[Ordinance C-48-25 Accept the Annexation of 26.904 acres located at 4910 Hoover Road in Jackson Township to the City of Grove City. Second reading and public hearing. ]

UNDER LANDS THIS EVENING IS C 4825. AND THIS IS TO ACCEPT THE ANNEXATION OF 26.904 ACRES LOCATED AT 4910 HOOVER ROAD IN JACKSON TOWNSHIP TO THE CITY OF GROVE CITY. THIS IS THE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE AND IF APPROVED, THIS ANNEXATION WILL BECOME INTO THE CITY OF GROVE CITY AS AN SF ONE, WHICH IS A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL AND SHALL BE PLACED IN WARD THREE. AND LET'S SEE, DO I HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP THIS EVENING ON THIS? IT LOOKS LIKE I HAVE A DALE BENSON.

ONLY IF YOU HAD QUESTIONS. ONLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. OKAY. MR. ROUSH, IS THERE ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU WANTED TO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL ON ACCEPTING THIS ANNEXATION OR QUESTIONS ON IT. NO. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE THIS ORDINANCE HAS HAD ITS SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING. I MOVE IT BE APPROVED SECOND. ANDERSON. YES. WILSON. YES, YES.

YES. GARY. YES. DO. YES. BURROWS. YES. THE NEXT RESOLUTION UNDER LANDS CR 5325,

[Resolution CR-53-25 Approve the Development Plan for Forge Biologic Parking Improvements located at 3900 Gantz Road. ]

THIS IS APPROVE A DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR FORGE BIOLOGIC PARKING IMPROVEMENTS LOCATED AT 3900 GANZ ROAD. THIS RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION. AND IT DOES HAVE THREE DEVIATIONS AND STIPULATIONS. THE DEVIATION SHALL BE GRANTED FROM SECTION 113609B TO REDUCE THE REQUIRED TEN FOOT PARKING AND DRIVE, I'LL SET BACK TO FIVE FOOT.

THIS IS ALONG THE EAST PROPERTY LINE. A DEVIATION SHALL BE GRANTED FROM SECTION 1137.11 TO ALLOW A GRAVEL TO BE UTILIZED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION. STAGING AREAS THAT HAVE ASPHALT AND CONCRETE, AND A DEVIATION FROM SECTION 11310349. TO REDUCE THE REQUIRED PARKING SPACE AREA FROM 180FT SQUARE SQUARE FEET TO 162FT■!S. AND THAT'S LIKE A NINE BY 18. AND THIS 53

[00:05:04]

SPEAKING. SURE. IS ANYBODY HERE SIGNED UP FOR THIS? NOPE. YEAH. PLEASE. OKAY. DO YOU WANT TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE? GOOD EVENING. ERIC WALSH, 1650 WATERMARK DRIVE, COLUMBUS. I'M JUST HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. SORRY. I SAW YOU WERE UNDER NEW BUSINESS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU, MISTER ROUSH. ANY YOU WANT TO KIND OF REVIEW THIS? FIRST REGARDING THE DEVIATIONS AND STIPULATIONS, JUST FOR THE RECORD. SURE. STAFF, THESE AREN'T UNCOMMON STIPULATIONS AND DEVIATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN AN INDUSTRIAL AREA. THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF VISIBILITY IN THE AREA. MOST OF THE PROJECTS IN THE BACK AWAY FROM THE RIGHT OF WAY. SO THEY'LL BE BLOCKED BY OTHER BUILDINGS, SUBSTANTIAL LANDSCAPING. SO STAFF WAS COMFORTABLE WITH ALL THREE DEVIATIONS. I KNOW THERE'S GRAVEL. THERE'S THE GRAVEL IS ACTUALLY BE WILL BE REDUCED IN QUANTITY. THEY'VE BEEN A GREAT PARTNER FOR THE CITY. THEY CREATE A LOT OF GOOD JOBS FOR US. IT'S A GOOD SIGN. THE GRAVEL IS THERE IN MY OPINION BECAUSE IT SHOWS THEY ARE DOING OTHER PROJECTS ON THE SITE.

EVERYTHING THEY'RE DOING IS REALLY TO CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITY, MORE JOBS FOR GROVE CITY, FOR THE GROVE CITY COMMUNITY. SO WE'RE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE DEVIATIONS. I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OF COUNCIL ON? YES, MAYOR KYLE, WHY DON'T YOU ALSO MENTION, SINCE THIS IS A HIGHLIGHT OF ONE OF THE SUCCESS STORIES, THEIR RECENT AWARD THAT THEY, THEY RECEIVED? OH, THEY RECEIVED AN AWARD FROM INNOVATION, THE COLUMBUS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR INNOVATORS AWARD. THIS IS LIKE THE SECOND TIME IN THREE YEARS THEY'VE RECEIVED AN AWARD. THEY ARE I REALLY CAN'T REALLY EXPOUND ON WHAT THEY'RE DOING BECAUSE IT'S SO HIGH LEVEL. IT'S THEY ALL WEAR LAB COATS, I'LL PUT IT THAT WAY. AND THEY THEY'RE MUCH SMARTER THAN I AM. BUT WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE HIM AS A COMMUNITY PARTNER. WE DO OUR BEST TO DO ANYTHING THEY CAN. THEY NEED OF US IN TERMS OF GETTING IN FRONT OF DIFFERENT MEMBERS THAT THEY MAY NEED ASSISTANCE FROM. BUT AGAIN, GREAT PARTNER. THEY'VE DONE A GREAT PROJECT. THEY'VE ADDED A SECOND FLOOR TO THEIR BUILDING TO CREATE SPACE FOR ADDITIONAL JOBS. SO AGAIN, WHILE THERE WILL BE GRAVEL THERE, WE FULLY WE FULLY EXPECT TO SEE THAT GRAVEL BE GONE AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE. YEAH. AND THEN THE NEW CURB CUT ON GANZ ROAD. THIS WILL ALSO MEET FIRE CODE OR THE 26FT WIDTH RIGHT. IT DOES. AND IT LINES UP WITH ANOTHER CUT ACROSS THE STREET. SO IT'S NOT CREATING AN OFFSET IF YOU WILL.

IT WAS WELL THOUGHT OUT OKAY. AND IT GOES ALL THE WAY AROUND. SO WE HAVE BETTER EMERGENCY RESPONSE. YEAH. PART OF THE PROJECT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN, THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR MAP THAT GOES AND WRAPS AROUND TO THE OTHER PARKING AREA. SO IT CONNECTS BOTH PARKING AREAS ON THE SITE. YEAH. GREAT USE. THANKS. ALL RIGHT. YEAH I'M SORRY TO KEEP ELABORATING ON THIS, BUT THE GENERAL COUNSEL FOR THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT WAS IN COLUMBUS LAST WEEK, AND AND I HAD A CHANCE TO CHAT WITH HIM. AND HE HAD JUST VISITED FORGE BECAUSE IT IS NOW CURRENTLY OWNED BY JAPANESE FIRM. BUT I THINK THE THING THAT IT'S A GOOD TIME TO MAKE SURE WE HIGHLIGHT ONE OF, AGAIN, ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES WE HAVE AND A BUNCH OF ENTREPRENEURS TOOK A HUGE, HUGE CHANCE ON US. AND TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE THE COUNTRY OF JAPAN IS ALSO QUITE A COMPLIMENT. YEAH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANKS. MR. ROUSE, THIS ORDINANCE HAS HAD ITS READING AND PUBLIC HEARING. I MOVE IT BE APPROVED. SECOND.

WILSON. YES. HOUCK. YES. HOLT. YES. YES. YES. BURROWS. YES. ANDERSON. YES. ALL RIGHT. NEXT

[Resolution CR-54-25 Set Forth, as required by Section 709.023 of the Ohio Revised Code, the Municipal Services that can be furnished to 0.505+ acres located at 2332 White Road in Jackson Township upon its Annexation to the City of Grove City. ]

IS RESOLUTION CR 5425, SET FORTH AS REQUIRED BY SECTION 709-023 OF THE OHIO REVISED CODE. THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES THAT CAN BE FURNISHED TO 0.505 PLUS OR MINUS ACRES, LOCATED AT 2332 WHITE ROAD IN JACKSON TOWNSHIP. UPON ITS ANNEXATION TO THE CITY OF GROVE CITY. MR. SMITH, DID YOU WANT TO ELABORATE ON THIS RESOLUTION? YEAH, THIS IN THE NEXT ONE.

THESE ARE BASICALLY JUST STANDARD REQUIRED BY LAW TO START THE ANNEXATION PROCESS.

IT REALLY DOESN'T MEAN MUCH. ALL THIS DOES IS MOVE IT ON TO THE NEXT STAGE WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. ULTIMATELY, THE ANNEXATION WILL COME BACK TO THE CITY TO EITHER ACCEPT OR REJECT. BUT THIS IS STATUTORILY JUST A CHECK MARK IN THE PROCESS. THANK YOU. ANY

[00:10:02]

QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL ON THIS RESOLUTION? SEEING NONE. THIS RESOLUTION HAS HAD ITS READING AND PUBLIC HEARING. I MOVE IT BE APPROVED. SECOND. SORRY. TALC. YES YES YES YES YES.

BURROWS. YES. ANDERSON. YES. WILSON. YES. OKAY. RESOLUTION KR 5525 AGAIN SET FORTH TO

[Resolution CR-55-25 Set Forth, as required by Section 709.023 of the Ohio Revised Code, the Municipal Services that can be furnished to 15.0+ acres located at 5713 Haughn Road in Jackson Township upon its Annexation to the City of Grove City. ]

PROVIDE THE IN SECTION 709-023 OF THE OHIO REVISED CODE, THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES THAT CAN BE FURNISHED TO POINT OR TO 15.0 PLUS OR MINUS ACRES, LOCATED AT 5713 HAWTHORNE ROAD IN JACKSON TOWNSHIP. UPON ITS ANNEXATION TO THE CITY OF GROVE CITY. LIKE MR. SMITH SAID, THIS IS JUST AN AGREEMENT THAT WE WILL PROVIDE SERVICES ONCE THIS PROPERTY IS ANNEXED INTO GROVE CITY. ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. SEEING NONE, THIS RESOLUTION HAS HAD ITS READING AND PUBLIC HEARING. I MOVE IT BE APPROVED. SECOND. HOLT. YES. YES. YES. BURROWS. YES. ANDERSON. YES. WILSON. YES.

