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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-22-2026 Council Meeting MinutesRECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Minutes of Dublin City Council Meeting GOVERNMENT. FORMS & SUPPLIES 844-224-3338 FORM NO. 10148 Held June 22, 2026 20 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Amorose Groomes called the Monday, June 22, 2026 Regular Meeting of Dublin City Council to order at 7:00 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, Deputy Chief Lattanzi, Mr. Hartmann, Mr. Batchelor, Mr. Rubino, Ms. Weisenauer, Mr. Earman, Mr. Barker, Mr. Gracia, Mr. Jiang, Ms. Hunter, Mr. Hammersmith, Ms. Willis, Ms. Wawszkiewicz and Mr. Phillabaum. Also present: Julie Rinaldi and Brian Otte, Dublin Food Pantry; Scott Dring, Visit Dublin Ohio; Brett Sorrells, Telogistix PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Amorose Groomes invited Vice Mayor De Rosa to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. SPECIAL PRESENTATION e Dublin Food Pantry New Executive Director Introduction Brian Otte was introduced as the incoming Executive Director of the Dublin Food Pantry, succeeding Julie Rinaldi who was noted to be retiring. Mr. Otte addressed Council, sharing that he had been volunteering with the pantry for two years and expressed his commitment to continuing the high-quality work of the organization. He indicated that his primary goal was to ensure the community remains proud of the pantry and its mission. Mayor Amorose Groomes welcomed him and acknowledged the significant contributions made by outgoing director Julie Rinaldi during her tenure. e Hospitality Industry Update Scott Dring of Visit Dublin Ohio delivered the organization's annual hospitality industry update, noting that this was his one-hundredth presentation to City Council. He highlighted several key performance metrics for the first four months of the year. Hotel occupancy in Dublin reached 65 percent, compared to a national industry average of approximately 59 percent. The average daily room rate for the same period was the highest four-month figure ever recorded. Bed tax revenue was up nearly seven percent over the prior year, continuing a trend of near double- digit annual growth over the previous four to five years. Mr. Dring reported that the reintegration of SportsOhio into the Nike Cup youth soccer tournament, after a ten-year absence, generated a 30 percent increase in hotel room nights for that event alone. He described twelve new event leads generated for the SportsOhio facility, including a long drive golf competition that would require extending the driving range into an adjacent field. On the trails and experience economy front, Mr. Dring noted the tenth anniversary of the Fairy Door Trail, which had resulted in more than 20,000 t-shirt giveaways. He reported that the espresso martini trail generated approximately $125,000 in beverage sales across 18 restaurants in just two months. An artist-commissioned poster for the Art in Public Places trail was also in development. The regional marketing campaign, which runs April through August and now includes Chicago as a target market, was described as fully digital and multi- layered, incorporating influencer outreach and media partnership trades such as a vacation giveaway with a Detroit television station. Mr. Dring reported that a world record attempt for the largest shamrock resulted in 1,049 participants, surpassing the previous record of 850, and generated over one billion media impressions across major national outlets. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Minutes of Dublin City Council — GOVERNMENT FORMS & SUPPLIES 844-224-3338 FORM NO. 10148 June 22, 2026 Page 2 of 11 Held 20 Visit Dublin has maintained its national accreditation since 2007 and is among fewer than five percent of destination marketing organizations worldwide that hold this distinction. Mr. Dring summarized the organization's core value proposition as generating economic impact, positioning Dublin as a global city of choice, driving bed tax revenue, and serving as a trusted community resource. He cited a 16-to-1 return on every dollar invested in the organization. Mayor Amorose Groomes thanked Mr. Dring for his work and the creativity of his team in promoting the community. CITIZEN COMMENTS There were no comments. CONSENT AGENDA e Minutes of the June 8, 2026 Regular Council Meeting e Minutes of the June 15, 2026 Special Council Meeting e Minutes of the June 15, 2026 Council Work Session e Excuse the Absence of Council Member Keeler from the June 8, 2026 Regular 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: Mr. Keeler, yes; Vice Mayor De Rosa, yes; Ms. Johnson, yes; Dr. Lam, yes; Mayor Amorose Groomes, yes; Ms. Kramb, yes; Ms. Alutto, yes. POSTPONED ITEM - SECOND READING/PUBLIC HEARING — ORDINANCES Ordinance 30-26 Adopting and Enacting a Supplement (S-57) to the Code of Ordinances for the City of Dublin, Ohio Mr. Batchelor presented the staff report. He