Delaware City Council Regular Meeting - September 14, 2026

The Delaware City Council met in regular session on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers after a 6:00 PM executive session under Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22(G)(1) to consider appointment or employment of a public official. Mayor Carolyn Kay Riggle presided; all seven council members were present. The agenda included consent approvals, a proclamation, a pedal bar business presentation, multiple public hearings on annexations, rezoning, tax incentives and development plans, the FY 2026 appropriations amendment, and two liquor license transfers.

Consent Calendar

• Approved, 7-0, motion summaries from the special and regular City Council meetings of August 24, 2026, and the special meeting of August 31, 2026.
• Approved, 7-0, the consent agenda accepting committee minutes from Finance (Nov. 14, 2025), Parking and Safety (Jun. 30, 2026), Planning Commission (Aug. 5, 2026), Civil Service (Aug. 10, 2026), Finance (Aug. 31 and Sep. 1, 2026).
• Scheduled September 28, 2026 public hearings/second readings for Ordinance 26-47 (Ex Flax rezoning at Lake/Flax), Ordinance 26-48 (Hickory Woods annexation), and Resolution 26-70 (Goodwill Men's Shelter development plan).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Greg Jarrell, 46 Coldstone Court, presented a petition on behalf of about 250 senior households in the Four Seasons Active 55+ community. He requested alternative traffic calming on Heritage Boulevard, including radar speed signs, pedestrian refuge islands, and high-visibility raised crosswalks, and raised safety concerns about a youth playground and connector path being built adjacent to the senior community. He called it a planning error and asked the city to alter the design, remove the connector path, and consider passive senior-appropriate amenities.
• Deborah Crews, 265 W. Fountain Avenue, distributed handouts and spoke about past ice-age predictions, carbon dioxide and temperature data, and cautioned against relying on unreliable models for policy decisions.

Proclamation: 40th Anniversary of the All Horse Parade

• Mayor Riggle proclaimed Sunday, September 13, 2026 as All Horse Parade Day in the City of Delaware. Diane Winter accepted on behalf of the All Horse Parade Committee.

Presentation: peDel Delaware Pedal Bar

• Bo Tikarski, Mitchell Brown, and Ron Brown proposed a Delaware pedal bike/party bike business. They described a 14-passenger electric-assist bike, 5 mph operating speed, Ohio law treatment similar to limousines, two-hour rides with three stops, and operations planned March through November. They noted discussions with police/fire officials and said major highways such as US 36/SR 37, US 42, and US 23 would be avoided. Council members asked about parking, routes, private lot agreements, ridership, and costs; no vote was taken. Multiple council members requested a fuller staff presentation through the Parking and Safety Committee.

Public Hearings & Second Readings

• Ordinance 26-37 (nuisance, dangerous, and vicious dogs): Police Chief Moore presented changes to align city code with Ohio's Avery's Law, including updated definitions, penalties, and impoundment procedures. The public hearing was closed with no comment. Council suspended the three-reading rule 6-1 (Griffith no) and then approved the ordinance 7-0.
• Ordinance 26-38 (Price Trusts II annexation): Attorney Elizabeth Seedorf and Planning Director Sandra Pereira presented the 175-acre annexation consistent with Resolution 26-27. Council discussed the 319-unit cap and buffer along Hills-Miller Road. No vote; moved to a third reading.
• Ordinance 26-39 (Price Farms II MX-PUD expansion): Pereira presented the proposed expansion of MX-PUD 26-2 by 175 acres with subareas G-H-I-J and a future traffic impact study. No public comment; moved to another reading.
• Ordinance 26-40 (19 Gruber LLC rezoning): Pereira presented the rezoning of 2.84 acres at West William and Gruber from I-1 to MX-PUD. Attorney Scott Gordon and Bill Morgan supported the proposal as a way to improve the property. No public comment; moved to a third reading.
• Ordinance 26-41 (senior residential care facility rezoning): Pereira presented a rezoning of 5.386 acres at Lansdale Drive/South Houk Road from C-CC PUD to C-PUD. Jared Isenthal of Evergreen Real Estate Group described a 120-unit assisted living concept. No public comment. Council discussed emergency access and projected EMS call volume; moved to another reading.
• Resolution 26-59 (Take 5 Oil Change development plan): Pereira presented the 0.807-acre plan on Sunbury Road. The public hearing was closed with no comment. The resolution was corrected for a date error and approved as amended 7-0.
• Resolution 26-60 (Snappy's Automotive development plan): Pereira presented the 3.039-acre plan at Liberty Road and Belle Avenue. Applicant Chris Winkle requested approval of a rear material change from stone wainscoting to split-faced block and explained agreed parking/path changes. The public hearing was closed with no comment. Approved as amended 6-1 (Bogan no).
• Ordinance 26-42 (Sawmill Parkway TIF): Economic Development Director Nie Langford presented the eight-district residential TIF, 100% new-improvement exemption, estimated 687 units and $258 million in new building value, with payments to school districts/career center and repayment of about $8.7 million to the county. No public comment; moved to another reading.
• Ordinance 26-43 (Mason Hunt LLC/Snappy's CRA): Logan Brunney presented the request as a 10-year real property tax abatement with school compensation; in discussion, staff described it as effectively a 10-year, 70% abatement (65% after the school district compensation payment). Public hearing closed with no comment. A motion to suspend three readings failed 4-3 (Haynes, McClellan, Frazier, Riggle yes; Griffith, Rider, Bogan no); ordinance moved to another reading.
• Ordinance 26-44 (Howald Properties CRA): Brunney presented the 15-year, 100% real property tax exemption for a new multi-tenant flex industrial building at 320 London Road. John Howald said demand is very high and he maintains a waiting list. Public commenter Deborah Guebert questioned special abatements for businesses and suggested lowering property tax rates generally. No vote; moved to another reading.
• Ordinance 26-45 (Sawmill Delaware Investments/FedOne CRA): Langford presented a 15-year, 75% CRA for a second speculative industrial building at 119 Innovation Court, a $12.25 million project. David Poe of FedOne asked for approval that evening to pursue construction financing and begin work before winter. Public hearing closed. Council suspended three readings 6-1 (Rider no) and approved the ordinance 7-0.