HOUCK. YES. ALL RIGHT. PRESIDENT HOUCK. THAT'S ALL I HAVE UNDER LANCE THIS EVENING.

[Ordinance C-49-25 Adopt Chapter 550 of the Codified Ordinances titled Unlawful Discrimination Prohibited. Second reading and public hearing. ]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. AND WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO SAFETY WITH MISS ANDERSON. THANK YOU.

TONIGHT, WE FIRST ORDINANCE C 4925. THIS IS TO ADOPT CHAPTER 550 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES TITLED UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED. THIS IS THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING ORDINANCE C 4925. AN ORDINANCE TO ADOPT CHAPTER 550 STATES. WHEREAS FEDERAL AND STATE LAW EXPRESSLY PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATORY DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES IN HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, AND PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS BASED ON RACE, SEX, COLOR, RELIGION AND ANCESTRY, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, DISABILITY, FAMILIAL STATUS, MARITAL STATUS, OR MILITARY STATUS. AND WHEREAS, FEDERAL COURTS HAVE INTERPRETED THE PROHIBITION ON DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEX TO INCLUDE DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY IN THE EMPLOYMENT CONTEXT, BUT STATE OF OHIO COURTS HAVE NOT YET DONE THE SAME, AND WHEREAS NUMEROUS MUNICIPALITIES HAVE ADOPTED ORDINANCES PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION IN HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, AND PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS BASED ON THOSE CLASSES ALREADY PROTECTED BY STATE AND FEDERAL LAW, AND ADDITIONAL UNPROTECTED CLASSES, INCLUDING SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, GENDER EXPRESSION, AND PREGNANCY. AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF GROVE CITY DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, AND PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS, AND WHEREAS THE CITY DESIRES TO ENACT FIVE CHAPTER 550 UNDER PART FIVE OF THE CITY OF GROVE CITY CODIFIED ORDINANCES TO PROHIBIT UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES WITHIN THE CITY. AND WHEREAS THE CITY DESIRES TO ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION IN GROVE CITY BASED ON RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, DISABILITY, MILITARY STATUS, STATUS AS A VETERAN OR SPECIAL DISABLED VETERAN, ANCESTRY, FAMILIAL STATUS, PREGNANCY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, OR GENDER EXPRESSION.

AND WHEREAS, THE CITY BELIEVES THAT ADOPTING CHAPTER 550 PROMOTES THE HEALTH, THE GENERAL HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE CITY AND ITS RESIDENTS. WE DO HAVE SOMEONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS, BRIAN PARKS. HI THERE, BRIAN PARKS, 4413 LIBRARY DRIVE IN GROVE CITY COME TO YOU IN SUPPORT OF ORDINANCE C 4925. AS A RESIDENT AND BUSINESS OWNER IN GROVE CITY, IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT GROVE CITY IS ABLE TO ATTRACT NEW RESIDENTS AND A STRONG WORKFORCE. THIS ORDINANCE WILL DO JUST THAT. THIS ORDINANCE IS ABOUT FAIRNESS, NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS. IT DOES NOT CARVE OUT SPECIAL PRIVILEGES, BUT SIMPLY ENSURES THAT ALL RESIDENTS AND EMPLOYEES OF BUSINESSES IN THE CITY ARE TREATED EQUALLY. AS THE NEW GROVE CITY INNOVATION CENTER CONTINUES TO BE DEVELOPED, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT ALL QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WILL BE COMFORTABLE APPLYING FOR THESE NEW, EXCITING JOBS.

WHAT A BETTER MESSAGE TO SEND OUT THAN WE DON'T DISCRIMINATE. WE WOULD BE JOINING OTHER CENTRAL OHIO COMMUNITIES AND SENDING THIS MESSAGE. BEXLEY, COLUMBUS, DUBLIN, HILLIARD, REYNOLDSBURG, WESTERVILLE AND WORTHINGTON. SHOULD THIS ORDINANCE FAIL TO PASS, WE WOULD BE SENDING THE MESSAGE THAT GROVE CITY IS STUCK IN THE PAST AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR TAX BASE. THIS WOULD CERTAINLY HAMPER THE ABILITY TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES WITH THE STIGMA THAT GROVE CITY ALLOWS DISCRIMINATION WITHIN ITS BORDERS, IT'S ALSO VITAL THAT GROVE CITY STAND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY. 23 STATES ALREADY EXPLICITLY PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF ORIENTATION AND IDENTITY, WITH OHIO NOT ONE OF THEM LACKING ANY ACTION ON THE STATE LEVEL, IT'S VITAL THAT MUNICIPALITIES TAKE ACTION. AND TO OUR THREE OUTGOING MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, WHAT A BETTER LEGACY THAN TO SAY THAT YOU STOOD ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY. AGAIN, I, I URGE PASSAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. AND BRIAN PARKS,

[00:15:04]

WOULD YOU ALSO PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD? 4413 LIBRARY DRIVE.

THANKS. THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? I WILL JUST SHARE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING UP AND GIVING THAT TESTIMONY. AND AS YOU SAID, THERE ARE OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND CENTRAL OHIO THAT HAVE DONE THIS, AND I BELIEVE THAT IT IS TIME THAT GROVE CITY BRINGS THIS FORWARD AS WELL. THANK YOU. WITH THAT, THIS ORDINANCE HAS HAD ITS SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING, AND I MOVE IT BE APPROVED SECOND. MR. BARRY. YES. DO. YES. BURROWS. YES.

ANDERSON. YES. WILSON. YES. YES. YES. NEXT, WE HAVE ORDINANCE C50 25. THIS IS TO AMEND

[Ordinance C-50-25 Amend Section 376.02 of the Codified Ordinances titled Restrictions. Second reading and public hearing. ]

SECTION 376 .02 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES TITLED RESTRICTIONS. THIS IS THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING. THIS ORDINANCE UNDER CURRENT GROVE CITY CODIFIED ORDINANCES, GOLF CARTS ARE PROHIBITED ON SIDEWALKS AND SHARED USE PATHS, WHEREAS IN CERTAIN INSTANCES IT MAY BE BENEFICIAL OR NECESSARY FOR GOLF CARTS TO USE SHARED USE PATHS, AND WHEREAS THIS AMENDMENT WOULD ALLOW THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO EVALUATE AND PERMIT SUCH USE IF IT IS APPROPRIATE AND CAN BE DONE IN A MANNER THAT IS SAFE. THE COUPLE OF SECTIONS I JUST WANT TO READ THE RESTRICTIONS AND WHAT WE ARE REMOVING. IF THIS IS APPROVED IN 376 .02, THE RESTRICTIONS FOR H WOULD SAY NO PERSON PERSON SHALL OPERATE A LOW SPEED OR SPEED VEHICLE UPON ANY SIDEWALK. WE WOULD BE REMOVING OR USE SHARED USE PATH, AND I WOULD STATE NO PERSON SHALL OPERATE A LOW SPEED OR UNDER SPEED VEHICLE UPON SHARED USE PATH, UNLESS THE PATH IS POSTED WITH APPROPRIATE SIGNS, SPECIFICALLY PERMITTING USE BY LOW SPEED OR UNDER SPEED VEHICLES. I DO NOT BELIEVE WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS TODAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? MR. BARRY? SO THE BICYCLE TASK FORCE MET ON THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A WEEK AGO, AND A COUPLE OF THE CONCERNS THAT THEY HAD WERE OBVIOUSLY THAT THAT THE SIGNAGE BE 15 MILES AN HOUR AND ALSO THAT PEOPLE YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS AND BIKERS HEARD A LOT OF HORRIFIC STORIES IN THE MEETING ABOUT GOLF CARTS AND PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER. BUT IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING, MR. SMITH, WHAT IS. GO AHEAD AND THAT. IT S LIKE WE'VE ALREADY ANSWERED THAT. BUT FOR THE RECORD, IF YOU COULD READ IT IN. YES, SIR. WHAT THIS COUNCIL HAVE DONE IN THE PAST IS YOU HAVE GIVEN OR BLESSED OUR SAFETY DIRECTOR OF THE CITY, MR. TIFFORD, WITH THE ABILITY TO MAKE ALL DETERMINATIONS WITH REGARD TO RIGHT OF WAY, ROADWAYS, BIKE PATHS, SIDEWALKS, ETC. SO UNDER OUR CODE, HE HAS FULL AUTHORITY TO DO SO. NOW. HE CAN'T MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THE WHIM. IT HAS TO BE BASED ON TRAFFIC STUDIES AND OR ANY ANCILLARY DATA. SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE 15 MILES AN HOUR AND THE OTHER SIGNAGE, IT WILL BE PROBABLY MORE AND OR DIFFERENT THAN THAT. SO I APPRECIATE THE THOUGHTS OF THE BICYCLE TASK FORCE. HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A CITY WIDE THING. THIS IS FOR SPECIFIC PATHS TO GET TO SPECIFIC PLACES. WE DO NOT WANT TO HAVE THE CONFLICT WITH GOLF CARTS AND PEOPLE EVERYWHERE IN THE CITY, BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THERE ARE PARTS OF THE CITY WHERE YOU CAN'T GET FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER RIGHT NOW, AND THESE PATHS ARE THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT. SO THESE WILL BE NARROW IN SCOPE, AND IT WILL ALL BE DONE BASED ON WHAT THE SAFETY DIRECTOR BELIEVES IS THE SAFEST WAY TO PROTECT BOTH THE GOLF CART USERS AND THE OTHER USERS OF THE PATH. AND I BELIEVE RIGHT NOW OUR CODE PROVIDES SUFFICIENT AUTHORITY FOR HIM TO MAKE THOSE DETERMINATIONS. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS? OKAY. THANK YOU. WITH THIS, THIS ORDINANCE HAS HAD A SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING AND I MOVE IT BE APPROVED SECOND.

MR. DO. YES. BURROWS. YES. ANDERSON. YES. WILSON. YES. YES. YES. BERRY. YES. THANK YOU.

