City of Athens, Ohio Athens City Council 2020, 2 Nov 2020

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From YouTube: Athens City Council - November 2, 2020

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Athens City Council - November 2, 2020

A

2020 and it's 7pm tonight we're in regular session we'll be reading a series of ordinances. We will also have an executive session executive at the end of the meeting.

A

Our first item of business is to establish a quorum and all members of council are present. Next, we have communications from council members. I do have one item that council did receive a notice from jesse schmitzer, who is with hapcap and the mass transit, and that they are that they are offering free athens transit with the buses and with athens on demand on election day and that being tomorrow and voting is open from 6 30. In the morning till 7 30 at night in athens, county council.

B

A

B

Thank you, president nicely I'll. Just add to that that the spin e-scooter company is also um offering a free ride on tomorrow during the election in order to get to the polls in a sustainable manner. Thank you.

A

Great idea: okay, communications.

C

D

A

A

Council member cloud filter.

C

If you don't mind an election detail um for anyone who might still have an absentee ballot in your in your possession, uh today was the deadline to put that in the mail, but you could get. You still have two choices. You could go and put it in a dropbox tomorrow or you could vote in person at the polls at your regular polling place.

C

I did, however, this afternoon notice a sign on union street saying that um left-hand turns from union street onto court street tomorrow will be banned past six o'clock for anyone who is not an election worker.

C

So if you were planning to put your absentee ballot in the the new relatively new dropbox on court street tomorrow, either go earlier in the day or if your only option is to go after 6 pm, you might want to park your car and just go just walk over there, because it doesn't look like you're actually going to be able to drive up to it after 6 pm.

A

That's great, it's good to have that news. Yes, councilmember fall.

E

And this is along with this kind of an announcement communication sort of thing with them, with all the voting that we have done through the whole season and hopefully culminating in tomorrow.

E

I want to say how amazingly awesome the board of elections has been and how much they've worked with all the craziness that we have seen all over the place and they you know, people are really really happy and they're quite proud of the fact that elections are only and when you have somebody bad mouthing at from the top top that doesn't you know, that's not the truth. Our board of election people work super hard. So I just want to say thank you and get everybody out to vote. Thank you.

A

Great thanks any other communications from council members, we'll move on to elected officials, law, director, eliasen, no communication, okay, mayor patterson,.

F

I mute myself um a few things. I'd like to share with council in the viewing audience tonight.

F

First off the athena award ceremony will be virtual um wednesday november 4th at 5 00 pm um to where people can tune in and watch the ceremony and also find out who this year's recipient of the 2020 athena award will be, who it is the hapcap and the ohio university credit union is announcing a athens county micro loan program uh eligible expenses for this program for up to fifteen hundred dollars is car repair on a vehicle owned and insured by the applicant, paying off a payday or car title loan home repair on an applicant's, an applicant owned home medical expenses not covered by insurance, one-time educational or certificate expenses or deposit for a home or an apartment.

F

If anyone's interested, you're encouraged to reach out to hapcap community resource navigator at.

F

740-767-4500 and get more details on that a couple other things to share. We are looking for people who live in the community and wanting to volunteer their time to be part of one of our many boards and commissions, most notably the disabilities commission has two vacancies currently has two vacancies.

F

um The joint police advisory council has three vacancies. One is for a victims advocate another one is for someone in our commuter community and then someone representing a neighborhood association, so those ones oh and there's one more to share, and that is the shade tree commission has a vacancy, as council has already authorized.

F

John kotowski has moved from the shade tree commission on to the planning commission. So with that movement there is a vacancy on shade tree. If anybody is interested in participating in one of the many many city boards and commissions mayor.

C

Patterson, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the arts, parks and rec board also has an opening right now.

F

They do, but we have someone who has thrown their name in the hat and is interested in serving that capacity which that'll be coming before council likely at the next regular session. Okay,.

E

F

You're welcome. The final thing that I have is that uh chief tom pyle acting service safety director and I have been engaged in the ohio, ohio, mayor's alliance.

F

Kind of a task force in looking at police reform support, so police reform support network is what the group is called working with with the ohio mayor's alliance with executive director kerry mccarthy.

F

um We had a, I think, a very informative meeting today and we have had many up to this point in time and we'll have many more as we look at things in which we can can do continually improving ourselves when it comes to police reform, and then on that, I would be remiss not to share with council that uh president nisly uh acting service safety director tom pyle and I have been working on what will hopefully become a new commission for the city of athens, the app and the city commission on diversity, equity and inclusion, and we still have a long ways to go uh on that particular committee or commission as we're flushing things out and uh making sure that we come forward with a an appropriate charge for such a commission.

F

But uh we have been making a fair amount of headway. We are reaching out to other organizations to also look in particular, the national league of cities, racial equity and leadership. um With leon andrews as well as some other groups that work in this world so hopefully we'll have something that we can bring before council I'd like to do it before the end of the year, but the end of the year is approaching rather quickly so more to come on.

