comparison
all right let's have some order
everything you you say now is on the
record welcome to the Tuesday January
10th meeting of Bexley uh city council
um Mr McPeak how are you doing tonight
super how are you I'm doing really good
good to see you again thank you good to
see you let's see who's here all right
uh lampkey
here Bible I'm here Marcelino present
Saad here Robinson here Markham air and
Klingler here join me for the Pledge of
Allegiance
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States
and justice for uh
all right we have some presentation
special guests correct we do Mr
President and before we do that I just
want to real quickly give people a quick
primer on how to access our agenda and
and contents as easily as possible if
you don't already have the link pulled
up from the email if you go to bexa.org
meetings
you can always look at it in line here
but I've put this little quick link to
today's meeting right there
if you click on that it'll take you to
this view so it's like an easier to read
View and you can open stuff up the tabs
and necessarily so all right excellent
and having said that we have
the pleasure of having Stephanie Bosco
with us this evening Stephanie if you'd
like to come to the diocese which is
uncomfortably close right now to our
Podium for diet how it's been moved up
hasn't it uh Stephanie has uh I've known
Stephanie for many years previously in
her capacity with the Mid-Ohio
development exchange and then um
currently she works for the Lancaster
Port Authority did I get that right yep
um and I'll let you introduce yourself
but I just want to say that you know
Stephanie's had an interest in
um participation and and City uh boards
or commissions helping out for many
years and really excited to plug you
into the CSC you have such an amazing
and perfect background for it I cannot
wait so with that you can I teed it up
you can take bring it home and then um
any questions counseling might have for
you yeah so professionally my background
is in Economic Development
um I've worked for One Columbus or a
regional Economic Development
Organization for
um almost 11 years and then I moved on
to grow Licking County which was also a
public private partnership and then I
started getting some Municipal
experience with the city of Grove City
and now I work for the Lancaster report
Authority and I have a dual role as the
economic development director for the
city of Lancaster but I'm a Port
Authority employee and we utilize our
Port Authority status to
um uh to purchase and sell land and
buildings and we're looking into
building a building right now and hoping
to attract more businesses to Lancaster
it's big manufacturing community and
it's a easy commute down 33 but I've
been in
um Bexley since 2015 and
um my husband and I have a five and a
half year old who is uh very popular at
school so and she loves school too which
is really wonderful but I was telling
the cic last night we went
trick-or-treating and everybody knows
her name so yeah yeah
oh yes
well we um we became very close friends
with our neighbors during covid but and
we've always kind of known some people
but now we really know people so it's
really great yep and I'm excited to work
um on the cic I'm excited to work for
the community that I live in which has
I've never had that combo so I can um I
can fall in love with every Community I
love Lancaster I love Grove City but to
to automatically have that love of
community is it it's really fun so
Stephanie it's totally going to get
worse I can tell you when my when my son
was a teenager and playing on the
baseball team and everything I would
drive around town and people would start
waving I would be like oh hi they'd be
like hi Leo it's Leo in the car or
whatever so the child you are chopped
liver
and my family so yeah well welcome we're
excited to have you do we have any
questions or comments I see Mr Marcelino
with the first question of the Year
eager and and I'm going to ask that you
explain it to me like I am your five and
a half year old yeah I have been to
Lancaster and down 33 and you know Port
Authority I start to think uh a large
body of water right I just was I just
was going to ask you if you don't mind
you know how that because yeah no
absolutely I get this a lot um and like
lancasterportauthority.com is our
website and we're we're
um headed up by a board I'm the sole
employee but
um it's we just use it as an economic
development tool so it just helps us
have a little more control and move more
at the speed of business have a little
bit more privacy because oftentimes when
we're working
um when we're working competitive
projects where we're trying to attract
maybe a Magna which um they make second
and third row seating seats and SUVs and
they are up to almost 600 employees in
in Lancaster but when a company is
considering a community they want it
very quiet and they want uh they they
want to be able to compare communities
very quietly and
um and and not worry anybody including
their own board so
um a Port Authority just allows us to
have a little bit more privacy we're run
by the board as opposed to the city
council however we also Implement City
incentives so it's it's a great
partnership that we have with the city
and we can also do some tax tax
abatements some tax exemptions with
development projects as well so just an
extra tool in the toolbox I look forward
to seeing how that experience plays out
on the CSC and thank you so much for for
joining there and uh mayor Kessler and
and president Markham I would like a
Port Authority in Bexley as well I do
have a lot of water in my backyard
that's right and as I said at our cccl
site Port Authority is a lot like a cic
on steroids it has it has extra Powers
extra abilities it's governed by the
Ohio Revised Code extra powers and
exercise it's like the Tim the Tool Man
Taylor
sorry thank you very much and this is
Bosco I I know that Mr marcellino has
inadvertently brought up sort of a
debatable top pick so is it as he says
Lancaster or is it Lancaster Lancaster
all right yeah so there are one
yeah best to figure it out right now
sometimes when and I had somebody
speaking to city a city
um uh staff or something I will prep
them
you know if you want to wow them say
Lancaster
that's right that's right totally
different in terms have we met I don't
know because I do a lot of work with
Lancaster and I've only been there a
year okay I don't think we have no okay
all right I was worried we had and I
didn't remember
all right any more questions comments
thank you very much thank you for
joining us and welcome thank you so much
Stephanie appreciate it yeah oh claps
you are welcome to hang around as long
as you want and you're also welcome to
Jet so yeah yeah oh well hey exactly
that's what we're thinking I like that
um
okay
um next on the agenda is public comments
do we have any speaker slips Mr auditor
no speaker slips all right then the uh
time for the president's report uh
welcome back everybody I missed all of
you
end of report
uh City attorney report
I have no report this evening all right
auditor
welcome back I missed all of you the end
of report
all right Mr Mayor thank you we do have
Beach Tour on with us online be sure do
you have any reports I have no report
sir
thank you for joining us to let us know
that yes I knew it was critical
we uh Council misses you there was a lot
of bonding that occurred over the last
budget process
yes and I'm so glad to be back and
looking forward to good 23. all right
thank you any questions for Beecher
all right you're you're you're good
thanks appreciate it thanks sir have a
good one you too
