Attendance
Rob Kairis, President
Amy Michael, Council at Large
Chelsea Gregor, Council Clerk
Christina West, Council at Large
Tim Calfee, Ward 4
Tyler Marovich, Ward 2
Paul Moskun, Ward 1
Audio recording of the meeting:
Summary
The Ravenna City Council meeting began with an employee from the Reed Memorial Library presenting the library’s 2024 success. The spokesperson described the new services the library offers, such as Roku Sticks, museum tickets, cake pans and more for civilians to check out.
After that, the lead manager for the waste and water plant Ravenna operates offered a plant tour for any council members.
The council allotted time for a citizen of Ravenna to speak. The resident described a basement flooding issue he had encountered and insinuated that his basement flooding was caused by the work Ravenna was doing on water pipes on the other side of the street where his house is located. It was reported that this had happened during the month of August. The council described that they had no authority to intervene with the city’s building and construction, but would try to maintain contact with the resident.
Committee meetings for the city start on March 10, 2025.
The meeting approved Ordinance 2025-022, bids for 2025 pavement painting. Ordinance 2025-023 was approved for requests for proposals for 2025 spring cleanup. Ordinance 2025-024 passed for bids for a water line project. Ordinance 2025-025 passed for bids for 2026 treatment plant chemicals. Ordinance 2025-026 passed, which would purchase gravity thickener truss arms. Ordinance 2025-027 passed, which would update and publish codified ordinances. Ordinance 2025-029 passed, which would pay purchase orders over $3,000. Ordinances 2025-06 and 2025-07 passed, which would amend zoning for health spas, fitness centers and massage establishments in C-1 and C-2 districts.
Ordinance 2025-008 passed, which will amend zoning for health spas, fitness centers and massage establishments in the Central Business District. Ordinance 2025-028 passed, which will enter the city into an addendum for Community Reinvestment Area agreement. Ordinance 2025-018 passed, which allows the mayor to enter an agreement with Lightspeed for fiber internet service. Ordinance 2024-132 was moved to the April City Council meeting for easement for PMHA to place a generator behind City Hall. Ordinance 2024-146 passed, which adds regulations for massage establishments.
When reviewing old business, council members reminded each other that the city of Ravenna has a court case moving up to the federal level.
Key Points
- The Reed Memorial Library had a great year in 2024
- Less visitors than previous years, likely because of construction
- Resident issues regarding flooding after August 2024 storms
- Waste and Water Department presented recent projects
- Ordinance 2025-132 moved until the April meeting
- Massage establishments in Ravenna have greater restrictions
Transcript
The following transcript was generated by a transcription bot and is not 100% accurate. The Portager does not edit the AI-generated transcript. We understand the automatic transcript can be very inaccurate.
00:00
Agenda is a moment of meditation.
00:14
You would all join me
00:22
next? United
00:24
States of America
Speaker 1 00:25
and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty
00:31
and justice for all the role. Mr.
00:41
Kelsey here. Ms Luke, here. Ms
00:42
Raskin, yes. Ms Luke. Ms Michael here. Mr. Barravin
Speaker 2 00:50
here. We get a motion to excuse for this evening. So moved
00:57
second All in favor, ayes. Do
Speaker 2 01:06
All right, moving on. We the next item on the agenda is delegations to the public, and we do have a representative Memorial Library. Miss Young come up and state your name and
01:20
let us know what’s going on in the library. You Thank you.
Speaker 3 01:26
My name is Amy Young. I’m the director of reed Memorial Library, and I appreciate you giving me a few minutes to address you this evening. Last year, we started where we just wanted to give a brief annual update on some of the wonderful things we’re doing at the library, just so you and the members of the public. Now, I put a one sheet in colored copy in front of you with just some stats from this past year. We did create 1200 40 new library cards. We do currently have over 30,000 active library card holders at Reed Memorial and a total of 120,000 card holders across Portage County and beyond. We saw 116,000 visitors last year. That’s down a little bit. Most of that was we still, still saw about 10 to 11,000 visitors a month, despite the inconveniences during our construction. But that’s why it was a little lower. This year, we had 19,000 people attend library events such as story times, arts and crafts, computer classes, lectures, local history walks and everything in between. We circulated 219,000 physical items and just over 66,000 digital items, for a total of just over 285,000 items for the year. And that is a steady increase from year to year for the last four years. Some highlights from our last year, we had nearly 6000 people attend two of our largest events last year, Reed fest, which is a collaboration with city parks. We kick off our the summer with the parks department at City Park. Last year’s theme was a cowboy or rodeo theme, and the previous few years, we saw a couple 100 people attend that big event. Last year, we had over 4000 people show up. Second largest event was Midnight Madness. Midnight Madness, we saw about 1800 people inside the library in those three hours. So two very large events for us, and they continue to get bigger and bigger every year. Our landscape renovation transformed the look and usability of our outdoor spaces, and we had our first outdoor event over the at the end of the summer, which was a bluey party for our families. We had the bluey character show up from the TV, favorite TV show, and we had over 200 children and families in attendance. For that event, we shared the total solar eclipse with hundreds, over 200 people at our watch party. Thank you to the city for allowing us to use the space at the old high school, we had over 200 people, and we welcomed people from as far away as Virginia, Texas, Pennsylvania and even New York. We uh, some new services and materials that were being offered in 2024 we started