City Council - Regular Meeting

Have you been enjoying this weather? No, ma'am. For the record, write that down. No, not enjoying the weather. I'm over it. Not right now. I typed an agenda and it said, "Yeah, thankfully, but I purposely 330th day of January. There's been so many flights canled and stuff." I mean, so knock on wood. Nothing scheduled yet. Cington, I made the mistake of my No. I heard me too. I had uh I met Dave Pierce there yesterday. Yeah. Almost entirely by myself.

And I think it's Oh, yeah. I understand. No, it's just my Yeah. If I bought one, it wouldn't snow again for 10 years and by the time I used it, it wouldn't work.

Hey Jennifer, are you okay? I call to order and welcome you to the Middletown, Ohio City Council meeting for Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026. Please join me for a moment of meditation followed by the pledge of allegiance to the American flag. You will hear three taps of the gavl when it is time to stand. Please join me in a moment of meditation now. I aliance 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.

Clerk of council, Mrs. Amy Skank, please call the attendance role. Mrs. Carter, Mr. West here. Mr. Mulligan here. Mayor Slamov here. Mr. Li here. And I believe Mrs. Carter is on her way. Do we have uh a motion to excuse her until then? Motion. Is there a second? Second. Has been properly moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, we will proceed to vote. Mrs. Skank, please call the role. Mr. West, yes. Mr. Mulligan, yes. Mayor Slam, yes. Mr. Law. Yes.

Yes. Have it. And the motion passes. The first on uh the first item on the agenda this evening, we have a public hearing. The public hearing is for a major amendment to a plan development requested by JA Development on behalf of property owner Revel Properties LLC. For the planned development known as Havenwood located on the western side of Town Boulevard. Assistant Law Director Jack Hemway, you have the floor for the swearing in. Any witnesses, please raise their right hand and swear that they will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Thank you. Uh, next we will have our staff report by um, Claire Federers.

And please just confirm that you've been sworn in.

Good evening. I have been sworn in. Um, as mentioned, this is a major amendment to a plan development. This has been through planning commission already. Uh this is for the removal of commercial uses from the remaining 1.9 acres of the development and to add three additional single family attached two-story units within three buildings on the parcel, walking paths, sidewalks, and a dog dog park. Uh because this is the removal of a land use from the plan development, this does require city council approval. So the subject parcel um within that plan development is a total of 1.918 acres according to the Warren County auditor's website. The subject parcel is within that Havenwood plan development district. The plan development district for the subject parcel was established with the approval of ordinance 202383 by city council on September 20 or September 19th, 2023 effective October 20th of 2023. Um, the final development plan was approved by the city of Middletown Planning Commission on April 19th of 2024. And the final plat was approved by planning commission and city council in July of 2025. Uh, that final plat did establish a total of 49 parcels, 47 for residential dwelling units, one parcel for open space and private roads, and one parcel for future commercial uh development. That is the parcel we are discussing tonight. Uh the development in total equates to just under 8.5 acres. Um so for property background additionally [snorts] that currently approved final development plan established the following minimum site development standards for the residential parcels within that plan development district. A lot width of 20 ft, lot width of 85 ft measured from the private roadway, a front yard setback of 25 ft and a sideyard setback of 10 feet between buildings. In an important part here is the currently approved architectural

elements established in that ordinance from 2023 does include a front first floor facade of brick with all other facads um that are approved to be comprised of vinyl. The applicant is requesting that if this major amendment is approved that architectural waiver is also featured um for the 13 additional units. Getting into staff analysis. Um, looking at the plan development district review changes to approved developments. Based on the applications submitted, staff has determined the proposed changes to the approved development plan is a major change that require the approval of both planning commission and city council due to the requested change in land uses within the plan development district. The applicant does wish to deviate from the currently approved setbacks that were established in that final development plan to allow for a minimum front yard setback of 15 ft um and a minimum sideyard setback of six feet between buildings. Here is the proposed updated site plan for that remaining 1.9 acres. Um the clicker is not working, but you can see in the southern portion of that um site plan, those 13 units are the newly proposed to the development. Here is the proposed um front elevation of the 13 units. So they would have the brick front first floor facade um with vinyl on all other facads and floors. So including the side and rear facades. Um getting into subdivision design these streets based on the site plan submitted by the applicant. The applicant proposes a private street with access from town boulevard with a width of 24 feet.

