[Laughter]
and
so officers up front
here
there we go
um those who are here to support come
inside
so they can see those beautiful bearded
faces
and so I think this would be one of the
few times I'm going to turn my back so I
can kind of address everybody I want to
be respectful of of the audience so this
is a big deal for us you know one of the
things that um when the change in
transition happens September 1st was
kind of redefining how we provide
services looking at the structure of
organization changing the flat line and
providing more growth development
oversight Management in a number of
areas so part one is looking at our
investigations administrative Dynamics
and Patrol and really enhancing a lot of
the services internally and externally
so we had a very comprehensive interview
process we had a number of stakeholders
from the community and other disciplines
come in and provide some oversight those
who interviewed for these positions
earned them I am so proud of each and
every one of them as many of you know
we've had some vacancies we've got a new
officer that we're going to swearing
tonight and also captain now deputy
chief Goff who had been serving in the
interim role also had been serving in
that capacity as definitely Chief so we
want to recognize each and every one of
them tonight so we thought what a better
way to change The Narrative of how we've
been doing things in Baxley but to bring
us to the community and have a very open
very public inclusive opportunity to do
so so thank you families for all the
support for putting up with me I'm
probably sure that you hear my name a
lot and going oh my gosh this guy's got
another idea and it has been absolutely
amazing and the support the hard work
that everyone behind me has dedicated
and continue to grow and develop so
thank you thank you city council for
supporting this because this is a part
of our succession planning this is the
future of our organization this is how
we continue to grow and build and so
we're just very appreciative of that and
what we have um believed to because all
of they've they're already in their jobs
doing them but we wanted to have a
ceremony so
um in very law enforcement like fashion
will have just one big Mass swearing in
we'll swear them all in together and
then individually bring up the officers
of Lieutenant deputy chief with their
families have a photograph with the
Marine does that sound good sir okay
all right so I've never done a mass
swearing in before this is a new one and
we have a little Nuance because we're
swearing you in to a new a new position
within the department so when we get to
that section of the the oath we're going
to pause
got lieutenants officer deputy chief
and I am using the state highway patrol
post because we didn't have for Hope
with us so I'm gonna modify it on the
Fly that's okay served it
as a huge the compliment I know I got to
know your audience
so if you could please raise your right
hand to repeat after me
I do solemnly swear
that I'll support the Constitution
of the United States
in the constitution of the state of Ohio
and that I will Faithfully
honestly honestly and impartially
discharge the duties
of the office of
Lieutenant lieutenant officer deputy
chief
of the police department
of the city of Baxley
to the best of my ability
during my continuance
in that office
and I should add and that you will
support
the ordinances and laws
of the city of Bexley
thank you very much
[Laughter]
it is our honor to celebrate you guys
today and to welcome you into these new
positions with the city deputy chief to
recognize your position as deputy chief
we from here on out there will be no
Captain goth ever there's no more
confusion it is solidly Deputy Chief
Goff
um and with that I believe that we are
going to arrange a couple photos
so um
thanks to all of you for joining us this
evening you're of course welcome to stay
for hours of city council or you're also
equally welcome to go party somewhere
and when you do party hard thank you and
have a good evening
are you kidding me on the center again
we'll sneak out
[Music]
if we listen we'll notice that you're
not here
it's starting to look like uh nobody
assisted
all right just needing to be over about
6 54.
all right
I believe we have no speaker slips for
public comments
and if not we can move on to the
president's report uh I just have a
couple things for president's report and
first uh how much fun is that to have
isn't that great that's the uh
what a highlight uh Kudos uh chief for
uh for arranging that that's that's so
much fun for us to be able to to be
involved and get that energy in here I
think I think that's fantastic I just
want to mention I think we've spent the
week uh saying goodbye to Sam Metcalf
and what a you know great part of the
city he's been how much uh we'll miss
him I also want to say thanks to uh Jen
Robinson council member Robinson for the
Strategic Retreat and the mayor as well
for the Strategic retreat was uh
fantastic full of information I always
love them you know I always love them I
always just come away feeling like uh
that's fantastic that we get that time
we spend a lot of time together but it's
all sort of structured and to get into
that room and be able to talk about
stuff uh as a fantastic opportunity for
us also like to thank the chief one more
time this would be the last time for
taking part in the Strategic Retreat for
bringing us information all the work
that you're doing uh just what a
fantastic job I know I said it then I
say it here super impressed uh you've
exceeded you know my expectations for
coming in here and and that sort of the
scope of that work and the energy and
and I look forward to the the future
here uh with you in charge of our police
force
uh today uh I if you've been with me
you know that all last year I opened uh
the uh meetings uh uh talking about
solidarity with the uh the country the
Ukraine with the uh
today marks the one year anniversary of
the invasion by Russia and the
fatalities uh reports are are sobering
you know President Biden was uh has been
there uh today and and yesterday uh in
Ukraine uh around the best we can tell
maybe a thousand a hundred thousand
killed or wounded thirty thousand
civilian casualties in Russia perhaps
over two hundred thousand killed or
wounded at least those are our best
estimates because they're not coming out
with uh reliable numbers uh the war
though is literally being described as a
meat grinder despite the lack of
progress Russia continues to force
busloads of untrained men to the front
lines to be slaughtered
um to me
there's a couple uh things that kind of
this makes me think of and one is uh the
dangers of giving power
um to one person you go maniacal
narcissist that uh leading Russia at
this point the gradual decline of
governments
from governments that will value human
rights and voices to those who silence
them with violence I celebrate a