our bookworm boxes. These are curated boxes of reading, crafts, fun activities, and inside a box, the kids get to keep the activities. And usually a little surprise inside, and they just return the box and the books to us, and we do actually offer that for all ages, including some adult boxes. We started passport services to the community in March of last year. We’re doing more and more. And in fact, the post office here in town has started to kind of cut back on that, and they’re starting to send everyone to us. So that’s become an even greater need in 2025 and it’s become very popular since we are open in the evenings and on the weekends, and allows those that work during the week to still be able to do that on their own time. We also started laminating services in the in 2024 and for $1 you can laminate a sheet. We did add to our museum passes, which are hugely popular. Patrons can check out a museum pass for a week, and they can go to Akron Children’s Museum, the zoo, the art museum, the Botanical Gardens, Dan Hewitt house and many others. And we also, with a collaboration with some of the insurance agents in town, we started circulating traffic cone kits so that teenagers and those hoping to get their driver’s license, wanting to practice the maneuverability before taking their tests, can check out the cones and poles in order to practice on their own time. Finally, we launched a seed library in 2024 patrons can take seeds from our library. They can also bring us seeds from their own harvest or from their own collection. And that was also another hugely popular service that we started. We see everything from wildflowers, local flowers, vegetables for your garden, fruits, things like that. So that’s been very exciting. We do have some exciting things coming up in 2025 and we’re already starting to plan this year’s summer kickoff with the Parks Department will be pirate themed. We’re going with the Treasure Island theme. This year, we’ve already started gathering steel drum bands, food trucks and dessert trucks. We’ll have the snow cone machines out again, so we’ll have a lot of we’re looking at, like buried treasure activities and sword fights and walk the plank, and so we’re excited to host that again this year. We are we just finished planning our first ever summer concert series, which will be held from May through September, one Sunday afternoon each month. We have five bands total. So we will have a string trio, we’ll have a jazz quartet, we will have a children’s band with a sing along with, like Disney songs and and kind of like a kids kids Bop, kind of a thing. So that’s happening. And then we also have two local cover bands who will be you’ll see your very own, Rob Harris playing this summer. So we are excited to host that, and with those concerts, we’ll also have our food trucks back this summer. So look for looking forward to that some new items you can see for circulation and for checkout this year, include exercise equipment. So if you’d like to try something new, like yoga, weight training, things like that. You can check out some equipment from the library and try it see if you want to continue or just return it. No problem. We also have a collaboration with the Portage County Parks to circulate nature bags. These are bags that will contain a book about a nature topic. For example, one of them is bird amateur bird watching. You can check out a couple of books on different bird species and types of habitats and things like that. You might find binoculars in there for bird watching, and different pamphlets and educational material from the parks department as well. And one of our most exciting new items for circulation are Roku sticks. So we will start distributing Roku sticks. Each stick will have a different streaming application on it, so like you might check out one which will give you access to Netflix for a week, or one that might give you access to Paramount, plus, in case you need to binge watch your Yellowstone or 1923 just came back, we’ll also have Disney, Apple TV, Hulu, peacock. So you’ll be able to check those out. And keep those for a week to do all your binge watching at our expense instead of your own. So we’re very excited for what happened in 2024 and we are even more excited about the great things to come in 2025 so I thank you for your time and have a good evening
10:18
questions. It’s
Speaker 4 10:22
exciting. To hear about all the different services that you have. When you say, provide passport services. What does that entail?
Speaker 3 10:29
So we are a passport acceptance facility, which means if you are wanting to get a new passport, or your passport is expired, you can come with your application. We’ll check all the documents, approve that application, and get it sent off to the Department of State for you.
Speaker 4 10:48
Then also on the museum tickets. Is that listed on the website with the different museums that you
Speaker 3 10:53
have? It is so yes, there, and there are many of them. And we added, we started this in 2023 but we did add some new ones in 2024
Speaker 5 11:03
when you say patron, does that mean library card is that the same as being a library card holder? I wasn’t sure. Thanks. Yeah,
Speaker 3 11:11
most of our items circulate to all, all of the libraries in Portage County, but the museum passes are specific to read card holders, so you have to be a read patron in order to check those out.
Speaker 6 11:25
One last question, what was the month that the summer concert series was starting again?
Speaker 3 11:29
It’s going to start on Mother’s Day, May 11, as our first date will be we’ll host a concert on Father’s Day, and then we have a date in July, August, and our last date is September 7. Thank you. You’re welcome.
Speaker 2 11:46
Thank you. You’re welcome. It’s so exciting to hear what goes on in the library. It’s not just a matter of going and reading books anymore, and it’s really exciting to see all the diversity of things that you actually check out. Most people don’t really think about the library providing those types of services, ensure everyone in the city is very grateful the ability to take advantage, especially the streaming we know at this price, to me, I wouldn’t expect it to the library be able to do that, but I’m really
Speaker 7 12:21
excited for the to check.