[Ordinance C-51-25 Amend and Extend the Pinnacle No. 1 Incentive District, the Pinnacle No. 2 Incentive District and the Pinnacle No. 3 Incentive District. Second reading and public hearing. ]

THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR SAFETY TONIGHT. THANK YOU. AND THAT BRINGS US TO FINANCE WITH MR. HOLT. I'LL GIVE YOU THE SIGN IN SHEET.

ORDINANCE, ORDINANCE C 51. 25, AMEND AND EXTEND THE PINNACLE NUMBER ONE, INCENTIVE

[00:20:03]

DISTRICT, THE PINNACLE NUMBER TWO, INCENTIVE DISTRICT. AND THE PINNACLE NUMBER THREE INCENTIVE DISTRICT. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING. AND CINDY'S GOING TO COME UP AND GIVE US A HISTORY OF HOW AND WHY WE'RE HERE FOR THIS. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR A FEW MOMENTS OF TIME JUST TO SHARE. YOU GUYS ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROCESS THAT WE'VE UNDERTAKEN THIS PAST YEAR. BUT FOR THE PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WE BRING FORWARD ON A WHIM. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THOUGHT AND PROCESS THAT'S GONE TO IT. SO BACK IN FEBRUARY, THIS COUNCIL PROVIDED DIRECTION TO ADMINISTRATION TO START EXPLORING THE ONE LARGE MULTI GENERATIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER AND DOING SO. YOU ALL PASSED LEGISLATION IN MARCH SUGGESTING SUCH AND THEN ALSO IN APRIL ESTABLISHING TWO COMMITTEES TO ADVANCE THAT WORK, ONE BEING THE SITE SELECTION COMMITTEE AND THE OTHER BEING A FINANCE COMMITTEE. SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THAT FINANCE COMMITTEE ARE HERE TONIGHT, MR. HOLT, MR. WILSON SERVED ON THAT AS WELL AS MR. FARNSWORTH IN THE ROOM. SO AFTER THAT LEGISLATION WAS PASSED, THE ADMINISTRATION ENLISTED A CONSULTANT TO HELP US FACILITATE THAT PROCESS, BRINGING A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE TO THOSE DISCUSSIONS OF THAT COMMITTEE. THAT COMMITTEE MET OVER THE MONTHS OF MAY AND JUNE, 4 TO 5 TIMES, I BELIEVE, BEFORE COMING BACK TO THIS BODY IN AUGUST TO SHARE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS. AND AS YOU'LL RECALL, THERE ARE TWO MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS WERE TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION THE CAPITAL OF A COMMUNITY CENTER BY EXTENDING THE PINNACLE TIF AND THEN FINANCING THE OPERATIONS BY TAKING A INCOME TAX INCREASE TO THE VOTERS NEXT NOVEMBER. SO FOLLOWING THAT, WE HELD A SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING AFTER YOU ALL WERE ABLE TO SUGGEST OR DIGEST THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS. IN THAT PRESENTATION, WE HAD ADDITIONAL GOOD CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW AND WHY WE GOT HERE TO RECOMMEND AND BRING FORWARD THIS LEGISLATION TO EXTEND THE TIF AND AND THEN SUBSEQUENT CONVERSATIONS IN CAUCUS WITH COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION LANDED US HERE AT THE SECOND READING OF THIS CRUCIAL PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO ALLOW US TO ADVANCE BUILDING SUCH A A HUGE AMENITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO WITH THAT, JUST WANTED TO GIVE THE CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND OF HOW WE GOT HERE AND ALL THE WORK AND THOUGHT THAT WAS GONE INTO OUR VARIOUS OPTIONS TO BE ABLE TO BRING A COMMUNITY CENTER TO THE CITY OF GROVE CITY. THANK YOU. CINDY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER. RON MCCLURE. MY NAME IS RON MCCLURE. I LIVE AT 5446 HORN ROAD, GROVE CITY. I'M ALSO A JACKSON TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE AND JUST WANT TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION WITH YOU ABOUT THE PINNACLE TIF THIS PAST YEAR AND THIS THIS TIFF. WHAT I'M GOING TO SHARE RIGHT NOW IS THAT WHAT HAS HAPPENED, THE MONEYS THAT HAVE BEEN DIVERTED FROM JACKSON TOWNSHIP. AND SO LAST YEAR IT WAS $1,607,837 THAT WAS DIVERTED. BUT IF YOU HAVE A WE DID A LOOK BACK FROM 2014 TO TO 2024. IN THAT SPAN, IT'S BEEN 15 MILLION 27, 40 OF $461.82. THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT'S BEEN DIVERTED FROM THE TOWNSHIP THAT WE NEED VERY MUCH FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. BELOW, I WANT TO SHOW DOWN HERE ON THIS. I WANT TO SHOW SHARE WITH YOU THAT. THE TOTAL NUMBERS OF ALL THESE TIFFS THAT WE THAT THAT HAVE HAVE BEEN CREATED THE PINNACLE TIFF FOR JUST JACKSON TOWNSHIP ALONE IN THE LAST. TEN, TEN YEARS. AND THAT HAS BEEN AND THE TOTAL THE TOTAL OF ALL THE TIFFS ONE TWO, THREE FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE TIFFS, THAT GRAND TOTAL IS 96.

I'M SORRY, $96,000,316 100 126. THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY THAT'S BEEN DIVERTED FROM THE THESE TIPS FOR DIFFERENT ENTITIES. TAXPAYERS HAVE SPOKEN TO ALLOW FOR THEIR DOLLARS TO BE TO GO TO VERY SPECIAL, SPECIFIC THINGS, WHETHER THAT IS JACKSON TOWNSHIP FIRE, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, THE LIBRARY OR THE ZOO. YOU'RE GOING TO BE BEHIND THERE. YOU ARE GOING BEHIND THEIR BACK AND REDIRECTING THESE FUNDS FROM THE RIGHTFUL PURPOSE. LAST YEAR, THE

[00:25:03]

PINNACLE TIFF DIVERTED $44,000 FROM THE ZOO, $47,000 FROM THE METROPARKS, AND 64,000 FROM THE LIBRARY. DO YOU REMEMBER THE LIBRARY, THE SAME LIBRARY THAT THIS COUNCIL SUPPORTING IN THE UPCOMING LEVIES? ALSO, THE NUMBERS GET A LITTLE BIT BIGGER FROM ADAM H. 140,000 CHILDREN'S SERVICES 311,000. AND THE BOARD OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, WHICH IS 447,000. COUNCIL, ARE YOU WILLING TO GO ON THE RECORD THAT YOU SUPPORT DIVERTING ALMOST $900,000 FROM THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO NEED IT THE MOST? BUT THE LARGEST ONE IS JACKSON TOWNSHIP. IN THE LAST JUST THIS LAST PAST YEAR, 1,607,000. IT'S ALSO BEEN NOTED THAT PINNACLE HAS BEEN CALLED A CASH COW, ALLOWING FREE MONEY. DIVERTING THESE TAX DOLLARS DOES HAVE A COST. DOES COUNCIL UNDERSTAND THE DETRIMENT THAT THESE TIPS ARE CAUSING OR HAVING ON OUR COMMUNITY? AS QUOTED BY ONE OF OUR TRUSTEES, DAVID BURRIS? WHAT IS THE 911 ABOUT THIS TIFF THAT DOES NOT EXPIRE UNTIL 2034? AT THE VERY LEAST, THESE TIFF THIS TIFF HERE SHOULD SHOULD BE TABLED.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. RANDY LITTLE. CHAIR, BEFORE WE DO THIS, CAN I JUST ASK A QUICK QUESTION OF MR. HURLEY? IS THE LIVE STREAM WORKING OKAY? OKAY. THANK YOU. WELL, RANDY LITTLE, 3650 HOOVER ROAD, GROVE CITY, OHIO. MADAM PRESIDENT, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. FIRST, I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK MISS HOUCK. MR. WILSON. MR. DO FOR YOUR COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND I KNOW YOU WON'T BE RETURNING. I HOPE YOU HAVE A HEALTHY, LONG RETIREMENT. AND IF YOU ENJOYED YOUR COMMUNITY SERVICE LIKE I DO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS OVER THE YEARS AND I'VE ENJOYED EVERY ONE AND I JUST APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT. SO THANK YOU. AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE APPRECIATE THE CITY'S INTEREST IN INVESTING IN A COMMUNITY CENTER. WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO THAT CONCEPT. OUR CONCERN IS WITH EXTENDING THE EXISTING TIFF BECAUSE IT CONTINUES TO DIVERT VOTER APPROVED FIRE LEVY DOLLARS AWAY FROM TOWNSHIP FIRE AND EMS SERVICES FOR AN ADDITIONAL 15 YEARS. THOSE FUNDS DIRECTLY SUPPORT STAFFING, EQUIPMENT AND OUR ABILITIES TO RESPOND WHEN THAT REVENUE IS DIVERTED. IT MUST ULTIMATELY BE MADE UP THROUGH ADDITIONAL LEVIES ON THE SAME RESIDENTS.

WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THE IMPACT ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND TAXPAYERS BE FULLY CONSIDERED AS YOU CONSIDER THIS DECISION. THANK YOU. RANDY. JIM ROCK. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL CITY.

EVERYBODY ELSE HERE. START OUT WITH A GRANDPA QUOTE. BE QUICK TO LISTEN AND SLOW TO SPEAK.