F

That is president nicely again and the acting service safety director, tom pyle and myself have been working on this and may again made a lot of headway in what this has become and we'll certainly make sure that the law director has eyes on and before it comes before council so soon soon to come. I hope.

A

Okay, thank you we'll now move on to ordinances for third reading 1120 is an ordinance accepting the plot of the herald, avenue commercial subdivision and is introduced by council member fall. Thank.

E

You um I move that we adopt uh one eleven twenty second, thank you, council, member cloud filter. Okay, um this particular ordinance has been before some type of public body for numerous readings and hearings. It's to identif. It's identified an area that could be changed into a manufacturing area and asking for some right away so that there's better access to that particular area. So thank you.

A

Okay, we have a motion and second for approval: do we have any comments or questions council members or administration.

A

And any comments or questions from the public I'll check our attendees list to make sure?

A

Okay, uh all those in favor signify by saying aye, aye aye opposed, nay, the motion carries and the ordinance is approved. Ordinance. 115 20 is an ordinance amending athens city code, title vii traffic code, chapter 7.05, parking regulations, section 7.05.13, impounding of vehicles, and this is introduced by council member cotsas.

G

President nicely, thank you. I'd like to make a motion to adopt zero 115 20.

A

Okay, second from councilmember reisner.

G

Thank you, and so this uh once again to remind everybody this would uh this, would change impound lots not being required to be located within the city limits? um Instead it would it would. uh It would tie us to a five mile radius around the city.

A

So we have a motion and second for approval of 1 15 20, and I see that we have a comment from council member fall and then council, member, claude felter.

E

Right um at one point I, when we first talked about this and committee or might have been the first introduction, I think I kind of got the idea that there would maybe um something about public um public transportation being available to the specific site, or something like that, because my concern with five miles is that these are extraordinarily dangerous roads um and if there is um no available hap cap or whatever, is that they're either going to be walking or riding a scooter?

E

No, I know the scooters can't go out of town so, but you get my my meaning thank you.

A

Okay and uh council member cloud filter and then council, member smedley.

C

My comment is very similar to to council member falls. um I know that athens on demand was mentioned as a good transportation alternative for folks whose toes whose cards were towed, since we no longer have private cab service.

C

I I looked up a little information on athens on demand and it stops running at 7 30 in the evening, so I still feel like there wouldn't be any form of public transportation available at the times when at night, when I think a lot of people get towed um or they come out of a party or the or a bar and find their car gone, and I really would worry about people who, for some reason or another, felt like they had to go, get their car that night um either getting a ride with somebody who was intoxicated or I'm trying to walk on.

C

You know dark roads for miles at night. It's just. um There are too many negative possibilities. With that scenario, I think so um I I do still have some concerns about this proposal.

A

Yes, council of our cotsus.

G

Are our towing lots open 24 hours? I don't know if you'd really have the ability to to retrieve your vehicle the same evening as it gets towed.

A

And in addition, I don't think the bus system, even if it was uh on the route to get there, runs past. What is it 10 o'clock at night? So um that's you know, even if you had it on a route, you still don't have that option after you know later at night, the council, member spently, did you have a comment earlier or.

H

Yes, thank you, uh president nicely um I I I was going to bring up what you mentioned, which is that, even if it were on a bus route, you are limited based on their timing and also to remind everyone that we do still have cab services that run later into the evening, and also we have lift, which is another option that runs later into the evening, and that would be an option for anyone who would need to retrieve their vehicle, um even if it were still within the geographic area that we were talking that prior to the uh creation of this ordinance.

H

So those all are options uh whether or not we pass this ordinance um and- and so I don't know that um the concerns that were brought up would would necessarily prevent us from passing this. This ordinance right now. Thank you.

A

uh Councilmember cloudfelter.

C

I guess I have a question now after member cotta says um good comment, I think would be important to know how late the towing companies are open. uh I think, as we consider this so that we could take into account transportation options and and what kind of alternatives people would be facing if their cars were towed.

A

I'm not aware that we have that information available and yes reading tonight.

C

I I would prefer to have it before we vote myself, but maybe that's just me.

A

Any other comments or questions council, member cotsas.

G

You know I will mention that I mean if you know, hapcap exists uh right now with uh with an on-demand transit. um If that changed, I think that we would. It would be uh it'd, be good to revisit this. Then. At that point,.

A

Council member grace.

I

Yeah I just wanted to chime in because I was one of the members who originally brought up the um the concern about um being accessible to public transportation and um council. Member katzis did do some research and reached out to me, and we had a conversation about. You- know the the availability of on-demand and also that well right now we're very fortunate to have some some bus routes that do go out into the county.