Speaker 2 12:29
All right, thank you. Moving on in the agenda. Before I move on, COVID health services was scheduled on the agenda to present, but I believe they’re coming next month. But I will ask if anybody else present would want to speak tonight to city council. Michelle, please raise your hand. Gentlemen in the back, please come up to the microphone, state your name and address.
Speaker 8 12:55
Jared Moore, what I’m here for is about the water problem I’m having. I was up here before, and I talked to Frank, and he said that they would take a look at that problem. I got going on it. It flooded twice in one week. I don’t know whatever they did out on the street, but that’s when the problem started. So I went and got a plumber, which is maize plumbers, and they found nothing. They said the problem was on the other side, which would be the city. Now, they said something about we need cameras. Well, the mayor said that they would take care of that part. So I’m trying to figure out why I have to do that. When they said they would take care of that, I’ve been back and forth for this. Nobody wants their basin flooded. So I need some cooperation. You know, I’m getting no cooperation like I think I should. This problem needs to be solved. I want answers.
14:04
Does anybody want to respond?
Speaker 9 14:08
We have communicated with you. Jerry Dominic has, Tim has no we have emails. I was part of pack of them, part of the email but ultimately, your two flooding incidents were in August,
Speaker 8 14:23
correct? I’ve been back and forth with it, so it carried over all the way up until
14:31
November or whatever. So you flooded since
Speaker 8 14:33
August, flooded twice in one week, ever whatever they get out on the on the win one street, that was probably the eighth month I do believe, I’m not sure was,
Speaker 9 14:46
and the difficult part of our position is to help the residents that have the same issue as you’ve had, because many folks in this town is the. This, council members can tell you, head flood basement to August greens, your sanitary lane is a lot deeper than the construction of what we did on Main Street in front of your driveway in your house.
Speaker 8 15:13
I had no problems before, until they did whatever they did out on the street. I don’t know about anybody else’s problem. I’m talking about my problem, our
Speaker 9 15:21
sanitary we have a junction box in front of your house. It’s 1010, plus VP. We didn’t we just put a lid on that. We didn’t do any one center. You know, your lateral probably four or five feet deep, so you’re way below. Our construction didn’t get into Unfortunately, our our our sanitary system during rain events, takes on water, ground water, and it inundates the system, and it does back up. It begins counseling that can tell you to back up into people’s basement. Unfortunately, we can’t financially fix the sanitary system in town, many places, well over 100 years old. We know there’s deficiency. There was a decision, I think, back in 2004 and then prior to that, where they decided they would expand the wastewater plant, instead of trying to find the ini, which is inflow and infiltration system, what we recommended to other residents that have had repeated basement issues from rain events is to put a backflow valve on the outside of their house so then it’ll shut off and it won’t back up into their house. It’ll stop it outside and then okay. Unfortunately, you know, we’ll cross our fingers that this never happens again. We don’t see the rain event like we did August 17.
Speaker 8 16:53
Oh, I’m sure it’s gonna happen again. If it happened twice in one week, I’m sure it’s gonna happen again. That’s why I was trying to take you in just before spring. So our
Speaker 9 17:02
recommendation would be to put a backflow preventer on the outside of your house on the stand. That’s what we recommended other residents to do. Okay?
Speaker 2 17:18
Mr. Moore, I mean, just so we understand City Council is a part of the city government, but the mayor and the rest of his administration are the people who actually maintain and fix, if it’s necessary, the infrastructure of the city. You’re welcome any time to come to our regular meeting, but I just want to make sure you understand we have no authority to compel the mayor or the administration to do anything, so you really need to be communicating with them about any specific problem. But again, you’re welcome to come here any month to speak. We offer that forum, but we can’t, even if we wanted to do anything as council members to help you,
Speaker 9 18:09
we got camera at our main lines in your neighborhood, and they are free and clear. We don’t have blockages. We don’t see blockages. We don’t see that pipe that’s backing up. Generally, the rule is, if one neighbor is having a problem, but not the other neighbors more of a localized issue. This particular rain event, we had multiple issues throughout the whole city.
Speaker 8 18:35
There’s other neighbors in my neighborhood that have a problem, too. Below that for us back and
Speaker 9 18:42
I did get the report. Report, it was just a nasty rain
18:58
benefit, but when it did rain, it didn’t even rain that hard.
Speaker 9 19:10
August, 17 and August, 3, I think, was the other Ben thought that the wastewater,
19:20
okay, unfortunate,
19:21
but certainly.
Speaker 2 19:24
Thank you. Mr. Moore, anybody else wish to speak to council tonight? Seeing anybody? We’ll move on. The next item is the approval of the agenda. This is always a good time for any council member to decide to take something out of the consent agenda and put it in the regular agenda, if you so choose. Does anybody wish to do that? Anybody have any adjustments to the overall agenda? If not, then can we get a motion to approve tonight’s agenda? So. Second, all in favor, opposed. All right. The next item is the consent agenda. You can see we have our typical communications minutes, and then various ordinances that we’ve agreed upon that didn’t need a full discussion. Can we get a motion to I forgot, I gotta read the motion. Bear with
20:28
me just for a second here.
