were were obvious they weren't buried
like they were in Upper Arlington so
when we got to the sections e that's
when the alleys occurred there weren't
very many if any alleys in a so e we had
alleys and that gave us a place to hide
the telephone poles and to string up the
line so uh bottom line uh it's important
just like it is to preserve our trees to
preserve these areas of Civic uh
infrastructure like we've done with the
the uh the master plan for Commonwealth
Park uh obviously our deep attention on
the Drexel Circle um and then eventually
we can then look at some of these other
areas and maybe even have not only
highlight some of their special features
and architecture but also maybe to
parallel our tree walks we can have
actually have architectural walks where
there's areas of some real uh
distinction and those are the pink areas
but I don't want to go further into the
diagram because I could really spend
some serious time on that um but I think
it is important to make sure that part
of the character of our area is
preserves uh and is part of the
appreciation of what the original people
put in intent wise and design wise and
constructionwise uh so that we honor
that uh and preserve it going into the
future so so Larry I'm am going to ask I
don't know if this is to the mayor or
Grant to put up some of those pictures
that I took that show
uh that feature that of of which you
were speaking it should be the those
images okay so these are this is on the
um East Side the the Northeast side of
Broad Street and Park View you see that
little that little kind of it's not even
a half moon it's a it's it's a just the
slightest curve that that swings out and
Swings in and I mean I've know they've
been there but until we walked with
Larry I had I had never really focused
on them and I I think mayor or Grant if
you want to just you swing swing through
these quickly you will notice these in
um as well on
Columbia that's that's I think that's
the same one
it's the same one obvious yeah we're
trying to get a little bit of a angle
there and this is I think on
uh Columbia and
Broad and you can see below that brick
curb there was also another uh a kind of
a gutter
threshold yeah here's something we maybe
want to rethink in the future as the
detail become slightly less inviting
when it's painted
yellow right well I think that's a
that's a mayor question we'll have to
work on and then are there any more is
that
it that is all the photos Okay we don't
paint bricks yell anymore good good
anyway so so so just so the next time
you walk broad at Columbia and Parkview
both on the North and South Side just
look at that little detail and on the on
at Drexel Circle just north of Drexel
circle on the east side um there's also
that little I I don't know what it is a
little cavorting
circle so uh that's it for our Bexley
brick bite for December wait to see what
happens in January yeah let let me let
me cap that with saying um we you know
maybe there as we look into the future
uh as we saw on our walk around uh there
the the Brick is in various stages of
condition uh some places it's fine other
places it's a mess uh other places
there's been different things done so
we'll talk about the brick standards for
that but at some point we maybe need to
think about a more Universal way of
approaching those brick areas and
whether we peel some off like x amount
of Street Frontage a year to deal with
the the worst of the repairs but uh I
think it would have important to make a
commitment uh at some level uh that we
really like those things to be around
and I know in the past they've been felt
some some service directors and way back
and maybe not so far way back saw them
as nuisances as opposed to part of the
historic infrastructure so that's just
something we need to I think talk about
discuss and figure out how to approach
yeah thank you Larry any
questions and are there any other
announcements or small victories
if not Elena let's go to review of
landscape applications which is pretty
much just an update
here yes so um 2730 East Broad Street
that is the new build um on Broad um so
I spoke with Joe CH and he is actually
basically ging the project himself um
and so uh Kathy has spoken with him I've
spoken with him um he is really in one
of the transitional places right now in
terms of being a new Builder and having
the landscape plan um submitted um
earlier and long story short and we'll
touch on this a little bit later but
long story short he is um working on
revising that landscape plan he does not
anticipate that he will be um in the
building before probably April or May at
the earliest and so he had said that he
is expecting to get me something in
January of this year for me to review I
will touch base with him at the
beginning of January what he has a plan
submitted that I have reviewed um it was
missing some elevations but he said that
that was basically just submitted so um
he kind of met the requirement and it is
not necessarily something that he wants
to actually build or install so rather
than waste our time and the tree
commission's time reviewing a plan that
he might very well change he is um
talking to his Landscape designer he's
going to revise it and resubmit it um he
does understand that that um the city
will hold uh occupancy permits or even
temporary occupancy permits if he
doesn't have it installed um at this
point it's not that big of an issue for
him because he doesn't plan to be in
there for another four to six months but
um he is well aware that he needs to
submit it and we are working with him to
resolve that so that is moving forward
the neighbor to the west um of that
property I have been staying in contact
with her because she would um like to
come in and um voice some of her
concerns um when we review the project
so just as a heads up um during that uh
either in January February when we are
reviewing that property we will have um
a guest who wants to speak about that
project so that's that on 424 South
Columbia this is a new build um and uh
this is something that we are working
now as a city that the landscape plan to
try to have that installed um or
submitted as well the um architectural
plans have been reviewed and they have
been told that they need to have um a
full landscape plan kind of moving
forward um I spoke with them they are
actually um talking about hiring me to
help them with that and so we're just
trying to confirm that that is indeed
not a conflict of interest which I don't
think it would be but just you know I
said that we need to be above board that
the Trade Commission would know that I'm
designing it and I would still need to
review it and make sure that it meets
all of the requirements you talking 4
424 South Columbia oh God no sorry
that's 424 Parkview 424 South Columbia
oh my God this one okay so this
one this one is currently going back to
beap sorry two 42 24s sorry with the new
puppy I am not sleeping enough so as you
could tell um so this one is um there is
some issues with grades on this and um a
landscape plan
has been submitted they still need to
give elevations but rather than us to
review this one um we're going to have
Bap look at it and then see what they
have I think that ARB and Larry correct
me if I'm wrong on this but ARB
essentially said that um they're not
recommending that it moves forward um
but that the landscape does need to be
reviewed by us and the question is
whether or not these retain in walls are
going to be part of the landscape or if
they need to be part of the architecture
so that's something that is still
potentially under discussion this is a
project so that everyone is aware that
has had um that has a contractor who
basically left the job they have a new
contractor who is coming in and trying
to take care of things and the entire
project is basically very difficult and
um lots of changes lots of things that
everyone is is working to move through
so this will probably come forward for
us either in January or February of that
year of next year and we'll just kind of
have to see see what happens on that the
landscape plan that they've submitted
does have more landscape than the
original one that we approved so um
that's nice to see more plant material
around the house but there are a lot of
changes that happened and so Karen Boker
has been working on a document that
shows all of the changes that happened
AR tally and she's going to go forward
and make similar changes of all the
project of all the things that happen
landscape wise so we'll be able to
review that um as we move forward as
well okay thank so thank you Elena and
and Ellena had referred to a project uh
that's a demolition and new new build on
North Park View and yes that was the one
she's mentioning that the homeowners had
asked her to do the landscape plan and I
asked her to Conta contct the City
attorney to make sure that it was not a
conflict of interest to for her to um do
the plan and then present it to the tree
commission so she has done that and
we'll see what the answer is um just to
be on the safe side protect her Susan I
can add just as uh as Ellena uh
requested um the Architectural Review
Board uh had an okay meeting with the
applicant and his representatives and we
needed a little more documentation and
clarity about some of the recommended
changes because as we know the the
building uh wasn't built to um the plans
uh and the applicant chose not to table
and to provide that additional material
so we had no uh ability to table them
because of how our rules set up so we
turned that application down so he will
have to come back in front of the ARB um
and provide what was pretty
straightforward information uh to the uh
to the commission and that's 476 North
Park View no I'm sorry I want complete
up on the Columbia oh okay okay all