birthday this last weekend
I don't really consider myself to be an
old man
and yet uh when I was a college student
Russia was part of the uh Soviet Union
Union of Soviet Socialist Republic uh
and that was uh uh you you there's
probably plenty of different opinions on
that but much more value civil rights
and uh voices to the citizens uh there
the classnosed was the uh uh the policy
at that point in my life
um and now we see this dramatic
transformation
I mean ultimate dramatic transformation
and again I'm not so old you know
from glass notes to mass genocide just
like that and it makes me think of the
need for a thoughtful government for
checks and balances and for us today of
course I take a little bit of pride in
the call of Being A legislature to check
the power of administration when it goes
wrong and support an Administration when
it does the right things and provides
for people and progress the ability to
say no but also the ability to pave the
direction for progress in representing
uh the value of Human Rights and
diversity
past few weeks and Bexley if she found a
spotlight on racism the need for
diversity respect for for uh people
this Council I just want to be very
clear is exceptional each and every one
of you up here uh has those values has
that drive and does that work and that's
why I'm especially proud to be a part of
the city council I think it's very
important that this Council uh reflects
some diversity represents the need for
that represents the need for again uh
respect
our strategic Retreat I think reinforced
this for me every aspect of that Retreat
every project that we considered uh
included those goals and so I do want to
commend you I also want to say uh
reassure the people of Bexley that
they're being well represented and that
is a goal of each and every one of us
and saturates each and everything that
we do here tonight thank you
steady attorney report well I'm older
than you because I remember a a law
school exam where we had to decide who
was going to be the next Soviet leader
and it was pre-gorbachev so and pretty
Yeltsin
um anyway
um the only thing I just want to mention
is there's been a lot of hubbub and will
be a lot more hubbub and you know I
encourage you to pay attention to the um
it's a budget year at the state house
and there's some talk and I know the
mayor will keep everybody informed but I
do think that there will be a need for
people to weigh in because again it does
look like there is some intention to do
some things that will not be favorable
to local government when it comes to
some budget and tax issues including a
bill that was introduced to essentially
eliminate which probably has some Wheels
eliminate the state tax the state tax in
Ohio with some uh some makeup money to
local governments and to the extent they
needed it for a very short time and then
it'll all go away like it has before so
I don't mean to sound cynical but again
pay attention it's a good idea that is
all thank you Auditor's report uh no
report this week all right Mr Mayor how
about the administrative update please
thank you Mr President
uh Chief Lewis
um I will be pulling your update here up
in a second but anything further to add
to that
nothing to answer
any questions from the chief
I know we've talked about this in the
past but just looking at the report
wanted to have you just kind of speak to
the community again on what we can do to
bring down the numbers on the motor
vehicle theft that's been occurring
so those are um crimes of opportunity
and you know there's a saying
predictable is preventable and there are
ways to combat that with purchasing you
know clubs to
um just simply locking their doors there
are a number of ways to to be proactive
and preventative
um you know I think maybe I need to do
more than just communicate you know
maybe we need to look at partnering with
an entity and provide those especially
for those who own Kias in in the
community and have some type of a
partnership so let me do a little more
brainstorming and think uh think that
through but I think that's
um we're at that point where it's just
saying it is just not enough
great thank you yes ma'am
and
as as alarming as those figures are if
you look at the comparison this year to
last year
if you recall I believe that the big
uptick in the security vulnerability was
happening kind of
early summer starting last year do you
recall
um looking at the numbers yes sir you're
right that's when it started um you know
statistically we have
it's it's already a very safe Community
but we have had a lot of strides and a
lot of those functional areas
um but yes sir that's um when it started
to happen you know we are seeing other
types of crime we're partnering with the
postal service so we're doing a targeted
initiative with them to address the post
office theft and crimes that we're
seeing and the number of um those who've
been impacted with that identity theft
thank you Chief any other questions
Monique
Chief can you update us on uh recruiting
and filling any vacancies
um that may exist or might exist soon in
the PD
so we have two vacancies
Saturday we had
um 15 young men and young women sign up
for the physical fitness test
they are amazing talented young people
who are hungry for this opportunity
um the mayor came out and I'll tell you
I was very very impressed with these
young people
we know that those two that are vacant
are opportunities but
um you know I I'm at some point going to
petition this group
um and looking at building the future in
the face of the department and seeing
these young people have some opportunity
I'm very talented I was very impressed
they came out they worked hard they did
the push-up setups mile and a half we're
starting the background process I said
on a Statewide Consortium today in
Cedarville Ohio I've been asked to
represent from a number of disciplines
in the Statewide group for Recruitment
and Retention so so what we're going to
be doing we'll also have an impact on
the state and I'm thinking of
regionalizing recruitment initiatives
and efforts so we are in a really really
good place unlike a lot of other
departments specific to that
you should have seen the Chiefs one and
a half mile time it's pretty impressive
I just want to put that out there
I did 80 in a minute yeah
uh in a Looney Tunes voice don't you
believe it any other questions for the
chief
Sam knows that's not true because I was
just talking about my bum shoulders so
okay thank you very much chief
I believe next up is our service
director Andy Bayshore Andy thank you
for joining us this evening no problem
um I do not have anything to add to my
reports tonight but happy to answer any
questions
Andy could you elaborate a little bit
more on the Safety project at Capitol um
that was just completed sure um that
project it actually started I believe it
was last winter me and the mayor met
with the group
um