Speaker 2 20:33
Okay. Is there a motion to dispense with the requirements of the city charter and the revised foot of Ohio with reference to reading on three different days and adopting emergency clauses can prove the consent agenda so moved.
20:48
Mr. Kelsey, yes. Ms
20:54
West, yes. Miss Meredith, yes. Mr. Harper, yes.
Speaker 2 21:04
Thank you. The consent agenda is approved. Moving on, the next item works from committee to start off with the facility. Mr. Mosque, did I miss something invited city officials? Oh, I’m sorry. Mr. Ben, I will be seated. Mr. Sorry. Oh, my God, I’m so sorry.
Speaker 1 21:28
Good evening, everybody. For those of you don’t know, Ben Bill began superintendent the wastewater treatment plan been with the city for 31 years, 13 superintendent. Give you a brief overview on the plan this first time I’ve done this, so I’m not positive what you guys want in the last year, 2024 I’ve spent a lot of time and effort on the assessment that’s going to be coming next Monday. We’re going to talk about it at length, PowerPoint presentation from CT consultants in the last year, we’ve also focused a lot on the lift stations out throughout town, collection system, Freedom Street, lift station got a new generator. I don’t know if everybody’s driven by lately those nice new fence and generator out there. Lovers Lane. Lift station is actually under construction today. We started digging for an electrical upgrade and preps for a generator here, and hopefully later this year, maybe next year, we have an unfortunate incident at Maplewood lift station earlier this year where drunk driver wiped out the entire station. We had to get it back online within a month. I applaud everybody involved in that, and it went smoothly. We don’t really have too many issues at the plant regarding EPA, limits or capacity. It’s more of an aging issue. Some of our equipment’s aging. The last update of the plant was in 2004 that didn’t update everything at the plant. It updated some of it, most of the front end of the plant, little undersized, and it’s definitely getting some age on it. So Rob and I, Tim and Bob, just recently, also selected a consultant for a new trunk sewer line from the Chestnut Street lift station that should help with some of the issues in that area. And we also the assessment I hope to have in my in your inbox tomorrow, so you guys can take a look at it before you before we talk about it next Monday. And also, I know Mr. Karish is coming next Thursday to the planet one o’clock. That’s an open invitation for anybody that wants to come down take a tour to plan. And sometimes it helps get eyes on everything. You know, I have a good staff at the plant. We’re lucky. I have a lot of experience, along with some youth. And it’s, you know, we’re in a good spot with all the guys that work. There no issues to speak of. They all know their job well, and make my job easier. Any questions
Speaker 4 24:08
you man the facility 24 hours a day? No,
Speaker 1 24:12
no, we don’t. We have not done that since 2013 okay, we stopped that. Yep, we put in a SCADA system in one operator is on call every week. It changes every week. That’s one of the difficulties that we’ve had at the plan over the years. Is when I first started there, you could fix everything there with a wrench some grease. Now, because of the technology improvement, it does make us more efficient, makes us better operators, but it also gives us problems when something goes wrong, because we can’t fix those things, we have to call in somebody their proprietary issues. Normally, I shouldn’t say more difficult. It’s just different. It’s different now than it used to be. So the cost that used to be for employees to man the place has now kind of shifted over to maintain the equipment that we have. So
Speaker 4 25:00
we were actually operating with less employees. Now,
Speaker 1 25:04
oh yes, yes, when I first started in 1994 I want to say we had 12 operators. Right now we have five full time, one split the maintenance van, chemist and myself. So we have reduced costs through attrition. Nobody, nobody lost a job or anything like that through attrition. We don’t need as many guys as we used to. We’ve also compressed so we’re not spread out one guy on a shift all by himself in the middle of the night. Now it’s more, you know, four or five guys there throughout the day, so we can get more done in house, rather than have to hire things out then
Speaker 4 25:38
on the evaluation that you say we’re going to receive from CT consultants, yes, what would you kind of let us know beforehand when we received it in the next day or so? What is it that the goal of that evaluation was? What are we wanting to gain from looking at that,
Speaker 1 25:58
I would say a future capital plan at the wastewater plant to get us through the next 30 to 40 years. Because,
26:06
like I said, prioritizing a list.
Speaker 1 26:10
They said the last upgrade was in 2004 that’s even getting to be 20 years ago now, 21 years ago. That didn’t touch some parts of the plant. Some parts are from the 60s, 70s. There’s even tanks that we’re operating from the 40s still. So it’s just the front end of the plant, and also is going to tie into whatever we do at the Chestnut Street lift station is going to dump into the front end of the plant. It’s has the potential to overwhelm the front end as it is right now.
Speaker 4 26:39
I don’t want to get too deep in the weeds on some of the questions, but the possible expansion of the line from Chestnut Street out there will greatly increase the volume of water that you’re going to receive. Are the existing tanks able to take that if we put that line in now we’re
26:59
going to talk about that next, the short answer is, I don’t think so.
