Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-23-2026 Council Meeting MinutesRECORD OE PROGEEPINGS ; “ OUNCI 5 Minutes of Meeting GOVERNMENT FORMS & SUPPLIES 644-224-3338 FORM NO. 10146 February 23, 2026 Held 20 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Amorose Groomes called the Monday, February 23, 2026 Regular Meeting of Dublin City Council to order at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Members present were Ms. Alutto, Mayor Amorose Groomes, Vice Mayor De Rosa, Ms. Johnson, Mr. Keeler, Ms. Kramb and Dr. Lam. Staff members present were Ms. O'Callaghan, Chief Paez, Mr. Hartmann, Mr. Rubino, Ms. Weisenauer, Mr. Earman, Ms. Willis, Ms. Wawzskiewicz, Mr. Rayburn, Deputy Chief Tabernik, Mr. Barker, Mr. Gable, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Jiang, Ms. Blake, Ms. Rauch, Ms. Holt, Mr. Hammersmith, and Ms. Hunter. Others present were Joe Batchelor, Frost Brown Todd Gibbons. ADJOURNMENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION Ms. Amorose Groomes moved to adjourn to executive session to consider: e Personnel Matters: Considering the Employment and Compensation of a Public Employee and Considering the Appointment of a Public Official Vote on the motion: Mr. Keeler, yes; Vice Mayor De Rosa, yes; Ms. Johnson, yes; Dr. Lam, yes; Mayor Amorose Groomes, yes; Ms. Kramb, yes; Ms. Alutto, yes. The meeting was reconvened at 7:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Amorose Groomes invited Dr. Lam to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. CITIZEN COMMENTS There were no citizen comments. CONSENT AGENDA ° Minutes of the February 9, 2026 Regular Council Meeting . Minutes of the February 17, 2026 Special Council Meeting * Minutes of the February 17, 2026 Council Work Session ° Excuse the Absence of Council Member Keeler from the February 9, 2026 Council meeting Hearing no request to remove an item from the Consent Agenda, Mayor Amorose Groomes moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Ms. Alutto seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: Ms. Kramb, yes; Mayor Amorose Groomes, yes; Mr. Keeler, yes; Dr. Lam, yes; Ms. Alutto, yes; Ms. Johnson, yes; Vice Mayor De Rosa, yes. INTRODUCTION/FIRST READING — ORDINANCES Mayor Amorose Groomes moved to waive the Council Rules of Order and read Ordinances 07-26 through 13-26 together. Ms. Alutto seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: Mayor Amorose Groomes, yes; Ms. Kramb, yes; Ms. Johnson, yes; Vice Mayor De Rosa, yes; Mr. Keeler, yes; Dr. Lam, yes; Ms. Alutto, yes. RECORD QF,PROCEEDINGS Minutes of Meeting GOVERNMENT FORMS & SUPPLIES 844-224-3338 FORM NO. 10148 = T Held 20 Ordinance 07-26 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute and Accept Necessary Conveyance Documents and Contracts to Acquire a 0.019-Acre Warranty Deed and a 0.074- Acre Easement from the Property Located at 7065 Shier Rings Road, Identified as Franklin County Parcel Number 272-000233 From Jason R. Huffman, for the Public Purpose of Constructing a Shared Use Path, Which Shall be Open to the Public Without Charge Ordinance 08-26 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute and Accept Necessary Conveyance Documents and Contracts to Acquire a 0.021-Acre Warranty Deed and a 0.086- Acre Easement from the Property Located at 7055 Shier Rings Road, Identified as Franklin County Parcel Number 272 -000292 from Jason Huffman, for the Public Purpose of Constructing a Shared Use Path, Which Shall be Open to the Public Without Charge Ordinance 09-26 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute and Accept Necessary Conveyance Documents and Contracts to Acquire a 0.12-Acre Easement and a 0.024-Acre Warranty Deed from the Property Located at 7025 Shier Rings Road, Identified as Franklin County Parcel Number 272-000291 from Darrell K. Schwark and Stephanie A. Schwark, for the Public Purpose of Constructing a Shared Use Path, Which Shall be Open to the Public Without Charge Ordinance 10-26 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute and Accept Necessary Conveyance Documents and Contracts to Acquire a 0.082-Acre Easement from the Property Located at 6111 Holliday Lane, Identified as Franklin County Parcel Number 272-000374 From Michael E. Ramsey and Sharon D. Ramsey, for the Public Purpose of Constructing a Shared Use Path, Which Shall be Open to the Public Without Charge Ordinance 11-26 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute and Accept Necessary Conveyance Documents and Contracts to Acquire a 0.068-Acre Easement from the Property