did that not ever come on over there
uh no uh sorry all right we're gonna
have to Crane around all right it'll
work
um Chief Lewis
yeah
good evening and thank you sir it's uh
available for any additional questions
I do want to highlight uh the first
topic here the bond detection canine uh
which is one of the initiatives Chief
Lewis is bringing to our department
um and I I'm really excited about the
the potential for this program and I
want to highlight for those of you if
you get questions about like why does
Bexley need a bomb detection canine uh
which I think is a fair question for
anyone to ask one of the things I think
that Chief Lewis has brought to our
agency that I've we've already seen
fruit from in many different ways is
that by providing resources not just for
our community but also for the region
we're able to get more assistance from
the region and from from even beyond
that so for example we've forged a new
relationship with the US Marshal which
has in turn led to a pretty dramatic uh
arrest of a a cold case that we had been
pursuing for many years we've had some
other examples like that um so by having
a bomb detection care not only do we
obviously put our schools our synagogues
and other places of worship in a more
secure position and allow our police to
provide better service we also then can
help out at Regional you know Buckeyes
games and other things out through the
community which in turn helps build
relationships with other law enforcement
agencies puts us a better position for
more resources so just wanted you guys
to be aware of how that is
it's the yes and you know it's helping
the community it's also helping the
community in the ways that we are it's
an Outreach that then gives us more
resources from beyond our limits
anything you want to add to that that I
don't say that accurately clear question
over there
Mr Klingler yeah I think that's great I
love the initiative have you identified
or will you need any additional funding
to set up the cage at the officer's
house or sort of I know they need a long
cage so maybe run a little bit outside
and yes sir so one of the things I was
very careful of in last year's budget
process was not asking for too much so
we have canvas some external Partners to
assist us in the funding mechanism so
for example the White Hall of Bexley
rotary they're providing monies are
alumni or Citizens Academy alumni are
providing Monies to help in purchasing
the dog as well as some additional
monies that we had left over from last
year that we specifically use for that
so we are already ahead of the game in
trying to foresee some of those things
while not coming back to council and ask
for additional support so we're
partnering with you know really is the
mayor said the biggest Focus um in this
three years for us is what's the return
on the investment back to the city and
the citizens and how can we impact our
Json Community but no sir we did not um
make any requests for additional Monies
Mr Marcelino just more so a quick
comment I also think it is uh extremely
important for the community based upon
experience alone I'm sure that the Lewis
is who are in attendance recall that and
you know right after 9 11 when Michael
and I were in high school there was a
bond threat
um you know right after and there have
been other incidents that I think
weren't the usage of it and certainly we
hope that never comes to fruition but
when it does we'll certainly have that
resource for us so so it's not just sort
of a figurehead or mascot type situation
it's truly an important piece of uh our
um our our police department so I thank
you for bringing it to us
what's that
um I'd start by saying I'm in favor of
this um glad that to see that the
initiative is happening did you have
this uh in place with other departments
that you had worked for before Chief
Lewis yes ma'am I have so um
the years with the highway patrol
um learning some lessons from those
experiences getting away from Dual
Purpose
um some of the challenges the lawsuits
that have followed with that we had a
bomb detection K-9 in Cleveland State
gave that and that was funded through
the state and through Homeland Security
that's no longer available we've really
tried to exhaust some resources so a lot
of experience of some of the other
agencies that I've worked with in
bringing that experience here and
impacting our citizens that's great
all right thank you chief
um
Mr Price
thank you mayor um the only thing I
would ask is if there are any questions
about the first section of the report
which talks about
um alcohol framework uh amendments that
were passed uh resolutions of support
for change some changes to the alcohol
framework that were passed by the record
board at our last board meeting
these are things I think we've talked a
little bit about but um I'm hoping we'll
be bringing legislation forward to uh
through Council uh to consider these
amendments in the in the coming meetings
so I'm happy to answer any questions on
that or anything else in the report
Sam a lot of questions and statements I
apologize uh neighbors is there an
Outreach to the neighbors close to uh
Jeffrey Mansion so far and has been
positive concerns anything that nature
you'd like to discuss
yeah so we have I mean over the roughly
two years we've been running the new
space we haven't had any issues
um in the new space during that time we
had one issue of Amplified music that
was going on during a Jeffrey house
rental which is in the old space and
that was just a matter of a renter not
following policy and wasn't a big issue
but it was an issue nonetheless
um we have uh we are in the process of
of the framework of providing notice to
a 500 foot radius from the perimeter of
the park not from Jeffrey mentioned
itself
um that will go out hopefully in the
next by end of this week hopefully it'll
be sent out um but but by and large we
haven't received any sort of negative
feedback on the new space and and the
policies that are in place
oh sorry Monique
Mike whenever you bring legislation uh
for when it's brought forward are you
anticipating that's going to go three
readings
um or would it need an emergency
language I just see that you're you're
losing some prospective folks who want
to do it so I'm just wondering how
quickly or at what pace are you
anticipating that coming to us yeah I
don't like I don't expect to be asking
for a suspension adoption we'll go
through a three reading process and make
sure that the community and the public
has every opportunity to speak on it
the questions for Mike
all right Mr be sure
good evening
um I don't have anything to add to my
report but happy to answer any questions
just quick I should have called you on
this um on Drexel what exactly is going
on right now with the movement of like
what what can we expect on Drexel
towards
um the main Corridor right now with some
of the projects that are going on
as far as like just the project and
whole or what's going on right now
currently yeah Power yeah currently
they're they're relocating the utility
poles that should be done at the end of
the month uh first of February and then
the project is pretty much going to be
on hold till spring time have a little
bit of storm sewer work but but not much
until the weather cooperates so
residents can kind of anticipate from
like nine till five yeah yeah okay in
that area
an AP is communicating with the
residents it should be and if you're
hearing that's not happening
it's good to know what's happening thank
you I think it's the furthest it's got
to be close to going as far south as
it's going to go right yeah they're
they're on they're rap they're starting
to wrap up it's towards the end of the
