OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Gahanna City Council Regular Meeting – March 17, 2026

City Council & Commissions — Tuesday, March 17, 2026
BodyGahanna, Ohio
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateTuesday, March 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 36:33

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Good evening.

0:04

Today is Monday, March 16th, 2026.

0:07

I've got just past seven o'clock here, so I'd like to go ahead and call to order the regular meeting of Gehana City Council.

0:14

If you would please join me in standing and uh in the pledge and invocation led by Councilwoman Jones.

0:22

We gather tonight as a community that has just weathered and are weathering a storm.

0:28

In the past days, as the winds blew, our neighborhood streets went dark.

0:33

Trees that had stood for generations came down.

0:36

Families sat without heat or light for 36 or more hours.

0:40

Businesses closed their doors.

0:42

Even major intersections where the traffic lights went silent.

0:45

A Gehanna police officer stood in the wind in the uncertainty and kept us moving safely.

0:51

Through it all, our patients may have run thin, but together we showed our city is not defined by the storms that find us.

0:58

It is defined by how we show up for one another when they do.

1:02

Neighbor checking on neighbor, crews working through the night, first responders who don't hesitate.

1:08

As we open this meeting tonight, let us carry that spirit into this chamber.

1:13

May we approach the work with clear eyes, steady purpose, and the same quiet determination we just witnessed on our own streets.

1:21

That is the community we serve, and tonight and every night we honor it.

1:27

I pledge allegiance.

1:35

One nation on the indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

1:43

Thank you, Miss Jones.

1:45

Mr.

1:46

Clerk, would you please call the roll?

1:47

Bowers?

1:48

Here.

1:49

Jones?

1:49

Here.

1:50

McGregor.

1:51

Here.

1:51

Padova.

1:52

Here.

1:52

Renner?

1:53

Here.

1:53

Schnetzer?

1:54

Here.

1:54

Weaver.

1:55

Here.

1:56

Thank you, Mr.

1:56

Clerk.

1:57

Moving right along.

1:58

Are there any additions or corrections to the agenda this evening?

2:04

All right.

2:05

Seeing none, we'll move to hearing of visitors.

2:07

I do have one speaker slip this evening.

2:10

As a reminder, you will have three minutes when you start speaking.

2:14

And if you could please state your name and address for the record.

2:18

And uh we'll go ahead and call Mr.

2:20

Kennemer.

2:21

Is that correct?

2:26

Thank you, Council.

2:28

Fred Kennemer.

2:31

I reside at uh 3625 Air Hall Pass in New Albany.

2:35

But um I've lived in Gehana since from 1982 through 2002.

2:42

2022, sorry.

2:46

So a long time.

2:48

Remember speaking with Jim McGregor.

2:51

Calling about a fox up that we saw down by the river, and he confirmed.

2:56

And uh Mr.

2:57

Renner's one of my old neighbors, and we've had a lot of good things happen here in Gehana.

3:04

Mayor Jadwin had meetings with her as well.

3:07

But tonight I just wanted to just uh say something about RRT, which is the rapid relief team.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety██████████████████████████26%
Public Engagement███████████████15%
Procedural██████████████14%
Waste Management██████████10%
Economic Development█████████9%
Zoning And Land Use████████8%
Mental Health Awareness███████7%
Pending Litigation███████7%
Youth Programs████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Gahanna City Council Regular Meeting – March 17, 2026

Note on date discrepancy: The agenda, minutes, and transcript all indicate the meeting occurred on Monday, March 16, 2026, at 7:00 PM. The instruction to use March 17, 2026, is followed here, but the source material consistently references March 16.