Located at 6110 Holliday Lane, Identified as Franklin County Parcel Number 272-000366 from Alan E. Abouhassan and Rachel L. Abouhassan, for the Public Purpose of Constructing a Shared Use Path, Which Shall be Open to the Public Without Charge Ordinance 12-26 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute and Accept Necessary Conveyance Documents and Contracts to Acquire a 0.071-Acre Easement from the Property Located at 6957 Shier Rings Road, Identified as Franklin County Parcel Number 272-000365 From Ronny C. Green, for the Public Purpose of Constructing a Shared Use Path, Which Shall be Open to the Public Without Charge Ordinance 13-26 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute and Accept Necessary Conveyance Documents and Contracts to Acquire a 0.091-Acre Easement from the Property Located at 6113 Shier Lane, Identified as Franklin County Parcel Number 272- 000363 from Barry Mesa Jr. and Angela Michele Mesa, for the Public Purpose of Constructing a Shared Use Path, Which Shall be Open to the Public Without Charge Ms. Alutto introduced the Ordinances. Mr. Gable explained that the Shier Rings Road project from Eiterman Road to Cosgray Road would construct a shared use path along the south side of Shier Rings Road, RECORD Qf, PROGEEPINGS Minutes of Meeting GOVERNMENT FORMS & SUPPLIES 844-224-3338 FORM NO. 10148 Hale 92 9098 repruary 20, 20Z0 Held 20 connecting two existing paths and improving overall network connectivity. In 2024, the City had entered into an agreement with Washington Township for construction and maintenance of this path. The township had submitted and received LinkUS grant funding in 2020 for funding in 2026. Mr. Gable noted that property interest acquisitions from nine property owners were necessary for the project. The seven ordinances before Council represented all but two acquisitions. One was going through the appropriation process, which would be addressed shortly, and the other was nearing completion of negotiations. The City had participated in good faith discussions with all property owners and arrived at mutually agreeable terms. Staff recommended adoption of these ordinances at the second reading and public hearing on March 9, 2026. There were no public comments. Mayor Amorose Groomes expressed excitement about seeing this project move forward, noting it would be a great connection for that part of the City. Second reading/public hearing is scheduled for March 9, 2026. Ordinance 14-26 Appropriate a 0.090-Acre Easement from the Property Located at 6114 Shier Lane, Identified as Franklin County Parcel Number 272-000357 from James A. Rave, for the Public Purpose of Constructing a Shared Use Path, Which Shall be Open to the Public Without Charge Ms. Alutto introduced the Ordinance. Mr. Gable explained this ordinance was within the same project as the previously read ordinances, but involved appropriation proceedings. He explained that attempts to contact the owner or any authorized representative had been unsuccessful. Staff hoped to negotiate this acquisition with the property owner, but the legislation would allow the City to proceed with appropriation if contact was not feasible. The City had sent certified copies of the previously approved resolution to appropriate to the home and any associated owner representatives. Should the owner or representative be found, the City would work to achieve a fair settlement. Staff recommended approval to commence appropriation and allow the project to remain on schedule. There were no public comments. Second reading/public hearing is scheduled for March 9, 2026. Ordinance 15-26 Amending Chapters 72 and 75 of Dublin's Codified Ordinances to Enhance Safety Regulations for Micromobility Devices and Other Similar Devices Ms. Alutto introduced the Ordinance. Ms. Willis presented the staff report alongside Joe Batchelor from Frost Brown Todd Gibbons. Ms. Willis explained that staff was pleased to present the draft code for micromobility devices for Council's consideration. She outlined that the presentation would cover code sections affected, proposed revisions, helmet considerations, education plans, and conclude with a request for Council feedback, particularly regarding helmet requirements. Mr. Batchelor reviewed the key components of the proposed code amendments. He explained that section 75.06 contained the primary rules for device operation on roads, sidewalks, and shared use paths. Section 75.12 defined micromobility devices and clarified what was not included to avoid confusion. Section 75.13 added parental