I

We can't necessarily say where those would be in the future and what would be on a bus line that that is running in rural areas and so um to to make it a requirement that a business be within a certain distance of public transportation in an area as rural as ours is, would really be a hardship um with the unpredictability of of public transportation.

I

But I I do think that the athens on demand um could definitely serve that purpose and just um currently two of the tow companies are, are closed and will open at 8 a.m. Tomorrow, and one is open 24 hours, so just from from googling two of the tow companies in in town are are already closed at um 7 p.m.

I

um Based on a google search of of the the local tow companies, if that answers questions, so I don't believe that that we could that you could retrieve your vehicle um after after the transportation options are closed, yeah.

A

Councilmember, claude felter, I.

C

Just did the same, google search and thank you for sharing that. um But there is one that runs 24 hours a day, and I think that just that one company should make us think about this really carefully.

A

Council member fall.

E

um I understand the um the reason behind this and I agree you know one one of the um impound lots is in our wellhead protection zone. I think what we really are talking about is is some justice, because I think that we don't think enough um about when, as a society, we penalize somebody and that's what these people are getting.

E

You know they broke the law, but then it's also people who tend to be um in our population either young or people who you know have our harder time being able to do things, and I think that's why we're having this conversation- and I think that's why it's important um to be able to to think about those issues because going forward, um you know it's, it will impact people and it's probably impacting people who are more at at risk.

E

So that's why I wanted to bring it up from when we had a discussion about people's uneasiness about it and we didn't really discuss it all the way. So, thank you.

A

Okay, any other comments amongst council members or administration.

A

Okay- and I will do a double check of our attendees- to make sure that whether or not there's a comment or a question from them, but I'm not seeing any all right so we'll call for the vote, uh all those in favor signify by saying aye, aye aye, all those opposed, nay, nay, motion carries and the ordinance is approved.

A

Thank you and thanks for the discussion. Ordinance 117-20 is an ordinance establishing a complete streets policy for the city of athens and is introduced by councilmember katzis.

G

President nicely I'd like to make an emotion to a motion to amend uh ordinance, zero one, seventeen twenty second second from council member- and uh this uh was loaded up on to the uh the drive a little bit earlier today.

G

So basically, I am making a request to add an additional uh bullet point to page four, and um that request uh in the quantitative performance measures will then now include an additional point which would enumerate um each project. Each city project that is exempted from the complete streets policy.

G

uh Documentation uh would need to be included with project name and number date, and also citing the reason for the exemption for that specific uh project uh with the complete streets policy.

A

And yes, so we.

H

A

And second and now comments uh council, councilmember, crowell.

B

uh Thank you president nicely. Thank you, man, ricotta says for updating this ordinance. I would just say that um when we spoke last spoke on this, I believe at the october 5th meeting the lack of a reporting mechanism within this ordinance was what I objected to and uh the member kaza says amendment uh for the ordinance satisfies uh my concern moving forward. So thank you. Member katsis.

G

A

Other comments or questions from council members or administration, okay, any comments or questions from our attendees tonight. Yes,.

C

There is one in chat.

A

Oh okay, yes, uh mr delac, yes, and if you would uh state your your name and address and whether or not you represent a group and then you will have three minutes.

J

Thank you, um my name is rob delac. I live at 124 morris avenue in the city of athens and I do not represent any groups as I'm talking to you tonight. I just want to confirm that I agree with the amendment as proposed. I think this is a good modification.

J

As I stated last time, we discussed this. My concern was the reporting issue and accountability, and this will make it so that the the city has report the exceptions and make that information available, so that that serves the purpose of what I think was missing from the policy and I'm happy to support it now. Thank you.

J

A

All right- and I don't see any other comments in the chat or any other attendees whose hands are raised, so we have a motion and second for amending this ordinance, all those in favor signify by saying aye, okay, the motion for amending carries and the ordinance has now been read for the first time.

A

Ordinance 119-20 is an ordinance establishing guidelines for approval and installation of temporary sidewalk extensions, called part flutes for use by the general public at appropriate locations within the public rights of way and amending athens city code, title 11, business regulations, chapter 11.06, miscellaneous business regulations, section 11.06.02, exceptions. This is introduced by councilmember katzis.

G

President nicely, thank you now, I'd like to make a motion to adopt zero one. Nineteen, twenty.

A

Seconded by council member fall.

G

Okay and thank you, and so this is um changing our our pilot program. Well, no, this is uh it's not changing the pilot program it is, it is introducing making our making the pilot program, which we did have uh an actual uh part of our uh of our code, part of our city um and giving us the opportunity. The businesses can participate in this next year and beyond and adding additional outdoor seating in the uh in the uptown area in parking spaces.

A

Okay, thank you. We have a motion in a second for approval of this ordinance. Are there any other comments or questions from council members or administration, okay and any comments from our attendees tonight?

A

I'm not seeing any in the list or the chat all right. um All those and figures signify by saying oh did, council member eisner did I see your hand raised no okay.