right well see we're all type A we're do
two things at once so I think we got it
all all straightened up and does anybody
have any questions for
Elena if not we'll go on to the mayor's
report um
it's interesting it came up different on
the granicus than than I have it uh set
up but mayor it's take it away did I uh
did I did I luck out with the change on
granicus oh no it just it just doesn't
make it's as in bold face and as
important as it is on my written agenda
oh oh yeah yeah sorry about that we like
the mayor in bold face okay yeah so I'm
just GNA highlight a couple things and
then happy to answer any questions um
and I apologize we've had a uh very busy
week at City Hall um it's not supposed
to be busy this time of year but it has
been so um status installation we have
the concrete work in on the Broad Street
median um Grant I think is can give you
the current on the electrical and
Landscaping piece of that but I think
we've appropriated money for that am I
right
grant you there grant that is correct I
am
here so um yeah we got gr dollars for
the rest of the the project the city
currently is um installing the concrete
curbs which is done and then we're
getting ready to put the cobblestones in
before hopefully here in the next couple
weeks so it's not a hazard in the winter
time and then we'll probably finish up
in the spring okay so there you go good
work tree
commission and thank you be Community
Foundation again I know that was
discussed earlier but uh wanted to
reiterate
that um status of ordinance for payment
by utilities to work in the rideway that
is uh we had a great meeting with uh
your illustrious member uh Jim Wilson
Esquire who uh provided some great
recommendations to our attorney who's
working on that ordinance and I have a
call scheduled with her either late this
week or early next week uh to make sure
that we're incorporating those into the
ordinance I expect that to be voted on
at the uh I expected to be amended a
little bit more to reflect the
conversation that we had with Jim and
then voted on at the first meeting in
January of council so has it already
been read or that be first reading what
this ordinance has been read for over a
year now so this is a this is the same
ordinance as our small cell tower
ordinance right and um along Ong those
lines um we do have our first
actual maybe not yet a full permit but
we have our first cell tower proposed
it's just one it's a oneof by
AT&T um they wanted to place it um on
Maryland
between Colombia and Drexel um it was
designed to assist the governor's
mansion and residence I guess call it uh
with the coverage and I want to give
Grant and Andy and their team a shout
out mostly Grant and Andy I think and
have been working on this um because
we've been back and forth with AT&T
providing them with some alternate
locations and I think we have honed in
on using an existing poll that's already
on Park viiew and maybe even getting
them to improve the aesthetic of the
existing poll as a uh wow outcome so
we'll see hopefully that works out to be
a win-win um and hopefully we can have
similar results on other applications
down the road it's nice when you're
dealing with only one application and
some of the sensitivity around that
particular applicant I think has helped
us uh our budget we have passed it we
have a budget you guys still have a
budget so congratulations uh we're still
designing Landscaping in 2021 we're
still going to be uh providing our core
city services we do uh continue to have
a little bit of a freeze on our
non-essential Capital funds essentially
so
said essential too much but we're we're
we're basically keeping a close eye on
the finances the first part of the year
and expect that if they are as good or
better than we think they might
be um which isn't saying much because
we're we're taking a good conservative
outlook on our finances for the next
year then we're going to free up some
additional Capital spend which will help
us Advance some of the park um some of
the park work that we had already slated
for Commonwealth
um you know maybe even um getting
started with uh some of the Commonwealth
arbm features so that's something to
look forward to after the thaw that I
hope happens uh middle part of next year
so mayor but um just you know it's
always good to be uh you know I guess
personal about this and if we're
personally interested in Grants budget
did that change at all and then
wondering if the tree commission itself
has a budget would you know that I I
would know that so both Grant and the
tree commission have a budget um Grant's
budget was flat um so the trees are not
going to be larger next
year um we are we are we do I feel
confident that you know we put a freeze
on our tree program this year just out
of preponderance of caution I feel very
confident about being able to move ahead
with a catchup from last from this year
and doing next year's
program um you know
we've I don't want to like jinx this but
we've we did a really good job of
clamping down on our expenses which has
put us in a very positive financial
situation coming into next year plus
receiving cares act funding so we have
the ability to absorb quite a lot
of you know economic hammering next year
I guess if it happens so um and we do
think it'll lag you know so we we've had
an okay year in 20120 we think it's
going to lag into
2021 um and and we're we're well
positioned for it so I all that to say I
am cautiously optimistic even and that
does build into uh we're building in
some negative economic outcomes in 2021
in our cautious optimism okay okay so
what go ahead um do you have any sense
of the in impact on your income tax
because they were talking about with
people working at home now their tax
shift to where they're working and not
the company
yeah so that's that's uh there's a lot
of conversation at the state house right
now about that from a um like a overall
legislation perspective I think it's
possible that we have residents that are
starting to claim their their home
address as their place of employment
regardless of how this state legislature
might be specifying to happen um there's
a benefit to Residents to doing that and
if that can if that trend is true and if
it continues we will be very very well
positioned for that
um there's you know there's it's but but
having said that there's
legislation uh constantly being talked
about that would either perpetuate that
or you know reverse it and it'll be
interesting to see what the State House
does and whether or not they just forget
about it and move on if and when things
return to a little bit of normal um yeah
Richard I I think right now the um tax
authorities are say are saying as long
as companies still have the offices
available for the person that they're
treated as for income tax purposes as
working at their office even though they
might be working from
home but there are companies that have
actually um my son included gotten rid
of their office space and are now
working at home yeah and I think some
smaller companies have a littleit I
could be wrong and Richard's the
accountant here but I think smaller
companies have a little bit more um
there's some flexib with some of those
employees that might be using their home
offices a little bit
more literally than others but I I could
be wrong um so that'll be interesting
and that Ellen that was a insightful
question um parks and wreck um we are
okay yes so there's a group of residents
um who are you know frequent users of of
Jeffrey Forest who have asked the W
board to um form a advisory committee uh
for the park and that advisory committee
would I think they're talking about
maybe making a plan for the forest
master plan for the forest and would
like to be consulted anytime there's any
discussion of changes in the park
um I I suggested uh and I think Richard
has suggested that the tree commission
might be a appropriate advisory
committee to Jeffrey Park um but that's
that's kind of an active discussion and
we've asked um that discussion to happen
at city council um as well as the rec
board so it's something that everyone's
kind of talking about it's not just
happening in a vacuum um so that's
there's really nothing concrete to
update but just to let you guys know
that that is being discussed and that
that that the tree commission is being
asked to consider a a group like like
that Richard do you have anything to add
to that no I was just
um since it was brought up whether there
was any input from the Tre and public
garden commission if if they felt that
that was under their existing um pre
perview and if and if so whether they
wanted to take on that responsibility I
mean there's no sense for the mayor and
I to AR argue for that responsibility if
the group isn't interested in
that um yeah I can only I personally
thought it would um eliminate
duplication of of efforts as
because it you are the tree and public
gardens um commission and to create a
new commission seems somewhat redundant
but um if that would work better then we
should be open to that idea as well I
think if ask that would be a great you
know a great job for us I will have to
say you know
historically um you know parks and wreck
and Jeffrey Mansion have been um
interested in in making their own
decisions regarding the forest in in
Commonwealth Park so we have not been
heavily involved we have not been
involved in the decision making there um
and I think they have their own um
arborous uh taking care of their
property so it's a little bit you know
they're a little bit removed from us but
you know the the goal would be that if
um we could be helpful I think that's
our job you know it's a it's both the
responsibility obligation and you know
it's a it's a great
project how does the uh how does the
Parks and wck commission feel about each