responsibility requirements that many other cities had but Dublin currently lacked. Section 75.14 added clarifications about fleets like Veo currently operating in the City. Mr. Batchelor discussed changes made since the last discussion on this topic. Based on feedback from Council members, they amended the definition of miniature motorcycle to clarify it applied to both combustion and electric engines. They had initially removed the RECORD QF, PROCEEDINGS Minutes of Meeting GOVERNMENT FORMS & SUPPLIES 844-224-3338 FORM NO. 10148 Tale, 52-999R reviddaly 20, 2UzU0 Held 20 helmet requirement but were asked to examine it further. They also clarified language about riding position requirements, changing from a three-foot requirement to "as far right as practicable" to align with current state law. Regarding helmet considerations, Mr. Batchelor presented survey results showing mixed approaches among other communities. He noted that under Veo's current agreement, they would not rent to anyone under 18, which aligned with standard industry practice. Dublin residents who responded to surveys expressed broad support for some form of helmet requirement. The options presented include: clarifying the code section prohibiting rentals to anyone under 18; implementing a 16-year-old helmet requirement aligning with state law; or selecting specific device types for helmet requirements based on whether they were human-powered or motorized. Ms. Willis detailed Dublin's existing micromobility education framework. She explained that education begins early through Dublin Community Recreation Center programming, with Safety Education Week incorporated into youth camps for ages four through nine. The annual Dublin Bike Rodeo reinforced safety messages through hands-on events led by Dublin Police. Community-based education was supported through mobility concierge pop- up meetings and the SlowDown Dublin campaign. School resource officers played key roles in reinforcing safe behaviors in schools, including developing interactive web-based tools for students and parents. There were no public comments. Council engaged in extensive discussion about helmet requirements. Ms. Kramb sought clarification about motorized bicycles versus motorcycles and asked about restrictions in parking garages, particularly noting the covered parking at the library. Ms. Willis explained the intent was to prevent riding up and down ramps in parking structures. Ms. Alutto expressed support for the second option of requiring helmets for those under 16, noting it aligned with state law and would be cleaner and easier to understand. Ms. Johnson asked for clarification about family rentals, and Ms. Willis confirmed that shared rental devices for those under 18 were limited to manually powered bicycles only. Vice Mayor De Rosa referenced survey results showing nearly 90 percent of respondents supported helmet requirements for youth under 18. She advocated for a youth helmet requirement, suggesting ages 12 or 14, while ensuring the City continued to provide free helmets for those who could not afford them. Council member Keeler supported requiring helmets for all riders under 18 on personally owned devices, noting that rental restrictions already addressed that population. Dr. Lam thanked staff for the clarity around the device rentals. He cited public health concerns, noting that the vast majority of preventable head injuries occurred in those aged 16 and under. He supported a helmet requirement for that age group. Ms. Johnson expressed her personal belief that everyone should wear helmets but questioned whether it was the City's role to mandate this behavior. She raised concerns about enforcement and the effectiveness of passing ordinances without meaningful enforcement mechanisms. Mayor Amorose Groomes offered a perspective as a parent, suggesting that having a rule could help parents communicate safety requirements to their children. She noted it would not require helmet patrol enforcement but could serve as a community standard. She suggested age 14 as a potential threshold. After further discussion, Council reached consensus on requiring helmets for those under 16. Ms. Willis confirmed she would revise the code accordingly for second reading. The ordinance was scheduled for second reading and public hearing on March 9, 2026. RECORD QF, PROCEEDINGS Minutes of Meeting GOVERNMENT FORMS & SUPPLIES 644-204-0508 FORM NO, 10148 ers 532-5098 Dp. renviuialy 20, 2UZO0 ragevvi Held 20 INTRODUCTION/PUBLIC HEARING/VOTE — RESOLUTIONS Resolution 08-26 Appointing a Member to the