G

He's just jumping the gun.

A

All right, all those in favor signify by saying aye, all right, bye, oppose me. Okay, the motion carries and the ordinance is approved. Thank you.

A

We now have ordinances for second reading and due to time constrictions on some of these. Some of these will be suspended tonight on the second reading. Oh, don't excuse me not on the second there's the ordinances for first reading, so the ordinance is for second reading tonight. I will read the title see briefly: if there are any comments or questions ordinance, 1220 is an ordinance authorizing construction and construction engineering of the dewatering facilities of the wastewater treatment plant, which is project number 320 and is introduced by council member grace.

A

If no comments or questions, I will move on to ordinance. 125 20.

A

an ordinance granting a special right-of-way permit to john hanson owner at 110 morris avenue to allow offense, and this is introduced by council member fall and if no comments or questions we will move on then to our ordinances for first reading, and these are contains several that we will be suspending tonight.

A

Ordinance 20 is an ordinance granting a special right-of-way permit to hocking river development owner 26 east park drive to allow directional signage for marietta memorial hospital athens department of primary care and is introduced by council member fall.

E

Thank you um just as the title of it says. This is just like also the ordinance granting a special right-of-way for the fence on morris avenue. These are good for seven years and then they will have to be reapplied. Thank you.

A

All right and if no comments or questions we'll move on to 128.20, which is an ordinance granting special right-of-way permit to hocking river development owner 26 east park, drive to allow directional signage for marietta memorial hospital athens department of primary care at the intersection of east state street and east park drive and is introduced by council member fall.

A

E

You once again it's special right away. Some council members may remember this when it was brought forward before when the building was a different under different management, but the same sort of idea. It's also going to have um signage that has city the the city state, the city, um facilities that also go down that way, so it helps the city.

E

A

Okay thanks, if no comments or questions, I will move on to ordinance 129-20, and this is an ordinance implementing a plan for interim city, engineer and director of engineering and public works and declaring an emergency and is introduced by council member crawl.

B

Thank you, president eisley I'd like to make a motion to suspend the rules for zero one. Twenty, nine twenty.

A

Second, second, by councilmember, claude felter,.

B

Thank you. uh This is to um compensate our interim epw director um for the job that she has been doing and the job that she is doing, and we discussed this at uh at council and since uh she's been in this position since the very end of september.

B

uh We wanted to uh pay her as soon as possible for the job that she is doing.

A

Okay, and so that's the reason, we're suspending then.

B

Correct I'd like to yeah yeah I'd like to make a motion to accept zero. Twenty nine twenty.

A

uh Let's do the vote on suspension.

B

Ahead of myself.

A

So all those in favor of suspending the rules for one twenty nine twenty, uh please signify by saying aye aye opposed nay. Now the rules have been suspended. Council member crowd.

B

Thank you, president leslie. I would like to make a motion to approve 0-129-20.

A

Second, second by council, member smedley, okay and any other any comments or questions on this ordinance.

A

Mayor, patterson,.

F

Member crowl, I really appreciate your enthusiasm to get this through without suspending it first.

F

um You know this is this: pay is well warranted for the individual, taking on the role of engineering and public works with all which all of council members, you all understand the breadth and scope of that particular department and to have jessica dyne take the helm which she is more than capable of doing. I think that this is important that she receives the pay commensurate with taking on this level of responsibility. So I'm encouraging council to please pass this in full and to get it through to where um we can keep things rolling down there.

F

At engineering and public works.

A

Okay, thank you. We have a motion and second for approval, any final comments or questions. If not, then all in favor signify by saying aye oppose, nay, the motion carries and the ordinance is approved.

A

Ordinance. 130 20 is an ordinance amending the 2020 appropriation ordinance and authorizing the auditor to make inter-fund transfers. This is introduced by councilmember crowell.

B

Thank you, president I'll go ahead and read this ordinance. The 2020 appropriation ordinance 1319 is hereby amended by appropriating from the unappropriated balance the following sums: twenty three thousand dollars to the judges: computer fund, two thirty transaction code, six hundred for transfer.

B

This is simply the uh grant that they receive from the ohio supreme court and in order to spend this, they need it in the transferred into the clerk's fund instead of the judges fund. So it's just an inner fund or inner city transfer and then also 2881 and 81 cents to cdbg fund 248 transaction code, 600.

B

for transfer and increasing the total appropriations by set amounts.

B

This is at the request of the auditor's office to um and and the state auditor to make sure that we are applying the administrative portions of the cdbg to the individual departments within the city, so this is also just an administrative transfer.

B

Thank you, president. Nicely.

A

Okay, thank you any questions or comments on this.

A

Okay, we'll move on to ordinance 13120, and this is an ordinance authorizing the purchase of a new base, radio system for the athens police department, amending the 2020 appropriation ordinance and declaring an emergency and is introduced by council member grace.

