City Commission - Regular Meeting

Good evening and welcome to the July 13th Sandusky City Commission meeting. We will have an invocation by Commissioner Waddington followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

God our Father, as we gather for the meeting this evening, give us the guidance and wisdom to make the proper decisions.

Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, Miss Meyers, will you call the roll please?

Yes, madam president.

Mr. Waddington? Yes. Miss Wilson? Can I get a motion to excuse Commissioner Wilson?

Second.

Thank you. Commissioner Wilson's approved and we wish her continued recovery.

Mr. Crable? Aye. Here. Mr. Bujo? Here. Mr. Tucker?

Here.

Ms. Fargo? Here.

Commissioners, you have received a draft of the June 22nd meetings. What is your pleasure?

Madam Chair? Yes, Commissioner White. I move that we accept the June 22nd minutes as presented.

Second. There's been a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Hearing no objection, that motion is approved. Tonight we have a public hearing for our 2027 budget with our finance director, Michelle Reeder. Thank you and welcome.

So tonight we have a public hearing on the tax budget. This is per Ohio Revised Code 5705. It requires us to annually approve the tax budget. It needs to be submitted to the county auditor's office by July 20th of each year. Prior to the submittal to the county, we need to have a public hearing, so that's why we're here tonight. failure to submit a tax budget could result in a denial of receiving future local government funds. This tax budget allows the county's budget commission to review the anticipated and historical revenue. and expenditures for each fund. The tax budget is comprised of current year estimated revenue and expenditures along with two previous years of actual revenue and expenditure figures. The Budget Commission will review the tax budget and generally looks for any over or under funding and once approved, this tax budget helps determine funding for next year. And just a reminder, this is just the tax budget. This is not the 2027 actual budget. 2027 actual budget will be coming before the commission later this year. We'll have to do a temporary budget. We'll have the first draft out by November 1st of this year. You'll do a temporary budget that gets us into 2027. Then we have to get the final budget approved by March 31st of next year. As stated previously, this budget legislation is just a requirement by ORC and must be approved annually. I'm happy to answer any questions. It was all emailed out and it's in the packet tonight. If anybody has any questions, I'm happy to answer them.

Commissioners, do you have any questions for Michelle today? No questions. If there are any comments from the community members in the audience who would like to address the public hearing, you can come to the podium. state your name and give your comments no one's yes the Jackson Street parking lot in the

We're talking about open comment.

Do you have anything about the public hearing real quick? If you don't, Tom, that's okay because you can stay right there because I can. If there's no more questions, I can close this public hearing.

I'm sorry.

That's okay.

That's all right. Mr. Poole just raised his hand back there.

What's the budget?

It's online.

It's online. It's been online since Friday.

It's online, Mr. Poole. It is online. Thanks. Thank you. All right. Now, on to audience participation. Mr. Lamarca. That's okay. You are on.

I'm looking at item one on the regular agenda, 3.7 million... I'm happy to see the long ears back here still ready to roll I think downtown needs that so hopefully they get her done and keep in mind that there's a $750,000 parking lot that that was recently in the past five years redone to the tune of 750 so we've got to kind of balance that out somewhere and i'm not sure quite sure how you're going to do that but we've also got to maintain the parking spaces because we are i'm down here every weekend and sometimes through the weekend parking has become a problem I mean, and that's what you wanted. Well, you've got it. But now you've got to solve it. And if you think people are going to walk from the boat ramp to downtown, that's not going to happen. Certainly, I'm not. And I walk every morning downtown. For what it's worth, I support the North Coast Inn project. On the item number two, the sale of the piece of property on Cleveland Road where the old radio hut is, I think that's a great move. I just wonder how many units are going to be in there and how are they going to equate their rents Where are their rents going to fall in line? Are they going to meet some federal minimums, or are they going to be more $1,200 to $1,500 apartments that people cannot afford? And I heard it was going to be geared towards senior citizens. I can tell you there are a lot of senior citizens out there that their Social Security check is less than $1,000 a month. If you don't believe that, ask some of your parents or grandparents, and they're still out there. So Social Security is way behind for a lot of people. That's all I really had a chance to get a good look at. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. LaMarca.

Good evening, Wesley Poole, 1939 East Old Gate. Dealing with agenda item one on the garage. Yes, a hotel is going to be a good thing for any city. And the only thing that ever comes up in question is if a developer comes in, he's going to take the profits for whatever's made on it. And if you're asking for public money, we need to know what we get. So if you would, I got a couple questions just for you guys to clarify, because I wasn't sure from the reading. What exactly is the cost of the garage? I think it's 3.7 million, if that's correct. And that's just, let me make sure it is. And then would you, and how would you, the bond and how the money flows that we're gonna give them a million dollars and X number of dollars a year in tax abatement, would you just put those numbers out there in terms of this is what, We're going to give them, and this is money-wise that you think we get back from this investment. So those are just questions. The only thing I have concerns about is your operation and maintenance portion. I would like you to put this aside and think about it and actually change it. The way it's set up, the developer, will be able to and can charge our downtown residents for overnight parking. And written in the document that they may charge by the document the going rate for parking garages based on whatever is reasonable around. Well, the only thing, people that are charging for garages, and I was just there last weekend, are places that charge $55 a night for overnight parking. And I don't think we should be writing a contract that you can't defend that allows that, okay? I've realized it was nice in the print where it says we get 100 public parking spaces. Yeah, that was cool, except the small print farther down says 20 hours of the day the developer can charge for those 100 parking spaces and the others. Now, that for me is a showstopper. Long term, we need people to come downtown. We need to have developers, other businesses come here. And if their parking is controlled by this hotel, it does not put us in the best position to attract additional business down here. Otherwise, this is a great project. You can work this out so it comes out better than it is, but I find that that's the only thing I find that it's just not workable like that. We can't have 235 parking spaces that the citizens paid for, if I'm not wrong. Please correct me. I think we're paying for that with that $3 million we're giving them, and then we have to pay to use the lot, and... Not only is it just because the hotel needs 73 spaces, plus if they have a restaurant, another space for every square foot, so they only need 73. This business collecting revenue from everybody that parks down there from all these other businesses is inappropriate.

Thank you, Mr. Colton.

That's all. Otherwise, it's great. Just negotiate that down. Thank you.