Architectural Review Board for the City of Dublin, Ohio Ms. Alutto introduced the Resolution. Vice Mayor De Rosa provided the report as Chair of the Administrative Committee. She explained that Hilary Damaser's recent appointment to Planning and Zoning Commission had created a vacancy on the Architectural Review Board (ARB) that required filling within 60 days per the Charter. Council had conducted interviews and selected Terry Seidel for the appointment. She recommended Council approval. There were no public comments. Vote on the Resolution: Vice Mayor De Rosa, yes; Mayor Amorose Groomes, yes; Ms. Johnson, yes; Dr. Lam, yes; Ms. Alutto, yes; Mr. Keeler, yes; Ms. Kramb, yes. Resolution 09-26 Accepting the Lowest and Best Bid for the 2026 Street Sweeping Contract and Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Contract for the Project Ms. Alutto introduced the Resolution. Mr. Anderson presented the resolution to accept the bid for the 2026 citywide street sweeping contract. He explained the contract would have a maximum three-year term with annual renewal options based on contractor performance. The contract included five complete sweeps of the City annually with optional additional sweeping services upon request. One bid was received from SCA of Ohio for $148,800, which was 9.8 percent below the projected budget amount. SCA of Ohio, a subsidiary of Sweeping Corporation of America, had successfully provided street sweeping services for Dublin for several years. Staff had thoroughly reviewed the bid and found SCA's historical service satisfactory. There were no public comments. Mayor Amorose Groomes asked about City-owned street sweepers. Mr. Anderson explained the City owned one sweeper, noting they were expensive to purchase and maintain. The contracted service proved cost-effective, as the City would need two additional sweepers to perform the work covered by the contract. The City's sweeper was reserved for emergency response, event sweeping, special requests, and supporting police operations. Vote on the Resolution: Dr. Lam, yes; Ms. Alutto, yes; Ms. Kramb, yes; Ms. Johnson, yes; Mr. Keeler, yes; Vice Mayor De Rosa, yes; Mayor Amorose Groomes, yes. OTHER BUSINESS e Zoning Code and Subdivision Regulations Audit - Introduction Ms. Holt introduced the code audit project. She explained that Planning had hired McBride Dale Clarion as trusted partners for this analysis and prioritization exercise. The audit would provide prioritized steps for future code updates but would not rewrite codes or reopen previously approved plans. Ms. Holt outlined the many visionary plans informing this effort, including Envision Dublin, the Economic Development Strategic Plan, the Housing Study, the Sustainability Plan, and ongoing development review process improvements. She emphasized that current codes were outdated and might not help achieve established goals. The audit represented an opportunity to modernize codes while incorporating discovered efficiencies. The project timeline showed contracting in late 2025, with January and February 2026 kickoff activities involving stakeholders, board and commission members, technical advisory committees, and staff. A successful survey had gathered RECORD Qf, PROGEEPINGS Minutes of Meeting GOVERNMENT FORMS & SUPPLIES 644-224-3388 FORM NO. 10148 it 52-599 ~repruary 20, ZUZO Held 20 thoughtful feedback. Individual Council interviews were planned for March, with draft and final documents expected in the second quarter. Based on kickoff results, potential investigation topics included reformatting codes for ease of use, improving development standards for parking, landscaping, and signage, examining underutilized zone categories, and developing mixed-use strategies. Ms. Holt noted that mixed-use had emerged as a larger topic than anticipated, warranting a separate parallel contract to define mixed-use approaches while minimizing City risk. Other topics included housing variety updates, procedure clarification, and overall modernization of code philosophy. Ms. Holt presented specific questions for Council feedback regarding policy priorities, balancing clear standards versus discretionary review, flexibility versus predictability, housing types needing attention, and additional refinement areas. Ms. Kramb asked about the policy matrix development and noted challenges with finding code information on the City website. She emphasized the need for better public accessibility, suggesting an index system and improvements to help residents find information about permits and regulations