[00:00:05]
THIS ROOM HAS GOTTEN VERY, VERY GOOD AT BEING READY FOR COUNCIL MEETINGS TO BEGIN. IT ALWAYS
[Call to Order]
FEELS SO AWKWARD TO USE THIS. GROVE CITY COUNCIL IS NOW IN SESSION. PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME FOR A MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. MAY I HAVE THE CLERK CALL THE ROLL, MISS KELLY? MISS BURROUGHS HERE, MISS ANDERSON. HERE, MR. WILSON HERE, MISS HAWK HERE. MR. HOLT HERE. MR. BARRY HERE. DUE HERE. ALL RIGHT. AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DISPENSE WITH THE READING OF THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 21ST COUNCIL MEETING AND THE JANUARY 30TH COUNCIL MEETING, AND APPROVE THOSE TWO SETS OF MINUTES AS WRITTEN. SECOND. BURROWS. YES. ANDERSON.YES. WILSON. YES. YES. YES. GARY. YES. YOU. YES. RIGHT. WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO THE FIRST
[Welcome & Reading of Agenda]
COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY ON THIS BEAUTIFUL EVENING. YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED WE HAVE A NEW FACE AT THE AT THE DAIS THIS EVENING. WELCOME, ANTHONY WILSON, OUR NEW COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE. IF YOU WOULD GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. ANTHONY, THIS IS THE VERY DEFINITION OF HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING AS HE WAS SWORN IN NOT MOMENTS AGO HAS BEEN TO HIS FIRST CAUCUS. AND OFF WE GO[Presentation: Bicycle Friendly America]
WITH THIS EVENING'S MEETING. WE HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION TO START OFF THIS EVENING. MAYOR STAGE A PRESENTATION ON BICYCLE FRIENDLY AMERICA. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND I'M DEFERRING TO KIM SHIELDS TO GIVE THE EXPLANATION OF THIS PROJECT, WHICH WAS STARTED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. I THINK IT'S THE FIRST QUESTION. FIRST QUESTION ALREADY. WOW. ALL RIGHT. IT WAS ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO TO THE DAY ACTUALLY. AND I WILL GET INTO THAT LATER IN THE SLIDES. I JUST WANTED TO SAY HOW EXCITING THIS NEWS IS. WE AS OF LAST WEEK, WE ARE OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED AS A BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY FROM THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS. THEY ARE A NATIONAL GROUP, STRONG ADVOCATES FOR CYCLING FOR ALL CYCLISTS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES. IN ADDITION TO THIS BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES PROGRAM, THEY ALSO HAVE A BICYCLE FRIENDLY UNIVERSITY AND A BICYCLE FRIENDLY BUSINESS PROGRAM. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO WITH THIS RECOGNITION, WE ARE NOW THE 19TH CITY IN THE STATE OF OHIO TO RECEIVE ANY KIND OF A DESIGNATION FROM THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS. WE ALSO JOIN. WE ARE ONE OF 460 COMMUNITIES IN THE ENTIRE NATION, WHICH THAT MAY SEEM LIKE A LARGE NUMBER WHEN YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW MANY CITIES ARE IN THE ENTIRE NATION, IT'S A IT'S A PRETTY EXCITING THING FOR US TO BE RECOGNIZED WITH THAT DESIGNATION. WE ARE ALSO ONLY ONE OF FOUR IN CENTRAL OHIO THAT HAS ACHIEVED THIS AWARD. WESTERVILLE, COLUMBUS AND DUBLIN ARE THE OTHER THREE. I DID PUT A LINK UP THERE, WHICH I REALIZE YOU GUYS CAN'T CLICK ON, BUT THE MAIN POINT IS TO SHOW THAT ALL OF THE INFORMATION TIED TO OUR APPLICATION AND OUR REPORT CARD IN TERMS OF HOW WE SCORED, WHAT IMPROVEMENTS WE CAN MAKE MOVING FORWARD, ARE ALL AVAILABLE PUBLICLY ONLINE. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO VIEW THAT AND SEE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.NEXT SLIDE. SO AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IT'S BEEN ALMOST TWO YEARS TO THE DAY. IT WAS FEBRUARY 2023. CITY COUNCIL APPROVED TWO VERY IMPORTANT PIECES OF LEGISLATION RELATED TO BICYCLING IN GROVE CITY. THE FIRST WAS A RESOLUTION CHAMPIONED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TED BERRY TO CREATE THE BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE. A NUMBER OF THE MEMBERS ARE HERE TONIGHT, SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK TO GET TO THIS POINT. SUCH A PASSIONATE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS, GREAT