City Commission - Regular Meeting

Okay. The informal meeting for the city commission is called to order. Cler call the role. Mr. Rickettts here. Mr. Riggsby here. Mrs. Tacket here. Mr. Wallace here. Mr. Rue here. City manager, go ahead and introduce our work session. Uh, tonight commission, we have one work session item, and that is a presentation about the water meter upgrade project. Uh, and with us is our service director, Chris Moore.

Good evening, commissioners. So, we're here um kind of celebrating the halfway point of our water meter upgrade. We started this two years ago, have two years to go. I'm going to do a little refresher and then let you know where we stand and take any questions you might have. So, um, why why are we replacing our water meters? Um, they're they're 30 plus years old. Our last meter change out was 1994 to 1996. They were failing at a rate of about 30 to 40 per week. Um, and you we found this as a way we could have improved customer service. residents will be able to set up leak alerts to get notified if their uh if their water is um running more than it should based on their standards, not not ours. And it also um EPA wants us to be able to track non-revenue water. And as water meters get old, they don't speed up, they slow down. And we know these meters were not capturing um all of the water that were going through them. So, um, we'll talk about the what, um, these are the new meters right here. This is what is in most people's houses if you have a new one. This is what is in most people's houses if you still have an old one. Um, we uh we we set out to replace uh 4 to 5,000 of the residential size meters every year and 50 to 200 of the commercial meters each year. And what we've done is is backed off a little bit on the residential and really ramped up the commercial just because the the logistics behind some of those are tricky and we want to we want to make sure when we get our hands on one of those meters we get it installed. So um when wind would be right now um we've replaced 11,586

have 11,900 meters remaining to be replaced. We really really wanted to to be at the halfway mark here, but we're also very very scared to run out of meters before we can purchase more. So, we're sitting on them. We have to make sure we have meters to go with all the new housing stock that's being built. So, it's a it's a good problem to have. So, where um we have been everywhere that is blue and we will in the next two years we will go everywhere that is red. We're uh slowly slowly trying to to turn all of those blue. And you can see what what we do is pick a a neighborhood um primarily the the utility billing meter reading routes. There are two to 300 customers in a route and we go in and we um we take care of an entire route at a time. So to kind of give you an idea of what's going on out there, we have seven repeaters that help transmit data around the community and one big base station on our water tower. So the information goes from these water meters to um the repeaters through the tower to a database so that it can be read by the folks in utility billing and referenced in our office when we're working with people on leaks and and usage calculations. So one of the concerns people have is you there's a there's this radio device transmitting something in my house. Um that that's scary to me. So this gives you an idea um of the things we interact with on a daily basis. Um what kind of emissions they have compared to the water meter. The the water meter is pretty minor in the big picture. Um I think if you're a if you're a smartphone

user or a microwave user, it probably um shouldn't even register for you. Um, these give us the ability to read an individual meter at any time. So, where this comes in handy is when there's a closing on a house, uh, someone comes in and wants to transfer an account, we can read it immediately. We don't have to send somebody change the account and everything is zeroed out at that moment. um unless we request that the meter is the or the the information is transmitted two times per day at 1:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and then every 24 hours it will give us notice of leak detections. Um two good examples of that happen today. We had two houses that were using about 3,000 gallons of water a day. Um that's much more than any house should be using in a day. So, we went to knock on the door, see if everything was okay. The houses were vacant. Um, so we turned the water off because we knew there was that much water blowing into that house. And that that's going to happen this time of year. These meters will give us freeze alerts. Um, they will give us dry pipe alerts so we know if there's a problem. Um it it's it's been the feedback we've received has been very positive when we reach out to someone to let them know that you um it looks like you have a water leak. Um in many cases we can talk them through on the phone and they're like, "Yeah, the the basement toilets running. I didn't realize it." And it keeps them from getting those big surprise um large water bills. So this is just a dashboard that we can look at. Um, it there's no need to go into detail, but it just shows we can we can look at all right now 11,000 of these meters and see which ones we're having trouble getting information from. That might mean we need to go out and work on the installation. Sometimes when they're in a meter pit, um, oddly enough, the meter pits are are are

harder than when they're in the basement. So, we'll go out and make sure we can read them. It will show us which areas of town have the largest water usage. And that helps us know um even better when and where to be running which booster pumps. And in the in the case of a fire, it would let us know that fire demand and domestic demand is up in an area. We need to increase what we're pumping to that area. So this is what AMI and AMR is not. Um AMI is not flow control. We can't control the flow of the water going to your house. That nothing changes there. Um, we can't control the temperature of your water. Uh, tap water is 52 to 54 degrees. It's going to remain that coming into your house and you can heat it as you see fit. Um, this has nothing to do with rationing. We can't throttle it down. Um, we can't turn your water off if we think you're sprinkling your lawn too much. um it is nothing more than a better way for us to meter water than the old mechanical way. So this uh this shows what a typical route looks like. Um we go into an area like that and in many cases we get help from neighbors because one neighbor will tell another, hey, this meter change out is happening. I had mine done. It was painless. They showed up on time. it took 10 to 15 minutes and uh they were out the door. So we have over the last two years tried many many methods of what is the best way to um notify folks this is happening and this has turned out to be the best way. We hang a 10-day notice on everyone's door on a Saturday and that gives them 15 business days to reach out to us and schedule an appointment. After that 15th day, if they have not called, we turn the water off. When they call us and say the water's

off, we schedule a meter appointment and we turn the water back on. If they miss the appointment, we turn the water back off. Um, it seems extreme, it seems harsh, it has worked better than every other method. Um, folks are not interested in answering the door when we go. We tried signs um around neighborhoods. um those proved to be ineffective. So this is we've been using this method about 18 of the 24 months that we've been doing it and it has it has worked. So you know once again the process we hang a notice there are 10 business days the water gets shut off if an appointment is not made. If there's a missed appointment it gets shut back off. We um when we give out the notices uh we stay open until 6:00 p.m. to give people a chance to call us after work. Um the phones ring very heavily between 4:30 and and six on those days. Um but it is not uncommon by Wednesday for us to have an entire neighborhood um scheduled knowing that a handful of those houses we won't get scheduled because they're vacant or under construction, that sort of thing. So uh this process has been working. One last thing that um it's a just a separate benefit of this is that we are mandated to figure out what type of water line. Is it copper? Is it lead? Is it galvanized? What's running into every house in our community? And we have to identify that at two locations on that water service. So when we change out the water meter, we're able to get one location. So when we're reporting all of the meter information, we can mark down if a service is lead, copper, galvanized. So we're we're building that database as we do this.

Do you have any questions at all for me about our water meter upgrade? Um, good job on getting halfway there, though. I'm excited. The the the uh the vendor um they didn't think we would fail. They knew we would fail. Um, now we're we're way over the hump as far as the the failure mark. You may have said this, but did you What is the life? I know the other ones last forever. What's the life? These are in the in the 20 year range and they're so same. Pardon me. Same on the old device or much longer? Yeah, the old ones they said the useful life was 20 years. We started seeing um different pieces fail. So, inefficiencies. Yeah. And so when

with these when they go bad, there's there's no working on them. You just send them back, get another one, they refurbish it, and send it back. Other questions from commissioners? Uh Chris, just to be clear, some of the meters are located on the inside of the house and some of the meters are located on the outside of the house. Correct. Correct. So if if somebody's meter is on the outside, they're just going to get a notice that you're going to be changing it and they don't have to be home.

Correct. with if the meter's on the outside, we will we won't turn their w water off um without telling them, but we will start working our way down the street. And in a meter pit, we can we can typically change one in a meter pit in 5 minutes or less. As far as the water disruption goes, we'll knock on the door. If someone's home, tell them we're going to turn your water off for 5 minutes, swap it out, and and move on. And if they're meters on the inside of the house, you actually have they have to be there so that you can get in. Yes. Correct. Yes. Chris, do you have a goal of when you want to be completed with the second half? Yeah. Two more years. Two more years.

Two more years. And And really outside of um supply chain issues, we're very much on track to hit that. Chris, I have a question for you. This is uh sort of pertinent. It talked you talked about collecting what the service uh type was as far as galvanized lead, copper. Um, like probably a lot of the citizens out there, I received a notice that uh I may have galvanized or I may have one of those types in my house and it might require a uh a replacement if it's galvanized or lead. Could you talk about that for just a second just to let people know because I know when I got the notice I thought what what is this?

