Hudson City Council Meeting – May 21, 2024: Appointments, SR 303 Speed Limit, and Policy Actions

On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, the Hudson, Ohio City Council convened at Town Hall, 27 East Main Street, beginning with a 6:30 p.m. executive session to interview applicants for boards and commissions and resuming the regular public meeting at 7:30 p.m. All seven council members were present. The Council approved multiple board appointments and the consent agenda, lowered the speed limit on E. Streetsboro Street (SR 303) from 35 mph to 30 mph, continued Community Reinvestment Area and Job Creation Grant agreements, and postponed a new Park Facility Reservation Policy for Park Board feedback. The meeting recessed at 8:13 p.m. for an executive session on pending litigation and adjourned at 8:42 p.m.

Executive Sessions

• 6:30–7:30 p.m.: Council entered executive session to interview applicants for boards and commissions (motion by Mr. Foster, seconded by Dr. Bird; six ayes on roll call, with Mrs. Heater joining at 6:35 p.m.). The regular meeting reconvened at 7:30 p.m.
• 8:13–8:42 p.m.: Council voted 7-0 to enter executive session to discuss pending litigation under Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22(G)(3) and (5). After reconvening at 8:42 p.m., the Mayor adjourned the meeting.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of the May 7, 2024 Council meeting and May 14, 2024 Council workshop (Item 24-0048) were approved 7-0.
• The Consent Agenda (Items 24-0050, 24-59, 24-61, and 24-62) was approved 7-0 after a 7-0 vote to suspend the rule requiring three readings:
  • Motion 24-0050: Acknowledged timely receipt of the April 2024 monthly financial report.
  • Resolution 24-59: Authorized the City Manager to contract with the Auditor of State for the city’s 2023 financial audit.
  • Resolution 24-61: Authorized an amended Local Public Agency agreement with ODOT for the Adaptive Signals Project (PID# 116924). AMATS confirmed an additional $347,541 in CMAQ grant funding, bringing the total CMAQ grant to $2,666,480; the city will cover a 20% local match plus any cost overruns, with ODOT contributing a maximum of 80% toward eligible construction costs. Declared an emergency.
  • Resolution 24-62: Authorized the ‘as is’ sale of a Hudson EMS vehicle no longer needed for municipal purposes to Church Hill Rescue Squad in Hawkins County, Tennessee. Declared an emergency.
• Resolution 24-60 (Veterans Way Retaining Wall Feasibility Study contract with Osborn Engineering) was pulled from the Consent Agenda because Mr. Sutton declared a conflict of interest. Rules were suspended 6-0-1 and the resolution was adopted 6-0-1, with Mr. Sutton abstaining.

Proclamations

• Mayor Anzevino read a proclamation honoring Principal Beth Trivelli on her retirement after a 38-year education career: 24 years teaching kindergarten through third grade, 14 years as a school principal (the last 11 in the Hudson City School District at Eva Mayor Elementary and McDowell Early Learning Schools), one of the first 200 National Board certified teachers in the United States, recipient of the Patriot Award from the U.S. Department of Defense, and leader of McDowell Early Learning School’s selection as a Purple Star School for 2024–2027. Principal Trivelli accepted the proclamation, thanked Council, her family, and the community, and said she hopes to continue volunteering in Hudson.

Public Comments

• None were offered.

Council Comments and Updates

• Mr. Banweg thanked staff for the Saturday Road Tour and reminded residents that the Memorial Day parade steps off May 27 at 10:00 a.m., followed by a ceremony at Markillie Cemetery at about 11:15 a.m.
• Mrs. Heater reported that the Park Board approved Davy Resource Group’s conservation management plan for Hudson Springs Park, which targets reducing invasive species by 80% over five years; noted the golf clubhouse project came in $800,000 over budget and will likely return to Council; noted a side-yard setback variance request deadlocked 2-2 at the BZBA; and reported the BZBA granted a Georgetown Road sidewalk variance. She also noted a resident raised a Ravenna Road stormwater issue that the City Manager was expected to follow up on, relayed resident feedback on pickleball court signage, and expressed concern that large groups are using the skill-level signs to pressure residents off courts. She questioned whether pickleball tournament court usage could be reallocated if registration is lower than expected. Park Board also finalized its 2024 goals to bring to Council.
• Mr. Sutton declared his conflict on Resolution 24-60 and expressed disappointment that the BZBA granted the Georgetown Road sidewalk variance, stating the funds-in-lieu mechanism exists so the city can build sidewalks toward locations rather than create sidewalks to nowhere.
• Mrs. Kowalski gave an HCTV Advisory Committee update: the 2024 Friends of HCTV scholarship winner is Jason Dement, and funding for fiber to the Hudson High School Athletic Field was received from the Hudson Community Foundation, Hudson Rotary, and the Tobin family, with a grant written by Nick Zaklanovich.
• Dr. Bird thanked staff for the Road Tour and EMS Open House and said the May 11 Bike and Brainstorm session was effective, with great resident input on trails and connectivity.
• Mr. Foster congratulated Ashton Swinford on her third win of the Cleveland Marathon and noted that the BZBA sidewalk approval is contrary to a Planning Commission decision from about a year ago.
• The Mayor stated the Memorial Day parade is rain or shine with no rain date.

