Glass City Jungle

The first 40 minutes of today’s Toledo City Council meeting was mainly focused on resolutions, Resolution – Recognize Veterans Honor Flight of Northwest Ohio – Resolution – Recognize Sgt. Richard B. Murphy – Resolution – Employer support of National Guard and Reserve and the Delegation from China was recognized and spoke briefly.

Council President Mark Sobczak was not in attendance and neither was Council person Betty Schultz. Councilman Szollosi and Councilman Sarantou left before all of the agenda was gone through. It was probably one of the shortest council meetings on record that I’ve covered recently though I don’t believe it was the shortest meeting on record…What follows is some of what was discussed/voted on that I thought might be of interest, there was very little discussion tonight on any of the items before Council. Councilman Craig was the temporary Council President for the purposes of the meeting.

Sale of City-owned property, Erie St. Market & Water Distribution, to Tetra Tech, $4,200,000 – approved

Councilman Joe McNamara thanked Matt Sapara, of LCIC/Port Authority for his help in reviewing the proposal for City Council, Councilman Collins expressed his thanks to Councilman Szollosi for his due diligence on this issue. All of those present, Craig, Collins, Copeland, Brown, Ashford, McNamara, Sarantou, Waniewski and Webb voted yes.

Resolution – Request advances of property taxes from Lucas County Treasurer and Auditor

Resolution adopted by all present, I need to find out more details on this one, it intrigued me.

These next items were all related to the Marina District:

Amend Marina District Urban Renewal Plan Area Conditions Report – approved

Amend Development Agreement with Dillin Riverfront Properties, Inc. for the Marina District Project – approved

Establish Tax Increment Financing (TIF) area for Marina District, require payments in lieu of taxes – first reading
Requires some type of action from the Toledo Public School Board, a compensation agreement

Cooperative, Construction Management & Agency Agreements with Port Authority, Dillin & Bank of NY – first reading

Resolution – Assessment for Riverside Dr., lighting, sidewalks and clock tower in Marina District – first reading

Proceed with assessment for Riverside Dr., lighting, sidewalks and clock tower in Marina District – first reading

Levying assessments for Riverside Dr., lighting, sidewalks and clock tower in Marina District – first reading

Resolution – Assessment for storm water drainage and management improvements in Marina District – first reading

Proceed with assessment for storm water drainage and management improvements in Marina District – first reading

Levying assessments for storm water drainage and management improvements in Marina District – first reading

Designating a new public street Riverside Drive in the Marina District – first reading

Additional appropriation for construction of Shantee Creek, Phase 4A, $1,000,000 Storm Water – approved

Appropriation for median cut at new Bowsher High School on Arlington Ave., $130,000 CIP NSNN – first reading

(593-07) Amend TMC Sec. 1104.0600 convenience stores, spacing requirements (w/o Recomm 5 – 0)
AmndRefer PC

McNamara presented an amendment to this ordinance which excludes those who sell tobacco products or as has been dubbed the “butcher, baker & candlestick maker exemption”, it’s been referred back to the Planning Commission and then after they review it will return to Council.

Resolution – Opposing change to Ohio Revised Code allowing redirection of Ohio Turnpike revenue
There were no longer 9 members of council present so this item could not be suspended but could be called for immediate consideration. Collins reported on the updated information that since the time this resolution was crafted that it appeared the political voices of Northwestern Ohio have been heard. Given that he bowed to the will of Council. Immediate consideration was accepted but without 9 members it could not move to suspension so it was given first reading status.

Councilman Craig began with the first reading items.

Absences excused:

Craig, Information & Services Committee
Sarantou, Zoning & Planning Committee
Sobczak, Environment & Utilities Commitee
Szollosi, Agenda Review, Information & Services Commitee and Environment & Public Utilities
Waniewski, Information & Services

Special Council meeting May 27th at 7:30 p.m. Nine pieces of legislation regarding the Marina District will be presented, the reason for the time frame of the meeting is so that the Toledo Public School Board has the ability to vote on items that need their cooperation before Council can move forward.

McNamara announced a meeting will be planned for the New Neighborhood/New Schools plan to provide more specifics and stressed targeting was very important since there was not enough funding to do all of what was presented, stressing creating neighborhoods of choice was a key factor in turning some of these areas around as far as people moving out of those areas and the tax base declining. He also thanked Council for a very efficiently ran and civil meeting this evening and (in humor) said he hoped it was not reflective of certain people being missing.

Waniewski wanted to point out May 29th Health & Community Relations Committee will be held focusing on the issue of physician shortages in NWO. The Dean of the University of Toledo Medical Center will be presenting information and statistics he feels will be of interest to council and the community.

Webb, offered her prayers and thoughts for the Lawrence family who are the owners of New Chet Restaurant, Mr. Lawrence was the victim of a shooting and she hoped for him to have a speedy recovery as well as that the young man who shot Mr. Lawrence would turn himself in immediately.

Ashford, a council referral to find out if business owners at Southwyck Mall were given an eviction order last night with a date of June 30th. (Stores are closing down, in visiting yesterday I personally saw several of the stores that were open previously such as Foot Locker and Victoria Secret are closed with Debs posting a going out of business sign). He stated given that the city has committed 7.4 million dollars with a private developer, Larry Dillin and he would like an updated. Ashford stated while this was in District 2 this was an economic development issue that he felt all Council should be interested in.

Brown, updated on the Land Use for the Technology Corridor that it is going well and that the neighbors have been involved as well as support from some of the small businesses in that area. She said some are expanding which created the possibility of new jobs.

Meeting adjourned as no other council members present spoke for first call.