alternative I can't speak don't answer
for that I don't know what the mayor
does oh I'm sorry were you asking us how
we feel about the Alternatives no
whether the
Rec board how do they feel about uh who
might best advise them a new group or
could the tree commission assist them I
don't think they've really had that
discussion yet and I think that's one of
the reasons we asked it to you know have
a discussion at Council so that could
kind of be hashed out a little bit more
as opposed to reacting to um you know
reacting to a proposal that's right in
front of them without kind of
considering some some other Alternatives
um I mean my have to be I'll just be
very uh straightforward my one of my
concerns with a new group or any group
really other than you or or I guess
further branching out the
decision-making Matrix is that there is
a there is certainly a tension about the
way that we use Jeffrey Park there's no
question about it um in my opinion there
is a very valid active recreational use
of Jeffrey park that is ongoing and you
know historic and hopefully continue
into the future I don't want to create a
position a situation where we are
constantly fighting about the active use
section of the park you know and and
that has kind of been emerging over the
over the recent years where further
development of the active view section
of the park or even just shifting
development in the active view section
of the park has has been viewed as a
somehow uh potentially down the road
maybe impacting the forest and you know
I think that we all in at least feel
strongly that the forest is to preserve
be preserved and
protected um so I guess I just I have
concern about creating a situation that
freezes any healthy and
proactive active recreational
development because I think that is a
very important uh component of the
Jeffrey Park Mission um so I'm I'm gonna
be protective of that I'm G I'm also
protective of the forest and so I guess
it's going to be important that we have
uh just a good
solid representation and and not create
a situation that freezes um freezes us
up does any go ahead of the board uh
Parks and Recreation I mean that's the
nature of uh how we need to use these
facilities I baked into everything and
and uh I've always felt it a little odd
that tree and public gardens I don't
think we're out to build our our little
fom uh but part uh tree and public
gardens Mission oh but it doesn't
include our biggest park uh and our most
famous Park uh Jeffrey and its area uh
that said we' want to make sure we're
helping the parks and wreck people and
not some kind of a adjudicating body on
the side that' have to be really thought
through are there any other comments I
agree with uh Larry because I think most
people a lot of people that I've spoken
to are very stunned that we really don't
aren't inv olved essentially with
Jeffrey Park it's like it's the biggest
park and you don't so yeah I would say
people are surprised that it's a
separate uh entity from the tree and
public garden
commission other
comments
ditto ditto okay yeah um uh Richard and
and mayor how can we be helpful or just
by saying that I mean I haven't heard
anybody say they don't think we should
do it so just being available you know
if asked if called We Will Serve if not
asked you know our feelings won't be
hurt is that an okay place to leave it
or do you need something more
affirmative I think for now because it's
so nebulous it's okay to leave it that
way I think that it's incumbent upon us
to make sure you're asked okay that'll
be our mission okay all right and I
think a couple people when the topic is
brought up at
Council um from tree and public gardens
should attend those uh public
discussions um in case other council
members that who aren't as familiar with
your your mission or the park and Rex
Mission um as far as questions that they
may have for members of
both okay so yeah just give us a heads
up at when that happens
and you know again you
know I think it's as I said I think it's
a responsibility obligation to help the
city where we can and especially to
share expertise and wisdom so you know a
sidebar how do parks and uh recck feel
about the work done on Commonwealth park
because um you know we had a little hand
and plan you know helping to get that
process underway and uh presumably
that's been successful
you know I can't represent the Parkson
Rec board I can just say that it seems
like over the years there's this
conversation is kind of percolated from
time to time but the partnership seems
to work kind of you know like it's clear
that the tree commission provides input
they ask for it um and Leadership
guidance and that's you know maybe we
formalize that more down the road I
don't know but that'll be a good a good
piece to be discussing as part of all
this good good that's that's why you
know January 1 is a great day because it
gets you chance to put all those kind of
things on the to-do list for
21 and and you know I would say um
working with uh Jeffrey uh has worked
well with um the uh our project our fall
project that next year that we will be
making um supporting making improvements
to the Jeffrey uh South and West Terrace
and that's all gone very smooth
and um I think we're excited about
helping them and I think they're excited
about getting the help and uh adding to
the overall beauty of the project agreed
Ellen plus we've spent a lot of time
walking the streets evaluating the
health of the trees in the city uh not
to mention this canopy study it seemed
to me that those trees so many of them
are old uh that would be the first thing
that anybody could do is just to
evaluate what there it probably should
be done because we certainly don't want
to lose any and not have any plan or the
or the Mansion have any plan for
replacing
anything yeah all all all good thoughts
yeah um mayor do you want to go on to
the plastic bag band yeah sure plastic
it's back it's like take two it's like
plastic bag band part two it's like home
alone too but it's
better so the um
yeah Council passed an ordinance earlier
a couple months ago I guess and uh we
will be seeing no plastic bags in
Beckley January 1 at our retailers um
there will not be a fee because the
state house has said that the fee cannot
be assessed and just to remind you the
fee was designed to encourage people to
bring their own bags and the retailers
help them cover the costs of not having
plastic bags um we have a little bit of
a small grant program for retail
retailers that feel that there might be
an impact our biggest partner in this
Giant Eagle is aware and they're they're
ready to go um so I think that's that's
all there is to say about that we had
other single use Plastics Provisions
that were to come online January 1
plastic
straws um some other things uh those are
getting pushed back a year just because
of the business climate so okay well you
can still take your own bags now to
Giant Eagle so yeah yeah that's Chang so
any any questions for the mayor mayor
did I leave off anything you want to
report on well I do want to if if you
guys did not receive an email I I you
know there are always a couple bounce
backbacks and and sometimes for whatever
reason there is a virtual Mayors and
solicitors holiday party tomorrow at
5:30 we'll be sending out an email
reminder about that um those who have
RSVP you will receive a little uh pack
on your on your on your patio your
doorstep uh front step um tomorrow
afternoon so look for that and if you
haven't already despite the fact that
the deadline was yesterday at midnight
um we have ordered adequate supply for
stragglers because I am incredibly
empathetic to stragglers when it comes
to people who are late to reply to
things so uh feel free to go ahead and
respond if you didn't get that email for
whatever reason just shoot me an email
let me
know okay I'm I'm excited to see how
drinking goes virtually I've never done
any of those cocktail parties so
we'll little trivia trivia maybe we'll
have a little tree trivia in there just
to keep you guys interested you
okay sounds sounds good to me any
questions for the
mayor all right so I had one um mayor
did you has there been the I can't
remember which reading it was it's
probably either the second or the third
by this point for the hold harmless
agreement for 346 North Drexel for the
trees that were planted in the right of
way that passed yep that passed it's
harmless we're I guess okay thank you I
think Council felt it was a very
attractive change from the prior
situation yes yes I would agree thank
you okay so we're gonna go on to um kind
of a staff report may excuse me sorry is
Mayor St is the mayor staying with us
the whole meeting mayor are you able to
be with us
I will be with us for most of it I'm
gonna I'm gonna I'm Gonna Take It Mobile
um and uh listen while I try to pop in
real quickly to say hi to some wreck
employees for a party they're they
they're dist holiday party but I will be
I'll be around so Susan I was um
thinking some of the items that you
asked me to look at um that are at the
bottom of the agenda yeah um if the
mayor had any comments a lot of those
are uh service department and
building department followup yeah do you
do you chair the I don't want to step on
any Toes by um you
service do you chair the service
committee Richard yeah I chair the
service committee um but
some the the items on that list were
are more specific okay relating to
administrative things rather than
Council mtic and so
the May here can look at look at those
and um add any comments that he would
like or if he would like to assign any
of those to Andy or another department
okay they were it's kind of part of my
just my running list so there's there's
nothing Earth shanking about it it's
just more um you know keep it on the