explained that this supplement incorporates changes to the Ohio Revised Code through June 25, 2025, and local legislation passed through December 8, 2025. Revised Code amendments focused on minor traffic and criminal definitional changes, while local changes included updates to the City fee schedule following a cost study, as well as general code cleanup. There were no public comments. Vote on the Ordinance: 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 Ordinance 34-26 Authorizing the City Manager to Accept Necessary Conveyance Documents on Behalf of the City of Dublin for a 0.22 Acre Right-of-Way Dedication From Wilcox-Tuttle Limited Partnership Ms. Alutto introduced the Ordinance. Mr. Hartmann presented the staff report. He explained that during a real estate due diligence process, the Edwards Group identified a parcel that remained encumbered by a right-of-way easement. The City requires that such easements be converted to fee right- of-way, and the parties agreed to formalize the conversion through a deed. Mayor Amorose Groomes noted that this was a no-fee transaction. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Minutes of Dublin City Council — GOVERNMENT FORMS & SUPPLIES 844-224-3338 FORM NO, 10148 June 22, 2026 Page 3 of 11 Held 20 There were no public comments. Second Reading/Public Hearing is scheduled for July 1, 2026. Ordinance 35-26 Authorizing the Execution of a Real Estate Purchase and Sale Contract, a Property Reconveyance Escrow Agreement, and a Third Amendment to an Economic Development Agreement with The Ohio State University, on behalf of its Wexner Medical Center Ms. Alutto introduced the Ordinance. Ms. O'Callaghan presented the staff report. She provided background on the original 2019 economic development agreement with The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, which facilitated development of approximately 34 acres in the West Innovation District for a health and wellness campus. That agreement resulted in the construction of a 272,000- square-foot outpatient care facility at 6700 University Boulevard. Since 2019, the agreement had been amended twice to extend OSU's right of first offer and right of first refusal on adjacent parcels. The proposed third amendment, along with a new purchase and sale contract and property reconveyance escrow agreement, supports the next phase of development. Under the proposed terms, the City would convey approximately 16.3 acres on University Boulevard to OSU for approximately $2,934,000, or $180,000 per acre. OSU would commit to constructing a minimum 150,000-square-foot specialized medical building. The third amendment also grants OSU a right of first offer and first refusal on Parcel E, located west of the current medical center, at $180,000 per acre, exercisable before December 31, 2028. The City retains easement and right-of-way rights necessary for its multimodal thoroughfare plan. The agreement also establishes a framework for coordinating the future alignment of Old Avery Road near the medical campus. OSU waived any workforce creation incentives tied to this expansion phase. Construction must begin by December 31, 2031, or the City may initiate reconveyance. The OSU Board of Trustees approved the land purchase earlier in the month. Dr. Lam asked about the cost associated with the City's obligation to fill, grade, and remediate wetlands related to the Cosgray ditch. Mr. Gracia clarified that this work is primarily associated with Parcel D, a City-owned parcel across the street from Parcels A and B, and would not impede OSU's development plans on the primary parcels. There were no public comments. Second Reading/Public Hearing is scheduled for July 1, 2026. INTRODUCTION/PUBLIC HEARING/VOTE — RESOLUTIONS Resolution 29-26 Accepting the Lowest and Best Bid for the 2026 Coffman Park Stone Walls Contract Ms. Alutto introduced the Resolution. Mr. Earman presented the staff report. He framed the stone wall project as one component of a broader, multi-phase effort to fortify the safety perimeter of Coffman Park, particularly along Emerald Parkway and Perimeter Drive, which represent the highest- traffic vehicular corridors adjacent to the park. Additional components of the overall effort include tree installations along Donpatrick Drive and Post Road, boulder placements, and a separate project to reconfigure the entrance to the event space, including a new gating system and realignment of the shared-use path. Mr. Earman noted that the stone walls would not be completed before the Dublin Irish Festival, but concrete barriers and boulders would be in place in the interim. The entrance reconfiguration project would occur after the festival, coinciding with repaving of Emerald Parkway. There were no public comments. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Minutes of Dublin City Council _— GOVERNMENT FORMS & SUPPLIES 844-224-3338 FORM NO, 10148 June 22, 2026 Page 4 of 11 Held 20 Ms. Kramb asked whether tree fund monies could be applied to the tree installation costs, estimated at $65,000 to $70,000, since the trees would be on city property. Mr. Earman indicated that would require Council direction. Ms. Kramb also sought clarification on the location and configuration of the new gate and confirmed that a designated rideshare drop-off area along Commerce Drive would be appropriately signed. Mr. Keeler asked whether outside security consultants had been engaged to validate the size and placement of boulders. Mr. Earman confirmed that the boulders meet established traffic security standards. Vice Mayor De Rosa inquired whether boulders or other protective measures were planned for the northern sections of the park where trees had already been planted. Mr. Earman explained that vehicular access is already restricted in those areas, making additional hardscape barriers less necessary, but indicated that supplemental measures could be added if warranted. Mayor Amorose Groomes raised the question of whether safety requirements would be extended to other events held at the park beyond City-sponsored events. She also suggested consideration of a future Phase 3 that would address entrances without limited- access restrictions, noting the existing project was essentially Phase 2 of an ongoing effort. Vote on the Resolution: Mayor Amorose Groomes, yes; Ms. Kramb, yes; Ms. Johnson, no; Vice Mayor De Rosa, yes; Mr. Keeler, yes; Dr. Lam, yes; Ms. Alutto, yes. OTHER BUSINESS e Wireless Telecommunication Infrastructure Update Mr. Brown and Brett Sorrells of Telogistix presented an update on the City's wireless telecommunications infrastructure study. Mr. Brown provided context, explaining that over his 23-year tenure with the City, there had been numerous ad hoc discussions with carriers and tower companies about coverage gaps, but no independent, comprehensive assessment had been conducted. The City's three primary carriers are AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. The impetus for this study included data from dual-band modems in police cruisers revealing coverage gaps, reports from mobile city staff experiencing connectivity issues, and ongoing anecdotal feedback from residents and businesses. Mr. Sorrells described the methodology, emphasizing the importance of independent data not sourced from carriers themselves. The study used crowdsourced device-level data, including speed test data, to map actual user experience rather than carrier-claimed coverage maps. He explained the three spectrum types: low band, suitable for voice and broad coverage; mid band, the primary workhorse for data capacity; and high band, or millimeter wave, which is extremely fast but has very limited range and poor penetration. The assessment found that the majority of existing cell tower infrastructure is located around the perimeter of Dublin rather than within it, and that coverage gaps are most pronounced in the mid-band spectrum, which is increasingly essential for modern mobile data use, public safety operations, drone technology, and mobile workforce tools. The study identified opportunities for colocation on existing towers, subject to structural capacity analysis, and potential new sites on City-owned property. Mr. Brown emphasized that the property locations shown in the presentation were purely theoretical and based only on ownership boundaries, not yet evaluated for suitability. Mr. Sorrells described newer infrastructure options, including mid-cell poles with a 32-inch diameter footprint capable of hosting all three carriers and requiring only the equivalent of one to two parking spaces for ground equipment. Council discussion focused on several themes. Mr. Keeler asked about Starlink as an alternative, and Mr. Sorrells explained that satellite-based solutions are well- RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Minutes of Dublin City Council Merting GOVERNMENT FORMS & SUPPLIES 844-224-3338 FORM NO. 10148 June 22, 2026 Page 5 of 11 Held 20 suited for rural or low-density applications but are not practical for dense urban environments due to bandwidth saturation. Mr. Keeler also asked for more specific site mapping as the process advances. Ms. Kramb highlighted the potential to leverage taller buildings now present in Dublin for colocation, and noted the City's existing code was written before many current technologies existed. She supported a code review as part of the strategic framework. Ms. Alutto suggested engaging large homeowner associations as potential partners for hosting infrastructure in residential areas with limited public property, citing Ward 3 as a specific geographic gap. She expressed support for moving forward. Dr. Lam sought clarification on whether coverage gaps represented true voids in voice and emergency service coverage or primarily a capacity issue for mid-band data. Mr. Brown confirmed that it is both, noting that law enforcement, fire, and other public safety operations increasingly depend on data connectivity for dispatch systems, warrant searches, and other real-time tools. Vice Mayor De