I'M NOT AGAINST THE COMMUNITY CENTER IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, BUT I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE FUNDING FOR THIS. I THINK COMMERCIAL TIFS HAVE BROUGHT A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT AND A LOT OF NEEDED ASSETS TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT I AM OPPOSED TO RESIDENTIAL TIFS, LET ALONE THE EXTENSION OF A RESIDENTIAL TIF. IN GROVE CITY. WE ARE SO FORTUNATE THAT WHEN WE PUT AN APARTMENT IN THE GROUND, A CONDO IN THE GROUND, A HOUSE IN THE GROUND, IT SELLS, IT GETS FILLED. THERE IS NO NEED FOR RESIDENTIAL TIFS NONE THAT I SEE. THERE'S DEVELOPMENTS IN THIS TOWN THAT HAVE HAD NO TIFS THAT ARE SELLOUTS FARMSTEAD, FOR EXAMPLE. I MEAN, WE HAVE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN OUR COMMUNITY WITHOUT, IN A SENSE, GIVING A TIF AWAY TO THEM. I KNOW IT'S A BIG ASK TONIGHT IN FRONT OF COUNCIL, BUT IT DOES IMPACT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT GREATLY, EXTENDING IT 15 MORE YEARS MEANS A DECISION THAT YOU MAKE TONIGHT, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T EVEN EXPIRE TILL TEN YEARS. IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE COMMUNITY SAFETY SERVICES OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR 25 YEARS GOING FORWARD. THAT'S A BIG ASK. THAT'S A HEAVY WEIGHT ON YOUR SHOULDERS TO MAKE A DECISION ON THAT. IT'S JUST IMPORTANT THAT THE TOWNSHIP, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS A STAKEHOLDER IN THIS. AND IF YOU LOOK UP THE DEFINITION OF A STAKEHOLDER, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A FINANCIAL IMPACT. WE'RE

[00:30:07]

TALKING ABOUT EFFECT ON SAFETY SERVICES. SO WE ARE A STAKEHOLDER. YOU KNOW I PERSONALLY ASKED FOR A NO VOTE TONIGHT. BUT JUST AS WELL AS A POSTPONE OR A TABLE SO THAT THERE IS TIME FOR THE TOWNSHIP AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO TAKE A SEAT WITH THE CITY AS THEY DESERVE, AS A STAKEHOLDER IN THIS. AND THAT'S IT. I APPRECIATE THAT CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU JIM. MR. BOZO, I KNOW YOU'VE GOT SOME NUMBERS AND MAYBE YOU CAN ALSO GIVE US A OVERVIEW OF WHAT A TIF IS, ISN'T IN A FEW MINUTES. CERTAINLY A TIF IS NOT AN INCREASE OF ANYONE'S TAXES. IT'S A DIVERSION OF TAXES THAT'S BEEN EXPLAINED BY OUR SPEAKERS. ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT HADN'T BEEN TALKED ABOUT IS WHAT WE'VE USED THOSE FUNDS FOR.

AND OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, WE'VE SPENT ABOUT $45 MILLION. THOSE FUNDS HAVE WENT FOR APPROXIMATELY $3.5 MILLION FOR A NEW FIREHOUSE, NEW EQUIPMENT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, PARKLAND ACQUISITIONS FOR THE RESIDENTS OF JACKSON TOWNSHIP AND GROVE CITY. MANY, MANY ROAD PROJECTS. AND I THINK THE ONE THAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS PROBABLY NORTH MEADOWS DRIVE, WHERE WE PARTNERED WITH MEADOW MOUNT CARMEL HOSPITAL. IF YOU RECALL, BEFORE WE HAD HOSPITALS HERE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO GO TO COLUMBUS, TO MOUNT CARMEL, ON THE WEST SIDE TO RIVERSIDE. THAT TOOK A LOT OF MAN HOURS BACK AND FORTH WITH THAT IMPROVEMENT AND THAT DEAL WITH MOUNT CARMEL. NOW, THEY DON'T HAVE THAT THAT MANPOWER ALLOCATION THAT'S GOING OUTSIDE THE CITY. SO THERE'S MANY, MANY PROJECTS IN TERMS OF ROAD, HOLTON, HOLTON ROAD, THE PURCHASE OF PINNACLE PARKLAND DEBT SERVICE IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ONE, ABOUT $14 MILLION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF BUCKEYE PARKWAY FOR ANOTHER NORTH SOUTH CORRIDOR FROM STRINGTOWN ROAD TO 665, WHICH IS IMPORTANT. SO THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY OF GROVE CITY AS WELL AS TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO WITH THAT SAID, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU CHUCK. MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. QUESTIONS? COMMENTS. WHERE DO WE START? I HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. SO AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS SAT ON THE TASK FORCE FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER SITE SELECTION COMMITTEE. AND I, YOU KNOW, I WASN'T ON THE TASK FORCE FOR THE FINANCE PIECE, BUT I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THE FINANCE TASK FORCE HAS PUT INTO THIS. I DO APPRECIATE THIS RECOMMENDATION COMING FORWARD. I THINK IT'S NOT DONE WITHOUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO THE OVERALL IMPLICATIONS. I THINK, THOUGH, THAT IT IS DONE WITH THE THOUGHT THAT AS WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO PROGRESS AS A CITY AND BRING THE AMENITIES TO OUR COMMUNITY, THERE ARE THINGS WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IN TWO WAYS. WE'RE GOING TO FUND IT. AS A REPRESENTATIVE FOR WARD FOUR, I DO APPRECIATE AS WELL JUST THE COMMUNICATION THAT THIS DOESN'T INCREASE ANYONE'S TAXES. IT JUST IS A CONTINUATION OF THE DIVERSION OF TAXES. I THINK WE WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WAYS FOR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TOWNSHIP, BECAUSE WE DO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE FUNDS FOR THEIR NEEDS AS WELL. I DO, YOU KNOW, LOOK TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE TASK FORCE GOING FOR THIS, BECAUSE, AGAIN, I THINK WE'VE PUT A LOT OF WORK OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS INTO WHAT AMENITIES OUR COMMUNITY IS LOOKING FOR. THE PARK BOARD HAS CERTAINLY WORKED DURING THAT TIME FRAME, AND EVEN BEYOND THOSE TWO YEARS, AND THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THE CONVERSATION. AND THIS REALLY IS SUCH A FORMAL STEP TO GET US TO THAT NEXT SPACE, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE AMENITY THAT SO MANY MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE SEEKING. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU JODY. SO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD IS, AGAIN, THE TIMING OF THIS. WHY, WHY NOW WHEN WE STILL HAVE TEN MORE YEARS CURRENTLY ON THIS TIF? AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN CAUCUS. AND AGAIN, THINGS COULD CHANGE IF THIS WAS APPROVED OR

[00:35:06]

NOT APPROVED IN THE FUTURE. THIS COULD COME BACK BEFORE OR IT COULD. IF IT WAS APPROVED, IT COULD BE CHANGED. WE TALKED ABOUT SOMETHING IN 2023 THAT ALLOWED THE EXTENSION. WAS IT IS THAT WHAT WE DETERMINED THE 20 AND 2023? SO AGAIN, I'M KIND OF TRYING TO NAVIGATE THIS AND FIGURE IT OUT AS WELL ON BOTH SIDES HERE. BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT COMMENT ABOUT I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIMING. SO THANK YOU. THANKS. I JUST MIGHT MENTION ANOTHER POINT IN TERMS OF INCREASING REVENUE FOR ALL OUR JURISDICTIONS. IT TAKES INVESTMENT, A LOT OF INVESTMENTS IN ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, IF YOU LOOK BACK WITH THE CITY, WAS WHEN THIS TIF WAS WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2004. WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF AMENITIES HERE IN GROVE CITY.

WE DIDN'T HAVE SHOPPING WITH WITH THIS INVESTMENT IN THE PINNACLE DID WILL SPUR OTHER DEVELOPMENT. THE EVALUATION OF THE TOWNSHIP IN 2004 WAS $900 MILLION. TODAY, HERE IT IS. YOU KNOW, SOME 20 YEARS LATER, IT'S INCREASED $1.2 BILLION. THE REVENUE INCREASE TO THE JACKSON TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT IS OVER $10 MILLION IN THAT TIME. AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THESE PROJECTS THAT SPUR OTHER PROJECTS DO THAT, DO PAY THAT REVENUE TO ALL OUR JURISDICTIONS. SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THAT THAT NOT ONLY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS GETTING THAT MONEY, BUT JUST IN TERMS OF THE OPERATION OF THE TOWNSHIP THEY'RE OPERATING IS ANOTHER 1.3 MILLION A YEAR. THEY'RE ROAD AND BRIDGE FUND, 900 MILLION, $900,000 A YEAR.

SO THERE IS REVENUE COMING. WE'RE ALL A PART OF THIS. GROVE CITY IS 90 SOMETHING PERCENT OF THE TOWNSHIP. THIS FACILITY WILL BENEFIT ALL OF JACKSON TOWNSHIP. AND I THINK THE THE FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENT, HOW WE'RE GOING TO FUND THIS IS SOUND. I'LL BE AGAIN, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. ANYBODY ELSE GO AHEAD. OKAY. IF YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING ALONG FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, I PROBABLY HAVE BEEN A NAYSAYER FOR TIFF QUITE A FEW TIMES. AND YET I HAVE ALSO VOTED IN SUPPORT OF TIFS QUITE A FEW TIMES. I'D REALLY. I'D LIKE TO SEE A TIFF.

IN A PERFECT WORLD, IF IT HAS TO BE USED AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOL, AND I BELIEVE I HAVE BEEN TAUGHT BY MAYOR STAGE AND MR. BOZO THAT IN A COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE WE NEED TO USE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING. AND, AND, AND IT'S THE WAY THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT GOES WITH THE CORRESPONDING DEVELOPMENT. LAST TIME WE HAD A CONVERSATION, I TALKED A GOOD DEAL ABOUT HOW I'D LIKE TO SEE US BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. AND I THINK IN THIS CASE, WE DO HAVE A CLEAR VISION. THE DIFFICULTY FOR ME HAS BEEN REALLY GETTING TO A POINT OF WE EXTEND THIS TIFF AND AGAIN, WE'RE AT THIS WHAT'S WHAT IS THE URGENCY? WHY ARE WE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION TODAY AS WE ARE AT THE END OF THE YEAR 2025 AND AND I AND YET I GO BACK TO THE DISCUSSIONS THAT HAD THAT WERE HAD BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO GET US HERE, MEANING THAT THEY REALLY FULLY DISCUSSED ALL OF THE ALTERNATIVES FOR FUNDING, AND FELT THAT THIS WAS THE TOOL TO USE. I WORRIED ABOUT ONCE WE OPEN THAT GATEWAY AND YOU HEARD THE CASH COW REFERENCE, THEN THEN IT'S WE DON'T REALLY GET TO DECIDE. WE CAN HAVE INTENTIONS TODAY, BUT WE ULTIMATELY DON'T GET TO DECIDE HOW THOSE DOLLARS ARE SPENT UNTIL WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE APPROPRIATION PROCESS IN THE YEARS AND FUTURE YEARS IN QUESTION, WHICH WHICH YOU'LL SEE PLAY OUT HERE THIS EVENING.

