OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Gahanna Committee of the Whole Meeting Summary – January 12, 2026

City Council & Commissions — Wednesday, February 11, 2026
BodyGahanna, Ohio
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateWednesday, February 11, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 55:42

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Next time, next time.

0:01

All right, good evening, everyone.

0:03

It's January 12th.

0:04

I have 701, so we'll go ahead and get started for this week's committee of the whole.

0:09

Up first, we have items from the Department of Parks and Rec.

0:13

Director Farrell.

0:15

Hello.

0:17

Okay here.

0:18

Thank you so much.

0:19

I have three items for you this evening, all are related to competitive bidding.

0:24

The first item is permission to bid the street tree planting program.

0:29

These plantings are prioritized to replacement trees.

0:32

Residents will receive notification prior to any planting and have the opportunity to opt into that program.

0:38

Along with that, this is the third year of this program, but because of the available funding and just the dedication towards this effort, this will reach the threshold of competitive bidding.

0:52

With that, we are uh respectfully requesting a motion to for permission to bid the street tree planting program.

1:00

Okay.

1:01

Any question or discussions?

1:04

Mr.

1:04

Weaver.

1:05

Thank you, Madam Chair.

1:06

Uh good evening, Director.

1:07

Uh very excited to see this moving forward.

1:10

And uh so I I'm not trying to get put the cart before the horse since I know if we're going out to bid, we're we're counting on people to propose to us what we're uh looking at.

1:21

But um are we targeting?

1:25

I'm assuming we're targeting large areas where there's hazardous removal replacement areas, large areas where there were large numbers of removals is maybe the better way to that is correct.

1:36

Okay, and do we do you happen to have like a map or a parcel list, or are we counting on our potential vendor to give us what they might be able to do within the scope?

1:46

So we have a list of roughly um 120 trees that have been identified that will be part uh part of that request in order to opt in, um, but we won't have that official list of plantings until those letters of notification are received by the residents.

2:04

Okay, all right.

2:05

Thank you very much.

2:06

I think I'm good.

2:07

Okay, yep.

2:07

Mrs.

2:08

Padova, thank you.

2:10

Um thank you.

2:11

I wanted to see, so I'm kind of jumping ahead a little bit here, but for um item one and two, the first one is for the street ple street tree planting program.

2:22

That's a tongue twister.

2:24

Um, and then for the street tree pruning program.

2:28

Um will those I assume that a lot of the bids would be from the same companies to do both.

2:34

Is there a reason that that's not combined, or would it be combined if the same company came in lowest for both?

2:41

It's a good question.

2:42

Um it's advantageous for us to separate the scope of work so that we can truly understand what that value is in comparative to the work.

2:51

Um so it may be the same vendor, um, but it's beneficial for us to separate that.

2:57

Okay.

2:58

And then if it if it comes back and for both of these, it's the same vendor.

3:02

Um, do you have the ability to ask them for better pricing for both contracts, or is that out of the question?

3:11

It really comes down to that bid requirement.

3:13

So because we're entering into that bit, that competitive bid, it it comes down to what is um uh received through that process.

3:22

Okay, sounds good.

3:23

Thank you.

3:23

Thank you.

3:26

All right, there looks like no further questions, so we can move to the next one.

3:31

Sure, a little foreshadowing there.

3:33

So um the second item is related again, however, a different scope of work.

3:37

Um the care of our existing tree canopy re remains a priority.

3:41

Um, so that way the consistent management, including pruning, is a requirement in order for us to sustain that initiative.

3:49

Um so the administration is respectfully requesting a motion for permission to bid the street tree pruning program.

3:57

Any questions?

4:00

This is the first year we've done a contract for street tree pruning.

4:05

Um a large contract of this nature, yes.