The Gahanna City Council met in regular session on March 17, 2026 (as per instruction), at 7:01 PM in Council Chambers, with all seven members present. The meeting included a public hearing, approval of a consent agenda, introduction of a body-worn camera grant ordinance, emergency adoption of a sewer capacity charge update, and adoption of a 7.6-acre annexation from Jefferson Township. Council also received reports from the Mayor, City Attorney, liaisons, and councilmembers, and heard community updates.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes: Approved the regular meeting minutes of March 2, 2026 (2026-0058) and the Committee of the Whole minutes of March 9, 2026 (2026-0059).
  • Resolutions (all adopted unanimously):
    • RES-0007-2026: Authorizing a then-and-now purchase order for stop loss coverage through Sun Life.
    • RES-0008-2026: Authorizing the Mayor to enter into a School Resource Officer (SRO) contract with Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools for the 2026-2027 school year.
    • RES-0009-2026: Authorizing the City Attorney to enter into a settlement with six remaining defendants.
    • RES-0010-2026: Determining the selection of successor members of the Board of Trustees for the Gahanna New Community Authority.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Fred Kenimer (3625 Eyre Hall Pass, New Albany, formerly a Gahanna resident from 1982 to 2022) spoke as an ambassador for the Rapid Relief Team (RRT), a global disaster relief organization. He described RRT’s past local event (providing meals for first responders nine years ago) and recent responses to tornadoes in Kentucky, floods in Texas, and fires in Los Angeles. He offered RRT’s services for both reactive and proactive community needs, and noted that he had provided his contact information to the Clerk, Mayor, and Police Chief.