According to the manual of design for public improvements, local streets require a minimum street pavement width of 29 feet measured from curb to curb. However, the current currently approved um private streets in that development for the residential portion, they do have a um width of 24 feet. So, the newly proposed street would be in the same construct in the same manner as the existing streets. Also in the streets um as presented in the site plan, the private street proposes access to units 5 through 13. However, units one, two, three, and four do not have access to the private street. Then looking at off- streetet parking requirements, the prop proposed parking stalls are a 90deree parking stall on each side of the private street that have a length of 19 ft and a width of 9 ft which do meet the requirements set forth in chapter 1218 of the Middletown development code as um as well as a parking stall and aisle dimensions. Then looking at the site plan submitted, there are a total of 36 additional parking spaces proposed, exceeding the single family dwelling parking space requirements by 12 parking spaces. Then looking at landscaping requirements, the proposed modifications to the site plan proposed a parking area of 18 spaces per side of the private road, um a total of 36 parking spaces. The applicant has stated that the proposed planting plan will be provided with the final development plan um should this be approved to show compliance with chapter 1216 with the proposed major amendment. But in the application request um the applicant does request that uh the details depicted um be accepted as waiverss um rather than compliance for the landscaping requirements. Then looking at the comprehensive plan,

um this property is within our regional mixeduse area which does call for um primarily commercial uses with secondary uses that could include residential. Uh this property is also located within the city's town center development opportunity area. Um no public comments had been received to date via phone or email. The fire department did express concern um regarding lack of access, road access for units one through four um in the event there is an emergency. The fire hydrant proximity the site plan does not in indicate the location of hydrants. So it is unclear if any additional hydrants would be needed. Public works has stated a storm water management plan will be required. Community and econ economic development department, excuse me, has stated the walking paths throughout the development shall be paved with dustless materials such as concrete or asphalt. And lastly, all signage shall meet the required setbacks from right ofway as identified in chapter 1220 of the Middletown Development Code. So, planning commission's recommendation um is being forward to you all for your consideration. Their recommendation of approval did come with conditions. So [sighs] the conditions are as follows. Applicant should be in full shall be in full compliance with chapter 1216. I think 1216 in total. That might be a typo. Sorry. Um so that would include street the the tree requirements as well as landscaping. Um applicant shall be in full compliance with the fire department regulations as it relates to Ohio fire code. An applicant shall construct walking paths and sidewalks with dustless material such as concrete or asphalt. And that is all I have. Is there any questions? Any questions or comments at this time?

I believe it's owner occupied. I will let the applicant confirm. All right. Any further questions at this time? Thank you so much. At this time, we will invite the applicant to approach the podium if they wish. Please do state your full name and if you have not yet been sworn in, please do get sworn in. I need Have we Did we do a We did, but that's that's okay. We can do another one. Yeah, sure. Um, sure. Please raise your right hand. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing about the truth? I do. Thank you. Please, please say your full name and then you may commend.

Uh my name is Alex BCH. I'm with uh the engineering firm Bear Becker, 1404 Race Street, Cincinnati, Ohio. Uh 45202. Um I'm on here as a representative for the applicant. Uh Joe Christo's also over here. Um happy to answer any of your questions. I did uh in an effort not to be too repetitive here because Claire does a great job with the presentation. The first u the applicant is uh perfectly fine meeting all of these um conditions of approval that were laid out in planning commission. Uh specifically the first one uh the fire departments um concern about the pavement not being in front of units one through four. um uh we're perfectly fine extending the pavement and the parking uh it to be all the way in front of those units and then and working with the fire department moving forward to make sure we meet their uh their needs uh there as well. Um I think that is it. The Yeah, I just wanted to to talk a little bit briefly about the product type itself. It's a garageless product type. Uh does a couple of things. Um, so the parking lot ser uh acts a little bit more like um the multif family parking would next door where you just park in a surface parking lot and you go in through your front door. Um, but what that does from an aesthetic perspective is it it removes the garage doors and the driveways. Um, and so you're really just looking at the facade, the front door, the front porches, that sort of thing. So it just adds another product type to the market here. Um the the site itself was it's a bit challenging parcel. You know originally we had it as a commercial out parcel. It does have the overhead transmission lines that run diagonally through it which restricts a little bit. So you know we did have to get creative to figure out you know how to best utilize that parcel moving