list so but I do I I I want them to be
addressed for you so would you mind
Jordan scrolling down to the bottom to
so I don't have it in front of me well
it's it's the least it's the least
important things on the on the agenda
okay that will be a uh and and those
poles those are the U gas line Terminus
tubes that stick out like at Bexley
Methodist Church I think was one of the
intersections and uh Broad and Stanwood
and then I I don't know where mailboxes
are anymore I know the post service has
um been removing some this summer and
fall and they got heat from it from
certain quarters um for removing well
mail boxes so we've had luck with them
in the past I saw I saw there's one on
Drexel that's kind of rusty where that's
gonna address they're all they're all
rusty you know one of the one of my
great goals is to you know improve the
city with someone else's money so you
know we don't have to pay for these and
the one you put in at the city hall
looks clean and tidy makes the whole
area look clean and tidy so why not see
if we could do those again there's
nothing important about these other than
just you know there there things on a
to-do list that can make a difference so
I would uh I appreciate that Richard
thanks for thanks for drawing my
attention to that and uh Grant I'm sure
will also be on the call through the end
and can answer some of the more
technical questions but the answer of
the gas PS is yes they can be grounded
I'm not sure what you're talking about
with in ground utility boxes but Grant
can answer that and we can get to that
later but thank you for thank you for
calling that out I appreciate it okay
thank thank you and I'll shut up now oh
no don't do that never okay um can we go
back up on our
um on our screen okay Elena and uh Larry
and Susan are kind of uh the motivators
for these next kind of uh motions I'm
going to say and perhaps we can set this
up we're we're it should be at four
staff report Ellena staff consultant
right there thanks
um so um as you know with Elena on board
uh we are working you know monthly to
try and improve the the toolbox that we
offer her to make her job easier more
effective and I'm going to have to say
more efficient for both the city and for
the tree commission and as we've worked
towards those kind of goals we've
noticed that there are some areas that
um tend to you know tend to not be as
effective as as we would like them to be
one is the amount of time it takes some
of the responsible parties with whom
Ellen is contacting to get back to her
we don't have any limit on it we don't
have any you know kind of rule or
regulation or um anything to refer to so
I had suggested that we put a 30-day
period by which responsible parties need
to respond to emails from
Elena now I don't know what we'll do if
if they don't we don't have a either or
but at least it gives her you know some
sort of standard to say that the city is
expecting a response um the second one
is that of that is something that Larry
um maybe can speak to because of of what
he sees happening at ARB and what we
don't see happening at the same time
that building plans go to ARB so um
Larry do you want to speak to that a
little
bit uh I'm presuming we're talking about
the landscape plans being submitted in
line with uh the building plan correct
um we'll cover a little bit more of this
if we revisit the Main Street guidelines
uh because that's kind of morphed into a
more comprehensive set of guidelines um
and and maybe give a little prease to
that along three lines process St
standards uh and then uh follow through
and and all driven by kind of the vision
of what we're after and so there's been
a lot of advancement of how to
coordinate between bodies and how to
coordinate multiple decisions that
arrive from a single project and then
when the staff gets involved and how
they coordinate among themselves as well
so long story short um when we when we
separate out the architectural
submission and then the landscape
submission comes much later uh much much
later oftentimes uh that really doesn't
help our decision-making it doesn't help
the neighbors to kind of get a bigger
picture of what a project what kind of
impact it's going to have and what
Landscaping may or may not do to
mitigate some of those issues or in fact
make it better than it was before um and
then likewise the longer there's a
separation between those two um then the
more tricky the decision become because
sometimes it just kind of Fades away a
little bit and so uh just simply put a
process Improvement that says yes we
will have we we will ask for dual
submittals uh at that time and the the
other thing we know also happens is
sometimes that the landscape part of an
application is the one that suffers the
budget cuts um and and so we want to
avoid all of those things therefore
again coming back to the Dual
submissions at that point in time uh
makes it easier on
everybody yes so those are um Elena I
don't do do you have anything you'd like
to add um yes um I think that so I have
been in talks with um both uh Kathy Rose
and Karen Boker and um all of us uh
including the mayor um are all on board
and saying that for new builds a full
landscape plan needs to be submitted
with architectural plans and along with
that we are requesting a um an existing
tree plan a tree removal plan and a
grading plan if that is you know
applicable um there are other
municipalities for instance um mirfield
village when you do a new build there
you have to submit a grading plan and a
full landscape plan um and materials at
the beginning so you have a sense of
what's going on so it's not that it is
an undue burden and there have just been
a lot of headaches that we've been
having with some of these new builds um
as Larry had mentioned oftentimes a
landscape consultant has not brought in
until much much later and things are
just not thought about grades aren't
thought about patio elevations are all
kind of screwed up so Karen is working
on a um basically a a simplified flow
list for new applicants when they go
onto the website if you have you know
residential or commercial is it a new
build is it a renovation and what
approval agencies you're going to have
to go through um and so she is working
on that hopefully we'll have something
next month to share with you all and
Cathy is starting to look at um adding
the requirement for a landscape plan to
our unified building application so from
you know kind of this moment going
forward all new builds are going to be
required to have that hopefully we will
just avoid a lot of headaches that we've
been dealing with these last couple of
months okay so but having said that um
does not deter my my wish to have
motions on those at this time you know
every 30 days we wait more more things
happen and you know we we uh we end up
you know again with these problems so I
would like to you know is there any
reason not to go ahead with the motion
for the 30-day period for people to hear
back from you or the motion to stipulate
that we have dual plans it I I think
it's essential to add to our policy so
we have legal basis for it okay um is
there are there any questions or
discussion from commission
members okay if if not I will yes who
I'm not a commission member um but um
I'm not familiar if any of these items
require an ordinance from Council to to
to um
cify I well I I don't I don't either but
I think it becomes part of the of the
unified and planning um documents that
sent out I mean it's sort of like the
tree protection and the curb protection
these are just more protection elements
I would guess I don't know maybe the
mayor would have a much better sense I
guess of that than I do probably should
I mean you can vote to recommend that
but we probably should uh double check
the code to make sure it's not
stipulated one way or the other in in
the recent zoning code reite it's
actually that's a good point um I don't
have the code in front of me but I I and
again I'm not sure which code I'm
referencing which city anymore but the
um U I think there's a section there
that says the boards can set up um
policies that you know procedures uh
that are that help whatever they are
trying to do so but obviously uh it even
makes it more forceful if council's
behind it as well uh mayor yeah so just
to clarify there there are like three
different issues here with the three
different things that are up on the
screen but the right of way protection
which I think was last just talked about
is it's in our ordinance so we have
question of how we're administering that
ordinance so we have the ordinance given
us the right to administer it so that
doesn't require any further further
we're just looking at one and two and
then with one and two yeah again so
we're talking about situations where
landscape plans are required for
approval um you know and we've asked for
them to be submitted at the same time
and I think that then it's how are we
administering that requirement um and we
you know in our pre-planning meeting
discussed um ways in which we have been
more proactive with letting applicants
know that they're going to need to
submit uh land plans for certain types
of development at the same time
um responsiveness to our staff inquiries
I mean these are all these are all uh is
these are internal uh Administration
issues in the way that we're
administrating the existing code um if
if Richard wants to you know if Council
wants to somehow
re state that I don't NE I don't
necessarily um want to just be
introducing any type of control from
Council but I just wanted to make sure
that the codee was actually looked at um
to make sure that there wasn't any
conflict with that yeah I think we're
talking about instances where we are
requiring landscape plans is that not is
this is that's the context