it was I think the student body and I
think there's a couple different maybe
the professors service department
service department
um but that project included the new
crosswalks on College
um some new cross box on um Sheridan
Mound
um and then after also a lot of lights
were installed too for just extra
lighting and security
and then the the flashing beacons on
College Avenue that you'll see it Mound
and in front of the uh College Avenue
Apartments building as well
which are up and working students don't
use them very much that's the next
that's the next
educational campaign
yes Jen
um quick question and this may be to you
Andy or to you Chief I noticed today as
I was driving down Broad Street at the
the intersection of cassingham and Broad
there are orange Flags is that a project
that we're working on is that maybe a
safety measure that we have in place
what can you speak to that sure we're
hoping the kids will use them when
they're Crossing Broad Street
um kind of a safety precaution so sure
we're hoping to get used we also have
them on Cassidy also is that going to be
communicated to
um parents who you know who have kids in
North Bexley who would potentially be
walking that route yeah okay organizing
that's great we're hoping that like a
tick tock video gets put out so like it
becomes cool to wave the flags across
the street but uh
and and that's follow-up from our PTO
conversations partnership trying to do
things a little different you know we
did that um our pilot project and I'm
had a lot of success and so that's just
building out of that amazing thank you
thank you I appreciate it I you know the
even just the visual of seeing those
even if they don't really get used as
much they do kind of draw your attention
to like oh you know maybe we should be
paying more attention so and thanks to
Annie de crew replaced the faded ones
that element Cassidy as well
any other questions for Andy
um I just want to note the service
Department's been doing really great
work on the Schneider Park Trail and dog
park so if you if you would like we
could always do a refresher walk like we
did uh last uh last year which was
pretty fun which actually that would be
a pretty good idea no matter what just
to give you guys an update but if you
want to on your own just check it out uh
the trail still has a lot a lot of work
to do this spring but you could see some
of the progress is really fantastic so
kudos to you guys for working on that
anything else for Andy
okay
Mr Hale waiting waiting patiently
Beecher how's it going good evening
um
um too much to add to the uh notes that
I provided of course wanted to highlight
income taxes cool
um we continue to do very well
um
so I'm calling you on your cell phone if
you want to just
um
mute your computer and then
hold on
there you go
all right my banner yeah
okay I'm almost done anyway
um
just wanted to highlight the income
taxes you last usually what we focus
right in on and then Matt asked me to
also put a note in
um about we didn't have early year
deficits as we shouldn't be alarmed by
them I like to get our transfer well
first of all tax revenues are
concentrated more towards the middle and
end of the year
and uh on top of that I like to get our
transfer done quickly so that they're
already baked in for our fund balance as
we go throughout the year and we don't
get a surprise towards any year when we
thought things were good and had huge
transfers to go out so
um so that's the reason it early
deficit or revenue or expenditures
exceeding Revenue
um and that's about all I had to
highlight I'll take any questions yep so
Beach I think the report that you're
referencing is not on our system
um but I'll make sure that it gets over
to council
uh oh but that's okay so we'll get that
over to council but the highlights are
basically things are looking okay but
you have some early year expenditures
getting transfers over Etc which
should temporarily show a blip on the
finances is what you're saying yeah I
mean it shows a decrease or excuse me it
still is a pretty large uh excessive
expenditures of revenues but still our
ending fund balance was five hundred
thousand dollars that have been
projected so yeah things are good okay
we will get that on the on the system
for you guys any questions for Beecher
anything you want to highlight Matt nope
okay all right thanks so much for
joining us we appreciate it thank you
have a good evening you too take care
Mr Price Recreation Department update
thank you mayor the only thing I would
like to add to the report is we are the
recreation department is hosting a
um a summer employment hiring party on
Saturday March 4th from 11 30 to 1 30 at
the senior center so if you know any 14
year olds and older who are looking for
summer employment we haven't been a
there we go Quinny you in all right
free Chipotle we're gonna have some
games activities some gift cards that'll
be given out as a raffle and an
opportunity to just learn more about
summer employment opportunities that's
the first time we've done this we're
really excited about this approach and
trying to engage a number of our our
residents and students in in the you
know in the area we've reached out to
the CSG St Charles Capital ODU
um Bexley schools so if you know anyone
please send them our way
other than that happy to answer any
questions
or sorry
Mr Miller yeah the the pool memberships
um I see it opened up this month I saw
in the backseat blast if I saw in your
your guys communication I see there's
been positive feedback are you up in
memberships here to date or it's tough
to compare for a couple reasons as the
structure is completely different
um uh so
um
and and the way we we sell them is
different so being able to compare year
over year is going to be really
difficult I will say 318 is nowhere near
our total of individual memberships that
we might see in a given year which might
be somewhere closer to about
2 000.
um the other thing that we will probably
play with in future years is there is
not necessarily a early bird rate break
right so
um there's not a lot of incentive to
purchase Now versus purchasing you know
as it gets closer to the summer so those
are some things we'll probably look at
in terms of how we structure this going
forward but
um a year-over-year comparison doesn't
probably tell us a lot at this point in
time
is that maple syrup packets packets not
jars but maple syrup packets for an
incentive for early bird for early birds
we're going to be making a lot of maple
syrup this year so we make a lot of
maple syrup I wanted to add some yeah
yeah
I wanted to add to Mike's report that um
the rec board just approved 40
memberships for seniors you'll see that
in his report so spread the word
that is um
great for our seniors
55 plus
congratulations you got five more years
Mark but it's right around the corner
right around the corner five more years
right
yes okay good perfect 54.