forward. And it was determined that residential made the most sense. So um like I said happy to answer any of your questions. Uh Joe and I are are here if you need us. Thank you. questions or comments from council. M and Mr. Mulligan had a question earlier. Are these Could you just speak to how if these are Yeah, they would each lot would be on its own parcel and it would be owner occupied. Sure. Any further questions or comments? Right. Thank you very much.

At this time, uh we can hear from anyone who would would like to speak in support. Anyone who would like to speak in support, please raise your hand. Okay, seeing none at this time, we will call upon anybody who would like to speak in opposition, please raise your hand. In opposition. All right. And at this time, is anybody wish to speak in a general nature? All right. Seeing none, um the applicant, you're able to come up one last time if you wish. If you're if you've done, we can continue. Okay, we'll continue. So this does conclude the public comment portion of the public hearing. We encourage you to stay though there will be no further public comment and no interruptions at this time. Council deliberates. Any questions or comments?

One question for Chief Wright. Is the the Lex ladder truck that's to be purchased. Is it a 75 foot Quint? Chief Right. It's 75 foot. Okay. Okay. So 75 foot. Yes. as opposed to 110 foot which makes it a lot easier to get in to this area.

Any other comments at this time? Questions? Any deliberation? All right, seeing none, we will continue at this point. Um our assistant law director, Jack Hemway, will take a straw poll of counsel. Um I would re if I may um maybe the conversation of uh the acceptance for with with the planning commission re recommendations. Yes. Thank you. Uh this is a straw poll if you are in approval of the uh proposed amendment with planning commission's recommendation recommended amendments. Um so say yes if you're in favor and no if you're not. So uh Mr. Mulligan. Yes,

we'll formalize it. Yeah, but in the and I think the applicant had identified that they were willing to comply with everything that was identified in the slide deck as well as the I think there might have been a a typo or a clarification that will be incorporated as well. And I think you you spoke to it um during the presentation, but if you in total. So yeah, compliance with 1216, complying with the other I think there was four itemized um number items in there. We'll make sure that's all incorporated into an agreement. Yes. Okay. Mr. West, yes. Mayor Slama, yes. Miss Carter, abstain. Uh Mr. Lai,

yes.

All right. Thank you. This concludes our public hearing. Our next word of business today is citizen comments. A professional presentation free of found language is expected. This is not the time for debate, questions and answer or any back and forth conversation. This is the time for you, our residents, to be able to present in front of city council on record uninterrupted and have the floor. After the meeting, your comment cards will be given to the city manager and she will assign a member of staff to reply to you as appropriate. We have received two comment cards this evening. No, three. Oh, okay. I see three. Thank you. We have received three comment cards this evening. I will prompt each speaker for the next steps when they reach the podium. I would like to call Jeff Payne to the podium. You may stand or sit according to your preference. Please adjust the microphone and speak directly into the microphone at all times. Before we begin, please state your full name and Middletown residence, work address, or interest in the city. For the record, you will then have four minutes of uninterrupted speech. Please commence.