PARTNERS AS PART OF THIS BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY APPLICATION PULLED TOGETHER. JUST SO ENTHUSIASTIC AND A GREAT SOUNDING BOARD FOR ALL THINGS BICYCLING AND GROVE CITY. THE SECOND PIECE OF LEGISLATION WAS CHAMPIONED BY FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER MARK SIEGRIST. IT WAS THROUGH THAT LEGISLATION THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WAS CHARGED WITH APPLYING FOR THIS BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES APPLICATION. HE SAW IT AS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD OFF OF THE PRINCIPLES THAT WE ESTABLISHED IN THE GROVE CITY
[00:05:01]
2050 COMMUNITY PLAN. SO TWO YEARS LATER, HERE WE ARE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO THE APPLICATION ITSELF AS ALL GOOD CERTIFICATION APPLICATIONS ARE WAS ABOUT 400 QUESTIONS OR SO. IT WAS BROKEN UP INTO THESE FIVE E'S THAT ARE NOTED ON THE SLIDE HERE. THANKFULLY WE HAVE A LOT OF VERY TALENTED STAFF HERE IN GROVE CITY. RIHANNA BERGMANN TOOK UP THE LEAD. SHE WAS OUR PART TIME PERSON. THAT THIS WAS BASICALLY HER LIFE FOR A FEW MONTHS. LOGAN, TERRY BARR AND THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PUT SO MANY, SO MANY HOURS INTO THIS TECHNICAL ANALYSIS, A LOT OF RESEARCH, BUT IT ALSO WASN'T JUST US IN THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. THIS WAS VERY MUCH A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN A LOT OF OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS, OUR BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE, AND ALSO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE MID-OHIO REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION OR MORPC. SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? WE'RE WE'RE NOT DONE. WE'VE GOT OUR SIGHTS SET ON SILVER, AND WE'VE MET A COUPLE TIMES TO KIND OF OUTLINE THE PATH. I THINK WE'VE GOT A PRETTY GOOD PATH AHEAD OF US, AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM MOVING FORWARD. SO ON THAT NOTE, I DO WANT TO JUST MENTION A COUPLE OTHER EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON. I PROMISE I WON'T TAKE UP TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME. THE FIRST ONE, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. THANK YOU, IS OUR ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN. THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GRANT FROM ODOT. WE'RE WORKING WITH TOOL DESIGN. THEY ARE A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PLANNING FIRM THAT SPECIALIZES IN ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION. AND WE HAVE DEFINITELY SEEN THAT IN OUR WORK WITH US SO FAR. IT'S A REALLY EXCITING EFFORT. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN KEY AS PART OF THIS PLAN. HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE ALL SEEN OUR PUBLIC SURVEYS GO OUT. WE'VE DONE A COUPLE ROUNDS AT THIS POINT. WE ALSO TRIED TO HIT UP PRETTY MUCH EVERY CITY EVENT LAST SUMMER. SO HOPEFULLY YOU SAW US OUT AT AT LEAST A COUPLE OF THOSE. THAT INPUT FROM, FROM ALL THOSE SURVEYS REALLY HELPED US TO IDENTIFY OUR PRIORITY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK. SO WHAT THIS PLAN WILL DO WILL HELP US FORMALIZE RECOMMENDATIONS TO GUIDE OUR DECISIONS FOR ROADWAY AND BIKEWAY IMPROVEMENTS. WE'VE ALSO DONE A LOT OF SMALLER STUDIES OVER THE YEARS IN TERMS OF ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION, AND THIS PLAN WILL REALLY HELP US PULL THOSE ALL TOGETHER AND HAVE ONE SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS MOVING FORWARD. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. LAST ITEM I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS A REALLY EXCITING NEW EFFORT THAT WE'RE JUST KICKING OFF THIS MONTH WITH MORPC THROUGH THEIR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. WE'RE CALLING IT THE BROADWAY CORRIDOR STUDY. IT'S GOING TO HELP US IDENTIFY IMPROVEMENTS ALONG BROADWAY FROM HOME ROAD TO ORDERS ROAD TO MAKE THE AREA SAFER FOR PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS, AND ALL OTHER VULNERABLE ROAD. USERS ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT BROADWAY WAS RECENTLY IDENTIFIED AS A FUTURE LINK