City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. This is the call to order for the Canal Winchester City Council public hearing for Monday, April 6, 2026. Clerk, will you call the role, please? Miss A, present. Mr. Bennett, here. Miss Deweiler, here. Mr. Mclofflin here. Mr. Moore here. Mr. Payne here. Mr. Shay present.

Thank you. Uh we're here this evening to discuss the um purpose for this public hearing. Ordinance 26-009. Clerk, will you read the ordinance, please? An ordinance to amend part 11 of the codified ordinances in the zoning map of the city of Canal Winchester reszoning 9.27 27 acres from general commercial to limited manufacturing owned by PMR LLC and located at 6270 Bowen Road PI184-0000882 and 184-0000932. Thank you. And I believe the staff report will be given by Mr. Moore.

Good evening. Uh tonight I want to discuss the proposed uh zoning map amendment uh initiated by New River Electric for 6270 Bone Road. Um up on the screen is a location map of the subject property. Uh the properties outlined in the teal color. The assemblage of both parcels for the 9.27 acres. It is currently zoned general commercial. Uh the applicant is requesting to reszone the subject parcel in its entirety to limited manufacturing. Uh the um applicant is looking to reszone the subject property to limited manufacturing. Um New River Electric Corp is the applicant. Uh they are currently leasing um about 70% of the subject parcel. Uh if you look at the aerial up on the screen, the main building up at front with the the new dark black roof, uh that is um currently being occupied by a automobile repair facility. Um so they're um currently occupying the front portion of the site, that kind of nearly black top area. um more or less everything else from that uh larger building at the front of the site towards the rear of the parcel is being um currently leased by New River Electric. Uh New River Electric is a electrical contracting company um which is not a permitted use for the general commercial zoning district. uh they were notified by the city, them and the property and were notified that their use is not permitted under the current zoning um and so they are seeking to reszone the property to allow for their use to continue in the subject parcel. When talking with the property owner um he was not um concerned about changing the zoning for the entire property um and that zoning change does not affect negatively affect um Oxford

Automotive which is the other tenant at the front of the site. Uh when looking at the criteria for zoning review, um the applicant has put together their statements. I'll kind of flip through them as I go through mine. Um for the compatibility of the proposed amendment to adjacent land use, adjacent zoning, and appropriate plans for the area, including but not limited to the comprehensive plan. The proposed zoning map amendment is compatible and staffs you with adjacent land use and plans for the corridor. uh the 2023 community plan. I'll flip to that here. Just kind of skip ahead. Uh the site that we're talking about is highlighted circled in red or is in red circled in blue. Uh the um community plan notes majority of the corridor north of US33 is going to be zoned for employment industrial uses, which is the gray color on the map. Um the plan the 2023 community plan had this site zoned as general commercial as it was existing zoning and an existing development on it. Um however the um immediate intersection of Bone Road and US uh 33 um this aerial right here. this intersection over recent communications with the ODOT, the long-term access to 33 for this this curb cut is unclear. Um they are exploring options on closing this access north from 33 onto Bone Road. Um which really changes the dynamics and the assumptions made in the 2023 community plan uh for leaving the site as commercial. Um so with the kind of pending um road changes uh that is happening through the ODOT process um some of these assumptions um kind of outdate the information for this this part particular parcel on the map.

Uh when looking at the relationship of the proposed amendment to access traffic flow utilities uh the um access to and around the site is not being proposed to be modified at this time. Uh there is an existing access drive immediately off of 33 to the front of the site. There is an access drive further to the north. Uh that is um the primary access for New River Electric at the rear of the site. A utility service is already present on the subject property. Um the um property owner has identified that there is public water and sewer to the subject uh property including the smaller building in the back that New River Electric is leasing. uh the uh relationship for the proposed amendment to public health, safety, convenience, comfort, prosperity, and general welfare. Um the limited manufacturing itself does not have any negative impacts to these these items. Um all site plans and layouts for all users on limited manufacturing property are required to follow the standards listed in the limited manufacturing zoning district. uh the proposed New River Electric getting into compliance um would be no different. Uh the relationship to proposed use and the adequacies of available services and expansion plans uh plan capital improvement. Again, this property currently has access to water and sewer services. Uh Canal Winchester does not have any capital improvement plans that would impact existing service provided to this site. Uh when looking at the resoning again, the reszoning request is being filed by the applicant who is control of the annex building in the rear half of the subject property. Uh the applicant was notified by the city that their use as an electrical uh contractor is non-conforming to the general commercial zoning district and the property needs to be recatategorized to a district where their use is a permitted use for them to continue operations on the site.

Uh this application is being filed uh as the first step to bringing the site towards code compliance. Again any site development plans or occupancy certificates um would immediately follow the resoning of the property. So currently New River Electric does not have any occupancy certificate to operate on the subject property. Um and then just as a note um you know for this this application um I I mentioned it in the staff report but all compliance towards getting their occupancy permit is the next step after the appropriate zoning is set in place. So um just be aware that um you know while there are things on the site that are currently not in code compliance the bigger issue is the use itself is not compliant for the current zoning district. Uh so once the use is a approved use for the zoning then code compliance and occupancy are kind of the next steps in the process moving forward. Uh the applicant put together a site plan here. Um this kind of describes in in a visual what I was um doing in words for the area they're leasing. Um they've identified their existing operations on the site, kind of how they're using it. Again, this is um kind of a match for the aerial that I had up majority of this presentation. Um this kind of site plan is not confirming, you know, what they're doing. Again, is in code compliance and this is just a a illustration for how they're currently operating on the property for uh the discussion of the application. So, planning and zoning commission reviewed this uh resenting request in February of 2026. Uh they recommended that the request to reszone from general commercial to limited manufacturing be approved as presented. Uh this resoning supports the long-term viability and of the subject property and supports redevelopment opportunities to the site. Uh the zoning change does not grant the applicant occupancy or validate any

zoning code compliance with their existing operations at this time. Thank you, Mr. Moore. Uh council, uh I'm sorry. Is there anyone who wishes to deliver a public comment? Go right ahead. Please know you're limited to three minutes. And of course, I assume you're with either New River or with um the applicant. I am. Even the applicant is is limited to the threeminut. Uh

but I I'll I'll be very clear. No, thank you very much. My name is Rajie Mcloff. I'm legal counsel for New River Electrical Corporation. I uh just want to make very few points. Number one is uh please understand that the occupancy of the property before the zoning compliance was a complete inadvertence in this situation. Miscommunication between the local office and the corporate office. That's not how New River Electrical does any work and this is we're trying our best to correct it. Uh when we apologize for that. Number two, uh we fully understand what Mr. Moore is talking about that we're here on reszoning. This is not the occupancy permit. This is not the site plan that we will have to come back with the site plan that complies with code and will work uh with staff to make sure that that happens in place. Uh the and I I couldn't give you a better description of why this makes sense than than Mr. Moore uh did. The only thing I just want to bring to the council's attention is our intent with this application is not just simply to come into compliance uh with zoning. Uh currently we're a tenant at this property. We're interested in long-term purchasing the property. Uh but you understand a company of this size with corporate boards and you know capital committees and things of that nature, they would not even consider it without the zoning being in place. So, we're trying to make sure that we have the the appropriate zoning in place and then uh you know, we'll be negotiating with the property owner hopefully to be able to reach a deal for purchasing that property. Once that property, if we're able to reach a deal with the property owner and we purchase that property, the character of that property becomes very different to us as an owner versus being a short-term tenant of that property. And at that point, we'd be looking to, you know, invest more uh in terms of our needs in the in the site. And and that's when, you know, it it opens the

opportunity uh for future development to happen once we have uh real control of the site. And I uh just to give you an idea about this company, it's uh the site in Dublin uh we started with about 10 employees and within a very short amount of time we have about a 100 employees in Dublin right now and we ran out of space and we needed other space and and we're coming here uh for space. So the the the opportunity for uh future development of the site if the resoning is in place does exist. It's just we're taking it one step at a time. And with that, I'll thank you very much and I'll open it. I have with me here Mr. John Jarvis uh with the North River Electric Corporation if you wanted to say a few words about the company and the site. Thank you.

I'm John Jarvis with New River Electrical. I want uh thank first off thank everybody for your time and again apologize for however this call came about. It was an oversight and we are uh thoroughly determined to see this all the way through and come in compliance with everything, do everything right from beginning again and it is our uh ultimate goal to actually purchase the property um at some point. So um again I just appreciate you guys' time and uh look forward to working with you guys. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, we have a council discussion. Anything from members of council? I I have a question for Mr. Moore.

Mr. Mclofflin. Yeah. So, Mr. Moore, you mentioned that uh with the development of 33 or the changes that ODOT's implementing on 33, the current use that's laid out in the community plan for this being a commercial office uh zoned area uh no longer fits potentially. You said there you I think you used the word outdated with the updates from MDOT. Can you explain how so and how the up uh the what ODOT's doing affects this plot?

So there have been no um official kind of indicators from ODOT on you know the outcome of this this intersection. Um we do know that they are actively you know closing um non full interchange intersections along the US 33 corridor. Um, this is kind of centered in between two. Um, they just closed the one at Reker Road. They're getting ready, they're proposing to make Bixby Road an interchange. They're closing as you move further down towards Lancaster. So, when just looking at their path of how they are implementing um improvements along the corridor, this site has always been a topic for kind of what they're going to do long term. um with that you know improvements taking place um along our stretch of US 33 uh this access point um remains unknown but with active kind of projects happening um you know this this intersection if it changes to no access and they basically culdeac this at US 33 like they did RER um the planning and zoning commission felt that the success of a commercial zoning for the property property um doesn't make as much sense as an industrial or employment kind of use for the subject site. So that's why they one of the reasons they recommended approval.

Uh can I ask one more question? You can ask 16 questions if you want. Okay, I'm going. My question is actually for Miss Amik and uh Mr. Bennett. So you two were on the steering committee. So you guys got the general feel when the community plan was being created and were in the conversations. I mean, does this is this a deviation from what you guys the spirit of what you guys were trying to do?

Not for this I don't think for this area. I I think again with the information at the time I don't think there was any recommended change but I think once you potentially limit access to that I mean as a commercial area it makes it extremely difficult to reach if there is no you know um no easy access right now you're talking about having to go from dialy all the way around or you know from another access from from gender right

um so it probably to Mr. Mr. Moore's point, it probably does make it that it's it's more of a a business use case, right? It's a it's not going to become a commercial destination, right? So, but I think these factors, you know, the potential ODOT factors do change how you view that and I don't think that was a topic of conversation during the community plan. Yeah, that answers it. Thank you, Mr. Moore. Thank you, Lauren Moore. Well, that in that vein, that property when we did that community plan was already existing business and had been whereas a lot of that those and we weren't really trying to change designations on areas that were existing per se, too. True.

Um the that being said, I'm really glad our fearless city attorney is here because I've got some confusion about this application and it come Your haircut looks nice, sir. the um these guys are leasing part of the parcel. There's another tenant on the other parcel. Do you need both tenants to have this application get done or can one tenant who's only leasing part of the property submit a zoning application change? Has anybody talked about this? It's it's all about the property owner and who that property owner has authorized to file.

Okay. So, that's all. All right. Thank you. And then my understanding is is that we're not going to generate any income tax off of this project because these domen and folks that work there are contractors who work remotely. Is that is that accurate? At this time I'm discussing a zoning change, not not a tenant on the site. So that's nothing that I would be able to answer. Okay. And then the zoning. So, right now they're operating without a permit and out zoning, right? Correct.

And what are they operating? It kind of looks like a refuge area. I mean, I drive by it fairly regularly on my way to work when I leave my house and turn on to 33 and look at it and it looks pretty rough. Is it a recycling bin? Is it a What is it? I think these are all questions for the applicant. If you have sorry specific um operations questions, sir, feel free to I'm going to ask John to come and speak and uh just go ahead. Could you ask a question again?

