Hudson City Council Meeting - October 7, 2025

The Hudson City Council met on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, beginning with an executive session at 6:30 PM to interview applicants for boards and commissions, followed by the regular session at 7:30 PM. All seven council members were present. The agenda included approval of minutes, public comment, appointments, a consent agenda, and 16 legislative items covering land development code amendments, bond/note authorizations for capital projects, a moratorium on planning commission applications, second readings for site branding and a library levy, and a new procedural rule.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes approved: September 16, 2025 Council Meeting and September 23, 2025 Council Workshop minutes were approved unanimously (7-0).
• Consent Agenda Items (25-148 through 25-156): Approved unanimously. Items included: dedicating Franklin Street as public right-of-way; authorizing bids for State Route 91/Terex Road turn lane improvements; authorizing bids for E. Barlow Road resurfacing; authorizing bids for the Downtown Pedestrian Phase 2 project; authorizing contracts for 2026 Capital Maintenance Programs (line striping, crack sealing, concrete repair, catch basin repair, asphalt resurfacing/patching); authorizing bids for Division Street culvert replacement (emergency); authorizing adoption of a project name and branding for the downtown development site; authorizing an RFP for architectural/engineering design services for the downtown development preliminary plan (emergency); and authorizing bids for construction of the Hudson Public Works Facility (emergency).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Scott Lancaster (6900 Hunting Hollow Lane West) expressed support for Ordinance No. 25-92, stating his understanding that it prohibits kennels in District 2 and reaffirmed his support.

Discussion Items

• Ordinance 25-92 (Boarding Kennels & Veterinary Facilities): Council debated a 300-foot setback for boarding kennels. Councilmembers Goetz and Kowalski opposed the setback, believing it too restrictive. Supporters (Foster, Banweg, Sutton, Heater, Byrd) argued District 2 is primarily residential and that separating boarding kennels from veterinary clinics is appropriate. The motion to approve with the September 16, 2025 (Sutton Proposed Changes) amendment passed 5-2 (Aye: Sutton, Banweg, Bird, Foster, Heater; Nay: Kowalski, Goetz).
• Ordinance 25-110 (Removal of Assisted Living from Commercial Districts): Staff requested postponement to a date certain. A motion to postpone to November 18, 2025 passed 6-0-1 (Aye: Sutton, Banweg, Foster, Goetz, Heater, Kowalski; Abstain: Bird).
• Resolution 25-143 (90-Day Moratorium on Private Planning Commission Applications): Council discussed concerns about backlog and staff capacity. Councilmembers Goetz, Kowalski, and Bird opposed, citing potential backlog and impact on businesses. Supporters (Foster, Banweg, Sutton, Heater) argued the Planning Commission needed time to update the Land Development Code and that the moratorium would not affect government projects like the inclusive playground. The resolution passed 4-3 (Aye: Heater, Sutton, Banweg, Foster; Nay: Goetz, Kowalski, Bird). Since the emergency clause requires six votes, the resolution takes effect without emergency status (30-day wait).
• Bond and Note Authorizations (25-127 through 25-136): Council approved a series of financial measures on third readings, all unanimously (7-0):
  • 25-127: $740,000 in bond anticipation notes for former Windstream property at 100 Owen Brown Street (refinancing).
  • 25-128: $925,000 in bond anticipation notes for 94 Owen Brown Street (financing).
  • 25-129: Up to $7,100,000 in notes for a salt storage facility and bus maintenance/storage garage at 5810 Hudson Drive (refinancing).
  • 25-130: $3,295,000 in bonds for acquiring approximately 31 acres at 5431 Hudson Drive for a new Public Works facility.
  • 25-131: Up to $31,000,000 in notes for constructing the new Public Works facility.
  • 25-132: $2,700,000 in bonds for a new clubhouse at Ellsworth Meadows Golf Club (total cost $3.1 million; balance from golf course fund).
  • 25-133: $2,700,000 in bonds for a multipurpose trail along Boston Mills Road between Omni Lake Parkway and Lake Forest Drive, including parking and bridge improvements.
  • 25-134: $1,000,000 in bonds for a multipurpose trail along Valley View Road between SR 91 and Hunting Hollow Drive, continuing to Prospect Road.
  • 25-135: Up to $5,000,000 in notes for remodeling/renovating the Fire/EMS facility and constructing a new detached garage.
  • 25-136: Up to $7,500,000 in notes for expanding the Velocity broadband fiberoptic system for residential internet service.
• Second Readings:
  • Resolution 25-144: Authorizing the City Manager to record protective covenants for 996 Hines Hill Road (JobsOhio SiteOhio program requirement).
  • Resolution 25-145: Authorizing adoption of the site name "Hudson Innovation Park" and branding for 996 Hines Hill Road.
  • Resolution 25-147: Declaring necessity to renew an existing 2.9 mill library levy and increase it by 0.6 mill (total 3.5 mills) for the Hudson Library and Historical Society, to be placed on the May 5, 2026 ballot (emergency declared).
• First Reading:
  • Ordinance 25-157: Establishing a rule to allow efficient postponement of a legislative item to a date certain (emergency declared).
• Manager's Report: City Manager Sheridan reported: capital budget review begins next week; inclusive playground under design and will go to Planning Commission; hydrant flushing runs through October 24; Safety Center Open House October 13 (5:30-8 p.m. at 40 South Oviatt Street); last farmers market October 11; message boards will be placed before trick-or-treat (October 31) to remind drivers; staff will investigate Boston Mills Road pavement lip; adaptive signal concerns will be addressed by the City Engineer; Fire Chief will report on hybrid system.
• Council Comments: Councilmembers acknowledged fire response improvements (response time reduced from 15 minutes to 2 minutes with hybrid system), discussed police mental health training, tree commission updates (monocultures, arborist involvement), and adaptive signal timing concerns.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes approved (7-0).
• Consent Agenda approved (7-0).
• Appointments: Rob Gerling and Jon Elson to Economic Growth Board, Robert Kahrl to Board of Zoning and Building Appeals (5-0-2 abstentions: Goetz, Kowalski).
• Ordinance 25-92 adopted with Sutton amendment (5-2).
• Ordinance 25-110 postponed to November 18, 2025 (6-0-1).
• Bond/note ordinances 25-127 through 25-136 all adopted unanimously (7-0).
• Resolution 25-143 adopted without emergency clause (4-3).
• Second readings held for Resolutions 25-144, 25-145, and 25-147.
• First reading held for Ordinance 25-157.
• Executive session entered at 8:31 PM to discuss potential acquisition of real estate for public purposes; meeting resumed at 8:45 PM and adjourned.