Speaker 2 27:09
It is kind of amazing. I mean, I think a resident paper ran it the water we provide, and then we get rid of but just that one meeting, it exposes someone like me who doesn’t really know much about this stuff and isn’t really science oriented, just how complex, how important it is that we keep those things operational and up to date. And so it’s a bit of an education. But I think the better part of the education is realizing how valuable it is. You know, the water is probably the most valuable resource the city provides, and so we have to really keep our focus on making sure that we’re paying attention to how we deliver the water and then how we get rid of it, in spite of what some residents may think of, you know, into the city’s fault if, no matter what happens the tour
Speaker 7 28:09
out there’s probably one of my favorites, because it really is fascinating to see how everything, how it pulls, operates, and to see how the wastewater treatment plant works. So if you have not been out there to kind of see the full scale of what it does, I highly recommend it Thursday, one book.
Speaker 8 28:33
All right. Well, I’m really excited about the assessment and the changes that will be coming within the next several years. Of the improvements.
28:45
Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Grant, thank you guys.
Speaker 2 28:49
Okay, now we will move on to reports from committee. Start off with utilities. Mr. Must,
28:54
there’ll be one thing on the agenda for next week,
28:59
information systems. Mr. Merribich, come
Speaker 9 29:01
I believe we may have an updated contract. I’m waiting here. Ben Jonathan, so I’ll let you know
29:09
if we actually have that one yet. Referring to the items on
29:13
the agenda tonight, my laptop is
Speaker 4 29:16
the secondary level that I’d like to speak contract. Yes. Thank
29:22
you. Ms, West Ben to be determined.
29:27
Oh, wait, actually, no, we’re at the meeting. Yeah.
Speaker 2 29:33
Committee hole will be Monday, March 24 at six o’clock. The next committee is public health and safety. Ms, Michael, to
Speaker 5 29:40
be determined about next week. I will be meeting with Tammy and the law director to come up with some guidelines on the opioid amending that we have on distribution of that we will be working on that whether or not it’ll
29:57
be writing for
Speaker 5 29:57
next week, I don’t know. Also ordinance 2025, tonight, oh, seven coming before us. Other than
30:11
that, nothing else. Thank you, Ben, Mr. Harris,
30:14
to be determined for next week, this time,
Speaker 4 30:17
personnel, Dr Ben, yes, we will have a committee meeting next week.
Speaker 2 30:23
Ms woods, not here tonight. Get the Community and Economic Development Report the cemetery. Mr. Moss. Ms West, do you have anything to report tonight? Yeah, so
Speaker 8 30:36
from one to beginning report from a consultant, we’ll know exactly what date pertaining to the chapel, an assessment exactly, getting a much better idea what will need to be done, and hopefully a narrow down cost on those the chapel itself, which is we need of repairs. Drastically good.
31:04
That was the big item.
Speaker 7 31:10
The chap was pretty neat. The windows are amazing. There’s a lot about it possible. So this is a great opportunity for us to save it in the first place, given what the plans are, and kind of do some downloading planning from the chapel and how we’re gonna get there. We where we’re gonna get the money. We don’t know what the money’s gonna look like, to even know where we’re gonna get the money.
Speaker 2 31:35
So okay, thank you for that report. Parks and Recreation, Mr. Merrick, don’t
Speaker 9 31:39
have that with me, but I’ll get that emailed out. I do know that the some of the soccer fields are being prepared for some upcoming events.
Speaker 2 31:46
Okay, thank you. We’ll now move on to first reading of ordinances. The first ordinance is ordinance number 20, 2506
Speaker 6 31:57
an ordinance amending the codified ordinances of the city of Ravenna, Section 12 planning and zoning code, chapter 1268, use area and height regulations. Section 12, 68.07 c1, commercial district, subsection C, conditionally permissible uses by removing health spa and Fitness Center from Section 12, 68.07 Section B, Section 80, and adding health spa, fitness center and massage establishment to Section 12, 68.07, Section C, 22 as significant
32:33
responses by the planning committee. Ms, Wes, reads. We’ve
32:37
been talking about this for quite some time.
Speaker 2 32:42
I Well, this is the, this is the conditionally permitted use. Yes, we had a public hearing last topic of discussion. Earlier. True should be noted there is no emergency funds attached to this ordinance. What if anybody have any comments questions about this? If not, is there a motion to waive the three separate readings? Second,
33:25
yes, yes.
Speaker 6 33:28
Ms Michael, yes. Ms West, yes. Mr. Kelsey, yes, Mr. Mosque, yes, Mr. Mayor Ridge, yes, Mr. Harper, yes.
Speaker 2 33:35
And do we have a motion to approve the ordinance? Second, MS, Michael,
Speaker 6 33:41
yes. Mr. Mayor bridge, yes. I’m sorry. Mr. Moss,
33:46
you have something either way. Thank you. Mr.