What do you use the site now for? What what are you doing at the site? probably the area you're speaking to referring to as being looking rough is when they do a pole replacement or something, they'll actually they have to top the pole, the actual utility pole will bring it back and we have we actually have to recycle the utility poles. We can't just leave them on site. So there is a certain overlap of when materials are brought in to where they're discarded, brought back, and recycled. So that's probably a lot of the I guess the

and the the only thing I just wanted to to point out is this is not necessar this is how the property is currently operating but even within the application for the site plan and and the occupancy permit I think there's already a lot of discussion back and forth in terms of how to better design the site how to better provide buffering. One of the ideas that's being floated, I don't want to commit to it because I we have to look through all the the realistics in terms of how it happens. But for instance, those conx boxes being removed to the back and being uh you know closed from the you know all three areas. So you wouldn't be able to see them from this way, this way or that way. The only area you'd be able to see them is is from the speedway. So there's a lot of work happening behind the scenes in terms of ultimately when we're before the city for site plan approval to consider a lot of that stuff but at this point it's just we understand it's just the reason.

So Mr. more can they right now there is no occupancy permit correct correct the building is being occupied correct correct

okay so I have zero problem with the zoning I think it makes sense um especially for future use with the potential of Bixby being shut down or not Bixby but Bowen um the issue is you don't have occupancy you have occupancy I know that this hearing is about reszoning, but we also have to kind of look forward in the future. What you haven't done anything yet to fix the thing. So, we're I guess we're just hoping you do. That's that's my concern.

No, we're here as part of trying to fix it to get the zoning in place so that we can go with the application for an occupancy permit that would have a site plan with it that would be approved. the very our very presence here is actually trying to fix it and make sure that we're completely in compliance at the end of the day. And the one other thing I just want to say uh uh just for for reference is even without the ODOT and change in traffic or anything of that nature that property remained vacant for almost two years. So the marketplace almost uh tells you it was about six months but

no but but you know the the property owner tried quite a bit to to to find a different use for the property and and wasn't able to to find a commercial use.

I think the the messaging that you're hearing from Mr. Sheay and from others is that when you come back um if there's a comeback uh opportunity be prepared to talk about that. We are I I understand Mr. Shea's angst because you are as you're coming that direction, you're entering our town, our city, and we don't want to see a bunch of the conduit and cables and whatnot visible out onto Route 33 as you come into our city. So, when and if you come back, please bring as much as many renderings as you can bring about your solutions that you're putting forward. That's very fair and and will very much work on that. And I just sort of a the just you know this is a company that's that's been in existence for a while that's that's a you know has major operations in multiple uh we have a very good work record with all municipalities. We have even you know corporate image issue to work through. So that's something that uh we're very much cognizant of one for the city and two for our own corporate sake. This was a unique situation the way that it happened. Even the due diligence didn't happen in the corporate, you can imagine the type of corporation, the kind of due diligence that you typically go through to to sign a lease and this lease was signed without that due diligence having so sort of the people who normally handle that stuff came on it after the fact and I've been trying to to to fix it since.

Okay. Thank you. Anything else, Mrs. step. Um I have a couple questions just about context of the area. So for the community plan and this could be for Mr. Moore or Mr. Bennett or Miss um the area around this that was gray on that map that's all industrial use zoning or light industrial use um industrial campus.

This is the future land use map. So yes in the future that area is area that is signified in the plan as being appropriate for industrial use. Okay. And so just this little triangle was determined to be regional commercial office by the community plan based on like its location with 33 that sort of thing. It was already one system. Yeah. And then the tenant situation. You said there was another tenant currently there. Is that still the case or

there's the tenant has leased the space. They have submitted plans to us to improve the space. And they're an automotive repair business, which is a conditional use in both the general commercial and the limited manufacturing district. So, changing the zoning wouldn't impact their ability to use the property. Either zoning would work for the automotive company. Um, and then is there any interest in the other future use of industrial that we know of? Um or has there been any interest like around this property? Yes. So just north of this uh I guess two parcels north of this we've just approved uh a 210,000t industrial building.

Okay. Um so that's on a 23 acre parcel along Bowen Road. There'll be an extension of Robinette Way uh to access that property. Okay. And I have one more question um for the applicants. Um, you said that you have a property currently up in Dublin. Um, is that property setup similar to what you're imagining this would be or is it a different type of property? We we just actually acquired that property. So, we're in the process of bringing it up. Okay. But up to our our conditions, I guess,

but similar use, similar idea. Okay. Just different location. Okay. Thank you so much. Are we going to see any can they do any screening prior to getting approval from something from the city?

So screening in this case outdoor storage of materials are required to be screened from any residential properties or the public right away and that has to be by means of a fence or wall that's a minimum of six feet in height. So to do that you would need to get permits to you know obviously install the fencing. So, I'm not sure to be installed prior. Uh, but if there's a plan for where that fencing would go, where is an appropriate area for the outdoor storage? And then the areas that I don't I think they referred to them as conx boxes here, those wouldn't be permitted. Those are not a permitted use in Canal Winchester. So, any building without a foundation, temporary building without a foundation is not permitted under our zoning code.

What about a semi-trail that's had the legs cut off of it and laying on the ground? Yeah, that that's not a permitted use. Okay, there's one out there right now. Correct. So, there's a lot of issues with the the current occupant of the property being in compliance with zoning. So, this is the kind of the first step that we're working through um to get them towards compliance.

How long is it going to take you guys to clean it up? because is it going to be once you possibly eventually maybe sometime in the future acquire the property or is this cleanup going to happen immediately so that the place looks good and is representative of our community because you have a very forward- facing lot and I'm not saying we but it is

no no that's a fair question I think there there's two separate issues uh to think about for the current use obviously once the property is reszoned we have to come immediately to the I mean zoning enforcement would be on our case if we didn't come immediately to the city with a site plan and that would include include the screening whatever is necessary uh to to provide it for the current use what would if we purchased the property I think the the opportunities that with this open would be broader uh uses where potentially there could be employees on site there could be but that's down the road that's an opportunity that this opens, but that's not the immediate uh purpose what we're trying to do. So, that would be immediate, you know, once the zoning is in place, we'll be back before the city with the site plans. Hopefully, they're they're approved and we'll, you know, we'll do the improvement the the screening or whatever needs to be done and then we'd have the occupancy permit and it'll be cleaned to the to the zoning code standard. And what and then Andrew, once we pass this zoning, how quickly can you all start on the zoning process to get them into compliance and cleaning that place up?

So, the first step would be to have the zoning in place for the use to be permitted. Once the use is a permitted use, then the applicant would need to file um you know, whatever site plans that they would put together to be in compliance and they' put together an occupancy certificate for the building itself. Um that process um typically gets turned around in two to three weeks for review and comments back. um it'd be up to, you know, the applicant speed to get it done in a timely manner. Um this kind of process from from our end is really like the notice that there are things that need to be done to get the site into compliance rather than waiting until the zoning is completed to then spring up, hey, you have to do these other items for code compliance. So, um, hopefully the applicant is working on those things to address them, you know, now that way they can get their occupancy certificate as quick as possible.

Have you seen any improvements to the site since this process started? Any cleanup work, any movement towards getting it into compliance with their hope that they're going to end up with the zoning they're looking for? I have not seen any plans put together by the applicants or had any conversations to that regard. I would say like Mr. hair noted earlier, the one thing the applicant stated this this evening was that ConX boxes are going to be relocated, but that's one item that's not just permitted in general. So, I'm not sure where they are on terms of um the plan for compliance.

So, sir, can you speak to that? Have you started the site plan? What I would say is we have Verdantis under contract and they're working through the different scenarios with with us. Obviously, our intent is to come as right away and we're working on it. We're not waiting for it, but to to have an application before the city to have we don't even have the zoning in place to be there. Understood. Okay. But it sounds like it would be should this go forward this evening, it sounds like there would be an expeditious return with the site plan. the the the the design professionals are under contract. They got a rough draft for you or anything? Any work progress? Not not to this point.

When did y'all go under contract with them? I don't speak exactly, but it's probably been within a month or more. So, as we since we kind of knew what we were up against, this identified a lot of uh gaps and processes that we've fixed since then. So, are you the site manager there? Uh, I'm not on site, David, but I oversee some of the operations on there.

I hope you hear the concerns that we're expressing to you about the appearances and the sake of it and hopefully you can get some action done prior to that because we're going to take you I'm going to take you at your word that you're going to do it, but just know it's an issue, right? No, I I agree and I hear you and quite frankly, I try to put myself in your situation where if it was my hometown, I would want not want the same thing to be seen in the same. So, um, not only is it, you know, our our company namesake, but it's something I'm going to put my name to as well. So, Mr. Bennett, thank you.

Thank you. Um, Mr. more. Um, you know, somehow we got to a place where a non-permitted use started to take place in a in a in a space where it wasn't an appropriate use. is from a city point of view, h not how does it happen, but how do we in the interim like is there a fine that is levied against the property owner when we start to because again for someone to operate on a site where it's not in a permitted use. How do we as a city take action to sort of aside from hey you got to come into a compliance what's the fiscal like responsible like accountability for that and then I'm not to say that you know again listen hope that everything works out hope you come back hope hope we can expedite but is there a way and Mr. Bogs, you keep me honest that you know we impose such fines but then we might also be in the future able to wave fines if you know we are meeting certain deadlines. Like is there a fiscal accountability way to hold to hold companies accountable for making sure we meet these timelines and not just you know like hoping that you know the work gets done when it's supposed to. I know this is an ordinance. It will take three readings. It's not going to be fast. But I guess my question is just from a fiscal standpoint, and maybe Mr. Hair, you weigh in too. Is there anything we can do to sort of hold people accountable or feet to the fire to either, you know, make sure this doesn't happen or make sure, you know, we move at a at a at a pace that we we hope to see action very quickly. So whenever there is a space

that is being occupied that we don't have occupancy certificates for, we reach out to ideally the property owner if we have, you know, contact information for them. Um we ask that the tenant files for their certificate of occupancy. That way we can go in make sure that their use is permitted, okay? That they didn't alter the space, that they get their final inspections from both fire department and our um building inspectors. In this case, it stopped right at the use where the use is not a permitted use. Um, we talked to both the applicant and the property owner regarding the use related issue.

Um, we provided them a timeline to get submitted for either a reasonzoning application to start that process or come up with a plan to vacate the facility in the same amount of time frame. um they have elected to file for that planning and zoning commission resoning application in the timeline we specified. Um and so it is on track to our compliance procedure that we set out for this project. Correct. Um you know if the zoning um does not get approved then they'll have a timeline to vacate the property. If the zoning does get approved then they'll have a timeline to submit further occupancy and compliance applications. Thank you.

And and Mr. Bennett, if I could add to Mr. Moore's response. You know, one one um consideration that the city has to weigh in a circumstance such as this is there's not a mechanism for the city just to levy a fine that is that sticks. There would be a citation process, a chance for them to have their due process prior to that fine being submitted. So essentially in this case because the use that was occurring on the property that's not permitted under the current zoning is a use that would be permitted under the zoning that the community plan uh puts forward in the future land use

does not it does not currently put forward that use that they're applying for in the community plan. the the excuse me, the the district, the zoning district, their use is a permitted use in the limited manufacturing district, but it's not zoned that today. Correct. It's not zoned that today, but the community plan calls for this property to be limited manufacturing. No, industrial. Why is everybody shaking their head? No, it's general commercial. Community plan does not call for that change. You missed that first part of the presentation.

Okay. So, regardless, it was a it was a limited manufacturing use or limited manufacturing district was a reasonzoning that was um appropriate. Appropriate. Thank you. For the property. Sure. And so rather than prosecuting code violations, this is what is sort of a deferred prosecution type of arrangement.

Well, and from, by the way, from a city point of view, I appreciate that because we do want to encourage their business here. We're not trying to drive them off. We're not trying to say no. That's why I guess why I asked, you know, is it a way to sort of hold accountability? Because I think what I also heard from Mr. more is there is a timeline but if the time if but if that timeline is broken there's really no recourse for us to I guess I'm trying

then there would be judicial process it would be either mayor's court which can levy fines once that process plays through or it would be the environmental court in Franklin County which can impose civil penalties injunctive penalties um that would create court orders to vacate the premises so there would be fiscal There would be consequences. There would be consequences to not meeting the city's timeline. Got it. That's all. I think I wanted to make sure we weren't just extending a hand saying you've got our word. I think I wanted to make sure that there were other Right. We if I leveies in place. Not that I think that you're going to need them. I just want to make sure that I understand.