No, the unfortunately the notices are very alarming. Um, the language is mandated by Ohio EPA and we continue to try to to soften it to the extent possible because one thing that we're very fortunate of here in our community, we do not have a lead problem in our water system. Um, prior to the um the new lead and copper rule, we were on the least stringent testing um regimen because lead doesn't show up in our water. Um, in our community, lead first enters the water system in the the pipe coming to an individual house. Uh, our our water lines aren't led, thankfully. So, what we have to do um, per US EPA law is identify what every service is made of on the city side and the property owner side, which it can be different and is in many cases. and then [clears throat] work to replace all the ones that are lead or galvanized that has ever been downstream of lead. Until we do that, we have to send letters to every single customer every single year. So the only people that don't get a letter are the ones we know the entire service is copper. So, everybody who has led galvanized requiring replacement or unknown, which the unknown is the big number, they they all get a letter. Mine is an unknown. I drink tap water all day. It doesn't concern me. Um, you know, if anybody is ever ever concerned about um lead in the drinking water, we have a ton of resources on our website at springfield.gov/led. We will gladly talk to people. We we cuz we want to if you're concerned, we want to one educate you, but also help you identify what your pipes are to either put you at ease or help you get a plan

of action and get our records up to speed. Um, hey, before you go, please from the commission tell your staff who has worked hard plowing our roads, thank you. Thanks for spending the extra long hours that they're doing. And uh and we know that people are becoming impatient because there's about four feet of snow around many of their cars. And I think you did release an article, but to our residents, please be patient. They're trying to get to every street and and clearing folks out. But thanks for working so hard. Thank you. They're they're still out there right now. I'm sure. Chris, would you just quickly remind everybody how many miles of roads we have inside the city limits?

No, because if I guessed right now, I'd be lying. [laughter] A lot. Is there a motion? Is there a motion to conclude the work session? Second. It's been moved to second call the role. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mrs. Packet? Yes. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mr. Rickettts? Yes. Mr. R? Yes. Okay. We have a hearing. Okay. Public hearing scheduled for 6:50 is called to order. Cler, call the role. Mr. Ricketts,

here. Mr. Riggsby, Mrs. Tucket, here. Mr. Wallace here. Mr. R here. Has proper legal notice been given for this hearing? Notice of a public hearing for the purpose of considering the proposed vacation of Laganda Avenue from North Belmont Avenue to Reaper Avenue and Reaper Avenue from the north end of the street to the intersection of LOL Street has been waved by the adjoining properties owner pursuant to Ohio Revised Code 723.06. Attached here too is a true and correct copy of the consent signed by the adjoining properties owner. I bring this to a motion.

The motion is brought to the floor. Is there a second? Second. It's been moved and seconded. Clerk call the role. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mrs. Packet? Yes. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mr. Ricketts? Yes. Mr. R? Yes. Staff report.

Good evening everyone. So, the applicant wishes to vacate public rightway as a part of Topor America's expansion plans. The parcel has existing structure built in 2017 with recent plans to expand the building footprint to accommodate parking demands for new building addition. The owners and applicants wish to vacate sections of Reaper Avenue and Laganda Avenue. The plans also show clearing out structures on the four parcels here that are in an island here uh ending in 001 through 004. The initial right-of-way vacation application was received March 12, 2025 and shared with staff and utility companies for comments April 2025 since the plans also show detailed design of future parking area. Um, city staff had the following concerns and questions on the parking plans for utilities and fiber lines for the existing traffic lights, sidewalks, stacking spaces, and street lights and emergency access for fire. It was recommended to apply for a parking lot permit and have site plans reviewed prior to moving forward with the vacation request. A parking lot permit was approved December 2025 for the revised plan. Tax map pre-approved the uh legal descriptions and maps and applicant provided a revised request on December 2025. So the property where top's main building exists is zoned light uh industrial. The properties on parcels ending in 001 through 004 are zoned light commercial corridor. All the parcels are under topri

America's ownership. The clar county comprehensive plan of 2018 shows the future character of all parcels under this request as industrial. The current plans are compliant with comprehensive plan and the future character being industrial. It is recommended to reszone these parcels for consistency throughout the property. Laganda Avenue and Reaper Avenue are classified as local roads and North Belmont Avenue is classified as 60 ft wide collector right of way by clar county thoroughfare plan. There is a 60 ft right ofway uh on parcel ending in 005 which shows as vacated on the map which is kind of the pink hatch line that you see. Return reports from utility companies. So comments received there were two sets of comments received from all the utility companies one in April and one in December. Um, so Colombia Gas uh commented that it maintains a 4 in and 2in medium pressure gas main within the proposed right of way on Laganda and Reaper Avenue. And they provided a map and an attached letter to show where their facilities are located. and Ohio Edison uh approves this vacation and they commented that they are currently working on removal of portion of overhead facilities within this area. Written reports from city staff. City service department recommends approval commenting that there is a water water line in Reaper Street and it must remain in an easement. City fire department recommends approval with condition. The

department spoke with owner and the approval is based on their agreed plan to meet with SFRD apparatus access relative to vacating the these roads and city planning and zoning division recommends approval with notes. The first being that the parcels are recommended to be reszoned to ILI district for consistency throughout the property. The right of way can be vacated and area developed as a parking surface. Staff used alternative compliance standards to account for required tree islands to be on the periphery. So their plan showed all the tree islands uh no tree islands. All the trees will be um on the periphery of the new parking lot. All easement rights will be retained. No buildings can be built on required easements. [clears throat] Building plans for business expansion towards east of property were approved February 2025. So the overall recommendation is approval of applicants request with two conditions. The first being that easement rights are retained as mentioned by Colombia gas and city service department and the second being the plan is to meet SFRD paratus access relative to vacating these roads. Uh city manager's journal entry references OC section 723.04 04 and based on this public uh right-of-way vacation requests do not need a city planning board's recommendation and all such requests are direct um directly reviewed by the city commission as stated in state and city ordinances. Thank you

for comments from commissioners. I'll be supporting this uh this just give us a there were were there two businesses there that are going to go away uh those have already been there was a house and then the old harvester in uh topray America acquired those properties they own that entire triangle there those properties have been demolished uh some time ago

okay what I was saying is I will support this because uh this project that it's attached to is one of the more successful brownfield projects in the state of Ohio and the amount of jobs that this company has brought to our community is amazing and this will help them uh continue to grow. So I'll be supporting this. Um we had we had talked about this there there are more jobs coming as as part of this project. Could you speak to that just a little?

Yes, this is associated with their recent addition. So you uh the public's probably seen the expansion going there uh to the south. Uh that is a hot stamping facility and yes, they will be adding additional jobs uh to the jobs they already have created on that property with this new hot stamping facility. Hey, are there comments from the audience on this hearing only? Hearing none. Is there a motion to adjurnn the hearing? So move. Second. I moved and seconded. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Rickettts? Yes. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mrs. Teet? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mr. R? Yes.

The hearing schedule for 655 is called to order. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Wallace here. Ms. Packet here. Mr. Riggsby here. Mr. Rickettts here. Mr. Rim here.

Proper legal notice been given of this hearing? Notice of a public hearing for the purpose of considering the proposed change in zoning for 0.276 276 acres located at 313 West McCrite Avenue being parcel number 3400700351 0000004 from PIE Institutional and Educational District to RHD highdensity residential district was published in the Springfield News Sun, a newspaper of general circulation within the city. Attached here two is a true and correct copy of the legal notice published on December 23rd, 2025.

I move that the [clears throat] communication be ordered, received, recorded in the minutes, and filed. Second. Been moved and seconded. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Ricketts, yes. Mr. Riggsby, yes. Mrs. Tacket, yes. Mr. Wallace, yes. Mr. R.