uh Mike regarding the upcoming kind of
recruiting day for high schoolers and
whatnot
um would you be able to maybe see if the
high school could send that out and a
blast to high school families or do you
want to send me something and I can get
it to where it needs to go so they did
send it out in their weekly email that
went out on Sunday so it is up there
okay thank you but thank you
all right
anything yeah okay thank you Mr Price
uh okay I have a fairly long update so
I'm going to trust that you guys have
read it
and so that you don't have to listen to
me read it to you but I want to call out
a couple things
um we do have our new Resident welcome
event this weekend at the Mansion uh
Natalie I believe has lined up
a really hot and trendy cotton candy
machine
on the cover of 614. that's how that's
how hot and trendy it is uh and we have
a bunch of community stakeholders
joining us as well so I hope you all can
make it and welcome our new residents uh
I think we had over two or three hundred
letters go out to new new uh new
residents who moved in in the past year
or two so I hope to see you there
um our state of the community address is
March 14th at 6 30. that is at the newly
renovated Baxley Public Library
Auditorium
so it will be it is not yet even
finished so it'll be kind of a hot off
the press
uh space for us
um I wanted to take a moment this
evening to read a statement uh that
council president Markham and I crafted
together last week
um or I guess a little bit over a week
ago
um I feel it's important to spend the
time to uh to read this
in person as we're all present
this past week our Bexley Community has
been rocked by a series of racist
incidents that have caused a tremendous
amount of pain and hurt
for many of this this time has been
marked by profound sadness and dismay
and for others it is only reaffirmed a
truth that has been felt within our
families for Generations
whatever our lived to experience or
perspective we must do all that we can
so every resident feels safe and
welcomed as an integral part of our
community
the roots of racism Run Deep in America
as much as we self-identify as being
open and welcoming to all historically
Blue Line communities such as Bexley
carry a substantial weight that must be
acknowledged understood
and reckoned with
the stories of black visitors and
residents being made to feel unwelcome
and Bexley over the decades are so
painful and real because they're true
it's hard to acknowledge the depth and
weight of generational trauma created by
a legacy of systemic segregation and the
explicit racism that underpinned it
if we don't allow ourselves to
understand our history and its
implications then we'll never be able to
move forward and overcome it
we've come a long way as a community but
we still have much further to go to
become a Bexley that is firmly and
consistently rooted in anti-racist
resolve one that creates a secure and
caring environment for all of our
households places of work and centers of
learning one that models allyship with a
singular sense of purpose and a shared
trajectory
one where our black neighbors feel safe
and secure one where we fully transition
from a we don't talk about it community
so we must talk about it and do
something about it community
Juan vexley authentically welcoming to
all and for all
the leadership of Bexley
is earnestly and universally committed
to this cause we wholeheartedly we
wholeheartedly believe that Bexley is
capable of this journey and that it's
essential that we take it
this will entail new types of
conversation taking place
new vulnerabilities and New Paths to
forage as a community
we're determined to redouble our efforts
today so that together we can share
better tomorrow
we need you to join us
we issued that statement and we've
issued many statements over the years
on a variety of topics
and I just want to reaffirm my
commitment and I know the commitment of
our president and I've that I've heard
voiced by many of you
that words are fantastic but they're not
enough
sentiments carry weight but action needs
to follow we've done a lot of work
together over the years but I think that
the raw wound that was opened and
revealed over the past few weeks shows
us how much further we have to go one of
the things that we're working on in
partnership with the school district and
the library is
um taking Community programming around
anti-racism to the next level we've had
safe conversations about race we've had
Community anti-bias training implicit
bias training we've had a variety of
workshops and programs
and they've been really effective and
they've been powerful but they've also
kind of had the same 50 people show up
to all of them right
um I don't mean to demean those efforts
they're really important but we've I've
been having some great conversations I
know many of you have with residents
who've had some really creative new
ideas we're all meeting together to talk
about those ideas and how we might join
forces as the key public organizations
in Bexley to really put our money where
our mouth is with these conversations
and these Concepts and take them to the
next level so we'll be talking about
that more in the coming weeks months and
years
um and it's part of the Continuum of all
the things that we're working on and
care for so I just wanted to make you
aware of that as well and thank you for
the time to allow me to read that today
I'm going to shift gears and talk about
our year of the parks we've had a lot of
progress
um one thing that I think I want to
highlight is that I think we talked at
the last meeting maybe that the concept
of this skate bike park slash playground
at Schneider might have some some wings
um just got the space survey that we're
thinking about it is indeed uh looks
like really great space and Mike's
working on identifying a designer to
help us with that concept and then in
the meantime we're
have several pieces of this that have
gone to bid and are going to bid and
we'll keep you updated on those signed
the contract last week for the splash
pad at Havenwood Park
so that's moving forward and we should
have timing in the next week or two on
that hoping to have it opened uh for the
summer obviously uh hoping by by
Memorial Day but I don't know if I can
hope for that yet because we don't
actually have a hard timeline it's okay
to Hope though right and we do have a
commonwealth Park public workshop on
March 6th here at City Hall
we'll have an update on Commonwealth
Park and we'll also be talking about
that Columbia Plaza design with our
designers mksk in the Jones studio
um by the way the folks that we have
working on this plan are really
impressive so hope you guys have a
chance to come participate with the
public workshop and we're really looking
forward to seeing what they come up with
met last week uh Andy and I met with the
city of Columbus
um we scored at the top of the charts
for the trivial funds for Livingston
Avenue project
which means it's real
um we're waiting for the formal morpsy
vote but for anyone who's been to a
mercy meeting
I've never heard anyone say no to
anything to say morphsy vote so I think
the odds are in our favor
um but it's a long slog so make sure
that the residents understand as you
talk to them this is like a seven to
nine year Horizon between data funding
to date of completion it's not opwc it's
like it's a federal project so it's it's
it means there's a lot of money on the
table
75 Grant which is fantastic
uh we are discussing our cost split with
Columbus and I think we have a very
Equitable model that I'll be discussing
with our auditor and you guys um here in
a little bit so some of the details are
being ironed out but that's very very
promising exciting news
um man I want to I want to highlight so
much of this but I'm cognizant of
everybody's time so
I will simply skip to this photo
which I think captures the spirit of our
alley of the future
this is the alley between Remington and
Stanwood where the blansky family has a
uh feeding a chicken coop
chicken food Library so you can you can
all do this you can walk down the alley