CORRIDOR. SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF KIND OF WHAT THOSE REGIONAL EXPECTATIONS ARE FOR THAT AREA. IN THE PLANNING WORLD, WE CALL BROADWAY A STROAD, WHERE IT TRIES TO DO A LOT OF THINGS AT ONCE. IT'S A STREET IN TERMS OF THERE'S A LOT OF DESTINATIONS ON IT, BUT IT'S ALSO A ROAD THAT TRIES TO MOVE TRAFFIC AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE. SO WHEN YOU MIX THOSE TWO THINGS TOGETHER, IT MAKES FOR A NOT VERY SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THOSE VULNERABLE ROAD USERS, IT'S NOT REALLY DESIGNED FOR PEDESTRIANS OR CYCLISTS, NOT THE MOST COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM. SO I DO ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE NORTH BROADWAY CORRIDOR PRIMARILY IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF OUR RESIDENTS THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A PRIVATE VEHICLE MAKING ACCESS TO TRANSIT, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY SAFE PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLING OPPORTUNITIES THAT MUCH MORE IMPORTANT. SO LIKE I SAID, THIS ONE JUST KICKED OFF. SO HOPEFULLY YOU'LL HEAR SOME SOME GOOD UPDATES ON THIS. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF DESCRIBE SOME OF THESE THINGS AND HELP SHARE THE EXCITEMENT OF THIS BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES AWARD AND MORE TO COME. KIM, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE THE MEMBERS OF THE. IF THEY'D ALL LIKE TO STAND? I THINK WE HAVE FOUR HERE TONIGHT IN THE BACK ROW BACK HERE. I'LL SEE YOU THEN. OUR NEWEST MEMBER. IS RIGHT. OH, THERE YOU SEE HIM SITTING THERE. SO THANK YOU ALL. GREAT JOB. SO, MR. BARRY, ARE YOU. YEAH. YEAH, JUST JUST THE.THAT'S A GREAT TIME TO TALK ABOUT. OF COURSE, WE ALL KNOW IN COUNCIL THAT WE'RE WORKING ON A MAJOR CONNECTOR ACROSS HOOVER ROAD, ACROSS THE BRIDGE WHERE IT WILL BE A, A BRIDGE THAT HAS A DEDICATED BIKE PATH. WE'RE ALSO WORKING. OF COURSE, YOU SAW IT IN THE BUDGET WITH CONNECTING US OVER TO THE CAMP CHASE TRAIL ON THE MAYOR AND THE TEAM HAVE, AND THE BICYCLE TEAM AND THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE IDENTIFIED THREE DIFFERENT ROUTES, AND WE'RE WORKING ON THAT. AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE'RE WORKING ALSO TO CONNECT US WITH THE WITH THE TRAIL THAT RUNS SOUTH FROM DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS. THAT ONE WON'T BE AS QUICK BECAUSE OF CERTAIN THINGS. BUT BUT THERE'S
[00:10:02]
A LOT OF THERE'S JUST A LOT HAPPENING. AND SO THANKS TO THAT TEAM AND THE CITY AND EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER, AND THANKS FOR COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING IT. THANK YOU. THANKS. ALL RIGHT. YEAH.AND ECHOING THIS SENTIMENT, THANKS TO THE BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE, THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, THE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T WITH US THIS EVENING. ALSO TO MY COLLEAGUES, STATE REPRESENTATIVE SIGRIST AND COUNCILMAN BERRY, THEIR ENTHUSIASM ON THOSE PIECES OF LEGISLATION TWO YEARS AGO. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS. I'M ON THE SAME PAGE AS YOU. IT FEELS LIKE YESTERDAY TO ME, BUT IT WAS THEIR PASSION FOR THIS SUBJECT. I THINK THAT REALLY GOT ALL OF US ENERGIZED AND BEHIND THIS PROJECT. AND OF COURSE, KIM SHIELDS IS ALWAYS THE LAST PERSON TO TOOT OUR OWN HORN, BUT SHE DOES AN OUTSTANDING JOB. THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR THE AMAZING WORK ON THIS. I WAS SO EXCITED TO SEE THIS RECOGNITION AND AS YOU SAID, SEEMS LIKE A BIG LIST, BUT A VERY SMALL LIST IN AMERICA. SO YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION IS CINDY. CINDY. CINDY IS THE IS THE PERSON IN THE ROOM. WHEN WE FIRST STARTED OFF THAT SHE WOULD ALWAYS LOOK AT US LIKE, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE ASKING ME TO DO THIS. AND BUT SHE ALWAYS CAME THROUGH. AND SO I JUST ALSO, CINDY, HATS OFF TO YOU. I MEAN, BECAUSE YOU DREW SOME WE AS THE TASK FORCE, WE DREW LINES AND SHE MADE THEM MAKE SENSE. AND SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES. ALL RIGHT. THANK
[Resolution CR-05-24 Amend Part of Appendix A of the Rules of Council.]
