OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Gahanna City Council Regular Meeting - July 9, 2026

City Council & Commissions — Thursday, July 9, 2026
BodyGahanna, Ohio
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateThursday, July 9, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 34:21

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Good evening, everyone.

0:03

Today is Monday, July 6th, 2026.

0:06

I've got a little after 7 p.m., so I'd like to go ahead and call to order this regular meeting of Gehanna City Council.

0:12

If you are able, please rise and join me in the invocation and pledge of allegiance led by Councilmember Padova.

0:22

As we gather this evening, let us reflect on the weekend festivities that brought our community together.

0:27

As we watch the fireworks and then line the streets the next day, we were reminded that America is built not only on shared ideals but on shared participation.

0:35

As our nation celebrates 250 years, we recognize that this experiment and self-government has endured because generations before us fought to secure the freedoms we enjoy and accepted the responsibilities that come with them.

0:47

May we honor that legacy by listening with respect, serving with integrity, and remaining active participants in our community and our democracy.

1:01

And so the republic for a wish dispens.

1:11

Thank you.

1:12

Thank you, Councilmember Padova.

1:14

Mr.

1:14

Clerk, would you please call the roll?

1:16

Bowers here.

1:17

Jones is absent.

1:18

McGregor here.

1:20

Padova.

1:20

Here.

1:21

Renner.

1:22

Here.

1:22

Schnitzer here.

1:23

Weaver.

1:24

Here.

1:25

Thank you, Mr.

1:26

Clerk.

1:27

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

1:32

All right.

1:33

Seeing none.

1:34

Moving right along to Section C presentations.

1:37

We do have one joint resolution and proclamation presentation this evening, honoring Kylie Tibbs, our state wrestling champion once again.

1:48

So no stranger to our chambers here.

2:12

Throughout her 2025-2026 wrestling season, she had an outstanding 44-2 record, including nine victories over top 10 ranked wrestlers in the state of Ohio.

2:23

Not only that, but she helped lead the GLHS girls' wrestling team to a fifth place finish at the state tournament and the program's first ever OCC championship with a perfect 5-0 conference season.

3:07

And student athletes are no exception.

3:11

This summer uh Ms.

3:13

Tibbs continues to represent GLHS and the City of Gehana through national and international wrestling competition opportunities, including training and competition in Italy, uh, before representing Team Ohio at the 2026 USA Wrestling Junior and 16 and under national championship in Fargo, North Dakota.

3:31

And I'm hoping that we can get an update uh on on where training stands are how those competitions went.

3:38

Um but I think at this point I'll turn things over to Coach and Ms.

3:42

Tibbs and family, and then we'll we'll grab a photo.

3:52

Good evening and welcome to council.

3:58

Hi.

4:00

Um Italy was amazing.

4:03

It was a great opportunity.

4:04

There was a week camp, and then there was a competition with people from all around the world, like Spain, Lithuania, Dominican Republic, and we all competed together.

4:13

There's a lot of girls and a lot of training opportunities and to make a lot of friends.

4:18

I did get injured, but I mean that's some work for me.

4:21

I get injured a lot, so I mean I'm still gonna wrestle and um put my all out there on the mat.

4:27

Um I can't just thank myself.

4:29

I do put a lot of hard work into this sport, but I people people around me really support me and help me to get where I am.

4:36

So yeah.

4:38

Awesome.

4:38

Thank you.

4:39

Okay.

4:40

I'd add I'd add to that.

4:41

Kylie makes everybody around her better.

4:43

Uh this year we had uh 20 girls start the start the season.

4:47

We had went up with eight go-to districts, out of sectionals, and four make it a state, and two placed.

5:00

So again, the room is getting better again because of wrestlers like Kylie and the hard work and everything else.

5:03

So the sport is growing, our team's growing, and we're getting better every year.

5:07

Um it's uh but uh again and it's and it's fun coaching her.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████51%
Public Engagement████████████████████23%
Youth Programs██████████11%
Transportation Safety█████6%
Parks and Recreation█████6%
Environmental Protection███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Gahanna City Council Regular Meeting - July 9, 2026

Note: The agenda, minutes, and transcript consistently indicate the meeting occurred on Monday, July 6, 2026, at 7:00 PM. The instruction to use July 9, 2026, is followed here, creating a discrepancy with the source materials.

The Gahanna City Council met in regular session, with six members present (Councilmember Jamille Jones absent). The meeting began with an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance by Councilmember Padova, reflecting on the nation's 250th anniversary. The council honored a state wrestling champion, approved a consent agenda, adopted a resolution to apply for a flood mitigation grant, introduced ordinances for waste collection and a community reinvestment area, and adopted a supplemental appropriation for a playground project. Reports from the Mayor, City Attorney, and council members included updates on transportation planning, code revisions, and recent community events.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes: Regular meeting minutes (2026-0133) and Committee of the Whole minutes (2026-0134) from June 15, 2026, were approved.
  • Resolutions:
    • RES-0022-2026: Joint resolution and proclamation honoring KyLee Tibbs for back-to-back OHSAA state wrestling championships.
    • RES-0023-2026: Authorizing an agreement with Playcore Wisconsin Inc. dba GameTime for a new playground at Friendship Park.
    • RES-0024-2026: Authorizing an agreement with Midstates Recreation for a new playground at Ashburnham Park.
  • Ordinance: ORD-0020-2026: Supplemental appropriations from the State Capital Grant Fund and Capital Improvement Fund for Academy Park and Friendship Park projects.
  • All items were approved unanimously on a motion by Councilmember Renner, seconded by Councilmember Schnetzer, with a 6-0 vote (Jones absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Tim McClurgg, 935 Leaflock Court, Gahanna, addressed council. He expressed appreciation for the council's continued recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and the city's Independence Day fireworks celebration, commending Parks & Recreation, Police, and volunteers. He requested information on the electrical deficiencies that delayed the new Civic Center facility, asking how shoddy work passed inspections. He also inquired about future plans for the existing buildings at 200 S. Hamilton Road after the new facility opens, and the location of the stage for the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival following changes near the Sanctuary parking lot. President Weaver noted that an update on the new facility would be provided during the Committee of the Whole meeting immediately following the regular meeting.