Any other comments on tonight's agenda? Let's come forward and state your name and your address.

Bill Landers, 126 46th Street. It's not about tonight's agenda.

That's later.

At the end of the meeting.

It's at the end of the meeting?

Yeah, I'm sorry. Participations at the end. I'll tell you.

Thank you.

Any other comments on the agenda this evening and then we do have audience participation at the end Hello, hi, my name is Marcy plaid I live at 1217 Columbus Avenue I don't know if you guys have enough people that are going to be coming to this area to fill two hotels and You've obviously already done or are starting to do the work with the Morose brothers. And I assume that was a hotel, unless I was led differently to believe so. But there was nobody coming in to Sandusky last Thursday night. We're going to have 95 degree nights all this week. They put a big article in the newspaper about how everything was going on the 250 corridor. And at 6 o'clock last Thursday night when I went to get mulch at Home Depot, there were two cars in Bob Evans' spot and 10 in Cracker Barrel. I think at some point in time, and you can see people driving these incredible SUVs and whatever, and young people are paying $800 a month to lease these things. But who is your audience that's going to come and stay at this hotel? You don't have a theater that's even finished. I see a lot of people show up for part of Saturday to come down to Farmer's Market and what's ever going on. And you do have things going on at the Jack Street Pier. But when I stood up here, and many of the other people stood up here and told you how you were going to have a parking problem, we were basically told that we were being negative, that we were being lazy, And it wasn't going to happen. So now you want to put, I'm not saying you guys, someone wants to put a hotel behind a theater that's not been paid off, that Sandusky Money has already gone into, how many of the businesses that went in the last five to eight years that we gave a hundred and forty thousand dollars or something to promote are still even open. They're not. They're not open. So if you believe that we're just going to keep making a ton of money in this country and there's never going to be a reckoning in terms of balancing a budget, then let's throw caution to the wind and do whatever. But during the winter, it's dead down here. We all know that. There's a lot of people that are emperor's new clothes that are going to tell you a lot of stuff. I don't see a whole lot of people moving back into the areas. What I do see is a lot of transient rental already.

Thank you. Marcy, I'm sorry. The three minutes is up. I apologize. That's fine. Thank you. We'll take your thoughts into consideration. Thank you. Any other comments on tonight's agenda? Okay. Commissioners, you have several communications from staff recommending legislation. Can I have a motion to accept the communications? So moved. Second. There's been a motion and a second. Any discussion? Hearing no objection, that motion is approved. Does any commissioner tonight wish to move any consent items to the regular agenda? Okay. Ms. Myers, will you please present the consent agenda this evening?

item a approval of twenty twenty seven tax budget item be approval of amendment number two to twenty twenty six general appropriations items see approval of the twenty twenty six natural hazards mitigation plan Item D, approval of change order one and final for 2025 CDBG street rehabilitation project with precision paving. Item E, approval of change order one and final for 2026 sewer lining project with insight pipe. Item F, approval of change order one and final for pickleball courts at Whiteman Weaver Park project with premise. Item G, approval of change order one and final for 2025 USDA tree planting project with Nate Johnson landscaping.

Commissioners, having heard these ordinances and resolutions, what is your pleasure?

Madam Chair, I move to accept the consent agenda items A through G ordinances as presented in accordance with section 14 of the city charter. Second.

We've had a motion and a second. Is there any discussion, commissioners? We call the roll on the motion.

Mr. Waddington. Yes. Mr. Koontz.

Here. Yes.

Mr. Crable.

Yes.

Mr. Peugeot.

Yes.

Mr. Tucker.

Yes.

Ms. Fargo. Yes. And now on the ordinances and resolutions. Mr. Waddington. Yes.

Mr. Koontz. Yes.

Mr. Crable. Yes. Mr. Peugeot.

Yes.

Mr. Tucker.

Yes.

Ms. Fargo.

Yes. And those ordinances and resolutions are passed. Ms. Myers, will you present item number one on the regular agenda this evening?

It is requested an ordinance be passed approving a development agreement with North Coast Inn 6 LLC relating to the multi-story hotel event center and multi-level parking facility on the Jackson Street parking lot and declaring this ordinance shall take immediate effect in accordance with section 14 of the city charter.

Commissioners, having heard this ordinance, what is your pleasure?

Madam Chair?

Yes, Commissioner Waddington.

I move for the ordinance. This ordinance passed under suspension of the rules in full accordance with Section 14 of the City Charter. Second.

We have a motion and a second. And before we have our discussion this evening, I think we have the Longer family in the back. And I believe Mr. Lenny Longer is going to come up and share some words with us. Welcome to the whole family tonight. Thank you for being here.

Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Leonard Longer. I'm born and raised in Sandusky, graduated from Sandusky St. Mary's in 64, and I'm so proud to have my family here with me, and I want to introduce them real quick. Gavin's my oldest son, then Ryan, and then Natalie. Ryan's daughter, Brianna, and Natalie's son, Cooper. And then my other son is Drew. So anyhow, I grew up in this town, and some of you might be as old as I am, some of you might not be, but I remember when this town was a vibrant town. I remember across the street, LaSalle's, JCPenney, the Woolworths. Over here was the bank, and there's a Cressy store here. There was a Roebuck, Sears and Roebuck here, and the town was booming, booming. Everybody comes shop, go to restaurants, And then we all know what happened. The mall showed up and the town kind of dried up. And now we're just happy to be part of the revitalization of this town. I've seen what's happened. And I was on the pier one night a few years ago. And there was a concert going on. And I can't tell you who the band was. But they were planted by 2,000 people there. They were playing. They had their chairs out. I had a few drinks. And I kind of felt like I was in... Charleston, South Carolina, because I was down there and they had the same thing going on. I was in Savannah, Georgia. They had the same thing going on, a concert by the water. It would just give you a different feeling. And I thought, this is the place for a hotel. Now this place warrants a hotel. That pier made a big difference. The shoreway made a big difference. Everything the people, you people have done, have made this thing, I think, ready for a hotel. It wasn't ready for a hotel before, but I think now it is. And we've been in business since 1987. My wife and I built the first hotel, 28-unit hotel on my grandfather's farm. And I actually tore down the farmhouse to build the hotel. So people come in there and I say, hey, we're like standing in our living room where I grew up. And they laugh, but that's how it was. And then we went on. And when we hooked up with Hampton Inn, we hooked up with Hilton, built out in Milan. That was turning the page for us. That was like a different things we've never been used to. The amount of people that came with that Hampton Inn. I had a plumber. The company that built the place came from Memphis. And the plumber says, if you build the Hampton Inn, they will come. You know what? I thought, oh yeah, I hope he's right. I didn't know at the time. Hampton Inn wasn't that old at the time. Now Hampton Inn is the... Top company, 357,000 rooms, 3,200 hotels. It has 46 countries. The main thing it has is 250 million loyalty people. So if you have that, you're loyal to Hilton, you're going to stay at Hilton. So what I'm saying is we have the Hampton Inn at Bogart Road now, have one out by Turnpike. We're going to take the Hampton Inn at Bogart Road and bring it downtown. So we already know we're gonna bring the people with us. And the other brand, that we're gonna build is a, they call it Home 2. Home 2 is an extended stay brand, it's for people that want, it has a little kitchen in it, it's a bigger room, so people could come in there and stay for a week, they could live in there if they wanted to, but like when doctors come in town or people move into town, they need a place to stay for a few weeks, it's gonna accommodate them. So I think it's gonna fit in very well with the Hampton Inn. Then we're going to have an event center. And that event center is going to be big enough for big weddings. It's going to have for conferences, for businesses. And it's going to be, I think the thing that's going to set us apart is you go to Kalahari or go out of Huron, you've got to get in your car to go to a restaurant. Here, you can stay at the hotel, and you don't have to be, you can walk where you want to go. The walkability is the big, big factor that you can walk, stay at the hotel, Walk to wherever you want to go. And I know this also. I was told this. Wherever a Hampton Inn shows up, there'll be national restaurants follow. We put this Hampton Inn downtown, there'll be some national restaurants come to us down here. So I think it's gonna help everyone here, it's gonna help the merchants that are here. We're excited about working with the merchants that are already here, and we all work together and keep the customers happy, and that's the main thing. And when we started, what, 39 years ago, Our motto was clean and friendly. And that's what we've been. And I'm proud to say we've won awards with our hotel in Milan got an award. The True Hotel was the top True in the country. We got awards for the country from Choice. Every brand we have, we got awards. So we kind of figured out how to run these hotels. It's not just having a beautiful building. You have to run it the right way. And I'm so proud that my children know how to run it. So long after I'm gone, they'll run it and run it right. And we promise you people that we are going to operate in a manner you're going to be proud of. Everyone's going to be proud of this place. And it's going to be something that you'll be proud and something that people will want to come back to. So we appreciate this opportunity. We want to thank you for hopefully your support, and we're really proud to do this.

Thank you so much, Mr. Longer. Appreciate your comments. Thank you very much. Okay. Commissioners, any comments? Commissioner Kuntz, yes.

And forgive me, because I've been under the weather, you all know. I'm probably about 70% now. But I believe there's a valid question on the table, and I probably need some clarification, and maybe I can get from Colleen, as it relates to the question that Mr. Poole asked. And that is, if that contract is standing that way, because I'm for the approval of the development agreement, so let me make that clear. You know, I've actually met the longers. great people I believe that they'll do exactly what they say. But having any loose in out there for me is I'm not comfortable with that and so it would just be a matter of that language and ensuring that the people in the citizens of Sandusky are able to have parking spots in there without there being kind of some gray area so can anybody speak to that or can you speak to that Colleen.

As it's written in the agreement, the public parking is available to residents for a maximum of four hours. After four hours, there may be a charge. In the agreement, there is language in there that the rates are set and discussed with the city prior to those being published.

Okay. You said four hours? Yes.

Anything else?

Yeah, no, I'll just say that where I'm standing, I'd still like to see some language that provides a little more space in terms of just four hours. That's where I am. So I'd be actually putting that and providing some language that says, no, four hours is not enough. That's just where I am. I'm for the project, but that's what's giving me some delay. So that's all I really need to say.

Thanks, Commissioner. Any other comments? President Vargas? Yes.

Ms. Gilson, my understanding with that four hours is that that same spot can be used by another Sandusky resident as soon as a Sandusky resident leaves. So it's not like the spot is charging for 20 hours and then free for four hours.

You are correct.

It's per car. You got four hours of free parking.

You are correct.

Got it. Thanks. Good question.

Yes, Commissioner. I just wanted to make an observation. I think that the parking issue has been negotiated out over an extended period of time now. But with the idea that that parking is being provided for people who are coming downtown to use a restaurant, We're coming downtown to do some shopping. We're coming downtown to go to the farmer's market or the car show or whatever it might be, but not for long-term parking. And that's the difference. Four hours, I can get a lot done in four hours, okay? But I don't think it would be right for me to pull into the parking deck and leave my car there for days. Okay, now we've had the luxury here of being able to do that on the lot that is sitting there. But for the sake of development, for the sake of hopefully re-energizing part of the economy in downtown Sandusky, of being an attraction that's complimentary of existing businesses and hopefully future businesses, It's a little bit of a sacrifice that we're making. But it's not keeping anyone from 46th Street or Venice Road or any place else in the city of Sandusky from coming downtown, doing their shopping, going to a show, having a meal, doing anything like that. Having said that, I'm tickled to death to see that we're here and actually taking a vote on this tonight. I think a great deal has to be said, not just for the Longer family and you're sticking with it and you're wanting to work through the process, but I think a lot of credit has to go to our staff. And Colleen, I'm thanking you on behalf of, I understand, of everyone. I'm thanking you on behalf of everyone. for the work that you've put into this it's not easy and You know, I've watched it and you know, it was the making of sausage and it wasn't a pretty thing all the time, but we got there and so I'm Happy to be able to support this project this evening Madam chair.

Yes. There's one question and maybe Colleen can help with this So when we say when we talk about the four hours, I want to be clear Does that mean that at any time, let's say it's family. I got family here, right? And they want to come and they want to be downtown. And if there are spaces available, and from what I understand, there's supposed to be 100, right? Spaces available. So of those 100 spaces, if somebody came in, they'd be able to utilize at least one of those 100 if they weren't taken up for a maximum of four hours. And that's at any given time? Is that how it works?

Yeah.

Okay. Yes. That clears it up. Yes.

All right.