Rosa asked about carrier motivations for colocation and realistic timelines. Mr. Sorrells noted that tower owners generally welcome colocations for the rental revenue, but that structural capacity of existing towers must be verified and that carriers operate on multi-year capital budget cycles, which can affect timing. Mayor Amorose Groomes emphasized the revenue potential for the City if it were to own infrastructure and lease space to carriers, particularly given the City's fiber network as a direct connection point. She suggested that the strategic framework should be built around a model where the City owns assets, ties them to fiber, and commands premium lease rates. She asked whether Council was supportive of continuing to develop a strategic plan, and the discussion confirmed broad support for proceeding. e 2027 Budget Kickoff Presentation Mr. Rubino presented the 2027 Budget Kickoff, the second year under the City's updated integrated capital and operating budget development schedule. The presentation covered economic indicators, current-year performance, available resources, debt profile, and opening questions for Council. On economic indicators, Mr. Rubino noted that unemployment held at approximately 4.3 percent nationally and 3.9 percent in Ohio, with modest recent job growth. Inflation as measured by Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 4.2 percent year-over-year in May, with core CPI just under 3 percent. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth remained below 2 percent but showed no recessionary signals. The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at its most recent meeting. Mr. Rubino highlighted potential state-level policy risks, including ongoing discussions about centralizing local income tax collections, changes to state pension fund employer contribution rates, and continued property tax policy debates. He noted that the proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit property taxes would not appear on the upcoming ballot, which was viewed as a positive development given the City's reliance on TIF financing and property-tax-secured debt. Through May 2026, total income tax collections were up 3.1 percent. Operating revenues were up 8.5 percent year-to-date, with a timing factor expected to normalize this figure to approximately 3 to 4 percent. Budget utilization for operations stood at 36.6 percent, and the General Fund balance was at 69.4 percent compliance against the 50 percent policy floor, even after a $5.4 million land acquisition that closed in February. Mr. Rubino noted that income taxes average approximately $113 million annually, with 92 percent derived from businesses and their employees working within the city. Withholding taxes account for 75 percent of total income tax collections, underscoring the importance of business retention and attraction. He described an RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Minutes of Dublin City Council — GOVERNMENT FORMS & SUPPLIES 844-224-3338 FORM NO. 10148 June 22, 2026 Page 6 of 11 Held 20 ongoing modernization of the City's income tax system, with a new taxpayer-facing portal under development and future analytic capabilities planned to support economic development decision-making, including trend analysis by industry type, geographic location, and top employer payroll levels. On available resources, Mr. Rubino described a three-year average of approximately $290 million in total resources, with local taxes comprising approximately 41 percent, of which income taxes represent 84 percent. The five- year Capital Improvement Plan has grown to approximately $350 million, reflecting the City's growing infrastructure and maintenance needs. Outstanding debt stands at $225 million, with general obligation debt comprising 70 percent. Mr. Rubino presented a debt modeling illustration showing that if the City were to issue $20 million in new debt annually for ten years, principal levels would remain manageable in the near term but would begin to grow. He noted the importance of weighing policy debt limits, rating agency benchmarks for AAA bond rating maintenance, and operating capacity when determining future debt financing for capital projects. Ms. Alutto praised the comprehensiveness of the presentation and highlighted the importance of maintaining infrastructure and parks equitably across the city, advancing water and sewer projects, exploring revenue enhancement opportunities, and ensuring the City understands the workforce capacity implications of AI adoption to avoid simply creating activity without measurable organizational benefit. Ms. Johnson identified transportation and mobility as her top priority, noting that as the City prepares for potentially explosive growth in multiple districts, anticipating multimodal infrastructure needs sooner rather than later would reduce pain for residents. Ms. Kramb stressed the primacy of maintaining existing assets before adding new ones, flagged infrastructure in the West Innovation District