THE ONE THING THAT FOR ME, WHICH, YOU KNOW, SORT OF THE, THE, THE, THE LAST PIECE OF IT IS REALLY I THINK WE ALL HAVE THE UNDERSTANDING AND MR. SMITH HAS EXPLAINED TO US BEFORE THAT IF WE CAN EXTEND, WE CAN ALSO END. AM I CORRECT, MR. SMITH? THAT IS CORRECT. SORRY. THANK YOU. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THAT WE IF WE CAN ADD ON EARS, WE CAN ALSO DECIDE

[00:40:03]

THAT WE'RE WE'RE FINISHED AND AND WE'VE GOTTEN THE THINGS THAT WE NEED. AND IT'S TIME TO FREE UP THAT CASH THAT IS BEING DIVERTED. WE WE'VE ALL DEFINITELY HAD A LESSON THIS EVENING ON THE TAX PAYMENTS BEING THE SAME FOR RESIDENTS, BUT THE DOLLARS ARE DIVERTED. I THINK THAT THAT ASSURANCE IS ONE PIECE FOR ME. AND THEN THE ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN RAISED IN THE QUESTION THAT I THINK THAT IT REALLY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR US TO ANSWER AND TO SOLVE GOING FORWARD IS WHY DO WE FIND OURSELVES IN MEETINGS MAKING DECISIONS ON TIFS WITH OUR TRUSTY PARTNERS, EXPRESSING THEIR DISSENTING VIEWPOINT? INSTEAD OF SITTING AROUND A TABLE AND TALKING WITH THEM AND HELPING THEM TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE DISCUSSION THAT HAS OCCURRED AND HOW WE GOT HERE, AND WHY WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION THIS EVENING. I CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH TIMES. WE ARE ALL BENEFITING, AS YOU HAVE ADDRESSED FROM THE WORK THAT THAT WE ARE ALL DOING. JACKSON TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES, THEIR STAFF, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEIR ADMINISTRATION, THEIR ROAD CREWS, AS WELL AS THOSE FOR THE CITY OF GROVE CITY. WE NEED TO BE WORKING FOR A COMMON GOOD. SO I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SEE US START GETTING AROUND THE TABLE BEFORE WE ARE ON A SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING. IT'S LONG OVERDUE. SO THOSE ARE MY EDITORIAL COMMENTS AND BACK AND FORTH. AND THIS HAS REALLY BEEN A TOUGH ONE FOR ME BECAUSE I AM A PASSIONATE BELIEVER THAT THIS PIVOTAL COMMUNITY AMENITY IS GOING TO BE AN ECONOMIC DRIVER IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND THAT ECONOMIC DRIVER WILL ATTRACT PEOPLE AND ATTRACT QUALITY EMPLOYERS. AND IN A WORLD WHERE INCOME TAX REVENUE IS THE LARGEST PORTION OF OUR FUNDING, WE NEED TO MAKE SOME VISIONARY CHOICES ABOUT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD AS A COMMUNITY.

CINDY, CAN YOU COME BACK UP JUST A LITTLE BIT ON. I GUESS, THE TIMELINE MOVING FORWARD, MAYBE ADDRESS SOME OF THE URGENCY? SO THE FIRST THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT WHILE THIS WAS VOTED BY THE STATE AS A POSSIBLE EXTENSION IN 2023, LEGISLATION COULD ALSO COME UP TOMORROW TO TAKE AWAY THE EXTENSION BUSINESS. THAT'S CORRECT. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DECIDED ON THIS AS A METHOD. AND BEHIND THAT IS WE'RE READY TO START AND SEND THE COMMUNITY CENTER OUT FOR ENGINEERING AND SPEND HOW MUCH MONEY, CINDY, WE ANTICIPATE $8 MILLION FOR DESIGN AND LAND ACQUISITION. AND SO WE WOULDN'T WANT TO SEND MONEY OUT FOR DESIGN AND LAND ACQUISITION WITHOUT HAVING SECURING A FUNDING SOURCE BEFOREHAND. SO BEFORE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE REVENUE TO BUILD THIS PROJECT. EXTENDING THIS TIFF GUARANTEES THAT REVENUE FOR, YOU KNOW, UNLESS THE STATE UNDOES IT OR THE NEXT COUNCIL UNDOES IT, BUT IT ALLOWS US TO MOVE FORWARD, AND MOVING FORWARD ALSO SAVES US THE INFLATIONARY EXPENSES FROM WAITING ANOTHER YEAR OR ANOTHER YEAR, WHICH ARE SIGNIFICANT THERE IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH PER YEAR, 3.5 MILLION. 3.5 MILLION. SO IF WE HAD THE SAME DISCUSSION NEXT YEAR AT THIS TIME, WE'RE NOW COSTING OURSELVES $3.5 MILLION AND THE YEAR DELAY. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK I ON MOST, MOST OF THE PEOPLE I SPEAK TO IN THE COMMUNITY CENTER, YOU KNOW, WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG TO DO THIS? AND IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO TELL THEM HOW HOW HARD IT IS, WHAT IT TAKES. AND SO WE'RE RIGHT NOW ON THE PRECIPICE OF BEING ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD, SEND IT TO ENGINEERING, START MOVING FORWARD. BUT IT'S STILL GOING TO BE 2027, END OF 2027. OR IS IT TO COMPLETE THE DESIGN. AND SO THEN YOU'D HAVE LIKELY TWO YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION. SO SO 2028 BEFORE IS PROBABLY MORE REALISTIC. YOU CAN'T DO THESE THINGS OVERNIGHT. IT TAKES MULTIPLE YEARS. LOTS OF PLANNING, LOTS OF DISCIPLINE ANALYSIS. AND YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE STEPS WE'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. BECAUSE WE KNOW CLEAR THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS THIS. AND THIS IS PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY WAY WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR IT, SHORT OF RAISING EVERYBODY'S PROPERTY TAX IN THE

[00:45:08]

WHOLE CITY. AND THIS METHOD RAISES NOBODY'S PROPERTY TAX CHANGES, NOBODY'S PROPERTY TAX.

THE PINNACLE PEOPLE PAYING THE TAXES, THEY'RE GOING TO PAY THE SAME TAXES NO MATTER WHETHER WE EXTEND THIS TIFF OR NOT. LIKE WE SAID EARLIER, THEIR MONEY IS BEING REDIRECTED FROM GOING TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TO GOING TO GROVE CITY SO THAT WE CAN DEVELOP LOCAL AND USE OUR MONEY HERE TO IMPROVE OUR CITY. SOMEDAY THEY'LL GET IT BACK AND THEY'LL GET A WINDFALL. BUT THE MONEY THEY GET NOW IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE MONEY THEY GOT WHEN THAT LAND WAS UNDEVELOPED. THEY STILL GET THAT MONEY. THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED TIFF TAX INCREMENTAL FUNDING. SO WHATEVER MONEY ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS WERE GETTING WHEN BEULAH PARK WAS 400 ACRES OF FARMLAND, THAT IS STILL GOING TO THE ORGANIZATIONS. ALL THE VALUE THAT COMES IN THE TAXATION AND THE PROPERTY VALUES IN THE COMING YEARS IS WHAT RAISES THE PROPERTY TAX AND ALL THAT GOES INTO THE TIFF FOR 15 YEARS AND THEN GETS REINVESTED INTO COMMUNITY. AND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS SAYING TIME OUT. WE THINK WE GOT SOME MORE INVESTMENT AND SOME MORE DEVELOPMENT TO DO WITH THAT MONEY. AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING PASSAGE OF THIS EXTENSION. ANYTHING ELSE? CINDY? NO, SIR. I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. YES.

HOW HOW MANY TIMES HAS THIS BEEN EXTENDED? NONE. THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST. OKAY. BECAUSE MY CONCERN WAS AROUND PERPETUAL TIFFS, WHICH DOESN'T TURN INTO TOOLS. THEY TURN INTO ENTITLEMENTS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT WAS MY CONCERN WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH JACKSON TOWNSHIP. JUST MAKING SURE IT'S NOT A PERPETUAL TIP, SIR. THANK YOU. OKAY, ONE MORE THING, TED.

YEAH. JUST TO REITERATE, WHAT RANDY MENTIONED IS THIS WILL ONLY PAY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION.

WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO NEXT YEAR AS FAR AS PUTTING A PACKAGE TOGETHER FOR THE VOTERS TO APPROVE FOR THE OPERATION OF IT. SO THIS IS ONE HALF OF THE EQUATION. CORRECT? ANYTHING ELSE, MR. HOLT? JUST A COUPLE THINGS I APPRECIATE. PRESIDENT HOUCK'S COMMENTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BEING IN THE SAME ROOM AND COLLABORATING AND SO FORTH. A COUPLE THINGS ABOUT THE DYNAMICS, LOOKING AT THE MACRO LEVEL OF THE TIFS AND OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TOWNSHIP.

WE PROVIDE THE CODE OF SERVICE TO NOT ONLY THE CITY OF GROVE CITY, BUT THE TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS AS WELL. THE LIBRARY. WE TOOK A HUGE, HUGE RISK. WE FINANCED THAT LIBRARY AND PAID HALF OF THE COST OF BUILDING THAT LIBRARY. PARDON ME. ACTUALLY THE LIBRARY AND I KNOW MR. MCCLURE BROUGHT THAT POINT UP, AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD ONE IN TERMS OF WE'RE JUST TRYING TO SHOW HOW WE USE THESE FUNDS FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD. THE CITY OF GROVE CITY OWNS THAT LIBRARY.

WE TOOK ON THAT PROJECT FOR THE COMMUNITY. THE DEBT SERVICE ON THAT LIBRARY IS $811,000 A YEAR.