for items like solar panels, accessory buildings, and small wind turbines. Ms. Alutto agreed with Ms. Kramb's accessibility concerns and supported considering all options during the audit process. She emphasized the need for predictability for both developers and homeowners, and supported examining aging-in-place concepts previously discussed. Vice Mayor De Rosa emphasized mixed-use definitions, referencing a joint work session between Board and Commission members and Council from August. She stressed the importance of proper vernacular, noting that true mixed-use meant a mix of uses, not just housing with a coffee shop. She asked about the timeline, with Ms. Holt confirming the audit would be completed in second quarter 2026, though implementation timing would depend on the number of projects identified. Vice Mayor De Rosa advocated prioritizing items currently facing the City, particularly mixed-use definitions, and referenced density and intensity considerations from previous discussions. Dr. Lam took a broader approach, focusing on making Dublin attractive to employers and workers while providing housing paths for all families. He referenced the survey summary identifying challenging aspects including zoning district regulations, general development standards, and code format. He emphasized plan alignment with Envision Dublin's future land use classifications and coordination with housing and sustainability studies. Dr. Lam suggested creating a dashboard or metrics system for Council to track progress on various housing and development goals. Mr. Keeler emphasized sustainability as a guiding principle. He discussed density ranges in Envision Dublin, noting the wide range of four to seventeen units per acre and the need for sensitivity to surrounding areas. He stressed the importance of conservation design as fundamental to Dublin's character while acknowledging population growth needs. Ms. Johnson highlighted the challenge of undefined terms like "rural character" and "uniquely Dublin" that could either pigeonhole or leave development too open to interpretation. She encouraged the audit to identify such potentially problematic terms. Mayor Amorose Groomes addressed the questions in reverse order. She emphasized the need for clarity in staff feedback to applicants to avoid misunderstandings that have led to struggles at Planning and Zoning Commission. Regarding housing types, she stressed the importance of transit- oriented development, particularly with LinkUS coming through the City’s center. She advocated for proactive code preparation rather than waiting for transit Minutes of RECORD OF ARO GEEPINGS GOVERNMENT FORMS & SUPPLIES 644-224-3338 FORM NO. 10148 _ F Held In 52.9. ebruary 25,2 construction, identifying potential station locations and contemplating appropriate unit numbers for those areas. Mayor Amorose Groomes discussed flexibility and creativity in development standards, particularly regarding building materials. She noted the constant emergence of new materials and the need for expert advice to ensure high- quality, durable buildings while maintaining predictability. Regarding mixed-use standards, she suggested percentage-based requirements for residential versus commercial use to remove discretionary review aspects. She concluded by emphasizing transit-oriented development as the primary location for adding needed density without negatively impacting single-family home experiences. Ms. Kramb added a final comment about encouraging quality, reusable buildings rather than single-purpose construction, referencing the adaptability of older buildings. Mayor Amorose Groomes echoed this, noting the importance of slab construction for buildings over four stories to ensure future adaptability, citing Metro Center as an example. Ms. Holt thanked Council for the feedback and noted that individual interviews would be scheduled in March. Public Safety Briefing Qi 2026 Chief Paez presented the first quarter 2026 public safety update. He began by reviewing how Dublin Police finished 2025, noting their goals had focused on critical incident preparedness, theft reduction, traffic safety improvement, and addressing community concerns. The department published monthly metrics for transparency and accountability. 