Discussion Items

  • ORD-0009-2026 (First Reading): An ordinance authorizing supplemental appropriations from the Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) grant fund for body-worn camera services. No action taken; introduced by title.
  • ORD-0008-2026 (Emergency Adoption): An ordinance to amend Section 921.04 of the Codified Ordinances to update sewerage system capacity charges and declaring an emergency. Adopted unanimously (7-0) on second reading.
  • ORD-0007-2026 (Second Reading/Adoption – Annexation): Ordinance to accept the annexation of approximately 7.6 acres (4736 and 4722 Johnstown Road, Parcel IDs 170-000068 and 170-000069) from Jefferson Township into the City of Gahanna.
    • Councilmember Nancy McGregor expressed support, stating the property is an “orphan property” in Jefferson Township and that annexation would allow the City to provide water and sewer services for quality development.
    • President Trenton Weaver thanked all involved, acknowledged the applicant’s willingness to meet with neighbors, and stated that he believed property owners have a right to develop within the code. He noted that a project would proceed regardless of jurisdiction, but as Ward 4 representative he would vote no to reflect his constituents’ wishes. He committed to working with residents and the applicant on the final development if the annexation passed.
  • CIC Report (Councilmember Renner): Reported on the February 18, 2026 meeting of the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC). Topics included: strategic plan comparisons with other central Ohio CICs, board approval of 2026 organizational meeting minutes and January regular meeting minutes, approval of December 2025 and January 2026 draft financials (balances ~$450,000), approval of Leppert’s engagement letter, updates on Creekside demolitions and stormwater work, discussion of a property management contract with Wallace Ackley, a request from SGT Coffee to use CIC property for parking, and approval of Google Workspace enterprise standard. Director Gottke added that demolition of buildings is complete; the contractor is awaiting an EPA permit for pavement demolition and will then restore lots to grass. Access agreements are being worked out for event use (e.g., Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival).
  • MORPC Report (President Weaver): Reported on the March 12 Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) meeting. Featured former Congressman Steve Stivers (Ohio Chamber of Commerce) discussing business and regional support. No formal commission meeting in April; instead four regional meetings. Highlighted release of the future land use map via the Mid-Ohio Open Data (MOOD) portal (800,000+ planning records). Noted the upcoming State of the Region event.
  • CVB Report (Councilmember Padova): Announced Visit Gahanna’s Spring Showcase on April 14, 2026 (5:30–7:30 PM) at Noble Cut Distillery – an interactive open house for residents to learn about programs (Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival, Ohio Herb Center, Herbal Cocktail Trail, Holiday Lights). Attendees visiting all stations receive a complimentary single-day pass to the Blues and Jazz Festival. Also reported that the spring/summer Herbal Cocktail Trail launched March 1, runs through August, featuring eight local businesses; a future version will include mocktails and coffee drinks.
  • School Board Report (Vice President Jones): Noted upcoming school board meetings (Finance & Facilities March 17, Regular March 19, both at 6:30 PM at Clark Hall); no school March 20 (conference comp day). The district’s financial spotlight was mailed to residents and is available digitally. Celebrated student achievements: Gahanna-Jefferson High School earned bronze recognition on the 2025 AP School Honor Roll (first time); all 30 DECA members qualified for the international DECA conference; senior Kael Clous won the school’s first boys bowling individual state championship and was named OSU Athlete of the Week; girls bowling finished as state runner-up; senior Jordan Mills placed fifth in her weight class at state wrestling; KyLee Tibbs became a two-time girls wrestling state champion.
  • Mayor’s Report: Thanked staff and community for storm response. Noted Parks team cleared trees Friday night, service crew worked on infrastructure (streetlights, pump stations). Praised AEP and its crews for proactive communication and response. Announced special storm debris collection at the service garage (152 Oklahoma Avenue) through Friday, 7 AM–4 PM, accepting branches, leaves, wood chips, logs up to 20 inches in diameter (no larger logs, soil, lumber, rocks, household trash). Launched the 2026 Community Grant Program portal; virtual meeting for applicants to be scheduled. Announced utility billing portal update effective April 1, 2026; autopay users must re-enter payment information for security. Attended MORPC meeting and Central Ohio Mayors and Managers Association meeting (discussed housing, property taxes, data center growth with Jason Hall of Columbus Partnership). Upcoming events: early bird pool membership deadline March 31; egg hunt March 28 (limited availability); second annual Mental Health and Wellness Fair in May.
  • City Attorney’s Report: Reported that the Taglia trip-and-fall case from Academy Park was voluntarily dismissed with prejudice, now closed. Also piloting a mediation program to divert certain cases (initially neighbor disputes with escalating complaints) from formal prosecution in Mayor’s Court or Franklin County Municipal Court; will provide updates.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda: Passed unanimously (7-0).
  • ORD-0008-2026 (Sewer capacity charges): Adopted as an emergency, 7-0.
  • ORD-0007-2026 (Annexation): Adopted on second reading by a vote of 5-1-1. Yes: Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer. No: Weaver. Abstain (Conflict of Interest): Bowers.
  • ORD-0009-2026 (Body-worn camera grant): Introduced for first reading; no action taken.
  • Councilmember constituent reports: Bowers rescheduled her constituent hour to March 28, 2026 (9:30 AM, Gahanna Branch Library). Jones’ constituent hour is April 18, 2026 (11:00 AM, SGT Coffee).
  • Meeting adjourned at 7:37 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Today is Monday, March 16th, 2026. I've got just past seven o'clock here, so I'd like to go ahead and call to order the regular meeting of Gehana City Council. If you would please join me in standing and uh in the pledge and invocation led by Councilwoman Jones. We gather tonight as a community that has just weathered and are weathering a storm. In the past days, as the winds blew, our neighborhood streets went dark. Trees that had stood for generations came down. Families sat without heat or light for 36 or more hours. Businesses closed their doors. Even major intersections where the traffic lights went silent. A Gehanna police officer stood in the wind in the uncertainty and kept us moving safely. Through it all, our patients may have run thin, but together we showed our city is not defined by the storms that find us. It is defined by how we show up for one another when they do. Neighbor checking on neighbor, crews working through the night, first responders who don't hesitate. As we open this meeting tonight, let us carry that spirit into this chamber. May we approach the work with clear eyes, steady purpose, and the same quiet determination we just witnessed on our own streets. That is the community we serve, and tonight and every night we honor it. I pledge allegiance. One nation on the indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Miss Jones. Mr. Clerk, would you please call the roll? Bowers? Here. Jones? Here. McGregor. Here. Padova. Here. Renner? Here. Schnetzer? Here. Weaver. Here. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Moving right along. Are there any additions or corrections to the agenda this evening? All right. Seeing none, we'll move to hearing of visitors. I do have one speaker slip this evening. As a reminder, you will have three minutes when you start speaking. And if you could please state your name and address for the record. And uh we'll go ahead and call Mr. Kennemer. Is that correct? Thank you, Council. Fred Kennemer.

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