THE CITY OF GROVE CITY PAYS $511,000 OF THAT DEBT SERVICE. WE ONLY CHARGE THAT LIBRARY $300,000 A YEAR TO OWN TO OPERATE THAT FACILITY. SO THAT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW WE TRY TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY WITH THE FUNDS WE GET. YEAH. AND THAT'S I THINK THAT'S WHAT KIND OF GETS LOST IN THE SHUFFLE, NOT LOOK AT THE MICRO LEVEL, BECAUSE WE FUND OURSELVES AND IT DOES SERVE THE JACKSON TOWNSHIP. THE OTHER PART IS OUR SENIOR CENTER, OUR PARKS AND REC, ALL OF THOSE WE FUND. AND THERE'S NO JACKSON TOWNSHIP REIMBURSEMENT AT ALL THAT'S DONE THROUGH OUR COFFERS. THE LAST ONE IS THAT WE TOOK WE TOOK A HUGE AMOUNT OF RISK. AND EVEN DOING THE PINNACLE TEST TO START WITH, I MEAN, IT WASN'T DONE WITHOUT HAVING SOME RISK FOR THE CITY AND THE TAXPAYERS. BUT THE VERY LAST ONE IS THAT IN 32, THERE'S $588,000 PER YEAR THAT FALLS OFF OF THE BUCKEYE PARKWAY TIF, WHICH GOES DIRECTLY. SO, I MEAN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BALANCE OF HOW WE USE THE FUNDS, THE MECHANISM, I THINK WE'VE BEEN VERY, VERY FAIR. AND FOR THE CITIZENS OF GROVE CITY ON THE WHOLE AND FOR JACKSON TOWNSHIP, IT HAS IT HAS PROVEN OUT TO BE A GREAT TOOL. MR. LITTLE. YEAH, WE USUALLY DON'T DO THAT, BUT WE'LL GO AHEAD. YOU'RE A NICE GUY. YEAH. THANK YOU I APPRECIATE IT. YEAH. YOU'LL STILL THINK SO AFTER THIS. I JUST I APPRECIATE AND RESPECT THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S AND MR. BOZO'S COMMENTS.

[00:50:03]

THE ONE THING THAT THAT I DIFFER IN OPINION IS, IS I DO THINK THE STATEMENT THAT IT WON'T RAISE ANYONE'S TAXES IS A LITTLE MISLEADING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS THE COMMUNITY, IF SOMEBODY IS DIVERTING PART OF YOUR REVENUE, YOUR PAYCHECK, EVENTUALLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ASK AGAIN TO REPLACE THAT, AND IT WILL BE UP TO THE COMMUNITY AT THAT POINT.

THERE'S NO GUARANTEES WE'LL PASS THAT AND ALSO APPRECIATE THE EQUIPMENT, THE BUILDING.

BUT, YOU KNOW, A ONE TIME INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFETY WITH THOSE TIF DOLLARS TO BUILD STATION 2 OR 4 AND THOSE FIRE TRUCKS, THOSE FIRE TRUCKS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ALREADY. THE BUILDING IS STILL IN GREAT CONDITION, BUT WE STILL HAVE THE STAFF AND WE STILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN IT GOING FORWARD. SO THOSE ARE MY ONLY COMMENTS, BUT I APPRECIATE YOURS. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. ORDINANCE C 5125 HAS HAD ITS SECOND READING IN PUBLIC HEARING AND I MOVE IT BE APPROVED. SECOND. BURROWS. YES. ANDERSON. YES. WILSON. YES. HOUCK. YES. HOLT. YES. YES. DO.

YES. MOVING ON. ORDINANCE 5225. APPROPRIATED 150,000 FROM THE SCIOTO TOWNSHIP JOINT ECONOMIC

[Ordinance C-52-25 Appropriate $150,000.00 from the Scioto Township Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) Fund for the Current Expense of making payments in accordance with the JEDD Contract. Second reading and public hearing]

DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FUND FOR THE CURRENT EXPENSE OF MAKING PAYMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE JEDI CONTRACT. SECOND READING IN PUBLIC HEARING. NOBODY SIGNED UP. I DOUBT THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS. ORDINANCE C 5225 HAS HAD ITS SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING AND I MOVE IT BE APPROVED. SECOND, ANDERSON. YES. WILSON. YES, YES YES YES YES YES. ORDINANCE C 5325

[Ordinance C-53-25 Appropriate $1,500,000.00 from the Deposit Trust Fund and Reduce Appropriation Amounts for Various Funds. Second reading and public hearing. ]

APPROPRIATE 1.5 MILLION FROM THE DEPOSIT TRUST FUND AND REDUCE APPROPRIATION AMOUNTS FOR VARIOUS FUNDS. ANY QUESTIONS? JUST KIND OF A HOUSEKEEPING ITEM. THIS IS THE SECOND READING IN PUBLIC HEARING AND I MOVE IT BE APPROVED. SECOND. WILSON. YES, YES. YES YES. DO. YES. BURROWS. YES. ANDERSON. YES. THIS IS THE BUDGET FOR 2026. ORDINANCE C

[Ordinance C-54-25 Make Appropriations for Current Expenses and Other Expenditures for which the City of Grove City must provide during the twelve months ending Dec. 31, 2026. ]

5425 MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR CURRENT EXPENSES AND OTHER EXPENDITURES FOR WHICH THE CITY OF GROVE CITY MUST PROVIDE DURING THE 12 MONTHS ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2026. ALSO OPEN FOR PUBLIC INPUT. THIS WOULD BE THE FOURTH TIME THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INPUT ON OUR BUDGET FOR 2026. AND LET ME JUST CHECK HERE. 5425 YES, I HAVE LISA NAPIER GARCIA. YES.

THANK YOU. NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. I'M LISA NAPIER GARCIA FROM 4788 TAYPORT AVENUE, GROVE CITY, OHIO. AND I AM HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE LITTLE THEATER OFF BROADWAY. I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BEING THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD THERE FOR LTB FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS. I WOULD LIKE TO JUST READ A LETTER THAT I HAD SENT TO MAYOR STAGE EARLIER, AND I BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN SHARED WITH COUNCIL. SO FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD, ON BEHALF OF THE LITTLE THEATER OFF BROADWAY, LTB, I AM WRITING TO EXPRESS OUR CONCERN REGARDING THE RECENT LOSS OF THE BED TAX FUNDING THAT HAS HISTORICALLY SUPPORTED OUR WORK AS ONE OF GROVE CITY'S LONGEST STANDING CULTURAL ANCHORS. WHILE OUR PRODUCTIONS ARE LARGELY SELF-FUNDED THROUGH TICKET REVENUE, THIS FUNDING HAS BEEN ESSENTIAL IN HELPING US MAINTAIN AFFORDABILITY, HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMING AND CONTINUE OUR LEGACY AS A CORNERSTONE OF THE LOCAL ARTS COMMUNITY. FOR MORE THAN SIX DECADES, LTB HAS PROVIDED CONTINUOUS LIVE THEATER IN THE HEART OF GROVE CITY, ENRICHING THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE.

FROM BELOVED MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS TO OUR YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS, VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, OUR THEATER'S REACH EXTENDS WELL BEYOND OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE ONLY ONE OF TWO COMMUNITIES IN CENTRAL OHIO THAT HAS A THEATER ORGANIZATION THAT OWNS OUR OWN BUILDING. IT'S US, AND IN WESTERVILLE WITH CURTAIN PLAYERS. THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FROM LTB PROGRAMING IS BOTH CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC, WITH MORE THAN 6100 PATRONS ATTENDING PERFORMANCES EACH YEAR, THE THEATER DRAWS

[00:55:01]

AUDIENCES FROM ACROSS CENTRAL OHIO, WHO SPEND MONEY AT NEARBY RESTAURANTS, SHOPS AND PARKING FACILITIES BEFORE AND AFTER SHOWS BASED ON NATIONAL ARTS IMPACT DATA FROM AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS, THE AVERAGE ATTENDEE SPENDS 35 TO $40 PER PERSON BEYOND THE COST OF ADMISSION, AND THAT TRANSLATES INTO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DIRECT SPENDING ANNUALLY TO GROVE CITY BUSINESSES. LTB PRODUCTIONS ALSO SUSTAINED DOZENS OF VOLUNTEERS, ARTISTS AND CONTRACTORS WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE VIBRANCY OF OUR LOCAL CREATIVE ECONOMY. WE FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT BUDGET PRIORITIES ARE COMPLEX, BUT WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR CONSIDERATION OF FUNDING FOR THE LITTLE THEATER OFF BROADWAY, EITHER THROUGH REINSTATEMENT OF A PORTION OF THE BED TAX ALLOCATION OR VIA DISCRETIONARY FUNDS THAT WOULD OFFSET THE LOST RESOURCES, WHICH ARE APPROXIMATELY $9,000 FOR EACH OF THE LAST TWO FISCAL YEARS.

WE APPRECIATE BOTH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY AND COUNCIL HAVE GIVEN TO LTB, AND WE WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH YOU TO SHARE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE ON UPCOMING PROJECTS, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE ARTS, AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN CHAMPIONING THE CIVIC AND CULTURAL VITALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

GREAT. THANK YOU. LISA. JODY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE A PREVIEW OF OUR PLANS? SURE. I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSION ON HOW WE'RE ALLOCATING BED TAX. NOTHING. OBVIOUSLY WE'RE IN THE BUDGET APPROVAL PROCESS. SO THE SUGGESTION THAT COUNCIL WILL BE VOTING ON THIS EVENING IS HOW TO BETTER USE OR BETTER ALIGN THE BED TAX LIKE IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST VERSUS THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND ESTABLISH ANOTHER THING WITHIN OUR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO HAVE A GRANT PROGRAM TO ALLOW ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS YOURS AND OTHER ONES THAT HAD BEEN GETTING USE OF BED TAX, AND ALSO EVEN BEYOND THOSE ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE FUTURE. SO MORE MORE ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY CAN BENEFIT. SO THAT'S ULTIMATELY THE PLAN THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN. AGAIN, I'M ONLY ONE VOTE. THIS IS THE BUDGET THAT WILL COME BEFORE ALL OF US FOR A VOTE THIS EVENING. BUT I BELIEVE AND I SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, A LITTLE THEATER OFF BROADWAY IS A TREASURE. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME PLANS IN THE FUTURE AS WELL, FOR A BIGGER FUNDRAISING FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION. YES, WHICH I'M SURE MANY PEOPLE WILL GET BEHIND. AND I'M DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS, BUT I KNOW THAT'S FORTHCOMING. LISA, I HEARD A RUMOR. SO IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR? RANDY? THAT'S GOOD. YES. WE'LL BE IN TOUCH SHORTLY. OKAY. THAT IS. WE JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE DO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT COUNCIL HAS DONE FOR US IN THE PAST, AND THE CITY OVERALL, AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO AND LOOK FORWARD TO A VERY PROFITABLE PARTNERSHIP FOR BOTH OF US MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHAIR. MAY I ADDRESS COMMENTS AS WELL? I KNOW WE'LL ADDRESS AT THE END AFTER THE SPEAKERS, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO JUST ADDRESS THIS TO MISS NUBYA GARCIA AS WELL. MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN A LONG TIME FAN AND PARTICIPANT IN THE LITTLE THEATER. AND SO WHEN YOU KNOW, THIS CONVERSATION HAS CONTINUED OVER THE LAST SO, SO MANY MONTHS AND TIME FRAME, AND WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS THROUGH WORK SESSIONS IN THE BASEMENT DOWNSTAIRS IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL BED TAX DOLLARS. AND WE'VE CONTINUED TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS GRANT PROGRAM THAT JODY ARTICULATED.

