] Do you want me in the pleasures of allegiance?

[0:54] To the flag of the United States America.

[0:56] ¶¶

[1:06] ¶¶

[1:14] ¶¶

[1:20] ¶¶

[1:25] Clirk of Council, Misty Brents, City Manager Dave Kennedy, City Solicitor Joe Braun, Safety Director Sue Madsen,

[1:32] and have our Lieutenant in the back, Scott Humphrey. Welcome. Also, let's see, former Council members

[1:39] Pam Gross, Todd Osborne, and Deputy Chief Mike Books is here. I don't think I missed anyone.

[1:48] So welcome everyone. First on the list is on the agenda is Arbor Day Proclamation. Liz Jones,

[1:54] will you join me, Mr. Podium?

[2:10] All right, I will do the proclamation first. Whereas in 1872, the Nebraska Board of Agriculture

[2:17] established a special day to be satisfied for planting of trees, and whereas this holiday called

[2:22] Arbor Day was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska, and whereas

[2:27] Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and the world, and whereas trees can be a solution to

[2:32] combating climate change by reducing the erosion of our precious topsoil by wind and water, cutting

[2:37] heating and cooling costs, moderating the temperature, cleaning the air, reducing life-giving

[2:42] oxygen, and providing habitat for wildlife, and whereas trees are a renewable resource giving

[2:47] us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires, and countless other wood products, and whereas

[2:53] trees in our city increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas,

[2:57] and beautify our community, and whereas trees wherever they are planted are a source of joy

[3:03] and spiritual renewal. Now therefore, I, Kathy Bailey, by the power vested in me as Mayor,

[3:08] and on behalf of the City of Loveland, Loveland City Council, and the Loveland Tree and

[3:12] Environment Committee, do hereby proclaim April 29, 2022, Arbor Day in the City of Loveland,

[3:18] and urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands.

[3:23] Now, furthermore, I urge all citizens to plant trees that gladden the heart

[3:27] and promote the well-being of this and future generations. With that, turn it over to you.

[3:37] We are happy to be a part of all of that. We love our trees.

[3:40] So, we have a few things coming up on April 29. We will have QR codes, a guided walk, through

[3:49] a Long Simpsons Trail at Phillips Park, and it starts Friday, April 29, and it goes through

[3:54] Sunday, May 1. Just take your camera, snap a picture, and you'll get to learn about

[4:00] all the trees and the wildlife that's out there. Also, on April 30, the annual

[4:07] litter pickup at Nisbet Park will be occurring in front of the Little Miami Conservancy.

[4:17] They are picking up trash from 9 to 9. There will also be a hot dog for anyone who participates.

[4:24] That's all I have. And Liz Jones is a member of our Tree and Environment Committee. So, thank you very much, Liz.

[4:30] Thank you, Mayor Baerle and City Council for allowing me to speak tonight.

[4:48] Could I have a representative from the following organizations to step up here, please?

[4:52] The Loveland Stage Company, the Loveland Interfaith for Life Pantry,

[4:58] Nutrition, Education, Safety, Transformation, or NEST join me at the podium.

[5:11] All three of these organizations provide an invaluable service to our community.

[5:16] Life Pantry provides food and support for those less fortunate in our community.

[5:21] NEST's mission is to address academic and non-academic barriers that perpetuate the

[5:25] cycle of generational poverty in suburban communities. And Loveland Stage Company has been

[5:30] providing quality entertainment for many years. All three of these organizations have been affected

[5:36] by the continuation of the coronavirus pandemic. As such, the Loveland Community

[5:41] Firefighters Association would like to donate a check to all three of these organizations

[5:46] to help them through this rough patch. So, once the coronavirus pandemic is over,

[5:50] they can continue their great support, education, and entertainment to this community

[5:55] of which we have become the customer.

[6:14] The four of you represent four of, I think, the finest institutions that we have in this

[6:19] city. So, thank you all for being here. And you don't have to stay, by the way,

[6:24] for this long meeting. But that is your choice. Thank you very much. All right,

[6:30] open forum. First, we have Patty Sandman.

[6:37] Okay, Patty Sandman 102, Carl Brown Way. Council,

[6:42] I'd like to take the time to thank Mr. Blair for meeting with a group of residents in reference

[6:50] to the solar panels being installed on the soon-to-be-built public utilities building.

[6:57] Although much has been discussed about larger and more controversial topics,

[7:01] the lesser known topics are equally important to us residents. Mr. Blair filled

[7:07] us in on the benefits of solar energy that will save up to 85% of costs to run the building.

[7:15] With questions being answered energetically, I personally learned many facts about

[7:20] benefits of solar energy, such as the weight of the panels, the cost, which is much more

[7:26] reasonable than I expected. Even on cloudy days, the panels pull energy. That is a well

[7:33] factor. This put my mind working toward where else can these solar panels go to utilize energy

[7:39] and put our city on the grid? Where else could these panels be installed? Well,

[7:45] if the garage is deemed beneficial to our downtown needs, would an awesome idea to utilize

[7:51] the space for more panels? This might provide even 100% energy to run the garage and allow

[7:58] residents to accept that the garage will have dual purpose. Another well factor that would allow

[8:04] the garage to be beneficial toward future energy efficiency. Why would any resident be

[8:11] against this idea? I would hope not. Offering incentives for future buildings,

[8:16] as well as the current buildings, both commercial and residential, would also have

[8:21] the opportunity to utilize solar power. I see this as another compromise to the future of the

[8:29] grail property. Maybe even getting our schools involved for some educational value. Can we even

[8:35] imagine the energy savings for our schools? Phoenix seems to be one of the largest cities to

[8:40] benefit the grid. Why not a smaller city like Loveland? I would like to think another

[8:46] aspect of this project would include city administration, planning and zoning, finance,

[8:52] tree and environment as well as law and ordinance committees working in unison to expand more solar

[8:59] power within our community. While this is cooperative measures worth fighting for,

[9:05] I definitely see this as an opportunity to bring positive lives to negative issues.