Yes. Staff report. Applicant wishes to reszone the subject parcel from institutional educational to highdensity residential. The subject parcel had a retail building built in 1901 which was demolished in March 2025. The applicant wishes to reszone the parcel to build a new multifamily structure. The current zoning uh permits for housing uses and majority of multi-unit uses are conditionally permitted. The owner is requesting the proposed RHD district which will permit for multifamily unit without a conditional use permit along with other housing use options. Zoning map from 1975 shows the subject parcel was zoned B1 and the parcel was also part of a subdiv subdivision plat. The Clark County comprehensive plan shows this area as institutional campus. The future character of parcel envisions multifamily residential uses for this parcel. The proposed zoning district will complement the surrounding residential area. There are um RHD mixed uses across from the subject parcel and in surrounding vicinity. West McCrae West McCrae is classified as 100 ft wide primary arterial public rightway. Uh there is a 13 ft wide alley running east west of the parcel. It will be the owners or developers responsibility to locate any easements prior to any new construction. Return reports from city staff. Take no objections and recommend approval. City planning and zoning division commented that the proposed zoning district complements surrounding residential area. If request is approved by city commission, any new structures, accessory uses or site improvements will

have to comply with the district's dimensional standard and the city planning board recommended approval for this request as well. Thank you. There any complaints brought up from residents? None to my knowledge. Other comments from commissioners. Are the comments from the audience on this hearing? You go to the microphone, please, and just say your name. Thank you. Sorry, Matthew. Is I'm just in curious does I'm assuming that Wittenberg owned the property previously because it was zoned educational in that area. Do they still own it or have they already sold it and [clears throat] zoned or are they looking develop?

My understanding is they have sold the property and so it's the new owner that is looking to redevelop it and actually build the new structure that you see there. Um educational institutional was the old zoning classification and then with the new zoning code update it went to that uh PI zoning which is public institutional educational. Thank you. Thank you for your question. There's a motion to adjourn the hearing. So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Rickettts? Yes. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mr. R? Yes.

The public comment period of the city commission's call to order. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Rickettts here. Mr. Riggsby here. Mrs. Tacket here. Mr. Wallace here. Mr. room here.

The city commission remains committed to creating a conducive environment for constructive and productive dialogue and engaging engagement for the community. Those wishing to speak must fill out a public comment pardon card and provide their information address for the record. A stateisssued ID or driver's license must be provided while filling out and when filling out the card. Those residing in Springfield and Clark County will be permitted to speak during the public comment period. Comment cards will be accepted up to 15 minutes after the start of the formal um comment period. Those who have determined to have provided false information on the comment card will not be prevented permitted to speak at this meeting or the next scheduled city commission meeting. We're truly committed to making sure the meeting and environment is uh open to where people have the opportunity to share their ideas, thoughts, and concerns. While we fully respect the first amendment rights of all individuals, disruptions or any conduct that impedes the orderly progress of the meeting will not be uh tolerated. Those individuals who are escorted or asked to leave due to uh disruptive behavior on three separate occasions, they'll be notified that they're considered trespass and barred from attending future meetings. We're going to go ahead and begin with Gene Barnett. You go to microphone, please, sir. I'm going to say while Jean's going to the microphone at the end of the comment period uh for a legislative meeting I have two statements I will read. One about the pending uh ending of TPS and the second one will be in relation to uh the warming shelter that has been operating in the city of Springfield. Mr. Bernett.

Uh good evening u Mr. Mayor, Mr. City Manager and and city commissioners. I wanted to congratulate the new city commissioners and uh we uh folks in the in the Springfield community look forward to working with you all this year. I know it's going to be a a tough year with all the huge federal cuts to your budget. And [clears throat] I just wanted to say congratulations to all of you and and uh we can work together this year. And I wanted to remind everyone to bring their whistles Thursday in case we need them. Thank you. Thank you, President Denise Williams. Oh, you have a comment card. Okay, Diane Daniels, start the clock, please. How wonderful to have finished my sentence and to be back in the palace de Ru here in the throne room before my lege king Ru the king of chaos the perpetuator of chaos. You my lege have worked very hard to earn the title bestowed upon you. Your title could have been much different, but you ignore chances to thwart the chaos in 2023, the total chaos in 2024. President Trump thanks you. And now the ensuing circuits in chaos in 2026. In fact, you my leash, you refused to meet with certain citizens. You were asked personally by a citizen to have a discussion with others of like mind to discuss safety and security for all citizens. Remember what you told this citizen? I will meet with you every other Thursday, every other Tuesday for 3 minutes. Who did you allow to have a seat at the table in this room? Not once

but twice. Well, of course, the NAACP and their guards, the Nation of Islam, right here twice. The topic, roundt discussion on racism and discrimination. Both meetings turned out to be struggle sessions for the mostly white liberal women in attendance. And you wonder why the blood tribe showed up. They knew what you did and they knew much more. Why, one might ask, would you abandon all citizens in favor of select few? Why pivot the discussions about safety and security for all? and center of the discussion is all about race. Remembering of course that Haiti is not a race. It happens to be a country. We have the receipts, the videos, the zoom calls, the exac accounts. So did the blood tribe. In my opinion, based on a plethora of information from these sources that you, King Rue, are morally and ethically bankrupt and not worthy of holding office for all citizens and you should resign. In my opinion, there is something not right. You wanted all of us to play in your sandbox. You wanted all of us to participate in your delusion in your self-loathing. We have heard you talk about not being comfortable in your white body, the one God gave you. You enjoyed the book me and my white supremacy. The audio version of course with a workbook. Did you also samp sample white fragility by Robin D'Angelo? In my opinion, you suffer from white guilt and you want all of us to suffer with you. Rather than just internalizing your white guilt, you externalize it as rage against any who did not think or feel as you do. My appearances here have nothing to do with the foreign nationals here, but rather the pieces and people who have facilitated it. Justice for Springfield is all about outing those people, the NOS's, the churches, the businesses and other organizations we know who you are and what you did. You need a new scrub brush and a better brand of soap cuz you're still white. You can stay right there, Diane. You can stay right there.

Well, you have a first amendment right to speak whatever you want and that is fine. Uh your opinion, personal opinion of me does not matter to me what admit. I do not lose an ounce of sleep over your opinion of me. That's number one. Number two, your continued lies about my character is fine. Again, that's your opinion. It may be the opinion of others, but what you say, you have a right to say, but it does not matter to me. You're not hurting my feelings. You're not doing anything except wasting 3 minutes. Okay, take care. Marca Jeffrey. Okay. Matthew is.

Uh, good evening. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you tonight. Um, and thank you for the thought in front of me. Sometimes I can go a little long-winded. It's the teacher professor and me. Um, I'm going to respectfully disagree with the citizen who spoke before me. I don't think you're a king. If we are not happy with your service to the city, we do have the democratic means of holding an election and any or all of you could be replaced and we should all be thankful that we live in a society that allows that to happen. Not you're arguing for or against that, just democratic. Um, tonight I I've come here to employ implor this council to to do everything within its legal and moral fiber and power to limit the ability of ICE to come into this community and terrorize its citizens and its inhabitants. what we have seen over the last few months of ISIS's behavior across the country culminating in what we've seen in the last few weeks in Minneapolis has demonstrated that the current ranks of ICE do not have the basic standard of moral decency that should be held of law enforcement of any level in this country. Nor do they seem to have a basic understanding of citizens and occupants of this country's constitutional rights regarding demonstrating protesting and expressing their political opinions. This could include limiting ISIS's ability to wear masks while in this city and while in in the city limits, instructing the local law enforcement that their legal obligations are to protect the citizens of this city and that subsequent when ICE violates those guns, which is not an abstract idea. We have all seen the video of them doing this repeatedly that their

responsibility is to protect the individuals in this community. And so I know that this is very difficult situation and I know that we do not have the resources of a large city where we have seen ICE mobilizations over the last year these types of immigration reinforcement like many individuals in this room assuming of course if there are violent criminals like we're we're not talking about that I trust local law enforcement to to to handle such situation but we could be on the precipice of a very very dangerous and ugly situation and while it is really scary looking back on it I don't think that you're you want your names associated with what could be happening and what might be happening this so I just strongly encourage all of you to find all of the legal resources within your power thank you Lorie Stefan Hello. I'd like to echo some of what our previous speaker said. Um, I'm a resident of Springfield and I am quite concerned about ICE and uh, Border Patrol coming to our community. Uh, they have been doing some very horrific things. Um, I would like to suggest that the council um mandate that they not wear masks, that they identify themselves um with badge and name. I would also like to uh suggest that the Springfield Police Department uh do everything in its power to keep us safe.

Uh I have been to many of the protests and I want to compliment the police department. They have done an excellent job of um protecting our rights uh protecting everyone's right to protest uh when there have been problems. They have been very respectful, very um responsive. Uh so uh kudos to the police department. They've done a great job. Uh, and I know this really this isn't really in your wheelhouse, but I'm going to put it out there anyway. Um, Springfield City Schools, I know you guys do not control them. Uh, however, I would like to ask that you put whatever pressure you can on them to come up with a better plan than business as usual for um, dealing with ICE. uh what the uh superintendent has said uh does I don't think he understands the severity of what is coming or he um I don't know uh what his views are but in any case I I think there needs to be a better plan. Uh so thank you for this opportunity to speak and Mr. Um, I can't apologize for anyone, but I know um I have a a good friend who speaks very highly of you. You um were very helpful to her during um a time of crisis in her life after her father committed suicide. Um you took care of their funeral. Um and so you are a man of good character.