Thank you, your honor. Jeff Payne, 1050 Central Avenue with Downtown Middletown, Inc. I really just came to uh thank uh Scott and the city road crews for the uh phenomenal work that they did over the past week, particularly with uh clearing the uh streets downtown uh especially in the downtown area. I know on uh Monday we had a level three uh snow emergency, so no one was able to get out. Uh a lot of us had to work from home. Uh but Scott and his crew and the crew were available on Tuesday. Uh Central Avenue was cleared and by Wednesday the parking lots in the downtown area were clear and available for uh people to come down, park and uh be able to visit the uh the businesses. So we thought that was really extraordinary. Uh I had did uh email Scott on Monday because I had some uh calls and things like that. He said he had a plan and clearly the plan was uh very effective. So I just wanted to congratulate and uh just give those kudos out. Uh did want to mention one other thing uh since I had have this I have two more minutes. Um, we are holding a meeting for all of the downtown businesses on Monday the 9th at 1:30 at Triple Moon Coffee. We're going to basically just be talking about the 2026 uh calendar events. So, that's it.

Thank you, Mr. Payne. All right. Thank you. Next, I would like to call Stephen Prior to the podium. and you may stand or sit according to your preference. Please do adjust the microphone and speak directly into the microphone at all times. Before we begin, please state your full name and Middletown residents, work address, or interest in the city for the record. You will then have four minutes of uninterrupted speech. Please commence.

My name is Stefan Prior from Cincinnati, Ohio. I come up here to advocate for a senior. I love my seniors now. Y'all getting old now. And I love my seniors, so I got to speak good about my seniors. But it happened June 11, 2026 at the 15th Avenue home. Approximately 50 shots, I mean shell casings were found with bullet holes were located in the upstairs bedroom. According to the incident report, there was a senior woman inside the home on the 15th Avenue with shots were fired. The senior said and heard a popping sound. originally believes he thought it was electrical problem, the issue with her home, suspecting a fire. She began to leave the house and when bullets came through her front door also not striking her. She was not injured. I'm on her on the behalf of the seniors. We got seniors behind me and y'all going to get old too one day. We need make sure as cameras on her street. Police. You got police down here downstairs. I see. They need to be hearing this, too. No media coverage at all about these shots at all. I got They reached out to me in Cincinnati asked me, "Can I come up and speak on this?" This is a serious issue. A senior, you telling me seniors can't live in a home now WITH 50 SHOTS GETTING FIRED AT A HOUSE? That's not cool. SOME OF Y'ALL PROBABLY LIVE ON THE STREET OR AROUND THE CORNER. I DON'T KNOW. But it's wrong. Y'all got to do something about y'all crime. It's crime everywhere. But in Middletown, 50 shots fired, that's not cool at all. That should be your number one issue to talk about every time y'all have y'all meetings. Safety, cameras, police patrol, walking, not driving,

walking the streets, walking the beat. This is a serious issue. And I'm I'm I'm not mistaken if I'm thinking she's back in her home. I don't not I don't know nothing at all about that. But it's sad she can't go back to her home if she's not in her home. About 50 shots fired. Paul, Miss Jennifer, Elizabeth, Steve, and Joe. Think about it. It was your home. What would you do? Think about that. Steve, what would you do if this was your home? Fired up. What would you do? Shot up 50 times. Bless. Miss Elizabeth, what would you do as a community leader? Miss Jennifer, this is a serious issue that Middletown has. HOW Y'ALL DEVELOPING PROPERTY? Y'ALL not getting rid of crime. Stopping crime. It's serious. This is a serious issue. I know y'all have four minutes. Man, Cincinnati only get two minutes, but thank you. But it's sad. Please through the most high God and Jesus that y'all do something about this and stay on it. Please have media coverage cover this. They need to find these thugs that did this. That's dirty. That's wrong. So, I ask y'all politely and nicely that y'all do something about this because this is a serious issue going on in every community throughout Ohio. I see everybody building up, building houses, but what about the crime? Crime is the number one issue. So, that should be one of y'all agendas. Think about a plan, a strategic plan to stop this because through the grace of God, she didn't get hit. You know, God was in in her in her midst at that time. She thought it was electrical problem going on in her home, but God had her covered. So if God had her covered, that's why I had to come up here and cover her, too, to speak on her behalf. She don't even know me. But I had to