YOU SO MUCH. THANKS. ALL RIGHT. THAT BRINGS US TO THE BEGINNING OF OUR BUSINESS MEETING. AND I WOULD LIKE TO READ THROUGH THIS EVENING'S AGENDA, EXTENSIVE UNDER ADMINISTRATIVE AND RULES, WE HAVE ORDINANCE C 325 AND RESOLUTION C, R 524. AND I'D LIKE TO AMEND THE AGENDA, PLEASE. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE RESOLUTION CR 524 SECOND. C ANDERSON. YES.WILSON. YES. YES. YES YES. YOU. YES. YES. ALL RIGHT. IF THERE ARE NO OTHER CHANGES, THE BALANCE OF THIS AGENDA, THAT ONE ITEM IS APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT. AND I WILL TURN THE
[Ordinance C-03-25 Amend Section 161.10 of the Codified Ordinances titled Employee Status, Number of Employees per Department, Pay Grades. First Reading.]
FLOOR OVER TO YOU, MR. HOLT. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ORDINANCE C0325. I'LL JUST READ THE OFFICIAL ONE HERE. AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 161 .10 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES TITLED EMPLOYEE STATUS, NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES PER DEPARTMENT AND PAY GRADES. THIS IS THE FIRST READING. THE SECOND READING WILL BE ON. FEBRUARY 18TH, 2025. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MISS ALK. ALL[Call for New Business]
RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. HOLT. AND THAT BRINGS US RAPIDLY TO THE CONCLUSION OF OUR BUSINESS AGENDA. THIS THIS NEVER HAPPENS. IT'S FEELS SO STRANGE. BUT IF THERE IS ANY NEW BUSINESS TO BE BROUGHT TO COUNCIL'S ATTENTION, PLEASE DO SO AT THIS TIME. AND I DO HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL SIGNED UP, SIGNED UP, SHANNON SIDELINGER. IF YOU COULD COME AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. SURE THING. MY NAME IS SHANNON SIDELINGER AND I LIVE AT 2040 BELLFLOWER COURT. MY HUSBAND AND I MOVED TO GROVE CITY 17 YEARS AGO AS A NEWLY MARRIED COUPLE.WE LIVED OFF OF ALKIRE ROAD AND REALLY ENJOYED VARIOUS COMMUNITY EVENTS. WE WOULD GATHER WITH FRIENDS IN THE CENTRAL CROSSING PARKING LOT TO WATCH THE 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS AT BEULAH PARK, SEEK WARMTH IN THE LARGE TENTS DURING THE MISTLETOE MARKET, AND STROLL DOWN BROADWAY EXPLORING ALL THE VENDORS AT ARTS IN THE ALLEY. WE KNEW THIS TOWN WAS OUR HOME WHERE WE WANTED TO STAY AND GROW OUR FAMILY, AND THAT'S JUST WHAT WE'VE DONE. WE NOW HAVE THREE BEAUTIFUL BOYS THAT ARE SIX EIGHT, AND OUR OLDEST IS VERY RAPIDLY APPROACHING 14. THE WONDERFUL COMMUNITY EVENTS AND OUR NEARLY 14 YEAR OLD JAMES, ARE WHAT BRING ME TO SPEAK WITH YOU ALL THIS EVENING. WHEN JAMES WAS SIX MONTHS OLD, HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEGENERATIVE NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASE CALLED SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY, OR SMA. SMA IS JUST LIKE ALS, BUT IN BABIES, JAMES HAS NO COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT, BUT HE IS COMPLETELY CARE DEPENDENT. THE FIRST THING WE LEARNED ABOUT SMA WAS THAT IT WAS THE NUMBER ONE GENETIC KILLER OF CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF TWO. AT THAT POINT, WE KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY COULD TO MAXIMIZE WHATEVER TIME WE WERE GIVEN WITH OUR PRECIOUS BABY. WE NAMED HIM JAMES TIBERIUS KIRK. HE IS THE CAPTAIN OF OUR CREW
[00:15:01]
AND DESTINED TO CHART A NEW COURSE OF EXPLORATION FOR US. WE REALLY WISH HE. I REALLY WISH THAT HE WERE HERE WITH ME TONIGHT SO THAT YOU CAN MEET HIM. HE REALLY IS SUCH A REMARKABLE YOUNG MAN. BUT WE HAVE LEARNED THAT BRINGING HIM TO NEW PLACES MEANS THAT ONE OF US HAS TO GO AHEAD AND ASSESS, TO SEE IF THE VENUE REALLY IS ACCESSIBLE FOR HIM. WHILE THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CHECK FOR, PARKING IS OUR FIRST OBSTACLE AND WHAT I WILL FOCUS ON TONIGHT. WE HAVE WANTED OUR CHILDREN TO GROW UP ENJOYING GROVE CITY AND ALL THE FANTASTIC COMMUNITY EVENTS IT HOSTS. UNFORTUNATELY, JAMES HAS BEEN TO VERY FEW OF THEM ON A STANDARD DAY. APPROPRIATE DISABILITY PARKING IS AT A MINIMUM. LET ALONE WHEN EVERYONE IS TRYING TO COME TO THE SAME EVENT. AN EVENT THAT PUSHED ME TO COME TALK TO YOU WAS ARTS IN THE ALLEY. I WAS SO INCREDIBLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT THERE WAS A DESIGNATED ACCESSIBLE PARKING LOT LAST YEAR. I DROVE BY THE DAY BEFORE THE PARADE TO SCOUT IT OUT AND MAKE MY GAME PLAN FOR THE MORNING. OUR TWO YOUNGEST WERE MARCHING IN THE PARADE, SO JAMES AND I WOULD MEET THEM AT THE END OF THE ROUTE NEAR PARK STREET. WHEN I WENT TO LOCATE THE NEW LOT AND MAKE A PLAN, I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT I WOULD NEED TO MAKE A LOOP AROUND THE BLOCK VIA BROADWAY AND COLUMBUS STREET.COULDN'T DO THAT. HOW BIG IS THE LOT? SIX SPACES SIX. AND THEY ONLY ALLOW FOR PARALLEL PARKING.