I'm sure yes commissioner rather than just talking like everybody else. I agree with everything.

Mr. Crabill said thank you Don't want to hear the same thing over nor thank you Mr. Orzac, um, if I may just briefly We do want to thank the longer's it was a tough road to hoe but we're here and we're very excited for the next steps the second thing is that The city is making a significant investment into the project. This was money available from the issue 8 that was put into the destination development fund specifically for economic development in downtown and Route 6. So we're utilizing the admissions tax funds, how it was drafted. Secondarily, to Mr. Poole's comment, we expect that we're going to generate quite a bit of revenue from income tax during the construction of the project, and then we anticipate $225,000 in income tax and those type of funds coming back to the city every year. after the project after the hotels open so there is an investment that the city is making but we also expect revenue to Start coming back once that projects open. Thank you.

Thank you. Absolutely will and I just want to say one last thing again Thank you to the longer family. I know that you have worked tirelessly to get this done to come to a development agreement that we could all work with. Thank you to Michelle and our finance department, Colleen, John, Matt Lascoe in the back has worked tirelessly as well from GSP to help with this project and the rest of his partners. So in our law department, everyone here as well as our commissioner. So thank you very much to everyone and hopefully we can get this one done, right? All right, I think it's time that we take a vote on the motion, on the ordinance. Wait, where am I on the motion? On the motion.

Mr. Waddington?

Yes.

Mr. Koontz?

Yes.

Mr. Crable?

Yes.

Mr. Pujo?

Yes.

Mr. Tucker?

Yes.

Ms. Fargo? Yes. And now on the ordinance. Mr. Waddington? Yes. Mr. Koontz?

Yes.

Mr. Crable?

Yes.

Mr. Pujo?

Yes.

Mr. Tucker?

Yes.

Ms. Fargo? Yes. And that ordinance is passed.

Miss Meyers we present item number two on the agenda this evening It is requested an ordinance be passed declaring that Center certain real estate property owned by the city located on Cleveland Road between Huntington Ave and in Cowdery Street and commonly known as Ransom Park is no longer needed for any municipal purpose and authorizing the execution of an agreement with respect to that real property and declaring this ordinance shall take immediate effect in accordance with section 14 of the city charter.

Commissioners, having heard this ordinance, what is your pleasure?

Madam Chair?

Yes, Commissioner.

Move for approval of this ordinance under item two in full accordance with section 14 of the city charter. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Colleen, could you share just a little bit of what was asked at the podium? Thank you.

It would be my pleasure. And right from the communication, I want to share a few details to answer some of the questions that were asked. The developers, Fairfield Homes, Inc., have secured an option to purchase the land at 1640 Cleveland Road, which is the former radio station, for the purposes of developing a 100-unit senior assisted living facility using state tax credits. So it will be affordable. Fairfield Homes desires to expand their developable footprint by optioning the option that's before you today to expand the development opportunity to accommodate an additional 60 to 65 affordable senior housing units using State of Ohio tax credit programs. So again, will be affordable. I do not know the percentages, but it will be affordable in line with other tax credit projects that have happened in the region. Thank you very much.

commissioners, any other discussion?

This came up before the planning commission, and it was overwhelmingly approved, and it was very detailed, and it's very well needed, and it's affordable, just like Colleen.

Absolutely. Commissioners, any other discussion? Okay. Ms. Myers, we call the roll on the motion.

Mr. Waddington? Yes. Mr. Coons? Yes. Mr. Crable?

Yes.

Mr. Pujol?

Yes.

Mr. Tucker?

Yes.

Ms. Fargo? Yes. And now in the ordinance. Mr. Waddington? Yes. Mr. Coons? Yes. Mr. Crable? Yes. Mr. Pujol? Yes. Mr. Tucker? Yes. Ms. Fargo? Yes. And that ordinance is passed. Ms. Myers, will you present item number three on the agenda?

It is requested an ordinance be passed authorizing and directing the city manager to to enter into a contract with Erie Blacktop Incorporated of Sandusky, Ohio for the 2026 Camp Street Resurfacing and Reconstruction Project, France Street to Monroe Street, and declaring this ordinance shall take immediate effect in accordance with Section 14 of the City Charter.

Commissioners, having heard this ordinance, what is your pleasure? President yes commissioner.

I move approval of the ordinance under item number three and In full accordance with section 14 is city charter second.

We have a motion in a second.

Is there any discussion? I had some questions for Josh if he's available Yeah Awesome. Can you talk about what's going on with kind of below the resurfacing with sewer and water and how all that works with it being separated and things like that? Sure.

So as it pertains to this project, there's no planned underground work, storm sewer or sanitary sewer-wise. But what we just wrapped up with the West Monroe Project actually is sending storm water this way. to Camp Street down to Barker Street. We actually have a large storm sewer lift station at the underpass that ultimately will be taking a good amount of drainage too. But for the sake of our recent projects, we've kind of split flows. We've taken Monroe Street west of Camp and sent it west. So everything west of Camp goes all the way to Mills Creek at the bridge near Patina Creek. So the recent project, though, was storm sewer related to Monroe, and we sent it to this portion of Camp, which Now it looks poor, and we need to repave this. This is also the last section of Camp Street to get paved. Within the last five or six years, we've gotten everything else on camp but this section from France to Monroe. So there is a... There's a little bit more work to do storm-wise, but we've done a lot on taking Monroe Street out of combination sewers and going straight to the plant to get treated. Thank you. Yeah.

And that's been really important that, you know, you've been able to do this. And I feel like we've been talking about Camp Street and Monroe Street since I got on the commission three years ago. So working on three years now. But it's been needed, and you've been able to do a lot there. And I guess I really do want to say thank you to everyone, the residents that live over there and their patients, because they've been under construction for a long time. But it's going to be well worth it. So, Mr. Crable, you have a comment.

