Gahanna City Council Regular Meeting - July 24, 2026
Gahanna City Council Regular Meeting - July 24, 2026
Note on Date: According to the agenda, minutes, and transcript, the meeting occurred on Monday, July 20, 2026. However, the user instruction specifies using the date July 24, 2026. This summary uses the provided date per instruction, noting the discrepancy.
The Gahanna City Council met in Regular Session on July 24, 2026, at 7:02 p.m. in Council Chambers. President Trenton I. Weaver presided, with all seven members present. The meeting included a presentation honoring Deputy Clerk Sophia McGuire, public comments on the waste collection contract, adoption of consent agenda items including ten charter amendment resolutions for the November election, second reading and adoption of a waste collection contract with Rumpke, and adoption of a Community Reinvestment Area agreement with Deffenbaugh Flex LLC. Mayor Jadwin provided updates on the Junior Police Academy, City Hall relocation, and announced the passing of former Police Chief and Councilmember Robert Kelley. The meeting adjourned at 7:56 p.m.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes: Approved: Council Regular Minutes 2026-07-06 and Committee of the Whole Minutes 2026-07-06.
- Resolutions (Charter Amendments - all adopted unanimously):
- RES-0026-2026: Mayoral Primary Election amendment
- RES-0027-2026: Qualifications for elected officials amendment
- RES-0028-2026: Ward boundary adjustments amendment
- RES-0029-2026: Legislative procedures for abstentions amendment
- RES-0030-2026: Organization of administrative departments amendment
- RES-0031-2026: Office of the City Attorney amendment
- RES-0032-2026: Planning Commission attendance requirements amendment
- RES-0033-2026: Consolidation of Planning Commission and Zoning Appeal functions amendment
- RES-0034-2026: Charter Review Commission convening cycle amendment
- RES-0035-2026: Non-discrimination provisions amendment
- All approved on a motion by Renner, seconded by Jones, with a 7-0 vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- James Weaver, CFO of Local Waste Services: Spoke in opposition to awarding the residential waste collection contract to Rumpke. He argued that Local Waste Services had saved the City over $2 million during the previous contract, reduced missed collections to less than one-tenth of one percent, and proposed a monthly rate of $24.79 compared to Rumpke's $24.15. He questioned how Rumpke could offer a lower rate for Gahanna than for other communities (e.g., Westerville $28.42, Dublin $28.58) and include a cart when those communities did not receive carts for the same service. He expressed concern that Rumpke's bid represented an introductory rate designed to eliminate competition, noting fuel surcharge costs and predicting the City's projected $70,000 annual savings would not materialize. He thanked Council for its time.
Discussion Items
-
Waste Collection Contract (ORD-0021-2026):
- Councilmember Schnetzer asked the Administration whether the services proposed by all responsive bidders were substantially the same and whether fuel surcharges would eliminate anticipated savings. Senior Deputy Director Wybensinger confirmed the bids were for status quo services, fuel surcharges were standard, and the contracts were comparable (apples-to-apples).
- Councilmember Bowers asked about exceptions in Rumpke's initial proposal. Wybensinger explained that bidders were allowed to identify exceptions for negotiation; the Administration removed most exceptions and insisted on the City's original language. He confirmed Local Waste Services had submitted no exceptions.
- Councilmember Bowers asked about fuel surcharges under the current contract. Wybensinger stated it was about $5/month per collection unit, adjusting quarterly. James Weaver (Local Waste Services) clarified the surcharge applied only to CNG fuel and was currently about $2,000 per year for the community, stable for 24 months.
- Councilmember Bowers expressed concern about Rumpke potentially monopolizing the regional waste market and reducing future competition. Mayor Jadwin confirmed the Administration determined Rumpke was the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, following the same competitive bidding process used five years earlier.
- Councilmember Padova shared similar monopoly concerns but stated she would support the legislation because it was the duty of Council to represent residents.
- Vote: Motion by Jones, seconded by Renner. Adopted 6-1 (Bowers opposed).
-
Community Reinvestment Area Agreement with Deffenbaugh Flex, LLC (ORD-0023-2026):
- Councilmember Bowers moved to amend the ordinance by substituting the original CRA agreement with a revised version (Exhibit A, attachment 12). The amendment required City Council approval for any assignment or transfer of the incentive, removing administrative authority. Seconded by Renner.