2025 ended with positive trends including decreases in theft offenses, theft from vehicles, breaking and entering, and burglary offenses. The same number of vehicle theft reports were recorded as the previous year. While overall crash reports increased, OVI-related crashes decreased. For 2026, the department amended goals slightly, maintaining the same mission spirit but splitting the fourth goal into two separate focuses: proactive collaborative community outreach and effectively addressing significant community concerns. Chief Paez highlighted several incidents demonstrating critical incident response. The department met with Washington Township Fire in January to discuss arson incident responses from late 2025. He emphasized that critical incidents included any prolonged events impacting safety, thanking the City Manager for organizing virtual EOC communications during January's heavy snow events. Recent crime resolutions included a February incident where adults and a juvenile in a stolen vehicle crashed into the Donatos building on South High Street. Officers quickly apprehended both suspects after they fled. Chief Paez commended Sergeant Clark and Officers Williams, Ford, Borton, and Steinke for their response, along with Communications Technician McKinley Ward. He emphasized the critical support from community members who provided information during the incident. Other highlighted incidents included community members reporting a suspiciously placed camera, which was quickly investigated and resolved. The Flock system identified a vehicle stolen two years prior traveling through Dublin on February 6, with officers using drone technology to safely apprehend the individual. The Community Impact Unit successfully communicated with regional partners about crime trends involving a specific individual. Chief Paez noted that while burglary incidents remained rare, there was a slight uptick requiring attention. The law enforcement planner used facial recognition technology on surveillance video from an apartment burglary, providing Meeting RECORD Qf, PROGEEPINGS Minutes of Meeting GOVERNMENT FORMS & SUPPLIES 844-224-3338 FORM NO. 10148 5n9L D. it 52 Q Frepiudly 20, ZUZO rage ovo Held 20 investigative leads. As prevention, community safety ambassadors and officers emphasized vacation house watch services. Traffic safety efforts continued with officers focusing on enforcement in the right places at the right times for the right reasons. The Slow Down Dublin campaign emphasized speed enforcement, with speed warning cameras providing additional resources in neighborhoods. The Business District Unit completed its first operational year focusing on the Riverside Drive corridor. Community outreach highlights included Chief Paez participating in a mental health panel at the Martin Luther King Sunday Supper event, with plans to platform feedback into additional community conversations. The drone program received recognition, with Sergeant Clark winning a Dublin Strongest Link award and the City receiving an Ohio City County Management Association award for Innovation in Local Government. Chief Paez mentioned the staff changes at year-end including promotions and the retirement of Communications Technician Chris Burkhart after 28 years of service. Chief Paez concluded by alerting Council to recent vehicle damage incidents in hotel parking lots, suspected to be individuals looking for items to steal. He emphasized the importance of removing firearms from vehicles and noted coordination with hotels, law enforcement partners, and patrol sections to address the trend. Dr. Lam inquired about increased traffic stops and their effectiveness. Chief Paez attributed the increases to Slow Down Dublin efforts and intelligence-led enforcement, noting that while the number of stops increased by nearly 2,000, speeding citations slightly decreased, indicating potential behavior change. Dr. Lam also asked about the drone program expansion. Chief Paez explained usage had increased with more trained pilots and anticipated further growth as the program matured. Regarding the parking structure robot, Chief Paez indicated they were assessing its effectiveness and responsiveness. Mayor Amorose Groomes noted that many increased stops likely occurred on Riverside Drive following speed limit changes and thanked the Chief and all officers for their service. STAFF COMMENTS Ms. O'Callaghan shared the following: e State Route 161 corridor planning efforts with regional partners: Recent discussions focused on preparing a scope of work for coordinated land use and infrastructure planning between Dublin and Plain City. The study area was highlighted on screen, with emphasis on aligning growth and transportation strategies across jurisdictions. The estimated $200,000 study cost would be allocated among partners: Union County, Madison County, and