supporting SportsOhio as capital-intensive and critical, and suggested allowing the private sector to lead where possible. Mr. Keeler suggested developing a comprehensive inventory of City-owned assets alongside the liability review, flagging the need to understand potential exchange or disposition opportunities. He also urged caution about getting ahead of market demand in Metro Center and the West Innovation District. Dr. Lam noted that revenue-generating goals such as Metro Center revitalization and the West Innovation District should receive budget prioritization over amenity- focused investments, and echoed interest in a detailed asset inventory. He also flagged ongoing state property tax reform pressure as a risk to TIF revenues. Vice Mayor De Rosa requested a longitudinal view of debt levels going back ten years relative to both assets and revenues. She emphasized the need to spend more time discussing the revenue side of the City budget, specifically calling for deeper analysis of the TIF fund performance and top employer trends enabled by the new income tax system. She challenged whether the current 3 percent income tax growth target remains adequate given current inflation and expenditure growth rates, suggesting the City needs to honestly assess whether it is achieving structural balance. She also called for a citywide picture of AI investments and their operational impacts across departments, not just in IT, and expressed a desire for additional investment in the economic development function to support revenue growth goals. Mayor Amorose Groomes reiterated her prior request for a dedicated safety fund that accurately reflects all City expenditures related to public safety, noting that state funding trends suggest local government fund allocations will continue to decline while safety fund reimbursements become more accessible. She noted this would require broad interdepartmental collaboration to properly document. She also highlighted a potential Federal Transit Administration Notice of Funding RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Minutes of Dublin City Council Mepting GOVERNMENT FORMS & SUPPLIES 844-224-3338 FORM NO. 10148 June 22, 2026 Page 7 of 11 Held 20 Opportunity for transit-supportive infrastructure design that may be relevant to upcoming development initiatives. The budget schedule calls for a capital budget work session on August 17, an operating budget work session on September 21, first reading and public hearing on October 12, and adoption in late October or November. e Economic Development Updates Mr. Gracia presented an update on departmental activities, framed around three of the four Council goals most directly connected to economic development: Metro Center revitalization, West Innovation District development, and the Premier Athletic Campus. Mr. Gracia described the department's operational framework as consisting of three primary functions: business retention and expansion visits, economic development organization management, and real estate development support. He noted that the Dublin economic development office is the only accredited economic development organization in the state of Ohio and among only nine in the world to hold this distinction through the International Economic Development Council. Accreditation requires meeting approximately 120 standards and renewal every three years. On market competitiveness, Mr. Gracia reported that Dublin accounted for 15 percent of all leasing activity in Central Ohio in the most recent quarter, and that office vacancy rates had dropped from a peak of nearly 25 percent in Q4 2024 to 17 percent. Dublin was described as the most active submarket in the region for tenant migration. Mr. Gracia highlighted several recent wins accomplished without economic incentives. Apricity Robotics, a health care robotics company that began as a tenant at COhatch, secured independent commercial space in Metro Center. A Japanese company with a long-standing relationship cultivated through international visits expanded from its current Commerce Parkway location to 28,000 square feet at Park Center, citing workforce growth plans. Rosen, a global technology company, relocated from Gahanna to 16,000 square feet at Parkwood Place, explicitly citing Dublin's quality of place and workforce recruitment advantages. From business retention and expansion visits, the department identified common themes: workforce challenges, rising construction and development costs, lease versus own decisions, transportation access, and affordable housing for employees. Companies consistently value the City's ability to connect them to partner resources such as JobsOhio, One Columbus, and Aspire Workforce. On site readiness, Mr. Gracia reported that Dublin received an advanced rating under the new Ohio Life Sciences ready community program but fell short of premier status due to pending zoning considerations. Peer communities New Albany, Union County, and Westerville achieved the premier designation. Dublin also