Akron Reporter

Council Workshop Highlights from March 14, 2023

City Council Meeting

Following is a summary of the March 14, 2023 City Council Workshop. To watch the meeting, visit https://hudson.granicus.com/player/clip/3891. 

Executive Session

Council entered executive session to interview applicants for the Military and Veterans Commission.

Correspondence and Council Comments

The Water Infrastructure Subcommittee met and discussed prioritization of proposed projects, financial estimates, and how these projects would be funded. The Subcommittee will be working on communication to engage people in those specific neighborhoods to determine their level of interest and to draft guidelines.

The Ad-Hoc Fiber to the Residents Committee met and are working on negotiations with a provider.

Council recognized the Nagle family for their generosity and effort carrying out a bake sale and raffle for a Hudson family who lost their home in a fire.

Planning Commission approved the American Fireworks site plan. After a discussion, the developer of the proposed Darrow Road townhomes withdrew their plan prior to the Commission vote.

View the Council Comments Section of the video to see the full discussion. 

Discussion Items

SR 91 Sidewalk Widening under the Norfolk Southern Bridge. Staff presented the survey results to which approximately 122 people responded. The overall results were 57% no, 54% in favor of widening the sidewalk. Council expressed concern that people were confused about the costs. A total of $175,000 was budgeted and with the reduction in the Norfolk Southern inspection costs, the additional amount requested was approximately $20,000. The sidewalk project was originally a part of the Veterans Trail Phase 5 plan, and the purpose of considering it now was because ODOT already had an agreement with Norfolk Southern for the bridge work that allows us to piggyback on that contract. Staff will come back with a summary chart and clarification before the next meeting.

Chittenden Road Waterline Extension.  The City was asked if it would extend our water line to a new business on Chittenden in Boston Heights. We already have a water line extended to Sky Zone. Council discussed the project and determined it did not wish to move forward with this water line extension.

Summit County Intergovernmental Memorandum of Understanding for Job Creation and Retention and Tax Revenue Sharing. Council discussed the MOU that is currently in place with Summit County. Since 2011, the City has participated in this agreement. Council is not sure if it should continue in this agreement and asked staff to discuss it with members of the County committee regarding negotiating new terms to the agreement and the possibility that the City would pull out of the agreement. Staff will come back to Council with an update April 11. 

Current Fees for Special Event Services and Consideration of Removal of Fees. There are on average over 70 different City-permitted events annually with many of them repeating multiple times over the events season, totaling on average over 105 events, Fees are charged for some events, but not all. After discussion, Council asked staff to provide a fee schedule including permit, police, electric, and water fees, including costs to those events currently grandfathered in without fees. Staff will be back to Council on April 11 with this information. 

Environmental Awareness Committee Priorities 2023. The goals suggested by the EAC were:

1) Education and Outreach including the annual Earth Day event, quarterly workshops, and media.

2) Work with Community Development Staff on resident resources related to composting, energy efficiency, and other environmental topics.

3) Work with Economic Development Staff to explore options for promoting renewable energy and other sustainable practices among businesses.

Council asked that the goals be more detailed in the future. It also asked that the quarterly meeting with the City Manager be changed to meeting quarterly with the Council liaison, who then would report to Council. Community Development will work with the EAC on future economic development projects. The EAC was asked to reach out to the League of Women Voters for information collected at its climate meeting. Due in April. 

Feasibility Study Request for a Second Redundant Electric Feed to Allstate. The study will review the best option to supply a redundant electric feed to Allstate Insurance Company. Staff will ask Allstate about funding 100% of the study cost. Staff will provide a 5-year breakdown and summary of construction costs and employee counts. Electric usage over the last three years should be included.  

Future Consent Agenda Items

Motion to acknowledge timely receipt of February 2023 Monthly Financial Report.  Council asked about loss of one Velocity Broadband customer. One small business closed.

Resolution to advertise for bids and enter a contract for the 2023 Guardrail Replacement Program.

Resolution to apply for an Ohio Department of Transportation conducted update to the Safe Routes to Schools Travel Plan and enter an agreement if accepted.

Resolution to approve Then and Now Certificate.

Ordinance to enter into contracts for the purchase of three vehicles for the Public Works Department. Council asked about the 6-month sunset on the Ordinance. Staff will come back in 6 months if necessary.

Resolution urging the legislative branches of the Federal Government as well as the State of Ohio to enact legislation to increase rail safety and oversight. In a call to action, the Ohio Municipal League is asking for support for rail safety at the federal and state level by passing a resolution to increase rail safety.

Proposed Legislation Items

Resolution approving the application for placement of land in a current agricultural use district for Darlyne Roller, 696 Terex Road.

Resolution approving the application for placement of land in a current agricultural use district for Clyde Rardin, 2790 Ravenna Street. It was requested that Council consider this on the second reading per the Ohio Revised Code. With the late March Council recess, the item would be voted on too late to meet Code requirements.

Resolution approving the application for placement of land in a current agricultural use district for Kenneth and Joyce Kuryla, 1975 Norton Road and 1936-1940 Georgetown Road.

Resolution approving the application for placement of land in a current agricultural use district for Darlyne Roller, 696 Terex Road. This is land that includes the events center with landscape, nursery plants and wooded land.

Resolution approving the application for placement of land in a current agricultural use district for Vincent Roman, 7005 Walters Road.

Resolution Amending Resolution No. 22-112 to increase the cost of the SR 91 Bridge Replacement Project. If Council wants to fund this, they will need to pull this item forward next week.

Resolution amending the Hudson Volunteer Fire and EMS Department Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP). Will make EMS the same as Fire.

Resolution to enter into a professional service contract with TRC Environment Corporation for the demolition and hazardous material mitigation of 94 Owen Brown Street. Council questioned the $18,000 cost. Includes demo plan and engineering part, hauling materials away, capping the utilities and getting the site prepped for demolition. 

Resolution to enter into an agreement with the City of Cleveland for an extension of a water line along Chittenden Road in the Village of Boston Heights. Council requested this be removed from the agenda.

Meeting Adjourned

Original source can be found here