IT DOES IT IS NOT LOST ON ME. THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS. AND EVERY TIME THAT MY DAUGHTER LEAVES OR IS IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LITTLE THEATER CONTINUES TO SAY, YOU KNOW, DON'T FORGET ABOUT THEM. THEY THEY, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO SUPPORT THEM AS WELL. AND SO IT IS IT IS NOT LOST ON ME. I WILL BE A CHAMPION OF THIS GRANT PROGRAM AND WE WILL I WILL LEAD RIGHT ALONGSIDE YOU IN MAKING SURE THAT ORGANIZATIONS ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS, THIS GRANT PROGRAM. SO I APPRECIATE YOU COMING FORWARD. I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE. I THINK WHAT'S ALSO BEEN INTERESTING THROUGH OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE WORK SESSIONS THAT WE'VE HAD, IS THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAD BEEN RECEIVING MONEY THROUGH THESE BED TAX DOLLARS, AND THE ONE DISTINCTION THAT I THINK IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT WITH LITTLE THEATER IS THE VOLUNTEER. THE VOLUNTEER VERSUS A PAID STAFF, I THINK IS AND I BELIEVE MOSTLY IT IS A VOLUNTEER STAFF, ALMOST. WE WE CAN'T WE HAVE NO FULL TIME PAID STAFF. WE DO CONTRACT FOR OUR ARTISTIC STAFF FOR EACH OF WITH EACH AND EACH ONE IS A SEPARATE CONTRACT FOR EACH SHOW

[01:00:03]

WITH DIRECTORS, STAGE MANAGERS, TECHNICAL DIRECTORS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT EVEN WITH, YOU KNOW, THOSE CONTRACTED SPACES, THERE ARE I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE THE COUNTLESS HOURS THAT YOU ALL PUT IN AS VOLUNTEERS. SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THIS GRANT PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE AND WILL CERTAINLY BE TALKING ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

CHAIR, REALLY QUICKLY. I FEEL LIKE THAT YOU GOT A PIECE OF OUR DISCUSSION WHEN WE WERE TOGETHER ON DECEMBER 1ST, BUT NOT THE THE FULL PICTURE OF THE DISCUSSION. AND SO I DO WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENT THAT THERE WAS CERTAINLY RECOGNITION IN OUR CONVERSATION OF LTB AND, YOU KNOW, AND THE LARGER PLAN FOR SOME MULTI-PHASE RENOVATIONS. AND, AND OBVIOUSLY, WE CONSIDER YOU A REAL JEWEL OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND, AND I THINK THAT THE COMMITMENT WITH LITTLE THEATER IS CERTAINLY EXISTS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND. AND SO HOPEFULLY WE'VE GIVEN YOU AN IDEA ABOUT OUR OUR GRANT PROGRAM CONCEPT THAT WE WANT TO BRING TO LIFE HERE RAPIDLY. BUT THE BIG PICTURE THAT I WANT TO ALWAYS BRING PEOPLE BACK TO IS THAT OUT OF THE THE FULL PIE THAT IS THE HOTEL TAX, 50% OF THAT PIE GOES INTO THE GENERAL FUND. 25% OF THAT PIE GOES TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND, AND 25% OF THE PIE GOES TO THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU FUND. SO HOTEL TAX REALLY IS THE FULL PIE, BUT WE LOSE SIGHT OF THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT FULL PICTURE. THANK YOU, MR. HOLDEN. THANK YOU. I HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER AND THAT WOULD BE VIREN PATEL. GOOD EVENING. I AM VIREN PATEL, A HOTELIER REPRESENTING BOTH OUR LODGING INDUSTRY AND VISIT GROVE CITY AS A BOARD MEMBER. SO NAME AND ADDRESS. JUST YOU GOT TO DO THE ADDRESS THING. 3962 JACKPOT ROAD, GROVE CITY. 43123. OKAY, OKAY. SORRY. SO I AM VIREN PATEL, HOTELIER, REPRESENTING BOTH OUR LODGING INDUSTRY AND VISIT GROVE CITY AS A BOARD MEMBER. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN RESTORING THE 25% FUNDING TO OUR RECOGNIZED CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU, KNOWN AS VISIT GROVE CITY. FULLY FUNDING VISIT GROVE CITY MEANS SUPPORTING OUR LODGING INDUSTRY AS A BOARD MEMBER FOR GROVE CITY, I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY. WE THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH US TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT FOR 2025, AND OUR TEAM HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY TO FULFILL THE GOALS OUTLINED THERE, IN ADDITION TO WORKING ON OUR STRATEGIC PLAN WITH MANY MORE LOFTY GOALS. AS A PARTNER AND COLLABORATOR WITH THE CITY, WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT WE NEED TO EXECUTE A THREE YEAR AGREEMENT TO OUTLINE OUR SCOPE OF WORK FOR 2026 THROUGH 2028. WE HOPE TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO FINALIZE THIS AGREEMENT IN JANUARY OF 2026. LASTLY, TO SHOW SUPPORT OF OUR APPRECIATION FOR FUNDING RESTORATION AND OUR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND TO IMPROVE AND PROMOTING THE GROVE CITY EXPERIENCE THROUGH A GRANT PROGRAM, OUR ORGANIZATION WOULD LIKE TO COMMIT 65,000 TO THE GRANT PROGRAM FOR 2026, WITH STIPULATIONS THAT ALIGN WITH THE INTENTION AND LAW SURROUNDING VCB EXPENDITURES. OF COURSE, THESE FUNDS WILL ONLY BE APPROPRIATE WHEN THE GRANT PROGRAM IS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL AND WHEN OUR NEW AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY IS SIGNED AGAIN, WE WOULD LOOK LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED CONTINUED COLLABORATION AS WE WORK TO FINALIZE OUR UPDATED AGREEMENT AND THE GRANT PROGRAM IN THE NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. OKAY, I HAVE NO OTHER SPEAKERS. SO I'D LIKE TO AMEND THE BUDGET. SO TIME TO GET YOUR AMENDMENT BRAIN ON, MR. HOLT. MR. MAYOR, CAN I DIGRESS? JUST JUST A MINUTE. JUST AS A PUBLIC HEARING WHEN WE PROPOSED THIS BUDGET, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS INTERESTING, THE APPROPRIATION BUDGET WAS $60,801,000. AND THAT IS ACTUALLY LESS THAN WHAT OUR 2025 APPROPRIATION WAS. SO, AGAIN, LOOKING AT THE HIGH LEVEL OF HOW THE FINANCES WORK WITHIN THE CITY, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A BUDGET HERE THAT'S LESS THAN WHAT WE HAD FOR 2025. THE PIECE THAT WE ALWAYS LOOK AT, OF COURSE, IS THE OPERATING EXPENSES. AND THE OPERATING EXPENSES ARE UP TO THE TUNE OF 3.6 MILLION, WHICH IS A BIG NUMBER. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE JUST HEALTH CARE WAS, BUT IT WAS A FAIRLY LARGE NUMBER. INCREMENTALLY CHANGE IN

[01:05:04]

SALARIES, THE NEW POLICE CONTRACT THAT WE THAT WILL BE VOTING ON SHORTLY. THE OTHER PIECE IS THE INCOME SIDE. AND WE ARE PROJECTING WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE ENOUGH FLAT FOR 2025, AND WE PROBABLY ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN WE WE WE WERE FOR 2025. WE'RE PROJECTING AT 2.4% INCREASE IN INCOME TAX. AND THAT THAT'S A CHALLENGE.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO GO BACK AND RECAP A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BIG LEVEL. I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BCB AND THE APPROPRIATION OF THE BED TAX. BUT THE BUDGET OF OPERATING A CITY IS $60 MILLION. THANK YOU. YEAH, I THINK THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S GOOD COMMENT. YES, 120 MILLION IF YOU PUT IN THE OTHER FUNDS. RIGHT. YEAH. IT'S IT'S $120 MILLION BUSINESS. SO LAST COUNCIL MEETING DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE MADE MAYBE FOUR AMENDMENTS. THOSE HAVE BEEN PLACED IN THE NEWEST COPY OF THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE PENDING. AND TONIGHT I'LL PROPOSE ONE MORE AMENDMENT. AND THIS IS A BUDGET TRANSFER FROM THE COMMUNITY FUND TO THE GENERAL FUND. SO FROM THE BUDGET PROCESS, IT'S A NET ZERO. IT'S NOT ANY MORE MONEY, ANY LESS MONEY. IT'S TAKEN MONEY FROM ONE FUND AND PUTTING IT INTO ANOTHER. AND IT'S THE FTE.

THE EMPLOYEES THAT WERE IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND, PUTTING THEM OVER IN THE GENERAL FUND. PEOPLE COPE WITH THE REST OF THE PEOPLE. SO IT'S BASICALLY, IN MY OPINION, A GOOD THING TO DO FOR HOUSEKEEPING. AND SHOULD I READ THAT, TAMMY OR WHAT DO I GOTTA DO TO YOU? GOT THE NUMBERS AND ALL THAT ALREADY AHEAD OF TIME. MR. TURNER HAS THE NUMBERS. I CAN READ, I CAN READ. SO LET ME JUST PUT IT IN TERMS OF AN AMENDMENT, WHAT IT IS, I'LL JUST READ IT IN. SO I WANT TO AMEND ORDINANCE C 5525. I WANT TO REMOVE FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND $137,886. AND ADD TO THE BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS GENERAL FUND, $137,886. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT'S A NET ZERO IN BUDGET WISE. SO I MAKE THAT MOTION. I SEEK A SECOND, SECOND. HOUCK. YES. HOLT. YES. HARRY. YES. DO. YES. BURROWS. YES. ANDERSON.