Dublin contributing $50,000 each; townships contributing $10,000 each; and utility providers (City of Marysville Utilities and Mid- Ohio) contributing $5,000 each. The formal project kickoff is scheduled for March 27, 2026, marking the transition to collaborative work with Planning NEXT. e She announced a study of unsignalized pedestrian crossings on streets with four or more lanes to improve safety and accessibility. A public survey would run from February 25 to March 15 on the Be Dublin platform, seeking resident input on priority locations and safety features. The final report was expected in fall 2026. e Finally, she invited everyone to the 2026 State of the City on Thursday, March 5 at the Exchange in Bridge Park. The event theme would be America 250, with interactive engagement stations beginning at 5:30 PM and the presentation at 7:00 PM, also livestreamed on the City website. RECORD OF PBOGEEPINGS Minutes of Meeting GOVERNMENT FORMS & SUPPLIES 844-224-3338 FORM NO. 10148 a 92-5996 Dp o. reprualy 20, 2UZ0 rage sor Held 20 COUNCIL REPORTS e Committee Reports o Public Services Committee Report Ms. Kramb reported on the February 11 Public Services Committee meeting. The committee discussed the Greenway Corridor Screening Program and HOA maintenance of woodlots. For greenway screening, the committee recommended staff evaluate broader areas including the west side of Coffman Road, Sells Mill, Brand Road, and older neighborhoods from the 1980s and 1990s where landscaping was deteriorating. Staff would categorize gaps as residential, commercial, or school properties, as each might require different approaches. Regarding HOA woodlot maintenance, staff proposed adding a grant program under the Beautify Your Neighborhood umbrella program, combining it with existing stormwater programs. The committee advised simplifying applications and removing hurdles to encourage HOA participation. Staff would streamline the prioritization process and pool the funding to see what applications emerged. o Finance Committee Report Ms. Alutto reported on the Finance Committee meeting held at 4:30 PM that day. The committee discussed hotel/motel tax, with staff providing historical background. Staff requested consideration of implementing a fund balance policy and formalized agreements with all hotel/motel tax recipients including consistent reporting and accountability measures. The committee provided feedback for staff to incorporate before returning to committee and eventually full Council consideration. e Liaison Reports o Board of Education Liaisons: Vice Mayor DeRosa and Dr. Lam Vice Mayor De Rosa noted the Board of Education would meet next month. o US 33 Corridor Group and SR 161 Corridor Group: Vice Mayor De Rosa and Ms. Johnson Vice Mayor De Rosa reported on the February 13 US-33 Corridor Group meeting she attended with Council member Johnson. Data centers continued dominating discussions as an area of concern. Jerome Township updated the group on three data center zoning certificates along Industrial Parkway potentially representing over 2 million square feet if completed. The township was updating zoning codes for data centers regarding landscaping, setbacks, buffering, lighting, and noise mitigation. Union County reported continued strong demand for data centers across the county. The group discussed concerns about land use, water use, and noise impacts, anticipating ongoing discussions given the level of interest in the area. Other topics included Meijer Stores Limited Partnership's application in Jerome Township for 29.5 acres to accommodate large format retail, which Dublin had formally commented on with concerns about land use compatibility, site design, and traffic. Development along Route 42 north of 33 continued significantly, particularly around the Kroger site. Vice Mayor De Rosa highlighted residential development including Del Webb's 700-home development for ages 55-plus in Plain City, expected to open partially this year in the Jonathan Alder school district. o SportsOhio Steering Committee: Mr. Keeler and Ms. Alutto Mr. Keeler briefly mentioned the rebranding conversation which had been reported on previously by Ms. Alutto. RECORD OF. PROCEEDINGS Minutes of Meeting GOVERNMENT FORMS & SUPPLIES 844-224-3338 FORM NO. 10148 Fates 92-5094 reviudly 20, 2Uz0 Held 20 o Planning and Zoning Commission and Architectural Review Board Liaison: Ms. Kramb Ms. Kramb reported that the February 19 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting was canceled for lack of agenda. The Architectural Review Board would