OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Gahanna City Council Regular Meeting - November 18, 2025

City Council & Commissions — Tuesday, November 18, 2025
BodyGahanna, Ohio
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateTuesday, November 18, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:27:09

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Good evening.

0:02

Thank you for joining us this evening.

0:04

We'll call to order this meeting of the City Council of the City of Gehana for Monday, November 17th, 2025.

0:11

If you would please join me to stand for the invocation and pledge of allegiance delivered by Council Vice President Trenton Weaver.

0:17

Thank you.

0:18

As we gather today, may we approach our work with patience and clarity.

0:23

In the midst of uncertainty, may we also find hope in our shared commitment to moving our community forward.

0:30

And may our decisions reflect both resilience and a belief in the opportunities that lie ahead.

0:37

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

0:43

And to the Republic for which it stands, my nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all thank you.

0:55

Thank you, Mr.

0:56

Weaver.

0:57

Mr.

0:57

Van Meter, would you please call the role?

0:59

Bowers.

1:00

Here.

1:00

Jones.

1:01

Here.

1:01

McGregor.

1:02

Padova.

1:03

Here.

1:03

Renner.

1:04

Here.

1:04

Schnitzer.

1:05

Here.

1:06

Weaver.

1:06

Here.

1:07

Thank you, Mr.

1:08

Van Meter.

1:09

We do have one addition correction to the agenda this evening.

1:13

Ordinance 0052-2025 is withdrawn from the agenda per the request of the administration.

1:19

And we do expect to see it back later this year.

1:22

Are there any other additions or corrections to this evening's agenda?

1:26

All right, we do have one item under presentations this evening, a swearing-in ceremony from the division of police.

1:32

Mayor Jadwin.

1:33

Thank you very much.

1:34

Council, as you know, we have been working very diligently to uh add to our our tremendously talented communications technicians staff, uh, and we are thrilled tonight to be swearing in.

1:45

Uh Michaela Fulham.

1:46

Michaela has been going through our training program here.

1:49

Uh and she's been a wonderful addition.

1:51

We also have several, actually, most of our team.

1:54

Will you guys just stand up for a minute?

1:55

Our communications technician staff, because nobody ever gets to see you guys.

2:00

These are the people, because we have a full room tonight.

2:04

When you call for an emergency and you are in your worst moments, these are the people that you hear on the other end of the phone.

2:11

It's not all of them, but it's a good portion of them.

2:13

And they're the folks who take care of you and get you the help that you need as fast as we can possibly get it to you.

2:19

So just you should get to to know them and say hi to them sometime before you leave tonight.

2:23

Thank you, ladies.

2:31

So I'm going to invite Director Becker and Chief Spence down to the podium.

2:34

And Michaela, if you'd like to join us as well.

2:54

All right, if you would please rank raise your right hand and repeat after me.

2:59

I solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution and Laws of the United States of America.

3:11

The Constitution and Statutes of the State of Ohio.

3:17

And the charter and ordinances of the City of Gehana.

3:22

And that I will faithfully, honestly, and impartially discharge the duties of police communications technician.

3:34

For the Gehana Division of Police.

3:37

To which I have been appointed to agenda.

3:39

So help me gosh.

3:41

Congratulations.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Economic Development████████████████████████████████32%
Public Safety████████████████16%
Procedural█████████████13%
Planning And Development██████████10%
Public Engagement████████8%
Budget Equity Analysis█████5%
Community Engagement████4%
Affordable Housing████4%
Political Signage Regulation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Gahanna City Council Regular Meeting - November 18, 2025

This summary covers the Gahanna City Council Regular Meeting. The agenda, minutes, and transcript identify the session as Monday, November 17, 2025, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers, while the user-provided timestamp is 2025-11-18 18:30:00+00:00; this summary uses the requested date in the title and notes the discrepancy. All seven Councilmembers were present: President Merisa K. Bowers, Vice President Trenton I. Weaver, and Councilmembers Jamille Jones, Nancy R. McGregor, Kaylee Padova, Stephen A. Renner, and Michael Schnetzer. President Bowers called the meeting to order at 7:07 PM and adjourned at 8:35 PM. A Finance Committee meeting followed after a brief break.