Speaker 6 33:48
Kelsey, yes. Ms West, yes. Mr. Mayor Ridge, yes. Mr. Harper,
33:53
yes,
Speaker 2 33:54
an ordinance and approve. The next ordinance is ordinance number 20, 2507
Speaker 6 33:59
an ordinance amending the codified ordinances of the city of Ravenna. Part 12, planning and zoning code title six, zoning, chapter 1268, use area and height regulations. Section 12, 68.09 c2, heavy commercial district. Subsection C conditionally permitted uses by removing health spa and Fitness Center from Section 12, 68.09 Section B, 70 and adding house, Spa Fitness Center and massage establishment to Section 12, 68.09 Section C, 35 as conditionally permissible use.
34:34
And this is the section of the three ordinances, if
Speaker 7 34:38
similar to the last one. This is just for c2 the heavy commercial district, and again, something we’ve been discussing for
34:50
quite some kind as far as the massage establishment, questions or comments waive the
Speaker 6 34:58
three separate meetings. Yes, Mr. Mosque. Yes. Mr. Kathy, yes. Ms West, yes. Ms Michael, yes. Mr. Harper, yes.
35:06
And is there a motion to approve the ordinance? So
Speaker 6 35:08
moved second? Ms Michael, yes. Mr. Meredith, yes. Mr. Cathy, yes. Ms West, yes. Mr. Moscon,
35:14
yes. Mr. Yes, the ordinance
Speaker 2 35:16
stands approved. The next ordinance is 20, 2508 an ordinance
Speaker 6 35:21
amending the COVID ordinances, Section 12, planning and zoning. Code Title six, zoning, chapter 1268, use area and height regulation. Section 12, 68.08 central business meeting by removing house bond Fitness Center from Section 12, 68.08 Section B, 70, and adding House file, fitness center, massage establishment, to Section 12, 68.08 section 233, as a conditionally permissible
35:50
use of central businesses,
Speaker 2 35:53
questions or comments, the motion to waive the Three separate readings. So moved second. Mr.
Speaker 6 35:59
Merriman, yes, member,
36:05
Mr. Harper,
Speaker 6 36:11
yes, Mr. Merriment Yes, Mr. Caffey, yes. Ms West Yes. Mr. Moscon, yes. Ms Michael,
36:17
yes, that
Speaker 2 36:18
one stands approved. The next ordinance is ordinance number 2025, 28 an ordinance
36:23
authorizing enter into the first agenda to community reinvestment
Speaker 2 36:33
area agreement and declaring emergency. This one is sponsored by community economic development. Basically, this is just renewing, I guess, is maybe the proper term the CRA we established
36:49
for this
Speaker 2 36:52
parcel. And it’s taken that there’s a new owner, there’s a different purpose, and they’re asking for some changes to this, the existing C rate. We went over those changes, committee meeting. Anybody have any questions
Speaker 4 37:09
about this? No, just comment. It’s great to see that this local business has taken on this property and plans to move all of their business into it that’s a lot of workers. The building is going to be put to good use. And transferring this agreement to the new business, I think, is a good thing for us to do to help them as they move along in this new business.
Speaker 2 37:36
I mean that we have the CRA to be able to take it encourages better economic development and gives property owners a little relief from taxes any questions or comments. If not, do we have a motion to waive the three executive reading? So moved second. Mr. Kelsey,
Speaker 6 37:59
yes. Mr. Ben Ridge, yes. Ms West, yes. Mr. Moscon, yes. Ms Michael, yes. Mr. Harper, yes,
38:09
and we have a motion to adopt the emergency
38:11
floor, so moved second. Mr. Kelvin,
38:12
yes, Mr. Ben Yes. Ms West, yes. Mr. Moscon, yes. Ms Michael, yes. Mr.
Speaker 2 38:19
Harper, yes, and a motion to approve the ordinance. So moved second Mr.
38:23
COVID, yes. Ms Michael, yes.
38:25
Ms West abstain.
Speaker 6 38:28
Mr. Mosman, yes. Mr. Ben, yes, Mr. Harper, yes.
Speaker 2 38:36
The ordinance stands approved. We now move on to ordinances on second reading. First ordinance there is ordinance number 2025, 18,
Speaker 6 38:45
an ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into agreement with late fee for fiber Internet service and declaring an emergency.
Speaker 2 38:51
This is sponsored by information systems. Mr. Larovich. This is the contract we’re looking for
Speaker 9 38:57
better services at a very similar rate, only a slight increase for this one and great opportunity for the city to have better access for the
Speaker 2 39:09
questions, questions, concerns about this ordinance. Okay, do we have a motion to waive the remaining readings for this so second,
Speaker 6 39:20
Mr. Merribich, yes. Mr. Moskin, yes. Mr. Healthy, yes. Miss West, yes. Miss Michael, yes. Mr. Harper, yes.
Speaker 2 39:27
Do we have a motion to adopt the emergency clause so moved
Speaker 6 39:31
second? Mr. Barravich, yes, Miss Michael, yes. Mr. Healthy, yes. Miss West, yes. Mr.
Speaker 10 39:37
Moskin, Yes, Mister Yes, and
Speaker 2 39:41
a motion to approve the ordinance. So moved second. Mr.
Speaker 6 39:45
Merovich, yes. Mr. Ross Yes. Mr. Healthy, yes. Ms Leslie, yes. Ms Michael Yes. Mr.