THERE ARE SEVERAL LOGISTICAL ISSUES WITH THIS, BUT I HAVE A SIDE ENTRY RAMP SO I COULD MAKE IT WORK IF WE GOT THERE EARLY ENOUGH THE NEXT MORNING AT 8 A.M, AS I'M GETTING JAMES INTO HIS WHEELCHAIR WHEN I GET ONE. WHEN I GET ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY ALERT TEXT MESSAGES THAT BROADWAY IS NOW CLOSED FROM GROVE CITY ROAD TO SOUTHWEST BOULEVARD, IT'S AN HOUR AND A HALF BEFORE THE PARADE STEPS OFF ON THE OTHER SIDE, AND I CANNOT GET TO THE HANDICAPPED LOT DUE TO THE ROAD CLOSURE. LIKE ROSS AND CHANDLER, WE PIVOT. THERE IS A WILL, AND I WILL FIND A WAY.
WE CONTINUE LOADING UP AND MADE OUR WAY DOWNTOWN. AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, JAMES WAS HAVING A RESPIRATORY EMERGENCY SO I NEEDED TO QUICKLY PULL OVER. WE WERE AT THE BACK LOT OF PARK STREET INTERMEDIATE. I PULLED IN AND FOUND THE HOLY GRAIL. THERE WAS ONE OF TWO ACCESSIBLE PARKING SPOTS AVAILABLE IN THE LONG RUN. WE MADE IT WORK, BUT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THIS DIFFICULT TO DO. I SEE OUR CITY OFFICIALS AND PLANNING COMMITTEES ARE TRYING, AND I CAN NEVER EXPRESS THE AMOUNT OF GRATITUDE I HAVE FOR THAT. BUT WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO SO THAT ALL OF GROVE CITY RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORING TOWNS CAN ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY TO ITS FULL POTENTIAL. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER CONCERNS I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT AT OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS. WAYS TO MAKE THEM MORE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL, BUT OUT OF RESPECT FOR EVERYONE'S TIME, I AM ONLY ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF BEING ABLE TO GET TO THE EVENTS. I SUSPECT I'LL BE BACK MORE WITH LOGISTICS ON NAVIGATING A NEARLY 300 POUND CHAIR THROUGH GRASS ANOTHER NIGHT, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY IMMEDIATE QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE, OR TO CLARIFY ANYTHING THAT I'VE MENTIONED. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE. AND WHILE WE HAVE SO MANY STAFF MEMBERS IN THE ROOM, WHO IS THE RIGHT PERSON TO CONNECT YOU WITH AS IT RELATES TO EVENT PLANNING? I WANT TO GIVE HER MY CARD. ALL RIGHT.