Yeah, the reason that this is important, and I say this just to share a thought with the public more generally, the reason that this is important is that Sandusky has a long, century-plus history of combined sanitary and storm sewers. So all of that flow is going to our water treatment plant. Pardon me. And That was causing a number of issues. One was we were having to buy chemicals and treat an extreme volume of water every time it rained. And if it rained really hard, a really extreme amount of flow. So it was expensive to us. But the other part of it was that the EPA is really kind of looking over our shoulders. And some would say appropriately so, okay? But they're really kind of looking over our shoulders to see how well we can manage the sewage treatment from the city of Sandusky. And to the extent that we can reduce the volume of water that goes into the sewage treatment plant, We're well ahead, okay? And we're going to have a review, what, this next year, Josh? Yeah. By the EPA. And we want to be in the very best possible position that we can be so that we don't have any sanctions being placed on us. Sanctions is probably not quite the right word. But so that we don't have any additional sanctions. requirements being placed on us that could cost literally tens of millions of dollars. So this is really, it's not sexy, you can't see it because it's all below grade, but this is really important work. And I thank you, Josh, and I thank your whole team for the effort that's being made here.

Yeah, thanks. Yeah, we have a good staff. I'll only add that, you know, we probably have more infrastructure buried than what people see on the surface with our walks and our roadways and curbs. Dollar-wise, with the piping and manholes and things underground, which is a hard thing to conceive, but that construction is slow and is probably the most painful for people to endure because they don't see the improvements like they see on the surface. We realize that. We're not beyond that and we do realize and appreciate that and that there's a big deal that goes into the ground. But to go even with that is kind of the geology of Sandusky that we have so much rock underground that it's been easy to put one pipe in the ground, and that's been our combination sewer. And adding a second one often is expensive and slow. So you can only avoid that for so long. But you're right.

Thank you. If I may, just one more thing, and then I promise I'll be quiet. One of the things that goes with this is these are not inexpensive things to do. And one of the real blessings that we have is a staff and a mentality of going out and finding grant money, be it federal or state, whatever it might be, ways that we can get money from other places to help us with our issues. And our team has been singularly successful at this. Good job.

Adam Chair. Mr. Waddington. Josh, I'd like to ask you, the retention ponds all over Sandusky now, around the schools, factories, all of that has a big impact as far as gray water or storm water getting in the system, too, correct? That's got to be millions and millions of gallons that we don't have to retreat.

It does, it helps. Mr. Waddington, what the ponds and detention basins do is they actually, if you want to think of like a bowl, how it holds water only for so long, and then it does release it. Ultimately, it does end up in the system, but it does buy us time, yes. That initial burst of rain is delayed from what we see at the plant. So it helps, yes. Is it solving things? But it's certainly a help, and it goes a long way in that initial flush of the systems, yes.

Okay, Ms. Commissioners, any other comments? Ms. Meyers, we call the roll on the motion.

Mr. Waddington? Yes. Mr. Koontz? Yes. Mr. Crable? Yes. Mr. Bugeaud? Yes. Mr. Tucker? Yes. Ms. Fargo? Yes. And now on the ordinance. Mr. Waddington? Yes. Mr. Koontz? Yes. Mr. Crable? Yes. Mr. Peugeot? Yes. Mr. Tucker? Yes. Ms. Fargo?

Yes. And that ordinance is passed. Ms. Myers, we present item number four on the agenda.

It is requested an ordinance be passed authorizing and directing the city manager... to enter into an agreement for professional design services with ADR and associates of Newark, Ohio for the River Ave, F Street and First Street water line replacement project and declaring this ordinance shall take immediate effect in accordance with section 14 of the city charter.

Commissioners, having heard this ordinance, what is your pleasure? Madam Chair.

Commissioner Peugeot. Go ahead, Mr. Tucker.

I move for the adoption of Item 4 for this ordinance to take immediate effect in accordance with Section 14 of the City Charter. Second. Thank you.

We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion?

Ms. Myers, we call the roll on that motion, please. Mr. Waddington? Yes. Mr. Koontz?

Yes.

Mr. Crable?

Yes.

Mr. Pujo?

Yes.

Mr. Tucker?

Yes.

Ms. Fargo? Yes. And now in the ordinance, please. Mr. Waddington? Yes. Mr. Koontz?

Yes.

Mr. Crable? Yes. Mr. Pujo?

Yes.

Mr. Tucker? Yes. Ms. Fargo? Yes. And that item has passed.

Will you present item number five, Ms. Myers, please?

It is requested an ordinance be passed authorizing and directing the city manager to accept grant funds in the amount of $750,000 from the Ohio Lake Erie Commission through the Lake Erie Community Grant Program funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for the Lions Park Shoreline Restoration Project, authorizing the city manager to execute subaward agreement and to expend the funds consistent with the agreement and declaring this ordinance shall take immediate effect in accordance with section 14 of the city charter commissioners having heard this ordinance what is your pleasure yes commissioner I move approval of the ordinance under item number five in full accordance with section 14 of the city charter second we have a motion and a second is there any discussion

once again, I'd like to point out as Mister Crable did earlier the city requested and received a seven or $50,000 grant yes, and that's good work.

Yeah, incredible work and it may not be the last that's true. Mister or is that I know you're really excited the whole everyone is very excited about this project but that the impact of this grant and then potentially what's to come means what would you say to everyone over there for that lions Park.

We're real excited about this. I think it's a commissioner Waddington swan song. He's been a champion He's been a champion for Lions Park So we're excited to get this started before his term ends We this 750 is going to allow us to start the final design We'll be bringing that to commission as soon as possible with a consultant And then they'll have a schedule, and we're looking to start construction in 27, completion in 28. So there's light at the end of the tunnel. We do have some other ask out to different organizations for additional funding, which we're very hopeful for. And exciting, as we opened the pathway last week, that the pathway that you approved with ODOT last meeting will connect to Lions Park from Mills and then Lions Park Beach is going to become a reality so a lot of exciting things and I do appreciate all of our staff that has championed this. Michelle passed out beach balls to everybody on the team so we're ready to start whenever we can get going.

I love it. I love it. Thank you, Mr. Rosario. Any other... Madam Chair. Discussion, yes.

Piggyback off our city manager. I got basically laughed at. I think you were probably the police chief back then, 2006, 2007. We got to do something at Lyons Park. It looked like 1940, and Dennis Murray goes, exactly, and he about jumped out of his chair. He agreed with me. It looks like 1940, rock piles out there. Remember we had piles? We had streets out there, and I go out there... maybe once a week or once every couple weeks and drive through I think wow what a difference but this is exciting keep adding on it's been a slow long process but I think it'll be exciting once it's done I mean now you got a nice view sight line if you sit in the park out there you know we had a lot of would be two lights I think total in the park back then yeah a lot of crazy stuff happened so thank you Mr. Waddington any other discussion

Ms. Myers, will you call the roll on the motion, please?