Thank you. Thank you, Mayor Peru. Mayor, real quick, just because it's come up twice, I was going to have Joe Allen uh just speak directly to the idea of the mask and and banning masks.

Yes. So, the question as to whether or not the city can mandate if um ICE officers wear masks is something that is a federal policy. We cannot regulate federal policy. We cannot um interfere with them. We could make a resolution that would support not wearing a mask and a suggestion, but we cannot mandate or dictate federal policy. If you'd like to go, M, you can go speak. You had a 20 minutes seconds left. If you want to go to the microphone and speak, ma'am. All righty. Um, I just wanted to say that California um was able to pass a law that they're not supposed to do that. I don't know if a city can do that, but apparently a state can.

Thank you. Thanks for your concern.

And Casto. Good evening, Mayor Buu and city commissioners. Thank you for the opportunity to speak this evening. I come before you tonight not only as a resident, but as a neighbor, someone who cares deeply about the people who make up this community. Immigrants are not an abstract issue or a talking point. They are real people who live among us. They are the parents dropping their children off at school each morning. They are the workers who show up early and stay late. They are the nurses, laborers, pastors, small business owners, and volunteers who quietly help hold Springfield together. Our city is stronger, kinder, and more resilient because they are here. Temporary protected status, or TPS, has allowed families, including many of our Haitian neighbors, to live and work legally in our community for years. These families have built lives here in good faith. They have paid taxes, followed the law, and contributed to the common good. Should the federal administration allow TPS to expire on February 3rd, it would tear stability away from people who have already endured unimaginable hardship. Families will be thrown into fear overnight. Parents will worry about being separated from their children. Kids will carry anxiety into classrooms. Employers will lose dependable workers. Churches, schools, and service providers will be left to respond to trauma that never had to happen. At the same time, the arrival of federal enforcement entities in our city sends a chilling message. It fractures trust. People become afraid to report crimes, seek medical care, or ask for help. That fear does not make Springfield stronger. It makes us weaker. This is about who we choose to be as a community. Loving our neighbor is not conditional. It does not depend on where someone was born, what language they

speak, or the color of their skin. Every human being deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. When we allow policies rooted in fear or cruelty to take hold, we lose something essential, our moral compass. Reasonable people should not tolerate cruelty, injustice, oppression, or the exploitation of the most vulnerable. We should not tolerate prejudice, blind loyalty, hypocrisy, or apathy, whether it comes from government, political parties, industry, religion, or individuals. When harm is happening, silence is not neutrality. It is acceptance. There is another way forward, one grounded in compassion, courage, and shared humanity. I invite you and the broader community to stand publicly for dignity and family unity. At the upcoming gathering, here we stand. Faith leaders for immigration justice and family family unity, February 2nd at 9:00 a.m., which will take place at St. John Missionary Baptist Church here in Springfield. This is a critical moment for Springfield. Let us show our neighbors, our children, and the nation that we choose dignity over fear, love over indifference, and unity over division. Thank you for listening, but most of all, thank you for choosing compassion. Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Casp. Von Hendris,

what's up? Um, so I like what you said, you know, about you don't lose no sleep. You know what I'm saying? Over this day in and day out hate that we see. I see it every day on my news feed. Just hate from some people in this room. You know, the Richard Jordans, all these people hateful. They they wish uh they said I look like something off a plantation and I should be hung. Things like that. They say things like um Haitians are equivalent as as as dogs like or or less than. Like the words that come out of these people's mouth is wild, you know? But I do not lose no sleep over them. You know what I mean? It, you know, it kind of humors me cuz they do it so much and I'm like, "Okay, I got over that stage, you know?" But man, [clears throat] these are the people that we got in our city. We got a problem. You know, we got a big problem, huge problem every day. And it's like, why are y'all my friends? Why do y'all want to look at my page and see my stuff for what? So y'all can say these mean evil things. Wow. It's just wild. Um, and then the people ICE that's coming in, we seen on TV, you know, how they handle certain situations, you know, just like the last one, you know, with pushing that old lady before, you know, the man was shot like this what our city about to see. And you know, it's just wild to me though. Um, and then to prey, you know, they building for expansion. Who they going to have to work there? Some of these people in Springfield ain't going to work. You know, not all of them, a few. But I really just want to say, man, shout out to y'all. Shout out to our police. Shout out to our firefighters. Shout out to the people that's here day in and day out. Shout

out to our new uh commissioners. And shout out to the people that's really helping move forward and and help this city be better. You know, the city has a lot of history of a lot of hateful stuff, but you know, I haven't seen it, you know, till Trump got got in and, you know, made [clears throat] everybody happy to be like, "Hey, get them all out of here." Why? Cuz they're helping our city. Why? Because they're working. Why? Because the kids are going to school and and have the best grades that people done seen. Why? Because they're family oriented. Why? Because they don't bother nobody. Why? Because they came here and they built this city in a matter of it seemed like seconds. You know, is that what we mad at? I don't know. I'm just I'm just a kid from Springfield that wants it to be better and I keep fighting. Shout out Springfield. Move forward. Hey, sir. Duffrey. Duffy, excuse me. Good evening to all of you. Um, as has been eloquently uh said by former speakers, I cannot match that eloquence. Uh, but I want to echo that I am deeply concerned uh about the presence of ICE in this community. I am deeply concerned for my neighbors. And so while I recognize that um the commission's powers in this matters may be limited uh as has been pointed out that uh that it cannot be mandated that uh ICE agents um are unable to wear masks over their face. Uh I still

encourage the commission to do all that is in uh its power to to keep this community safe to uh to reject ICE and all that it is it it has done and that we have seen uh to in other communities and has done some in this community already. Thank you. Thank you, Molly. Finch.

Thank you for the chance to speak. I am a soon to be mom, so I'm thinking a whole lot about kids, and I know that you don't directly represent the school district. I don't either, but I'm still going to show up and do as much as I can to support these kids because across the country, ISIS is showing up around schools. Kids have watched their parents get detained during drop off and pickup. Some kids have been taken with their parents. Attendance drops when this happens because for all families with kids, no matter how much they value education, their worst nightmare is separation. And I understand that the message of business as usual, just act normal and trust that the administration will handle things is intended to soothe people and provide normaly. But that doesn't work when folks are already on high alert. Families hear that their fear doesn't matter. Teachers hear that they very well may be on their own. And kids are feeling that fear already. We're not shielding them from it. They know. So we can't pretend that's what that what's happening elsewhere won't happen here. We need a real response from the district that takes the risk and concerns seriously, communicates clearly, and gives teachers and principles agency to acknowledge and address the very real threats facing their kids. If a masked stranger with a gun approaches your child, no matter who you are, no matter what side of the aisle, your alarm bells go off. If a masked stranger claims authority and you don't feel reassured, you feel threatened because they could be anyone, situations escalate faster. You get mistakes, misidentification, and panic. Police work becomes harder. So, I want to make a separate request to the city commission. Please consider a city ordinance that strongly suggests, even if you can't require it, that ICE agents operating in Springfield be clearly

identifiable and not masked to be pro-safety and pro accountability. Even if someone fully supports immigration enforcement, basic principles still should apply. Law enforcement should be identifiable. Authority should be transparent. That's how you protect officers, families, and bystanders at the same time. So, I'm asking for two things. Real serious planning from Springfield City Schools to protect students and families, not dismissiveness, as much pressure as you can put on them to do that as soon as possible. And real leadership from this commission to protect public safety and accountability by requiring or strongly suggesting or whatever it is, federal agents operating here to be clearly identifiable. Thank you for your time.

Thank you. Thank you for speaking. Uh, I want to encourage you to attend a city school board meeting as well and share your concerns. Uh, I'm not and I don't anybody else is going to say anything other than we don't so we can't speak for the district themselves. They have their own governing body. Um, and that's not a pass along. But I do recommend that you read that exact thing at the school board meeting which I think is Thursday. Anyone know what time?

