City Council - Regular Meeting

January 21st, 2026, city council meeting to order. Would the clerk please read roll? Miss Silka here. Mr. Clapper here. Mr. Hook here. Miss Schaefer Bish here. Mr. Typton here. Mr. Turner here. Miss Wallik here. Miss Wesley here. Thank you. Mr. Chair, you have opening remarks. This pledge of allegiance. Okay. Please stand the pledge.

Pledge allegiance 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.

Any public comments, Kathy? No. Okay. Written communication.

On December 23rd, 2025, the clerk's office received notice that there will not be a planning commission meeting on January 6, 2026, but there will be a meeting on January 20th. The agenda and staff report were received on January 13th. On January 20 January 2nd, 2026, the minutes from the December Standing Rock Cemetery meeting were received along with the agenda for the January meeting. These were posted online. On January 12th, 2020 2020 2026, the clerk's office received notice that there will be no board of zoning appeals meeting on January 26 due to a lack of agenda items. On January 12th, 2026, the clerk's office received an email from Nicole M. Marksson, property manager at Kentwood Square Apartments, complimenting the health department on their professional and efficient inspection of the rental property and complimenting the city on caring enough about the residents to conduct yearly rental property inspections. This email was shared with council.

Okay. Thanks. Yep. Uh I'd like to move items 1 through 12 on the city manager report. Second. All those in favor? I post voting for the war two council appointment Heidi.

Yes. So first of all I do want to say we have three three great candidates to fill the position but we can only pick one. So, I move to appoint Eric Drager to fill the vacancy for Ward 2 Ken City Council effective January 21st, 2026 with a term expiring on December 31st, 2027. I'll start. I second. Second, Jeff. Jeeoff. Hey, all those in favor I'm sorry comments. I'm sorry.

Comments. Yeah. Say why I'm making that motion. I want to say that Eric responded thoughtfully and respectfully to our questions. Importantly, he ran for the atlarge position and did well. He came in fourth after three Ds [laughter] Democrats. He worked for the job like we all did and I respect that. I think he would be a diversity candidate as an independent as we are all Democrats. He would provide in my opinion he would provide excellent service to Ward 2 as a good listener and resource person. I think he has a a a good heart and maturity. He is quietly passionate about many of the same issues as myself. sustainability, democracy, dignity of each person, collaboration and consensus building and ethical leadership. I got that from his responses. He is active in the community. He's in the socially responsible sweat shop. He's a yoga teacher at a local studio and is a former police officer. and as a former police officer for Kent as well as Kent State University and the sheriff's department, he would offer a unique window into staff retention and security issues both um which are both relevant today. So I want to say I wholeheartedly support Eric Drager to fill the seat.

Okay. All those in favor? I I certain please opposed I post one two. So Eric and appointed. Congratulations.

And if you'd like to come forward, we'll do the oath of office. Well, first of all, before we do that, yes, let's let's pass the draft. Do I have a motion to authorize the insertion of the name to draft 2026-08? So moved. Okay. Second, Melissa. Okay. Would the clerk read draft 2026-08 and title only? 202608, an ordinance appointing Eric Drager to the position of war to council person of the city of Kent and declaring an emergency. Move suspension. Second. Roll. Oh, sorry. Mr. Clapper, yes. Mr. Hook, yes. Miss Schaefer Bish, yes. Mr. Typton,

yes. Mr. Turner, yes. Miss Miss Wallik, yes. Miss Wesley, yes. Miss Silka, yes. Move adoption. Second. Roll, please. Mr. Hook, yes. Miss Schaefer Bish, yes. Mr. Typton, yes. Mr. Turner, yes. Miss Wallik, yes. Miss Wesley, yes. Miss Selco, yes. Mr. Clapper, yes. Now, Eric, if you come forward,

repeat after me. I, Eric Dger, I Eric Dreger. do solemnly swear Do solemnly swear and affirm that I will support and affirm that I will support uphold uphold and defend and defend the Constitution of the United States the Constitution of the United States the Constitution of the State of Ohio the Constitution of the State of Ohio and the charter ordinances and laws of the city of Kent and and the charter ordinances and laws of the city of Kent portage County Ohio portage county Ohio and that I will faithfully honestly ly, diligently that I will faithfully, honestly, and diligently and impartially and impartially perform and discharge perform and discharge all the powers and duties

all the powers and duties incumbent upon me as council at large incumbent upon me as War 2 council war two council and the city of Kent in the city of Kent Portage County Portage County state of Ohio state of Ohio according to the best of my ability according to the best of my ability and understanding and understanding. So help me God. So help me God.