come up here, let that child know. So do me a favor. Please, please do something about this. My name is Stefon Prior. I love you guys and nothing you can do about it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Prior. Next, I would like to call Judy or Jod, excuse me, Jod Suing to the podium. And you may stand or sit according to your preference. Please adjust the microphone and speak directly into the microphone at all times. Before we begin, please state your full name and Middletown residence, work address, or interest in the city for the record. You will then have four minutes of uninterrupted speech. Please commence. Good evening, members of city council and mayor. My name is Jodie Suing and I live at 4925 Talton Drive. I own I own a shared driveway that serves my home and two lanelocked properties. The driveway is six 600 ft single lane easement with a blind curve. I am here today because safe, reliable access is essential for daily life and emergency response. What used to be a quiet shared residential drive in my neighborhood has become a safety hazard and commercial loading zone often congested overburdened with no signs of stopping. In late 2020 2025, new owners moved to 4916 Talin and soon after they began receiving excessive commercial traffic, including delivery vans, large box trucks, class 6 freight trucks, and other commercial vehicles. For nearly two months, I've documented well over 200 commercial vehicles. This exceeds the reasonable scope and intended residential use. Traffic often arrives at the same time, creating a gridlock. Trucks too large to navigate park in a blind curve and unload freight. Other trucks attempt to reverse drive down the driveway, creating additional risk for accidents. Trucks too tall require someone to climb on a ladder and manually lift electrical wires to make clearance. Trucks frequently get stuck and use private my private yard to maneuver. A white box truck that comes multiple times a day

routinely hits my tree on my property. My access is blocked and my property is damaged daily. The most recent incident involved a class 5 straight truck that purposely ran through my yard, almost lost control, nearly hitting a telephone pole, going into a ditch on three wheels, and fishtailing down the driveway. Additionally, this property has been paid commercial activity. They filmed a commercial video with a moving company on my driveway, which resulted in more property damage and blocked my access. I've tried to make good faith effort asking the neighbors if we could meet and talk, but they declined. I've contacted zoning, planning, and code enforcement and was told this is simply how people get to their mail. This is just simply how people get their mail or that this is a civil matter. Normal twoerson households do not receive repeated freight trucks and over 100 commercial deliveries a month. I've been told emergency response would not be impacted, but my lived experience proves otherwise. I've lived at this address for 10 years and have never experienced this amount of commercial traffic and problems with normal residential use of the of my driveway. This is not just about safety and peaceful enjoyment of my home. It directly reduces my property value. No one wants to buy a property 40 feet from a busy loading dock causing wear, damage, and extra ma maintenance that the owners are responsible for. I am essentially trapped. I can't move, and I can't protect investment from activity that I didn't invite and can't control. If this amount of business and commercial traffic is not allowed on a public street in a residential neighborhood, why is it allowed on a private drive in the same residential neighborhood where safety increases and access is limited? I am asking city I'm asking the city to hold 4916 Town Drive

accountable for the amount of traffic and the volume of commercial traffic it is bringing onto my driveway and into the residential neighborhood. and to restore peace and safety. I ask that the city treat this as a zoning and land use and not as a civil dispute and enforce the appropriate codes to protect the safety and character of the neighborhood. Thank you for your time. Thank you, Miss Suing. This concludes our public participation. The next agenda item is council comments. We will begin to my left with Council Member Lai, followed by Vice Mayor Carter, and then to my right with Council Member West, followed by Council Member Mulligan. I will speak last. Mr. Lai.

