Gahanna City Council Regular Meeting – June 15, 2026
Gahanna City Council Regular Meeting – June 15, 2026
The Gahanna City Council met in regular session on Monday, June 15, 2026, at 7:02 p.m. in Council Chambers. Vice President Jamille Jones presided in the absence of President Trenton Weaver. Six members were present, one absent. The meeting lasted until 7:29 p.m. Note: The user instruction indicated the meeting occurred on June 17, 2026; however, the agenda, minutes, and transcript all confirm the actual date as June 15, 2026. This summary follows the source material.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes approved (Consent Agenda): Council Regular Minutes, Committee of the Whole Minutes, and Finance Committee Minutes from June 1, 2026.
- Resolutions adopted (Consent Agenda):
- RES-0017-2026: Adopting the tax budget of the City of Gahanna for fiscal year beginning January 1, 2027.
- RES-0021-2026: Authorizing transfer of appropriations within the Capital Improvement Fund and transfer of funds to the State Capital Grant Fund for the Academy Park project.
- Motion to pass the Consent Agenda (Renner, second Bowers) carried 6–0 (Weaver absent).
Public Comments & Testimony
- None.
Presentations & Discussion Items
1. Community Grants Update (2026)
- Senior Deputy Director Corey Wybensinger presented the update. Applications opened March 16; 24 applications were received from 21 organizations. Total funding requests exceeded $207,000 against a $100,000 allocation. The five-member review committee (including four residents and one city staff member) fully or partially funded 17 applications: 4 received full funding (only 2 requested the full $10,000 maximum), 13 received partial awards, and 7 were not funded. Post-award meeting held May 20; mandatory check-ins July 31 and October 31; final reports due December 31.
- Councilmember Padova asked about the $10,000 cap per project vs. per organization; Wybensinger clarified it is per project/program.
- Vice President Jones asked whether the committee determines both selection and award amounts; Wybensinger confirmed the committee reviewed all criteria and reached consensus on funding amounts.
- Councilmember Bowers asked if additional funds would have led to more full funding; Wybensinger said the committee based decisions on merit, not budget alone (citing last year’s $81,000 awarded of $100,000). She also asked about membership-based organizations; Wybensinger explained that applicants disclose membership restrictions and 51% of participants must be Gahanna residents, and the committee considers restrictions when evaluating.
2. Ordinance Introduction (First Reading)
- ORD-0020-2026: An ordinance authorizing supplemental appropriations from the State Capital Grant Fund and Capital Improvement Fund for Academy Park and Friendship Park projects. Introduced by Vice President Jones; read by title by Clerk VanMeter.
3. Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) Report
- Councilmember Padova reported on the May 20 CIC meeting: discussed strategic plan (to be presented to Council in coming months), approved minutes and financials, noted Creekside project on schedule, discussed Amfield House sidewalks, and entered executive session from 9:06 a.m. to 9:31 a.m. Future meetings will be extended to 90 minutes. Next CIC meeting: June 17, 2026 at 8:00 a.m.
4. Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) Report
- President Weaver was absent; his written report was included in the agenda. Vice President Jones encouraged Council members to review it, noting updates on Statehouse legislation, funding opportunities, and regional events.
5. Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) Report
- Councilmember Padova reminded residents that the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival would be held Friday–Sunday, June 19–21. Tickets available online. A Juneteenth celebration was added on Friday at the community stage. Weather forecast favorable.
6. School Board Report
- Vice President Jones reminded of two upcoming Gahanna-Jefferson Board of Education meetings: Finance and Facilities Committee on Tuesday evening and regular Board meeting on Thursday evening, both at 6:30 p.m. at Clark Hall.
7. Mayor’s Report
- Mayor Jadwin reported MORPC’s first LinkUS project groundbreaking: $2.2 million to Grove City for Hoover Road pedestrian bridge over I-71. Gahanna’s LinkUS project was rescheduled from 2028 to 2029, providing funding for the Big Walnut Trail. The Mobility Exchange Conference (sold out) will occur that week; Mayor Jadwin, Director Schultz, and Director of Engineering Hossein Naraghi will attend.
- Mayor Jadwin commended the Public Service Department for responding to a waterline break on Taylor Road/Taylor Station Road corridor on Sunday; repairs completed within approximately five hours.