Thank you. Christmas. Sorry. Okay. Number of minutes. Okay.

We're on the consent agenda and if we could uh break or put leave out the approval of December and January Tracy. Okay. The Senate agenda includes approval of January special meeting minutes. Draft 20261, an ordinance approving the city of Kemp's cyber security policies as required by OC section 9.64. 64 and declaring an emergency. F262, an ordinance authorizing the Civil Service Commission to change the Civil Service rules and regulations, specifically rule 5.08.1, and declaring an emergency. Draft 20263, an ordinance authorizing the city manager or is designated to execute an agreement between the city of Kent and Portage County to continue the so stow summit street bridge and pedestrian improvement project agreement for design services and declaring an emergency. Draft 2020604, an ordinance authorizing the city manager or his designate to enter enter into a memorandum of understanding between the city of Kent and Kent City School District to perform a joint study of pedestrian and bike connectivity through the high school campus that would include the Lake Rockwell trail extension project and declaring an emergency. Draft 202605, an ordinance amending section 353.02, O2 parking regulation authorization of the codified ordinances of the city of Kent to change the permissible parking conditions on East Grant Street and declaring an emergency 2026 an ordinance amending ordinance 2025-50 passed by Kent City Council on June 18th, 2025 to include follow-up items

from the Ohio Department of Development and declaring an emergency. Draft 2020609, an ordinance authorizing the finance director upon the issuance of a certificate of availability of funds to pay certain purchase orders made that exceed $3,000 and declaring an emergency. This suspension roll, please. Mr. Hook, yes. Miss Schaeferish. Yes. Mr. Typton, yes. Mr. Turner, yes. Miss Wallak, yes. Miss Wesley, yes. Miss Silka. Yes. Mr. Clapper. Yes. Mr. Dreer. Yes. [laughter]

Um adoption. Second. Roll please. Miss Schaefer Bish. Yes. Mr. Typton. Yes. Mr. Turner. Yes. Miss Wallik. Yes. Miss Wesley. Yes. Miss Selco, yes. Mr. Clapper, yes. Mr. Hook, yes. Mr. Dreger, yes. Consent agenda passes. [clears throat] See, you pulled out the Doesn't that go under? So, we'll have to deal with individually. Yeah. Yeah. And that's individually that she pulled.

That would go under committee of the whole. Okay. Committee the whole. Okay. All right. The hold voting on uh the loan review board appointment. We need to make a um nomination for that. Yes. I don't know if that should officially be in there yet. I know there's only one candidate, right? All right. I'll uh nominate David Kovac. Second. All those in favor? I opposed. Motion to authorize insertion of his name into draft 2026-07. So moved. Second.

All those in favor? Opposed. Okay. Clary. Draft 2026-07 in title only. Draft 202607 a resolution appointing David Kovac to the loan review board and declaring an emergency. There's suspension. Second. Mr. Tipton to remove the suspension for the emergency. Yes. I'm just making sure [laughter] Mr. Turner. Mr. Turner. Suspension. Oh, suspension.

Uh, yes. Suspension suspending 202607. Miss Wallik. Yes. Miss Wesley. Yes. Miss Elco. Yes. Mr. Clapper. Yes. Mr. [clears throat] Hook. Yes. Miss Schaefer Bish. Yes. Move adoption. Second. And Mr. Drake. Yes. Mr. Sorry. [laughter] Um, Mr. Turner. Yes. Miss Wallik. Yes, Miss Wesley. Yes, Miss Selco. Yes, Mr. Clapper. Yes, Mr. Hook. Yes, Miss Schaefer Bish. Yes, Mr. Drager. Yes,

Mr. Typton. Yes. Draft 202607 task. Next. Yeah. Next. We pulled the minutes. So, do I have a I'll move to approve the December 17th regular council meeting minutes. Second. All those in favor I I oppos two abstensions three three obsessions Robin too and four as Eric was not

was not so or extend uh and then um motion to approve the January council committee meeting minutes second oops motion the January 7th uh minutes have like don't have our names. Well, those were corrected. Correct. The ones at your desk. Perfect. Thank you. Yes. Okay. [laughter] Approve as amended, I should say. Yeah. Okay. So, we have a second. So, you you're approving them as amended, correct? Yes. All those in favor? All those in favor? I opposed.