Other Second Readings and Resolutions

• Ordinance 26-46 (FY 2026 appropriations, as amended): Finance Director Alycia Hefner outlined third-quarter appropriation adjustments, including $50,000 for emergency airport fuel system repairs and personnel/risk-management items. Council suspended readings 7-0, approved the emergency clause 7-0, and approved the ordinance 7-0.
• Resolution 26-61 (2027-2031 Five-Year Capital Improvement Program): Hefner said a full presentation would be provided at the next meeting. Approved 6-0 (Griffith temporarily absent during the vote).
• Resolution 26-67 (Strategic Action Plan): City Manager Paul Brake said additional revisions were still being prepared. Council asked to see final revisions before voting; moved to another reading.

First Readings and Future Items

• Ordinance 26-47 (Ex Flax rezoning): Read for the first time; public hearing and second reading set for September 28, 2026.
• Ordinance 26-48 (Hickory Woods annexation): Read for the first time; public hearing and second reading set for September 28, 2026.
• Ordinance 26-49 (Spring Street property conveyance for downtown hotel): Read for the first time; Langford said a full presentation would come September 28, 2026.
• Resolution 26-68 (ODOT SR 37 resurfacing agreement): City Engineer Jonathan Owen reported the city share remains $330,000. Approved 7-0.
• Resolution 26-69 (Tax Incentive Review Council annual report): City Attorney David Moser explained new state confidentiality rules under ORC 9.66. Brunney reported 20 CRA agreements reviewed, with 11 fully compliant, nine on the consideration agenda (five within grace period), and four companies citing workforce shortages, tariffs, or vacancy/backfill issues. Council received confidential packets and moved the resolution to another reading; an executive session option was discussed.
• Liquor license transfers (AVI Food Systems to Aramark at two Ohio Wesleyan University locations): Police Chief Moore reported no objections. Approved without objection 7-0.

Committee Reports & City Manager's Report

• Council committee reports included upcoming Parks and Recreation and Shade Tree meetings, Historical Preservation Commission on Wednesday, no BZA meeting, and multiple Finance Committee sessions.
• City Manager Brake reported August 2026 contract approvals, most notably the nearly $3 million Kingsbury Athletic Fields project awarded to Sweet Meadows Farm, and an emergency expenditure for airport fuel tank repair work already covered in the budget amendment.

Key Outcomes

• Approved consent calendar, dog ordinance, Take 5 development plan, Snappy's development plan, FedOne CRA, FY 2026 appropriations, five-year CIP, ODOT resurfacing agreement, and liquor license transfers.
• Failed to suspend readings for Ordinance 26-43, sending it to another reading.
• Continued multiple annexation, rezoning, TIF, CRA, and Strategic Action Plan items to future meetings, with several public hearings scheduled for September 28, 2026.
• No formal action was taken on the peDel pedal bar presentation; staff review was requested.