correct well right but I didn't know if
it was in the zoning code as that
specifically that the landscape plan is
submitted later
after so staff has it no staff it
doesn't say that when it it's submitted
staff has the ability to say and it's by
staff I mean you know Kathy Rose um in
administering these meetings currently
has the ability to say if an elevation
is missing if site plans are missing if
if key components of the approval
process are missing that a hearing isn't
going to occur until those those
components are in place so that's this
is like a analogous to those other items
that are called for in the review
process and it's been to you know to I
understand the frustration it's been a
long process to change the culture about
how Landscaping is such an integral part
of these designs that need you know it
needs to be part of that initial
submission so it can be considered as
part of the initial submission and not
be an afterthought and I think we've
seen examples of what happens when it's
an afterthought and they you know it's
been problematic yeah so mayor you're
saying that you feel that all the the
tools are and all the regulations and
the proc procedures are already in place
is that what I'm hearing I feel that we
have the we absolutely have the tools it
becomes a cultural issue of ensuring
that that our staff won't allow the
progress of the hearing until all
everything's in hand which is already a
habit with other types of items you know
if a site plan or an elevation was
missing there wouldn't be a hearing and
then also the boards themselves are
helping to reinforce that and I know uh
we have some staunch board members on
this call right now that have been
helpful in that one of who's grinning
right now right so Larry do you want to
speak to that do you feel you have the
tools and then the the
culture uh you know the clarity is
always Clarity is always good uh and
what what I think is great about all of
this is this desire to to continually
find the best way to do things uh and
the commitment to uh to that and and I
sense that's there um and so you know
the ultimate test of doing this stuff is
that once you've done it and you look
back and say why haven't we been doing
it this way for a long time and so I
think that's what's occurring when we
look at this so I I uh I do think it has
to be spelled out in a process document
the flowchart of here's what happens so
it's clear to boards it's clear to
applicants it's clear to the staff it's
clear to Residents uh that I think is is
important I don't think that requires
ordinances I don't think they just
spelling it out so it's
cleared okay so I mean I can I can agree
to that but you know to to me there's a
it's time to hurry it's time to hurry
you know we've talked about having the
you know the architectural plans with
the new builds and we have you know
there's an ordinance for it and yet you
know it doesn't happen so how how can we
make sure that
we get the information or receive the
procedure by next month so it's like the
the we have a new build that's coming to
ARB in January they they were notified
that they they should that they will not
be heard unless the landscape plan is
submitted um at the same time as the
rest of the package so that's that's
something that's on us good good um and
it has to be consistent and I understand
the importance behind it and we've
communicated and we're going to keep
communicating it and we're going to keep
commun it and eventually we're gonna get
it right okay all right so I one one
additional thing I hate to keep talking
but um the you know it is a two-sided
thing because the other thing we want to
do most people when they're doing a
let's take a new build um and they're
buying big expensive lot or tearing
something down they're starting over uh
they're going to do that once they
haven't done it multiple times so we
also want to work with them uh to make
sure uh that you know we are not lording
over them or making this a horrid
process um and so on the flip side of
this we want to help them celebrate what
they're doing but at the same time have
the information we need to make good
decisions for them good decisions for
their neighbors and sometimes that's a
balance point not to be
forgotten okay so that so my take away
from this is that we don't need
motions
um we need indoctrination maybe I don't
know uh but uh that we will I guess step
back and you know see how how quickly
the flowchart happens and um you know
how consistent I guess I'm going to say
the consistency is always the you know
the optimum word that we can be in
requiring you know the information that
Elena has has suggested with um the
submission of the the plans I I don't
think I don't see any reason not to do a
motion I mean I'm sorry I uh we have not
historically we have separated those
plans in the past and I think it's
important to have a motion that says uh
that we've changed how we do that and
what we review I think it's helpful too
I think it you you tree commission
saying to us as the city like we feel
strongly that this you know we know
sometimes it happen however you want to
word it you know yeah consistently
happens every single time okay yeah you
know this is the worst part about Zoom
you can't see everybody at one time you
can't you know it's harder to interact
uh with that but Larry since um you've
given us some background on this and our
our dual ARB tree commission member
would you be comfortable making the
motion or
motions uh I would I would that the tree
commission um uh is in support
of uh a policy that requires a landscape
plan to be submitted in parallel uh with
a building plan and all requisite plans
uh as part of residential new builds uh
and that the uh staff no I think that's
just really it right there that they
dealt with as a as a single
application is there a second to that I
second that okay is there any discussion
okay a motion has been made and seconded
that uh I I what was your word
policy yes a a policy to reinforce that
landscape plans need to be S submitted
in um sequence with the um building
plans for new builds and Commercial
properties just new
builds I I would think so yes okay new
builds um all those in favor say I I I
post same sign okay motion motion
carries okay number three got onto the
agenda in it it should not I think what
we have shown you here
is um I'm I'm thinking that's more the
brick curb yes those are the specs of
the cut sheets that Elena did for our
last meeting so why don't we move past
that to Grant's
report Grant all I have down for you is
other other other you know is is that
the best news ever
other that is so uh you know things
haven't changed much my crews are still
out helping with the leaf
cleanup um we did some snow removal
today
um so hopefully you know we should be
done with Leaf clean up this week and
we'll be back
on uh tree removals and stump grinding
after the
holidays question questions for Grant I
bet you can hardly wait for January 1
yeah okay anything I want to say Grant I
don't know if you guys have noticed
Grant's Cruz have been playing around
with different uh tree lights on the
medians in Main Street and uh we're
they're shaping up they're looking
pretty good no I haven't seen those a
little bit of festive Spirit there just
something to think about for next year
okay excellent can you give us you know
can you give us a little uh you know
kind of a foretaste grant of what you're
doing it's torture is what I'm doing
um those islands it's almost the trees
are so v-shaped it's very hard to get
lights to wrap around them appropriately
and then you have cars
driving down broad both sides of the
street um so it's difficult to get an
even and even look to it but you can
kind of see where we're going on with
the island that's just uh west of the
city hall okay parot entrance okay uh
this is definitely something I do not
want to do on every
island I will vote against it
well I I don't even think it's come to a
vote so there you go I'm giving you a
heads up okay so we better get out and
drive around the community okay thank
you grant they look they're looking good
and I appreciate you humoring uh
humoring US during a busy season yeah
yeah difficult okay challenging if if
there's nothing else for Grant let's go
on to Old business uh talk about April
is Arbor month yes and we had our first
uh brain storming meeting about um what
could be happening in in April to
celebrate uh the trees in urban forest
and have a great group of folks from
tree commission as well as H Paige crane
haly Rasin Sam metf and Paige bada from
the
library so here's what we've come up
with so far we only had one meeting for
one hour uh our articles in the Bexley
blast give away a 100 trees on Arbor Day
at the I'm sure the mayor and Grant will
do a tree planting we're looking at
fairy gardens we're not sure what that
means maybe Fairy Gardens at the
community gardens or throughout the city
or a fairy garden uh
tour uh creating databases of who's
received trees
before um Ellen uh Bowen's going to
contact past uh folks who have been
given trees and to see if they have any
tree stories maybe trees of uh tours of
Community Gardens scavenger hunt and for
those of you that are older you may
remember the talking tree at Lazarus ah
yes yeah so there are a couple people
here that are too young to know that but
um we are working on costume finding a
costume to have a talking tree so it's
much like for uh for mayor and for for
Grant and Ellena for you young people
it's like a mascot I mean you know it
there's a there's a trunk and then all
these branches on top and the of course
the the voice is um and the mouth part
is in the trunk and then all the foliage
is you know just like the the Brutus
Buckeye uh second layer Second Story
yeah so you know anyway this was