Okay. with abensions on that. Any two extensions? Okay. Uh nothing under community development, nothing under finance, none nothing under health safety, nothing under land use, nothing under streets and sidewalks. And um is there any unfinished business, any new business? Yes.

Um I think that it's time that we take a look at updating the zoning uh code to figure out if anywhere we could possibly put an AI data center in the city um before we get one unwittingly. Second

discussion. Um, well, I mean, I have a very personal story about why I think they're bad that affected me, but I think that they're um really putting a strain on the environment, on our water wage, electrical grid. Um, I don't really see one coming into Kent immediately based on the size and scope that they are, but I think we should cut this off of the past before they have a chance to get out of control. Your motion is to put it in committee to talk um to explore the zoning use for uh the AI data center and related items. Okay. Anybody else have discussion? All those in favor?

Opposed? Okay. Anything else? All right. Um council members comments. Yeah. Um, I just like to thank the other two candidates for running. Um, Eric, it's incredible to have you on. So, thank you for running and I'm really excited to work with you. Thank you.

Um, Chris, I was prepared to vote for you today. Um, and I want to say why because I think it's important for a vision for the city. And I think the, you know, when you were asked about the the challenges and the opportunities facing the city, you named communications. And I've spoken to the to Dave about this a lot. I think it's really important that we put a highlight on how we're going to communicate it um from a city perspective on what we're doing, both the challenges and opportunities ahead. I think that we live in a world of deep civic distrust of um communication that moves faster than our response to it. And I think you hit the nail on the head as far as identifying that as a major challenge for the city. I also really appreciated that you brought a youthful voice, a voice from the LGBTQ population from your deep experience running um in with Denise, the Democratic party and organizing some incredible campaigns. So, I want to thank you so much for running and I hope that we see you again on the ballot in two years. Thanks.

Thank you, Mayor's Report. I would also like to thank you too for running and I would hope to see both of your names on the ballot next time for uh council. Thank you very much for your dedication to the city. Under the mayor's report, on behalf of the city, I'd like to wish Robin Turner a happy birthday.

We're grateful for your continued support and leadership. So have a I hope you had a well I know but I hope you uh enjoy your day rest of your day. Uh don't forget uh to the community January 24th Saturday is snow day uh for um Main Street Kent. Mark your calendars. Um, it's the third annual snow day celebration and this year's event is packed full of winter fun including live music, fire pits, free s'mores, ice carving demonstrations and displays, free crafts with parks and wreck, winter Olympic style games in Portage Parks with Kent State University, and tons of activities and special offers at our local businesses. So, please plan on attending that. A fantastic way to enjoy winter. support your local partners and come together as a community. Also, this coming Thursday, the 29th, I'll be welcoming some very special guests to city hall from Kent CDC. Mrs. Knap's class will be coming to meet the mayor and ask questions such as what is this key to the city and does it open all of the doors to [laughter] in the city? So, I I I'm looking forward to that. As a former educator, I'm rather excited to uh work with these young people, bring them down to the council chambers, maybe have a little hot chocolate, and talk a little bit about uh the city of Kent and uh uh what the what truth truthfully is the key to the city. I've never seen one. They haven't given it to me. So, Dave, do you have one? [snorts]

It's a key fob. Yes. What time is it? Um it's 11 o'clock. So, if any of you guys want to come, it would be great to see some. Uh, thank you all for making Ken such a vibrant, connected community, and I hope to see you out celebrating. And if you want to come on, uh, the 29th of November or November of January, uh, January, I I welcome you and I think we could have some really good a good time with these young people. So, and at that, oh, we have a workshop for council following this. Give us 10 minutes to set things up and

right ask. Yes, I know this is called Yes, that's what it's called. The Lego place. Sure. Where where do you recommend we get a picture at? Like we've done stairways before and Yeah. Okay. Okay. Sure. I'm gonna take Robin home. He's not feeling well. So, I'm gonna take him home. Welcome, sir. How did that happen? My husband didn't say anything. He usually does. Wait a minute.

Must not be watching. I'll ask Randy if he's listen. All right. There you go.

A few months. I carry that around. This is just a Pretty [laughter] good on the page.

You didn't get rid of your [laughter] put them all back out. running like one. Danny, I think I pulled you good. I don't know. I think those area. Thank you.

Thank you. Yes. Yeah. I think it's I promise. They