[9:10] So, I would like to thank Mr. Blair as well as the community heartbeat for sponsoring this

[9:16] well-organized and educational happy hour. It would be great if all council members would

[9:22] address other lesser known issues, which are equally important to our city. Citizens will look

[9:27] forward to the next happy hour with another council member with another positive topic.

[9:33] Thank you. Thank you. Lauren Enda?

[9:46] Good evening. Lauren Enda, 5073 Bristol Court. Tonight I will address the unknown

[9:54] return on investment and the possibility of Native American remains on the side of the proposed

[9:59] garage. According to Loveland's finance director, council has already spent almost $980,000 for

[10:07] purchase, demolition and design of the multi-million dollar garage. Even if all the grants

[10:13] that Loveland has applied for come through, Loveland taxpayers will still be responsible for at least

[10:19] $2 million before any cost overruns are added in. There have been comments from someone council

[10:26] that COVID money might be used. COVID money should be used for projects that will benefit

[10:31] Loveland citizens, not just a few downtown businesses. Loveland has a looming water

[10:37] infrastructure repair bill and the COVID money would be better spent to address this problem

[10:42] instead of raising Loveland's water rates, something that has already been discussed.

[10:47] While the garage may feather the nests of downtown businesses, will the garage actually

[10:51] benefit Loveland residents? Some might say that increased revenue from downtown businesses

[10:57] due to the garage will grow Loveland's coffers. However, when city staff is asked about how

[11:03] much revenue comes from downtown businesses, they are unable to provide answers.

[11:09] What they do say is that there are numerous downtown businesses who have CRAs or tax abatements,

[11:16] meaning they are paying a reduced tax bill to Loveland. These businesses include Rody,

[11:22] the Landing Event Center, Tahona, Ramsey's Trailside, Bishops Quarters and Ten Obesero.

[11:28] These property tax abatements last for at least four years and up to 12 years.

[11:33] So, Loveland is reducing our potential property tax income through abatement. Now to the theory that

[11:40] possible increased income tax due to the garage construction will help Loveland financially.

[11:46] Any individual working in Loveland pays the city 1% of their salary and income tax.

[11:52] Let's assume that all employees in downtown area make $1 million combined for the year.

[11:59] Loveland would receive 1% of that income or just $10,000 a year. That amount would not

[12:04] even pay for the upkeep of the garage for that year. Any council member who values fiscal

[12:10] responsibility and who has vowed to protect Loveland's financial resources must analyze whether

[12:16] the proposed garage is a wise return on investment for the citizens and then share

[12:20] those findings with residents. The second topic for tonight deals with the possibility

[12:26] of Native American remains on the site of the proposed garage. In a report commissioned by Hamilton

[12:31] County in 2019, a historical preservation consultant stated, quote, there is some potential for

[12:38] archaeological resources on the property based on an 1848 Platte of Loveland, which identifies

[12:44] it as being the location of a mound. Consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office

[12:51] regarding the need for an archaeological survey is recommended prior to new construction.

[12:57] Once we learned of this report, we shared it immediately with Mr. Kennedy

[13:01] and Mr. Bateman. We have also been in communication with the Ohio History Connection,

[13:05] who encouraged us to, quote, advocate that the city hire an archaeologist to do a survey of

[13:11] the area to confirm if there is indeed a mound or not at that location, end quote.

[13:17] Residents of Loveland, along with the Sierra Club, citizens for the rights of the Ohio

[13:21] Watershed, the University of Cincinnati's student organization Leaders for Environmental

[13:25] Awareness and Protection, and the Greater Cincinnati Native American Coalition, whom we will hear from

[13:32] tonight, are all in agreement. We will all advocate for an archaeological survey to be done

[13:38] and for a community approval for the garage via a referendum. We request that the council

[13:44] commission a study immediately. We are passionate about protecting Loveland and the land

[13:50] itself. We are passionate not because we are uninformed, as some have stated,

[13:55] but because we are incredibly informed. We, as individuals and as organizations,

[14:01] will continue to be involved and engage in Loveland's political life because we see this as a right

[14:07] and as our duty. We will continue to advocate for increased transparency and use of data-driven

[14:13] decisions by Loveland staff and city council. We will advocate without using intimidation,

[14:20] without name-calling others, and without misquoting others. We will remain professional

[14:25] and respectful using research and facts as the basis of our advocacy. Thank you.

[14:31] Thank you. Tom Scoviner.

[14:44] Good evening, Tom Scoviner, 155 O'Rourke Drive. I was asked, a letter was received from the

[14:50] Greater Cincinnati Native American Coalition late this afternoon, early this evening,

[14:54] and I was asked to make this a part of the record. I believe you have it electronically,

[14:58] and I did

[15:00] Let me make one tiny change for clarification. But this is a letter from a gerry nary, the executive

[15:05] director of the Greater Cincinnati Native American Coalition.

