The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. It opened with a prayer, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the roll call with all council members present.
Before the regular council meeting, the Finance Committee met to review the city’s midyear financial position. Matt Miller, the city finance director, presented the review.
Key highlights from the city financial review included the following:
- Credit card report: The report remains unchanged. The city received an increased credit limit, although it had not requested one.
- June year-to-date financial report: The general fund has spent 46% of budgeted expenses and collected 54% of projected revenue.
- General fund balance: Although the general fund was slightly lower in June, year-to-date revenue is up $800,000 from the $32 million beginning balance in January.
- Personnel and benefits: In June, the city hired two new police officers, negotiated new medical rates and issued a dispatcher bonus.
- Income tax revenue: The city collected $1.3 million in income tax revenue in June, its largest source of revenue. Withholding and residential collections are up, while net profits are down.
- Payroll and year-end outlook: Payroll remains the city’s largest fund and is positive to budget. The city is also on target to meet its year-end income tax collection goal of $15 million.
Citizen Comments
No members of the public in attendance offered comments. With no citizen comments,
Council Member Michael Lampa asked to speak as a citizen and reported that the Friends of Streetsboro Parks, a 501(c)(3) organization, has decided to dissolve the fund. Remaining funds will be distributed as follows: a donation to the Friends of Pierce Streetsboro Library, a donation to the deer donation fund and the purchase of a bench in honor of Eileen Fitzsimmons, who started the fund. The bench will be placed in Thomas Heritage Park.
New Business
None.
The Finance Committee was adjourned and the regular City Council meeting was called to order.
The regular meeting of the City Council was called to order with a roll call conducted.
City Council members in attendance:
Ward Members: Marianne Glenn, Anthony Lombardo, Jen Wagner and Justin Ring.
At-Large Members: Steve Michniak, Jon Hannan and Lampa.
Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the July 13, 2026, public hearing on pools and hot tubs and the July 13, 2026, regular City Council meeting were approved as submitted.
Citizen Comments
Samantha Soloman, a Democratic candidate for state representative in District 35, introduced herself to council. She shared that she is a lawyer from Summit County and has worked with victims of domestic violence, human trafficking and sexual abuse. She also noted her experience working across party lines to help develop legislation aimed at combating human trafficking.
Reports/communications from departments, boards and commissions
Fire Department: Fire Chief Rob Reinholz reported that there had been no fires in the past few weeks. He also noted that EMS responded to a call and performed a successful resuscitation. Tinkers Creek church again hosted Mud Day, and the Fire Department participated by bringing a tanker to help create the mud from a large pile of dirt.
Police Department: Police Chief Tricia Wain reported that two city officers will teach at the attorney general’s law enforcement training symposium. They will address sextortion, a special focus for the Streetsboro Police Department following the death of James Woods, who was a victim of sextortion. Wain also noted that the family will host a run/walk this weekend to raise funds for the foundation in Woods’ honor.
Parks and Recreation: Samantha Edgar reported that the department will break ground next week on the new playground. She also noted that preparations are underway for the Brew & BBQ Bash on Aug. 15.
Economic Development: Patrick O’Malia reported that he recently received a call from the Portage County Board of Commissioners and the state of Ohio asking for the city of Streetsboro to approve a continuance allowing the city to spend down its CDBG allocation for a period not to exceed Dec. 31, 2026. O’Malia then requested that council approve a motion authorizing the continuance and asked for a voice vote. The motion passed by voice vote.
Legislation Introduced
The following legislation passed after council voted to suspend the three-reading rule and declare an emergency:
- T-8037: Amended the annual appropriations ordinance to provide additional funds; adopted as Ordinance 26-116.
- T-8038: Accepted the amounts and rates and authorized the various tax levies as determined by the Budget Committee; adopted as Ordinance 26-117.
- T-8040: Authorized an RFQ for design services for Frost Road improvements and authorized the mayor to solicit design plans; adopted as Ordinance 26-118.