I

Thank you president nicely. I would like to make a motion to suspend the rules for this ordinance. Please.

A

And we have a second from council member claude felter.

I

Thank you and the reason that we are requesting this suspension this evening is because the current face radio system at the police department is failing and um we cannot repair it. So time is is important here. It will take several weeks from the time that the new system is ordered before it could be up and running, and we we don't want our law enforcement team to be without a a base. Radio for communication needs.

I

A

So we have a motion and second for suspending the rules, all those in favor signify by saying aye, nay, the rules have been suspended. Council member grace.

I

Thank you, president nicely, and now I would like to make a motion that we adopt this ordinance.

A

And a second from councilman paul.

I

Thank you and this, as um we talked about last week in committee and then as very briefly just summarized, our um athens police department has been working with the same base. Radio station since the 90s, I believe, and it is, is quite outdated and is failing and no longer able to get parts to repair it.

I

um So I will read um the ordinance and whereas the current police department, space radio system is failing and whereas this equipment can be purchased through a gsa and state bid, therefore competitive bidding is not required, be it ordained by the council of the city of athens, ohio, section 1. The service safety director is hereby authorized to purchase a replacement based radio system for the athens police department.

I

Section 2, the 2020 appropriation ordinance 130 19 is hereby amended by decreasing general fund police, 101.207, tc, 100 personnel, sur personal services by 112 000 and increasing general fund police, 101, 207, tc, 500 capital outlay by 112, 000 and decreasing, and increasing the total appropriations by set amount section 3. The service safety director is hereby authorized to expend up to one hundred twelve thousand dollars from general fund police 101 207.

I

For said, equipment and this ordinance shall be an emergency measure.

A

Okay, we have a motion and second for approval of this any other comments or questions.

A

All those in favor signify by saying aye aye hello motion carries then the ordinance is approved. Ordinance. 132 20 is an ordinance suspending athens city code, section 7.05.03 continuous parking in the same location from sunday december 15 2019 through midnight on wednesday january 1st 2020 introduced by council member kansas.

G

President nicely uh thank you, and- um and I just and I noticed this during the meeting- the the dates are incorrect on the agenda. They are correct on the ordinance. um Would you like to reread it from the ordinance or should I just go forward.

A

uh You can re-read it from the ordinance if you'd like to is the year off it.

G

Is yeah we're we're in the wayback machine right now.

B

Okay, okay, sherman.

G

Oh, thank you showing my age, um so actually, let's right now, I would like to make a motion to suspend ordinance uh 132 20.

A

Okay and we'll and we'll yes and we have a second uh from council member, claude felter, okay and the reason being.

G

Reason being that this needs to be in effect on december 13th um and our next. Our next council meeting is november 16th, which wouldn't give us the 30 days to allow this to come into effect when we need it to to happen thanks.

A

And all those in favor of suspending the rules signify by saying aye.

G

A

All right, what is nay, okay, the rules have been suspended. Council member consists, president.

G

Nicely I'd like to make a motion to adopt ordinance, zero, 1320.

A

Okay, second from council member grace, okay.

G

Thank you, and I will uh re read the uh the beginning of this ordinance. This is an ordinance suspending the athens city code, section.

G

7.05.03 continuous parking in the same location from sunday december 13th 2020 through midnight on wednesday january 1st 2021.

G

This is a an annual suspension of our 24 parking rule that allows people to not have to worry about this during the uh the holiday season.

A

Okay, all right and we it looks like we have a comment from councilmember crowl. Yes,.

B

Thank you, president eisley. Thank you, mr katzis. um There is more than a year issue with the dates, because december 31st is a thursday, so the first is a friday.

B

So there's a few other things there in the uh agenda we're going to have to get correct. I mean in the.

A

Is it in the ordinance itself that the like that the date.

B

Yes, it says midnight on wednesday january 1st, but wednesday is not january 1st. So.

A

That's friday january 1st, correct thank.

B

You about sunday.

A

Thank you for noting that okay, sunday.

B

Is the 13th.

G

Okay and yeah sunday, the 13th and actually section 1, actually says midnight on saturday january 2nd. So are we.

G

Sunday january 2nd is this: is this in correlation, then? Is that is the yeah, which is actually sunday january 3rd 2021 correct? What date are we looking for folks? So I can amend.

J

Need some guidance here? Yes,.

C

If we're willing to give people until january 3rd, that would give them a weekend after they get back in town, perhaps to just kind of relax a little bit before they have to move their cars. Let's.

A

Let's give just a moment for debbie our clerk of counsel to double check for us and.

G

A

E

Our and somebody just pointed out that the um holiday for the ou people doesn't stop until um the fifth, so that might make that might be the most logical day.

A

Mayor patterson.

F

Holiday, for which show you, people.

E

So my hand in the chat so look in the chat.