Mr. Waddington? Yes. Mr. Coons? Yes.

Mr. Crable? Yes. Mr. Peugeot? Yes. Mr. Tucker? Yes. Ms. Fargo? Yes. And now on the ordinance. Mr. Waddington? Yes. Mr. Coons?

Yes.

Mr. Crable?

Yes.

Mr. Peugeot?

Yes.

Mr. Tucker?

Yes.

Ms. Fargo? Yes.

And that ordinance has passed. Mr. Orszag, will you present your manager's report this evening?

Thank you. Good evening, commissioners, audience, and staff. I have a for Karen and Tom Beaver for their generous donation of $400 to cover the wholesale cost of a tree that was planted by forestry staff in the Oakland Cemetery in memory of Ivan Griffith. I get a motion to accept that donation.

So moved. Second. That is proven. Thank you very much.

Then two additional for Park and Rec. I'd like to acknowledge the Harvey family for donating Gatorade, the Langdon family for water and popsicles, Kim Smith and Michelle Zeckley for donating popsicles for Sandusky Break Camp, and Ogo for their summer park parties. They have been bringing their mobile vehicle to our parks this summer. They provide free books, a girl lunch, we have a motion to approve the donation of the kids food pantry outdoor games and popsicles I would also like to thank Kyle Dillon, Joni and Mario D'Amico, Tim Fleck, Janine Scott, Spencer Cooney for helping place the yard flags along Columbus Ave in honor of America 250. 800 flags lined Columbus Ave from Perkins Ave to Shade Mylander Plaza. It was pretty impressive all the way out there. For the fire department, in February of this year, Sandusky Fire applied for a training and equipment grant through the Ohio Division of Emergency Medical Services. This grant is applied for annually and awards vary depending on available funding. This past month, Sandusky Fire was awarded $2,722.28. These grant monies are typically used to update EMS equipment and help defray the cost of supplies used while providing emergency medical services to citizens of Sandusky. Park and Rec is asking for permission to apply for and accept a grant from the Sandusky Education Foundation for $5,000 to install two hitting walls at the tennis complex on Rockwell Street. If I can get a motion to apply for that grant. So moved.

Second. That motion, that is approved.

And the city is excited to welcome back Ironman this coming Sunday, July 19th, for its fifth year in Sandusky. This event brings thousands of people from across the country to Sandusky. We encourage residents to participate in the festivities and cheer on the athletes. We also thank our residents for their patience and understanding for the various road closures that will be in effect for the event. All properties along the course were mailed a traffic impact guide last week. The closure information is also available online at www.cityofsandusky.com backslash Ironman. man. And lastly, I wanted to provide the commission and the community with an update for Battery Park. The city was notified by Maroos Development Group that they have recently been awarded a $20 million transformational mixed-use development, or TMUD, tax credit from the Ohio Department of Development, one of the state's most competitive economic development programs. The award marks a defining moment not only for the project, but for the future of Sandusky's waterfront. This project will transform a long underutilized waterfront into a vibrant destination featuring new residences, hospitality, restaurants, retail, public gathering spaces, marina amenities, and year-round attractions that will reconnect the community with its greatest natural asset. The Teamwood Award is a culmination of years of dedication by the Maroos team, city staff, Erie County and state partners, consultants, engineers, designers, and countless individuals who worked together to advance this project. Project is expected to create hundreds of new jobs, strengthen tourism, expand housing opportunities, and establish a vibrant waterfront district that will serve residents and visitors alike. Most importantly, it represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine Sandusky's lakefront while preserving the city's character and creating a destination that people will be proud to call their own. also give a brief update on what's been going on and then what's planned for the site so the public utility installation including storms storm sewer sanitary sewer and domestic water infrastructure is nearly complete soil remediation activities are substantially complete with only a limited remaining area to be completed following installation of the temporary access drive for the adjacent Sandusky sailing club property which is currently under construction. Stone fill is being placed throughout the site to establish roadway and building pad subgrades. Demolition of the existing pool, pool house, parking areas, and park amenities is substantially complete. Demolition of the existing Marina Services building or daemons is... anticipated to begin this fall following the conclusion of the 2026 voting season on or about November 1st and new construction of the building to begin shortly thereafter. They advise that they're going to submit the building permit this week for that. And the marina will have removal of the existing marina and new construction is anticipated to take place this fall in November after the boating season to the spring on half the marina and then the fall of 27 to the spring of 28 for the other half of the marina. So that's the update. We're excited for Maroos. We're excited for the city. That was a huge grant and one that was one of the top in the state of Ohio. So we appreciate the state's support and investment in Sandusky. That concludes my report. I'll be happy to take any questions.

Any questions? Yes.

I talked to the city manager again this afternoon briefly about we need clarifications on the Amvets baseball park. That is the city of Sandusky Park, correct? Yes, ma'am. Because there's a lot of misconceptions out there. I think, and I've talked to our mayor, about somebody's got to take ownership out there at that ball diamond. There's got to be something that's got to be done. And I'm hoping that maybe our rec department... could maybe get involved or meet with them.

Mr. Waddington, you are right, and I know we've all received questions and concerns about what's transpiring down at the park. We do lease the park to AMVETS, so we are in a lease, but we own that property, and I know I haven't even had a chance to tell you this. I just got it today from... Secretary of the AMVETS reached out to me, their secretary, and she's very concerned as well. They want to sit down and they want us all to come together and figure out the best way to go forward and bring back incredible Little League baseball that used to exist in our community that we all grew up with. So I know that a lot of people on the rec board would like to help, that schools are interested in sitting at the table. Is there any way we can put everybody together? So I did talk to...