and there's a little uh like a
tupperware container and you can feed
the chickens don't you have to put 25
cents in so uh
uh this is the alley that we are
highlighting throughout the future
there's lots of exciting uh stuff being
talked about
um most of it like you know very low
cost very creative so super excited
about that
um sorry I do I I promised too soon that
I would uh end this early there are two
other really important things to focus
on here
we've received several emails from
residents concerned about speed on
Roosevelt I do have an update on com
corridors
there's a group that residents that have
been meeting us with us for about a year
or more talk about different comc
quarter options
um we're we're talking about this
concept of casting him
running all the way up from Del Mar all
the way down to Livingston Avenue as a
primary route to school it is the shared
wrap to school in the city there's only
one like it as being highlighted all
along the way with calming features that
really accentuate the fact that we have
a lot of students there and there needs
to be safer out so you can see there's
some of the ideas that are being talked
about specific to Roosevelt because we
had our traffic engineer in the room and
we're doing some other studies we asked
them to take a look at that stretch with
a with a speed study and also a warrant
for because we've specifically been
asked for a stop sign to see if there's
warrant for the stop sign it's unlikely
just so you know based upon past
experience with traffic studies that a
stop sign would be warranted where it's
requested but there's some really
interesting
slowing measures we can put in place
with the infrastructure that's at
Roosevelt so we'll be looking at those
as well and I'm not foregone there's no
forward on conclusion I'm just saying it
we've been down this path in the past so
we're working on that and one more thing
to mention is the same metcalf's last
day was last Friday
so we are communication and Community
Affairs manager at less uh here at the
city uh and and in the in the interim
time where we kind of see how different
roles play out as you guys know we
talked at our strategic Retreat about
HR functioning and some of the changes
and duties that that all entail we're
creating we've created a Communications
team internal uh to deal with us many of
Sam's uh obligations they had before
remember we're going to see how that
goes and learn uh and just determine how
to how to look at that position in the
future
um so that's how we're handling that and
I am happy to take any questions
Justin
will you elaborate for our young
audience member that's attending tonight
more on the year of the parks and what a
plan is for Main Street yes so you're
the parks is a city-wide project where
we're putting new investment in our
Parks which includes like we mentioned a
little couple of those some improvements
to Commonwealth Park Jeffrey's Splash
Pad at Havenwood dog park at Schneider
sorry Splash Potter Schneider Not
Havenwood that'd be fun though too
um and a dog park at Schneider and some
other improvements on Main Street
specifically we're looking at a pocket
park on the library between the library
and the synagogue which is kind of just
a hangout spot and then the uh the uh a
park across from the Drexel Theater with
uh some foosball tables some ping pong
tables some just hangout space great
place to grab
bubble tea slash Starbucks slash CVS
stuff except the Giant Eagles right
across the street yeah and hang out and
uh hoping to build a splash feature into
that as well fire beds fire pits for the
winter yeah
so
those are that's what we're working on
except for those of us who are getting
you know kind of excited like which one
of those will be first
which from the parks yeah
oh that is a fantastic question
um
I bet they're gonna be pretty similar in
timing oh all right uh because
the library is further along
now the library's more complicated
actually in terms of everything going on
there and so it needs more engineering
work whereas the 1876 Plaza who needs an
easement to be finalized so they'll both
they're both probably like late summer
fall installations
and what about like um Havenwood and
Havenwood is mostly finished uh
schneiders are you know we'll be
completing those projects from the early
summer through late later in the year
Commonwealth
um this summer probably we'll be working
on the pond and the Arboretum features
and I would think a late summer fall the
plaza I believe
the street project is a big piece of
that so Andy is going to really bring
that home for us excited yeah
no pressure though Mr Bayshore it's all
good thank you mayor thank you did
anything else you want me to highlight
on that
just dog park for this young resident
here who walks his dog duck Park we'll
be on I know a lot about it it's on
Schneider Park which runs along the
creek so there's a new Trailhead on Main
Street that you probably see near the
bridge and you can just walk down the
path and um
there will be a large dog park section
and a small dog park section and uh it
is really cool seeing it come along it's
going to be well shaded drainage has
always been a challenge in that area and
our guys are doing a fantastic job in
addressing it so we're excited so you
can leave
um Tropical Smoothie
and Rusty Bucket
and walk straight across that would
really discourage Tropical Smoothie
until they stop using styrofoam cups in
the park but that's cool if that's your
jam maybe you can bring your own cup to
Tropical Smoothie and they'll put it in
there for you they'll be great
Elizabeth will be proud of me for
mentioning that any other questions
all right thank you thank you Mr Mayor I
believe we have no ordinances of
visiting presenters tonight so we can
move to the consent agenda Mr official
all right the consent agenda has the
minutes from City council meeting up to
723 it has ordinance 1-23 the school
income tax sharing ordinance ordinance
2-23 to appropriate funds for Drexel and
Grandin
um I should read the whole things I'm
sorry I'm doing it from the uh ordinance
3-2023 to establish a special fund
designated in North Columbia and South
Remington Road improvements fund to
record all revenue and expenses
associated with the North Columbia and
South Remington Road Project to
appropriate 4 million 600 969 075 for
this problem this fund to pay for the
cost of the project that was introduced
by Ms lamke and Oregon's 420-23 to amend
section
262.02 C3 holidays that was also
introduced by Ms lamke thank you do you
have any comments or questions on the
consent agenda items from city council
or from the audience tonight
if not I will make a motion to adopt the
consent agenda can I get a second second
second by Mr Klingler Mr mcpeek please
call the rule
Assad yes Miss Bible yes Miss lamke yes
Mr Klingler yes Mr Markham yes Mr
Marcelino yes and Miss Robinson yes
thank you
okay we have no first reading so we are
moving on to uh a second reading of
ordinance you should be going through
the third readings oh I'm sorry I went
ahead I'm sorry I apologize we have
third reading I did it backwards a
resolution 1-23 to amend the Jeffrey
Mansion alcohol policy framework
introduced by Ms sod
yes thank you Mr Fishel
um so we are on our third reading of
this
um resolution Mr Price here spoke at our
second reading and gave a nice
presentation to council to better
understand what we were looking for in
this resolution I wanted to remind
Council this had been in front of the
rec board for a few months and the rec
board did also approve the changes that
were have been presented in front of you
for the first three readings also wanted
to remind Council that notices went out
to all residents within 500 feet
um prior to tonight's voting 30 days
prior
um so we did our due diligence there
uh what this resolution does basically
it allows for Jeffrey Mansion private
events with alcohol at the carriage
house to no longer be limited to two per
month
and
um
we have only to my knowledge received
positive remarks from residents
regarding this resolution
any uh comments or questions on
resolution 123.