No, no. Fully fully appreciate that. And I think just sort of a the if you look to our track record 100% we apologize in terms of how it started but the second that this became an issue we immediately turned around. We needed to get the consent of the property owner. We worked very quickly to get the application together put it in place. There was even some discussion about you know do we want to move today's hearing. We chose not to because we wanted to keep it. And I think when we're talking about a timeline it's the legislative timeline that we have to go through. We've been working on our end to to to come into compliance. I have one more question. Mr. McGlin.

Yeah. My question is for Mr. Bogs in relation to what Mr. Bennett was saying. So with the repercussions for code violations we're talking about the path to them that time frames we give. Um, is that created under our zoning code or is the Ohio revised code that we adopted that levies that the the way that uh we go about that? Does that make sense? Yeah. So, the like who's who establishes the penalties for zoning code violations?

Correct. And like what are we following? Are we following my revised code or is this something that you know falls under our uh Winchester's code? Well, it it depends. So, there's two levels here. One is what the revised code establishes as jurisdiction. Um, meaning the power to act for various different courts. The mayor's court has limited jurisdiction, can hear misdemeanor cases. But those misdemeanor cases, you essentially have two tools available to you for compliance. Fine

or jail time. Um, so that is typically that's the first route that's taken is trying to get we file a citation in the mayor's court and through that adjudicative process in the mayor's court. Either get people to compliance in the meantime or if they don't get there have that prosecution occur. Now, I can tell you that in the case of like a business tenant, there's not a business you can put a jail put in jail. You can't put a human being in jail in this context for code violation of a business.

Right. The other avenue is, and that's usually when mayor's court doesn't work to get actual compliance, is through the environmental division of Franklin County Municipal Court. Their jurisdiction is set by the revised code. It's a civil process where we can go in and ask the judge to put orders in, you know, clean up the property by, you know, within 3 weeks or you're going to start getting contempt citations, right? Racking up. Okay. So, it's it's combination and there's a couple of different routes. That was a thorough great answer. Appreciate it. Thank you, Mr. Bobs. So, um, one more question and I will stop.

You've had your two, so go ahead. Never mind. I'll save it for the next meeting. Um, so as you know, this is going to be a three- reading process. I would suggest that it might behoove you to come back with maybe an update on your next step, but I realize that we're not asking for a complete um conclusion at that time, but you're hearing our concern. You have three readings to kind of um stay in the process, but yet provide some level of status in between. I would suggest that you probably do that at the next meeting if that would be appropriate. Okay. Um any final thoughts that haven't already been discussed? Yes, I do.

All right, Mr. Shay. Um if we were to wave second and third readings on this particular ordinance to get this process moving along faster, would that get the property cleaned up quicker? It would at least create a circumstance where you cut what a month off the time before you would be voting on the zoning change. Okay. Um you would still have a 30-day period before it took effect unless you did it by

emergency. But um you know all of that in the if you were to wave the readings and adopt it, it would give the applicant I presume some assurance that the money on site plan and um cleanup efforts would be well spent. That fair I'll look to Mr. Moore and see if he has anything to add. Yeah, I I would probably ask that question to the applicant. um what that would do for their timeline because one is your timeline. I think I heard from the applicant here this evening that they are still bidding out this work and trying to get you things moving in their court. So I think maybe asking them that that same question would be fruitful for your answers.

John, do you know in terms of verent? I mean I think if we were willing to wave the second third reading I we would make it a point to bring everything and you know clean it up as as quickly as possible. I mean it's to me there's no gray area here. It needs to be done. So um I think setting that timeline whether it needs to be two months from now or 3 weeks from now it has to be done. So um I guess time's kind of inconsistency on that. So

one thing actually I don't know I didn't look in your charter for that. Can you wave the readings on the zoning ordinance or pass it as an emergency? Some charters have a prohibition on zoning. They they can. They can. Okay. Um I think we probably need to wrap this one up. So um thank you both for being here. Is there a motion to adjurnn? So moved. Second. Motion made by Mr. Mclofflin, second by Mr. Bennett. Roll call, please. Mr. McGlaughlin. Yes. Mr. Bennett. Yes, Miss Stewer. Yes, Mr. Moore. Yes, Mr. Payne. Yes, Mr. Sheay. Yes, Miss Amy.

Yes. Thank you. Time out of the public hearing. 6:14. Can we adjourn? I mean, get back in at 6:22. Got it. I just got a It takes eight minutes.

You can read that. Yeah. If I can, I just do this. I don't really have much. George, you ready? All right. Good evening. This is a call to order of the Canal Winchester City Council council work session for April 6th. Uh, can I have a roll call, please? Miss A, present. Mr. Bennett, here. Miss Deweiler here. Mr. McGlaughlin here. Mr. Moore here. Mr. Payne here. Mr. Sh present. Thank you. Also in attendance, we have I apologize. Joe Bachelor.

Bachelor. Um, Sergeant Strong. Uh, finance director Amanda Jackson, city administrator Matthew Peoples, mayor Joe Steager. Yeah, struggle bus. Um, Joseph, law director, Mr. Bogs, and development director, Mr. Hair. Um, next we'll go to request for council action. Um, we have first we have resolution 26-018. Clerk, will you please read a resolution authorizing the mayor and/or city administrator to enter into a contract for the participation in the OD road salt contracts awarded in 2026. Mr. Peoples.

Thank you, Mr. Moore. Uh this is our annual contract to partner with um the ODOT road salt contract. Uh 2025 uh was uh 350 tons we purchased from them. Um, with the amount of snow that we got this year, uh, we're requesting 600. That'll get us to, uh, our limit of 1,200 tons in the barn if we used none. Did the did the price go up? Not because of the quantity, but just because everything is getting

This is our bid. So, we'll we put in how much we were are requesting. They put it out to bids and then tell us how much that price is and from what contractor. We do expect it to go up. I know that there's been some issues up in northeastern Ohio and uh in Pennsylvania as well of uh the availability of salt. We never did have any problem getting any. Um but we'll we'll see where that goes. Okay. Thank you. Any question? Any other questions?

Any salt that's not used for the year is that we just roll that over to the next year in storage. we have to take um if we put in 600 we have to take 90% and no more than than 110%. So we are pretty locked in and then so he's asking what we do with the leftover. Yeah. So our barn is 1,200 tons. We have about 400 in there now or I'm sorry 500 in there now. So that'll put us in up to our 1,200 uh ton maximum. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Sorry. I do I have a motion to move resolution 26-018 to full counsel. So moved. Second. Uh motion made by Mr. Sheay, second by Mr. Mclofflin. Roll call, please. Mr. Sheay, yes. Mr. Mclofflin,

yes. Mr. Moore, yes. Mr. Payne, yes. Miss A. Yes. Mr. Bennett? Yes. Miss Deweiler? Yes. Thank you. Uh, next up we have ordinance 26-009. Clerk, will you please read? An ordinance to amend part 11 of the codified ordinances and the zoning map of the city of Canal Winchester reszoning 9.27 acres from general commercial to limited manufacturing owned by PMR LLC and located at 6270 Bowen Road PI184-0000882 and 184-0000932.

And I know this was just discussed, but Mr. here. Do you have anything else to add in? No. Do I have any questions from council? Motion to move ordinance 26-009 to full counsel. Second. Motion B by Mr. Bennett. Second by Mr. Moore. Roll call, please. Mr. Bennett, yes. Mr. Moore, yes. Mr. Payne, yes. Mr. Sheay, yes. Miss A. Yes. Miss Deweiler? Yes. Mr. McGofflin? Yes. Right. Next up, uh we have old and new business. Uh first on the docket, we have OTH26-003, uh court presentation. And

all right, I think that is from me and from Mr. Bachelor. I'll come up to the lectctor. Wow.

Okay. So, you all know me, but behind me is Joe Bachelor. He um is your mayor's court prosecutor uh twice a month. Mayor's court is held here in the city council chambers. Um so wanted to bring him a because he knows more um about sort of the nitty-gritty dayto-day that goes on there these days than I do and um b so that you'd have a chance to see him and put a face to a name. Now Jordan, I sent you a PowerPoint a few minutes like a little bit ago, but

I know I'm not allowed can't open our email over here. I can take the flash drive and go over and put it on my computer while you're talking. Sure.

Sorry about that. So, one of the things that um this ended up on your agenda for as an item for discussion is we had some questions come up a couple of weeks ago and it occurred to me and in talking with Sergeant Strong and um uh everybody else on staff that maybe we have not really given sort of the overview background ground of, you know, what law enforcement is doing daytoday, what courts and prosecutors have responsibility for respective types of offenses, and how that impacts what the city of Canal Winchester has authority to address um from a day-to-day basis. So, as we go through this, I just want to um really kind of give a broad orientation of those things for you. Um talk about the different courts that receive cases that originate in Canal Winchester and some of the unique aspects of each of those. So, just to go back to some general overarching precepts that apply to all criminal matters. And here we're talking about criminal and we're talking about traffic. Um, you have to have probable cause for a citation or arrest. What is probable cause? That you have evidence under the totality of the circumstances that a criminal offense has likely been committed by the person in question. When you go to court, you have to have proof beyond a reasonable doubt for that conviction. Um, to actually convict of the offense charged. People in court have a right to counsel, including indigent defense or public defender. The accused has a right of confrontation. of their accusers. So when we have a

trial, witnesses have to be brought in physically present to testify to um what they have seen. Rules of evidence and rules of criminal and traffic procedure also determine the the playing field for the judge, prosecutor, defense attorney. You can't prosecute people twice. That's no double jeopardy uh clause for the same crime. Um and the ethical duty of the prosecution is to seek justice. It's not to obtain convictions. So that is um whether it is me, whether it's Joe, our duty is to get to the truth.

Thanks so much. That's okay.

Our obligation is to get to the truth. um we're not just out there as we would be in a civil context trying to win a case for a client. We have open discovery and we have to provide exculpatory material to the defense. So if there's something out there that tends to suggest that somebody is not guilty, we have to share that. If there's reason to believe that a officer or or deputy has been dishonest, we have to share that. Not that we encounter the latter um uh but just to kind of give you the a sense of what is what is all operating in the background because it'll help as I go through here. Um purposes of sentencing deterrence. So we're trying to show society other people not to do this act by punishing it in a certain way. Incapacitation to keep person the s that individual from repeating the act whether that be by putting them in jail for some period of time or prison in the case of a felony rehabilitation try to get them to do better um so that they don't continue to have these issues or retri retribution that their offense is morally wrong and we're trying to just punish them. Um and lastly, one of the things that we have to deal with a lot in mayor's court, especially in municipal court, collateral sanctions, which are your license suspensions that come from a variety of um traffic offenses, misdemeanors. So, everything that is prosecuted by the city of Canal Winchester, everything that the city of Canal Winchester has the ability to define in its ordinances is a misdemeanor. The max that can be imposed is six months in prison and a $1,000 fine for a first-degree misdemeanor all the way down to your minor misdemeanor that are $150 fines. The cost of putting a person in jail these days is $117.

So um per day per day. So, and that is money that generally people that are in that circumstance aren't able to pay back. And you can't keep a person in jail for an inability to pay. Felonies are defined by state law. They are prosecuted by county prosecutors. Now, the deputy sheriffs have the ability to arrest and investigate felonies, but but that is not something that either mayor's court, municipal court, any of the prosecuting um attorneys working on behalf of the city have any role in. So, officers can either arrest people on site when they witness an offense or they can do it based on witness or victim reports. So when Sergeant Strong provides your report, um sometimes it will say, you know, X offense reported. You have you've had this many um robberies reported. Okay? But that doesn't necessarily mean that when they go out into the field and look at the facts, take all the evidence that that is sustained. So that's why you'll see a disparity between what comes in and kind of what goes out of the system. They have to have deputies have to have probable cause to make an arrest or issue a citation. Sometimes they'll go and get a judicial search warrant to further investigate um depending on the nature of the offense. Sometimes they'll have to get an arrest warrant to go out and get a person when they've identified them. That's all signed off by a judge. Sometimes they result in arrests, but not every offense is an arrestable offense or something even if arrestable that they would choose to arrest for. Many citations are written on summones, whether that's traffic, some criminal. Correct.