[15:09] To whom it may concern, the desecration of indigenous and Native American religious, spiritual

[15:15] and burial mounds is an egregious part of Ohio's history and is part of the ongoing 500 years

[15:20] of genocidal policies to erase our history and perpetuate the false narrative of

[15:25] the pristine myth, which refers to America's founding mythology of settling a pristine

[15:29] wilderness, providing a convenient justification for the occupation of the North American continent.

[15:35] The Greater Cincinnati Native American Coalition encourages the city of Loveland in its leadership

[15:40] to commission a new survey based upon the recommendation of that cited, excuse me, that cited the

[15:45] evidence of a Native American mound in 1849 on the site of the parking garage.

[15:51] We are in contact with other national and native organizations and are sending a summary

[15:54] of how Loveland proceeds with this matter to the National Congress of the American

[15:59] Indians in Washington, D.C. We are hopeful that the city of Loveland and those elected

[16:03] officials will do the right thing and work towards protecting not just the religious

[16:07] rights of mainstream Ohio, but of all people in Ohio, regards gerry nary, executive director,

[16:13] Greater Cincinnati Native American Coalition.

[16:23] Next is review and approval of minutes from the April 12th, 2022 meeting.

[16:29] Are there any additions, changes to those minutes?

[16:33] We have a motion to approve.

[16:34] Motion to approve.

[16:36] Second.

[16:37] Call the roll please.

[16:38] Mr. Bateman.

[16:39] Yes.

[16:40] Mr. Blair.

[16:41] Yes.

[16:42] Mr. Butler.

[16:43] Yes.

[16:44] Mr. Hart.

[16:45] Yes.

[16:46] Vice Mayor Phelps.

[16:47] Yes.

[16:48] Mr. Ping.

[16:49] Yes.

[16:50] Mayor Bailey.

[16:51] Motion carries seven to zero.

[16:53] I put a resolution on there for the approval of the Community Entertainment

[16:58] District.

[16:59] We've done the public hearing which submitted the application.

[17:04] We've got the 75 days to go review the legislation.

[17:11] I sent the legislation to the Division of Literature Control, and there's one

[17:16] error on the legislation.

[17:18] Some bullet points should say in conformance with the Community Entertainment

[17:22] District, the city was incorporated prior to 1880, that second zero speed eight.

[17:31] That's in compliance with the Community Entertainment Code's

[17:34] Perthio High Revised Code.

[17:36] All right.

[17:39] So we need a motion to amend the resolution.

[17:41] I think it's a Scribner's error.

[17:43] Is it a Scribner's error?

[17:44] Yeah.

[17:45] And it's not being voted on twice.

[17:47] It's been better.

[17:48] All right.

[17:49] Any comments, questions regarding this resolution?

[17:53] Yes.

[17:54] Mr. Butler.

[17:55] Yes.

[17:56] Just since the Entertainment District basically envelops the Loveland Elementary

[18:02] School, I did reach out to the president of the Loveland Board of Education to see

[18:07] if she had any concerns about the legislation.

[18:12] And she noted that the board is not necessarily opposing or supporting the

[18:17] issue of creating the Entertainment District, because they haven't voted on that one way or

[18:21] the other.

[18:23] But she did ask whether there's any procedure or process in place or applications for liquor

[18:30] licenses, because that's the primary, I guess, motivator of the

[18:34] Entertainment District within a certain distance of the school.

[18:40] And I didn't know the answer to that.

[18:43] Dave, is there any process for that?

[18:45] Like with NXP of the Loveland Elementary that there's a liquor license application, are

[18:54] the schools notified?

[18:55] Do they have any?

[18:56] I believe the school is notified that this is no different than any liquor license.

[19:00] It's just a D7 is a D7.

[19:03] It would just be a D7J, because it's in that district.

[19:06] So the city gets notified whenever there is a liquor license within so many feet

[19:11] of a city park.

[19:12] I'm not 100 percent sure.

[19:14] I've never been involved in schools, but would they be notified?

[19:18] So today if you bought the laundromat and turned the laundromat into a restaurant, you can

[19:26] get a liquor license without the Community Entertainment District by trexing it in.

[19:32] The whole purpose of it is simply to save money.

[19:37] So that's a good question.

[19:38] I don't know exactly what the school, whether or not they get notified.

[19:44] I just know that whenever there is a liquor license issued in the downtown district it

[19:49] inevitably falls within so many feet of Nisbet Park.

[19:55] So they come to the city and it basically just says, do you want a petition against

[20:01] it?

[20:02] So the question is, and it's not dictated in the Higher Advice Code mostly because I've

[20:09] never really had to look at from a school standpoint.

[20:15] I can certainly find out.

[20:16] I'd appreciate that.

[20:17] Tom, let you know.

[20:18] And if you would forward it on to the school board, I will.

[20:21] Again, if McDonald's sold beer tomorrow, McDonald's could get a liquor license.

[20:29] They would just pay $30,000 to $40,000 for it.

[20:33] The downtown district where there is not a community entertainment district, Hobson

[20:39] Berries, for example, Hobson Berries just got a liquor license and they trexed it in.

[20:44] So that means they probably paid in the $30,000 to $35,000 range.

[20:50] We don't have a community entertainment district in the downtown district.

[20:54] We can't have a community entertainment in the downtown district because one of the

[20:58] requirements is that there is an active CED within that county.

[21:04] So we are using the one in Sharonville.

[21:08] If Union Township, meaning they were the population and they had a community

[21:12] entertainment, they would then set the basis for one in Claremont.

[21:18] So that's a great question.

[21:22] I don't know.