received a bronze rating under the CSX site selection program for the northern West Innovation District area. Four sites are being prepared for resubmission to the Inside Ohio program by July 1. Mr. Gracia highlighted the development office hours program, held every Thursday from 9 to 11 AM, as a significant improvement in the customer experience. By bringing interdepartmental experts together on a single call with the developer or prospect, the City is able to provide comprehensive guidance in one meeting, which has drawn consistent positive feedback from the development community. Ms. Weisenauer read a comment submitted online as follows: Amy Swank, 5945 Vandeleur Pl., Dublin wrote: As you review the Economic Development Strategic Plan Update, please note that the Plan - which was approved and adopted by Council by resolution - expressly recommends locating industrial uses away from residential areas. Are you RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Minutes of Dublin City Council Meeting GOVERNMENT FORMS & SUPPLIES 844-224-3338 FORM NO, 10148 22, 2026 Page 8 of 11 Held June 22, 20 age 8 o a comfortable disregarding the recommendations of your consultants and the plan you adopted? Resolution 78-23 adopts the City's Economic Development Strategic Plan as two documents: (1) recommendations from TEConomy Partners LLC in wake of the pandemic dated 2023 (the “Node Study”), and (2) a Semiconductor Supply Chain Positioning Study by Newmark Global Strategy & Consulting dated May 2023 (the "Semiconductor Study”). Both of these documents are available on the City’s Economic Development page here: Attps://www.econdev.dublinohiousa.gov/plans-reports. The Semiconductor Study expressly contradicts the City’s plan for ID-6 next to residential by stating that “office” is the only type of property classification that should be situated near residential and light industrial is “typically located away from residential uses.” (pg. 29 of the Semiconductor Study.) Notably, the Semiconductor Study didn’t even extend the WID south of Shier Rings Road...possibly for this reason. (pg. 2 of the Dublin City Council Work Session Minutes for June 5, 2023). It also called out that there would be local opposition to placing industrial uses next to Darree Fields and residential. (pg. 44 of the Semiconductor Study.) Accordingly, as stated by the City’s consultants, only properties classified as office should be situated near residential on Cosgray Road. Please ask City Staff to address why they are not following the plan adopted by City Council and recommendations of the consultants. Mr. Keeler requested that economic development metrics be presented annually on a year-over-year basis, suggesting that employer headcount and payroll figures, similar to what had been shared with Council several years prior for EDA-bound companies, would provide more meaningful insight than vacancy and leasing rates alone. e Wayfinding: Summary of Updates Ms. Wawszkiewicz presented a summary of updates to the City's wayfinding program, covering four interconnected initiatives and seeking Council direction on three specific items. She provided context on how Council actions have shaped the program, including the original 2015 approval of the primary wayfinding sign family, the 2025 adoption of the curbside management plan, the 2025 signature trail plan, and the March 2026 micromobility code update. She described parking violation data showing peak enforcement activity in September 2024 and April 2025, followed by declining violations, suggesting that enforcement efforts have been effective in changing parking behavior. The first item presented was a dynamic parking availability sign at Rock Crest Parking Garage. Two design options.were shown: a flag-mounted style and a center-mount style. Staff recommended the flag-mount option as more consistent with the existing primary wayfinding sign family. The technology infrastructure, including Meraki cameras in the garage, is already in place. The sign would integrate with a new parking availability feature in the GoDublin app. Council Members were broadly supportive of the flag-mount style. Ms. Kramb and Mayor Amorose Groomes suggested white lettering for legibility and accessibility considerations. The second item was a proposed secondary wayfinding sign family, designed by the same firm that created the primary family to ensure visual consistency. This system addresses shared-use paths and pedestrian areas, and includes regulatory, warning, map, identification, and etiquette signs. The path etiquette sign is intended to communicate rules now codified in ordinance, including helmet requirements for riders under 16 and audible signal requirements when passing. A signature trail sign family would build on this secondary system with a distinct identity. Dr. Lam suggested reducing the amount of text on the etiquette signs in favor of pictorial elements that are readable at a certain speed and asked about multilingual capability on digital elements. Mr. Keeler urged general restraint to avoid sign clutter. Council broadly supported this sign family. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Minutes of Dublin City Council Mastine GOVERNMENT FORMS & SUPPLIES 844-224-3338 FORM NO. 10148 June 22, 2026 Page 9 of 11 Held 20 The third item was a proposal for a digital pedestrian sign at Riverside Crossing Park, intended to replace sandwich board and A-frame event signs. The sign would display current and upcoming event information, cancellations, community calendar items, bridge lighting schedules, and public safety messaging. Staff described software already in use for internal TV displays as the candidate platform, with communications and marketing staff responsible for content management. Council broadly supported the concept, but Mayor Amorose Groomes sought clarity on whether approval of this sign would also result in a policy change prohibiting event organizers from placing sandwich boards and banners in the park, which she identified as a key goal. Vice Mayor De Rosa asked how real-time content changes, such as weather cancellations, would be managed and who would hold that responsibility. Mr. Jiang confirmed that staff would be on-call to update the sign and that the primary purpose was event information, not advertising. Council agreed to have staff return with a memo clarifying content policies, the relationship to existing event permitting requirements regarding physical signage at a future meeting. e Riverside Crossing Park Safety and Streetscape Improvements Update Mr. Earman provided a follow-up to the June 8 discussion on safety and streetscape improvements along Riverside Drive adjacent to Riverside Crossing Park. He reviewed the conceptual design, which mirrors the aesthetic of the east side of the roadway and includes vertical and horizontal limestone elements, benches, boulders, and trees to create a protective and visually cohesive streetscape between the pavilion and John Shields Parkway. Staff had studied the option of creating a recessed food truck parking area on the northern section of Riverside Drive, as had been discussed at the prior meeting. After analysis, staff concluded that the roadway improvements required to implement that option would create new safety concerns while attempting to resolve existing ones. Mr. Earman recommended against incorporating the food truck alcove into the current project. He noted that the ongoing Riverside Crossing Park master plan update is the more appropriate vehicle for considering permanent food truck infrastructure inside the park, with access to power and water and no conflict with Riverside Drive traffic. Mr. Earman requested Council support to proceed with the streetscape concept as presented on June 8, with the goal of completing work prior to the Christkindlmarkt in November. Vice Mayor De Rosa asked whether construction funding for more permanent food truck infrastructure inside the park could be included in the 2027 CIP. Mr. Earman expressed preference for allowing the experience of the Christkindlmarkt to inform final master plan design decisions before committing to construction funding. Mayor Amorose Groomes suggested that a budgetary placeholder could be included in the CIP pending final design, particularly for water and electrical infrastructure whose costs could be estimated independently of exact placement. Ms. O'Callaghan confirmed that construction funding for 2027 could be incorporated into the capital plan. Council supported both proceeding with the current streetscape design and exploring a 2027 CIP allocation for permanent park infrastructure improvements. STAFF COMMENTS Ms. O'Callaghan had no comments. COUNCIL REPORTS e Committee Reports o Finance Committee Report: Ms. Alutto reported that the Finance Committee had met earlier in the evening to discuss procurement policy updates. Staff provided background on the City's existing procurement framework and its RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Minutes of Dublin City Council Meeting GOVERNMENT FORMS & SUPPLIES 844-224-3338 FORM NO. 10148 June 22, 2026 Page 10 of 11 Held 20 alignment with Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) best practices. Discussion focused on the competitive bid threshold, local vendor preference, and alternatives to formal competitive bidding. Staff was directed to conduct further research and return to the Committee with recommendations on those items. e Liaison Reports o Board of Education: Dr. Lam reported on a joint liaison meeting held May 27 with Vice Mayor De Rosa, Ms. O'Callaghan and Dublin School representatives. Topics included communications strategy regarding redistricting inquiries, the permitting process for school scoreboards, the water treatment plant naming implications for nearby schools, traffic safety and busing policies, fee structures for athletic fields, the SRO agreement update, a joint parent and student education effort regarding the City's micromobility ordinance, and a briefing on the upcoming