YES. WILSON. YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND DOES ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO DISCUSS ANYTHING ON THE BUDGET? ALL RIGHT. ORDINANCE C 5425. THIS IS AN ORDINANCE. IT DOESN'T SAY SECOND READING HERE, MR. CHAIRMAN. IT ONLY THIS IS THE ONE THAT ONLY HAS ONE, RIGHT? YES, SIR. SO THIS HAS HAD ITS FIRST AND FINAL READING AND I MOVE IT BE APPROVED. SECOND, AS AMENDED, AS AMENDED. SECOND AS AMENDED, MR. HOLT. YES. YES, YES. BURROWS. YES. ANDERSON.

YES. WILSON. YES, YES. HEY, WE GOT A BUDGET FOR 2026. THANK YOU. ALL. ORDINANCE C 5525,

[Ordinance C-55-25 Authorize the Mayor and City Administrator to enter into an Agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police, Capital City Lodge #9. First reading. ]

AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR AND CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE. CAPITAL CITY LODGE NUMBER NINE. SO, NEW CONTRACT WITH THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE. THIS IS THE FIRST READING. SECOND READING WILL BE JANUARY 5TH. GRANT

[Ordinance C-56-25 Grant an Exceptional Circumstance for 4009 Broadway to increase the maximum award under the Town Center Commercial Revitalization Grant Program. First reading. ]

ORDINANCE C 5625 GRANT AN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCE FOR 4009 BROADWAY TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM AWARD UNDER THE TOWN CENTER COMMERCIAL REVITALIZATION GRANT PROGRAM.

FIRST READING. JUST FOR INTEREST. WHAT IN EVERYBODY'S INTEREST WHO IS 4009 BROADWAY.

[01:10:01]

WHAT IS IT? NEW BUSINESS PARK OKAY. THANK YOU, I HEAR YOU. THIS IS THE THE GARDEN BAR. THE OLD GARDEN BAR. YES. WE'RE CAPITAL CITY. OKAY, OKAY. OH, I JUST HAD MY FIRST KID CHICKEN, LAST WEEK IN ANOTHER STATE. RESOLUTION CR 5625, CONTINUE THE WORK OF EDUCATING THE

[Resolution CR-56-25 Continue the work of educating the community and preparing a ballot question for a 0.50% Income Tax Increase for consideration of the electorate in Nov., 2026. ]

COMMUNITY AND PREPARING A BALLOT QUESTION FOR A HALF PERCENT INCOME TAX INCREASE FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE ELECTORATE. IN NOVEMBER 2026. I JUST TOOK QUESTIONS. DO YOU WANT TO JUST COMMENT ON THIS? YEAH, BRIEFLY. THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND THE NEXT PIECE I WOULD DESCRIBE AS A PASSING OF THE BATON. THIS IS A SUMMARY OF THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AS IT RELATES TO OUR CONVERSATION. ABOUT A HALF PERCENT INCOME TAX INCREASE FOR THOSE THAT RECOIL AT TAX INCREASE, JUST REMEMBER THAT THIS IS A QUESTION THAT WOULD GO TO THE VOTERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND AND FOR ME, FROM WHERE I SIT, THIS GOES BACK A LONG WAY TO DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT HALF PERCENT INCREASE. AND THE THE FOR FOR MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE WORKING AND HAVING 2.5% ALREADY WITHHELD FROM THEIR WAGES, THEIR PAYCHECKS WORKING IN JURISDICTIONS THAT TAX AT A 2.5%, THAT THERE IS NO IMPACT ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS. AND THE IMPORTANCE OF BEFORE. YOU WOULD TAKE THAT QUESTION TO OUR VOTERS HAVING AN EDUCATIONAL PROCESS. SO REALLY, THAT EDUCATIONAL PROCESS BEGAN WITH THE CITIZEN FINANCIAL REVIEW TASK FORCE, I WILL SAY, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER SUBJECTS, IT WAS DERAILED DURING COVID HAS TAKEN US A GOOD WHILE TO CATCH UP TO THIS DISCUSSION, BUT THAT IS WHERE WE LEFT OFF. AS YOU YOU FOLLOW THROUGH THE DATES IN THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION AND ALL THE WHEREAS CLAUSES, AND THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THIS THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ARE IN SUPPORT OF CONTINUING THIS WORK AS WE MOVE INTO THE YEAR 2026. THANK YOU. AND IT'S IT'S, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH A CONTINUATION OF THAT WORK. THERE ARE THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS OUT THERE AMONGST US THAT WILL BE UP HERE AT THE NEXT MEETING. SO WE HAVE TO GET THEM UP TO SPEED AND GET THE NEW COUNCIL WORKING. AND WE WANT TO TAKE OFF RIGHT WHERE WE LEFT OFF. IT'S A BIG PROCESS TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER NEXT YEAR. IN FACT, THERE'S MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON WHAT THAT TAX WILL BE USED FOR AND WHY WE NEED IT. AND THIS IS, LIKE YOU SAID, JUST KIND OF A DOCUMENTING WHERE WE ARE AND SAYING, OKAY, NEW COUNCIL, START FROM HERE, MR. HOLT. YES, IF I MAY. I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING FINANCES A LOT TONIGHT, BUT JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON YOUR COMMENTS, THE TWO, 2.5% THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES CHARGE WITHIN METROPOLITAN AREA, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITY OF COLUMBUS WENT TO 2.5% IN 2009. GRANDVIEW AND WORTHINGTON WENT TO TWO AND A HALF IN 2010. WHITEHALL 2011, BEXLEY 2012, UPPER ARLINGTON AND OBETZ. IN 2015. REYNOLDSBURG WENT TO TWO AND A HALF, IN 2017, GAHANNA IN 2019 AND HILLIARD IN 2022. SO ANY RESIDENT OF GROVE CITY THAT WORKS IN ANY OF THESE COMMUNITIES, WE RECEIVE NO FUNDING. WE GIVE 100% CREDIT TO THESE COMMUNITIES. SO IT'S BEEN OVER 40 YEARS SINCE WE'VE HAD AN INCREASE IN AN INCOME TAX, AND OVER 35 YEARS SINCE WE HAD AN INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX. I THINK THAT'S THAT'S SAYING A LOT FOR THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THE DIRECTION THAT THIS COUNCIL AND COUNCIL'S REFORM AND MAYOR'S THIS MAYOR AND THE MAYOR'S BEFORE THEM HAS HAVE LED THIS COMMUNITY. SO, AGAIN, THE REVENUE RECEIVED FROM THERE WOULD AMOUNT TO ABOUT $11 MILLION. AS WE KEEP LOOKING AT OUR OUR BUDGET, ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF CAPITAL OUTLAY, AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'VE GOT A NEW PROPOSED CONTRACT FOR THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE. THAT THREE YEAR CONTRACT WILL INCREASE THE BUDGET IN THIRD YEAR FROM 2024 BY OVER $2.5 MILLION. SO ANOTHER THING, A NEGATIVE ABOUT NOT HAVING INCREASED REVENUE. FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2024 WE HAD $22 MILLION

[01:15:01]

TRANSFERRED TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, 2025, 16 MILLION. THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE'VE ONLY HAD 11 MILLION TO TO GO INTO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT. BUT WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT WE'VE WE'VE SECURED OUTSIDE FUNDING THANKS TO A GREAT STAFF. SO AGAIN, ANYBODY IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS OF ME, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK. OUTSTANDING COMMENTS. CHUCK I THINK WE SHOULD YOU GUYS SHOULD BE PROUD WITH THAT. AND TED. YEAH, THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY IS, AGAIN, WHERE WE PICK UP IS WE GOT TO EDUCATE OUR THE NEW COUNCIL. AND AS WELL AS REALIZING THAT WE AS A COUNCIL ARE NOT PASSING A TAX INCREASE HERE AND WE'RE EDUCATING WE'RE GOING TO PROPOSE SOMETHING TO THE VOTERS, AND IT'S UP TO THE VOTERS TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

CHAIR, IF I MAY AS WELL. YES. I JUST WANT TO ARTICULATE EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID FIRST. MR. BOWSER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE GREAT ARTICULATION OF AND THAT EXPLANATION ABOUT TAXES. THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK OUR CURRENT COUNCIL. ALSO, TWO YEARS AGO WE HAD AN OFF SITE TO DISCUSS COMMON GOALS AND WORK TOWARDS SOMETHING. THIS IS ALSO JUST A RESULT OF THAT. IT'S A RESULT OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER CONVERSATION. IT'S A RESULT AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER WITH THE TIF, THIS IS ALSO A RESULT OF ALL THE WORK FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, A TASK FORCE THAT SAT AND WORKED TOGETHER, AND PARK BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL, THAT HELPED BRING IDEAS FOR THIS FUNDING MECHANISM FOR AN INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY AMENITY THAT PEOPLE ARE SEEKING. AND I WANT TO THANK MISS HALL FOR BRINGING FORTH THIS RESOLUTION SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO CARRY THAT TORCH AND EDUCATE OUR NEW INCOMING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. RESOLUTION 5625, IT SAYS IT'S READING. AND I MOVE IT BE APPROVED. SECOND. BARRY. YES. DO. YES. YES. ANDERSON. YES, YES, YES. LET ME THINK ABOUT IT. YES. MISS HOUCK, THAT CONCLUDES THE LENGTHY FINANCE DISCUSSION OF THE EVENING. THANK YOU THAT YOU WANTED TO CLING TO JUST ONE SECOND MORE. SEE, AND THAT

[Resolution CR-57-25 Continue the work of preparing amendments to the Charter necessary to transition to a Council-Manager form of government upon approval of the electorate. ]