Summons is basically just a notice to appear in court to answer to a charge on a specific date. That person once they're placed in custody like you see on television, they have to be given them a random warning. You have the right to remain silent. anything you say and can be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney if you can't afford one will be provided to you. Once a person is in custody, the officers can't ask them a question about the offense uh without having given that warning. The arrested person will either post a bond based on a schedule that's maintained by the court. So, they can do that at the at the window or they'll be held for a bond hearing at the next available court date. chief objective of a bond is to secure their return to court, not to punish them. So getting with sort of all those background principles spewed at you, um just to distinguish between where Canal Winchester is doing its its prosecution. So those are all misdemeanors and they're either in mayor's court or municipal court. Mayor's court uh jurisdiction as I responded to council member Mclofflin earlier all jurisdiction of all courts is established by revised code including the mayor's court. So revised code says that they uh hear misdemeanor um violations of local ordinances but that does not include ovis past offense. It does not include domestic violence charges. does not include violation of protection orders. Not all mayor's courts actually hear OBIs because you have to go through some additional certification and it's it's an actually often a pretty complicated uh prosecution and often something that can be contested. Um so Canal Winchester Mayor's Court does not in fact hear over the eyes. Mayor's courts are presided either by

the mayor or an appointed magistrate. In our case, we use a an appointed magistrate. They are the determining person of law and fact because there are no juries in mayor's court. It is not a court of record in the sense that a person cannot take a an adjudication directly from the mayor's court to a court of appeal. What happens is anytime there is a trial in mayor's court um that person's appeal right goes to the municipal court and that's where the record is built. So, it's essentially a free doover if someone is unhappy with their result in Mayor's court. Here, it convenes twice a month. Um, the first and third Thursdays of the month. So, I mentioned that there are no juries in May's court. So, anytime a person is facing jail time, they have a right to a jury. Even if that's uh just a fourthderee misdemeanor where the max jail they could get is 30 days, they have a right to a jury. they have a right to an attorney. If they exercise those rights, those cases get kicked to municipal court. If they um have language barrier, mayor's court doesn't provide court interpreters. Municipal court does. Those get kicked to municipal court. Mayor's court um oftentimes in sentencing will impose a non-reporting community control or probation sanction that helps to get some additional consequences or um restitution uh provided to victims of offenses. So, um but that is not checking in with an officer. We don't have a probation officer. If a if an offender needs that kind of supervision, that's a case that's likely going to make its way to municipal court. So, municipal court, we have two counties in uh that Canal Winchester

straddles. Most of the geography is in Franklin County. So, most cases that hit municipal court go to the Franklin County Municipal Court. Uh there's 15 elected judges there. They have both criminal and civil jurisdiction over small amounts in controversy, but a lot of what they do is misdemeanors and traffic citations. They have daily dockets in each courtroom. They have misdemeanor and traffic arrangements and they have jurisdiction over all of Franklin County. So, they have one of the largest dockets of a trial court in the country by number of cases. They can hold jury trials. They have a probation department for that kind of more intensive supervision of people. They have interpreter surf services services um for people with language barriers because you can't just have a you know brother or somebody who's bilingual come in and do that interpretation. It has to be a Supreme Court certified interpreter and they have public defender. Every year you see that contract come through. Um that is contracting with the public defender services through the municipal court. felonies. Those are your serious offenses. Those are not defined by um Canal Winchester ordinance. They are not prosecuted by anyone in my office or um by Lawrence Sweheart, who is the prosecutor for municipal court. These all go through the elected county prosecutors. And so you may see um offenses that would be felonies come up in the reports you get from Sergeant Strong, but once kind of once they leave the dep the the sheriff's office, then they're in the hands of the prosecutor and neither he nor I have really any control um and depending on the circumstance, not much input on what happens there. Franklin

County. Likewise with um municipal court here, they have 17 elected judges in the general division of Franklin County's Court of Common Please. And so that's where you have your, you know, your serious crimes that will result in either prison or um extensive fines for folks. So, I realize I've ran through a lot of information um but hoping to try to orient and provide these materials to you so you have them for good. But just as we see these reports and think about how these process, how these cases metriculate through the system, sort of who the different players are and what each level is responsible for. So, I'll open it up to you all for questions.

Yes, Mr. Bogs. I've attended the mayor's court here and one of the things I understand that when there was a um a jail sentence associated with whatever the offense was that the magistrate waved that in every case that I observed on that particular day and I understand that it's expensive for a city to house those um incident those people with those incidents however the other thing I observed observed was the fee was usually $1,000 and it was knocked down to $250 in every case that I observed. Why would that be?

So often that's done not as a true reduction but as a suspension of that of those days and of that fine. So, um, for example, if it was if these were theft offenses that you were seeing, then he may have imposed 180 days in jail suspending 180 of those, $1,000 fine, suspending 750 for 2 years of non-reporting probation, conditions of which don't go back into Walmart, Meer, whatever the store was, pay restitution if the property wasn't recovered, no further theft offenses in the city of Canal, Winchester. So what that does by suspending those days and suspending that fine that's what ina that's that's the the hook

that allows the imposition of that non-reporting probation. So if that person comes back again then not only do they have whatever the consequences would be for that new offense they'd have $750 and 180 days in jail additionally hanging over their head. Um and in fact there was an individual two weeks ago very recently who did just that and 180 days came crashing down on his head. So that that would be why you'd see those suspensions.

So it so what I think you're saying it's relatively rare that we have repeat offenders that come through our Maris court. It it would be rare that we have people who come through our mayor's court twice or or multiple times. We get a lot of repeats. Yeah, there's a lot but not necessarily for the same offense. A lot of so it only applies if they come back for the same offense like say it's a theft a theft of some sort. So, if they come through once and the magistrate suspends the sentence, the 180 days and the all but $250. Mhm.

If they commit a different kind of offense and they end up back in our mayor's court, it's a separate issue versus if they come back through for theft, then that's where we immediately they immediately get the 180 days. Well, they wouldn't they wouldn't necessarily always get the 180 days. Okay. Um, whatever suspended, but but yeah,

and it wouldn't necessarily have to be a theft offense if it's another criminal offense depending on how the original sentencing was done because it may be no theft or other criminal offenses, you know, something like that, then that could be a violation of that non-reporting probation. Typically though, the like traffic and criminal cases don't really cross that way. So, if somebody comes back for a speed, but they have theft um probation, that's not going to trip them up on the theft probation. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you for taking the time and thank you for always helping.

Mr. Since we split two counties, do you notice a difference in terms of enforcement between the counties? And I mean Franklin obviously is very large county with a lot going on and Fairfield is not. I mean do you see different different prosecuting? I I think it's

I think it's hard to say because the volume is so disperate and and we really don't have a large volume of cases that go through Franklin County Municipal Court, let alone Fairfield County Municipal Court. I just got an invoice today about what went through Franklin County. Now, keep in mind, not every case that goes to Franklin County is written by Fairfield County deputies. If it is written by Madison Township, uh within our jurisdiction, it will go to Franklin County and our prosecutor will prosecute that charge. Um, let me see real fast if I can find the invoice that I received today and we can I can give you an idea of um how many cases we had in Franklin County. It will vary. Um, it's a lot of OVI to be quite honest. Uh, let's see. All right. I Well, I don't have the one for March, but for January, there were 14 cases that um our prosecutor prosecuted on our behalf at Franklin County. That was from February. Sure. And Sergeant Stron, I look at when I we get your reports, I look at all of the data, but I really focus on the disposition in the bottom right corner of your report. Is that the proper place to if we're trying to get a our thumb on the pulse of the safety and well-being of Canal Winchester? Do you recommend that's the spot that we look at?

So on the disposition, so what I do, and maybe I put too much in there, I don't know. I go through and just every single call for service that we pretty much can be dispatched. I just want you all to know what we're handling. Um a lot of the more serious stuff on there um some of the sex crimes they necessarily that that this didn't happen because it's an allegation. We get sent there and take a report doesn't mean that it happened through investigation.

So some of that stuff's not it's just not accurate. Now, the disposition stuff is where you will find um where we got like arrest made, how many traffic stops the deputies are making, how many warning versus citations they're issuing. Um that would probably my opinion would be the the better u grasp of that report. Um and again, I'm open. I know you I'm not the best at atringering data and graphics and all that stuff, but if there's stuff in there that you say, "Hey, we don't really care about," let me know. I'd be happy to take it out. But um as far as the disposition, I just want you to see basically on the calls, you know, are we taking reports? You know, uh the alarm drops are going on, are they good? Are they burglaries? Um reports taken, how many summones we've issued. Um a lot of times we go to, for instance, like Walmart on thefts where we don't necessarily make an arrest. Uh we'll just issue them summons to appear in court. So I've listed that on there. So um that's the more true accurate basically I guess the crime data in a whole what's going on.

Thank you. Is that the summons in L is that summons in lie of arrest is um we don't say we have to arrest them on the spot. Um I typically leave it up to the deputies discretion law depends on operation call volume um previous history. I I leave it up to them and plus that doesn't tie the deputy up as long making an arrest having to run down to jail if need be. So that's what that is. Anyone else have anything? Thank you very much, guys. Thank you.

Uh next up we have OTH26-004 um ebikes, scooters, and other micromobility devices. Micromobility devices. I didn't know what that is, but I know what an ebike and a scooter is. And that's that's a micro mobility device. Um, Mr. Bogs for a breakdown, and he had a handy dandy chart that was incredibly confusing to look at. Did you know there are three classes of ebikes in the state of Ohio? Lori did. Yes,

Lori owns a couple. But um we we all had we got a lot of calls and well not a lot I got a several calls about concerns about ebikes and scooters and stuff and we all sort of talked online and Mr. Moore came up with a really good idea to do a education uh safety education program for children in conjunction with the schools maybe.

Um so I'm going to give Lori a little bit of credit here too. I know we we both talked about this. Um really wanted to focus on education, not legislation on something like this. Um obviously we're just two of seven, so I'm not trying to speak for everybody here, but um you know, I think this has been a problem way before there were ebikes and scooters. You know, kids get reckless on bicycles, rollerblades, skateboards, whatever it is. Um, obviously right now the hot topic is ebikes and scooters because they're popular and everybody's getting them for Christmas the last few years and probably will continue to. Um, so I know Lori um had reached out to Destination Canal to talk about putting on some safety seminars at the farmers market um for the parents and the kids who are in attendance there. Um I also reached out to Kaia Hunt, superintendent of the schools. um she's meeting with her, she met with her leadership team today, so I haven't closed the loop with her, but um talked about something if the schools could also put on some sort of education with the elementary and middle school. Um just focusing on road safety, understanding the rules of the road. Um last thing I want lastly, at least me personally, I don't want to put the deputies in a position where they're yanking a kid off the street or putting them in the back of a car to drive them home. I I just think that a puts a really bad taste, you know, in the parents mouth. that scares the kids of police. Um it it overall not great. Now obviously if a deputy would see something, hey, say something, you know, hey, that's not safe. Probably shouldn't drive headon into a car. Um but really want to focus on education. Um not legislation on this.

Along with the education, I think there's some common courtesy. I know that one of the things I hear a lot is when you come up on someone who's on the um on a path that is approved for bicycles, ebikes, class uh one and two, ebikes, scooters, whatever. There is a certain element of common courtesy to if you ring if you have a bell, a horn, or if you don't, you simply say coming up on your left so that people know that you're coming behind them. And again, it's a common courtesy that you aren't going at warp speed when there are people and small children walking along the path that might run out in front of you or whatever. So, there's it there is education and then there is also an appropriate amount of etiquette when you're riding one of those devices.