yes Mr Klingler uh I just want to
commend Mr Price in the rec department
for taking um
taking this into consideration and
keeping track of all the Lost Revenue
potential revenue and I know it was a
lot of work on you guys to
um dip your toes in it and still keep
track of all that so really appreciate
your hard work on this
go Miss sod's comment that the first uh
time we did this I think we had uh some
concerns by some community members and I
know we were thinking well maybe we'd
like to take this further maybe we want
to worry about this and so this has been
a great uh time period to kind of test
this out and see where we feel confident
that we've had only positive results I
feel very good about moving forward uh
with this are there any um
when we left off last time are there any
changes that need to be made to this are
we is it in its form that you're ready
for it
um any comments or questions from the
audience this is a third degree
Constance Lewis 663 you Claire
um I just want to commend Council for
going about this in a very uh strategic
way allowing time to see how things pan
out and congratulations to the rec
department for their wonderful work that
they do and I'm full favor of this I
think it's going to be wonderful for the
community thank you thank you Miss Liz
any other comments or questions I see a
hand over here Mr Price if I if I may I
would also like to thank Lauren Miller
in our office who really has taken the
lead on this from the beginning so she's
she's worked extremely hard on that and
uh Kudos should be given to Lauren for
all of our efforts she's also got the
best lawn in the neighborhood
that's true so if I hear it yeah
her husband is a golf course
superintendent she lives across the
street from me so yeah uh Ms Todd do you
have anything you'd like to uh get any
action on this yes I would like to make
a motion to approve resolution
1-23 motion to approve resolution 123 by
midsod second second to buy a bunch of
people well I'm going to give that to Ms
fiebel
um Mr McPeak
Miss Robinson yes Miss lamke masad yes
Mr marcellino yes Mr feibel yes Mr
Klingler yes Mr Markham yes resolution
passes thank you
okay now we're moving on to Second
reading so the first second reading is
ordinance 5-23 to certify special
assessments for the repair of sanitary
sewer lines where the work was not done
by the owner after being ordered by the
city in accordance with Bexley code
section
1490.15 b4a or Bexley code section
1492.04 B1 where the work was not by
done by the owner is assessed to the
owner
that's okay we've got some proposed
amendments to this they're fairly minor
but mayor do you want to walk us through
I couldn't tell from the copy I saw
earlier if the change is just to the
title or some of the amounts had been
tweaked you know so the thank you Ms
lamke the changes are only to the titles
but they are important just
explain uh the the title is is in a
incorrect because it's actually the
section one is certified special
assessments for the Loan program not
because the work was done and they
didn't pay for it
um so it changes that word aim to say
that and then also section two which is
in in which is the correct language
before was was correct for that which is
Code Enforcement uh work that was not
done by the owner there was a small
grammatical issue with that as well that
I fixed so section one and two then
follow
um the only difference with section one
from the title is it just I added the
reference to Ordnance 60 20 that
authorized the sewer mediation line
um and then section two is a standard
boilerplate for a code enforcement
language so the numbers have not changed
I doubt that they will but I think it's
best to wait to amend formally until
weeks we make sure that that's true next
meeting before finalizing sounds good
any questions from Council
okay we'll move to or we'll consider
amendments at our next third reading
thank you Mr Fishel all right now we
have a second reading of ordinance 7-23
to amend the zoning of certain Parcels
in the city in order to Zone all
property located within Schneider Park
is open space and to amend and replace
the official zoning map of the city of
Bexley that was introduced by Mr
Klingler just to clarify it's a first
reading you said second I think
um oh that's okay and it's seven we were
at 7 23 first which is fine I don't know
what's going on tonight we all have off
nights
um thank you for clarifying
just kidding just kidding cheese
thanks Mark uh this is this amendment so
we all I think we all know the gravel
lot and some of those properties uh just
across from the Rusty Bucket kind of
that's actually ordinance 623 which he
read 723 first sorry it was a little out
of order still going okay so I need to
read okay well my bad you want to go to
seven or you want me to read six council
president how would you like me let's
start with 6 23. all right okay thanks
we are now looking at or in the first
reading ordinance 6-23 to amend the
zoning of certain Parcels in the city in
order to Zone the property at the
southwest corner of Sheridan Avenue and
Main Street here in further described as
Mexico's commercial with the Main Street
District overlay and to amend and
replace the official zoning map of the
city of Bexley Mr Klingler
okay thanks so the gravel parking lot
across from Rusty Bucket and some of the
properties down there
um had been transferred in ownership
from uh the university Capital
University to private ownership over the
course of approximately a decade
um this ordinance uh converts the
parcels from the campus planning
district to
um
our mixed-use commercial
designation and along a long
Main Street with the Main Street
District overlay
did I get that right yeah I think I did
are there any questions on this
it basically just changes the
designation of the property to bringing
it to current use
it also
by me yeah Mr Clinton streamlines that
the the intent of Campus planning
district is to be the campus and the
Southwest boxing Master Plan called for
the site to be sold by capital and
Trinity which they proceeded to do the
zoning never got changed historically
it's a lot more complicated for a
developer down the road to come for
rezoning and approval than to have it
zoned properly to begin with I don't
know of any pending current development
plans so it's not like this is preceding
anything that we know of but it's just
to clean it up because it came it came
to light as we were working on the next
ordinance we're about to discuss that
that it still was zoned campus planning
and just for everyone's reminder that
because this ordinance 6 23 and 723
involved changing the zoning there will
need to be a public hearing held by city
council before you presumably approve it
and that requires a 30-day advance
notice
come on some clarification on the map
that we're looking at I think I'm
reading it correctly
um the 62.82 or it's the top
right those two squares that's currently
the gravel lot am I looking at that
correctly that's paved that was
Fisherman's Wharf that's what we call a
fisherman's order it's the paved lot of
the corner Sheridan and Maine it's kind
of shallow yes okay the gravel lot is
just to the west of that that's the
bigger got it thank you thank you
and the legal description are are in the
exhibit a so there should be the exhibit
a is yeah it's attached to the ordinance
if you wanted to read some surveys meets
and Bounds
yes
anymore uh comments or questions on this
all right
all right I think my reading of 723 is
probably sufficient I don't need to do
it again unless somebody really wants me
to
Mr Klingler okay
um no this is sort of in the same vein
as the last ordinance we just read this
is cleaning up Parcels
um down at Schneider Park along the
Schneider along the Allen Creek area
there
um over the years have had various