6 o'clock Thursday. I recommend uh you going and making uh making your statement known as well. I'm going to go ahead and read my statement uh from the commission on TPS. Um so I'm just going to offer this uh in the anticipated expiration of of TPS temporary protective status. I think one thing that remains clear is that we cannot we will not formulate policy based on speculation. That said, we do recognize that since the fall of 2024, there has been a significant anxiety surrounding this potential federal immigration policy change. City officials and law enforcement leaders in our community have been actively communicating with one another as well as with other agencies and organizations to share timely and accurate and verified information whenever possible. To summarize that paragraph, nobody is sitting idle that works for the city and nobody everybody is paying attention to uh what could be. However, the reality is that there are so many unknowns. Speculation and the spread of misinformation only serve to create unnecessary fear, additional anxiety, and do us disservice to our residents. We have maintained open dialogue with the Department of Homeland Security to better understand federal processes and procedures. At this time, there is no confirmed information regarding immigration enforcement activity in our community, which means we don't have a date. We don't have any information that's that uh indicates who and what and how uh um ICE agents uh could be coming to our community.

um federal actions may occur without notice to legal agencies and without confirmed information. It would be difficult to speculate on the duration or nature of such activity which simply means we will not we may not get a phone call that a operation is happening. Uh if we do it could be the very day it happens. We just don't know. Please be assured that our priority remains the safety and security of our residents and businesses. We will continue working closely with community partners including schools, healthc care providers, nonprofit organizations, and others who equally who are equally invested in protecting the well-being of our community. As additional information becomes available and verified, we will share uh what can be appropriately shared and made publicly consistent uh with our community to tra uh to transparency. The city of Springfield will continue to focus on safety and security of of our residents. Period. That will be the job of our safety force. Commissioners, if you have any comments um regarding this, Miss Denise um only because you filled out a comment card earlier.

Well, thank you. And you deny. Okay. I I I deeply apologize, but I I tried to sit still. Yeah. Um I'm not able to. So, I appreciate you allowing me just a few minutes. I want to first welcome more than three.

Okay. Thank you. I want to first welcome uh the new commissioners. I haven't had a chance to meet with you guys, but soon as everything clear up, uh we will be calling and and getting connection. Okay. Um I want to say publicly to our mayor, you are so much appreciate appreciated. You have been to our meeting. You have attended our function as a mayor should do. It is so hard to hear harsh words that try to divide us. We are now facing something terrible. We don't need any added extra nonsense like we heard earlier. I am encouraging everyone to stay peaceful. Don't give in to ICE. Don't be in the way. But we must stay prayerful. And mayor, you have a job that I don't wish on anyone, but I want you to know that I respect you and the commissioners and we will always continue to keep you in our prayers and we want to thank you for the support that you have given NAACP. All of you up there have supported the NAACP. But we are a community of love and not of hatred. So I'm hoping that we don't carry the earlier comment on through next week. We already have enough on our minds to deal with what is up and coming. So I just want to publicly thank you, Mayor Rue, and all of the commissioners up on board. And I want to thank our comm

community for being as one love and not of hate. Thank you. [cough and clears throat] Would any of the other commissioners like to speak uh to TPS?

Uh I would speak on a the um schoolboard meetings. Those are held on Thursdays [clears throat] at 5:30 p.m. at the dome 700 South Limestone Street, Springfield, Ohio 4550. And the next meeting is February 19th. They just had one January 22nd. I have an additional statement uh that is uh concerning our u vulnerable community, the uh homeless shelter, the um excuse me, the warming shelter that's been in operation. So, I want to start by thanking the Nehemiah Foundation and the many volunteers who continue to show up uh for our community with compassion and resolve. Um your commitment absolutely matters and is making a real difference. This past Sunday during the snowstorm, volunteers were literally digging their own cars out to come and serve others. Um, that says a lot about the kind of community Springfield really is and it's people who call this place home. Homelessness is here and across the country is very complex. There's no quick fixes. It takes sustained efforts, strong partnerships, and people willing to step forward when it matters the most. with dangerously cold temperatures upon us. Uh the moment is now. Our community warming shelter is operating 24 hours a day and this will happen through Sunday at least through Sunday to keep people safe. And to do that, the warming shelter needs volunteers. Training is provided on site and help is needed with intake, meals, organizing donations, cleaning, and simply uh being present with the guests in a respectful way. We are especially in need of the shelter is especially in need of boots, both

men's and women's new boots. I I will tell you quickly, you can go to Walmart and buy a pair of boots for $27. They're varied sizes. They need sizes 9 through 12 15 and that will be very helpful. While they appreciate the donations of folks bring in used clothes, it's more helpful if they can be new or nearly new if you will. Okay. Um so uh sweatshirts, jackets, warm clothes are all uh needed. I know Commissioner Tacket has also been in tune with uh the needs and so I'm making sure we're reading this again as she did in the last meeting. uh meals, paper cups, small cups, paper towel, and um and things like that are also needed uh for the stain. They're they're feeding over 140 people a day. Okay? And so it's not just the 48 CS that are there with actually 49 uh but it's also the folks that are coming in from the cold and eating. And so uh the need is very real. If there is a business listening to this, I make a plea to you to adopt a day. Adopt a couple days. Um, for about $500, you could probably feed one to two, one and a half to two meals. Uh, and I encourage you to adopt a day. Uh, during this cold snap, okay, the polar vortex that we're in right now. Donations can be dropped off at the Salvation Army. That's 15 South Plum Street. Volunteer signup sheets and links are available through the city and our partners. Springfield has always risen to a moment like this. And I want to thank those who are stepping up. I want to thank those who will step up and uh this is how we take care of one another. Thank you. Other commissioners like to speak to this.

Thank you, Mayor Rue, for sharing that out. I also want to add that uh there's been a request for art supplies. So, even though we deal with basic human needs, they also would like some activities to do. And there's there's some pretty wonderful artists in there. So, if anyone has some extra art supplies and can drop those off or activities for them, that is also welcome. [clears throat] I would like to just say that in in the past, I've I've seen people come in here and accuse this commission of not caring about the homeless. people in our in our county. I have seen over the last month some things from our own employees and from the mayor where they have personally shown up and worked at the warming center. Our own Logan Cobbs was there the other day. I don't know how she got there, but it was on the day when we had over a foot of snow and she was there in the morning and she was there for over 5 hours. I have personally witnessed the mayor showing up several times in his own vehicle and asking him what they need and he comes back an hour later and his SUV is full of food and supplies. That's the kind of mayor that we have. And I think we've had a couple of other uh city employees that have also shown up and have worked there. Last night when we were there, the police, our police chief showed up, Chief Elliot showed up and asked what she could do. The biggest need last night was toilet paper. As you can imagine, with that many people in one building, you think that's not a big deal, but it was. We were down to two roles last night and

the chief went out and [clears throat] took care of that for us. And I'm I'm very appreciative of her and I'm appreciative of our of our city staff and I'm really appreciative of the mayor for showing leadership in um how to work on this directly. Thank you. Thanks. I think I was sitting in um uh the Martin Luther Clark State Martin Luther King Day celebration and uh gentleman spoke Carter said something about um proximity affecting you and how you view situations, how you view people. And I can tell you since I've been elected, proximity towards so many different situations has caused my awareness to increase. So, uh, like many of you, uh, you know, when you see individuals who are cold and when you're closer to them, um, it's just have to do something about it. And a lot of us have good hearts. Ma'am, I'd love to ask you to have you speak, but this comment period's closed, so I I appreciate you. Oh, well, thank God I You have a card. Why don't you go give us three minutes then? Okay. I'm sorry. It wasn't intentional. Could you say your name for me? Ah, I thought I said that cuz I saw how to pronounce it. Three minutes.

That wasn't intentional, ma'am. You know that.