project yeah I think I just saw him
place a poll this afternoon it was crazy
I went to pick up my son from school and
then 30 minutes later one of my kids
from high school and the poll had not
been in place and it was in place
I can't get over how they did that
I know you would have done it even
faster if it was your crew yep
uh any questions for Andy
that's viable
just to want to say a big thank you
because I know that you your guys worked
really hard right as we were approaching
the big holiday so thank you so much and
and um chief for that matter thank your
officers who were doing their jobs when
we're all you know surrounding our trees
and opening gifts or Lightner Hanukkah
candles so thank you so much
foreign
okay after giving everyone a hard time
about her and I have a quick meeting I
have a like 11 page update and I'm going
to try to be very fast on
um first off I want to just piggyback
what you just said um lawyer and
um this this over this holiday break we
had an officer checking a house during
the vacation house check noticed a water
leak called our water department water
department came in there had been a
water leak for four hours in this house
that was fairly devastating but it would
have been so much worse had our had our
uh our staff not been not only paying
attention but you know coming in after
hours working through Christmas break on
plowing and salting and possibly cold
streets and uh setting up an ice rink
during this Christmas holiday as well uh
so it just all hands uh really everyone
went above and beyond so thank you to
you and your in your departments in
doing that
um we do have on our calendar you'll
notice a new Resident welcome event at
Jeffrey Mansion we're planning for
February 26th we just got that date in
the calendar today we're going to be
reaching out to
partnering agencies just like we have in
the past to try to get as many Community
leaders and Community groups to that
just to welcome new residents this will
be our first event since some of the
coveted restrictions uh we're around
um you're the parks I don't know if you
guys are aware but you are in year of
the parks right now we are here it is we
had a I've been meeting with um our
landscape design consultant for I think
about a year now every Tuesday at least
just as we're planning this Mike Price
has joined us recently Andy got roped in
today on our weekly meetings but we just
all had like oh crap moment as we were
like looking at our Gantt charts and our
spreadsheets and thinking this is real
now
um so a couple things just to update you
on and I'll continue to update you more
and more as the year progresses we've
made really great progress on the design
of the pocket park between the library
and the synagogue so that's the current
rendering of what that might look like
I've had really great support from the
library synagogue and the community
um and they're I believe are going to be
moving forward with that
um active spaces we've been closing in
on some Concepts
um we are
proposing to the rec board although it
has not been finalized the concept of a
sand volleyball court at the pool where
the current basketball half court is
down the hill from the pool
um we're looking at some maybe some
skate ramp infrastructure in some of our
Parks those concepts are still being
developed so we're not quite ready to
get specific on that we have a splash
pad going in at Schneider
um and there's other like foosball
tennis table tennis outdoor tables going
into some of these Parks so those
Concepts have been marching along
our Commonwealth Plaza design process we
awarded a contract uh or we have
selected the contractor from as the
lowest bidder to mksk and Jones Studios
to complete the final design of this is
the you know conceptual design to
finalize this design hope to have that
done this quarter and hope to be going
to bid on those projects in the second
quarter of this year
um Havenwood
if you drive past it you'll see that the
installation is uh is underway this is I
might even be complete I haven't been
there for a couple weeks or walk past it
with your dog yeah or walk past it with
your dog that's even better uh and and
the landscape will be going in
um in the in the spring uh some of the
plans is already in but there will be
some additional I believe in the spring
a couple legislative updates
um
the flavored tobacco ban of the ban was
vetoed by the governor as you guys are
aware also during the lame duck the
state legislator passed a distracted
driving legislation that as it was going
through seemed like it might
um simply replace what we have in the
books and we would just be able to
abandon what we have
um as the chief and I discussed it this
week and I've discussed it with some
other Mayors and managers in the region
it's a problematic distracted driving
law because just like with other ones
you could still hold the phone in your
hand when you're making phone calls so
police really cannot effectively enforce
that they can't like see somebody with a
phone in their hand even type in numbers
and prove that it's texting there's no
right for them to subpoena that phone it
is a primary offense but a primary fence
was very you know with with an officer I
wouldn't think would be comfortable
exercising it also allows people to text
while at intersections so while stopped
at intersections
my preference is to keep our current law
how it is
um so that it is a little more rigorous
than that state standard but that's
something for you guys to think about
and consider
um and if you want any more information
on that let me know
there's another interesting one that
hasn't made the Press but there was a
preemption on the right of local
governments to regulate pesticides which
you might think well who cares except
for the fact that we've had a resident
working on a mosquito uh program the
part of which would regulate the sprain
of mosquitoes and backyards at least
provide for example some very simple
regulations on you know let your
neighbors know when you're going to
spray
uh maybe Don't Spray within a certain
amount of feet from your neighbor's yard
that sort of thing my understanding of
that law and as I read it and Mark and I
could look at it more closely if you
guys want us to is it would not allow us
to do any of that so it would we would
strictly prohibit our ability to do any
sort of Regulation about pesticide
application above and beyond what the
state does
um
I don't know if there are other cities
that are interested in challenging that
we don't have anything other books to
challenge it with but
yeah and we don't have to challenge it
right away we could always pass
something and then challenge it so
it's pretty blanket like it doesn't
leave very much room for questioning do
you have the off the top of your head no
the hospital or something I'll figure it
out
um and then also I'd let you guys know
about this last year let you know again
this year there's the voynevich academy
government Essentials for local elected
officials
it's a multi-week weekend course
um I've talked to other elected
officials who've been through it who
really liked it uh if you are interested
just Google that and you'll find
information on it and uh we're happy
we're happy to register uh for you guys
through our training funds
we did have a non-cic meeting last night
um some stuff on that there we talked
about the new Resident welcome event
I've also compiled just for sake of kind
of clear communication to you guys some
of the major things that that my
Administration will be focusing on this
year above and beyond standard uh
service provide provide provision items