Thank you, Mayor. Uh, first of all, I want to congratulate uh, Council Member Carter for being appointed Vice Mayor. Look forward to working with you in 2026. So, congratulations. and Councilman West, thank you for the great job you've done over the last couple years. And uh uh I think together as a team, you're going to see good things from us. Um unfortunately, this is getting common place where we have to appreciate our public works snowplow drivers. Wish I didn't have to do this, but [cough] excuse me. Let me say Scott to you and your team, thank you. I think you guys absolutely did a magnificent job in uh cleaning the city streets in this unprecedented snowfall. I mean 16 in is incredible. Um were things perfect? Darn near [laughter] for what we got. But uh things are never going to be perfect. But I think you guys just did a great job. So my hats off to each and every one of you guys. uh not only the snow plow drivers but everybody else who helped out in it. [cough and clears throat] Excuse me. Again, additionally, I want to uh say thank you to our firefighters. I know they've had a very busy last couple weeks uh fighting several fires we've had in Middletown and uh they've done it in pretty cold and harsh elements. So, Chief Wright to your guys, I know they miss me, but I'm glad I don't have to be out there. It's too cold. But, uh, and then for the rest of the city employees who have who have, uh, been out in the in the cold work and then all the citizens of Middletown, um, spring can't get here soon enough. So, thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Lai. Mrs. Carter, I just want to say good evening and apologize for being late. I had on a watch that said one time and when Amy, my dependable person, most dependable person in the world, called me and say, "Where are you? I'm sitting here." [laughter] So, I want to apologize to everyone for being late and no comments. Thank you, Mrs. Carter. Mr. West.

Thank you, Mayor. Uh, I along with several other others want to say thank you to Scott and all of public works. I know it was a difficult storm. Not only uh record snowfall, but the temperatures were just so cold that nothing seemed to work uh on the streets, but I I think you guys did a a great job. Um and truly appreciate it. Uh I know, you know, my son was was not too happy to have five days off in a row from school, but he suffered at home. Um but thank you. Uh truly appreciate it. That's all I have. Mayor, thank you, Mr. West. Mr. Mr. Mulligan.

Uh, thank you, uh, mayor. I I can't add too much more, but, uh, thank you to, um, our our frontline workers and in public works and all the city departments who are, um, you know, out there in the elements and making sure that the business of of government continues despite uh, you know, the city shutting down uh, due to the storm. But uh, it it was excellent. Uh, I think the response was was very good. Uh certainly we have things to learn and I appreciate the um you know the neighbors helping neighbors as well. I think uh these these times bring out the best in our neighbors and uh if there is any criticism you know about how we can do things better in the future. We're also open to that. Um with the additional comments of the uh of the incident on um [clears throat] of the shooting, uh maybe uh city manager, we could get an update in the coming weeks about the investigation to the extent that we could uh hear from um police leadership on on progress that way. um just so we can fulfill the um desire for the public to hear more about how we're resolving that or how we are addressing uh crime in any particular areas. But uh thank you mayor. That's all.

Thank you, Mr. Mulligan. And I would like to begin as well. Um I think it is a great opportunity to just say thank you again uh to the city manager, city manager Combmes, Scott Tadich, our director of public works, all the employees who did make this weekend for your vigilance. you you were giving us updates. Residents were coming up to me and telling me what a great job was being done that they they were just so pleasantly like happy, surprised, and just really really enjoyed that. So, thank you for making that easy for our residents. Um, I did want to go ahead and talk about some things that are still going on even through the cold weather. This Friday, February 6th, is uh DMI's first Friday event, Love is Local, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in downtown Middletown. You can join in for a night filled with love, fun, and community spirit, celebrating everything local, the shops, restaurants, artists, makers, and friendly faces that make our downtown special. Stroll the streets, explore unique boutiques, especially as you prepare for Valentine's Day. Enjoy special deals, sip, snack, shop, and discover something new while supporting the businesses you love. Bring your family, grab your friends, plan for a date night, or simply treat yourself. There's a little something for everyone. For more information, please visit downtownmittle middletown.org or and search under events. On Friday, next uh February 13th from 300 p.m. to 700 p.m. is the local makers market at West Central Wine located at located at 1120 Central Avenue in downtown Middletown. This is a great place to shop handmade for Valentine's Day. For more information, please visit the C West Central Wine Facebook page. It is always easy to find handmade unique designs for gift giving or for yourself at our arts centers in downtown Middletown. The Pendleton Art Center and the MAC, our Middletown Arts Center featured locally made handmade artistic designs all year round. For more information, please visit pendleton artcenter.com under middletown and middletown artcenter.com. Also, next Friday, um, February 13th,

