Hudson City Council Regular Meeting and Workshop - June 17, 2025

The Hudson City Council convened on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 6:45 PM with an executive session to interview applicants for boards and commissions. The regular public meeting began at 7:30 PM, followed by a regular workshop from 8:45 PM to 9:21 PM. All seven council members were present. The meeting covered consent agenda items, legislation, proclamations, public comments, and workshop discussions on the 2026 Art on the Green location and the Nicholson Drive Water Transmission Project funding.

Consent Calendar

• Motion No. 25-0082: Acknowledged timely receipt of the May 2025 Monthly Financial Report. Approved unanimously.
• Motion No. 25-0083: Directed the Clerk to send notice to the Ohio Division of Liquor Control indicating no request for a hearing regarding a stock permit for Hud Farr LLC (Farinacci Pizza). Approved unanimously.
• Resolution No. 25-93: Authorized the City Manager to advertise for competitive bids and enter into a contract for the Heinen's Parking Lot Exit Relocation. Approved unanimously.
• Resolution No. 25-94: Authorized accepting a $62,700 State Capital Budget Grant for an ADA Accessible Kayak Ramp. Approved unanimously.
• Resolution No. 25-95: Authorized a contract with GPD Group for the design of the Oak Grove Inclusive Playground; declared an emergency. Pulled for separate discussion. After a motion to amend the location to Barlow Farm Park failed (1-6), the resolution was approved unanimously (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Deb Myles (Barlow Rd.): Expressed gratitude to the Mayor and Council for their work.
• Anthony Ravida (1746 Edgar Dr.): Spoke about his fence permit and criticized the city's lease agreement for his property, alleging the city wanted him to lease his own land. He also questioned the permitting process for Council President Foster's driveway work.

Discussion Items

• Proclamation – Hudson Middle School Science Olympiad Team: Mayor Anzevino read a proclamation honoring the team for earning first place at the Eastern Ohio Regional Tournament, second place at the Ohio State Championship (out of 38 teams), and eighth place at the U.S. National Tournament (out of 60 teams). The Road Scholar team of Matthew Matea and Morgan Griffith won national gold. The proclamation was accepted by coach Dr. Jordan Renna, who thanked the council.
• Ordinance 25-90 (Landscaping Company Licensing): Second reading. No action taken; scheduled for third reading on July 8.
• Ordinance 25-91 (Concealed Weapons): Second reading. A motion to postpone to August 19, 2025, passed 5-2 (Bird and Kowalski dissenting).
• Resolution 25-96 (DORA Five-Year Review): First reading. Scheduled for public hearing and second reading on July 8.

Council Comments

• Councilmember Heater: Provided a Park Board update, noting discussions on the inclusive playground, additional parking at Hudson Springs, a five-year budget outlook, and a request for resident input on Middleton Park improvements. Also noted the Doc Woods/Metro Park swap is on hold.
• Councilmember Goetz: Discussed a hybrid fire department model costing $900,000/year (0.61 mils property tax or 0.05-0.1% income tax increase) and raised concerns about a "dark money" PAC in the 2021 election that spent $70,000 on at-large council races, naming recipients Heater, Banweg, and Norman. She urged voters to reject candidates supported by such PACs.
• Councilmember Banweg: Clarified he did not coordinate with or receive funds from any PAC, and that the use of Majority Strategies (a marketing firm) was independent. He also noted that Council President Foster does not have authority to send police to homes. He thanked organizers of the Ice Cream Social and Home and Garden Tour.
• Councilmember Kowalski: Questioned Banweg's use of Majority Strategies, noting the same firm was used by the PAC. Banweg reiterated no coordination.
• Mayor Anzevino: Noted the summer recess; next meeting July 8, 2025.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes of June 3 and June 10, 2025: Approved unanimously (7-0).
• Amendment to Resolution 25-95: Failed 1-6 (only Goetz in favor).
• Resolution 25-95 (Oak Grove Inclusive Playground Design): Passed 7-0.
• Ordinance 25-91 Postponement: Passed 5-2.
• Workshop – Art on the Green 2026: Council consensus to move the event back downtown for 2026, using the four primary greens, with planned capping of vendors. Staff will work with Hudson Society of Artists and farmers market to mitigate displacement.
• Workshop – Nicholson Drive Water Transmission Project: Council consensus to continue seeking additional funding through the end of fall. If no further funds materialize, staff will pursue a technical correction to reallocate the $959,752 grant (with $239,938 match) to other waterline projects, such as extending Hudson Drive to the new Public Works Facility and connecting City Hall to Hudson water.
• Proposed Consent Agenda for July 8, 2025: Items forwarded included Resolution 25-97 (Adaptive Signals Phase II CMAQ grant application), Resolution 25-98 (Traffic Safety Study contract with GPD Group), Resolution 25-99 (Cost-sharing agreement with Hudson City Schools for the study), Resolution 25-100 (Storm water easements for 1900 Middleton Road drainage project), and Resolution 25-101 (Accepting $8,942.14 Kiwanis grant for splash pad feature at Veterans Way Park).
• Proposed Legislation for July 8, 2025: Items forwarded included Ordinance 25-85 (Administrative appeal processes), Ordinance 25-90 (Landscaping licensing, third reading), and Resolution 25-96 (DORA review, second reading). Ordinance 25-91 was postponed.
• Future Agenda Item: A proclamation honoring Hudson High School Drama Club's Dazzle Award will be presented on July 8, 2025.