Delaware City Council Regular Meeting – December 8, 2025

The Delaware City Council held a regular meeting on December 8, 2025, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included approval of the consent agenda, public comment, multiple ordinance readings related to appropriations, annexations, and zoning, and a city manager's report. Key actions included approval of the 2026 appropriations budget and a city zoning map amendment, while several other items were deferred to subsequent meetings.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the motion summary from the November 24, 2025 City Council meeting.
• Accepted motion summaries from the Shade Tree Commission (September 23, 2025), Civil Service Commission (November 5, 2025), and Planning Commission (November 5, 2025).
• Established January 12, 2026, at 7:10 p.m. as the public hearing date for Ordinance No. 25-77 (Fincon Epic Ventures zoning map amendment to expand MX-PUD 25-2 by 4.468 acres).
• Established January 12, 2026, at 7:15 p.m. as the public hearing date for Ordinance No. 25-78 (GTZ Properties zoning map amendment from C-CC to C-PUD on 10.3 acres on Sunbury Road).
• Established January 12, 2026, at 7:20 p.m. as the public hearing date for Ordinance No. 25-79 (rezoning 101.5 acres from A-1 to R-PUD east of Glenn Parkway and Berlin Station Road).
• Established January 12, 2026, at 7:25 p.m. as the public hearing date for Resolution No. 25-90 (development plan for a 7 Brew drive-thru at 1424 Sunbury Road).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Scott McVicker (1935 Ashburn Drive, Delaware) raised three concerns: 1) The $3,108,400 supplemental 2025 appropriations were not reviewed by the finance committee, specifically questioning whether $650,000 for Merrick Boulevard street improvements was pre-approved or requested after costs were incurred. 2) Ordinance 25-78 would increase traffic congestion in an already congested area; he noted the only exit from the development is a right-in/right-out onto Skyview Lane and that planned road extensions (Biltmore and Bixby Parkway) have no active projects. 3) He asked when the city’s water plant and wastewater treatment facilities will reach capacity given the pace of residential development, and whether council knows or cares about that threshold.

Discussion Items

• Committee Reports: The Shade Tree Commission reported on landscaping plans and highlighted the new arboretum at Oak Grove Cemetery, describing it as a future public open space. The Planning Commission noted it would be considering some of the evening’s matters.
• Fourth Reading – Ordinance 25-65 (2026 Appropriations): Finance Director Alger stated no additional comments. Council approved the emergency clause (7-0) and then the ordinance as amended (7-0).
• Third Reading – Ordinance 25-69 (City Zoning Map Amendment): Approved unanimously (7-0) with no further discussion.
• Second Reading – Ordinance 25-73 (Municipal Court Employee Benefits): After the reading, a council member noted the agenda recommendation to approve before December 21 and suggested the option of a third reading on December 15. Council agreed to defer to a third reading on December 15.
• Consideration – Ordinance 25-74 (Supplemental 2025 Appropriations): Finance Director Alger explained key items: $500,000 for medical claims, $1 million transfer from the income tax fund to the parks capital fund, $300,000 Winterborne TIF distribution, and wage adjustments. He clarified that the $650,000 for Merrick Boulevard is a grant-funded advance and will be reimbursed. He noted the $500,000 for medical claims addresses year-end self-insurance costs; last year an unforeseen $1.8 million hit occurred. Council asked about the $1 million transfer, and Alger stated it is seed money for a parks capital fund from the residual of the 0.15% income tax originally for the rec center debt. The ordinance was deferred to a second reading on December 15.
• Consideration – Ordinance 25-75 (Price Farms Annexation, 175.79 acres): Planning staff noted the property is north of Merrick Parkway, received a resolution of services on September 8 limiting units to 319 due to current infrastructure capacity. No concrete development plans exist. Deferred to second reading on December 15.
• Consideration – Ordinance 25-76 (Pine Meadows Annexation, 109.01 acres): The property is south of Berlin Station Road, in Berlin Township and Olentangy School District. The applicant has been working with the city on future development; the first reading of a rezoning is in the packet. If annexation is approved, the rezoning public hearing will be January 12, 2026. Deferred to second reading.
• Consideration – Ordinances 25-77, 25-78, 25-79 (Zoning Map Amendments): All three were introduced and set for public hearings on January 12, 2026, as previously established in the consent agenda.
• City Manager's Report: Reported contract awards: Ferguson Construction for Fire Station 305 at $14 million (below the engineer's estimate); project started two weeks ago with demolition underway. Bids for the South Industrial Loop water and sewer line project (budgeted at $9 million) totaled $6.3 million, representing significant savings. Recruitment for city attorney is near completion with an offer expected; recruitment for public utilities director is underway with a national recruiter (Raff Tellus) and application deadline January 14.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda approved unanimously.
• Ordinance 25-65 (2026 Appropriations) approved as an emergency measure (7-0) on fourth reading.
• Ordinance 25-69 (City Zoning Map Amendment) approved (7-0) on third reading.
• Ordinance 25-73 held for third reading on December 15, 2025.
• Ordinances 25-74, 25-75, 25-76 set for second readings on December 15, 2025.
• Ordinances 25-77, 25-78, 25-79 and Resolution 25-90 (7 Brew drive-thru) set for public hearings on January 12, 2026.
• Meeting adjourned at 7:31 PM.