[21:23] Okay.

[21:24] Well, definitely could find out.

[21:25] Oh, yeah.

[21:26] It's easy to find out.

[21:27] Okay.

[21:28] Any comments?

[21:29] Read the resolution, please.

[21:35] Resolution approving the creation of a community entertainment district in the city of

[21:37] Loveland pursuant to a higher revised code section 4301.80.

[21:43] Any comment from the resolution?

[21:45] Call the code please.

[21:46] Mr. Blair?

[21:47] Yes.

[21:48] Mr. Butler?

[21:49] Yes.

[21:50] Mr. Hart?

[21:51] Yes.

[21:52] Vice Mayor Phelps?

[21:53] Yes.

[21:54] Mr. Ping?

[21:55] Yes.

[21:56] Mayor Bailey?

[21:57] Yes.

[21:58] Mr. Kennedy?

[21:59] I just, I know everyone knows about the gazebo that the city, this is the first phase of

[22:09] the comprehensive plan that we did for Nisbet Park, which received quite a bit of public

[22:15] input.

[22:16] So we have been, I think staff did a really good job all winter long.

[22:25] I'm more of an impatient, like to move forward with them and we use KZF to make sure that

[22:33] where we place the gazebo meets the future plans of Nisbet Park.

[22:38] We didn't sit there and go for a book and pick landscape and we hired and secured a local

[22:46] landscape architect.

[22:48] We utilized Choice One to do some survey work so we knew exactly the lay of the land,

[22:53] the high points, the low points and at the end of the day, this project which is $85,000

[23:00] of it is coming from a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is ready to

[23:06] go.

[23:07] What's in front of you tonight is just for the manufacture and the installation of gazebo.

[23:13] The concrete pad, part of the desire on this, part of the desire on this was that

[23:20] it would be elevated.

[23:21] That's going to be a separate contract, but it will not exceed my spending limits.

[23:24] I do not believe it.

[23:25] It will be coming back to the city.

[23:27] So first off, we're very close in location to where the existing gazebo was.

[23:34] The next time you're in Nisbet Park, the Nisbet Park sign will be moved and there

[23:41] is no trees coming down.

[23:42] It's basically right in this area here.

[23:47] I just thought it would move these up here because not everyone has the location of it.

[23:55] One of the things that I think the park board, I know they liked it and I know that we heard

[23:59] this from the public was that why does the gazebo and everything have to always face

[24:05] the bike trail?

[24:07] So this gazebo, if you look at the items along the back.

[24:16] The back sections, one, two, three, four, five of the octagon, those are all steps that encircle

[24:25] five of the eight locations.

[24:27] The handicap access comes directly off the bike trail.

[24:31] So it really truly does open up to the meat.

[24:35] It faces the river, so it really does open up to the meat of the park, which is something

[24:40] that was what we heard from the residents during our open houses on the gazebo.

[24:48] The gazebo design is open railing.

[24:52] That is a cleaner look.

[24:56] I'm not trying to pick on, but it ends up being a seating area and ends up being a

[25:01] maintenance area.

[25:02] We also opted for the upgrade in the higher end columns.

[25:07] So this sort of gives you a rough idea of the look, though it's obviously elevated.

[25:13] We also opted, because this was part of what came out of the report during the meeting

[25:19] with the public, is that they liked that wooded look.

[25:22] So the entire interior of it is wood.

[25:27] And actually, that most top part will be the top part of the level will be.

[25:34] And then one of the biggest things we wanted to do was we wanted it to not look

[25:39] like every gazebo you see with a green roof and so this is the colors that we

[25:45] chose, which is white and gray.

[25:48] And the very top part of that will have internal lighting that'll come on and

[25:52] on to us.

[25:53] So it will be quite a signature.

[25:56] I do want to emphasize that if you probably need to take the old gazebo

[26:00] and get it completely out of your mind, because this one is 25 feet in diameter.

[26:05] And I've pasted off multiple times, went to Nisbet Park with tape measures.

[26:12] It is a significantly, but meets exactly the dimensions of the plan.

[26:19] It will be a wonderful place for weddings, concerts, HOA meetings, you name it.

[26:27] And we're going to have electricity mounted in the columns, but not really noticeable.

[26:34] So I really do think that if the goal is to build a signature item that looks very

[26:41] unique, that gets people excited about other elements, I will tell you that

[26:46] City has already submitted for funding for the seating area that is all in the area

[26:56] between the gazebo and the restroom, this entire area, this undulating serpentine

[27:01] wall of concrete, stamp-crete, concrete with high-end furnishings, the city

[27:10] submitted for funding through that.

[27:12] And initially it appears that looks to be in a pretty good situation to be funded.

[27:18] So the gazebo where it's going fits where the next phase is going to go,

[27:22] where the next phase will go, where phases long after I'm gone will go,

[27:26] that will all just continue.

[27:28] So we really have been patient.

[27:31] So the reason I'm bringing this to you tonight is I was asked to take it to the

[27:35] Parks and Rec Board and I did.

[27:37] And they were there through the whole Nisbet Park thing.

[27:40] So they know it meets what the public wanted.

[27:43] They were very happy to see it face the way it was.

[27:47] They were very happy.

[27:48] It doesn't have a breach.

[27:51] But one of the reasons I wanted to get this in front of you as quick as possible

[27:55] because we're still looking at September.

[27:58] So every council meeting I wait is longer.

[28:01] But we're done with the gazebo part.