Presentation

  • Mayor Jadwin administered the oath of office to MaCayla Fullum as a Division of Police Communications Technician. Safety Director Becker and Chief Spence praised Fullum's completion of the revamped training program and the professionalism of the communications team.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the following minutes on the consent agenda: Council Special Minutes 11.3.2025, Council Regular Minutes 11.3.2025, Finance Committee Minutes 11.3.2025, Council Special Minutes 11.10.2025, Committee of the Whole Minutes 11.10.2025, and Finance Committee Minutes 11.10.2025.
  • Adopted RES-0054-2025, authorizing the City Attorney to enter into the Discover Card merchant class action settlement.
  • Adopted RES-0055-2025, adopting revised electric vehicle charging station fees under Chapter 949.
  • The consent agenda passed 7-0 on a motion by Schnetzer, seconded by Renner.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Patricia Kovacs of 527 Haversham Drive addressed ORD-0042-2025 and the proposed Creekside redevelopment. She thanked the city for adding a six-month warning if the Bauer House is slated for demolition, but expressed remaining reservations about the city's financial commitments, the role of the Gahanna Community Improvement Corporation, and development practices she described as seeming to be 'done behind the curtain.' She also said she had not previously seen the 2022 strategic plan and recommended that future Citizens Academy sessions cover the CIC.
  • Greg Bixler of 133 Walnut Creek Drive East asked Council to regulate front-yard holiday displays. Citing mental health and safety of children and home values, he requested three actions: limit the time holiday displays can remain up, stop holiday display competitions in Gahanna, and help bring back G- or PG-rated neighborhood displays for children.

Public Hearings

  • ORD-0049-2025, the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations ordinance, was opened for public hearing at 7:22 PM. No speaker slips were received, and the hearing was closed at 7:22 PM. President Bowers announced a second public hearing at the December 1, 2025 Regular Council Meeting, with adoption anticipated at the December 15, 2025 Regular Council Meeting.

Discussion Items

  • ORD-0051-2025 (utility rates) was introduced for first reading; Clerk VanMeter read it by title. No vote was taken.
  • ORD-0042-2025, the Creekside development agreement with Connect Realty LLC, Benson Capital LLC, and the Gahanna Community Improvement Corporation, received a second reading. Mayor Jadwin reviewed eight weeks of public engagement, earlier plans, the 2009 survey, the Gahanna Vision Plan, the 2019 Land Use Plan, and the 2022 Creekside Redevelopment Strategy. Economic Development Director Jeff Gottke said the project is data-informed and responsive to market demand. He cited approximately 1,797 people currently in the district daily versus about 2,313 in Dublin's mixed-use district; 287 proposed residential units; an estimated $22,800 in disposable income per average household; and about $6.5 million in potential new district spending, excluding hotel-guest activity. He also cited walkability constraints requiring vertical development and limited new commercial square footage beyond restaurant space.
  • Council first adopted the final proposed Substitute Exhibit A to the development agreement on a 7-0 vote, then adopted technical ordinance language corrections on a 7-0 vote, including changing the corporation name to 'Community Improvement Corporation of Gahanna' and adding language in Section 1 about sub-exhibits approved by the City Attorney.
  • Councilmember McGregor stated her opposition, citing Phase 2's removal of the parking lot adjacent to the Sanctuary, the loss of the Harry Bauer home, and the inability to split the phases. Councilmember Padova said she would vote yes as a vote for 'hope rather than fear,' citing declining visits to Creekside and the importance of retaining public control. Councilmember Schnetzer supported the project as a private-capital undertaking with an estimated $100 million investment and about a 5% city contribution, calling it a good project, not a perfect one. Councilmember Jones supported the project but said her support is not unconditional, noting businesses will not locate in an empty Creekside. Councilmember Renner supported it, citing milestones, safeguards, land reversion provisions, and regional context. Vice President Weaver supported it, crediting the CIC's parcel assembly, the self-contained parking, new restaurants, trail and recreation improvements, and a boutique hotel. President Bowers supported it, emphasizing housing and hotel needs, the event center, tourism, and urging that Phase 2 townhomes be owner-occupied.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda passed 7-0.
  • ORD-0051-2025 was introduced for first reading.
  • ORD-0042-2025 was adopted as amended by a 6-1 vote, with Councilmember McGregor voting no.
  • ORD-0052-2025 (the proposed Big Walnut Trail bridge decking contract with TYEVCO Inc.) was withdrawn at the administration's request and is expected to return later in the year.
  • ORD-0050-2025, accepting the Ohio Power Company fiber-optic easement and right-of-way agreement serving 825 Tech Center Drive, was adopted as an emergency on a 7-0 vote after Council waived second reading.
  • A second FY2026 budget hearing is scheduled for December 1, 2025, with adoption anticipated December 15, 2025.

