Hudson City Council Workshop: Fire/EMS, Planning, Utilities, Pedestrian Safety, and Visitor Center - January 28, 2025

The City of Hudson City Council held a workshop on January 28, 2025, at 7:30 PM in Town Hall. Mayor Jeffrey L. Anzevino called the meeting to order and turned it over to Council President Christopher W. Foster. Five council members were present: Dr. Bird, Mr. Foster, Dr. Goetz, Mrs. Heater, and Mr. Sutton. Mr. Banweg and Mrs. Kowalski were absent. The workshop covered presentations and discussions on five major topics, a proposed consent agenda, and proposed legislation for the February 4, 2025 council meeting. The meeting adjourned at 10:00 PM.

Discussion Items

A. Fire and EMS Staffing and Facility Needs Study Final Report

• Consultants from K2M Design, Matrix Consulting, and DS Architecture presented findings from a comprehensive study. Key performance metrics showed call processing times (2 minutes 9 seconds for both EMS and fire) exceed the 1-minute best practice; turnout times for EMS (2 minutes 26 seconds) and fire (2 minutes 59 seconds for duty chief, 8 minutes 30 seconds for suppression) exceed benchmarks; travel times at the 90th percentile were 7 minutes 3 seconds for EMS and 7 minutes 53 seconds for fire against a recommended suburban standard of 6 minutes 30 seconds.
• Staffing recommendation: implement a hybrid model with part-time and full-time staff to operate a 4-person engine company 24/7/365 at an annual cost of approximately $1.2 million. An additional $100,000 would be needed to convert the workout room into sleeping quarters, and $300,000 for immediate facility repairs. The existing station would require $7–8 million for full renovation or $15–20 million for a replacement at the same site. A second station was recommended in the northern area (near 7300 Darrow Road) to improve coverage, currently covering 30% of the city and 44% of the population within 6.5 minutes travel time. With two stations, coverage would increase to 65% of the population.
• Council discussion included questions on station location options, the possibility of building a southern station first while using the existing station, merging fire and EMS departments, and comparisons with neighboring departments. Council requested a follow-up workshop to explore location options, financial impacts, and staffing models.

B. Planning Commission Annual Update and Goals

• Sarah Norman (Chair) and Angela Smith (Vice Chair) presented the 2024 accomplishments (12 meetings, 16 applications, comprehensive plan recommendations) and 2025 goals. Priorities include updating the Land Development Code (LDC) in a piecemeal approach rather than a full rewrite, reforming the growth management allocation system to be forward-looking and inclusive of institutional residential developments, and securing planning consultant expertise for training.
• Council expressed support for incremental LDC updates, commended the commission's work, and requested regular recommendations for code changes as issues arise. Council also supported the idea of a moratorium on applications under an outdated comprehensive plan if necessary.

C. Follow-up Discussion on Regulation of Utilities in Public Right-of-Way (Chapter 1016)

• City Engineer Brad Kosco and attorney Seth Marcum presented revisions to Chapter 1016. The updated code expands coverage to all utility providers, establishes a $50,000 security fund from outside agencies to ensure proper restoration of the right-of-way, and includes multiple enforcement mechanisms (e.g., city repairs at the utility's expense, penalties, and permit denial for non-compliant utilities).
• Council praised the revisions and noted the need to implement the security fund, which has been in the code but unenforced. The city manager stated the city's own projects are exempt from the code. Council consensus supported the changes.

D. Downtown Pedestrian Safety Improvements, Phase 2

• Brad Kosco proposed improvements including ADA ramp upgrades, a new sidewalk along the east side of SR 91 from Colony Drive to Nantucket Drive, a crosswalk with a refuge island and Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) at Colony Drive, and a bump-out at Owen Brown Street and SR 91.
• Council reached consensus to not install the crosswalk or RRFB at Colony Drive, citing that pedestrians could use the nearby signalized intersections at Stony Hill or Veterans Way. Council supported the sidewalk extension and the Owen Brown bump-out as improvements to pedestrian visibility and safety.

E. Lease Termination and Asset Purchase Agreement with Destination Hudson, Inc.

• City Manager Thomas Sheridan presented a draft agreement to terminate the lease and purchase retail inventory and furniture from the Visitor Center, with the city taking over operations. The inventory was estimated at approximately $29,000 (down from $35,000 due to holiday sales). The city requested up to $40,000 in the agreement to cover purchase costs. Staffing may be handled through existing city staff, volunteers, or new part-time hires, possibly combining with a future fiber-to-the-home store. Council expressed support for the transition and requested updates at future workshops.

Proposed Consent Agenda for February 4, 2025 Council Meeting

• The following resolutions were discussed and forwarded for consideration at the February 4 meeting:
  • TMP-7679 – Retroactive amendment to City Manager Thomas Sheridan’s employment contract (dollar amount to be added).
  • TMP-7584 – Authorization to advertise for bids and contract for a 10-foot trail along East Barlow Road (connecting Barlow Farm Park to Summit County Metro Parks trail).
  • TMP-7718 – Amendment of agreement with Norfolk Southern for engineering review and design for the Barlow Road Trail.
  • TMP-7717 – Quiet Zone Administrative Agreement with Norfolk Southern for the Barlow Road Trail crossing.
  • TMP-7720 – Agreement with Ohio Rail Development Commission for Hines Hill Road grade separation project (grant of $2,886,174).
  • TMP-7699 – Authorization to apply for a PROTECT grant from USDOT for storm sewer redirection at the S. Main Street railroad underpass.
  • TMP-7732 – Lease termination and asset purchase with Destination Hudson (discussed above).
  • TMP-7729 – Then and Now Certificate for Ohio State Highway Patrol LEADS dues ($7,200).

Proposed Legislation for February 4, 2025 Council Meeting

• 25-12 – Ordinance amending the Backflow Prevention Program (second reading).
• TMP-7735 – Ordinance codifying the order and rules of a public hearing (first reading). Sponsored by Council Member Sutton, it defines "public hearing," establishes time limits for applicants (30 minutes), speakers with standing (15 minutes), and general public (5 minutes), and provides rules of decorum.
• TMP-7733 – Ordinance codifying the right of public comment at any board or commission meeting (first reading). It requires boards to accept relevant public comments and gives the chair authority to decline or terminate comments not relevant to the board’s jurisdiction.
• TMP-7734 – Ordinance streamlining parliamentary procedures for adopting legislation with amendments or substitutions (first reading). It allows a single motion to adopt legislation with a specified amendment rather than two separate motions.

Key Outcomes

• Council directed staff to return with detailed options for fire station locations, financial impacts (bonding, operational costs), and a timeline for implementing the hybrid staffing model.
• Council expressed consensus not to install a crosswalk or RRFB at Colony Drive but to proceed with the sidewalk, Owen Brown bump-out, and other Phase 2 pedestrian improvements.
• Council supported the revisions to Chapter 1016 and directed staff to begin implementing the $50,000 security fund requirement from utility providers.
• Council signaled support for the Destination Hudson lease termination and asset purchase, with final approval expected at the February 4 meeting.
• All proposed consent agenda items and legislation were forwarded for action at the February 4, 2025 regular council meeting.
• Council requested future workshops to further discuss fire/EMS station location options, financial models, and potential merger of fire and EMS departments.