Anybody have anything else?

We had talked about and just to piggy back on what Mr. more said about um the education. You know, we thought maybe I've talked with the destination and maybe we could in the green space in behind the farmers market uh coming up here in May. Maybe we have someone from I don't know if it's ODNR or um Bicycle Pursuits or something like that come in and give that little safety course um to whatever age we feel is appropriate and maybe we raffle off a couple of helmets or something like that. So I think there are a lot of ways that we can bring an awareness um to the community about safety with these devices. I

think it's a great idea. The only thing I would add is maybe uh having a consensus on how we reply to residents who come to us with complaints about the ebikes and the e- scooters since we're not doing any ordinances about it and just kind of doing the safety seminar just that way when the emails come in we we have an idea of and and keep in mind we do have an ordinance on file about slowmoving vehicles um all the way up through golf carts um about what is allowed on the sidewalk and not so we can always refer them to that. Um but really just focusing, you know, just on the safety aspect and

and let's let's continue to get the kids and the parents educated.

All right, last but not least, OTH26-005 Hometown Hero Banners. I'm not sure who's taking the lead on this. I know everybody's kind of passionate about it, so let's just uh pay for them. Yeah, I think the last update we got from uh Miss Woodruff was is that there's currently seven applications um that all meet the a requirement of uh city residency. Um so we're talking about city residents from the way I understood the email. Am I incorrect in that? Uh maybe you I know Mr.

I'm I'm sorry. I didn't believe they were all residents. They do, but they did have some the connection with either the um BFW I think is was the but I don't know if those were all rest. I I did ask the email. I did ask on the email. Hannah did respond that they were all residents. I'll double check that between meetings, but I'll double I'll double check just to make sure that's correct.

Yeah, I I guess I'll just uh say it bluntly. I mean, I think we should definitely uh as a city pay for the party that we're throwing for these veterans, not make them pay for their own cake for the party, you know, or for the uh uh remembrance and appreciation we're showing them. So, that's where I stand on it. Mr. Mclofflin, are you um thinking that it would we would pay for the initial purchase or every time they need to be replaced or what what are you what would be your preference there? I feel like there's they purchase it originally, but when they sign up, there's not an additional or every year they ask, "Hey, do you want your banner put up and you don't have to continue to

Correct. That is correct." But when it wears out over time, if it becomes faded or has to be replaced, you know, would we just handle the I I guess I'm curious what you think. I so I guess my personal opinion on it is is we're celebrating these residents or you know these people these veterans um they shouldn't acrew a cost for being celebrated. So whether it's the repair or the replacement of the banners or the initial cost of producing them uh I don't think they should incurring that. And I I did misspeak. Um Hannah responded, "Yes, they all meet the eligibility that they are or were CW residents during their time of service." So, just to get that out there, I'm not 100% sure. In the end, I think we're talking about $700. Um,

well, you're talking about it this time, but I think you're establishing how you want the program to operate in the future, right? And so, um, if we have 150 banners in the future that we've all got to replace, and I don't think it's 150, maybe 75. Um, probably closer to 100 now.

Yeah, 75 was the original that we committed to. Um, you know, we do want to limit it onto geographic area of of where that is. as we talked about. Um I something to keep in mind is we did not purchase them for the the uh veterans last year um because we did open it up to non-residents understanding they were may have been residents at their time of service. They but they weren't residents at that time. Mr. Peele, do we are we aware of how many were purchased last year? Yeah. Yeah. Maybe. And 10. I know last year non-residents

definitely paid for their Yes. Um I think we did pick up residents last year, but I cannot I is that maybe incorrect. I understand our point of view has been inconsistent to say the least. Um, yeah, but I think we should probably come to a consensus on how we want to move forward. That way we don't have to keep 13 of them was was last year.

13. So $1,300 last year, $700 this year. Um, K's my simple point of view is probably pretty close to M Mr. Mclofflin's point of view, but just we're paying for banners to decorate the town. Whether or not we are honoring members of service, which we are, which and again appreciative of service, but we're using them as a decorative element, not to belittle the service, but they are a beautifification of our town as well as a tribute to their honors of service. Um, so from that point of view,

I feel like it should be something that we would pick up the costs for, not just because of the service, but because it's it's a it's it's twofold, right? It's it benefits us, it benefits them, I think, in the future. And again, I know that's inconsistent. The reason I ask why is it 13 offline conversation about maybe there's a We can figure I'm sorry. I missed the 13 part. Yeah, the 13. Well, no, no, I mean I

Well, I paid it out intentionally. Like I didn't want to finish that sentence with you listening. Um, Mr. Peoples, uh, because I maybe there's an opportunity to follow up with those 13 people and issue a refund a year later. I know. See, I knew he was. That's why I didn't want to say it out loud, man. Anyway, agree. If you go back, it is retroactively a can of worms. which is why I think we've been inconsistent and at least we need to move forward from a consistent viewpoint. My viewpoint is I think it is well worth just again we cover it from here on out. Um

I would like to do more of them anyway, but Go ahead, Mr. Peoples. Yeah, the when we're dealing with with Canal Winchester residents, um it, you know, we that's where we set it up the first two years. They were Canal Winchester residents and we expanded it last year. This this whole discussion happened last year. I know because we opened it up to non-residents and they said then it said we that there will be a charge with it. Yeah. So, no. Can you now we're going back to

and I don't know if we'll have the answer right now or Miss Jackson knows off hand, but last year um when those 13 did come obviously some were residents, some weren't. Did everyone pay for their own last year or did we pick up I know that's probably not something um the notes that I have for Miss Woodruff is that we 13 new applicants uh were and ordered one banner per hero and I don't have an answer for this but we were paid for 14 banners. I don't know how there's 13 new applicants and 14 banners but for we're close enough. Yes, we were paid for those 13 banners, we'll say.

Okay. Okay. Um, I think in the and I don't know if it's appropriate to ask now, but in the sake of going on and going back and forth about this, um, is it something you can draft up legislation for Mr. Bogs? Um, does it even need legislation and we can discuss it in full counsel next meeting or this meeting? We roll call it. the legislation for the to cover the cost of the banners. I don't know if that needs to be I mean it would probably need to be appropriated at the very least if it's not already been budgeted for.

It's not enough money. It doesn't need to be legislative. Yeah, that's why I was saying I I don't make it legislative to we were doing it again. I think Mr. people. I understand the point of I understand your point. We are using city funds to support an endeavor which which which again it's it's about how you're using city funds in a it almost feels like you're giving it to a non-resident. I think we've talked about that before, right? That's kind of been the point of view is

but here's where I think there's that gray space is that we're using them to augment or beautify the city as well. So the purpose is kind of dual, right? We are using city funds to honor veterans, but also at the same point we're using veterans to help beautify our town and show our own patriotism. And so from my point of view, I would argue that we are using city funds in an appropriate manner. And again, I think there's enough gray here. You know, listen, Mr. Boss, that you could appropriate city funds for banners, what you put on the banner irregardless. Correct. Because we're purchasing banners,

right? Well, I don't think that your budget doesn't get to that level of detail. Exactly. Right. It never gets to the level of the table of who's on the banner. Were they a resident and when were they a resident? Anyway, that's my point of view versus I've come to it over time. Um, did I have it last year? Probably not. I probably was in a different space, but I will try and be consistent moving forward and have the same point of view next year. That's all I can do.

Straw Paul. So if it feels if if it feels this is a way we are leaning um we do need to put some maybe some guardrails on it and keep on there to CW residents and members of the BFW post on 0523 if we can agree to that. Um and then we will have some geographic limits to this. So again, we we will basic what I'll call the um maybe the Labor Day layout, which is just Washington to try. Yep. Hide railroad tracks down to hide. And um I don't like putting them in the um in the parking lots. They just don't get seen as much. Uh we talked about last uh last council meeting just those uh heavily walked walked areas.

Yeah. Don't want to expand the the area. So, and I I don't have a number on that. Um, but we we can update that and put a just a a cap on that total number. So, I think we have 88 right now and then with the seven um and there's two people per poll uh two two veterans per poll. So, and that update is something that would that would carry on in in the future as well. It's not something if we don't have to have this uh conversation again in in every year then we'll we can do that. We and I mean if that is the it feels like that's the direction from from council and um we'll just put that in our policy. Thank you Mr. Welcome. Thank you.

Thank you. Uh does anyone have anything else for older new business? Mr. Shay,

I do. Um it's new business and it has to do with um most of the die edition coming to visit us this evening. Um, I was reached out to it about it last week and did some investigation. It's the relocation of the fuel tank. Um, I know the residents of the diet edition are are not happy about it. Um, I spoke personally spoke to the the fire marshal uh, fire marshal Carol and asked him if he had concerns about it and he sent me a report that I have here that I can share with some of you guys. Um, but Mr. Hair, can you help? Is there anything we can do to stop this tank from moving to that area as the city? So, the tank's location is currently on the school property and what they're proposing to do is to relocate that tanks to accommodate the building addition of the Porway Arts Center. Uh they've gone through the process with the city to get the site development plan approvals. So we held public meetings on those site development approvals. Those received the support of the planning and zoning commission and were approved. Um so from a zoning perspective that process is complete and they've got approval to relocate the tanks. Uh they're going through the process of obtaining their building permits. They've applied for those. That's where they'll be reviewed from a safety perspective. Um, in terms of, you know, where those tanks are located, making sure they have appropriate protection around them, make sure that they're they're safe. They also go through a process with the state fire marshall's office to permit those tanks. Um, I don't know where they are in that process, but that'll be hashed out over the next few weeks as we permit those from a from a building department perspective. Is there any screening that's on the plans or anything like that?

I do not believe that they're screened. No. Okay. And at this point, the city really has no influence that we can exert over the school district on this through our mechanis. So, we we've approved their plans. Okay. So the residents of the diet edition, if they wanted to seek recourse, it would probably be best to reach out to their schoolboard officials and see if they can get some assistance from those folks who they elect over there. That would be an appropriate course of action. You know, they're they're going through their approval processes currently for, you know, all the building additions they're doing and the the total project which this fuel tank relocation is part of.

All right, Mr. Mr. Bogs, do you got any tricks up your lawyer sleeve? Because we've got some really happy residents here. I I do not. I mean, their site approvals have been approved, so they'll go through the permitting process and there's not really um discretion in that process so long as what they submit meets the building code. Thank you, Mr. Shay. Have you spoken to the schools at all about this? I have not.

I'm still doing diligence because I heard about it Tuesday or Wednesday last week. It's um Mr. Mclofflin and I did talk to the schools about it. They had they have reason for um putting them there. They say there's nowhere else to put them. and we went through uh how she uh Kaia showed me um well talked to me on the phone about um the layout which I was already familiar with and um I would rather her explain it to the residents in their meeting because I'm not here to defend the school but uh they do have their reasons for wanting to put him there.

Thank you mayor. Right. I have anything else for old or new business? Do I have a motion to adjurnn? Some moved. Second. Motion made by Mr. Bennett. Second by Mr. Shay. Roll call, please. Mr. Bennett? Yes. Mr. Shay? Yes. Miss Ame? Yes. Miss Deweiler? Yes. Mr. Mclofflin? Yes. Mr. Moore? Yes. Mr. Payne? Yes. Right. Uh, council or motion adjourned. Council will go into session at 7:20.

Thank you. This is the call to order for the Canal Winchester City Council meeting for Monday, April 6th, 2026. The pledge of allegiance this evening will be led by Mr. Payne. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Mr. Payne. Roll call, please. Miss Aik, present. Mr. Bennett, here. Miss Statweiler, here.