Representative Reports and Official Reports

  • Councilmember Renner announced a CIC meeting on November 18, 2025 at 8:00 AM; Councilmember Padova noted CIC meetings are open to the public except executive sessions.
  • Vice President Weaver reported on MORPC. The written report said the commission last met November 11, 2025, while the oral transcript references Thursday, November 13, 2025; both versions described the same actions: approving the Village of Baltimore as a new member, adopting a mid-year revision reducing the 2025 operating budget from roughly $30 million to $24.5 million due to federal grant cuts, approving transportation program amendments, and authorizing an application for a $200,000 ODOT grant for regional mobility planning.
  • Councilmember Padova highlighted the November 23, 2025 Holiday Lights celebration, the Ohio Tourism Holiday Lights Trail selection, the Santa hotline, and volunteer opportunities.
  • Councilmember Jones reported on school board updates, including a cell phone ban and attendance policy changes, and announced a ribbon cutting for the new Gahanna Lincoln High School on January 10, 2026.
  • Mayor Jadwin announced the Division of Police earned its inaugural Advanced CALEA Accreditation without conditions after a virtual assessment, an August 2025 on-site inspection, and a panel hearing; the full 21-member CALEA Commission approved it, beginning a four-year reaccreditation cycle. She also outlined next steps for Creekside, including a six-month developer due diligence period and the city planning process with community input. CIC minutes are available at GahannaCIC.com and project materials at CreeksideReimagined.com.
  • City Attorney Tamilarasan reported that the Taglia trip-and-fall litigation in Academy Park was dismissed on summary judgment on recreational- and political-subdivision immunity grounds; the case is closed unless appealed.

Council Comment

  • Councilmembers congratulated the Division of Police on the CALEA accreditation, welcomed Communications Technician MaCayla Fullum, and thanked the Gahanna Veterans Committee. Councilmember Padova announced the December 10, 2025 Ugly Sweater Party at Edison Brewing Company benefiting Gahanna Residents in Need and reminded residents of Small Business Saturday. Councilmember Jones referred to her September-October constituent report. President Bowers closed by saying an engaged community is a strong, safe, and forward-looking community.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Thank you for joining us this evening. We'll call to order this meeting of the City Council of the City of Gehana for Monday, November 17th, 2025. If you would please join me to stand for the invocation and pledge of allegiance delivered by Council Vice President Trenton Weaver. Thank you. As we gather today, may we approach our work with patience and clarity. In the midst of uncertainty, may we also find hope in our shared commitment to moving our community forward. And may our decisions reflect both resilience and a belief in the opportunities that lie ahead. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands, my nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all thank you. Thank you, Mr. Weaver. Mr. Van Meter, would you please call the role? Bowers. Here. Jones. Here. McGregor. Padova. Here. Renner. Here. Schnitzer. Here. Weaver. Here. Thank you, Mr. Van Meter. We do have one addition correction to the agenda this evening. Ordinance 0052-2025 is withdrawn from the agenda per the request of the administration. And we do expect to see it back later this year. Are there any other additions or corrections to this evening's agenda? All right, we do have one item under presentations this evening, a swearing-in ceremony from the division of police. Mayor Jadwin. Thank you very much. Council, as you know, we have been working very diligently to uh add to our our tremendously talented communications technicians staff, uh, and we are thrilled tonight to be swearing in. Uh Michaela Fulham. Michaela has been going through our training program here. Uh and she's been a wonderful addition. We also have several, actually, most of our team. Will you guys just stand up for a minute? Our communications technician staff, because nobody ever gets to see you guys. These are the people, because we have a full room tonight. When you call for an emergency and you are in your worst moments, these are the people that you hear on the other end of the phone. It's not all of them, but it's a good portion of them. And they're the folks who take care of you and get you the help that you need as fast as we can possibly get it to you. So just you should get to to know them and say hi to them sometime before you leave tonight. Thank you, ladies. So I'm going to invite Director Becker and Chief Spence down to the podium.

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