Fairfield City Council Regular Meeting – February 23, 2026

Mayor Steve Miller called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Six councilmembers were present; Councilmember Leslie Besl (1st Ward) was excused. No agenda modifications or executive session requests were made. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM. All votes were 6-0 unless noted.

Council-Manager Briefing: 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Program

• Finance Director Diana Davenport and senior staff presented the five-year CIP at the 5:30 PM briefing. The plan totals $167,576,653 over 2026-2030, with annual totals of $27.2M (2026), $30.9M (2027), $25.2M (2028), $27.4M (2029), and $56.9M (2030). Priority breakdown: 31.2% critical, 55.1% major, 13.7% minor.
• The CIP is a planning and financial blueprint and does not itself appropriate money; funding sources include income taxes, charges for services, grants, and capital improvement, street, water, and sewer revenue funds. Fund balance summaries were presented for the General Fund, Capital Improvement Fund, Street Improvement Fund, Water Revenue Fund, and Sewer Revenue Fund.

Special Presentations

• Police Department oath of office: Mayor Miller administered oaths for Major Michael Woodall, Sergeants Olivia Vinskey and Alexander Roush, and Officers Blake Lathery, Jacob Barbaree, John French, and Gavyn Bell. Chief Steve Maynard welcomed and congratulated them.
• Lisa's Kitchen recognition: Mayor Miller presented a plaque to Lisa and Doug of Lisa's Kitchen for preparing more than 500 sandwiches for first responders during the Koch Foods fire; Councilmember Dale Paullus coordinated the outreach.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Scott Lepsky, 7 Carousel Circle, asked Council to direct staff to engage with the Pleasant and John Gray developer and to commit the same resources used for the Whispering Hill development, noting both sites are in overlay districts with challenging topography and established neighborhoods. He cited the Fairfield Forward Vision Plan's recommendations for patio/cottage homes and buffering at Pleasant and John Gray, and raised traffic and density concerns. The Mayor clarified that the Whispering Hill ordinance was not being moved to third reading or declared an emergency that evening.

Council Reports

• Councilmember Matt Davidson announced the spring Fairfield Flyer, police youth programs (Junior Police Academy June 1-5 and Safety Town June 15-19 and June 22-26), the residential tree program with 50% reimbursement up to $200, and Earth Day on April 22 at 1 PM at Huffman Park. He also congratulated the U.S. men's and women's hockey teams.
• Councilmember Tim Meyers praised the tree program. Councilmember Debbie Pennington announced that the concrete replacement program begins in March and that the 2026 resurfacing street list is on the city's website.

Old Business

• Development Services – Whispering Hill: Councilmember Gwen Brill presented the second reading of the ordinance authorizing the City Manager to execute a Funding and Development Agreement with Mitchell Development & Construction LLC for the Whispering Hill housing development on South Gilmore Road, with an emergency clause. No vote was taken; it remains on second reading.

New Business

• A motion to read all new business by title only carried 6-0.

Public Safety

• Simple Motion No. 8-26: Councilmember Paullus, seconded by Councilmember Pennington, moved not to request a hearing for the liquor permit application of Vargas, Inc. (Carniceria El Camino, 5951 Boymel Drive; Class C1 & C2). Approved 6-0.
• Simple Motion No. 9-26: Councilmember Paullus, seconded by Councilmember Brill, moved not to request a hearing for the liquor permit application of Om Surya LLC (Mitho Restaurant and Bar, 5060 Pleasant Avenue, Unit A; Class D5). Approved 6-0.

Public Works

• Ordinance No. 18-26 authorized a contract with Elams Excavating, LLC for the Ross and Woodridge Improvements Project. The project adds a roundabout to improve safety, capacity, and traffic calming; the city secured a $400,000 OPWC grant. Seven bids were opened February 2, 2026, and Elams was the lowest and best bidder. Suspended readings and adopted 6-0.
• Ordinance No. 19-26 authorized a contract with Barrett Paving Materials, Inc. for the 2026 Asphalt Resurfacing Project, covering approximately 22 lane miles and meeting the annual paving goal. Two bids were opened February 9, 2026, and Barrett was the lowest and best bidder. Suspended readings and adopted 6-0.

Finance & Budget

• Ordinance No. 20-26 amended the 2026 appropriations for contractual appropriations totaling $4,233,916, including $840,000 for Ross & Woodridge Improvements, $2,150,000 for Asphalt Resurfacing, $28,916 restored Harbin Park Contingency, and $1,215,000 for the Concrete Curb and Sidewalk Program. Presented by Councilmember Meyers for the excused Councilmember Besl. Suspended readings and adopted 6-0.
• Ordinance No. 21-26 amended the 2026 appropriations for non-contractual appropriations totaling $278,925: $8,650 for a sewer lateral inspection camera reel; $65,000 for Ross and Woodridge roundabout lighting; $5,325 for an edge-lit sign; $50,000 for fire hydrant re-coating; $25,000 for traffic signal upgrades and spare parts; and $125,000 for emergency storm sewer repairs. Suspended readings and adopted 6-0.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the Regular Meeting Minutes of February 9, 2026 as written.
• Adopted Ordinances No. 18-26, 19-26, 20-26, and 21-26; approved Simple Motions No. 8-26 and 9-26. All votes were 6-0 with Councilmember Besl excused.
• The Whispering Hill funding and development agreement ordinance remains on second reading; no action was taken.
• Next meetings: March 9 and March 23, 2026, and April 13, 2026, each with a 6:00 PM Council-Manager Briefing followed by a 7:00 PM Regular Meeting.