this isn't complete it's something I'm
working on but I just wanted you to take
a look at that you'll notice finalizing
complete year of the parks projects
shows us up as a first bullet point with
many of these
um but this uh just kind of talks about
top priorities things we're really
focused on it's not to say there aren't
lots of other things we're focused on
just wanted you to be aware of those
take a look at them any questions you
have let me know anything you think is
grossly missing from this let me know
and then we got a couple photos this is
the menorah light in the governor's
mansion uh Rabbi coltman there
um photo of you handsome people
with Chris borney uh this is I want to
commend Andy for keeping on top of this
project you can't really tell what's
happening here but what they are doing
is they're installing uh pedestrian
activated Crossing signage on College
Avenue if you'll recall a year or two
ago we had a student hit there in a bad
way at night and so this is helping at
the mound intersection and further south
in front of the
uh I'd never remember the name of that
dorm the newer dorm on College Avenue
um so those are in place I'm not sure
they're operational yet I think they
were still tweaking them they are
operational just kidding totally good to
go so first person view of uh of ice
rink do you think it'll be back Mike
what do you predict
this year
um
yes it will we typically are in February
anyway when it happens so good great job
is looking really good
is that that's when it's gonna happen
all right good to know and I wanted to
announce that we have bexley's newest
resident my nephew Arthur
uh came to visit us last last week so I
also she was at that beatles thing that
yeah do like within days I also had the
pleasure of uh watching my nephews for
two three days uh so I had five kids oh
that's yes and if anyone wants to know
what that feels like it hasn't
experienced that before I'm happy to
give you any information you might need
that's right it's funny I was
complaining to Tim but I was like wait a
second
for those of us
they say hold my beer is that what it
was
any questions
thank you oh no okay good great
all right thank you we moved to the
consent agenda I believe
well before I get there I just want to
mention that Ben Kessler was jamming on
the keyboards at the Beatles Marathon I
didn't make it back for the evening
sorry but I saw you in the afternoon and
it was you were pretty good they were
great it was great
next year
it's phenomenal people you folks should
attend it's great all right
on the agenda we have the the consent of
the city council meeting minutes of
December 13 2022.
any uh comments questions about the
consent agenda
concert questions uh from the audience
on consent agenda if not Mr mCP oh no if
not I need an emotion it's a little
rusty so moved motion to adopt the
consent agenda second seconded by Mr
Klingler okay now Mr mcpeek please okay
Mr Klingler yes Mr Marcelino yes Miss
Robinson Miss Bible yes Miss lamke yes
Miss sod yes and Mr Markham yes consent
agenda passes thank you
all right I just opened my folder for
first readings and it said this folder
is empty so we're going to go to Second
readings actually we start with third
readings you're Rusty too yeah how come
I have things in my second reading box
then
we do third readings primarily
see you changed this up on me no no no
not for a few years oh you changed that
up on me because I'm looking at this out
it looks different that's right
crazy all right we have a third reading
a resolution 12-22 condemning
anti-Semitism thank you uh I want to uh
give a big thanks to Jen Robinson and
Stacy Grossman for uh helping with us
put this together and everything and I'm
I'm glad that we're here tonight uh to
hopefully pass this I kind of when I was
thinking about it today I was like I
want to think of something kind of
inspirational or whatever to say about
this but then I keep getting caught up
in the stupidity of the need for it to
be honest with you uh you know a
resolution to verify that the Holocaust
happened you know a resolution to say
don't uh do hurtful things to to the
Jewish people you know can you imagine
how sad it is that we need this and and
in
2023. uh don't get me wrong I'm uh I'm
proud to bring this and I'm happy that
we're voting on it but I'm embarrassed
as a society that that we need something
like this uh I was interviewed for this
and asked like well you know what would
I like to see uh next and I said I would
like to see all cities in Ohio adopt
this I think it should just be you know
something that would be you would do
right I mean I think we all need to
stand up and just you know make these
statements or whatever it's nothing it's
nothing wild it's nothing out there or
whatever uh 30 years ago I came here
from Southern Ohio and uh I was pretty
naive I was pretty uh uh came from a
pretty homogeneous kind of community
down there I went to Ohio State and I
met a lot of different people different
cultures uh International students uh I
met a uh a girl from Bexley here and I I
married her
and she was uh Jewish and my kids that
we had are Jewish as well back then
honestly I assumed that anti-Semitism
would be fading over the years you know
it would be fading but it is it's
growing anti-Semitism is growing
Bexley that I uh no and I live in is uh
diverse it's caring and it's a tolerant
place to live uh this written Testament
is uh that we are saying here is that
even though this nonsense is happening
all across the nation right now uh it's
not happening here it's not not in our
town not in Bexley and I think that's
the statement that that I want to bring
tonight
any comments or questions yes viable
I
I applaud all of you for bringing this
forward because it's something that
needs to be talked about and I don't
know why I got emotional I do know why I
get emotional
I grew up as a Catholic kid
12 years of Catholic Education my father
was a principal of a Catholic School the
first time I met a Jewish person was
when I interviewed someone for my
theology class
and then I met Jonathan
and we are a blended family and I am so
excited that we have this so that we're
saying you know I'm not Jewish don't
mess with my husband
don't mess with my kids
my nieces my nephews my friends and
Bexley that gives such color to this
community
don't don't do it don't do it
and when we sadly lost a 20 year old
Jewish child this year and I sat with
thousands in that synagogue the first
thing I did
the first thing I did please tell Jeremy
Grimes
was find the exit is that so sad
that is so sad
but that's why they did
and I just think we need to just keep
talking about it and I have to say it
sickens me when the TV comes on in the
morning and it even as you said
president
why is there even a need for there to be
a commercial that says
we've gotta stop hatred why why
Mr Robinson
Brianne I completely I I hear you and I
understand how you feel
um you know after George Floyd we spoke
about how the treatment of African
Americans in this country is has been
horrendous and and the history is long
and deep
then we spoke out again after the rise
in in Asian American
hate crimes against Asian Americans then
here we are again
um I I I
feel your frustration uh Troy with the
we just keep having to stand up and say
this isn't okay we shouldn't have to do
that anymore this one hits differently
because these are my this is my husband
and my kids and my extended family
um we have to keep doing it as a city as
a as a group of people who care about
our neighbors and care about people
beyond our borders we have to keep doing
this so Troy thank you for bringing this