[28:05] We're just finalizing some bids for concrete and we're working with

[28:08] Trevor Electric for the conduit and the electricity.

[28:11] You have to remember that we can only really work on projects that are on the

[28:16] east side of where imaginary Carl Brown would go through the middle of Nisbet Park.

[28:22] So if you think you're walking down Nisbet Park, I mean you're walking

[28:26] down Carl Brown Way past the Eagles and you're just walking straight,

[28:30] that someday will look like the villa came through because all those storm

[28:34] pipes have to be replaced as part of the Harrison Street Widening.

[28:38] So we're working on everything from there over.

[28:42] You've got some quotes for the living wall on the restroom.

[28:47] So this is a part of it.

[28:49] So we're at our total funding is in the 2022 budget.

[28:57] The city had 85,000 grant and 30,000 for a local match for total project costs of 115.

[29:03] This particular, this is all in manufacturing, installation, all the extras

[29:09] that we added onto at the columns, the inlaid wood and we're at 115,480,350.

[29:16] And if the council proves the legislation, it will be ordered tomorrow

[29:20] and that will begin the process, which is 26 weeks from now.

[29:25] So while we're a patient, we need to get moving.

[29:28] So I think we've dotted all the I's across all the T's we're ready to go.

[29:33] This is through Sourcewell.

[29:37] The city's a member of Sourcewell.

[29:40] Back in the old days, there used to be the Ohio administrative program ran by the Ohio

[29:45] Department of Transportation, which did biddings for local townships and local

[29:49] cities and everyone benefited it.

[29:51] We got police cars and body cameras and everything much less.

[29:55] It was a great savings to our residents because they're bidding on estate.

[30:00] That has blossomed into other programs called Source Well, which does primarily park bidding

[30:06] and is, we are a member, we pay a nominal fee to be a member of Source Well. So that allowed

[30:12] this particular contractor, Playground Equipment Services, who is a bidder for Source Well,

[30:18] to be a part of the entire design process. So I really do think this is going to be

[30:23] something that is just, I think that residents are really going to appreciate this because

[30:29] this isn't the wooden, mossy thing that was stinging kids all last summer, that when public

[30:36] works took it down, it took five minutes to knock it over. This is a really high-end quality

[30:43] and I'm not trying to call out Chief Huber, but he kept sending me photos as he traveled.

[30:52] Don't give us a green gazebo. So this white and gray roof is something that he really

[30:57] pushed for and it's really going to stand out. And if you look at the master plan, this

[31:00] is what they asked for. If you remember the NISC at Quark master plan, it was black and

[31:08] no one liked it. And this was what they wanted. So at this point, I really don't have anything

[31:15] else. I just think it's going to be a great project for everybody.

[31:18] Just a couple questions, Mr. Kennedy. The goal is to have it up and ready to go

[31:23] in September. And the second question is you talked about having it lit from dawn to dusk.

[31:30] Will there be capability to have it lit at night for various functions?

[31:34] Yeah, I don't have a fuse. Yeah, I mean all the other lighting. I never really thought

[31:38] of that. I just, I like lighting and yeah, that's a good point. Yeah, I don't have

[31:46] an answer, but I'm working with Trevor on that.

[31:50] So you can light it at night. Yeah, beyond the beyond what's going to be up. Yeah. Okay.

[31:56] Any other questions? Yes, Mr. Hart. The spirit of our Arbor Day proclamation here at the

[32:03] beginning of the, I just want to highlight Mr. Kennedy's note and hear that no trees will

[32:07] be removed to accommodate the gazebo. And we talked about a living wall on the restroom.

[32:12] So it seems like the things we're doing in this bit are to accentuate the greenery

[32:17] we have down there and continue to grow the amount of green space that we have down there,

[32:21] not to move any of it. Any other comments, Mr. Butler?

[32:26] Mr. Kennedy, when you said that it'll be 26 weeks from like, if you contact them tomorrow,

[32:32] is it take that long to assemble the materials and produce the materials for the gazebo?

[32:37] Yeah, the lead time for everything to be manufactured and shipped and ready to go is 26 weeks.

[32:44] So in a best case scenario, 26 weeks from tomorrow and here, manufacturing it on a concrete

[32:51] pad that's long been put in place, probably going to be keep off, I don't know if it's

[32:55] keep off whatever, but and everything will be set and ready to go. We have that entire

[33:00] summer to get that in place and then it's done. Putting it together isn't going to

[33:05] be, their manufacturing is, I had to get a whole new member when we approved the

[33:10] thing out front here. I get a whole another contractor because remember that was funded

[33:14] for some extra grant money we had, this thing we're doing out front, it was going to take

[33:18] so long to get the tables and chairs, I just literally called every tabbie chair company

[33:21] I could find until I found someone to get them before the county pulled the grant money.

[33:26] So when the materials arrive, will they be constructed by public works or would

[33:31] that be another contract?

[33:32] No, you're paying for that tonight.

[33:33] Oh, okay. That's included in the, all they want is a pad and some conduit sticking

[33:38] out of it. That's probably why we'll have some kind of safety issues because there will

[33:42] be conduit sticking through it.

[33:45] Until the...

[33:46] The materials arrive.

[33:47] Yeah, and we're using Stephen Smith as our landscape architect.

[33:50] Thank you.