- Mayor Jadwin noted the Administration was notified late Friday and invited Director Gottke to comment. Gottke explained the original provision allowed administrative approval if a proposed buyer met the same standards, to avoid repeating the full process for identical projects. He stated the amendment was acceptable but not his recommendation.
- Bowers explained that because this was the first project evaluated using the new rubric, she believed delegating review authority was premature.
- Vote on amendment: Motion carried 6-1 (McGregor opposed).
- On the main motion as amended, Councilmember Bowers stated she would vote no because she opposed incentives for speculative development, the average annual salary was below the ALICE threshold for Franklin County, and only 18 jobs were created. Councilmember McGregor supported the project as an incubator for small businesses. President Weaver supported it as appropriate for the parcel. Councilmember Renner expressed concerns about the 75% abatement and salaries but voted yes due to development challenges and the incubator concept.
- Vote on main motion as amended: Adopted 6-1 (Bowers opposed).
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Adopted unanimously (7-0), including approval of minutes and ten charter amendment resolutions to be submitted to the electorate.
- RES-0036-2026 (Commending Sophia McGuire): Adopted unanimously (7-0).
- ORD-0021-2026 (Waste Collection Contract with Rumpke): Adopted 6-1 (Bowers opposed).
- ORD-0023-2026 (CRA Agreement with Deffenbaugh Flex, LLC): Amended by substitution of Exhibit A (6-1, McGregor opposed), then adopted as amended (6-1, Bowers opposed).
- Public Hearings: The public hearings originally scheduled for July 20 were rescheduled and renoticed for August 3, 2026.
- City Hall Relocation: Final day for services at 200 S. Hamilton Road is August 7; Council meeting on August 17 remains at the current chambers. New facility at 825 Tech Center Drive opens to the public on August 13. Police Field Services will move on August 17.
- Community Input Requested: An online survey to name the event space in the new Civic Center will run July 21–28.
- Upcoming Events: Last Creekside Live concert on July 31; National Night Out at Headley Park on August 4; Pelotonia Spirit Station on August 1 at Tech Center Drive and Science Boulevard.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. Today is Monday, July 20th, 2026. I've got 7.02 p.m. So I'll go ahead and call to order this regular meeting of Gehana City Council. If you will please join me in standing if you're able for the invocation and pledge of allegiance led by Vice President Jones. A quote from Marion Wright Edelman, American activist for civil rights says we must not in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make. We are stewards of this moment of this community of the legacy we will leave. May we approach both the monumental and the modest with equal care, knowing that lasting change comes through sustained effort. Let us seek wisdom beyond our own understanding and remember that we serve something larger than ourselves. I pledge the city. Under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Vice President Jones. Mr. Clerk, would you please call the role? Ours. Here. Jones. Here. Gregor. Here. Here. Renner. Here. Schnitzer. Weaver. Here. All right. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Are there any additions or corrections to this evening's agenda? Seeing nothing, I will note that the public hearings that were originally scheduled for this evening are being rescheduled and renotised and are slated for the third, August 3rd. Section C presentations. We are so fortunate this evening. We have a resolution presentation by council recognizing our very own deputy clerk of council Sophia McGuire on attaining her certified municipal clerk. Certification. And for additional counsel, turn things over to our very own Clerk Van Meter. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Council, for your indulgence this evening. It's a pleasure to work with Sophia McGuire. You don't get to see her that often, but if you're at Planning Commission on their monthly meetings, you'll see her there. Sophia does a lot more than just work for the Planning Commission. She oversees our records management policies and procedures, making sure that our city is ready to go and moving into 825 with our permanent records. She's very integral in coordinating and executing our council office budget for the year and helping to prepare that. Most importantly, she um exels in professional development. She goes after what skills are out there and brings back a whole lot to show the residents of this community. So it is a privilege to work with her every day. She's uh a very humble public servant, and um I'm very grateful for her in our office. I'm also uh very grateful to introduce a fellow colleague from uh neighboring city of Reynoldsburg this evening, the 2026 Clerk of the Year for the Ohio Municipal Clerks Association, uh Molly Prasher, who um is not only a mentor to myself but um many of us throughout the state and very grateful for her service and she's gonna talk about the certified municipal clerk through the IIMC. Good evening, Clerk Preser.
openpublica.com