4:09

Um we have done pruning um for any type of arterial arterials just based off of um uh anything that's low-hanging, so that we're keeping hazards out of the roadway or um right of way.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Economic Development███████████████████19%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████████16%
Public Engagement███████████████15%
Parks and Recreation███████████11%
Procedural███████████11%
Community Engagement███████████11%
Procurement██████6%
Heritage And Culture█████5%
Charter Review Process████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Gahanna Committee of the Whole Meeting Summary – January 12, 2026

The Gahanna City Council Committee of the Whole met on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 7:01 PM in Council Chambers. Vice President Jamille Jones chaired the meeting. All members were present. The agenda included items from the Departments of Parks and Recreation, Engineering, Economic Development, the Mayor's Office, and Councilmembers. The meeting adjourned at 7:57 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • MT-0001-2026 (Street Tree Planting Program): Motion to authorize bidding. Director Stephania Ferrell requested permission to bid for the third year of the program, prioritizing replacement trees. Residents will receive notification and can opt in. Approximately 120 eligible trees identified. Recommended for introduction/adoption on Consent Agenda on 1/20/2026.
  • MT-0002-2026 (Street Tree Pruning Program): Motion to authorize bidding for a large-scale contract (first of its kind) to sustain the tree canopy, including pruning arterials to remove hazards. Recommended for Consent Agenda on 1/20/2026.
  • MT-0003-2026 (Academy Park Renovation Project): Motion to authorize bidding. Project includes redesigned playground, expanded shelter house (concession, restroom, trailhead), parking lot expansion (298 existing to 344 spaces, adding 46), stormwater infrastructure (bioswale), new basketball court, and trail network. Goblin Trail may be impacted; alternative plan will be developed. Soccer fields and green space not impacted. Recommended for Consent Agenda on 1/20/2026.
  • MT-0004-2026 (2026 Street & Sidewalk Program): Motion to authorize bidding for curb repairs, crack sealing, micro-resurfacing on selected streets. Pavement assessment delayed to spring 2026 due to insufficient RFP responses. Street list will not change for this program but may affect future programs. Recommended for Consent Agenda on 1/20/2026.
  • MT-0005-2026 (2026 Sidewalk Lookback Program): Motion to authorize bidding for sidewalk maintenance on streets from the 2021-2023 program. Does not include driveway aprons; apron work is under the Street Rebuild Program approved earlier. Discussion on cutback practices (following Columbus standards) and homeowner communication. Recommended for Consent Agenda on 1/20/2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments or testimony were presented.

Discussion Items

  • ORD-0002-2026 (Tax Incentive Review Council Recommendations): Director Jeff Gottke presented the ordinance accepting the TIRC recommendation to continue 13 post-1994 Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) tax abatements for tax year 2024. One abatement expired, returning approximately $31,000 to tax rolls. Companies outside job-creation windows exceeded commitments: 593 jobs created versus 462 committed; payroll exceeded by $15.5 million, resulting in an estimated $630,000 additional impact to the City. Councilmember Bowers questioned an abatement for Buckeye Elm Holdings (10-year, 80% abatement, created 2020) with no clawback provision. She expressed concern about the lack of enforcement for job creation and noted an economist study suggesting TIFs outperform abatements. Procedural issues were raised: Mifflin Township had no representative at the TIRC meeting, and the City's two representatives were not formally appointed by Council (Ohio Revised Code Section 5709.85(A)(2) requires mayor appointment with council concurrence). City Attorney Priya Tamilarasan stated she needed time to assess potential ramifications. The ordinance will receive first reading on 1/20/2026, return to Committee of the Whole on 1/26/2026, and second reading/adoption on 2/2/2026.
  • Charter Review Commission Appointment Announcements: Mayor Laurie Jadwin announced three mayoral appointments to the 2026 Charter Review Commission: Richard Maxwell, Ray Mularski (former city attorney), and Carrin Wester.
  • Sgt. Coffee Co. Ribbon Cutting: Councilmember Padova announced a ribbon cutting on Thursday, January 22, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at The Well in Creekside District (140 N. Hight Street). Councilmembers interested in attending were asked to notify Clerk VanMeter by January 20.
  • RES-0001-2026 (MLK Jr. Day and Retired Judge James E. Green Recognition): Councilmember Bowers introduced a joint resolution and proclamation recognizing January 19, 2026, as Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the National Day of Service, and commending retired Judge James E. Green for his 31-year service on the municipal court (retired December 31, 2025). A last-minute correction: Judge Green served five years as an administrator on the Ohio Supreme Court, not six years as general counsel. Resolution will be on the Consent Agenda on 1/20/2026.
  • 2026 Resolutions Calendar: Councilmember Jones presented a list of ceremonial resolutions from 2025. Discussion on streamlining the list (approximately 17 items). Councilmember Schnetzer suggested limiting resolutions to meritorious service or significant achievements. Councilmember Padova emphasized the importance of community engagement. Councilmember Jones supported retaining heritage month recognitions (Black History Month, Women’s History Month, LGBTQ). Consensus to have Clerk VanMeter and Councilmember Jones review and bring recommendations to a future committee. It was noted that a Black History Month resolution and presentation on Cora Thurman (first African American high school graduate) will occur on February 2, 2026, at 6:00 PM.