[33:51] Thank you for the explanation, Dave. I can tell you're excited about this project

[34:00] and I'm excited too. I think I really like the sort of like music man kind of river

[34:07] city vibe that the Gazebo has. I also really appreciate your talking about how it's part

[34:14] of a longer term plan. I would imagine that residents are going to, during the length of

[34:19] time and the duration that this will take, it's going to seem like a really long period

[34:23] of time and that will only be followed by. It might seem like we're piece nailing

[34:28] some retro of Nisbitt Park, but I know that that's just part of the funding mechanism

[34:34] as well as part of the overall Nisbitt Park master plan. I appreciate that as well as the...

[34:40] It seems like a lot of value for the $30,000 that we're putting forward with that for sure.

[34:47] If I can add not to mention the amount of consulting time we got on behalf of the contractor

[34:54] and just to add, we're never not moving ahead, Corey's already met with. We've realized

[35:00] that the amphitheater, which won't be able to happen until the Harrison Project is done,

[35:06] the amphitheater is probably going to receive need some private financing. Well, we're not

[35:12] really good at knocking on doors and saying, hey, how about $100? There's people that

[35:16] do this, the blue ashes and the masons and the Montgomery's and the materials of

[35:20] the world. When they have projects that they may have some kind of signature name

[35:25] whatever, I'm not going to say some of these names, they'll sound stupid. But what I mean,

[35:31] they reach out to private companies who help them put together funding scenarios. So Corey's

[35:37] already met with a firm that that's what they do. We're not even done the Harrison

[35:42] because we're trying to get in line for that amphitheater is going to be a signature

[35:47] project that will mirror these colors, that will mirror all of this. But we're not

[35:51] going to be able to fund that through it screams for a naming. The XYZ amphitheater, the XYZ

[36:01] stage, we would never think that. We'd ask for too little. We'd ask for this and a wall

[36:06] and to do it right, it really helps benefit. And then you go for some funding. But then

[36:11] when you're applying, you're applying for money that you say, guess what, it has

[36:15] public funding, the city's going to put money in. But we've also got private

[36:18] funding. And they love that when you bring more legs into the stool. So having such and

[36:25] such name, they don't they don't see that as a bad thing. It's not a cramp on the

[36:30] history of the city. It's tastefully done. And that makes your grant writing even

[36:37] more powerful. Oh, look at that. They're putting their own money in. They've

[36:40] reached out to the private sector. And now that's how it works. So we're

[36:44] couries already meeting with those firms. We actually think we found one that we

[36:48] really like. So just one more question or really more of a point, because one of

[36:54] the things when I was looking at the design and you mentioned this in your

[36:57] setup, but you know, when I think about a gazebo, there's also seating, but

[37:01] this one looks like it's more open floor plan. No seating. Are there going

[37:07] to be any railings or anything like that, just from like an ergonomic?

[37:11] There people are sort of, I don't know, but the right word is meandering and the

[37:16] inside the gazebo. You mentioned there will be seating outside. So I'm just

[37:20] trying to think of we've done a really good job lately with some upgrades in

[37:24] seating along this park and the bike trail. And you see it in use a lot.

[37:28] So I just that was a little bit surprising. You mentioned it was a

[37:33] maintenance issue. I think it doesn't hurt the design the way it is

[37:36] certainly. But yeah, I never thought a seating or anything inside of it

[37:40] you could have some. I don't really know because it wouldn't change what you're

[37:44] doing tonight, but it's certainly. Yeah, it's certainly. I'm just picturing

[37:48] people like sitting up on a even if there is no seating, leaning up on the

[37:52] poles. So somewhat wanting to, you know, when there's not an activity is the

[37:56] gazebo just going to be this big blank space that folks might walk around

[38:01] or check out. But what's the what's the point of interest? I know that we

[38:05] know 18 inches was as high as we could go and meet code for the railings for

[38:12] every inch of rise you needed X number of feet of I'm sorry of rise with the

[38:19] handicap ramp. So being at one point I had it so elevated that the handicap

[38:27] ramp was going around from almost noon to 7 p.m. And well, not that way. It was

[38:34] really more like 7 to 2. And then so 18 inches got us to a straight shot from

[38:41] the bike trial and we positioned accordingly. So I don't know. I guess

[38:47] that's a good question for the park board since they've been all in

[38:49] throughout this entire process. And like you'd mentioned and as I was

[38:53] saying, I think that issue with seating around it to like as you

[38:57] mentioned that could also solve that issue, I guess in terms of people

[39:00] wanting to just rest. But anyway, I applaud the effort all around. I think

[39:04] it's a great addition to the and an upgrade considering the previous one.

[39:11] Anyone else?

[39:12] Yes, I just would give a shout out or commend the process that that we've

[39:19] been following to get to this point. In terms of the master plan for the

[39:26] park, and then the work of the Parks and Recreation Committee in

[39:31] conjunction with the chief and the city. This is excited. And again, I

[39:37] think we need to thank all those that have been involved in getting us to

[39:42] this point. And I think we're going to love it when it's done. So I'm

[39:46] looking forward to seeing it.

[39:48] Someone else?

[39:50] I think a special shout out to Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Kennedy. I think

[39:54] you mentioned that Chief Huber and Cindy Klopp and scene and when

[39:57] Zuck of KZF really you forward kind of the team that brought this

[40:01] all together.

[40:03] Well done. You go ahead and read the resolution resolution authorizing

[40:06] the city manager to enter into a contract Playground Equipment Services

[40:10] LLC for the purchase and installation of a new gazebo at

[40:13] Nesbitt Park. Any comment on the resolution? Call the role

[40:17] please. Mr. Butler. Yes, Mr. Hart. Yes, Vice Mayor Phelps. Yes,

[40:21] Mr. Ping. Yes, Mayor Bailey. Yes, Mr. Bateman. Yes, Mr. Blair. Yes,

[40:25] Resolution 38 is adopted by vote 70. Mr. Kennedy. I need to request

[40:31] Council to table the legislation regarding services to be provided.