zoning designations CP R12 PUD the city
owns those
um the parcels that comprise Schneider
Park and it's more appropriate to
designate them as OS open space
there's the map
with some green
and we're good we're good with Parcels
yes I feel fairly confident but if
anyone wants to audit it I double triple
every time I checked I found a new
partial that I've missed so no I don't I
I wasn't suggesting I'm missing anything
but there was some discussion about
whether defining this by parcel numbers
was appropriate so good with that is the
final word obviously the if you are then
we are I am okay
um I also want counsel just to
appreciate the graphic design here where
the parcel number that didn't show up on
the Auditors website was photoshopped in
so you could read it so the crisp ones
were added I hope you like that nice yep
so you'll notice some gaps in the park
um I wanted to highlight those as well
those are owned by
Capital currently but we have easements
over them
um so this Northern Gap used to be a
trinity property we have an easement
that goes roughly up to the flood Plains
it's kind of in this area and then on
these Parcels this is our dog park
similar similar situation we have an
easement that actually runs further back
here as well
um discussing with Mark we felt like it
would be
cleaner just to rezone city-owned
property as opposed to even though
there's an easement over it trying to
Zone just the easement area what would
have been possible but
I mean harder for future generations to
interpret we think
so that's how that Maps out and why you
why you might see that
comments or questions on this
all right I think we're ready to move on
those are the ordinances that are active
I know there's some tabled ordinances so
what about third readings mark
I'm just kidding
do we have any uh action unstable our
offenses
why does it come up first reading
sectarines and third readings in that
order then on this agenda
you know what yeah how are you finding
that I'm finding it from the email
I did but then it doesn't have the
oh there you go
I'm using the Dropbox like I'm told to
and it's opposite of the agenda should
we start the meeting over just so we can
Discover It
action on table ordinance is going once
yeah I'm gonna move to uh remove uh
ordinance 4822 from the table there's a
motion to uh take ordinance
48-22 off the table by Mr Marcelino
second and there's a second by Miss
Robinson all in favor say aye aye all
opposed same sign
all right Mr Marcelino quick point of
clarity before uh right because I know
to discuss it we had to take it off
there
um under penalties
um of the edited version that Mark sent
after we got it approved by uh Franklin
County
um it looks as though there's a uh
837.09 under penalties there's a third
point there and then there's a but then
there's a
Sports
if you go down just a little bit fourth
yeah that I I don't think is necessary
given me where we've been at
um
a part of the amendment to delete it
yeah yeah that would be
um
Mr Marcelino do you mind giving a recap
of what this ordinance is for our
audience tonight of course absolutely so
as we all well no I shouldn't say as we
all as many people know we've already
banned um flavored tobacco products from
our city uh there has been a push from
Greater Columbus to
um to spread this out wider Encompass
other areas around around Columbus for
us specifically it will include mint
flavored products which are not part of
the original ordinance
um as well as Menthol products
um in the ordinance as well uh it will
increase penalties for uh for violations
of uh of this ordinance itself
um moreover it will clarify the appeal
rights and hearings for uh people with
licenses or those that are denied
licenses should they want to appeal that
decision and moreover it clarifies the
enforcement of this ordinance and that
Franklin County Public Health will be
enforcing the ordinance that we put
forward the increase in penalties was
approved by Franklin County Public
Health so there shouldn't be any issue
on that front and again it would make us
the most strict uh community at this
time in regards to tobacco and
violations of this ordinance
uh any uh comments or questions on our
ordinance that we have up here and the
Amendments including the more recent
amendment that Mr Marcelino has proposed
Sam are you thinking that we would vote
on this tonight or just discuss it and
then put it back on the table and vote
in the future it you know because it's
just coming out with the with the
language I just want to put it in front
of everybody and then the next time I
would like to bring forward for
everybody to vote upon it but I'm not
going to make any further edits at this
time I'll clarify just to make sure so
we understand the first time the fine
would be a thousand dollars second time
would be twenty five hundred dollars if
within 36 months with a one month
suspension and the final time it would
be a five thousand dollar fine if the
third time within 36 months as well as
revocation for three years of a license
to sell within our community so those
are the major changes in terms of
penalties
um outside of that I think everybody can
have a chance to look at it and we can
vote on the next time I want this to go
in effect on June 1st that should allow
ample time for Community for members of
our community to educate their staffs on
how to enforce and what the penalties
are
I just wanted to commend
um councilman Marcelino on ordinance
48-22 you've done your due diligence
you've uh had multiple discussions with
all of us on this you've helped answer
questions on how we came up with the 36
month period on the violations and
um you've done a great job and we
appreciate it I know the community at
whole appreciates that I know our youth
appreciate it so thank you for your time
on this thank you yes that's Fable I so
agree thank you thank you
um you have a very small person at home
I have much bigger people at home and I
am really you know well aware of the
fact that this is an issue I mean this I
I I I I wish that we had someone
really screaming that we're doing this
tonight so that it would get some
serious attention
um the problems that it causes
um health-wise it's just out of control
I'm really excited that it's going into
um and you know that we're going to
change the date because if you look at
least a copy I'm looking at I don't know
section three says March 1st actually
says 2022 but maybe they're online well
yeah so that's going to stop to be
amended because the the current version
does say that it would take into effect
basically after 30 days is what that
language means so the idea I think I
don't want to speak for Sam is that
these businesses need a little bit of
lead time and frankly I assume Franklin
County Public Health needs a little bit
of lead time too
can you take me through like what the
thought process was between the last
time and tonight why you're deleting
that section four or whatever I think
that four uh is uh uh honestly it seems
to decrease the penalty
um for five of no
um no find less than a thousand dollars
and that's just duplicative I just think
that's mainly the rationale don't it's
not it's unnecessary we already have a
five thousand dollar fine and three year
suspension if done uh three times within
36 months so I think it was frankly just
a
uh hangover so to speak yeah our first
version only had third violation I think
when Franklin County worked on it they
put something in there and forgot to
delete it yeah you know it's funny I
just thought you know anecdote like at
Ohio State University I was talking
about this just with a student coming in
for advising or whatever and the other
students said you know I just cannot
believe that stuff when I was in high
school was like a candy store said it