FANTASTIC. THANK YOU. AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS, YOU KNOW, WE ARE CONSTANTLY LEARNING AND IT'S BEEN A DEFINITE TRIAL AND ERROR IN RELOCATING EVENTS OFF OF BROADWAY. AND SO THIS KIND OF EXPERIENTIAL FEEDBACK IS SO IMPORTANT TO GETTING IT RIGHT. SO I DEFINITELY WANT TO CONNECT YOU WITH MR. BOZO AND MAYOR STAGE. WELL, YEAH, I WAS GOING TO REFER TO OUR SAFETY DIRECTOR, KEVIN TEDFORD. HE'S A GENTLEMAN SHAKING HIS HEAD UP THERE OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MIKE, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM. AND HOW MANY IS ENOUGH. AND RIGHT. AND THERE'S ALSO THE PUBLIC OUT THERE. WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH ALL THOSE HANDICAPPED SPOTS? WHERE CAN I PARK? AND BUT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT. AND BUT HE WOULD BE THE GENTLEMAN THAT. THANK YOU I APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SORRY. ALL RIGHT. NO OTHER NEW
[Call for Dept. Reports & Closing Comments ]
BUSINESS. AND THAT BRINGS US TO MAYOR STAGE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND I, ALONG WITH, I SUSPECT EVERYBODY ELSE WILL WILL WELCOME ANTHONY. BUT I WANT TO GO ON RECORD. WELCOME TO ANTHONY. I HAD THE CHANCE TO TALK TO HIM THE OTHER DAY, AND HE'S CERTAINLY GOT THE RIGHT ATTITUDE AND UNDERSTAND THE BIG PICTURE. SO WELCOME. AND YOU ARE A RETIRED COLUMBUS POLICE OFFICER WITH THE CITY OF WESTERVILLE AND LIVED IN GROVE CITY 30 YEARS NOW. WHAT DO YOU SAY? BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU. I THINK THE LAST MEETING I'D MENTIONED ABOUT AT&T AND I DON'T[00:20:07]
NORMALLY BE THIS BRUTAL, BUT TRY TO SNEAK A PROVISION IN WITH THE PUCO WHERE CITIES WERE GOING TO BE ASSESSED ON THE CHARGE OF RELOCATING UTILITIES OR THEIR THEIR UTILITIES IF CERTAIN THINGS HAPPEN. AND AS OF THREE WEEKS AGO, THAT HAS BEEN TOTALLY WITHDRAWN, THEY REALIZED THEY PROBABLY WERE NOT THE MOST DIPLOMATIC AND DIDN'T USE THE RIGHT COURSE OF DOING THAT. BUT IT'S A BIG MOVE ALONG WITH THAT. JUST FOR THE RECORD, I HAVE NOW BEEN ACCUSED AGAIN. MAYOR FOR THE INABILITY TO HAVE VERIZON TOWERS IN SEAGROVE CITY, AND I HAD SOMEBODY CALL ME THE OTHER DAY AND SAID, HEY, WHY ARE YOU NOT ALLOWING VERIZON TOWERS? WE HAVE WORKED WITH VERIZON. WE'VE WORKED WITH ALL THE CARRIERS. MATTER OF FACT, THE 5G IS WOULD NOT HAVE VERIZON ISSUE. SO JUST FOR THE RECORD, AGAIN, THAT THE MAYOR IS NOT THE ONE HOLDING UP TOWERS BY VERIZON. THIS IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH. WE WILL HAVE A SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING. WE HAPPEN TO BE THE PSEUDO HOME OF THE FIRST BLACK BISHOP OF THE AMERICAN LUTHERAN CHURCH, WHO LIVED IN URBAN CREST, AND I THINK WE WERE THE HOME OF ONE OF WHAT WAS THE FIRST BLACK HIGHWAY PATROLMAN, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT. SO WE GOT SOME GREAT STORIES AND THINGS TO SHARE ABOUT OUR HISTORY WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY. CHAMBERS ANNUAL MEETING IS WEDNESDAY. ANTHONY, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE YOU REGISTERED. DO YOU KNOW TAMMY? DO YOU KNOW IF HE IS PERFECT? GOOD. WE WILL BE GOING OVER. I'VE BEEN GIVEN 11 MINUTES AND I'M GOING TO DEFER SIX OF THE MINUTES TO THE CAREER CENTER. AND YOU'LL SEE HERE ON THE PRESENTATION, IT'S EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE AND CERTAINLY PLAYS TO THE TUNE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN THE WAY OF TRAINING ADULTS AND YOUTH IN THE SCHOOLS.SO THAT'S THAT'S WEDNESDAY MORNING. LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE. OH, THE VOINOVICH ACADEMY IS OPEN. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SHARED THAT WITH ANTHONY OR NOT. AND THAT I GOT A NOTE TODAY FROM HIM SAYING, MAYOR, HELP US GET SOME MORE CANDIDATES. SO THAT'S GOOD WITH THAT. I HAVE NO OTHER INFORMATION TO SHARE, BUT WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU MAYOR. MR. BOWSER, CERTAINLY I'D LIKE TO WELCOME ANTHONY HERE WITH THE GT A COUPLE NOTES AS IT RELATES TO THE ORDINANCE. IN TERMS OF EMPLOYEES, WE'RE STILL IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE. THEIR CONTRACT EXPIRED DECEMBER 31ST OF 2024 AND WILL BE BEGINNING NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES. THEIR CONTRACT EXPIRES ON APRIL 20TH, SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE LEGISLATION TO YOU SOON TO APPROVE THEIR CONTRACT. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MISS KELLY. WELCOME, MR. WILSON. WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU. AND EVERYBODY TAKE A LOOK AT THE ART SHOW. IT WILL BE COMING DOWN IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. EVERYTHING ON THE WALLS IS FOR SALE. SO TAKE A LOOK NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. SMITH. WELCOME. OUR NEW MEMBER. AND I HAVE NOTHING FURTHER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DEPARTMENT HEADS IN THE ROOM. NOPE. NADA. ALL RIGHT.