[40:38] Okay, we have a motion to that effect. I'll move we table the

[40:43] resolution service to be provided. Second. Call the role please.

[40:48] Mr. Hart. Yes, Vice Mayor Phelps. Yes, Mr. Ping. Yes, Mayor Bailey. Yes,

[40:53] Mr. Bateman. Yes, Mr. Blair. Yes, Mr. Butler. Yes, Motion carries

[40:57] 7 to 0.

[41:01] Alright, Mr. Kennedy. If you recall last that your last

[41:05] Council meeting you approved you accepted funding for the body

[41:08] cameras which included some funding for a police of what

[41:12] we're calling a police records clerk that's since you've

[41:15] since you've met with that's the position that we're coming up

[41:19] with that would be a classified position that we will begin through

[41:23] the civil service. Actually, we'll probably start getting the civil service together

[41:27] since you'll have first reading on it. And what we typically try

[41:31] to do whenever we can during these times.

[41:35] So if you look at the exhibit to the ordinance.

[41:40] First of all, we always repeal the most recent time that you touch this, which

[41:44] I believe the most recent time you touch this was you created the police

[41:48] captain's position. So what we try to do is we also use this

[41:55] to just clean up some things. So along with the creation of the police

[42:00] records clerk position, which is classified, which means it'll go

[42:04] through civil service, which we really want to get moving on.

[42:09] We just want to it is no financial repercussions whatsoever.

[42:13] The building and zoning clerk title, we want to change that to

[42:17] permit specialist. This is just sort of what we do with

[42:21] pouring I do and what we do during the course of the day is, you know,

[42:24] that's when you do something like this is not so much what that

[42:28] particular person who is doing the job has created because she does

[42:32] an exceptional job and has taken on a lot more.

[42:35] It's it just this better defines the job. It also better defines the

[42:39] job when you're trying to fill it in the future. There's no financial

[42:42] changes permit specialist. So this would just be a first reading

[42:47] and commending the city's schedule of municipal positions.

[42:50] But I will say that I'm going to go ahead and begin to see the

[42:54] Civil Service Commission together and we'll start the process

[42:57] because we have two very important positions to fill not only the

[43:01] police records clerk, but unfortunately, you might have read

[43:04] my weekly Don Everett is retiring at the end of June.

[43:09] Nothing personally misty, but probably the nicest person that's

[43:13] ever walked foot in this building and she is going to be sorely sorely

[43:16] missed. She is a gem for anyone who's ever walked in this building

[43:19] and had any questions about your income tax. That's Don back

[43:23] there and she's worked really hard. If you want to read my

[43:26] weekly, they're pretty boring, but there's a really good thing

[43:29] in there about her. But we need to get that moving.

[43:32] So, and Tom knows what that means. So we have to get the test going

[43:36] and we need to get in the process. But one of many plugs for Don

[43:40] that are coming. She's a great lady.

[43:42] All right. Any questions, Mr. Voller?

[43:44] The building and zoning clerk, is that the position currently

[43:47] held by Becky?

[43:48] Yeah.

[43:49] Okay.

[43:50] Anyone just change her title to permit specialist?

[43:52] Yes.

[43:53] Okay.

[43:54] Any comments, questions? Go ahead and read the ordinance.

[43:57] Ordinance establishing the compensation and classification

[44:00] for the part-time position of police records clerk, modifying

[44:03] the title of the building and zoning clerk and repealing ordinance

[44:06] 2022-2.

[44:09] Thank you.

[44:11] Mr. Medlin.

[44:13] Thank you, Mayor and Council.

[44:15] For you this evening is the first quarter financial report

[44:18] for 2022.

[44:20] The report reflects revenues exceeding expenditures

[44:23] in the general fund with income tax revenue up approximately

[44:26] 10% over the same period in 2021.

[44:29] Property tax revenues are reflecting a large increase,

[44:32] but this is due to some 2021 property tax revenue

[44:36] not being received until April of that year.

[44:39] So just timing issue.

[44:42] Since this report just reflects January, February, March,

[44:45] we can sheet and look ahead to April as we have received

[44:48] some already this month.

[44:50] If we include April data or just about where we were last year

[44:54] with a little bit of an increase over last year.

[44:57] Homestead and roll call.

[45:00] Rollback revenue is essentially flat at not quite $60,000.

[45:06] General fund expenditures were up when compared to 2021. The largest driver of that was an advance

[45:12] related to the purchase of property that was approved earlier this year.

[45:17] Revenues in the city's enterprise funds, as a whole, modestly ahead of 2021's pace

[45:23] and will continue to be monitored closely.

[45:30] Thank you.

[45:31] Thank you. Anybody have any questions or comments? Mr. Baller?

[45:36] The income tax revenues are coming in well so far in the first quarter.

[45:39] But as we know, as a matter of public record, workhorse is leaving the commerce park.

[45:46] These revenue collections don't reflect, they're still here until this quarter, right?

[45:52] I'm not sure exactly when they're heading out.

[45:56] We did try to take that into account when we're putting the budget.

[45:59] As you recall, last year we received about $5.8 million.

[46:04] Our estimate this year, we wanted to be a little more conservative.

[46:06] We estimated about five and a half just to kind of put that under control.