Mr. Mr. Mclofflin here. Mr. Moore here. Mr. Payne here. Mr. Shay here. Thank you. Next is the approval of minutes 26-011, the March 16th, 2026 work session minutes. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. Motion made by Mr. Moore, second by Mr. Bennett. Roll call, please. Mr. Moore. Yes. Mr. Bennett? Yes. Missweiler? Yes. Mr. Mr. Mcofflin, yes. Mr. Payne, yes. Mr. Shay, yes. Miss Aan,

yes. Thank you. Next is the approval of minutes 26-012. These are the March 16th, 2026 city council meeting minutes. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Second. Uh motion made by Mr. Moore, second by Mr. Bennett. Roll call, please. Mr. Moore. Yes. Mr. Bennett. Yes. Miss Deweiler, yes. Mr. Mclofflin, yes. Mr. Payne, yes. Mr. Shay, yes. Miss A, yes.

Thank you. We have no communications or petitions this evening. So, that takes us to um public comments. If you would like to address council during the public comments, um please sign in at the podium and state your name. Public comments will be limited to three minutes per individual. Your time will not begin until you begin speaking. Your time will be displayed on the screen behind me and more time may be granted at the discretion of the chair. Let it be noted that this is not a time for council to answer specific questions. If you do have a question, you may ask it during your time and we will attempt to have your question addressed throughout the remainder of this meeting. If you do not feel your question has been addressed, please reach out to a member of council or the appropriate city director after the meeting. So with that uh read, if anyone wants to take the podium, please feel free,

sir. There should be a signup sheet right there. Already signed. Got it. Okay.

All right. Hopefully I can keep within the 3 minutes. It's going to be close, but thank you everybody for the opportunity to address uh the council. Uh my name is Mike Talbert. I live at 121 West Columbus Street. Been here about 40 years. Love this town. Absolutely love it. As you're aware, the high school is planning an expansion that includes new performing arts, which is great. Love the performing arts. But the plans also call for the relocation of the uh commercial gas station, inclusion of a new parking lot on the north side of the school, and an access road from Deets all the way through to Franklin Street. The inevitable result of this expansion is going to cause a significant increase to the residential streets. And again, they're residential streets. And if you've ever been up in this area, it's a straight, left, right. It's tight. The gas station along Franklin is also has planned ingress and eress to Franklin. The new parking lot appears to have primary ingress and egress to Franklin. And I'm going to take the link between Deetsz and uh Franklin when I go to work because I don't want to deal with all the traffic that's over on Washington during uh rush hour and during school hours. We were told that the the uh traffic was only going to be increased by about 65 cars per uh or vehicles per week. We believe that number is greatly underestimated. Using the new access road will be the school buses heading to the uh to the gas station, city vehicles, fuel delivery trucks, and anyone who currently uses or will in the future be allowed to use the commercial gas station. But what we don't didn't factor into that is with this new parking lot, anybody going to and from school, students, they may choose to avoid the traffic jam on Washington. Come in the back way through our streets. Parents dropping their kids off, back way through the street. Let's have a football game. They've been parking in

that field already. Now they're going to be parking in a nice new parking lot. Are they going to fight to get out in deeds and walk? No. They're coming north. In fact, anybody who is going to be at the school and wants to egress or ingress from the north, northeast, northwest is going to be coming through these streets. So, 65 vehicles a week, that's just not realistic. We're going to have a lot general traffic wanting to avoid Washington said. I probably already said that. Uh, I've said that also. Currently, the existing performing arts Yeah. performing arts facility is right by my house. Love it when they're there. We talked to everybody going in. It's a mad house for parking um before, during, and after. Residents of the die edition sometimes can't get through conveniently to get back because there's too much traffic. And now we're going to just massively increase that amount of traffic. Now, I know there's going to be people disagreeing with us. Bottom line is we don't know what the future is. Possibilities exist. I believe there are alternatives that need to be examined and we're asking for the city council to help us uh work with the board because we're just citizens. We don't have the expertise to go through some of these things and be explained to it. Um biggest concern is safety issue. Today, as we were standing outside talking about this meeting out front of my house, a horn honked and down on Columbus Street, there's somebody trying to cross the road and a car coming around the corner exceedingly fast. Had to honk their horn at him. That's common. Kids from the school pass by my house all the time. Track team comes running by. Um, school buses dropping off the uh the kids for uh for the Boy Scouts. There's a heavy volume of people just walking walking their kids strollers that come through there. Talked about the mopeds in the earlier meeting and stuff like that. They're all over the place. And those kids don't

look around at what's going on. They just go. And now that spring is here. Hey, it's time for the golf carts. They're out there running around and oh my gosh, love them to dearly, but they pay less attention to what's going on than anybody else because they don't feel they're a vehicle. This is a safety issue. We're going to be slamming streets that weren't designed for this type of traffic and sooner or later our luck is going to run out. You know, we have incidents daily of cars that have to stop today. A bus was coming around the corner after dropping off at one of my neighbors and the entire inbound Columbus had to stop because there's not enough room to get through. But it wasn't back where they're parking. It was up front because the bus took such a wide turn to get through. In fact, that curb right there that that had to be repaired because of the number of vehicles that cut across exited the street in order to try and get around the corner from other vehicles coming in. So yes, there are issues that we need to discuss with the uh the school system about, you know, alternate locations to it. It just I can't get it through my mind that there isn't some place better to have a win-win because I think the last thing we want to have aesthetically is people coming to the museums, the historical society, using that parking lot to come downtown for all of the functions that this beautiful city has. And what are they going to see first? They're going to see a gas station in the middle of a residential area.

That shouldn't be happening. I understand the school's got some questions. We need to to work on that. Thank you very much. One, if I could have one last minute, one last second. That whole area is zoned R3. That's residential. There are no variances on the book. And I took the time and talking to Andrew and I looked it up through the Canal Winchester website. There's no allowances for fuel depots, commercial, and this is a commercial gas station actually to be there. I don't know if there's any variances. I have no idea about this. I'm a rookie at this stuff, but as it looks on paper, they are not permitted to have this gas station in that area.

So, thank you, sir. I appreciate the time. I appreciate the opportunity. And hopefully, we'll get this worked out for the betterment of everybody. Thank you. Thank you, Michael. Appreciate your time. Anyone else? I'll go after you. It's much too early to get me to speak at this point. Sign in and then when you're ready, go right ahead.

Thank you. Uh, good evening, council, mayor, Mr. Peoples. Uh, my name is Michael Delgaso. I have been a resident of Canal Winchester uh since um 1990. So I've seen the growth of this city sitting in the position of 132 West Columbus Street which is not the die edition. It's be beginning of question of Franklin Street, Clinton Street and all this surrounding. My concern with this uh placement um of the energy station is that I know nothing about it. Where is it? What is it? What does the containment look like? Where is it placed latitudually and longitudinally on the property? Now, let's talk about some of the downfalls of placing this here. You've heard about um public safety concerns from my neighbors. My public safety concern is that traffic pedestrian management in that area is really lacking. Yes. Uh, we have seen a traffic study and as Mike pointed out, I do not see that traffic study as being accurate.

The traffic that we get in this area is ad hoc. It's eventbased, it's athletic based, and it's seasonal. So, the static count that we got with cars, in my opinion, is very inaccurate. And I think it's a simple way of disproving that um the infrastructure to support that amount of vehicles entrance egress is non-existent. If you look down Franklin Street, we don't have sidewalks. There's mass confusion as to where the buses pull in or the sheriff's patrol pulls in and they fuel up and they go off. There's literally no rightway, no walkability, no speed bumps, no pedestrian, no lighting, no nothing in that area. So it becomes a safety issue in my opinion when you have additional traffic and you have pedestrian tra and you have pedestrian travel. So that's the first issue that I have with it. The second issue is a little bit more serious and something that I think we need to consider as a community. I started in this community by being a member of the board of public affairs. That's when we were a village. And what my job was to work with good people like Mr. peoples in identifying at that time our mixed system identifying where we're putting data points where our pipes were on the ground where all of our in infrastructure for this community lies because it's not available anywhere. So it's developed and it has been developed. Now my concern

conventional spillage is not an issue. Accidental spillage is any incident any incident that's over 25 gallons is an automatic EPA alert. It's a public alert and it's also an alert then for years of watching for the abatement of that particular hydrocarbon or distillate or chemical abatement within our water system. The area that we're talking about is bound by Growport Road, Clinton Street, Franklin Street, Woodsview Drive, and the drainage basin of that area drains into the lift station, which is on the corner. It's designated wetlands and it's on the corner of Groport and Clinton Road in the alley. It's approximately an acre and a half, two acres. The high point where they're proposing to put this energy refueling station happens to be the highest point which drains into that drainage basin. And that drainage basin then can either go down Franklin Street, it could come down Clinton Street, and it could drain back into the condominiums.

30 seconds, Mr. Degresso.

Thank you. When the condominiums were dug, they breached tile. And that's tile that abut the backyards of the condominiums of Franklin Street residents and condominiums that are put in place. There's a drainage issue. If we have an accident and that sludge or that diesel or that hydrocarbon drains, it's going to go right into a couple of parcels front yards and it's going to remain because the tiles are breached and has nowhere to go. If it's terrestrial, it's going to flow down. And oh, by the way, in that area, we have seven active wellheads that are uncapped. Two of the wellheads are located at um what is sweet harmony and those are observant wells because of some other

uh aqua infrastructure. I would be happy to give that leave that data with councel. I would be happy as I stated to walk with any of our leadership in here. We can dig a hole. We can see where the surface water comes up to and we can see if this is indeed a good idea. Thank you, sir. to be placing that. So, thank you. Thank you, Michael.

Okay. Anyone else? Again, please state your name and sign in. And you have we'll give you a little more than three minutes since we gave the others a little more than three minutes. Thank you. Thank you, Mike and Mike. Hi. Good evening. We don't have a hook, Mr. Degrasso. So,

I'm going to use Don, that guy. Um, good evening. Um, I'm Deb Carpenter. Good evening, everybody. My husband, Don, and I live at U30 West Columbus Street at the dead end. Um, we've lived at this location for 50 years. We've seen the changes from the village to a city. Traffic was quiet. The intersection of Columbus and Clinton was not busy. The school traffic was not an issue, nor the die edition. The growth of the school, the new high school complex, the changes to the family demographics from retirees to working families in the die edition has brought significant changes to the volume of traffic at the Columbus Clinton intersection in our neighborhood. Clinton Street dead ends at Columbus Street. Cars fly around from Clinton onto and many times into the middle of Columbus Street. I cannot tell you the number of times I've had to be a defensive driver. The lack of a stop sign at Clinton Columbus Street intersection and the fact that the driver has an obstructed line of sight onto Columbus Street from Clinton Street makes this a dangerous intersection. The fact that I have not been involved in a head-on collision is nothing short of luck. Traffic has increased. It is no longer a quiet neighborhood intersection. Pedestrians, cars, bicycles, golf carts, kids on electric scooters. It all has increased. The school allows vehicles to drive from the main campus to the Franklin Street lot and therefore exiting at Clinton Columbus to Washington Street. Buses enter from Columbus Clinton to the lot to drive down to the main campus. The intersection has become a shortcut for school events. The library was never a traffic issue. The traffic studies that

have been done were pointless. As Mr. Delgraso mentioned, never reflecting the danger at the intersection to both pedestrians and drivers. This neighborhood intersection has been ignored. I have previously asked for a stop sign to be placed where Clinton dead ends onto Columbus Street. It was always turned down with no regard to our neighborhood concerns regarding traffic and safety to pedestrians. I would ask that the city of Canal Winchester officials to please review the concerns I have presented this evening. The fact that the Catal Winchester School Board is moving the gas fueling station to the parking lot along Franklin Street is concerning. Traffic will be a nightmare and this is a residential neighborhood. Please keep this a residential neighborhood and increase our safety by placing a stop sign at Clinton Street where it dead ends at Columbus Street. Thank you. Thank you for your time.

Thank you. Anyone else? I can go again. Last call. Anyone else? All right. Thank you all for being here this evening. We are going to move on to reports of city officials and staff. And the first item Okay.