Independence Day celebration. o SR 33 Corridor Group: Ms. Johnson reported that the June 12 meeting yielded no new activity on the four approved data center projects. The group discussed preliminary information on outparcels at a pending Meijer development, Jerome Township's exploration of improvements to its park facilities, and introductions to Marysville's new city engineer. She noted that Kimberly Sharp was announced as the next Marysville city manager. o SR 161 Corridor Group: Vice Mayor De Rosa reported that the May meeting was the third convening of this eight-jurisdiction group. Earlier meetings focused on individual jurisdiction plan reviews, while the May session featured consolidated mapping of all current projects and activities across the corridor, provided by consultant Jamie Green of Planning Next. Vice Mayor De Rosa described the combined view as illustrative of the need for cross-jurisdictional coordination. The group was scheduled to meet again later in the week, after which she and Ms. Johnson planned to bring structured outcomes to Council for consideration following the summer recess. o Planning and Zoning Commission/Architectural Review Board: Ms. Kramb noted that the Architectural Review Board (ARB) had experienced several consecutive cancellations and would meet later in the week. She also welcomed new ARB member Stasia Suleiman. o Washington Township: Ms. Johnson reported that the township administrator had engaged a consultant to assist with zoning and regulatory approvals for the Gateway Project due to its anticipated impact on the SR 161 corridor. o Dublin Arts Council/Logan-Union-Champaign Regional Planning Commission: Mr. Keeler noted that Logan-Union-Champaign would not meet that month. He provided a detailed update on the Dublin Arts Council, noting that its strategic plan positions public art as social infrastructure integral to civic identity, not simply decoration. He announced that the S/WING sculpture dedication would likely occur on either September 2 or September 3. He described an ongoing rebrand of the River Boxes program, with updated passport materials and brand elements planned for release at the end of July. He also outlined new programming additions to Sundays at Scioto Park, including an art-making table staffed by board volunteers, a collectible poster designed by a local artist available by donation, an earlier family-friendly time slot from 4 to 6 PM, and Irish Fiddle Frenzy opening the September 20 concert to give local student musicians a performance opportunity. o MORPC Liaison: Mayor Amorose Groomes briefly reported on a meeting that afternoon with former Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire and RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Minutes.of Dublin City Council Meeting GOVERNMENT FORMS & SUPPLIES 844-224-3338 FORM NO. 10148 June 22, 2026 Page 11 of 11 Held 20 former Transportation Director Ray Hood regarding the Cascadian Development Coalition and their experience with interstate and international rail development. She noted lessons learned from their project, which crosses two states and British Columbia, and indicated she would provide a more detailed report at a future meeting. COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE Dr. Lam noted his attendance at the Ashbaugh Road neighborhood meeting on June 18 regarding the Columbus water transmission main project, where approximately 30 residents expressed concerns. He thanked City staff for their effective engagement at that meeting. He also reported attending the International Day of Yoga sponsored by FIA on June 21, which drew more than 100 participants. Mayor Amorose Groomes reported the following activities: e She thanked First Citizens National Bank for hosting the annual speaker series on June 10. e She noted recording an episode of Face the State focused on passenger rail that aired the prior Sunday. e On June 15, she and Ms. Kramb attended the grand reopening of the OhioHealth Rehabilitation Hospital. e She reported that 13 Girl Scouts visited Council chambers on the evening of June 15. e On June 17, she attended the Ohio Mayors Alliance meeting, where topics included state legislation on foreign-manufactured drones potentially affecting city fleet, the safety fund, and a Federal Aviation Administration or Federal Transit Administration Notice of Funding Opportunity for transit-supportive infrastructure design. e She also noted attending a Sawmill Summit View development meeting with City Manager O'Callaghan that afternoon. ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor Amorose Groomes moved to adjourn to executive session for the purposes of considering the employment of a public employee. Ms. Alutto seconded. Vote on the motion: Dr. Lam, yes; Ms. Alutto, yes; Ms. Kramb, yes; Ms. Johnson, yes; Vice Mayor De Rosa, yes; Mayor Amorose Groomes, yes; Mr. Keeler, yes. The meeting was reconvened at 10:38 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:38 p.m. a h_ Mayor — Presiding Officer