The Hudson City Council held a workshop on April 22, 2025, at 7:30 PM in Town Hall. Six council members were present (Chris Banweg absent). The meeting covered four discussion items: neighborhood storm studies, downtown development concepts, the updated 2025–2029 Five-Year Plan, and a proposed senior gutter cleaning program. Council also forwarded several consent agenda items and proposed legislation to the May 6 regular meeting.
City Engineer Brad Kosco presented results of four “neighborhood” storm studies initiated after the August 8, 2024 storm event (a 500-to-2,000-year storm). Studies focused on areas hit worst: Brunswick/Rennett, Edgeview/Darrow Park, Woods of Western Reserve, and Brandywine Creek (historic district). Key findings included undersized pipes, opportunities for detention/ponds, and a grossly undersized pipe near Rosewood Grill. Staff has begun survey and preliminary design for some projects. The studies will inform the upcoming Tinkers Creek and Brandywine Creek comprehensive watershed studies (starting later in 2025). Council members commended the work. Mayor Anzevino asked about reconnecting with Summit County on a pump station upgrade; Mr. Kosco confirmed the county has committed to upgrades but no date set.
Community Development Director Greg Hannan presented three conceptual plans for the city-owned downtown phase two site (comp plan recommendations). Concepts varied by housing units (20–30, 30–40, 40–60) and public space (open park, community facility, market hall). Council discussed financial implications—especially recouping the ~$9 million already invested—and the need for Summit County sewer upgrades. Councilwoman Kowalski liked concept three but wanted a pocket park and more thoughtful community facility. Councilman Sutton complimented alignment with comp plan. Council requested financial models for each concept before selecting a path. There was consensus that the city should take a more active role (develop a plan and then recruit a developer).
Assistant City Manager Jeff Knoblauch outlined revisions to the Five-Year Plan (General Fund and Fire/EMS Fund) due to reduced income tax revenue (3.7% drop in 2025 from 2024 actual, following loss of a major employer) and increased capital/operating costs. Key changes: added land purchases near Norfolk Southern line, half of Hines Hill Bridge design costs, YDC property cleanup, increased debt service for public works facility, and reduced transfers to other funds. The Fire/EMS fund projects a decline from ~$8 million to ~$2.5 million over five years under the hybrid staffing model (costing $1.1–1.2 million/year). Council expressed concern about fire fund depletion. Councilman Sutton suggested a property tax levy discussion; Councilwoman Kowalski advocated reprioritizing sidewalk projects before asking residents for more money. Councilman Foster supported starting with 7am-7pm shifts (phase 1). After debate, there was consensus to proceed with interviewing firefighters for a 12-hour daytime shift (7am-7pm) and to issue an RFP for fire station renovations (design 5 months, construction 6 months). The outdoor swimming pool study was paused. Sidewalk budget reprioritization will be discussed further.
Mayor Anzevino proposed a one-time annual gutter cleaning program for seniors (age 65+ or disabled, eligible for homestead exemption), modeled after Macedonia’s program (~$70 per home). Public Works Director Kevin Powell described the successful snow plow voucher program. Council was divided: Councilman Bird supported it for safety (preventing falls), but Councilmembers Kowalski, Sutton, and Foster opposed due to financial constraints and the view that gutter cleaning is property maintenance rather than a safety necessity like snow plowing. The consensus was not to move forward with the program at this time.
We're gonna go ahead and get started. I'd like to call this meeting to order. This is a duly noticed workshop meeting of Hudson City Council held in accordance with the Sunshine Laws of the State of Ohio, Section 121.22 and the City of Hudson Charter, Article 3, Section 3.02 for Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025. Per ordinance 220.031 titled workshop meetings in item C. Would now like to turn the workshop meeting over to Council President Foster so as to continue through the remaining workshop agenda items. Council President Foster, the floor and workshop meeting is yours. Thank you very much, Mayor. Move on to section two, which is correspondence and council comments. If council members have anything they would like to bring forward to the public, please get my attention so I can sign you the mic. Dr. Gats. Um a week or so ago at the architectural uh historic and review board. Um they did okay all the um architecture for the townhomes. Um the company worked really well with them and were willing to make the changes that were necessary. So I thought I'd let everybody know that's a go. Any other sorry sorry? Sorry about that, Karen. No problem. Uh quick Board of Zoning and Building Appeals update. Uh the board met last Thursday. There were two cases on the agenda. Um both were for requests for side variances. The first was a detached garage requesting uh 33% variance, five foot variants from the 15-foot required setback. Uh that request was denied. The second was uh another addition for an attached garage, and that was a five-foot variance request from an eight-foot requirement side yard setback, and that was approved. And that's all I have. Thank you very much. Moving on to section three. Did you have something, Council? Yes, thank you. Um, I just wanted to remind everyone that next Wednesday at the library at 6 30 p.m. Dr. Getz and I are having an open forum because next week is a fifth Tuesday and we don't have a meeting. I just wanted to um remind everybody about that now. Okay. Moving on to section three, which is discussion items. Item A, 25-0052, an overview of neighborhood storm studies and the status of and goals of upcoming comprehensive studies. Thank you, Mr. Foster. Um, the city engineer is gonna get settled in here, but basically, before he does, this is just a uh update on the if you recall the little mini studies we called them of the targeted areas that got hit the worst on August 8th. Um the city engineer and his staff uh worked with some consultants uh to target those areas and and determine what you know their issues were. Um Brad, I think has a PowerPoint. Did you give do you need that handed out? Yes, there's uh PowerPoint on the screen, and then everybody should have a copy, and I have extra copies if anybody would like one. So uh brief recap from August 8th. Uh, since that event, we public works did a number of cleanup uh efforts in and around uh the area, uh, did some private property ditch cleaning work, presentation was done but last October that identified it was a 500 to 2,000 year storm. The worst hit areas were over by the Hudson High School. That was a slide actually from that presentation. Uh staff went out and conducted about 200 uh in-person interviews with uh voluntary interviews with uh residents who wanted to provide feedback. That data along with existing GIS information, such as catch base and locations and contours, um, and any existing uh studies that we had already started were used to kick start these neighborhood studies.