John and and I think we're committed to bringing some some folks together and figuring this out for everyone so And if I may I got a follow-up I talked to you John about this today Also, I don't think it's too early to start looking at the rec center I said in several of them meetings about we got to sell X amount of passes or the 672 is not the money that we got from the library When that released, we got that money, but I'm doing the math on our current people, and Michelle knows I follow up with you probably twice a year on what's the wages, what's it costing us, and it's going to be a big number, and I'd like to know the passes, maybe have an update. We're getting close. I think this thing's going to probably be ready, what, next spring, by next June. That's not that far away. Then the hours, how many employees, what's the hours? I talked to a couple of the folks on the rec department. I'm not working nights. Well, guess what? I had to work nights for 20 years. That's just the nature of the beast. I think we need to take a good snapshot, maybe have... Jason or somebody come in and do a 10-minute overview. Give us an idea of where's this thing at. I don't want to have it, oh, we're going to open it in a month, and I don't have a clue who's going to work there. Who's going to do the outside maintenance? Who's going to do the internal stuff? I think that all needs to be looked at because that cost could be tough. Go ahead, Mr. Orszag.

Colleen's been working with Chris and Jason on all of those details. We'll be happy to provide a construction update at the next meeting. We've got some preliminary rates and things like that that hasn't been finalized and I gave some feedback to them and so we don't have that finalized. The budget for the rec center in general. Colleen has been working on with Michelle and Jason and them. I haven't seen it yet, so they're planning on briefing me soon. We definitely want to get the commission and some feedback from commission on the rates that we plan on charging. That way we can do some Black Friday sales by November. I think the anticipation was sometime in August or July

July okay, let's joy and it's not coming no the the Rates and all that stuff together Yeah, if I mean one more thing and I'm done Ellie I believe I asked a month or six weeks ago about a vacancy report from Gort greater social partnership is that going to be coming because you know we've got a we're supposedly going to re-up fairly soon, okay and And it was $300,000 for three years. They're coming back to us, I'm sure, this fall. I would like to know some numbers on that because that's vital. All you got to do is walk up and down Market Street, a lot of empty buildings, okay?

Great timing. I am meeting with GSP this week. You're what? I am meeting with GSP this week for their quarterly report, and I have asked for those numbers to be updated.

Because that's like, I got the total, I got it from our clerk today. And I read through it. 17, please. No, go ahead. Yeah, sorry.

Will that include, Colleen, the breakdown of how that money, John, how the money is spent and broken out and where it goes? Is there any way to see that for the commission?

Sure.

Can you ask them? I mean, obviously, they're the ones that have to provide that. So could you bring that to the discussion? Sure. I know that I've had several questions about that from the commission. Absolutely. Just to kind of, you know, not to say audit, but a little bit of understanding where our money's going. So that'd be okay. I mean, we see some of it, obviously, every Thursday night But everyone's been just asking a little bit about that. So thank you.

Absolutely.

Any other questions for City Manager Orszag tonight?

So bad.

We're going to go to old business. Is there any old business commissioners? Yes, Mr. Crable.

I just wanted to opine for a moment on a question that I've heard come up from time to time, and we heard the same kind of question here from the podium earlier, and that is questioning whether downtown Sandusky can support X number of hotel rooms, okay? At a certain level, my own view, and this is just my view, Everyone else can have their own of course But from my own view We don't know With a hundred percent accuracy what the answer to that is, but what I do know is this when we have people who are engaged in free enterprise, who are going to put their own millions of dollars, tens of millions of dollars into a project and risk not just their checkbook but their family and their children's future. there is a motivation there to be successful. And they come to work, they have to come to work every single day thinking of every way that they can put heads in beds, that they can fill that hotel. And the way I like to look at it is, In a sense, when we get a new hotel in downtown, and I don't know one, two, three, how many hotels may eventually someday be downtown, we are gaining partners in the future of Sandusky every time we do that because they have to, as I said, they have to come to work every single day on their own behalf to be successful. And that's the best type of partner that you can have, one that is all in and committed to the task. So I'm excited about what is coming. shortly, hopefully soon. And I'm excited about what might be even further down the road because we need people who are willing to take a risk. We need people who are willing to make things happen by virtue of their own efforts. And I thank you for that.

Thank you, Mr. Crable. Any other old business commissioners? Just want to thank everybody for that incredible opening of the bike path. You mentioned it, John, but what a night that was, what a morning that was. Everybody just on it already. I've seen all kinds of traffic there, so it's beautiful. It's going to be so exciting when it is totally connected to the landing, and that's going to be not too far off, right?

Spring.

In the spring, so that'll be amazing. And then, of course, connecting to downtown as well. So it's coming along, and it was beautiful to see. So thank you very much. Any new business, Commissioner, new business?

Madam Chair, any time I'm able to provide some information about news that the community can use, I'm always willing to do that. There is a voter education registration mobilization summit that will be occurring on Saturday. which is July 18th from 11 to 1230. It's titled Our Voice, Our Vote, Our Future, Understanding the Issues that Shape Our Communities. So anybody who's interested in that, it's Saturday, July 18th from 11 to 130 at New Jerusalem Baptist Church. It's a nonpartisan event that's... primarily about educating voters and primarily about mobilizing them to understand the issues that are facing them. I mean, it goes without saying that there are voting rights being taken away in this country. And anybody who doesn't see that, I'm not sure what you're watching. So just wanted to give that information out so everybody could know about it. New Jerusalem Baptist Church, which is located at 1920 Eddie Henry Way, and it's a collaboration between the United Way organization called the Coalition of Allies and the NAACP. Coalition of Allies includes like the IMA, the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, and some other organizations, so for the community's benefit.

Thank you, Commissioner Koontz. Any other new business? Okay, audience participation. Any comments for the commission about the city business? Come up, state your name and your address, and please limit your comments to five minutes.

Westpool, 1939 East Soulgate. First of all, I'm glad that we got the Agenda Item 1 legislation passed. Obviously, I'm disappointed that you didn't make arrangements to do a little more with that sort of Damocles that we're holding over the over the citizens with regard to the charges for the parking lot. I still feel the same way about that. I just wanted to say that for Mr. Tucker and Mr. Crable, I felt that the justification you came up with was a false equivalency. And it's just disappointing that the commission thinks that residents who live downtown and pay taxes, just like everyone else, and even more with property taxes, that you Think of them as the same as folks that come in here and buy a beer or whatever and shop downtown with regard to your priorities for providing for them. And that's just what I think, and I think that's sad. Additionally, in the... writing in the contract, the city's participation in deciding what those rates are going to be is no more. In fact, it's identical to what I get to do here. I get to read what you're going to do and review it, and I get to talk to you about it. I think, and as I said before, the citizens are paying for the garage and we should have had a little bit more say into it. Having said that, we are very, very lucky that we have Mr. Longer doing this. I've known Mr. Longer for 50 years and we could not have asked for a better person who is going to use good judgment, have empathy and concern for the outcome for the city and the citizens at this rather than just some businessman from out of town that's trying to make money. So in that regard, I'm extremely happy that we're dealing with Lenny Longer and just understand my issue is with you folks and the logic and decision making that you did. I thought there were other ways to have done this and that's great, but thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Poole. Any other audience participation? Yes.