B

It's the furlough. uh It's for staff. Students aren't back until, like the 18th, that's correct,.

F

I didn't know if you were talking about.

E

Right, no, I was just pointing out that somebody was asking about it in the chat. So, okay.

A

So maybe we could and then, as long as we're amending to correct the dates, we could also amend that then, through the january 5th.

A

Does that seem like it's agreeable to council members? Okay, so we've got three things to do well, you've already suspended. What is the excuse me? What is the problem.

D

With december 13th.

B

D

Problem with the 13th okay, so that's all right.

G

It's all on the tail.

A

End date are we concerned about.

G

Well, the in the um in the title itself. It says wednesday january 1st, which is not a wednesday. um It is a friday and then in section one okay, it should be january.

D

G

Should be january, 2nd.

G

Saturday january 2nd, which is not, which is corr, that is correct in its date.

D

And I also noticed in the title it says sunday december 15th and when it says sunday december 13.

A

So we do want to amend to correct the date in the title and then are we wanting to. You said that the language says the second and are we wanting to amend it through the fifth to end through the fifth or not council, member smedley.

H

Thank you, president nicely I'd be in support of extending it to the fifth.

A

Okay, so what we need to do is have an amend, we're going to amend it. Then we're going to suspend again and then we'll approve.

G

A

You could do the amend to correct the dates and then yeah.

G

Okay, so so, even though it's on on the floor right now, I can, I can make a motion to amend or.

D

uh What do we? We have on the floor right now? A motion to suspend the rules.

A

We had we've approved that we had on the floor, a motion to approve.

D

We had emotions, go ahead and vote on that and then make a motion to um when he made the motion to adopt will make the motion to amend, since we already have it on the floor. The motion to suspend the rules.

A

Okay, so we can take the vote now on approving. We have no.

D

Emotion, only to suspend oh, we.

A

I

G

We already suspended and then I put a motion forward to approve and we have a second.

D

Okay, so uh probably that should be withdrawn and make the motion to amend got it.

G

So you, president president, nicely I'd like to make a motion to withdraw um ordinance. One thirty, two: twenty.

A

Okay, and do we have we have a second for that with councilman.

G

All right, thank you.

D

And actually his motion to not at that point he's withdrawing that adopt right.

A

That's correct and we do need to take a motion, a vote on the motion to withdraw correct.

D

Yes, let's go ahead and do that so.

A

All those in favor signify so on the motion to withdraw this current motion to approve uh signify by saying aye aye, okay opposed, nay, okay, we have that this particular version has been now been withdrawn. The motion to approve has been withdrawn, so now you can amend, suspend and approve.

G

Okay, president, nicely I'd like to make a motion to amend ordinance 1320 second.

A

Okay, second council member crowl- and you are amending it- to reflect the corrected dates.

G

The corrected date, uh which is the uh which would be from sunday december 13 2020 through january 5th, tuesday january 5th, 2021. and the same same times, will uh will still apply.

A

Okay, so we have the motion and second for amending and I will check- I don't think, there's any for discussion, but there there is that option if you would want all right. So we have the motion and second for amending all those in favor signify by saying aye aye.

A

Okay, the rules have been suspended and the ordinance has been read for the first time.

G

President eisley I'd like to make a motion to adopt uh ordinance zero, one thirty, two, twenty, let's we need to do. I need that. I need to suspend again right. Okay, president isolated, like make a motion to suspend ordinance zero one. Thirty two, twenty second.

A

All right, we have a second from councilmember crowl, um all those in favor for suspending the rules signify by saying aye all right.

A

Okay, the rules have been suspended. Council member classes you're there you're on the last leg. Yes,.

G

Thank you. This is like groundhog day, um president nicely I'd love to uh make a motion to adopt zero one. Thirty, two, twenty and just put this thing to bed.

A

Okay seconded by council member fall all right. um We now have a motion and second to approve any other comments.

A

Okay, thank everyone for their patience. All those in favor say, bye, bye, saying, hi, hi, hi and opposed nay. The motion carries and the ordinance is approved thanks thanks for working it through us that.

G

It's not as easy as it looks sometimes.

A

No, it's not! Okay. um We now have ordinance 133-20. This ordinance authorizing the service safety director to suspend temporarily the fee for parking at metered spaces in the municipal parking garage and on-street metered parking introduced by council member katsys.

G

President nicely, thank you, I'm going to sound so difficult. I would like to make a motion to amend zero 130 320 this evening.

A

All right and the purpose for your um uh amending.

G

This uh this ordinance needs an emergency clause um because of the start date of 11 november 28th. Okay,.

A

So we have a motion. Do we have a second? I'm sorry councilmember, grace, okay, a second from council member grace and then uh for amending all those in favor signify. By saying I.

A

Okay, the ordinance has been amended council member causes.

G

A

G

Can let that go to the second read: is that correct? Yes,.