Speaker 2 39:52
Hunter, yes, that ordinance stands approved. We now move on to ordinances on third reading. The first one is ordinance number 2020. Four, 132,
Speaker 6 40:01
an ordinance authorizing the mayor to sign an easement to allow Portage Metropolitan Housing Authority, pmha to place the generator behind within a city hall and declaring an emergency.
Speaker 2 40:11
Okay, this one is sponsored by planning committee Frankie.
Speaker 9 40:19
Frank and I are going to be working on an agreement. Okay, seven out of two. Working
40:24
on an agreement.
Speaker 2 40:30
Okay, in that case, this has been lingering for quite a while. Do we have a motion to postpone this ordinance? I
40:40
22nd Yes. Ms West,
Speaker 6 40:44
yes. Mr. Healthy, yes. Mr. Moskin, yes. Ms Michael Yes. Mr. Ben Ridge, yes. Mr. Hartman, yes.
Speaker 2 40:51
Okay, that ordinance is postponed until our April meeting. The last ordinance on the third reading is ordinance 2024 district,
Speaker 6 41:01
an ordinance creating a new section of the codified ordinances of the city of Ravenna party, business regulation and taxation. Code Title two, by adding chapter 864, massage establishments. Section 860, 4.01 definitions, Section 860, 4.02 license and registration requirement required. Section 860, 4.03 requirements for massage establishment. Section 860, 4.04 inspections
41:33
declaring emergency.
41:37
This is sponsored by public health and safety. Ms live,
Speaker 5 41:40
yes. So finally, we are tying up both ordinances together. And again, we just wanted to make our city safer, tighten up the ordinance, putting things on for restrictions. We want to make it so just not any type of massage parlor can come into our city, this is protecting the reputable massage places that we currently have, so there have been some concern about that, and this is by no way to harm the people who have the education, the skills and the businesses that we want in our downtown. So again, I don’t want anyone to worry about that. These are for these businesses that are popping up in area downtowns that are not ones that we want. So again, this is for protection. So thank you.
Speaker 2 42:43
This has been ongoing for quite a while, and it was reviewed by some of our experts in this area, and pleased to see that they pretty much even place suggestions.
Speaker 4 42:57
One of the things we were discussing right at the end there was the penalties and the amounts, did we arrive at a number that was agreeable to everyone
Speaker 5 43:06
we there hadn’t been any changes to that yet. We’re going to talk about that again, because we wanted to get this part of it done. And that is something that we are going to, you know. We can talk about increasing the penalties and fines for the building owners for that, but I do agree that is something that that they should also be careful on who they’re renting out, and not just be concerned of the dollar amount of you know, making money on their on their Property.
43:39
Any other questions or concerns about this ordinance. Okay, then do we have a motion to adopt the emergency clause?
Speaker 6 43:47
So moved second. Ms, Michael, yes. Ms, Hus, yes. Mr. Cathy, yes. Mr. Moscon, yes. Mr. Vernage, yes. Mr. Harper, yes,
Speaker 2 43:57
and a motion to approve the ordinance. So moved second.
Speaker 6 44:03
Ms West, yes. Ms Michael, yes. Mr. Kelsey, yes, Mr. Moskin, yes, Mr. Barbit, yes, Mr. Hoffman, yes,
Speaker 2 44:10
and stands approved. That completes ordinances on third reading, we now move on to old business. We have the old business to discuss.
Speaker 10 44:22
Yes. We have a matter of public record lawsuits. We’re involved with Dr Miller and Mrs. Miller, but the case has now been removed to the federal court, and just to let you know that that has occurred and moving forward with the case, Mr. The Ben Jones representing the city and Mr. John black, she representing the library. Both of them were in concurrence. Thank you and
44:59
wisdom. We are now, I’m not gonna go any farther.