THAT BRINGS US TO CLOSING COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL. WE'LL START WITH YOU, MR. DU. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I'D ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TO THE COUNCIL. ANTHONY, A FELLOW GARCIAN. THANK YOU, I LOVE IT. THANK YOU, MR. DU. MR. BARRY, A COUPLE OF THINGS. ON FEBRUARY 24TH AT 5:30 P.M, WE ARE HAVING OUR PARKS COMMITTEE MEETING, WHICH WE WILL BE DISCUSSING, CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE REC CENTER. AND JUST ANTHONY, WELCOME. AND YOU KNOW, IT'S I'LL TELL YOU, IT'S ONE YOU'LL ENJOY YOURSELF DOING THIS. TRUST ME. IT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST PLEASURES THAT YOU KNOW, THAT YOU CAN SERVE PEOPLE AND EVERYTHING. BUT I WILL TELL YOU WHAT I ALWAYS TELL ALL NEW MEMBERS. A SENATOR, ONE DAY AT ONE TIME TOLD ME THAT I WORKED FOR IN THE SENATE. SHE SAID, TED, DON'T GET FRUSTRATED ABOUT THE SMALL THINGS. THE CREAM
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ALWAYS COMES TO THE TOP. AND IT'S TRUE, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETIMES IT SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS BEING THROWN OUT AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. BUT SOMEHOW THINGS COME TOGETHER IN THE END. AND IT IT ALWAYS HAPPENS. IT'S JUST SOMETIMES IT TAKES A LONGER TIME. BUT I ALSO WANTED TO THANK THE MAYOR, YOU KNOW, THE ADMINISTRATION DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB FOR ALL OF LIKE BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND, AND ALL OF OUR AND ALL OF OUR HOLIDAYS, UNLIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING PUSHING EDUCATION THAT EDUCATION FORWARD. AND I OH, I GOT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE. TODAY IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY. AND YOU KNOW, AND EVERYTHING. MOM, 91 YEARS OLD. THERE'S MOMS. PARK COUNT WAS 63 PEOPLE PASSED BY OUR WINDOW TODAY IN THE PARK. SO GOT TO GOT TO MENTION THAT. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THAT'S ALL THE PARADE. THAT'S BASICALLY IT WAS. THANK YOU, MR. HOLT. DITTO. WELCOME, ANTHONY KIM. JUST BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF TIED TO THE BICYCLE AND THE CORRIDOR, THE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY AND THINGS LIKE THAT, I WILL BE BRINGING TO COUNCIL A LEGISLATION THAT FURTHER STIFFENS THE PENALTY FOR HITTING SOMEONE IN A CROSSWALK IN GROVE CITY, AND FOR OTHERS THAT MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT WE'VE IMPLEMENTED SOME OF THE STIFFEST PENALTIES FOR THAT IN GROVE CITY. AND THEY'RE NOW BEING MODELED IN OTHER CITIES IN COLUMBUS. AND I HEARD TONIGHT THAT MR. SIEGRIST, STATE REPRESENTATIVE, IS GOING TO USE THAT AND PUSH THAT FORWARD IN THE REST OF OHIO. SO SOMETHING WE'RE LEADING THE WAY ON WITH THAT. NOTHING ELSE. THANKS. THANK YOU, MR. HOLT. MISS BURROUGHS. WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY DITTO, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A WONDERFUL AND A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU, ANTHONY. I'M SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD WITH US. AND THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I WAS REMISS ABOUT OUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING, WE FAILED TO OR I FAILED TO COMMENT THAT WE RECENTLY LOST THE A MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY, ANDY FIR, WHO WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HEART OF GROVE CITY. SO FOR ALL OF YOU WHO DIDN'T KNOW THAT HE HAD PASSED AWAY, I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION. IT WAS SHORTLY AFTER OUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING, AND HE'LL BE GREATLY MISSED. HE WAS TRULY THE HEART OF GROVE CITY, SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS ANDERSON. ANTHONY, I WANT TO WELCOME YOU AS WELL. WELCOME.VERY EXCITED TO WORK WITH YOU ON ALL OF THE PRIORITIES WE HAVE MOVING FORWARD THIS YEAR. SO WELCOME. AND I JUST WANT TO ALSO THANK THE BICYCLE TASK FORCE. KIM. EVERYBODY'S EFFORTS I KNOW, YOU KNOW, WITH THE BICYCLE TASK FORCE AND THE VOLUNTEERISM AND THE TIME THAT YOU PUT IN AND EVEN JUST WORKING, YOU KNOW, CITY ADMINISTRATION AND THE EXTRA TIME YOU PUT IN ON TOP OF ALL THE OTHER THINGS YOU'RE DOING. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE ACCREDITATION FOR OUR CITY. SO CONGRATS AND KUDOS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. WILSON. FIRST I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES, NEW COLLEAGUES FOR THE WARM WELCOME FOR. JUST BEING THERE TO GUIDE AND HELP ME ALONG THE WAY. FOR EVERYONE HERE WHO HAS SUPPORTED ME AND SUPPORTED ME, I AM VERY HUMBLED RIGHT NOW TO LOOK OUT AND SEE YOUR FACES. STEVE AND KAREN, YOU'RE PROBABLY JET LAGGED. MY MOTHER HAS ALWAYS INSTILLED IN ME THE VALUE OF HARD WORK, COMMITMENT, DEDICATION AND SERVICE, AND ALL MY LIFE I'VE BEEN SERVING, WHETHER IT'S MY COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, CITIZENS OF COLUMBUS, WESTERVILLE, IT IS A GREAT HONOR TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT CITY, GROVE CITY. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU TO CONTINUE MAKING PROGRESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. SO I ALSO WANT TO WELCOME ANTHONY WILSON TO THE COUNCIL RANKS. AND I, YOU KNOW, TO SAY TO ALL OF YOU, YOU WILL HAVE OBVIOUSLY THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW MR. WILSON, THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL HAVE HAD THOSE FIRST OPPORTUNITIES VIA THIS PROCESS. AND I WILL JUST SORT OF SHOW A LITTLE BIT OF HIS HAND TO YOU.
THAT IS, HE'S COMING, AS HE SAID, FROM A CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE. HE OBVIOUSLY, BY VIRTUE OF THAT CAREER, IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. AND HE ARTICULATED THAT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WAS MOST PRONOUNCED IN OUR CONVERSATIONS IS HIS PASSION FOR
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CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND CONNECTING PEOPLE AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND GETTING THE COMMUNITY ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS OF GOVERNMENT. SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE YOU WITH US AND LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. IT SOUNDS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL OF THAT, IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY EASY TRANSITION. BUT YOU HAVE SIX MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ADMINISTRATION AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT WE ARE DOING THAT QUIZ IN A FEW SHORT MINUTES HERE WITH OF EVERYONE'S NAMES TO SUPPORT YOU. SO USE THOSE RESOURCES AS WE MOVE FORWARD. I ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE PROCESS. WE HAD 29 APPLICANTS. WE HAD 26 PEOPLE WHO MADE IT THROUGH THE VETTING PROCESS, MEANING THAT THEY MET THE CRITERIA FOR OUR CHARTER. FOR AN INTERVIEW. 24 PARTICIPATED IN THE PROCESS. WHAT I CAN SAY ABOUT THAT IS, WOW, THAT MANY PEOPLE RAISED THEIR HAND TO GET INVOLVED. WE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED MEETING THE PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE PROCESS. WE ENCOURAGED THEM. BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. MAYOR STAGE IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR GOOD MEMBERS OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AS WELL, AS IT WON'T BE LONG AND WE WILL BE FACING ANOTHER ELECTION. SO 2025 IS AN ELECTION YEAR 2027. SO I WILL LOOK FOR SOME OF THOSE NAMES TO BE ON THE BALLOT, BUT I CAN'T THANK THEM ENOUGH FOR RAISING THEIR HAND AND EXPRESSING THEIR INTEREST. IT WAS VERY ENJOYABLE TO GET TO KNOW THEM. FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THAT PROCESS. WE IT WAS MORE TIME THAN WE HAVE EVER SPENT TOGETHER. SO WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. REALLY. IT WAS WE HAD A GREAT TIME DOING IT. AND SO THANK YOU. SUCH AN IMPORTANT JOB. HAPPY TO HAVE ONLY A MONTH WITH COUNCILMAN SEAT SITTING VACANT. EXCITED TO MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AND TO THE CLERK FOR KEEPING US ORGANIZED AND FED DURING THAT PROCESS. THANK YOU AS WELL. AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING IS ON FEBRUARY 18TH. I SHOULD SAY THAT IT IS AMERICAN HEART MONTH AND THE WEAR RED DAY IS THIS FRIDAY THE SEVENTH. SO GO HOME RIGHT NOW AND GO THROUGH YOUR LAUNDRY BASKET TO FIND THAT RED THING THAT YOU HAVE. YOU'RE GOING TO NEED IT ON FRIDAY. IN THE INTERIM, WE WILL SEE YOU ON THE 18TH. SAME TIME, SAME