Yeah. If you stick around there there might I can't promise you, but there might be something from one of our um city leaders. The school board is not here. Representation from the school is not here, but our city leaders may have something they want to add. You're welcome to leave. You're welcome to stay. It's your choice. Okay, we're going to move on to the mayor's report. Mayor Stager. Uh, thank you, Miss Aik. Uh, I have nothing to add tonight with my report. Thank you. Uh, next up would be city administrator, Mr. Peoples.

Thank you, Miss Ach. Um, just a couple updates from my written report. Uh, the Ashbrook Village drainage issues. We do have a final design on that. Uh we've reached out to a contractor who has uh who's who's also farms that property, does it well um and uh is putting a proposal together. Uh his suggestion was that we not do any work out there until the summer months uh just due to the amount of water that does come off that hill. Um so cross our fingers that our rains are not significant uh enough to cause any any issues in there until we're able to go. Um, and that is uh uh something we're looking forward to. Uh, speaking of drainage, we did have uh was it this past weekend, weekend before uh Winchester Liopoolis Road uh had a a major pipe failure out there. Uh had to have an emergency repair of uh of that. It was a a previous um they they called it a boiler plate pipe uh underneath the road, which is literally an old boiler they took out of service and used as a storm drainage pipe uh through there. So that completely rusted out and um contractor was able to fix it. Uh and then one one last thing um Payton Young down at our our wastewater treatment plant uh was uh he obtained his class one license uh here last uh last week. Um and now all of our operators at the wastewater treatment plant are are certified.

Congrats to Payton. Uh Mr. peoples. With all the rain we've had in the last couple weeks, I haven't heard a thing about the Sailor Street area. Was it wet down there at all or?

Yeah, I mean it it stays wet. Um it's just when we get the the very heavy rains uh that come off that hill, they it's just not able to um uh to keep up with that. even though it's a 30-inch uh storm sewer, uh that that drainage area, for some reason, the farmers even noted it. Uh when there was a gas line that was uh replaced through that uh that property and all all the way through uh the the southern part and the eastern part of Canal Winchester. um that the the drainage patterns completely changed from that which was right around 2017 when we had our first it was a 5 in rain but that was the first time that we had any drainage issue on Sailor Court um and but we had drainage issues everywhere that that weekend uh as well so um

what would be a a targeted anticipated remedy date you think it will happen like by July I know you said July August um by time it shouldn't be a very large project. All it is is grading work. Um we're just making an overflow ditch, if you will. Uh so we're going to let the the uh existing infrastructure uh pipe in the ground work as it was intended to, but when it reaches a certain point, uh allow it to overflow uh in a bypass channel, if you will. Okay. Anything for Mr. Peoples?

Yeah. Um Mr. people's um you know, we heard tonight a resident sort of talking about a maybe even a stop sign just at Franklin and Columbus Street might help be a solution to some of their concerns. Um when would um the city consider evaluating whether or not that's a needed item? I I assume it might be it might be too early to say it's needed now and the residents may feel differently. Right. Mi Mrs. Carpenter and I when she said it was denied, that was me who denied that m multiple times, right? Uh over the years.

Yeah. So, we have uh we do a a look at the the warrant uh from the Ohio um manual of traffic, uniform traffic devices. There's stipulations in there when you can and can't have uh a stop sign. uh we've looked at those uh provisions in there and and determined that it was not warranted. So, we want to make sure that we warrant a stop sign before we put one in. Similar to what we've done at at Washington Street uh and Waterlue and then out at um King's Crossing and Hill Road, those were all warranted. Yeah. I have But every stop along Try Street has a four-way stop.

Mhm. That seems th those were in here when I got here and I don't know if they followed the the OMUTCD. So those and we're not going back to to undo that. So as a home rule city, do we have to follow that? Uh the the guidance is proper to follow those uh guid those guidelines guidance those guidelines. has a yield sign or like a mirror been considered there? Like are those things that we could consider? Are there other

We looked at a yield sign on on uh the Columbus Street side of that where there is a stop sign from that. So the Columbus Street where the dead end is um the the flow of traffic you you want you don't want to stop the where the most flow of traffic is which would be the the left and right turn there at Columbus onto Clinton. So the dead end portion of uh of Columbus Street is not where the the majority of the traffic is coming from. So you you don't want to stop. Is Clinton a one-way street or?

No, not that portion. That Clinton is between Columbus and Clinton Street is between CL Columbus and Franklin. Clinton Alley is the one way that goes over from Columbus to Groport. Okay. Thank you. the new uh the pedestrian um crosswalk. Um it was just the flashing beacon out of Chester, I believe. And and uh are we going to duplicate those across the city in areas that are hightraic areas? Do you do you feel

uh those we put those in for bike path crossings where where there's a higher volume that we have any any intersection um is assumed to have a crosswalk uh as well. So we won't we don't want to put those in too many places where they just lose their effect. Okay. Talking about the striping across this No, there was a new beacon that was installed over there. pedestrians can push the button and it alerts drivers that are coming down. There's also a a a blind person in the area um that helped them out with crossing that road. Interesting. Anything else for Mr. Peoples? Mr. Benn. Mr. Bennett.

One last question for Mr. Peoples. I'm not a very educated man on all of the policies regarding stop signs. So, help me understand what's the negative impact of putting a stop sign in a place that it's maybe not justified.

Just following the guidance that I I don't know the answer to that. It's following the guidance. Um I mean if as I'm sure Mr. Carpado remember and Mr. Delgrasso the school was active there. There were buses in and out of there when when those schools were in operation before uh before the elementary schools. So Columbus Street had buses on the side. We there was no parking on the south side of Columbus Street uh west of Washington. Um and I I don't recall I didn't live there obviously like uh uh like the two of them. Um but you know we didn't have those issues and really until and I could go back and look at emails. I'm not sure when when the issues really started but um uh it wasn't it wasn't during the school when the school was in operation. One one benefit I would add of following the um the guidance from the uniform manual is that if there would be I don't know about this particular stop sign example but if there's a circumstance where a local government puts in a sign or takes out a sign contrary to what the uniform manual would say and there's an accident there. it becomes much more difficult to defend that decision versus saying we've relied on the manual of uniform traffic control devices. And when you depart from that manual, when you start departing from that manual, it becomes when do you stop? What individual places do you take away from? And so I think that it's not just a a prudent policy here, but everywhere I work um that the public services and traffic engineering follow those um follow that guidance. And I'm not even

sure that we could get an engineer to, you know, stamp a plan, provide plans that don't follow that guidance and then you're in real trouble. Is there any uniform manual guidance on like a speed bump or any sort of like speed reduction there? There are there there's 90 degree turns there that are speed reduction. Sorry, I'll speak up. I'll say fly around Franklin Street and fly around and that's a that's a deadend neighborhood. So the people are doing that are likely residents back there and school people. I mean I'm sorry.

Yeah. I mean that there's been that's not a at this point there's there's not there's this road is not open all the time. There's and I would say to Mr. People's point if people were going to fly around that corner a stop sign they're not going to stop going to change that then we're going to get complaints on running stop signs. Okay. All right. Yeah. Speaking of running stop signs, next up would be our Franklin County Sheriff or Fairfield. I'm sorry. They're at the county shirt. Oh, you just got a raise. Sorry.

It's all right. We can address your stop signation later. No. Um, I don't have anything other than my uh March statistical report, but I'd be happy to take any questions. Anything for Sergeant Strong. Okay. Hearing none, we'll move on to Mr. Bogs, law director. Nothing to add to the lengthy presentation I gave you earlier, but I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you. Question for Mr. Bogs. Mr. Bennett. Um, Mr. Bogs, earlier you you said that the the challenge with not following the code is it it is it does put us in some maybe jeopardy

for when we do and we don't follow it. And and I kind of understand the point of view of like if you remove a sign then then like maybe there's some challenges because you've removed a barrier right to to to safety maybe potentially. But if you were not following the guidance and like you know putting stop extra stuff in I guess how does that make us what's the challenge with the liability from a hey you put one in you didn't need like can you help me understand is there a point of view on that like I get taking them out could be challenge but like adding them I guess I just want to see if I can understand if maybe you don't have an example and you might need to follow up but Just curious on a point of view on that.

Right. Yeah. I I mean I'm I'm hesitant to come up with a hypothetical for that on the spot. Yeah. That's why I said if we need to follow up offline, maybe we could. I would say as a as a general rule, once you start departing from that manual, then as I said before, it becomes a question of where do you stop? And when these when these things are done, you know, Matt and the folks at public services don't just go put something in the ground. you know it that plans are drawn up and it's it's justifi there's there's justification behind it. So that's

I agree and I understand that. I just was just curious, you know, when we're starting this like legal Yeah. And there there may be additional engineering considerations that are outside my daily. Listen, all of this is outside my daily. So, I'm just trying to understand. I listen to enough traffic engineers to play one on TV, but not not tonight. Thank you, Mr. Fox.

Okay. Um, next would be Mrs. Jackson, finance director. Thank you, Mrs. Aik. Um, I've actually been out of the office the last week and a half, so I don't have a whole lot to report as I am just getting back today and playing catchup. Um, however, today was deadline for the Dr. Bender scholarship application. Um, we only received three, one of which does not live within city limits. Um, so I don't know what council's desire is at this point. if you would like to extend that due date. Um, if you just want to go with what we've got, think about it, let me know. Um, and then before you leave this evening, I have name tags. So, thank you. Come see me.

Yes. And we normally select three within the city li two within. Okay. Two. Mr. Bennett. Oh, I was say so done. Yeah. I would I mean, yeah. for those that got it in on time. I Yeah, Kudos to you. Let's move. Congratulations.

Okay. Well, then uh I guess since there were only two that were eligible, um I will verify that they met all the requirements. Um and then I will reach out to them. Uh typically we ask them to come in to a meeting. So I will work on that for you. I will probably aim for the beginning of May um for that. So thank you, Mrs. Statson. Okay, next is development director, Mr. Hair.

Thank you, Mrs. Amic. A couple updates on some property acquisitions and exchanges we're pursuing. So, Manifold and Failure. Uh we are proceeding with that hopefully within the next week or so. We'll be able to close on that exchange of property uh where they're obtaining 60 ft from us and we're obtaining the road right away and some easements on their parcels. So, that is progressing and they are progressing towards a building addition and some building upgrades that they're they'll be taking place uh later this year and into next year. And then on the uh Chuck Smith parcel that uh we'll have a reading on later this evening, we've completed the survey on that parcel um to split those that uh 2 and 1/2 acre tracked off of. Um so, we should uh get that done in the next few weeks and get ready for a lot split. So, if approved, we'll be able to proceed with that closing. And then in regards to the school property, a question came up about public notice. Um, we do not require a public notice for site development plans. So, there was no specific notice for that, but uh the schools did seek a variance for building height on the performing arts center. And we did provide a public notice to 57 property owners adjacent to the school site um that were notified of the meeting. Uh we did have one resident show up at the meeting and speak. Um so at least one out of those 57 residents uh got the public notice and came to the meeting. So

thank you Mr. Hair. Just to clarify, Mr. They received notice because it was a planned district and they received notice of the variance of the variance from a planned district. Yes. So the variance was for the building height. So that's what they received notice of that they apply for a variance for building height to exceed of the new performing arts.

Uh Mr. Hair, can you speak to um I think it was Mr. Graaso that brought up or maybe maybe other mic sorry um about a variance or maybe a past variance for fuel because obviously fuel's been on that site for a long time. So I think it was originally close to where they're moving it to then they've moved it now it's back. Was is there a variance that had to be given at some point for that? Um not sure how that works with

I don't believe that a variance would be required. that's an accessory use to the primary use being the school. And so we would permit it like we permit any accessory structure like their um maintenance garage. You know, it's not automotive repair shop. It's maintenance for the school's vehicles and for their own personal use of that property. Um you know, the only people that are using the fuel center are the schools and the and the city's vehicles, which we do under contract with them to use that. So it's public use only. um for that purpose. Um so we would consider that an accessory use just like the multiple other accessory uses that are on the site. The the stadiums, the dugouts, the band, I don't know what you call that, the stand that they go on to direct the band. You know, all those uses out there are permitted as accessory uses to that site.