uh Stacy thank you for being a part of
the conversation and Council thanks for
representing this city in a way that
makes it possible for us to continue to
stand up and say not in our community
none of this is okay
are there comments or questions from
Council
open that up to comments or questions
from the audience if you'd like
the rule we have here is please state
your name and address Don Lewis 663
euclair Avenue thank each of you for
this
I'm a Jew I grew up Jewish went to tempt
West Brill and even back then
I felt it we heard it I heard people say
you right to my face it's horrid
scripture says do unto others as others
do unto you we have to make the effort
we can't stop making effort we have to
reach out to people in love always
despite whether you like them or not but
we cannot stand for this and we have to
stand up for what is right in particular
this instance
affecting Jewish people and we have a
wonderful Community as everybody said
about this about us and we love it been
here a long time so thank you once again
and God bless you
thank you Don
any other comments from the audience
if not
uh I will make a motion to adopt
resolution 12-22
second and I got a second from Ms
Robinson uh Mr McPeak will you call the
role Please Mr Marcelino yes Miss lamke
yes Mr Markham yes Miss feibel yes masad
yes Miss Robinson yes and Mr Klingler
yes resolution passes thank you
thank you
okay as I Endeavor to figure out this
second reading box on my computer we
have a second reading of resolution
11-22 uh concerning regarding cicc
appointments
that's Mr Robinson yes
[Laughter]
just click on the agenda I know what to
do I got it
we need to take a break
yes but not for that reason Miss
Robinson I'm sorry go ahead yeah it's
all good we got your back Mark we're
gonna be fine
um well yeah so Stephanie Bosco was here
earlier today
um mayor Kessler thanks for arranging
for that um she is spectacular and is
going to do some great things for our
city
um we uh all of us well I think the
majority of us here sitting at the Dias
no Nate green
um who was fantastic and amazing Mike
Simpson
um no I'm gonna yes do I have I met Mike
Simpson this is where I probably should
have looked that up beforehand I'm sure
I do
I believe that we'll have him hopefully
the next Council that's what I thought
yes and um this feature hail guy
hopefully we can meet him soon and
figure out what he's up to and what he
might bring to the table but uh yeah we
will um have Mike Simpson here next week
or in two weeks and uh we'll be voting
on this then so thanks for asking for
listening to Stephanie and asking such
great questions
comments or questions on uh the
resolution
all right I think we can move on
all right so now we're on to the second
reading of ordinance 49-22 to adopt
residential guide design guidelines
introduced by Mr Klingler
uh thanks Mr Fishel
um I don't think there's anything to add
to this it's pretty straightforward this
is a labor of love
um by Karen Bowker bill heyer
um Kathy Rose mayor Kessler it's been
going on a long time they put a lot of
attention and detail into this it's
meant to be
um sort of a breathing living document
um
to be reviewed every so often and
changed as needed
any questions
comments or questions I I have a one
thing to add to that and a question for
you I guess
um
a zoning change requires a 30-day
advance notice of a public hearing
yes I don't know if this constitutes
that because it's not like changing the
codifieds at all but it is obviously
referenced so we might want to get an
opinion on that yeah I'll take a look at
it and let you know otherwise if need be
then we can you know have to be table
next meeting right if not then it could
be approved but I will look at it and I
would say if not then Matt and Troy are
you guys okay with having Karen and
maybe Bill heyer are here to present at
the next council meeting
sounds good to me yeah in fact my fellow
council member Lampe just asked if that
could be done so great minds think alike
all right yeah she's Sharp
you want me to reach out to him are you
gonna talk to Karen no we can line it up
I just wanted to if not if we do need a
30 day in a public hearing we should
probably wait for that to have them come
right so let's wait till like what Mark
says and then okay I'll reach out to her
any more comments or questions on this
ordinance
if not now you can do first readings
I know you've been waiting
done
I think we have some action on tabled
ordinance
yeah I'll make a motion I'll make a
motion to remove uh ordinance 14-22 from
the table
uh motion has been made to remove
ordinance
14-22 from the table
and I get a second for that
second second breakfast lamp key all in
favor say aye
I all opposed same sign oh the
enthusiasm I can't get a second go ahead
no we're with you man
he's
so um we have a proposed amended in
front of you I believe we've discussed
it but it's been so long that I can't
really remember
so I'll I'll review it again I think we
we ended up getting
um
focused on the ground mounted solar
panel selection so I pulled that up here
in front of you
um and and I think if you'll recall the
initial draft said uh you know that it
wouldn't be higher than any accessory
structure and then we plot it back to 10
feet and now we have it no no higher
than six feet
um
that and then we consulted with staff
about
so we put mandatory screening language
in here staff felt that
it may require language was adequate
because there could they they came up
with several scenarios where screening
wouldn't be necessary just depending on
where it might be on a property the type
of property it is
um and so they have discretion in
requiring screening
um and
I believe that addresses the concerns we
heard
but if if not and then I can answer any
questions this is uh this is language
that was developed after going back to
staff with the concerns that we heard of
the councilman
comments or questions
oh Mr Marcelino just knowing yeah
historically I mean the whole purpose of
this was to expedite or make more
efficient the process of approving these
correct correct in terms of efficiency
and uh and moving these things along I
mean how much of a difference are we
talking about in overall time frame
timeline wise so I think uh pretty
substantial so in a in a sort of a
non-objectionable case where you have a
a good design that it gets submitted to
City staff you know it could get turned
around in a week maybe who knows maybe
30 days 30 days is what they they say
they will live very good in but the the
other the current model would be you
have to have it in a 30 days in advance
of the ARB then you go to ARB and often
what was happening with solar is it was
getting tabled
um for multiple discussions
um
and then there were several examples I
can think of where even after that there
was no change the design it got approved
so it was it was like we were sometimes
seen three to five month approval
timelines I guess I just I have concerns
as I did the first you know when this is
first introduced is that isn't necessary
is it more so does training in terms of
the ARB I mean I have with you know
putting in solar panels onto your home
or into your backyard is probably not a
light decision it's probably something
that you think about for some period of
time so I'm not necessarily worried
about an extra period of a couple weeks
my question is that is this more of a
training that of for the ARB to push it
along as opposed to necessary
legislation loosening the restrictions
or Expediting the process and that's
just where my head is and if there's
additional comments or or concerns from
Council I would love to hear them or
support but that's where my issue comes