[46:13] Efforts are being made to try to replace or bring new business into that commerce center?

[46:21] We actually attempted to schedule a meeting with them.

[46:27] They are actively seeking themselves.

[46:30] I was trying to find an email from the guy from Workhorse.

[46:33] These don't search backwards.

[46:35] I'll forward you guys the update on that.

[46:36] But yes, they are there.

[46:41] Great. Thank you.

[46:43] Anyone else any comments or questions?

[46:46] All right, we need a motion to accept the first quarter 2022 financial results and quarterly update.

[46:52] So moved.

[46:53] They're second.

[46:54] Second.

[46:55] Call the role please.

[46:57] Vice Mayor Phelps.

[46:58] Yes.

[46:58] Mr. Ping.

[46:59] Yes.

[47:00] Mayor Bailey.

[47:00] Yes.

[47:01] Mr. Bayman.

[47:01] Yes.

[47:02] Mr. Blair.

[47:03] Yes.

[47:03] Mr. Butler.

[47:04] Yes.

[47:04] Mr. Hart.

[47:05] Yes.

[47:05] Motion carries seven to zero.

[47:09] Did that cover the income tax as well?

[47:11] It does.

[47:12] I can actually add a little bit.

[47:13] Okay.

[47:13] Please do.

[47:14] If you don't mind.

[47:15] So as discussed, income tax revenues for the quarter as a whole are up compared to the same period in 2021.

[47:21] Withholding and business net profits are up.

[47:23] Well, revenue from individuals is slightly down.

[47:26] This is due to a few of our larger filers that made back tax payments last year, which inflated the first quarter of 2021.

[47:34] And just to echo what Mr. Kennedy said earlier, I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank Don Everett in our office for her years of service.

[47:42] Don's been a great help with these reports that she puts together in the analysis of going through information of the trends of why things are up and down.

[47:52] So she'll be trying it retiring at the end of June. And again, as Mr. Kennedy said, she will be dearly missed.

[47:57] And she was very helpful for me when I started this position back in 2020, just to be a friendly face to help things go by a little bit easier.

[48:05] So thank her.

[48:07] All right. Any questions, comments on that report?

[48:11] Thank you, Mr. Medler.

[48:13] There are various committee minutes and reports.

[48:15] And then we have any comments on those.

[48:19] All right.

[48:19] Under city council reports, I have upcoming events Saturday, April 30th, as Liz mentioned.

[48:26] The Turing Environment Committee will host their annual litter pickup from 9 to noon.

[48:30] Meet at the Little Miami Conservancy.

[48:31] It's also National Drug Take Back Day, 10 to 2 at the Safety Center on Lebanon Road.

[48:37] Tuesday, May 3rd is the season opening for the Leveland Farmers Markets, 3 to 6 at the Linda J. Cox Trailside Parking Area.

[48:45] Saturday, May 7th, from 10 to noon at Kiwanis Park, way in the back by JT Stopman Ballfield will be our dog park grand opening.

[48:56] That is followed by the Ramsey-Paxson Cemetery Dedication in the White Pillars Subdivision.

[49:01] There's a 1245 procession from the clubhouse at White Pillars to the cemetery and the actual dedication begins at 1, I believe.

[49:12] All right. Anyone else have anything else to add?

[49:13] Yes, Mr. Bateman.

[49:14] I just will mention I took advantage of the electronics recycle drive event held by Leveland Sustainability Council over the weekend.

[49:25] And I think, I know we've mentioned the Take Back Drug Day and there's the big joint recycling event that we do every year.

[49:34] And it's one of those things that's just a great service that our community provides the residents.

[49:39] And every time I do that, it's always, I always take a moment to thank the volunteers.

[49:44] And I think we've just, it just shows the goodwill and the sort of willingness to help each other do the right thing that exists in this community.

[49:53] So I, I appreciated that and look forward to events like that in the future.

[49:59] Thank you. Anyone else?

[50:02] All right.

[50:04] Someone care to make a motion for executive session?

[50:07] I move for executive session under Ohio Revised Codes, Section 121, B1 to consider the discipline of public official and under 121.22 G2, consider the purchase of property.

[50:23] And finally, under 121.22 G3 to conference with council regarding pending litigation.

[50:32] There's second.

[50:34] Second.

[50:35] Call the roll please.

[50:37] Mr. Ping?

[50:38] Yes.

[50:38] Mayor Bailey?

[50:39] Yes.

[50:40] Mr. Bateman?

[50:40] Yes.

[50:41] Mr. Blair?

[50:41] Yes.

[50:42] Mr. Butler?

[50:42] Yes.

[50:43] Mr. Hart?

[50:43] Yes.

[50:44] Vice Mayor Phelps?

[50:45] Yes.

[50:45] Motion carries seven to zero.

[50:52] Alright, it is 902, we're back on the record, if you will, can we have a motion to adjourn?

[51:22] So moved.

[51:24] There's second.

[51:25] Second.

[51:25] Call the roll please.

[51:27] Mayor Bailey?

[51:28] Yes.

[51:28] Mr. Bateman?

[51:29] Yes.

[51:29] Mr. Blair?

[51:30] Yes.

[51:30] Mr. Butler?

[51:31] Yes.

[51:31] Mr. Hart?

[51:32] Yes.

[51:32] Vice Mayor Phelps?

[51:33] Yes.

[51:33] Mr. Ping?

[51:34] Yes.

[51:34] Motion carries seven to zero.

City Council Regular Meeting

Transcript