brainstorming uh at its finest so we'll
let you know how how things are coming
along any questions about this you know
I tried to promise uh Grant no work for
him on this so we'll see if we can be
true to that to that
goal okay tree walks Grant wants your
information so he can compile
it any questions about that no no but I
have yet to hear from Dave so I'll try
him again okay okay um Larry do you want
to go on to Main Street
guidelines uh yeah let me uh uh maybe
give a little over nothing with nothing
I do was brief actually um uh back to
when the Main Street guidelines were put
into play they they were really uh
designed that's 20 years ago or whatever
it's been uh to deal specifically with
trying to create some degree of
unification and coordination along the
Main Street business strip uh and and
those worked pretty well there's um and
and they're still working pretty well uh
to that end
most of the numeric standards as well as
some of the subjective standards in the
Main Street guidelines are actually now
embedded in the zoning code there still
are example illustrations of how to do
little design details mostly on the
landscape side and so forth uh but all
the other standards have been codified
and are in there um meanwhile uh as we
look to like vision driving uh standards
and then process uh we have other areas
we have North Cassidy we have Livingston
Avenue and then we have all these
emergent uh design issues that pop up uh
brick streets solar panels historic
preservation so uh we have seen
advancement and so I think it's
transcended just simply saying m m Main
Street guidelines and uh what it's now
moving towards is a more comprehensive
listing
of design and development standards for
the city of Bexley overall of which
those are certainly a point a part uh
and imagine if you will that they
actually start to uh be compiled in a uh
a loose leaf notebook three- ring binder
so that as new things come on board it
gets added to the Bexley overall uh
design and development uh standards and
so for example on so many fronts like um
we've had the um we've had these changes
we've just made about how applications
are to be filed we have Tree Lawn
standards we have sustainability goals
that we want to meet and add to we have
historic preservation that's coming up
uh solar panels uh uh the brick curbing
details and so forth uh they all need to
find a home so that you know from a
staff standpoint you're not saying oh
wait a minute I forgot somewhere
barriers there's this there's that and
so forth so that remains kind of the
goal that I think we're all pushing for
um and also on that front too uh we now
have Kathy Karen uh and uh Ellena
working together as a staff as they
review and look at applications doing
and you know that seems so logical but
that's always been difficult to kind of
pull off because of the way things get
scheduled and happen so uh long story
short which is never the case with me
but the uh there are a lot of
improvements and there's a lot of that
that format will allow us to continue to
evolve these standards as emergent needs
occur put them in a way that uh it
becomes put in as part of our design and
development standards and aren't simply
just listed under the Main Street
guidelines so I hope that helps okay I'm
sorry Larry you said you want to call
them development standards versus code
right like what was that yeah I don't
know what uh I'll I'll leave we have to
talking to to Ben a little bit further
on this but he's gone um but uh I'm here
don't be so mean are you still there
good I'm always
here some some kind of title so that it
represents uh uh really the compilation
of all those things that are important
to to to to help shape form and
understand what's important on our part
for development in the city of Bexley
so one of the questions um that you
asked uh for for those of you that don't
know there's um uh a house or two two
build two buildings uh on Main Street
that are going to be demolished and so
uh Larry had suggested at our
pre-planning you know how long can
property be vacant without improvements
and I'm assuming that too Larry would
then be addressed in these development
guidelines or code guidelines
well I think that you know as these
things we want to have some procedure uh
by which when something pops up and it's
like oh we haven't had to deal with that
before uh we better think about that and
and so that's another clear example uh
where in our code do we address uh
vacant pieces of property and what
condition they're in while they're
vacant and for how long uh you know the
last thing you want to do is to have um
and and we've got a gas station on Main
Street we've talked about forever and it
hasn't gone anywhere and then we'll have
maybe a couple of holes on Main Street
as something else evolves in in the spot
where these two structures are going
down I think that one is going to have
to be dealt with and I think it has an
application to put it to grass or to
something but again it raises yet
another emerging issue that we need to
add to our design
guidelines okay anybody anybody have
questions for
Larry I don't I just have a a not a
question but more of a statement
question with from within is that I
think this is all well and good because
if we ask people to do something we have
to have it written down in paper and
they we have to validates what we're
asking them as a standard to do that but
the other thing that I'm concerned about
I don't want Bexley to have a reputation
that we have so many strict
guidelines um not to say that we
shouldn't have them I just want to make
sure that it's presented in a way that
we're responsive to uh what we ask and
it's and it's serious um and by writing
it down there's Clarity but I I don't
know what it's like for other um
businesses or people moving into other
communities in our in our County uh if
they have any reputations well New
Albany sure we then Dublin right uh I
guess we could never be as strict as
they are I think worthington's pretty
tough too which is Worthington
Worthington yes because it's so
historical so I just want to keep that
as
a um a thought in the back of our heads
you know how are we looking what are we
looking like how are we sounding
comparative to other suburbs are we
acting too too strict but I agree with
Larry completely that they we need to
have these things down in
paper H you raised a great point and I
couldn't agree more um I think we and
and maybe that's kind of an Unwritten
policy I don't know and I don't even how
you'd write that up as to our attitude
about development and and working with
applicants um some of the best uh
rewarding uh cases at say for example at
architecture review board uh is to where
you help somebody solve design issues
and they come back later on and say boy
thank you for that man that was you know
your suggestions not mine particularly
but the board about doing this or about
adding a stoop in the S silly things
like uh adding a a a roof over a back
stoop so that you can actually stand
under and unlock your rear door and take
your groceries and without getting wet
you'd be amazed how many plans don't
have that you say we just we're not
requiring it but you might want to think
about it as a as a recommendation little
things like that so I think attitude
goes a long way and I don't know how you
codify that uh but uh that certainly
from what I've seen on the ARB that's
always been our
goal okay thank you uh good discussion
and now hopefully you can get all these
things on paper can I pile one more
thing onto that real quickly yes it's it
kind of weighed on me over the years
what has happened with Gateway South
which is an example of what we call
Gateway South
the vacant parking lot which is an
example of a a project that you know was
maybe going to get off the ground back
in
2006 and then has just floundered
because nothing's happened there and so
there's no investment in the site and
it's just it's an
isore and the
city I haven't ever felt comfortable
that we have a whole lot of teeth to you
know because it's an existing condition
really push a whole lot on a on a final
plan and yet I kind of think we probably
do have the right to do that and it it
just occurs to me as we look at you know
similar concepts of like temporarily
quote unquote tearing down property that
we just make sure that we have a very
very
strong holding plan uh until such a time
as Redevelopment occurs I don't think
it's a I think there's a reason to do it
you know but I just think that um we
need to have teeth in
that I Ben I couldn't agree more on that
either I think we have the other thing I
did about standards is right now another
emerging issue are garages uh which are
turning into barns which are turning
into entertainment centers and twostory
kinds of things and so uh we're now
having a task force to address that to
make sure we do the right thing uh I
think that should also hold true uh with
vacant Parcels specifically in our
commercial areas uh because it it could
impact the Vitality of the of the whole
street and uh that's not a good
thing there are some there are some
statutory time limits um if a if a
property has a variance of any type that
they um stop
business or uh conditional use I think
there's a time time limit and I think in
the new zoning code in their um a
two-year period for
implementing the uh plan
yeah I don't it's actually one year it
goes the plan the plan is no longer
valid um if it isn't started in a
certain amount of time the the approval
uh ceases I don't know what that time
limit is it or how how closely we
monitor
that well if we can be helpful in you
know encouraging you know development of
those guidelines or that section let us
know um because
you know it's all about we're all about
how the way this the way the city