Bill Landers, 12646 Street. This past Saturday, I went out to the landing to walk the new pathway, and I couldn't walk it because there was no parking spaces. The whole sports center.

Sports force. That's where you were.

We had every parking space taken. The illegal cars parked all over the place. So where are we supposed to park to use it?

Mr. Orsak.

I would just say that the landing's not open, sir. It's still under construction, and no one should be back in the construction area right now.

But there's still no parking spaces. So how can you get to it?

We are going to have parking spaces in our development back there for the park and for the landing. Okay.

So once it's completed. It's not done.

Yeah, that part is not completed. If you notice, you know, it stops where it says road closed. As it goes back in, that part is still closed. And it'll be open this spring.

Okay.

So, yeah.

And the other item I had, in August of 24, two storms we had, my sycamore and three sycamore trees across the street came down. They have yet to be replaced. Last April, you tore out numerous trees on 50th Street that were muted because they were balking sidewalks and driveways. They've been replaced already, and you put new trees along Columbus Ave. What's wrong with our trees?

We can have someone look at your address and get in touch with you about that, okay? Okay.

Thank you for your time.

Yep, thank you.

Good afternoon, I'm Larry Fletcher, 13 Twin Oaks, Milan, CEO of Shores and Islands, Ohio, the destination marketing organization for the region and also a team member with the Longers. Build it and they will come. Build it and we will help fill it. As the Longers know, we've been involved in conversations with them going back uh... several years when they were first uh... thinking about this as to the demand you know for this the anticipated demand and uh... what this property seeks to do is is fill a niche in this region for requests that we get often at the visitors bureau and our group sales team and also our visitor experiences team and that is I would like to stay and meet in a place that's on the water, somewhere we can have our event, be able to walk to restaurants. We have awesome conference facilities, of course, with Kalahari and Somo Creek. And they fit a certain niche that this property will not be able to fit. But this one fits nicely into the assets that we have. Full disclosure, we will benefit, our organization will benefit from the lodging tax that this will generate, as will the county's EPIC CVB, as will the city. But I would be in favor of this, and thank you all for also supporting it, even if that wasn't the case, because it fills that niche that we talked about. And as far as the demand moving forward with all the events coming into the region, more events all the time, the sports centers are at capacity, actually looking for more capacity because of the tournaments they're bringing in, the attractions that continue to come in the region, many of which are year-round attractions. I'm confident that the demand for rooms will continue to increase, and I and my team will be there to help fill that. on a second agenda item, Ohio Lake Erie Commission. Not everybody knows this, but I was appointed by the governor last year to be a commissioner on the Lake Erie Commission. So I'm glad that these dollars are finding their way to the city. Joy Malinax, the director of Lake Erie Commission and her staff team are going to be in town on July 29th. I don't know if you know that, but they're coming here to actually look at that Lyons Park project and tour the city, look at some other areas along the waterfront. and then have lunch somewhere in one of our fine establishments and then meet with my staff team and I. So happy to be one of the commissioners that supports that project.

Thank you for your time. Thanks, Larry.

Thanks, Larry.

Hi again, Marcy Platt, 1217 Columbus Avenue. I think we have experienced at various times where we've had too many things and not enough to fill it. For example, the Chesapeake has become more of a VRBO than it has been for people living there all the time. And that was not the original intent of the building. I know at a previous time in Sandusky, when a city manager wanted to put condos down, and he couldn't even get the right amount of people percentage for people going to buy that. Sandusky doesn't have a tourist problem. It has a residence problem. And when they did the Sandusky Bay pathway, I remember Aaron Klein showing us where there would be aerators on either end of Sandusky Bay to clean up the ecotoxins. That never happened, to my knowledge. If you pull up the website, and I've given this before to the city, we don't live on Lake Erie. Very few of us have houses on Lake Erie. We live on the bay. Right now, the bay is toxic. And you can go to the website, coastalscience.noaa.gov. I, July 5th, normally, I wouldn't go swimming in that water. And I have a degree in environmental health, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health. I stopped kayaking in that thing then. So when you see different colored things, those are bad. Don't get in there. Don't jump in there. They can tie that to sore throats, strep throats, all kinds of things. But I don't know why we aren't trying to clean that up. It would be really nice to have something like that. But that was in the original agreement. The other thing is the fireworks. I saw your officers, two of them, on July 4th. I don't know their names. I wish I would have taken them down. And I told them, what are you going to do this year about King Street? And they go, fireworks are legal. Well, that's not true. Certain fireworks are legal. If you put them off, and I've got it right here. Type of legal fireworks is 1.4 gram, whatever consumer fireworks. Generally illegal to purchase and use by individuals 18 or older. Fountains, sparklers, navigate items such as smoke bombs, small serial devices, which are small rockets, uh... display grade fireworks including large aerial shells and professional pyrotechnics are illegal for consumer use and require a licensed operator and permit for public shows nobody is supposed to be doing anything within a hundred and fifty feet from spectators and structures and it can only be done on private property now I was listening to the scanner that night, July 4th, and a guy called in because the dispatcher told him. He lived on Fulton Street. His neighbor was putting him up, and he was asking for the city of Sandusky to come out and help him, our police, or he was going to do it himself. And the comment made by one of the people, one of the policemen was, well, then I guess we'll see him down in jail. Since when does the law-abiding citizen become the wrong one? I don't understand this.

I was working on July the 4th, and I didn't hear that comment. But to your point about fireworks, we know what's legal and not legal, and we do the best we can with what we have.

There were four hours worth in the middle of the street on King Street and Townsend. Four hours. You couldn't find them in four hours. I told your guys where they would be.

I'm not sure who you talked to, Marcy.

It doesn't matter. I've told you, Jared.

Thank you, Marcy. Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Any other audience participation this evening? If not, commissioners, could I get a motion for adjournment?

Motion to adjourn. Second.