begin your Valentine weekend with that arena rock show, a celebration of 70s and 80s rock at our beloved Sorg Opera House located at 63 South Main Street. If you like musicians sporting big hair and leather pants, then this show is for you. That Arena Rock Show is the ultimate high energy theatrical tribute to classic rock and roll that will take you on a trip back in time as you sing your heart out to the legendary rock anthems that ruled the airways in the 70s and 80s, including from artists like Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Bon Joy, Guns and Roses, Kiss, Poison, De Leford, and more. Get your phone lights out and pump your fists in the air because this rock show is more than just music. It's an experience. For more information and to buy tickets, please visit sorgh opera house.org. The next day, Saturday, February 14th, Valentine's Day, at 8:00 p.m., join in at the beautiful and historic Sorbber Opera House for Dead Man's Rocky Horror Shadowcast returning to the Sorg for a special Valentine's Day performance. If you're looking for something different from the typical dinner in a movie, this is a full-blown spectacle featuring a rowdy cast of costume performers, over-the-top audience participation, and dance breaks that will shake the rafters. And tickets are only $10. For more information, please visit sorcererhouse.org. Please save the date for the Fat Tuesday donut and beer walk from DMI on Tuesday, February 17th. Channel your inner Homer Simpson, wear some stretchy pants, and join in historic downtown Middletown. Each doughnut stop will have a specially selected beer pairing available for purchase. Uh, also the um area, the refreshment out, I'm sorry, the designated outdoor refreshment area, also known as DORA, will be in effect, allowing you to sip and stroll between shops. As an added bonus, there will be a donut scavenger hunt. And this event also serves as a DMI andora district fundraiser to benefit our local door businesses. So, by supporting this event, you are supporting local. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit downtowntownmilltown.org and search under events. As a reminder, the city of Middletown accepts applications for our boards and commissions throughout the year. So, if there is something that you

have an interest in and you wish to give back to your city in this way, please do submit your application. To learn more, please visit the city's website at city of middletown.org. Lastly, and as always, there are many ways to get involved with your city and give back. Join a board or committee. Run for office. Apply for a job with the city. Volunteer at the hospital. Pick up trash in your neighborhood or park. Plant a garden in your yard. Smile at a neighbor. Find joy and satisfaction for a job well done in whatever work you do. Or just have a positive and giving attitude. Find something that you can do regularly and give back. We are all connected and we are all in this together. The care of our city is an adventure in which we all get to share. That is all for me tonight and this concludes our council comments. The next agenda item is city city manager reports. City Manager, Miss Ashley Combmes, you have the floor.

Good evening. So, I have one more event to add on to that robust calendar of events in February. So, on February 20th, that's Friday, and February 21st, Saturday, the city council have their strategic planning for the um for the retreat. Uh that will be for our next three to five years and what we can do now. Uh so, that'll be at Houston Woods and Ken Brown, our new communications manager, did post that agenda here at 3:00 today. So, be on the lookout for more information. That's all I have for this evening. All

right. Thank you very much, Miss Combmes. So, next on the agenda this evening is the consent agenda. While the consent agenda is generally for consensus items, do any council members wish to remove anything from the consent agenda this evening and move to the motion agenda. All right. Seeing none, we will continue. Mrs. Gank, please present the consent agenda. For your consideration this evening, we have the approval of the city council minutes from January the 20th, 2026 to receive and file the board of health minutes from December 9th, 2025 and the civil service commission meeting minutes from September 18th, October 16th, November 20th, and December 18th, 2025 to confirm the conditional appointments of Joshua Marorrow, Kendall Miller, Timothy Payne, Jacob Adams, and Jesse Garcia to the position of firefighter, EMT. T in the department of public safety, division of fire to receive and file oath of office for Ken Brown, Jennifer Ferris, David Lindberg, Evan Snelling, and Aiden York and to approve the final plat of the town towns of Lincoln Village Plan development.

Thank you, Mrs. Skank. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? Motion. Is there a second? Second. It has been properly moved and seconded to accept the consent agenda. We will proceed to vote. Mrs. G, please call the role. Mayor Slama, yes. Mr. Lawley, yes. Mrs. Carter, yes. Mr. West, yes. Mr. Mulligan, yes.