Discussion Items

  • RES-0025-2026 – NatureWorks Grant Application for Creekside Reimagined: Councilmember Bowers noted the item was not previously on the Committee of the Whole agenda and asked for clarification. Senior Director of Operations Kevin Schultz explained that the legislation only authorizes the city to apply for grant funding through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' NatureWorks program for temporary flood barriers (removable flood protection) as part of the Creekside Reimagined Project. No specific product has been selected; cost estimates are used solely for the application. The application deadline is July 15, 2026, and the opportunity arose after committee scheduling. Councilmember Bowers asked when the temporary barriers would be deployed. Schultz stated that similar temporary flood protection (stop logs) exists currently under the bridge and at the south garage entrance, and is deployed only when a 100-year flood event is anticipated – very infrequently. The proposed system would replace the existing stop logs with a more effective solution. Councilmember Bowers asked if the existing system is obsolete; Schultz responded that while it remains functional, the proposed system would be more effective.

Key Outcomes

  • RES-0025-2026 adopted (6-0, Jones absent) on a motion by Councilmember Renner, seconded by Councilmember Bowers.
  • ORD-0021-2026 (waste collection with Rumpke of Ohio, Inc.) and ORD-0023-2026 (CRA agreement with Deffenbaugh Flex, LLC) were introduced for first reading; no further action taken.
  • ORD-0022-2026 (supplemental appropriations for Friendship Park playground replacement) was adopted after waiving second reading. The motion to waive second reading passed 6-0, and the underlying ordinance was adopted 6-0, on motions by Councilmember Bowers and Councilmember Renner.
  • Upcoming events announced: Gahanna Market on July 8, 2026 (4-7 p.m., Creekside) with live music by Tyy Perkins; Cinema Under the Stars on July 10, 2026, showing National Treasure.
  • Mayor's report: Expressed condolences to the Forsythe family after a tragic loss; discussed participation in MORPC's inaugural Mobility Exchange panel on comprehensive transportation planning; thanked staff and partners for successful Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival, Independence Day fireworks, and Fourth of July parade.
  • City Attorney's report: Completed review of traffic code updates; working on criminal code revisions; anticipates presenting to Council in August.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. Today is Monday, July 6th, 2026. I've got a little after 7 p.m., so I'd like to go ahead and call to order this regular meeting of Gehanna City Council. If you are able, please rise and join me in the invocation and pledge of allegiance led by Councilmember Padova. As we gather this evening, let us reflect on the weekend festivities that brought our community together. As we watch the fireworks and then line the streets the next day, we were reminded that America is built not only on shared ideals but on shared participation. As our nation celebrates 250 years, we recognize that this experiment and self-government has endured because generations before us fought to secure the freedoms we enjoy and accepted the responsibilities that come with them. May we honor that legacy by listening with respect, serving with integrity, and remaining active participants in our community and our democracy. And so the republic for a wish dispens. Thank you. Thank you, Councilmember Padova. Mr. Clerk, would you please call the roll? Bowers here. Jones is absent. McGregor here. Padova. Here. Renner. Here. Schnitzer here. Weaver. Here. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Are there any additions or corrections to the agenda this evening? All right. Seeing none. Moving right along to Section C presentations. We do have one joint resolution and proclamation presentation this evening, honoring Kylie Tibbs, our state wrestling champion once again. So no stranger to our chambers here. Throughout her 2025-2026 wrestling season, she had an outstanding 44-2 record, including nine victories over top 10 ranked wrestlers in the state of Ohio. Not only that, but she helped lead the GLHS girls' wrestling team to a fifth place finish at the state tournament and the program's first ever OCC championship with a perfect 5-0 conference season. And student athletes are no exception. This summer uh Ms. Tibbs continues to represent GLHS and the City of Gehana through national and international wrestling competition opportunities, including training and competition in Italy, uh, before representing Team Ohio at the 2026 USA Wrestling Junior and 16 and under national championship in Fargo, North Dakota. And I'm hoping that we can get an update uh on on where training stands are how those competitions went. Um but I think at this point I'll turn things over to Coach and Ms. Tibbs and family, and then we'll we'll grab a photo. Good evening and welcome to council. Hi. Um Italy was amazing. It was a great opportunity. There was a week camp, and then there was a competition with people from all around the world, like Spain, Lithuania, Dominican Republic, and we all competed together. There's a lot of girls and a lot of training opportunities and to make a lot of friends. I did get injured, but I mean that's some work for me. I get injured a lot, so I mean I'm still gonna wrestle and um put my all out there on the mat. Um I can't just thank myself. I do put a lot of hard work into this sport, but I people people around me really support me and help me to get where I am. So yeah.

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