looks um well Susan I think we could add
to a future agenda uh how do we feel
about vacant properties and what should
happen at least from a temporary
Landscaping standpoint so it um um
something happens to fill the void okay
let's put that on for January or
February okay and I'd like I'd like to
say one thing I I I agree with Celeste
um I know we want the city to look good
but we also want the city to feel good
and we don't and it's really important
the way we uh approach people who are
doing you know new builds people who
have never lived here before maybe
people who have never had a business on
Main Street before and I I think that's
a really important um uh a really
important factor of our community that
we make sure that we are friendly and
open and and you know look going at it
from that P perspective instead of what
you can't do
here
here I want to read you can I can Madam
chair can I read a quote I just got from
a business owner today and seems
pertinent so this came from kitties the
owner of Kitty
cafe who also owns two Caterers and
sweet carrot and all these other things
in Columbus thank you to all of you at
the city of Bexley I've shared with
others the difference between doing
business in beex versus the larger city
of Columbus your folks were on top this
has a little bit more to do with our
current situation you folks were on top
of things almost immediately with
signage masks relaxing of rules that
allowed businesses to Pivot quickly it
has been impressive and I'm grateful to
do business in this
community now they never had to deal
with the tree commissioner
ARB that's that's the sort of H review
that we want to see even when we are
taking them through approval processes
yeah that you know we're doing it with a
smile and we're being friendly and
proactive and helpful throughout even if
we don't love the first thing that they
come to us with yeah right very nice
very very nice very um before we go on
to new business and do our review of the
year um and Richard's still here I was
rereading the uh minutes of November and
noticed that I think it was ear October
noticed that Richard said that um city
of Columbus was going to send folks to
city council to talk about the
Livingston Avenue Corridor Richard did
that happen and do you have any report
yeah there was a liaison from the
mayor's off Columbus mayor's office um
but of involvement on the Livingston C
quarter was relating to traffic and
speed and and issues like that I I
initially thought it was the uh
Redevelopment and the um overlay area
that you would be more interested in but
it was it was more of a traffic flow
okay well we can give you an update on
that okay can you yes will so we have
received rfps from mksk nbbj and
omm ranging from $100,000 to
$360,000 to uh help steer our
plan the good news is we look looks like
we have some very qualified vendors
within our budget range and our budget
range is a shared budget with Columbus
um and we have to select that contract
but that is for a streetcape slash
safety SL development uh plan for
Livingston between alen Creek Drive and
essentially
Kenwick um on both sides of the street
and uh so it's it's it's positive and I
think that you know that's something
we're GNA be focusing a lot on in
2021 I also think the the tree
commission needs to know that city of
Columbus has received a zoning request
for a uh a
sheets
SZ gas station and convenience store at
the corner of college in
Livingston it would be the southwest
corner where the Bexley Motorcar Company
is right now it would involve the LI
house parcel and the motor the car sales
parcel and the parcel with like the
music studio in it so it's about a I
think a two Acre Site Al together
um and I don't think that those
approvals have been received yet and uh
I would I mean I don't want to whay this
meeting further but I welcome any
conversation on
that was that the same company that was
going to go up into Worthington and
people were unhappy with the extent of
their development not I don't know I I
don't get out of the bexy bubble enough
to know no I mean that the well it was
the dispatch so yeah they they turned
them down is does uh Bexley have a voice
in this
mayor um city of Columbus has asked the
developers to get our feedback on it um
I need to I or or so I hear from the
developers so I I need to reach out to
city of Columbus and find out from them
what they mean by that exactly okay what
that looks like so uh yes I mean yes in
some level I think we
do um I just don't know how meaningful
it is so this this would be another case
to where
um we expand kind of the entry feature
concept to include the other two corners
uh you've got probably Cooperative
people on the uh with the Jewish
services facility on the uh on the uh
the South uh Southeast side and uh you
know any anytime somebody's willing to
kind of wipe the Slate clean with some
not so great buildings not so great uses
uh even though maybe we don't fully
want what they're doing but it gives you
chance to rework it all so I have an
open mind about that and can set the
tone I mean the only way that area is
going to change is through Redevelopment
no other way but we don't know what the
standards are for that
right yeah and that's what put together
in the world of gas station convenience
stores it's a very nice proposal but
it's again it's a you know gas station
Convenience St it's a uh
it is what it is right it's a poor
entryway into the city I
think it's a what Richard I couldn't
hear
you I said it's entryway into the City
and it those type
of um businesses tend
to draw um petty crime and things like
that and it doesn't really go it doesn't
really go with the mixed use development
uh
standard
has yeah and usually they're a lot of
concrete they pretty competitive with
the speedway that's or whatever that
other gas station is that's on the what
what it's going to
do that's another issue well and it's
it's not it's not unrelated it's it's
going to result in and already we've
seen signs it's going it will result in
an arms War where Speedway then feels
the need to ramp up their massing and
their
presence which will then create so
basically what we'll see is bookending
our Livingston and college intersection
to large competing convenience
stores and I share Richard's concern
yeah yeah well I if I had to vote I'd
vote no on the limited information
presented tonight but um I I I think
we'd all look for ways to help change
the outcome if we could so mayor if you
get a chance to there's open meetings
let us know okay okay I will all right
okay so let's go on to new business and
uh as you know this our tradition is to
review what our accomplishments are what
we've done what we could do better
brainstorming any ideas or goals for
2021 and of course I can't see everybody
at one time so I'm gonna call on each of
you once to just share with me what you
think was the best thing we did this
year and Larry Helman it just happens to
be that our alphabet starts with H so
you go
first oh hell no never mind um remember
you're recorded yeah right I forget um I
you know since I live in Two Worlds uh
the tree commission and ARB uh I think
the growing
uh coordination and and single approach
and review in my mind has has is been
night and day difference heading that
way versus what we've been and I think
that'll pay some dividends as we get
down the pike and likewise so many
things on so many fronts with the um
historic preservation the solar panels
all kinds of things that that really
rounds out um in effect all parts of our
of our infrastructure trees are a big
piece of it but there's a lot of other
pieces as well so um I I like that
degree of coordination and the
comprehensive approach to things okay
Sheila
sto can can you hear me okay so I loved
the South Community Gardens I think that
they were a huge enhancement and um so
many people are enjoying it I thought
that quality of life in that corner was
beautifully enhanced and everyone should
take a bow on that um and I I would say
I am thrilled to hear the conversation
about Livingston and making some
progress with slowing things down adding
some modifications that would help with
all the accidents um it's a conversation
that has been huge this year and um
we'll figure out the corner I guess and
what will happen there but the street
itself going um east of college It'll be
such an improvement so everyone should
take a bow for their great work okay
Celeste Williams ah well I think I I uh
would like to repeat just what Sheila
said um about that area about the the
community Gardens um and U I feel very
grateful that uh that there are so many
wonderful hard workers and intelligent
people who have the best of Bexley in
their minds and hearts and I really
appreciate that one of the things that
I'm really great I I feel um that I'm
great I'm sorry I'm glad that we did is
the tree walks because it really helped
me feel committed and and and
uh uh engaged with my community and I
could really walk the walk if you know
what I'm saying I do commission people
oh we walked the walk we look at trees
yeah thank thank you Celeste Linda I'm
well actually I'm grateful for uh a lot
of um what what the our grant and the
group has has done to maintain
everything with uh and the and certainly
the mayor with the budget issue that had
this year and to you know continue to
make everything look like you know we
kind of stand still nothing's been
changed here it's just business as usual
and we still are looking good thank you
Ellen
Bowen Ellen H okay um well I am thrilled
that the broad and Gould uh median entry
Gateway is uh far along as it is it's
not 100% but it's like
98% and um and that we've made such
progress on the Broad Street St Charles
median uh those were two definite goals