The yeses have it and the motion passes. The consent agenda is approved. The next item on the agenda this evening is legislation. We have one item of legislation this evening. Assistant law director, Mr. Jack Hemway, the legislation, please. Ordinance number 2026-06, an ordinance providing for the issuance and sale of notes in the maximum principal amount of 4,950,000 in anticipation of the issuance of bonds for the purpose of paying the cost of the acquisition by the city of approximately 30 acres of real property along Union Road and State Route 122 for multi-use development, demolition of existing structures, and the design, engineering, and construction of public infrastructure, including but not limited to water, sanitary sewer, and storm water or storm sewer utilities, roads, traffic signals and controls, curbs, gutters, intersections, sidewalks, lighting and related infrastructure together with all necessary impertinances there too. All in support of economic development and job creation within the city. This is the first reading.

Thank you, Mr. Hemway. Uh, Miss Combmes, a staff report, please. Sure. So in 2024, the city council authorized the issuance of 4.9 million in bands for the land acquisition related to Renaissance Point project followed by a secu insuence for the phase one public improvements in 2025. 4.95 million bans were issued to refinance the existing debt extending the maturity level for an additional year. The proposed legislation enables the finance director to issue up to 4.95 million in bands to pay off the extend to the existing debt until it can transition to long-term bonds. The action will maintain the project's financial obligation at the same level with costs deemed acceptable based on the TIFF revenue projections.

All right. Thank you, Miss Combmes. As this is a first reading, there is no action to be taken at this time. However, is there any discussion from council? All right. Seeing none, we will continue. And this concludes our legislation for the evening. The next item on the agenda is unfinished business. Do any council members have anything they would like to bring up under unfinished business hearing? None. This concludes unfinished business. The next item on the agenda is new business. Do any council members have any new business this evening? I have one thing, Mayor.

Mr. Um I' I'd like to ask uh city manager Combmes and staff to look in. Um you know, one of the things that we currently don't have is uh some small business incentives that the that the city sponsors. Um, so I'd like to look at uh coming up with something with specific qualifiers such as, you know, existing businesses that want to move in to the city, excuse me, and also existing businesses that are within the city right now, uh, that want to expand or increase staffing, uh, ways to incentivize that. and as well, you know, for existing businesses here in in the city that, uh, you know, have some sort of catastrophic loss, um, ways to help, you know, those businesses out. So, thank you, Mayor.

Thank you very much, Mr. West. Any other new business this evening? All right, hearing none, that concludes our new business for the evening. The next item on the agenda is executive session. Uh, do we have a motion to move to executive session under the authority of OC121.22G1 to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official? Motion. Is there a second? Second. It has been properly moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Please call the RO. Mr. Li, yes. Mrs. Carter, yes. Mr. West, yes. Mr. Mulligan. Yes. Slam.

Yes. The yeses have it and the motion passes. Council will now move to executive session.

All right. Do we have a motion to return to open session? Motion. Do we have a second? Second. It has been properly moved and seconded to return to open session. We will proceed to vote. Mrs. Gang, please call the role. Mrs. Carter, yes. Mr. West, yes. Mr. Mulligan, yes. Mayor Slam, yes. Mr. Law, yes. The yeses have it. And uh the motion passes. Council will now return to open session. Our next item is boards and commissions appointments. The cemetery board has one position available. Is there a motion to appoint OO Wireman to the cemetery board? Motion. Do we have a second? Second. It's been properly moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, we will proceed to vote. Mrs. Gang, please call the role. Mr. West, yes. Mr. Mulligan, yes. Mayor Slam, yes. Mr. Lai, yes.

Mrs. Carter, yes. The yeses have. The motion passes. This concludes boards and commission's appointments. This also concludes uh our regular city council meeting for Middletown, Ohio, Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 at 6:26 PM. This meeting is adjourned until Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in these chambers for our next regular city council meeting. Thank you.