- T-8041: Authorized the mayor to enter into contracts without competitive bidding with various vendors for the Gateway Green sidewalk project, with material costs not to exceed $50,000; adopted as Ordinance 26-119.
- T-8042: Authorized the mayor to enter into a contract with ODOT for the purchase of salt for the 2026-2027 winter season.
First reading
T8039 to approve a CRA property tax exemption.
Second reading
T-8027 would authorize the mayor to enter into a contract for the purchase of Flock cameras. Citizens were invited to speak regarding the proposed purchase. A citizen expressed concerns about the proposed camera purchase based on his understanding of prior council discussions. He stated that he was uncomfortable with cameras monitoring public travel and noted that the cameras were originally marketed as license-plate readers. He also raised concerns that camera technology may now include facial-recognition capabilities and questioned what safeguards are in place to prevent improper searches of the database, citing incidents elsewhere that resulted in officer terminations.
The police chief stated that the city is considering stationary cameras intended to read license plates and related vehicle identifiers, such as bumper stickers. She also clarified that the cameras under consideration do not include facial-recognition capability. Wain further explained that the department thoroughly vets officers during the hiring process and that any officer who misuses collected data through unwarranted searches would be subject to discipline.
Wain then invited Kevin Kane, a representative from Flock Safety, to address specific questions regarding data audits, camera operation and safeguards intended to ensure proper use of the data gathered by the cameras.
A lengthy and heated discussion followed among council members regarding the proposed purchase and installation of Flock cameras. Ring spoke first and stated that he expected to be the only member voting against the measure, even though he believed it would pass.
Ring said Council should review the contract between Flock and the city before voting. He also stated that the city should establish clear policies and strict governance around this before moving forward, including who may access the data, which outside agencies may access the city’s data (his preference is none), who owns the data, whether the default 30-day data retention period should apply, how many searches are conducted and who conducts those searches.
Ring emphasized that complete transparency and strong legislative safeguards are needed in place first to ensure proper governance over the use of the data.
Michniak spoke out next in full support of the installation of the Flock cameras.
“I want to tell my friends out there that you have nothing to fear,” Michniak said. “This is not anything. Nobody cares about where you are going. You now have no expectation of privacy in public anyways; if I want to, I can follow you around all day long and not threaten you. I could drive behind you everywhere, write down your plate and then publish it on Facebook: you’re in public. You buy a license plate, it identifies your vehicle, that’s it. Yeah, Flock can look at damage on a car and this and that and the other, but when you go out in public, you are in public.”
Michniak summarized his remarks by stating the only ones affected by the cameras are criminals, and the data should be shared with all communities in the cause of safety and apprehending criminals. Ring again stated his biggest concern is use of the database and the timeframe for searchable database retention and the use of this camera is a government overreach. Additional council members and the mayor then voiced their support of installation of the Flock cameras.
Second readings continued with the reading of T-8035 to amend chapter 1155 off-street parking and loading requirements and T-8036 to amend a rear-yard definition.
Third reading
None.
Mayor’s report
The mayor expressed condolences to the city of North Royalton following the fatal shooting of its building commissioner, emphasized the importance of protecting city workers and added that measures are now being implemented to protect Streetsboro residents.
Michniak suggested providing training and authorizing select individuals within city departments to be armed. He stated that he would support legislation and council policy to address that issue.
President of council comments
None, except he stated that it was a good conversation around Flock installations.
Council Member comments
Michniak again urged council to consider arming certain city employees. Hannan had nothing further to add, but noted that he would miss the next regular council meeting on Aug. 10. Wagner thanked residents for speaking up at this meeting and acknowledged that community views on the Flock cameras are divided, with some residents strongly opposed and others supportive. She stated that this makes the decision difficult. Glenn agreed that the decision regarding the cameras will be difficult, but emphasized that council must do what is best for the entire community.
The meeting was adjourned at 9 p.m.