for me and we had reviewed the um the
flow of the finances and grants going
out so um Grant and Anna did an
excellent job in reviewing that and the
cash flow and we've ended up with uh to
well with the Gateway and the median to
be uh completed by Springtime of 20121
that was a huge undertaking yeah yeah
Barb
Giller um I think that of course I agree
with everything that everybody has said
but in the South community garden not
only is it beautiful but it was also
responsive to people who wanted it and I
think that that's very important as I
had said before as is the Improvement to
the North Garden I also think that
giving away trees is just the best I
just think that really uh personifies
what we do I you know I understand we
need maybe to have more oversight follow
through Etc but I just think that's a
great uh it's a really good publicity
for the tree commission yeah
Molly is Molly still with us to check
here yes
Molly I just had to unmute and I
couldn't get yeah um I think you could
see everybody if we took the agenda off
but um that that would be one way to see
everyone um with that was gone um I I
would yeah everybody stated what I would
have said I think Broad Streets a
working progress I think it's
it's great that it's moving and uh there
you go there we
go um and kudos to Elena and Grant and
his crew for all this work they've been
doing this year I mean I it's been a
tough year with covid and zoom meetings
and all that but uh it's um looking
forward to 2021 and maybe seeing people
in
person oh our meetings would just be so
much more fun and we could have Oreos
okay Ellena your turn
um so I I think for me one of the things
that um I'm most proud of are some of
just the the diagrams and the charts and
just trying to keep things that are a
little bit more um streamlined to make
sure that we are following up with what
we're doing and um just working on a lot
of the procedural things and it's
ongoing but I think we've made a lot of
progress this past year and I expect
even bigger things next year as we kind
of continue this trend moving
forward yeah I I agree Grant
Archer uh well first I'm thankful for uh
Elena for sure she's made a lot of this
stuff very easy and also this group you
know you guys
understand um what I do and try to keep
from overwhelming my job
well we know we know that you're just
itching to get back into the trees and
we're itching to have you there Grant so
so I say 2021 can't come quickly enough
is Jordan still there does she want to
talk Jordan's our Phantom we only see
her
arm there it
is does she have anything she wants to
add hi there hell you can see my face
now
thanful yeah I actually very happy to
hear that granus is going away good good
so that that would be your wish for the
new year something other than granicus
yes anything would be better okay I
don't know if the mayor's still
on yes ma'am all right mayor do you have
anything that you're the most excited
that we've done or proudest of or feel
the city is better off because of well
yes you guys kind of stole my thunder
already so I'm gonna I'm gonna pick my
top two that were in my head at the very
beginning okay uh so it sounds like
we're we're pretty aligned on a lot of
this which is I think that um Ellena
Andrews and her organizational prowess
and her ability to keep things kind of
going has been a GameChanger and it's
been very helpful so thank you
Elena and not
unrelated uh the South Community
Gardens
um you know I've been passionate about
that project from early on and it took
whole lot of background work on the
environmental end that uh just like with
what you maybe you do or do not realize
is the amount of work that Grant put
into for example making sure that we
could grow trees uh within the EPA
standards which was a real challenge so
we did a lot of innovation on that
project that extends beyond what the eye
can see and uh so seeing I I have a plot
in the South Garden I got to enjoy it
this summer I got to be with the other
gardeners and see how the community and
neighbors uh reacted to it and it was a
beautiful thing and so that that is my
definite number one for the year and uh
I thank you all for helping make that
happen all right Richard are you still
with us yes I see
you yes I was gonna say the South
Community Gardens Broad Street St
Charles uh problem area being resolved
and the kogo bike station Landscaping I
think uh turned out nicely this past
year
I think it was this year wasn't it no
last was that 19 it doesn't matter it's
growing this year yeah it's growing it
looks good yes yes well I think the I
mean I think those are all exciting you
know some are a little more esoteric
some are tangible but you know all good
stuff it never seems any one meeting you
get everything done you want to and then
you look at the list you know I I wrote
wrote down you know like uh things re
just review ordinances and the St
Charles Medan the tree giveaway the
ordinance planning and the RightWay some
of these things may not have originated
or that um originated the thoughts did
with us and then were taken to a higher
level I particularly am excited about
the tree canopy study because I feel
again it's some of that I'm going to
call it back office work you know that
we did a lot of back office work this
year um Ellena did a lot of that on the
trees and the
curbs and you know we're still working
on that and I don't want us to forget
our trip to Dos AR boredom that seems
like a long time ago but again you know
between going to do AR bitum and our
tree walks as Celeste said you know we
walk the walk so that's good stuff and
that is one I that is I mean I signed up
as a a member and then I've been out
there three times with my family and
then they uh offered us to do a a zoom
uh class to make a centerpiece and to
make a wreath which oh great both my
daughter and I and I did and then my
granddaughter did it as well with the
leftover green so it was really
wonderful and I do not want to forget
having read the minutes uh a shout out
to Molly odonnell who updated the
Arboretum information for our website
you know again we call it back the back
office work but if the back office work
doesn't get done the front office work
get
done flowers the flower B
the what Flower Basket the
flowers and the city Granton his crew
maintaining the beautiful flower baskets
all growing season yeah yeah really a
labor of love this year I think
considering okay any hopes and dreams
for next year um yeah I'm hoping that
we'll have no new U diseases or pests
okay I'm hoping I'm hoping that all of
the uh wires get
buried yes that's my goal okay wires
buried wires all of them nope no nothing
okay so Grant here's my wish I'm calling
on myself kind of third or fourth my
wish is that next year we can plant all
the city holes all the
holes that a city tree could go in yeah
and I don't know how many that'd be you
know I don't have do you have any idea
beside you know
400 no we don't know well it's on our
list it's all of our surveys yeah we
it's on our list so I'd like to do that
anybody
else I would just like to say that
speaking of back office work Susan you
do more back office work than anybody in
this gr it's so true and it's a little
hard to have a gift this year virtual
gift so you're having a virtual gift and
uh but we just appreciate all that you
do and all the background that you give
us and keeping us update on what we
should be thinking about right well you
know I've got a we've got a trfic group
here committed people who who as we say
go out into the onto the streets and
check the merchandise you know that's
what we're all about it's all about
trees and aren't we lucky to live in a
community that values what we do and
gives us a chance to do it I mean yes
you know we live in a lot of communities
and say Well we'd like to do something
with trees and they say Thank you very
very much
so I'd say we got a two-way street here
I also want to take a little minute to
shout out our alternates Molly Ellen and
Barb who are consistent attendees uh
committed to doing the work don't always
get to vote but you know their
viewpoints and their expertise are so
welcome and Richard thanks for being so
diligent and attending the meetings this
this year it's been really helpful to
have you on board yeah it's been great
so we've had a council people who very
some years don't show up yeah yeah so
yeah Susan um also thank you for your
gift and our honor um I don't think we
could ever overstate your passion your
commitment to this cause and uh you know
T if if you if you think of stewardship
in terms of the identity of this
community and and what that's meant over
a very very long period of time uh your
name will always be emblazoned on that
and uh you keep us motivated you keep us
organized uh you keep us thoughtful it
takes a lot of work to her cats uh and
you do a wonderful job and this
community is the better for it so thank
you here thank
you it's it's it's amazing that we've
been at this for some number of years
and there're still work to do
so as Jack Jeffrey used to say trees
live trees die trees need to be planted
again so you know work is not done very
good I do have a wish I wish people
would stop running into the boulevard so
that no kidding well I I think I think
that what we really should do is have
something so if they run into The Bard
you know there's electrified or
something like that you know a waterfall
something like that but how about a how
about a camera that takes a picture of
their license plate so we can charge
them yeah all right yeah there you
go well in the spirit of the Season we
wish you you know good health good life
um and you know a a meeting that ends 11
minutes early there all
right everybody yeah we'll see you all
in January no matter where you are happy
holiday
holid
H everybody byebye