is I for these types of changes uh for
the change it could have within our
community
I I don't know that's an issue that
necessarily needs to be changed other
than more so just again training or
coaching or education to the ARB to help
them move them along if they're not sure
how to
so we've done all those things uh we did
change the code to make the design
criteria more explicit several years ago
we've had three or four training
workshops with the ARB with experts that
came in and it hasn't changed the
overall Paradigm and in the in the in
the midst of all that I mean I would
love for you to talk to some of the
applicants who have been through the
process we've had scathing feedback from
residents about
what they felt was an unfair hearing
that it was
um
you know I don't want to this is not a
retribution of the ARB because they do a
fantastic job but I think the reality is
we have members who
feel that solar panels shouldn't be on
homes and our code says they they can be
and it gives an affirmative right for
residents to have them
and so it's difficult for those members
not to
open up the philosophical discussion at
every turn and we've tried to train
through it we've tried earnestly to do
that we've we've spent a couple of years
taking that approach
um I think
you know the way that we're viewing this
and the way that a lot of other
communities are viewing this is that
this is a roof surface and a roof
surface receives staff review
and every case in a city unless
somebody's removing a slate or tile roof
so we're treating it really consistently
the way that we treat other applications
that are comparable
just because we're having discussion in
regards to it I mean I'll be frank with
you I'm not even really concerned about
Rook structures I'm concerned about this
for the ground mountain and that's just
how I see it I grew up in a home in
Massachusetts with solar panels on top
of it quite early in terms of the solar
adoption so I certainly see the value
and understand it but in a community
such as Bexley where the Lots can be
smaller than perhaps other communities
around central Ohio it just raises
concern and I think personally for a
long-term resident to see significant
changes to properties that they can't
really shade it's difficult to shade I I
just think it is we have to be realistic
here
um with while keeping the efficiency of
the solar units
um I think that it does warrant uh
additional concern and I would welcome
certainly some members from the
community come and help me understand
the procedure if from their view of it
for those that have applied but I can
tell you that as I said to night I don't
see why I would vote to support this at
this point when I I still am not
necessarily seeing the
I hear the issue
but I I don't mind a a additional period
of review I guess that's just where I
sit so again I'm going to say it's on
the table now
um and if we vote tonight as I hear it I
don't know that I can support it but I
would certainly welcome to placing it
back on the table and having somebody
come speak to and it's not to delay this
decision it's just so I understand
because I think we're making it a lot
quicker and there are clearly people
that object to it so
mm-hmm it's where I stand
any other comments or questions
yes Miss Robinson I believe this
question was asked before but how many
um
do we have any idea the number of
ground-mounted solar panels that exist
in our city yeah
it's my knowledge we don't have any yeah
okay and and I also want to be clear
this is more restrictive than our
current code with ground mounted it's
kind of I'll double triple check that
that's true but I think we've actually
closed the restrictions in a little bit
with this
great
comments or questions still
I yeah go ahead I just wanted to and
again I understand what Sam's saying but
I just want to reiterate a couple of
things or jump on a couple things the
mayor said in agreement that um that
I've certainly heard and some of it's
anecdotal and some of it's more closer
to firsthand
um and and I've heard you know I've
discussed with the mayor over the last
few years the frustration that some
citizens have had in terms of putting
solar panels on their property
um and that that I think it is very
unrealistic again if you know if if you
if you don't mind the delay that's fine
I mean that's one thing but certainly
understand that it is not likely with
additional training or guidance or even
different members and I'm not suggesting
there should be different members that
the ARB process is going to change and
and again I guess you know from a policy
standpoint to the extent that the city
is promoting alternative
sources of energy this I think is
consistent with that but again to the
mayor's point it's the ARB process is
going to be the ARB process because they
have a certain perspective and I've
heard them do it not just on solar
panels but some other things that we're
not even talking about tonight so
thank you
and just circle back Mr President if I
may um it it is uh this is more
restrictive in a couple different ways
in our current code it has a height
restriction which our current code is
not
it also requires screening in certain
circumstances which a current code does
not require
um and there is a difference in setback
because the current code is a 10 foot
setback and this is accessory structure
setback so it could potentially be a
little bit different but I think the key
is currently somebody
theoretical person who would want ground
mounted solar which again we don't have
it but if if it were to happen they
could come in today yes they would be
subject to architecture review but ARB
can't Implement additional
the ARB could arguably
not withhold a challenge if somebody if
they started to put additional
restrictions above and beyond what the
code says today so this is a more
restrictive code than we have oh yeah
the current code does restrict height
six feet on ground mounted I'm sorry
you're right my bad that's right we do
allow ground now in our code currently
that was 2016. that passed I'm so sorry
that was the next that was the next
paragraph done my bed yeah go ahead Sam
I'll be very candid that I believe that
last time we discussed this or thought
about discussing I thought there was
going to be just more education in
regards to perhaps an ARB
um whether that be from somebody coming
to speak to us I mean are they in favor
of this change I mean that that also
makes way and so all I'm saying is that
the last time we discussed it we took it
off the table because there is going to
be more information or perhaps uh you
know it seemed like and then now it's
coming off the table and I don't think
anything's changed in terms of my
education as to where it's at and if
that's on my ice you know on on me I I'm
willing to take responsibility I just
don't see what's changed from the last
time we discussed taking this
this proposed amended ordinance is
different after we went back to staff
and then we came back and did present a
council so it's different okay so now
but does the ARB support this I guess is
generally dare be supported the earlier
version which was less restrictive than
this okay so they voted to support that
this is more restrictive than what they
had supported okay
the Sun so Sam to kind of answer some of
that because I did early on kind of dive
into it with my background and zoning
and got a hold of the president of ARB
and um Karen Boker and had some good
conversations and where we were at
because I know it's we have to go back
and remember because we kept tableing
this but we did go back I I was
concerned about the height the original