Thank you. Any other questions for Mr. Hair? Okay, moving on this evening, we have resolution 26-018. Clerk, will you read the resolution, please? A resolution authorizing the mayor and/or city administrator to enter into a contract for their participation in the ODOT road salt contracts awarded in 2026. Thank you. The sponsor is Mr. Sheay. I move to adopt resolution 26018. Second. Motion made by Mr. Sheay, second by Mr. Moore. Roll call, please. Mr. Sheay, yes. Mr. Moore, yes. Mr. Payne, yes.

Miss A? Yes. Mr. Bennett? Yes. Miss Steweiler? Yes. Mr. McGraw? Yes. Thank you. We have um one ordinance for third reading this evening. Um ordinance 26-005. Clerk, will you read the ordinance, please? an ordinance to authorize the mayor to enter into a real estate purchase agreement for the purchase of 650 Bowen Road Canal Winchester, Ohio, owned by Charles R. Smith and Deborah S. Ficknel. Thank you. The sponsor is Mr. Moore. Motion to adopt ordinance 26-005. Second by the chair. Motion made by Mr. Moore, second by the chair. Roll call, please. Mr. Moore, yes. Miss Am. Yes.

Mr. Bennett? Yes. Miss Stweiler, yes. Mr. McGlaughlin, yes. Mr. Payne, yes. Mr. Shay, yes. Thank you. Moving to second readings this evening. The first item is ordinance 26-00007. Clerk, will you read the ordinance, please? An ordinance to amend ordinance number 24-010 updating the swimming pool rates. Thank you. The sponsor is Mr. Moore. Second reading only. Thank you. Next item is ordinance 26-008. Clerk, will you read the ordinance, please? An ordinance to amend the 2026 appropriation ordinance number 25-029, amendment number one.

Thank you. The sponsor is Mr. Mclofflin. Second reading only. Thank you. And for first reading this evening is ordinance 26-009. Clerk, will you read the ordinance, please? an ordinance to amend part 11 of the codified ordinances in the zoning map of the city of Canal Winchester reszoning 9.27 acres from general commercial to limited manufacturing owned by PMR LLC and located at 6270 Bowen Road PI184-0000882 and 184-0000932.

Thank you. And this is a follow on from the public hearing held this evening at 5:30. The sponsor is Mr. Bennett. Point of order. Yes, sir. If we wanted to have discussion on this item, Mr. Bogs, um would we need to make a motion to have discussion or are we allowed to just have discussion on this item as it was now up for first reading?

All right. You can have discussion on this item without motion. Um I believe uh Miss Am we had limited discussion of whether or not we wanted to pass this um wave in the second and third readings this evening. Um I didn't know if we wanted to have a quick straw poll of council or just what's the desire of council? Do we want to wave the second and third reading and motion to adopt this evening? I um I would like this is me. I'm one of seven as we always say. I would like to give them um an opportunity. They heard us loud and clear. Um they understand that we are um that we want a clean environment as they come into our city. We want it to be organized. We want the grounds to be within code and that yes, the zoning is the key to all of those other steps that follow. They heard us loud and clear and we asked them if in the interim they would come back with some at least some tentative plans about how they would do the site development. If we wave the second and third reading, um, one of two things is going to happen is they won't be given that opportunity because it would be, um, declined, or we give them the full three readings and allow them to come back and have a follow-on conversation with us relative to what they heard from council this evening.

That's my thought.

And I guess I'll be devil's advocate here. Um, I think a we're kind of prolonging the inevitable. I think, at least from what I heard, I think everybody's thinks the the reszoning makes sense. Um, if we skip the second and third reading, that can accelerate the process with the applicant getting the area ready and getting it getting it moved quicker. If we do the second and third reading, we're delaying that process for another 30 days before any action would be made because they're not going to make action until they know that that till it's been passed. So either way, I'm fine. I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. I think it gets reszoned one way or the other, but I would just like it cleaned up because it's an eyesore.

Right. A agreed. I I feel like again I just feel like they are a business that they want to do business here. We should give them the due process of the three readings. But again, that's just me. Yeah. Anyone else on council want to chime in? I'm all for uh waving the second and third readings and getting that place cleaned up. I do agree with uh Miss Aik that I want to make sure that there is an actual plan and they don't just rush to clean things up that we we know what's going to happen. So I I understand the concern about waving second and third reading

and and keep in mind that regardless they don't have to bring us anything per se. zoning is going to be the one that approves the new site plan. Um, and that it has to follow within our planning and zoning rules anyways. Correct, Mr. Hair? So, like they can like the connect boxes or whatever the heck those are called. I mean, they've got to remove them. You know, it doesn't matter if or buts unless they ask for a variance in planning and zoning is going to have to approve or deny that. So I don't know how much leverage we have delaying the process. But once again, I guess it's not delaying the process. It's following the procedure. So that's it. I'm done.

So may may we take a straw poll? I mean, we just motion it. Yeah, you could just move and vote to suspend second and third reading. And if it passes, go on to adoption and if it if that fails, then we'll have second reading. All right. I'll uh is there a motion to move this uh wave the second and third reading? I'll motion to uh wave council rules requiring a second and third reading on ordinance 26-009. Second. Second by was that Mr. Sheay? Yes. Second by Mr. Sheay. Roll call, please. Mr. Bennett. Yes. Mr. Shay. Yes. Miss A. No. Miss Deweiler? No. Mr. McGofflin? Yes. Mr. Moore?

Yes. Mr. Payne? Yes. Okay. Motion passes. Motion to adopt. So, sorry. Is there a motion to adopt ordinance 26-009? Motion to adopt ordinance 26-009. Second. Uh motion made by Mr. Bennett. Roll call by Mr. or I'm sorry, second by Mr. Shay. Roll call, please. Mr. Bennett. Yes. Mr. Sheay, yes. Miss A. Yes. Missweiler. Yes. Mr. Mr. Mclofflin, yes. Mr. Moore, yes. Mr. P, yes.

Thank you. Motion passes. Next item is council reports. We do have the mayor's retreat coming up on Friday, April 17th, um 2026 at 9:00 a.m. 9 to 300 p.m. Anything you'd like to add, Mr. Mayor? Okay. Um, the next thing would be the work session and city council meeting for Monday, April 20th at 6 PM and followed by the work session and city council meeting Monday, May 4th at 6:00 p.m. Our next council connect meeting for 2026 will be on April 18th at 900 a.m. That's 9 to 10. And the hosts for that particular meeting will be Mr. Payne, Mr. Bennett, and Mr. Shay. That takes us to the council report for uh human services. Mr. Sheay, in March, the community food pantry served 417 individuals, provided 5,895 meals. Transportation program competed 383 one-way trips covering a total of 3,178 miles. human services like thank everyone who helped with the community Easter egg hunt. They had a wonderful time. They appreciate the city employees stop in help fill eggs. Great special tradition in the community and human services appreciates the partnership with the city. Altha would like to add a personal note that it's been honor working alongside our city staff on so many meaningful projects. She will truly miss everyone as she begins her new journey with our neighbors to the west. Thank you again for your continued support.

Thank you, Mr. Sheay. Um, if for those of you that may not have received the invitation uh yet, there is an open house this Thursday night, April 9th, from 5:30 to 7:30. Stop in and and have a cupcake um and a glass of punch and wish her well. So, that's this Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30. The Canow Winchester Industry and Commerce Corporation report, that's me. The next meeting will be held here in council chambers on April 29th at 11:30 a.m. Uh, next is the Canal Winchester JRD. Mr. Bennett, Mr. Moore.

Uh, thank you. Our next meeting is scheduled for the 14th of April at 6:00 p.m. Um, and just on a selfish note, I am very excited. Our first uh annual golf season kicks off uh or developmental golf league kicks off tomorrow. Uh so excited for all the kids who signed up and uh get some coaching from people much better than me at golf. Anything on the rumage sale or is that rumage sales canled? Okay. All right. Uh next would be Destination Canal Winchester. Mr. Payne.

Thank you, Mr. Damic. Uh Destination Canal Winchester working really hard on the art of the canal art stroll which is going to be Saturday, May 16th. Um destination could use volunteers. So, if you're interested, please uh don't hesitate to reach out. And as always, don't forget to download the free Canal Winchester app so you always know what's happening around town. Thank you, Mr. Payne. The Canal Winchester Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Mclofflin.

Applications are now open for the Chamber's new leadership Canal Winchester program, uh a 9-month small group experience that begins in September. A free info session is uh being hosted on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. on Zoom. Uh the nine-month leadership Canal Winchester program covers personal growth, civic engagement, and networking while offering tools for transformation. It it was developed in uh collaboration with local executive coaches, business leaders, and is geared towards experienced and emerging leaders. A full schedule of monthly sessions is available on the chambers website at www.kowwchester.com uh backleershipcw. This opportunity is open to all. receive a $100 early bird discount while paying in full by April 30th. Monthly payment plans are also available. Additionally, uh the state of the community is coming up on Wednesday, April 22nd from 11:30 to 1:00 p.m. at the Canal Winchester Community Center. This includes a combined update from the city and the school district. Uh there are only eight spots available as of noon today, so please sign up as soon as possible if you'd like to attend. Registration includes a box lunch catered by Coffee on High. Uh, and lastly, we want to welcome our newest member to the chamber, uh, sorry, two members to the chamber, uh, Rosel and Anders and the Homeschool Bookstore LLC. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Mclofflin. And last but not least, the Sustainability Commission, Mrs. Stewiler. Our next meeting will be Wednesday, May 6th. And just a reminder that on April 18th, we have the community cleanup day. Uh, you can sign up on the Canal Winchester website. If you scroll down, the flyer is next to the calendar. Um, it'll be from like 9:00 a.m. to noon. Um, it'll be a lot of fun. Um, not just picking up trash, but repainting things and just doing kind of a little spring clean up around the community. So, I encourage people to sign up. Thank you, Mrs. Deweiler. Madam Chairman. Yes, sir.

Just a point of order or consideration. Um, I'm scheduled to be at Council Connect that day and I would rather be out helping clean our community up. Is there any way we could possibly look at cancelling that day so we can participate in the cleanup day? Um, I guess I would ask you to um check in with your peers. So, Mr. Bennett and Mr. Payne are scheduled for council connect from 9 to 10. I'm sorry, Mrs. Dewweller. What's the time for the community cleanup? I think it I think registration starts at 9 9 to 12:30.

So we can also uh Mr. Sheay for your consideration I can have the organizers of the event reach out to you if they want you to have a task already and if you want to stop by after the council connect and get started. Um oh I was just saying cancel now connect cancel connect all together was I was thinking just providing an option. Mr. Bennett, Mr. pain. What's your pleasure there? But I'm definitely supposed to be at the cleanup event as well. So, we might have to figure out either cloning or cancelling proper prior planning. Um, or someone Mr. Payne, do you want to

I was going to do both to be honest. I was going to leave cops of connect and then go help with the clean up. So, I think I'm organizationally committed to helping at the like wrestle volunteers and help dull out assignments. So, uh if there's any council member who's not planning on participating in the cleanup and would like to swap dates, let me know what I can help. The mayor and I can perfect. Thank you, mayor. Well, if you're I mean, I'll be there. I just was thinking we could all be cleaning up the community, but I'll clean it up. I'll clean it up while you're I'll be clean while you're

Okay. So, council connect on the 18th at 9:00 a.m. will be David Payne and Mayor Stagger. So, thank you for doing that. Um, and then the the following council connect will be May 20th at 6:30 p.m. And I updated the calendar today. That meeting will be hosted by myself and Mrs. Stepweiler. Okay. Anything else? Any new business? Okay. Is there a motion to adjurnn? Motion to adjurnn. Second. Motion to adjurnn made by Mr. Moore. Second by Mr. Sheay. Uh, roll call, please. Mr. Moore. Yes. Mr. Sheay. Yes. Miss A? Yes. Mr. Bennett?

Yes. Miss Statweiler? Yes. Mr. McGlaughlin? Yes. Mr. Payne? Yes. Thank you all. Time out. 8:16. Oh, thank you.