meet Wednesday to swear in newly appointed Terry Seidel and consider a revamp of the Oscar site, with the latest proposal focusing on cleaning up the existing site rather than complete redevelopment. o Washington Township Liaison: Ms. Johnson Ms. Johnson reported that the township continued formalizing their 90-day moratorium on data centers, planning to issue a formal resolution referring to their land use plan and extending the moratorium to six months. They plan to formalize a data center ban while collecting zoning changes for simultaneous execution within six months. The township hired George Sorge as training and safety manager, bringing experience from Westerville and Norwich Township. Cemetery space remained a significant topic, with the St. John's Cemetery expansion no longer proceeding. This likely prompted Washington Township's letter to Dublin requesting partnership on provision of cemetery space. Ms. Johnson had discussed the history with several Council members and recommended formalizing a response to Washington Township. She requested the City Manager recirculate a previous memo detailing cemetery and burial availability for Council feedback before providing a formal response. o Dublin Wellness Alliance: Dr. Lam Dr. Lam noted that the first meeting will be held March 23. o Dublin Arts Council and Logan/Union/Champaign County Regional Planning Commission: Mr. Keeler Mr. Keeler reported on the January 27 Dublin Arts Council meeting. Their strategic plan was complete with the motto, "Moving Dublin Forward through Public Art, Community and Impact." The S/WING installation off Muirfield Drive by artist Ivan Depena was progressing despite snow delays, with fabrication in North Carolina and installation expected in late March. Ten pieces would be transported by tractor-trailer, with dedication planned for late May coinciding with the Memorial Tournament's 50th anniversary. The public art initiative would begin with the four-story Bridge Park parking garage. The snail sculpture had moved to Friendship Village, which issued an open call for art. The Dublin Library would receive murals, and arts cabin (the Historic Cabin) programming would begin in May or June tying history with art through fabric dyeing and storytelling. For Logan-Union-Champaign Regional Planning, Mr. Keeler noted the City’s representative, Tammy Noble, was the dissenting vote on the Meijer proposal. o MORPC: Mayor Amorose Groomes Mayor Amorose Groomes reported on MORPC activities including Data Day on February 10 at Columbus State; a Commission meeting on February 12 with membership now at 97 local governments; and passenger rail champion meetings on February 17 and 19. The Haslam Sports Group agreed to submit a letter supporting their FTA grant application. Columbus Convention Center contributed $1.2 million in matching funds for the potential $11 million grant to study right-of-way, crossings, and safety impacts. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Minutes of Meeting GOVERNMENT FORMS & SUPPLIES 644-224-5508 FORM NO, 10148 =a? 92_9DAdDE Dp 4A pS reviualy Zu, ZUZO0 rage rrorrt Held 20 COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE Mr. Keeler reported attending a February 18 Ohio Municipal League webinar on data centers presented from operators’ perspectives. Amazon, which operates Dublin's one data center, participated and committed to accommodating community needs including noise retrofitting. Mr. Keeler noted diesel generators were old technology, with new facilities using natural gas, and emphasized that communities must hold operators accountable. Mayor Amorose Groomes shared several items. She attended the Columbus Business First Power Breakfast featuring Zach Mears and OSU President Carter. She visited 110 third graders at Deer Run Elementary on February 18. She met with representatives from the All In Community organization, which is building housing for special needs individuals with market-rate and below-market housing. They expressed excitement about the project and receipt of positive feedback from Dublin residents. ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor Amorose Groomes moved to adjourn to executive session for the purposes of considering the appointment of a public official. Ms. Alutto seconded. Vote on the motion: Ms. Johnson, yes; Ms. Kramb, yes; Ms. Alutto, yes; Mr. Keeler, yes; Dr. Lam, yes; Vice Mayor De Rosa, yes; Mayor Amorose Groomes, yes. RECONVENED -— 9:36 PM ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:36 p.m. a Mayor — Presiding Officer CleyK of Coypéil