height
um just spending some time with friends
who have solar panels around the
neighborhood and talking to them and
um and then I was also concerned about
the screening I do feel more comfortable
just from reaching back out and knowing
we took this back the language that we
were looking at revising back to
um ARB and they came back with these
recommendations that are currently in
the ordinance
um
so I do feel more comfortable with those
were the two things I was looking for is
uh that staff would be in involved I I
do think something that I still am a
little concerned about is if we don't
have you know Karen Boker as staff uh in
the future then who would that be that's
probably my only reservation at this
point but I do like seeing that we did
um scale this back to say that uh it
would be ground mounted solar panels
would not exceed the six feet in height
so those things do make me feel more
comfortable and then knowing that the
experts at ARB felt more comfortable
with this too
um you know it's a Changing of the Guard
it uh instead of that process happening
now you know it goes straight to the
city and then we're relying on the staff
which currently would be Karen Boker I
feel very confident in that I think
moving forward if Karen wasn't a part of
the team then who does that fall back on
um but I feel comfortable as of today
what that would look like with our
current staff and who's approving it
no yeah yeah go ahead question for Jess
and so if it's not Karen broker I mean
is there a way to protect against it
because I agree Karen's amazing and I
completely trust Karen but is there a
way that this can be more restrictive to
ensure that you feel comfortable with
anybody stepping into those shoes or is
it just a gut feeling that we're going
to always have the right person
my answer to that would be I feel
comfortable with Karen Boker because
she's had the experience and expertise
and the uh education and the solar panel
Arena
and I guess my my answer would be I
would have to know who that next person
is
I I'm just curious are you thinking
about in terms of like
you know advising for the screening or
something like that like I mean whoever
it is is going to have to abide by
what's written up here so are you what
what kind of yeah what sort of
discretion are you thinking is going to
be
a problematic possibly well I was more
so concerned now that we say that we
have a person that we so when when
councilwoman said that the person in
charge right now is you know completely
more than qualified to to make these
donations care and as I said it's great
um but then the concern that if we
didn't have another care of Karen vocal
or that we may not have this may not
make as much sense and so that kind of
gave me a reason to you know to have
some concerns I I will just be frank I
just you know I feel as though this is
an ordinance that has hit the table gone
up table at the table got off the table
and we've made some exchanges to it
throughout the time frame but
um I
I again I just I don't know that it's
hard to put into words where my
questions are I don't think I voted to
know yet as a member of council but this
one is uh just it hasn't made perfect
sense to me yet so I'm just trying to
work through it I guess my input into
that would be that uh we you know that
that person is going to be appointed by
the mayor uh and we are here to hold the
mayor whoever the mayor is too
responsible and accountable for those
decisions and those people and that's
part of our job as well and we'll
continue to be part of our job no matter
who is here and who is there and who is
over there and I would just if I may Mr
President yeah piggyback off of that
which is to say that uh it shouldn't
this should never be about any one
person because we're not gonna like we
can't guarantee who our staff is going
to be just know that the same issue
exists peppered throughout our code so
that staff person has a lot of
responsibility
for porch designs for Windows roofs
siding all sorts of decisions to get
made at the staff level are and not only
does council hold that person
accountable but the ARB would squawk a
hot fit if we had an architecture you
know reviewer on staff that was was
negligent in their job so I feel like
there are plenty controls in place and
it's it's an important position that
controls a lot of aesthetic decisions
throughout the city this is very
analogous to the other aesthetic
decisions
I'm going to open it up to the audience
if there's any comments since this is a
third reading any come on thank you
Constance lewis663 you clear
um
I know this has been on and off the
table
and I am glad that the changes have been
made to reduce the height of the ground
mounted solar panels from 10 to six that
that I think is
uh a move in the right direction I'm not
opposed to
solar panels
I do think that our Architectural Review
Board does a marvelous job of
maintaining and protecting the beauty
and architecture of our community
and
um
I'm not sure that ground-mounted solar
panels
are something that's going to add to the
architecture and beauty of our community
but it seems to be the way of the world
so um
if this has gone through the
the eyes and understanding of our
Architectural Review Board people uh
then and they agree with it then I'm not
opposed to it
um I do think that if this is a way to
um go around the eyes of ARB and just
put it into the hands of of staff
um
I'm I'm I'm I'm unsure about that that
makes me a little a little empty I I
know uh Kathy and Karen do a marvelous
job
uh and the architecture review board
relies on their their expertise and and
I do feel comfortable that whenever
Karen or Kathy have a question that uh
that they're uncertain with they bring
it to the Architectural Review Board and
put it task them with with their eyes
and their expertise and I feel
comfortable with that because they've
always done that
um if that is the way that this is going
to be carried out then I'm not opposed
to it
thank you thank you
hey there are comments or questions from
the audience
Mr Klingler what are you going to do
with this thing
uh motion to approve
um ordinance
um do I need to propose to him yeah
apparently we need to do the Amendments
here so
yeah I will make a motion to approve the
amendments
to ordinance 14-22 motion to amend by Mr
Klingler
gotta get a second oh second second by
Miss Saad Mr McPeak
Mr Marcelino yes that's the Bible yes Mr
Klingler yes Miss lamke yes Mr stud yes
Miss Robinson yes Mr Markham yes
motion to amend ordinance passes okay
I'll make a motion to approve amended
ordinance 14-22 motion to approve by Mr
Klingler
is there a second second by Miss saw Mr
McPeak
masad yes Mr Klingler yes Mr Miss lamke
sorry yes uh Miss Robinson yes Mr
Markham yes Mr Marcelino yes Miss feibel
yes
ordinance passes thank you
you all seem confident you've been doing
a long time we're in a good hands but
you know losing statements that was
that that was I mean that that's
ordinance 14 22. that's been around a
long time people work very hard on that
so that's that's a good product I mean
assuming anybody here's what I think but
it's a good product
you don't have to I understand
thank you Council and a lot of hard work
good uh sir thanks Matt good discussion
everybody too so uh good work everybody
you can uh do you move us on or do I
move aside well another are we doing
anything with the with any other tables
no I don't believe so unless unless
somebody's gonna step up and correct me
nope
all right then you move move under your
turn all right okay wow geez committee
reports
let's start with strategic with uh Jen
Robinson greetings from strategory Happy
2023.