- Upcoming events: July 3 fireworks at Municipal Golf Course (VIP tickets available next week), July 4 parade (Gahanna Lions Club). Encouraged use of free shuttle from AEP Ohio facility for Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival.
- Personal note: Mayor Jadwin wished her daughter Sarah a happy birthday and announced the birth of her first grandchild, Audrey.
8. City Attorney’s Report
- City Attorney Tamilarasan reported that tobacco preemption litigation oral arguments were held the previous week and are available on the Ohio Supreme Court website. The case is fully briefed and argued; awaiting decision.
- Introduced her summer intern, Shreya Marimuthu (University of Texas Houston), who will assist through end of July.
9. Council Comment
- Councilmember Bowers thanked Mayor Jadwin for recognizing staff and highlighted the Gahanna Direct portal as a resource for residents to report service issues (she used it for low water pressure). Acknowledged Police Division and staff for educating the community about e‑bikes/e‑scooters; Council continues to consider legislative and operational responses. Recognized June as National Gun Violence Prevention Month; referenced Ohio’s weak gun violence prevention systems and recent domestic violence incidents. Expressed support for expanding emergency protection laws at state level and continuing local education, safe storage resources, gun locks, and proactive first responder programs. Referenced the joint resolution and proclamation adopted in April 2024 commending collaborative efforts to prevent youth access to firearms. Encouraged residents to contact state elected officials regarding emergency protection orders. Congratulated Mayor Jadwin on grandchild and wished happy Juneteenth and festival weekend.
- Vice President Jones thanked Bowers for recognizing Gun Violence Prevention Month.
10. Clerk’s Report
- Clerk VanMeter introduced Caris Lantz, summer intern through MORPC program, who will serve through August 6 and present a summary in August. She expressed interest in public policy and possibly law school.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda (minutes, tax budget resolution, Academy Park fund transfer) adopted 6–0.
- Ordinance ORD-0020-2026 introduced for first reading; further readings and vote pending.
- Community Grant Program finalized: $100,000 awarded to 17 projects; post-award monitoring outlined.
- Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival and Independence Day events announced.
- Council noted upcoming school board meetings and CIC meeting on June 17.
- City awaits Ohio Supreme Court decision in tobacco preemption case.
- Interns recognized and welcomed.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:29 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome. Oh, Jeremy. Okay, there we go. Beginner here leading this meeting, so thank you for your grace. Good evening and welcome to the regular uh city council meeting. It's Monday, June 15th. We are called to order at 7.02 p.m. Will you please stand me and join me in an invitation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance that's led by Councilwoman Pedova? As we gather this evening, I want to recognize the opportunities for connection in our community this weekend. Whether you're grabbing ice cream in Rathburn Woods, celebrating Juneteenth and Father's Day at the Creekside Blue Sin Jazz Festival, or simply enjoying the summer solstice. These all present an opportunity to meet a new neighbor and strengthen our community. The summer solstice on Sunday will be the longest day of the year, giving us more time to be outside and enjoy our mini parks and trails. May we all enter this new season with kind hearts and curiosity. I pledge allegiance. One nation under God. Thank you, Council Lemon Padova. Mr. Clerk, will you please call the roll? Bowers. Here. Jones. Here. McGregor. Here. Hadova. Here. Renner. Here. Here. Weaver is absent. Great. Thank you. Are there any additions or corrections to tonight's agenda? All right. Hearing none, we'll proceed to item C presentations. And we have Senior Director Wagensinger for a community grants update. All right, thank you. What I wanted to do is just catch you up on where we are with the community grant program for 2026. Similar to what we did last year around June is when we try to come back to do uh just the update and recap of where we landed. So I was here in March and uh we we've been able to hit every target uh so far. So applications went live on March 16th. Uh we did send out the notice of funding opportunities again to all known nonprofits that we have. So we do try to track a database of anybody that we know is a registered nonprofit or those that have already applied or shown interest in the program throughout the last four years. Um so we do have quite a quite a list growing. Um and then we do our also our social media posts, newsletter. I know the mayor has mentioned in mayor's comments as well. Uh we we advertise the program. For the first time this year is when we did that additional information session, uh, kind of like a coaching um, so nonprofits could come in and hear directly from the uh Department of Administrative Services on the application process. Um we did have three nonprofits that did attend about seven attendees to be able to help answer some of their questions as they built their their applications. Um and then April 6th, we did send out a final reminder again, trying to drum up support for the program and applications.
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