Key Outcomes

  • All five motions (MT-0001 through MT-0005) were recommended for adoption on the Consent Agenda on January 20, 2026.
  • ORD-0002-2026 received a schedule: first reading on 1/20/2026, further committee discussion on 1/26/2026, second reading/adoption on 2/2/2026. Councilmember Bowers requested a regular agenda vote.
  • The Mayor announced Charter Review Commission appointments.
  • The Sgt. Coffee Co. ribbon cutting was scheduled for January 22, 2026.
  • Resolution RES-0001-2026 was placed on the Consent Agenda for January 20, 2026.
  • The resolutions calendar discussion will continue at a future committee meeting with recommendations from the Clerk and Councilmember Jones.

Meeting Transcript

Next time, next time. All right, good evening, everyone. It's January 12th. I have 701, so we'll go ahead and get started for this week's committee of the whole. Up first, we have items from the Department of Parks and Rec. Director Farrell. Hello. Okay here. Thank you so much. I have three items for you this evening, all are related to competitive bidding. The first item is permission to bid the street tree planting program. These plantings are prioritized to replacement trees. Residents will receive notification prior to any planting and have the opportunity to opt into that program. Along with that, this is the third year of this program, but because of the available funding and just the dedication towards this effort, this will reach the threshold of competitive bidding. With that, we are uh respectfully requesting a motion to for permission to bid the street tree planting program. Okay. Any question or discussions? Mr. Weaver. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh good evening, Director. Uh very excited to see this moving forward. And uh so I I'm not trying to get put the cart before the horse since I know if we're going out to bid, we're we're counting on people to propose to us what we're uh looking at. But um are we targeting? I'm assuming we're targeting large areas where there's hazardous removal replacement areas, large areas where there were large numbers of removals is maybe the better way to that is correct. Okay, and do we do you happen to have like a map or a parcel list, or are we counting on our potential vendor to give us what they might be able to do within the scope? So we have a list of roughly um 120 trees that have been identified that will be part uh part of that request in order to opt in, um, but we won't have that official list of plantings until those letters of notification are received by the residents. Okay, all right. Thank you very much. I think I'm good. Okay, yep. Mrs. Padova, thank you. Um thank you. I wanted to see, so I'm kind of jumping ahead a little bit here, but for um item one and two, the first one is for the street ple street tree planting program. That's a tongue twister. Um, and then for the street tree pruning program. Um will those I assume that a lot of the bids would be from the same companies to do both. Is there a reason that that's not combined, or would it be combined if the same company came in lowest for both? It's a good question. Um it's advantageous for us to separate the scope of work so that we can truly understand what that value is in comparative to the work. Um so it may be the same vendor, um, but it's beneficial for us to separate that. Okay. And then if it if it comes back and for both of these, it's the same vendor. Um, do you have the ability to ask them for better pricing for both contracts, or is that out of the question? It really comes down to that bid requirement. So because we're entering into that bit, that competitive bid, it it comes down to what is um uh received through that process. Okay, sounds good. Thank you. Thank you.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com