Yeah, but that's how. Cool. Great. Thank you. I'm Katherine Peru with my colleague, Miss Jeffrey. We are here from the Amos Project, a network of faithrooted congregations, clergy, and residents working to support the well-being of Springfield Southside. We follow the prophetic words of Amos, who enjoins us always to let justice roll on like a river and righteousness like a never failing stream. It is in the effort to protect all our Springfield neighbors, that we are here. And I say good evening and thank you for being here. Thank you for allowing us to speak. I'm not going to recap the letter in full [clears throat] that I sent to you in our exchange over the issue of identification of ICE agents because others have spoken eloquently to exactly that point. I will note to you that the neighbor in political theory is the basic civic unit and that our care for one another is what binds us into a community of safety which all of us here treasure. In my letter, I noted that other municipalities and even a state have taken action to specify that ICE agents follow the same identification practices as local law enforcement and that that is done in the with the purpose of ensuring accountability to our neighbors. Mayor Ru, you kindly replied quickly to my letter. You noted that the city of Springfield does not have authority to impose operational requirements on federal office. California has done exactly that. So apparently the matter is not law. But in any case, other municipalities, including now Cincinnati, have passed resolutions to urge federal agents to follow their local ordinances for law enforcement. And this has been done in the service of securing community

safety. Just as it is the task of our government to secure our safety, it is the task of politics to meet the moment. Things have changed in a way that brings urgency to our situation here in Springfield. So, we respectfully request again that this city commission at the least pass a resolution urging ICE agents to comply with the same ID requirements as local police offic. And now since we are talking about law, I close by invoking the words of Paul in Romans 13. Romans 13:1-7 is often cited to explain the need to follow established authority. But of course, faithful people here will read to the end of verse 10 to complete Paul's thought. Let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another. For whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and whatever other command there may be are summed up in this one command. Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love the fulfillment the law. Thank

Thank you. And once again, I apologize for skipping over your good card. Here it is. Um, I [clears throat] have I would have no problem supporting a resolution from this commission that said we would hope that federal agents would uh treat our residents with dignity and respect and that they I would hope that they would uh reveal their faces other law officers have to. That's a resolution and what that is is a voted wish that our commission would would ask. So I would support a resolution like that. This is not an ordinance. This is not a law. It's a resolution. And that's what other municipalities have done because it would be our hope that our cit residents would be treated fairly and that the agents that are doing an operation would be identifiable. I have no problem with that whatsoever. That's a res that's a wish that I would have. I would support that resolution. And the reason is a year and a half ago we had people show up here in masks that were not ICE. How are we to know a week from tomorrow the people that are showing up here in masks are not those same people? It's very easy to go out and buy camouflage. It's very easy to go out and and buy identification that somehow makes you look like a law enforcement officer. I don't think it's out of the question for uh our law enforcement to be able to require or at least ask should be require uh identification from uh ICE agents while they're in the area for that very reason that we don't know. We could have some people that come in here again that have nothing to do with the Department of Homeland Security or ICE.

Okay. So um this is I just want to be clear a resolve is a wish from the commission a hope that uh that agents that would come in the committee representing the federal agency uh immigration and border of patrol would treat our citizens with d excuse me our the residents here with dignity and respect and also uh we would ask that uh they would not cover their faces so they could be identified as federal agents as well. Uh so that's would be the resolution that I would put on the floor. Is there a second commission? Uh can I just speak? Uh we're in the public comment period. We should go into the formal meeting uh before I I'm going to hold my official resolution

till the public meeting. Okay. I mean till the u meeting. Thank you, city manager. And then uh I assume the law director will make sure the I get the wording correctly before we get there. You know, this is risky because I didn't talk to a law director yet. So, I'm open for correction. Okay. Is there a motion to conclude public comment period? So, moved. Second. Been moved to seconded. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Rickettts? Yes. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mrs. Packett? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mr. R? Yes. I need a two-minute break. Thank you.

Okay. The formal meeting for city commission called to order. Cler call the role. Mr. Rickettts here. Mr. Riggsby here. Mrs. Tacket here. Mr. Wallace here. Mr. R here. If we could go ahead and quiet down the room again, please. Thank you. If you stand for the pledge allegian invocation in the pledge. [clears throat]

Father, I just thank you for the opportunity to govern the city and I ask that you would bring peace community to keep peace. I just trust you. Thank you. be with those most vulnerable community, the homeless community. Be those that are affected by the weather. be with us. United States of America, nation. Is there a motion to approve minutes?

So moved. Second. Moved and seconded. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Rickettts? Yes. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mr. R? Yes. We'll continue with first readings.

Amending the zoning map of Springfield, Ohio by reszoning 0.276 276 acres located at 313 West McCrite Avenue, Springfield, Ohio from PIE Institutional and Educational District to RHD Highdensity Residential District. Authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract with Bintag Mids South Incorporated for the purchase of sodium hypocchlorite for use by the waters from the for use by the city's wastewater treatment plant for an amount not to exceed $177,600. confirming and approving renewal of the contract with Maxolve Environmental and Safety Consultants for Environmental Consulting Services for an amount not to exceed $300,000. authorizing the city manager to enter into amendment number two to the purchase agreement with Clark County Land Reutilization Corporation to pro to remove 15 properties from the purchase agreement authorizing the exercise of the city's option to renew the contract with Dayton Sweeping Service Incorporated doing business as DSS Sweeping Service Incorporated now known as Catsum Property Services for Street Sweeping Cleaning Services for an amount not to exceed $232,570 authorizing the city manager to enter into an amendment to the public to public crossing agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway Company in connection with modifying the quiet zone along the Norfolk Southern Railroad corridor and authorizing a maintenance fee in an amount of $99,088 for 2026. Authorizing a three-year contract with Striker for Proare Maintenance Services for an amount not to exceed $57,216.90 per year for a total amount not to exceed $171,650.70

for the three-year term through Sourcewell pursuant to Sourcewell contract purchasing cooperative program in accordance with the provisions of section 9.48 of the Ohio Revised Code. Is there any any uh questions about these first readings? And before that, do you want to explain any of them to us, Sand?

Yeah, I can do a quick overview uh commission. So, uh looking at 022-26, uh the purchase of sodium hypocchlorite for the wastewater treatment plant. This is chlorine that's used in that treatment process. Um we did receive four bids and we're awarding one that's at $1.48 a gallon. And I want to point that out because uh that price is coming down slightly. Uh so in 2025 it was $1.78 per gallon. Uh so a 17% uh decrease. But note too that we have not reached those precoid levels. If you recall uh we saw significant increase in the chemical prices uh sometimes even leading to force majour from the companies as it relates to uh these chemicals used for both on the water side and the wastewater side. Um I'll also point out 020-25 uh the max solve environmental and safety consultants. This is for a one-year renewal of an existing contract with them. Um, and this is for uh phase one and phase two environmental assessment work. Uh, specifically looking at properties on Kenton and Bert uh Dybert uh and so forth. And these are brown fields that we're looking at to hopefully leverage additional state dollars back to our community for the brownfield programs to clean up additional sites. So we talked about, you know, the the top project and that was a former brownfield site and we received state funding to help clean that up and we see what's happened with that. But we want to keep uh redeveloping these brown fields. Um and then 026-22 uh our sweeping uh service contract. Uh this is for a full sweep of the city. Uh it is a 3% increase over last year's cost. Uh it comes out of our storm water fund and is part of our being a combined sewer overflow community and so forth. That's part of our uh long-term control

plan and how we handle that and mitigate uh those materials by cleaning the streets. We hope weather dependent that they would start sometime in mid March and would be complete with that uh full sweep of the city by mid June. We also have a sweeper uh that our staff is also supplementing and going around uh uh the city as well. And then the final one I'll go over is uh 023-26 uh the contract with Striker. So this is for a variety of uh maintenance care of items that are essential to our fire rescue division uh including the power CS for the medics uh their power load systems the cardiac monitors as well as the Lucas devices which are CPR devices that are utilized out in our community each and every day.

Thank you. Questions from commissioners? I just I just have a question for Chris real quick. uh on um 02622, this street sweeping service that when we did our tour of the uh water treatment plant, I believe you said you mentioned that, you know, this this basically pays for itself more or less because it it it keeps all that debris from going into the storm sewers and and affecting the water treatment plant. Is that correct? So, anything we can keep out um cuts down significantly on the cost we have to spend to treat it when it gets to the wastewater treatment plant. So, you know, every year we we try to look at the numbers and see are we we have to sweep regardless, but are we getting our money back? And every indication is yes, we get our money back by keeping all this debris out of the sewer system, out of the wastewater treatment plant, and just getting it off the street and and where it needs to be.

Thank you. Any other comments from commissioners on first readings? Comments from the audience? Miss Daniels, if you got a mic, thank you.

Yeah, I'm getting there. Uh just a real quick question on um number 31124 um to remove 15 properties from the purchase agreement. What are those 15 properties that are being removed? They are scattered site uh single um single residential lots or former single residential lots really scattered throughout the city. We had worked with the land bank on the development of uh an affordable home project. the developer they were working with did not uh receive tax credits uh from the state. Uh so they are interested in still moving forward with a project but they've reduced the amount or the number of lots. So we are now working we will work with these 15 uh properties and work with other partner agencies to hopefully see redevelopment on them still.