was crazy you know like the flavors and
the whatever and just even this college
stood up was a you know pulled over by
you know being exposed to to all this
stuff
um
I'm gonna open this up to audience if
anybody has any comment
what what other thing again just so
people look at it there are some other
amendments that were suggested by
Franklin County Public Health that are
fine I'm all good with
um so you'll you want to take a look at
those two it's just mostly they're a
process that they're going to use to
enforce any violations on our behalf
that's those are changes have been made
since the last time that we looked at
this correct
and again those are the ones in regards
to the appeal rights if somebody is
denied a license or uh punished
underneath this as well as what those
hearings would look like and then
moreover again language regarding the
enforcement of the assortments so yeah
all right uh MS lamke
Mark had a question for you I might be
confusing my ordinances but are there
any
recall maybe a couple months ago there
was an issue with maybe local
governments not being able to act on
this but then we could yeah there was a
legislation was passed in the lame duck
session that dewine vetoed okay but
we're good
got a uh hot piece of legislation here
you're gonna put it back in the fridge I
think I should put it back on the table
for uh two more weeks but we can come
back all right
uh let's hear it then
move to uh quick ordinance
sorry loading 4822 back on the table
motion to Play Store and it's 48-22 on
the table by Mr Marcelino
seconded by Mr Klingler all in favor say
aye hi all opposed same sign
there we go
uh we've reached the uh between the
meeting for committee reports
and first up
as laurieanne Fievel with service
environmental thank you Mr President
uh quickly I want to
everyone is really well aware of how
our tears and our volunteers are really
hard at work with the trio public garden
committee
um was looking at the Landscaping by the
Community Builders on Cassidy on the
Cassidy project
um and then the library was in front of
them talking about the partnership that
they have with the city and the
synagogue for the outdoor reading space
rethinking of outdoor spaces and part of
our year of the parks
um and then I met with with Ben and some
of our um and um Elizabeth and some
other staff members with two volunteers
who have put together this Bexley Kong
corridors and I want you to really keep
your eyes open uh for that one because
it's uh they've got some really great
ideas and I really think that not only
are there ideas uh
fabulous for Street coming and for
safety I think I think that Bexley has
the ability to really make that Corridor
even more beautiful while at the same
time doing that
um I sent all of you a um card asking um
an e-card
um asking you to help me celebrate
um next Monday which is international
polar bear day
and
um oftentimes we say well what can we do
for these polar bears
um here in Columbus Ohio
um this is the time of the year when the
moms and the babies are huddled up close
and they're done
um babies are born and weigh less than a
pound and they need to be able to stay
in their dense safe within the snow so
that they can they can survive very few
polar bears make it past their birthdays
um and it's really great though that we
are doing a lot of things already in our
city that will promote
um some of the things that some of the
things that the international polar bear
committee will will talk to us about is
um one thing is the biggest thing we
could do is vote which is really
interesting because that's what we are
doing always and we do a lot of things
guys that's really exciting we support
an energy shift
we can get involved in community
projects that reduce and replace fossil
fuels with clean energy sources like
solar and wind we've made it easier for
members of our community to install
solar and we're keeping up with the
latest potential sustainability energy
programs for Bexley so I will urge Mr
Kessler to continue to do that for us
please and thank you
um
we can help build a better future we can
and we can ensure courage energy
efficient construction standards
including better heating and cooling
systems installation and lighting
methods that don't add heat trapping
gases to our atmosphere I believe we can
continue to look into some of the things
that we build and and continue to do
that as well and the last thing that
they suggest would be really important
to do is promote clean Transportation
support Community projects aimed at
reducing the number of vehicles overall
so shifting our support to electric
vehicles I also think that our electric
um
uh machines you know are in in the city
um I'll help add to that as well so I
I'm going to encourage you to help me
celebrate
throughout the year while we do our
voting on some of these things so thank
you
Ms lamke with the finance committee
uh nothing related to finance but I did
want to share that on Wednesday March
8th it's International women's day as I
look around this room I'm proud to see a
Woman Led my majority on Council so more
to come on that going forward but I'm
hoping that Community groups will come
together and celebrate International
women's day and a report
thank you Mr Marcelino safety and health
yes a brief note from the Bexley
minority parents Association uh this
coming Thursday from uh seven to eight
at the Bexley Library Auditorium they're
hosting an event uh smile for week
seeing black men in a different light uh
the author is uh Damon Mosley it should
be a really unique presentation of how
an individual is using photography to
tell a uh maybe a different story about
uh black men and women within our
country so I strongly encourage
everybody out there to attend uh if able
it should be a great great oh not from a
smile for we seeing black men in a
different light this Thursday February
23rd from seven to eight uh in the
Bexley Library Auditorium well do they
have an online component for that as
well they do yeah yeah great I've
registered for it I will be there very
good excellent now that's all thank you
Ms Robinson strategic committee yes um
I'm sure all of you noticed as you
poured over the mayor's report today
before this meeting
um that he has the mayor's office major
goals for 2023
um outlined um he and I must have been
drinking from the same water fountain or
something because the legislative goals
um the spreadsheet that we did not we
were not able to attack at the Strategic
Retreat I've begun to kind of divide out
in these same categories so please I'm
going to be forwarding that out again
for everybody to look at and then I
would like to take some time to meet
with each of the committee heads to talk
about ways that we can engage some and
and see if there is some movement in
some of those areas so over the next
couple weeks I'll be reaching out and
hopefully we can get some things going
before we hit our break for spring break
so uh yep stay tuned thanks so much
thank you zoning and development Mr
Klingler nothing to report
Recreation and parts Ms hot yes um as
the liaison to the Bexley Education
Foundation just a couple key notes here
um a new Bexley athletic Hall of Fame
fund has been set up so if anyone is
looking to give and that fund is
attractive to you they are promoting it
right now so reach out to Alum
um and let them know and then currently
you are able to purchase engraved bricks
and pavers for installation for the
Bexley Alum walkway which is right there
outside the cassingham complex the
deadline for that through the Bexley
Education Foundation is March 1st end of
report thank you Minnesota
public comments any public comments out
here
all right uh I'll take a motion to
adjourn
so moved motion to adjourn by Miss five
well can I get a second second second by
Mr