Speaker 2 45:03
Thank you. Thank you for updating. Do we have any new business? No, okay, and we’ll move on to remarks. So I didn’t really prepare anything official, but many of you will recall that not too long after I assumed this rule, I made the suggestion that maybe Council participate in a retreat. And I’ve talked to some of you throughout the time. We didn’t do it last summer. There was a suggestion, maybe we’ll do it over the winter break, I sent out some information about collecting information, seeing kind of testing the enthusiasm level. And there are many on council who are very enthusiastic about the idea, but not not universally enthusiastic responses. And I thought maybe, well, I could schedule it and see what shows up. It kind of defeated the purpose. I want people to be energized about an idea like that and not just feel like they have to participate. So obviously, the time passed, and I didn’t really pursue it, but I was, I’ve been trying to think of different ways to engage Council on other things, other than just showing up at our meetings and pretty much responding to the needs of others and being a little bit more strategic. I know you have a comprehensive plan. You inspire us to do some, hopefully some innovative kind of part of the retreat, of always getting to know each other a little better and maybe being better coordinated and understanding each other’s needs, was to inspire strategic planning or thinking outside the box. So one idea came up with, and again, I’m not going to just do this without consulting with all of you, with maybe having a much needed meeting, even just for like, what happened out maybe before one of our regularly scheduled meetings, and with nothing really planned other than to talk about what’s on our mind and what we think we might be able to do as a city council to improve the city. I would, I would ask you all, if we do that, to think about things that interest you, and then listen to others who do bring things to the table, and then talk about how we might pursue those ideas, because I think sometimes, and you guys can correct me if I’m wrong, but we feel like we get this packet of information and we got to read it, and we’ve got to understand what everyone else is asking of council to do, but we don’t have as much time to do the Planning and the thinking and the brainstorming that we otherwise could be doing. So normally, remarks are a dialog or debate, but I’m curious to see, and you don’t have to tell me tonight. You can email me, you can call me, or whatever. But is there, would there be some reception to say starting in April, before the committee meeting just started like 530 because a lot of us come early anyway and just start the meeting, and then, you know, talk for a half hour, see where it goes. We could try it for a few months, and if it doesn’t really do anything, we can stop doing it. It wouldn’t be a mandatory meeting. We really don’t need it for them, because it would be no action taken public would be welcome to come and listen to us ran along. Anybody any thoughts about that? I think
Speaker 7 48:50
it’s a great idea, just because I think a lot of us, there’s a lot of things that we have on our own kind of agendas we want to improve or make better. That gives us the opportunity to see if anybody else on campus,
Speaker 2 49:08
at home is moving forward with that video. And again, I don’t want anybody in the spot. Feel free to communicate with me after this meeting if you have some private thoughts about it. And I’m not going to schedule anything certainly for this month, but I’ll contemplate scheduling. We’ll just call it a special meeting, work session. Thank you. We’ll start with Mr. Harper tonight. Your remarks,
Speaker 8 49:31
nothing additional this evening. Thanks. I’m gonna
49:36
be quiet tonight. Mr. Mehrabi,
Speaker 8 49:46
yes, this is just very brief. I want to thank Mr. Again, Mr. Judge, for coming and making their
Speaker 1 49:51
presentations and their comments. Gives us a little bit more
49:55
info. Thank you.
Speaker 4 50:00
It’s a question about the West Main Street widening, and I saw that they’re marking some lines. And I’m curious, are we getting ready to start that project of moving the curves back and the size is being marked for some of the reasons
50:18
being marked?
50:22
Okay? Do marked, okay, I’m hoping 2026, okay, so it’s not, it’s not
Speaker 9 50:30
on schedule for this summer. Too risky for me to bid it out. Have a poll not be relocated. Everything off of Okay, first energy, 18 t have completed your work? It’s the underlying minds that are very difficult to get a hold of, viral fiber lines.
Speaker 4 50:49
I thought we might have made a breakthrough on that, and we’re ready to go. Okay, thank you. Ms West,
Speaker 7 50:56
I actually do have a couple things tonight. There’s just really quick, the obsession on the CRA I love CRAs. I don’t really want to take otherwise, but due to my job at Port. HG, I certainly did not feel comfortable waiting on that. So March, dd, Awareness Month, TV, Pride Month, you guys will all be getting an email from an employee at Port. HG, inviting you to some of the events. One of the events is a advocacy group that meets at rebuild library on Tuesday, March 11 through 10 to 11. They’re looking for public officials to come and just kind of talk about what they do for their communities, as well as for public officials to be able to listen to people that we support and so they can, you know, feel heard and see if there’s some change that they can the other event that they’re doing is on Sunday, March 30. There’s going to be a bowling event, and they’re asking legislators to stop by if they’re in feedback, if you don’t feel comfortable speaking up and talking, maybe hanging out with us on a Sunday. Oh, it’s so fun. It’s it’s so fun. Rob and our DD rally is going to be on the 27th at 10am here on the courthouse lawn. So if you’re able to join us for that, you know, I think it’s really important for our community to get to know each other, regardless of what part of the community you’re in and our you know, the folks that we serve, they want to know who’s representing them, and they want to know who’s helping with the cities and their lives. So for us to be able to go and introduce ourselves and really, you know, share what we do and how we can make public, providers really important. They are a huge part, you know, anyone perceived services important, it’s a huge part of our community, and it’s changed so much over the years. For anyone that’s been around a while, I think it’s really neat to see how far we’ve been. So anyone that is able to go. There’s also a list of events on on our website. The other thing that we’re doing is, I think it’s March 18, I’m doing an open house at our smart home, our tech home. So if anyone’s interested in coming and tour that. Tyler stopped by for a little bit when I was out there working. We have some equipment out there to support people with being able to live a little bit more independently. So whether it’s learning how to use Alexa, whether it’s smart alarms, smart sensors, using rats, all kinds of different things that we have out there to showcase so that people with disabilities can live as independently affected, so we are having all that going on,
Speaker 2 53:26
and we will be getting notices of dates and time Absolutely. Thank you.
53:32
Thank you. Well,
Speaker 2 53:34
unfortunately, we don’t have the mayor with us tonight, so we won’t be getting an update from him. Do we have a motion to adjourn?
53:41
Just real quick.
53:44
The contractor is pouring foundation that is still progressing out of its way. Be
53:54
very busy. I won’t go up there. We
Speaker 2 54:02
still need a motion so moved second All in favor, say.