So that was kind of like part of what we talked about um what was it a week ago week and a half ago we talked about housing. So, so there is a plan in place for those 15 properties, give or take. Well, those 15 that are being removed, we will continue to work with other partners to see if they were uh will develop those. Uh but those are being removed from that specific project with the land bank. Is there a way for you to put a map [clears throat] out of some of those properties that are available? Yes, we'll work and get something out on the website. That's absolutely perfect. Thank you. We'll

continue with second readings. providing for the issuance and sale of notes in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $17,622,000 in anticipation of the issuance of bonds for the purpose of paying the costs of various public infrastructure product projects. So move second. It's been moved and seconded. Other comments from commissioners from the audience just want to explain what this the second reading. Go ahead.

Certainly commissioners. So this is the annual issuance of our various purpose note dating back to 2019 when we first issued some of the debt that is rolling into this note. Um the new debt that's included is $2 million for AMI which you heard about in the work session this evening from service director Chris Moore. We anticipate rolling these notes into a long-term bond issuance next year. Thank you. Thank you. The comments from the audience on this clerk, call the role. Mr. Rickettts. Yes. Mr. Riggsby. Yes. Mrs. Tacket. Yes. Mr. Wallace. Yes. Mr. R.

Yes. Authorizing the purchase of one IBAK Panoramo camera truck of the latest model year available from Brown Equipment Company for an amount not to exceed $681,760.81 through Sourcewell pursuant to the Sourcewell contract purchasing cooperative program in accordance with the provisions of section 948 of the Ohio Revised Code. So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Other comments from commissioners from the audience. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mr. Ricketts? Yes. Mr. R?

Yes. Authorizing the city manager to enter into amendment number one to the CDBG subreient agreement with the conscious connect community development corporation for open space improvements to four community parks to extend the period of performance to January 29, 2026 and confirming [clears throat] and approving related expenditures incurred from November 19th, 2025. So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Other comments from commissioners? Yes. Um, can someone tell me what what four parks what four community parks that would be offand?

Uh, I'm looking at community development director Logan Cobbs to see if she has that answer. Um, as she's looking that up, uh, too, just to point out, uh, this was an agreement that we had entered into uh, back towards the end of 2024 with Conscious Connect uh, for redevelopment of these, uh, areas in our community. And uh we're extending this completion date so that we can pay out some of the invoices that came in uh after that completion date, but still was work that was completed by the conscious connect. This this comes out of previous year's CBDG money. Yes, this is from uh previous year's community development block grant.

Good evening, commissioners. Logan Cobs, director of community development. The four parks are Grand Avenue Park located at 341 Grand Avenue, Auburn Taliper Peace Garden Park located at 1623 South Limestone Street, Provice Neighborhood Visioning Garden at 127 Lynen Avenue, and the Green Environmental Outreach Park at 724 Plum Street. Thank you. Those are very nice things of what they've been doing there. Just wondering. Thank you. Other comments from the audience or call the role. Mrs. Tucket. Yes. Mr. Wallace. Yes. Mr. Ricketts. Yes. Mr. Wriggsby. Yes. Mr. Rib. Yes.

Emergency ordinances. vacating Laganda Avenue from North Belmont Avenue East to Reaper Avenue and vacating Reaper Avenue from Laganda Avenue South to LOL Street and declaring an emergency therein. So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Are there comments from commissioners from the audience? Cler call the role. Mr. Wallace. Yes. Mr. Rickettts. Yes. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. R? Yes. Authorizing the dedication of 0.061 acres of real property located on LOL Street between North Belmont Avenue and Reaper Avenue as public right ofway and declaring an emergency therein. So move.

Second. Been moved and seconded. Are there comments from commissioners from the audience? Cler call the role. Mr. Ricketts? Yes. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. R? Yes. Authorizing the city manager to apply for, accept, and enter into a cooperative agreement to finance a portion of the city's Miracle Mile Waterline Improvements Project with the Ohio Water Development Authority, authorizing the city manager, finance director, and law director to do all things necessary to implement said loan application and cooperative agreement, and to comply with all relevant local, state, and federal legal requirements and declaring an emergency therein.

So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Other comments from commissioners? Uh yeah. Uh Brian, could you please um kind of explain I've seen a few of these that's coming up. Could you just kind of explain what these projects are a little bit? Yeah. I'll actually uh with the financing and so forth that's handled out of our finance department. I'll have Katie kind of explain the financing. Uh and then if there's questions on specific projects as we award the contract, I'm happy to have Chris Moore uh explain the the limit of the project.

Certainly, mayor and commissioners, um just to provide a larger overall view for these next 11 items on the agenda. Um the first four um of the five projects, the first item on the agenda is the financing of that project. And then that's followed by the award of the construction contract. The fifth project includes two loan applications before the contract award. Hence why we have an odd number having 11 items on the agenda here. Um all of these items represent water and sewer infrastructure projects that were planned through our capital and budget process. They were included in the 2026 um city manager preliminary budget and discussed during our budget meetings with commission. Um, we are leveraging state financing programs through OWDA or the Ohio Water Development Authority and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency or Ohio EPA. These programs allow us to move forward using long-term lowinterest financing and in some cases offer 0% interest and principal forgiveness dependent on the project. Um, so costs are sometimes reduced and are spread over time rather than impacting rateayers in a single budget cycle. Um, in the past we've compared that to like a mortgage where we're spreading that cost out over 30 years instead of impacting in that first year. Um, the timing and emergency action allows us to meet state loan application deadlines and get contracts and financing in place now so that these projects are ready to move forward as soon as weather allows us to. Um, from a procurement perspective, all of these projects were competitively bid through a fair and open process, and the contracts before you tonight are being awarded to the lowest and best biders. Um, so just summarizing, overall, we're using the best tools available to the city to responsibly invest in our infrastructure, protect essential service delivery, and manage cost for our residents. And so as we move through these 11 agenda items, I'm happy to talk through any financing specific um and then rely on service director Chris

Moore if there are questions about the actual project. Thank you. Thank you very much. Comments from the audience. Cler call the role. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Rickettts? Yes. Mr. R. Yes. Authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract with Milton Concrete for the Miracle Mile Waterline Replacement Project for an amount not to exceed $1,180,000 91 $1,180,950 and declaring an emergency therein. So moved. Second.

It's been moved and seconded. Uh C manager, you want to go and explain why um some of these larger contracts are being placed in emergency ordinance? Uh yes. A lot of it comes to the condensed construction season that we see. So we're able to start to award these projects now uh so that they can begin work and and hopefully be in one calendar year as opposed to spreading out multiple years. Uh so the sooner that we can get it awarded, get the contractor moving, uh the quicker we can get the project and ensure again the disruption is contained within one construction season. It's all about timing for these then. Thank you. Other comments from the audience. Cler call the role. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Riggsby?

Yes. Mr. Rickettts? Yes. Mr. Rue? Yes. authorizing the city manager to apply for, accept, and enter into a cooperative agreement to finance a portion of the city's John Street waterline replacement project with the Ohio Water Development Authority, authorizing the city manager, finance director, and law director to do all things necessary to implement said load implication and cooperative agreement, and to comply with all relevant local, state, and federal legal requirements in declaring an emergency therein. So moved. Second. Been moved and seconded. Are the comments from commissioners from the audience? Clerk, call the role. Mrs. Tacket. Yes. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mr. Ricketts?

Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mr. R? Yes. authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract with DoubleJ Construction Incorporated for the John Street Waterline Replacement Project for an amount not to exceed $333,480 and declaring an emergency therein. So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Are there comments from commissioners from the audience? Clerk, call the role. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mr. Rickettts? Yes. Mrs. Packet? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes, Mr. Ru.

Yes. authorizing the city manager to apply for, accept, and enter into a water supply revolving loan account loan agreement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Ohio Water Development Authority to finance a portion of the city's 2026 Laganda Avenue and Columbus Avenue Water Service Replacement Project, authorizing the city manager, finance director, and law director to do all things necessary to implement [clears throat] said loan application and agreement, and to comply with all relevant local, state, and federal legal requirements and declaring an emergency therein. So moved. Second.

It's been moved and seconded. Are there comments from commissioners from the audience? Go ahead to the podium, Miss Daniels. Could could one of you kind of give us a kind of a rundown on on we're doing a lot of water replacement. We talked a little bit when we had this meeting, but for the good of of all, why don't you explain real quickly um some of the problems that we're running into with the water lines and the age of them, if you don't mind, city manager? Yes. Uh I'll have our service director kind of talk through some of the things that we see specifically with aging infrastructure.