um piggybacking off of uh what the mayor
mentioned in his update the legislative
updates from the governor and his
listing of goals for 2023 it is time
again for us to start thinking about
what it is that we would like to achieve
this year so I know we have done a
strategic planning meeting
um usually we do it in like late March
or early April we're going to bump that
up this year we're going to try to get
something done in February so I've begun
compiling a list of things that the
mayor has and he and I have been
discussing and with lots of blank spaces
for us to add our thoughts as to what
we'd like to do this year
um please be on the lookout for that you
should have that early next week along
with a doodle form for some meeting
dates for mid to late February hopefully
we can get that done and if not late
March or early March at the latest but I
I think everybody would like to get this
done sooner than later so we have a
really good idea of what we like to do
this year so look out
um look to your emails for for that from
me uh next week and if you're organizing
your personal calendars for this weekend
Thursday Friday and Saturday are the
four Productions of each 25th Annual
Putnam County Spelling Bee the High
School Musical
um if you want to know what I do and I'm
not here working with you lovely people
I vocal direct that show so come out see
it it's fantastic it's hilarious and
it's a good time so I have a question
how come every year it's shown different
places but still the 25th Annual this is
called suspending disbelief
yes and big questions for uh Ms Robinson
if not Mr klingler's owning
uh just a couple updates from the cic
meeting we um or Baxley square is
getting a new roof uh that should
commence uh in March right
yeah 40 degrees has to be about 40
degrees
um we have two new committee members as
uh we said tonight
other than that
um nothing else to report
uh Recreation and Parks Nissan
yes I wanted to start by saying um thank
you to Mike and staff for working a
holiday that they normally have the day
after Christmas when we were all
probably heating our houses to unfreeze
our pipes
um they were all outside putting up the
ice rink which is really awesome because
guess what the turnout was for the two
days the ice rink was open
291 skaters
291 skaters I haven't fact checked yet
but I'm at ice rinks a lot as we all
know and I would
begs to say or uh that that would be
about what the chiller that's I think
that exceeds what the chiller gets on uh
free skates I do because I'm around the
chillers a lot
and so I think that just speaks to what
uh Mike and park and rec the enthusiasm
they have to put that up everyone I talk
to although it's a lot of work they all
enjoy it because it's something
different and unique and it just shows
that the community is coming out to it
so
um Mike share that with the staff I yeah
awesome and then uh you're going on the
record as supporting the ice rink I said
I'm gonna go on the record of supporting
the ice cream
um and then uh please join Mike and I
um on and I'm mayor Kessler I know I'll
be there and um Troy probably signed up
already but um on Friday night January
27th the Texas Hold'em fundraiser is
back this helps support the Bexley
Community Foundation that does so much
for our community so
um get on Eventbrite or sponsor a table
um but the event starts at six and uh
we should do that yeah yeah I think
that's a great idea
hey Jess this Jess there's a there's a
there's a trivia question that comes
with that which is do you know who came
in second
the last time
Josh price
Troy Troy Patty Dre right here for the
final I'm impressed and surprised not
surprised maybe but um yeah so hopefully
everybody can join us everybody can get
out to that event and then
um spread the word because I think this
is a great way to get more people out to
learn more about what the Community
Foundation does and how we can support
their efforts
end of report yes and money they win
money
and did you just prove the old adage
that nobody ever remembers who came in
second all right well unless that person
is city council president and has a live
mic right
[Laughter]
service and environmental is Bible
report
uh finance committee MS lamke
no report tonight safety and house Mr
Marcelino
uh just a quick note I I was fortunate
enough to have the unfortunate
Misfortune about getting to be at that
Bengals Bills game so I did some
thinking
um and I think that we're going to work
with the mayor with the chief of police
and with some potential outside sources
to try and put together a community
event Mike Price I'm going to be calling
you
um for uh in terms of CPR a d usage uh
the Heimlich just general education
because it was really scary being around
a bunch of people where uh frankly none
of us would have known what to do
there's a lot of our exports that take
place in this community of older adults
that could set up for these things so
that is to come in addition to the year
of the parks year of the CPR and such a
little charges that's easy
give me the icon for that too a graphic
yeah a new logo yes all right uh public
comments
any comments from the public
if not I will take I have a quick
question oh I'm so sorry yeah but just
like are you guys happy with the agenda
the way that worked everybody
comfortable enough
okay don't ask Mark I am maybe I'll ask
next meeting after we've gotten used to
a little bit it's a little I think it's
for me it's it's a little tougher
without the hot links to to get through
the hot links could be nice yeah just to
be
there is a way to choose that that would
require a lot more work so we'll think
about it
all right this time I'll take a motion
motion motion to adjourn by Mr Klingler
seconded by Mr Robinson all in favor say
aye
aye all opposed same sign where is
adjourn thank you
there is a border control meeting