Report of the City Manager

• Mr. Sheridan said city offices will be closed Monday, May 27 for Memorial Day; the Road Tour is valuable for staff; and the fire chief will monitor weather the morning of the parade and cancel it only for severe weather, while the memorial at Markillie Cemetery will proceed regardless.

Appointments

• Francoise Massardier-Kenney was appointed to a full term on the Architectural & Historic Board of Review, and Shannon Navy to a full term on the Park Board — approved 7-0.
• Jacob Graessle was appointed to a full term on the Park Board — approved 7-0.
• David Coleman was appointed to a partial term on the Board of Zoning & Building Appeals — approved 4-1-2. Mrs. Kowalski voted no, saying she was disappointed that not all applicants were interviewed; Dr. Bird and Dr. Goetz abstained. Acting City Solicitor Pitchford noted that state law requires members to vote absent a conflict of interest or other special circumstance, and an abstention counts with the majority.
• Applications for the Ward 1 Planning Commission partial-term vacancy are due May 31, 2024.

Legislation

• Ordinance 24-49 (third reading, emergency): Lowers the speed limit from 35 mph to 30 mph on E. Streetsboro Street (SR 303) between College Street and N. Hayden Parkway, based on a Speed Zone Study submitted to ODOT. Adopted 6-1. Mr. Sutton voted no, stating his research indicated lowering the posted limit from 35 to 30 would not achieve an actual reduction in vehicle speed and would instead generate citations and fines. Mr. Foster requested staff study the impact and asked that police issue warnings rather than citations up front; Dr. Goetz said anything Council can do would help safety in the area.
• Resolution 24-50 (third reading): Accepts the Tax Incentive Review Council’s recommendations to continue Community Reinvestment Area and Job Creation Grant agreements with the City of Hudson, Summit County. Adopted 7-0.
• Ordinance 24-58 (second reading): Amends Chapter 1064, Community Rooms, to exempt Hudson troop organizations of the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the United States of America from city rental space fees. Second reading only; no vote taken.
• Resolution 24-63 (first reading): Would approve a new Park Facility Reservation Policy to limit facility reservations so ample public usage remains. Council suspended the rules 7-0 and voted 7-0 to postpone the item to the August 6, 2024 Council meeting and refer it to the Park Board for feedback.
• Ordinance 24-64 (first reading): Adopts a Hudson City Flag; staff worked with Kent State University on the final design. First reading only; no vote taken.
• Resolution 24-65 (first reading): Repeals Resolution No. 08-147 and withdraws authorization for the City Manager to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Village of Boston Heights for joint planning and economic purposes. First reading only; no vote taken.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes approved 7-0.
• Consent Agenda approved 7-0; Resolution 24-60 adopted 6-0-1 (Sutton abstaining on a conflict).
• Appointments: Massardier-Kenney and Navy 7-0; Graessle 7-0; Coleman 4-1-2.
• Ordinance 24-49 (SR 303 speed limit lowered to 30 mph) adopted 6-1.
• Resolution 24-50 (continue CRA and Job Creation Grant agreements) adopted 7-0.
• Resolution 24-63 postponed to August 6, 2024 and referred to the Park Board (7-0).
• Ordinances 24-58, 24-64, and Resolution 24-65 remain pending for later readings.
• Meeting recessed at 8:13 p.m. for an executive session on pending litigation and adjourned at 8:42 p.m.