Thank you. I won't speak to any of these one specific project, but broadly on the projects you are that are before you tonight, we have um areas that are high main break areas where we know we're going to be there multiple times a winter. Um the Ohio EPA encourages us to keep a list of the top 25 areas and be proactive in upgrading the infrastructure in those areas. We have other areas where the lines were un When they were installed decades ago, they were the right size. They're no longer the right size. They don't support proper fire fire flows. They can't support a fire hydrant. So, we're we're making sure we're taking care of those little places. Some of the other areas have shallow um galvanized andor lead water services. They um are are problematic um from a health and safety standpoint according to Ohio EPA. They're also problematic for us if we go in to do a roadway reservicing project. Any um heavy disturbance of the top six ines of the the roadway or the street base will cause those lines to break. So some of these projects address those old lines in those cases.

Thank you. Cler call the role. Mr. Ricketts? Yes. Mrs. Packet? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mr. R? Yes. Authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract with Major Enterprises Incorporated for the Laganda Avenue and Columbus Avenue water service replacement project for an amount not to exceed 1,723,796 and declaring an emergency therein. So moved. Second.

Been moved and seconded. So, uh, more so you're saying that you have a list of like in 5 years, you know, there's certain sections you're going to have to be proposing these exact things happening, right? So, just appreciate the thoroughess and um, and these have probably been on your list for at least 5 to 10 years. Am I right? Okay. Other comments from the audience? Call the role. Mrs. Tucket, yes. Mr. Wallace, yes. Mr. Ricketts, yes. Mr. Wiggby, yes. Mr. R. [clears throat]

Yes. authorizing the city manager to apply for, accept, and enter into a cooperative agreement to finance a portion of the city's new chemical storage and feed system improvements project with the Ohio Water Development Authority, authorizing the city manager, finance director, and law director to do all things necessary to implement said loan application and cooperative agreement and to comply with all relevant local, state, and federal legal requirements and declaring an emergency therein. So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Are the comments from commission from the audience? Call the role. Mr. Wallace. Yes. Mr. Rickettts. Yes. Mrs. Tacket. Yes. Mr. Riggsby.

Yes. Mr. R. Yes. Authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract with Peterson Construction Company for the new chemical storage and feed system improvements project rebid for an amount not to exceed 4,670,000 and declaring an emergency therein. So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Are there comments from commissioners from the audience? Call the role. Mr. Ricketts? Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mr. Wriggsby? Yes, Mr. R.

Yes. authorizing the city manager to apply for, accept, and enter into a water supply revolving loan account loan agreement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Ohio Water Development Authority to finance a portion of the city's 2026 West High Street Utility Upgrade Project, authorizing the city manager, finance director, and law director to do all things necessary to implement said loan application and agreement and to comply with all relevant local, state, and federal legal requirements and declaring an emergency therein. So moved. Been moved and seconded. Are there comments from commissioners from the audience? Cler, call the role. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mr. Rickettts?

Yes. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mr. Rue? Yes. authorizing the city manager to apply for, accept, and enter into a water pollution control loan fund loan agreement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Ohio Water Development Authority to finance a portion of the city's 2026 West High Street Utility Upgrade Project, authorizing the city manager, finance director, and law director to do all things necessary to implement said loan application and agreement, and to comply with all relevant local, state, and federal legal requirements and declaring an emergency therein. So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Are there comments from commissioners

from the audience? If you go to the podium, Miss Daniels, I'm sorry. The question is um the water pollution control loan fund. What is that? Miss Katie, that is one of the financing mechanisms available to the city through the state and the federal government. And specifically here when we look at that loan structure, um large portions of this are eligible for principal forgiveness, meaningings meaning we don't pay anything. Um and then another portion of this is estimated at a 0% interest rate. So it wasn't my question, it was Larry's, but yeah, thanks. Certainly

recall the role, Mr. Mr. Wallace. Yes. Mr. Rickettts. Yes. Mr. Riggsby. Yes. Mrs. Tacket. Yes. Mr. R. Yes. Authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract with LJ Dwise Company Incorporated for the West High Street Utility Upgrade Project for an amount not to exceed 1,228,951 and declaring an emergency therein. So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Other comments from commissioners from the audience. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Ricketts? Yes. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes.

Mr. Rue? Yes. Confirming and approving change order number one to the contract between the city and CW Tree and Outdoor Service LLC for the 2025 sidewalk curb and gutter program to increase the contract in an amount not to exceed $157,754 for a total amount not to exceed $1,62,756. Authorizing the city manager to execute said change order number one and declaring an emergency therein. Need a second. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Are there comments from commissioners?

Yeah. Can you explain u what this is, Brian? Yeah. So, specifically this change order uh is the Northern Estates area uh which is where we're getting ready to pave, but we had the sidewalk curb and gutter program. The increase comes from trying to match the sidewalk elevations uh with the properties uh where the sidewalks com uh is completed and so matching those elevations increase the cost. My comments from the audience call the role. Mr. Riggsby, yes. Mrs. Tacket, yes. Mr. Wallace, yes. Mr. Rickettts, yes. Mr. Rue,

yes. confirming and approving adoption of the city of Springfield cyber security program in compliance with section 9.64 of the Ohio Revised Code that safeguards the city's data, information technology, and information technology resources to ensure availability, confidentiality, and integrity consistent with generally accepted best practices and declaring an emergency therein. So move second. It's been moved and seconded. Are there comments from commissioners? from the audience or call the role. Mrs. Tucket, yes. Mr. Wallace, yes. Mr. Riggsby, yes. Mr. Rickettts, yes. Mr. R. Yes.

Confirming and approving the amendment of ordinance number 25-138 to revise the transfer of monies authorized and declaring an emergency therein. So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Miss G, you want to explain this [clears throat] real quick? Certainly, mayor and commissioner. So, this ordinance confirms and approves adjustments to the 2025 transfer of monies based on our final year-end actuals. Um, while expenditures remained within our approved appropriation and budget authority adjustment um to the transfers from the general fund to other funds are necessary to more accurately reflect year-end um our financial position. Thank you. Comments from the audience. Cler call the role. Mr. Wallace.

Yes. Mr. Riggsby, yes. Mr. Rickettts, yes. Mrs. Tacket, yes. Mr. R. Yes. Confirming purchases and obtaining of services for the city and providing for payments therefore and declaring an emergency therein. So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Are there comments from commissioners from the audience? Cler call the role. Mr. Mr. Riggsby. Yes. Mr. Rickettts. Yes. Mr. Wallace. Yes. Mrs. Tacket. Yes. Mr. R. Yes.

Okay. New items on the agenda. At this time, I'm going to move that this resolution uh to urge all federal law enforcement operating in the city of Springfield, Ohio, to comply with city policy, city ordinances, and police operational requirements related to masks and officer identification. We implore federal law enforcement agents to adhere to these requirements to protect public safety and promote accountability. Is there a second? Second.

This has been moved and seconded. Are there comments from commissioners from the audience? You've already spoken three times, Miss Daniels. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Rickettts? Yes. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Wallace. Yes. Mr. R. Yes. Comments uh and announcements from commissioners. Just a thank you to the folks working on our roads and Chris Moore service department over there. Thank you guys so much for everything that you're doing to keep everyone safe. Other comments from commissioners?

Yeah, Chris, I'd like to thank you, too. I know there's been some complaints about we we've got some very narrow roads in some places of the city and a lot of times the plows actually there's no other place to put the snow when they move them than than than up on the sidewalks. I don't know what I don't think there's anything that we can really do about that. Uh it's been a it's been a problem since forever and um I just want to say I I think you guys do a great job and uh we acknowledge that there are some problems with those and with some of the bridges that was brought up uh couple weeks ago that sometimes you know the plows put the snow up on the the walkways. There's no other place for the snow to go. So I appreciate all the work you and your guys have done. I want to also encourage uh business owners and property owners at some point you still need to address sidewalks. I know it's very very very difficult right now of a business right in limestone. We had to tackle about 6 ft of snow. Uh and so um it's just something to pay attention to. And then citizens and folks driving down the roads u be aware that those that walk uh normally walk on sidewalks or walking in the roads, they have no other choice. Be very aware, be very careful. Um, hearing nothing else. Is there a motion to adjurnn?

So moved. It's been moved and seconded. Clerk, call the role. Actually, I need a second. Second. [clears throat] Call the role. Mr. Ricketts? Yes. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mr. R? Yes.