A

Okay, next one is 134 20, and this is an ordinance authorizing the mayor to submit an application to participate in the state, capital, improvement and or local transportation improvement programs for issue one funds to execute contracts as required and declaring an emergency. This is introduced by council member kansas.

G

President nicely, thank you. I'd like to make a motion to suspend the rules for zero 134 20.

A

We have a second council member smedley and the reason for suspension.

G

The uh the grant deadline is november 6th four days away. Okay.

A

uh We have a motion, and second now for suspending the rules, all those in favor signify by saying aye aye.

A

The rules have been suspended, councilmember katsis.

G

President nicely, I would love to make a motion to adopt zero one. Thirty, four, twenty.

A

Okay- and we have a second council member claude felter,.

G

And uh just just to remind everybody, we spoke at this at uh council transportation committee last week. This is a a grant applying for um for some transportation, enhancements, sidewalks and pedestrian uh elements on the west side of athens.

A

Okay, so we have a motion and second for approval, any other comments or questions from council members or administration or our attendees, all those in favor signify by saying aye, aye aye opposed, nay, the motion carries and the ordinance is approved.

A

uh Yes, you had a comment. I'm sorry council member crowl, yes,.

B

um I just noticed that a citizen had asked to comment on zero one. Thirty, two twenty! I don't know if it's too late to go back, but mr delock had requested to comment, did.

A

We answer his question perhaps on the furlough. Let me.

B

It is possible that we did, but he did ask.

A

Right, uh mr delaca, you still there.

B

Oh, he says his suggestion was adopted, so we're good got.

A

It okay! Thank you! Oh yes, I see it now. Okay, you're quicker than I am on reading this thanks and thanks for seeing that also. We next have a one reading resolution.

A

This is our 1320, and this is a resolution expressing athens city council, support for hr, 763, the energy innovation and carbon dividend act of 2019, which, if enacted, would impose a carbon fee on the producers or importers of fuels that emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and urging representatives in the united states congress to enact it into law, and this is introduced by all members of council.

A

um I will, if it if it's admissible by council members, I will read through not the intended entirety by word for word, but I will summarize the different points in the whereases and then the summary for our encouragingness and the. Whereas, let's talk about the climate, scientists worldwide are in near unanimous agreement that the planet is warming, that there's an overwhelming majority of residents who oppose climate threatening practices within the city of athens that there's human activity.

A

That is a significant contributor to global warming and that the city of athens has experienced steadily increasing numbers of heavy rainfall events over the past decade, and this has caused localized flooding and landslides.

A

And then uh perhaps one of the most important, whereas is for the city of athens, particularly points to the legislation that we have enacted over the years beginning in 1984, with our move to for curbside recycling, a resolution in 2007 to reduce global warming missions, an ordinance in 2009 that established a green fleet policy.

A

A resolution in 09 to facilitate installation of a photovoltaic solar energy system at the community center and an ordinance in 2011 adopting a green building design standards for municipal property, an ordinance in 2012 establishing the city's environmental and sustainability commission.

A

An ordinance in 2016 authorizing solar-powered recycling, refuse compacting containers a resolution in 2017 expressing the city's commitment to reducing greenhouse house gas emissions through the implementation of a climate action plan.

A

2017 a bronze designation from soul smart in 2018. We had an order of ordinance authorizing an opt-out community solar program with an electric carbon fee and then in resolution in 2020, endorsing the declaration of a climate emergency and emergency mobilization to restore a safe climate, then also establishing curbside composting in 2020 and another resolution to include solar energy systems in the zoning code, and I might just make an aside on this where we're reading this.

A

I really want to thank council members here and some who have served in the past also who have been instrumental in moving these forward and I think really think it's a proud, uh a proud history. So I want to thank all of you personally um there's another, whereas that talks about the introduction of this resolve this federal resolution in the house of representatives. It was first introduced on january 24, 2019 and then says the different things that this revenue, neutral carbon fee and dividend would do.

A

It would motivate people it would employ a market approach to encourage innovative processes would levy a fee at the point of production. It would incentivize the development use of alternative energies and it would make it equitable for all businesses, and it would also include a border adjustment uh fee on goods traded.

A

And so we then resolve that. The council hereby expresses its support for this dividend. Act which, if enacted, would endorse the carbon fee and dividend and then instructs us to send copies of this legislation to our president and vice president and governor dewine and senators portman and brown and representative johnson and state senators. Hoagland and edwards.

A

And are there comments from council members.

A

Yes, I see a thumbs up, we do need to. We do need a motion to approve. So if one of you council members would please make a motion to approve council member fall and I'm.

E

Making we approve our 13 20.

A

Seconds a second from council member claude felter thank.

F

A

uh Mayor patterson and then mayor and then council, member eisner.

F

President nicely, I believe that that resolution summarizes everything that the city of athens has done, but there is so so much more. We have charging ev charging stations a fast charge charging station down at the community center.

F

We have l2s in the parking garage we have pushed the envelope to where we are going to be one of two sites in the state of ohio to have a micro grid system for resilience at our water treatment plant in case of emergency or otherwise we have the carbon fee as what was mentioned already, which the citizens of of athens voted unanimously.

F

uh By that I say, 76 in favor of a carbon fee uh council is also authorized in one of your more recent pieces of legislation to have a a a tiff, a neighborhood, tiff and part of the language in that tiff was to make sure that there is energy efficiencies in what was being built uh with affordable housing.

F

So, and I could go on and on and on I I have already let my name to the list of other prominent officials uh by signing on. So I'm encouraging council to also sign on, because tomorrow is a big day nationwide. Tomorrow is a big day and it's always important to make sure that we keep legislation that could sunset at the end of this year to keep it alive.

F

uh In case things go in a slightly different direction, but regardless it's our commitment to making sure that we are making sure that we are leaving behind an environment that is better than we took it on as citizens as adults as parents as grandparents, um because that is what humankind is all about, making sure that we are doing better for our kin as we move forward in this really interesting.

A

Time and other comments from house members or anybody else.

J

That says it all.

A

Okay, all right, uh we have the motion and second all those in favor signify by saying aye, aye aye, jose motion carries unanimously. Thank you and the resolution is approved. We now have announcements in other business. uh If I could have a motion for accepting the september 2020 financial reports so moved.

A

Okay, moved by councilmember, reisner seconded by councilmember fall all those in favor signify by saying aye aye.

A

Those reports have been accepted. The next one is a motion to accept the september 2020 credit card transactions.

A

Council, member and second by council member fall uh all those in favor signify by saying aye, aye, aye, okay, those have been approved and now uh councilmember grace. I believe you have some affordable housing. Commission appointments.

I

Yes, thank you, president nicely. um The affordable housing commission currently has two vacancies and we are fortunate enough to have um two outstanding volunteers willing to fill those vacancies.

I

um These are both um unexpired terms that um so that the new appointees will serve um until 6 30 of 21 um and then have have the option of being reappointed following that the first is molly fitzgerald and she is the new executive director at the athens county economic development council, and she is very active here in athens and um she was previously the assistant director at the economic development council and um before that, served as the executive director of the live, healthy, appalachia and um so her perspective and input will be a great help on the affordable housing commission and um second, I would like to bring forward hannah gilkey hannah is the branch manager at the court street people's bank and she is a lifelong athens resident who, after finishing at ohio university, wanted to stay here and uh is committed to to working to serve this um the athens community and she is willing to serve uh in the role of representing and bring her her knowledge of banking and financing to the commission.

I

So I would like to make a motion that we accept the service of molly fitzgerald and hannah gilkey. Second,.

A

Seconded by council, member claude felter, all right um motion, and second for approving molly fitzgerald and hannah gilkey, all those in favor signify by saying aye, hi, hi, okay, the motion carries, and we thank them for their service, that they have been doing and and will continue. um As now as members on the affordable housing commission, we now have an opportunity for citizens to speak on legislative items and city services wait a minute. I want to do one more thing. I want to back up. Are there any other announcements other than our usual next week?

A

Will be a council committee meeting uh night and so council members who are chairs of the different committees should make sure to get their agenda items to clerk of council debbie walker by wednesday of this week and any other announcements?

A

Okay, yes, council, member, claude felder.

C

Just please go vote tomorrow.

A

It's an important one: okay, all right um now we do have the opportunity for citizens to speak on legislative items and city services not covered on the agenda. Is there anyone amongst the attendees who would want to speak for three minutes?

A

If not, then tonight we have a little bit different, ending to the meeting um it's about 804, so um 805, so 15 minutes 8 20.. So what we would uh now have is a motion uh to enter into executive session at 8 20 tonight, so that will be 15 minutes from now, and so, if I could have a motion and yes from council member grace and you'll need to state the purposes and who's involved on this session.

I

Thank you, president nicely I'd like to make a promotion that we go into executive session, beginning at 8 20 this evening for purposes of collective bargaining. Discussions and counsel will be joined by our law director, ms eliason and our mayor patterson, and acting service safety, director, tom pyle and um liana woods here for this executive session as as well from the auditor's office. Yes, okay, thank you.

A

And so I'll do the roll call vote council, member, claude felter, uh you need to say aye for the motion, uh so roll call: okay, council, member cotsas, aye, councilmember, reisner, aye, councilmember, crowl, bye, announcement, member grace, aye councilmember, smedley, aye and councilmember fall.

A

Thank you okay. uh So we will adjourn now um and uh to actually we'll be talking with dr suttus's journalism, students so um we'll be doing that until let's say 8 21 and then we'll leave to go into executive session. We will return briefly long enough to adjourn after the executive session. Thank.

A