Hudson City Council Workshop - July 28, 2026

The Hudson City Council held a workshop on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at 7:30 PM at Town Hall. Mayor Anzevino called the meeting to order and turned it over to Council President Bird. Council members present: Michael Bird, Kyle Brezovec, Samantha D'Eramo, Patricia Goetz, Skylar Sutton, and Dan White. Amanda Weinstein was absent. The workshop covered seven discussion items, including environmental committee priorities, emergency communications, temporary special events, food truck regulations, low-speed vehicle ordinances, the Clinton Crossing project, and the use of excess General Fund carryover balance. No consent agenda was proposed. The workshop adjourned at 10:07 PM.

Correspondence and Council Comments

• Councilwoman D'Eramo announced an e-bike public forum on August 19, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Barlow Community Center. She also noted resident concerns about an incident over the weekend at Onyx and said the City is continuing to investigate to ensure safety.
• Councilman White reported that the Art and Wine Festival was well attended and thanked city staff for repair work on SR 303.
• Councilman Brezovec thanked organizations for the busy Saturday, including Touch a Truck, the Farmers Market, the Art and Wine Festival, and Music on the Green.
• Mayor Anzevino highlighted upcoming events: the Mayor's Association annual meeting (July 31), Friends of Hudson Parks' Pack the Pond (August 3), Hudson-Landsberg Biergarten (August 7-8), and the DREAM Playground ribbon cutting (August 9). He also noted that Council will be in recess the week of August 4, with the next meeting on August 11.
• President Bird reported receiving multiple resident complaints about utility flags and mounds of dirt from fiber work, and asked staff to look into removing flags and restoring yards.

Discussion Items

26-0056 Environmental Awareness Committee Priorities

• Dr. Joseph Ortiz (Chair) and Alexander Salimian (Vice Chair) presented four prioritized items: a joint meeting with Stow and Twinsburg environmental committees, a cooking oil disposal program, a school recycling education program (e.g., a skit by high school students at elementary schools), and a vendor fair (reviving the former "Green on the Green" concept, likely in spring 2027). They also noted ongoing workshops on composting, rain barrels, and other topics, and a land management white paper.
• Council feedback encouraged adding measurable SMART goals, using categories like recycling and renewables, and considering a "library of things" for energy efficiency tools. Council expressed support for proceeding with the four items.

26-0057 Communications Update

• Kathleen Sullivan (Communications Manager) presented the Crisis Communication Plan, detailing the incident command structure, notification tools (Code Red with reverse 911, social media), and the importance of accurate, timely information.
• Chief Varnes described the fire department's role in the Twinsburg Township gas explosion (August 7? Actually July?) – the incident occurred outside Hudson; four homes in Hudson had physical damage, eight total affected by debris. He noted that Hudson was mutual aid and not incident command, so no Code Red was sent. Chief Tabak discussed the July Ohio State Highway Patrol pursuit that ended in a shootout and carjacking; he sent a detailed memo the next morning.
• Council members expressed disappointment that residents were not better informed during the Twinsburg incident and urged improved coordination with neighboring communities and faster use of Code Red for alerts. They also emphasized the need for post-event “all clear” communications.
• Jenna Stasik (Community Relations Manager) reviewed event communications improvements: adding message boards, drones with audio, 800 MHz radios for internal communication, and establishing a command center for large events. She also noted the possibility of relocating the fireworks display from Barlow Farm Park to either Veterans Way Park or a school site, pending safety evaluation.
• Recommendations discussed: expanding Code Red access to more police personnel, developing pre-written scripts, and exploring a better non-emergency notification platform (e.g., replacing the clunky “Notify Me” system).

26-0058 Temporary Special Events

• Jenna Stasik reported that the special event ordinance (Chapter 872) hasn't been updated since 2016. Proposed updates include aligning with 2025 fire codes, creating a risk assessment matrix (low/medium/high), and clarifying requirements for event organizers. She will bring final recommendations in fall 2026. Upcoming events were mentioned: First Street alleyway mural, Gray’s on the Greens food truck lunches, 9/11 stair climb, and a Turkey Trot.

26-0059 Food Trucks

• Jenna Stasik stated that the food truck ordinance (Chapter 874) is outdated and needs revision. Issues include unpermitted trucks operating in residential neighborhoods and church parking lots. Staff will work with fire and police to update regulations and return with recommendations in fall. A resident concern was raised about a food truck in a church parking lot not part of an event; current code likely prohibits that.

26-0060 (TMP-8586) Low-Speed Vehicle Ordinance (Chapter 478)

• Chief Tabak provided background: Ordinance 25-119 (passed 2025) established minimum state standards for low-speed, under-speed, utility vehicles, and mini trucks. Since then, increased interest and safety concerns (e.g., children without restraints, vehicles on state routes) prompted proposed amendments.
• Proposed changes include: prohibiting under-speed vehicles (max 15 mph) on all public roads; restricting low-speed vehicles (max 25 mph) to roads with speed limit ≤25 mph; restricting utility vehicles and mini trucks to roads ≤35 mph, with possible allowance for crossing higher-speed intersections. Universal rules: no operation after 9 PM, seat belts required, VIN required (no homemade), and child safety restraints mandated. A one-time inspection and sticker by Hudson PD would be required.
• Council discussed state route prohibitions, potential conflict with state funding, and comparisons to e-bikes and horse-drawn buggies. Councilman Sutton argued against full bans on state routes for utility/mini trucks because they are plated and pay road taxes. Councilman Brezovec noted similarities with e-bikes. A DORA ban was discussed but not decided. The ordinance was forwarded for a first reading on August 11, 2026, with an updated side-by-side document and speed map to be provided.

26-0060 Clinton Crossing Update

• Greg Hannan (Community Development Director) reported on recent community engagement: June charette (125 residents, 17 small groups), July 1 open house (120+ attendees), and July 22 site session (200+ attendees). Results from surveys (over 150 completed, open until August 3) show strong support for smaller single-family homes and limited support for townhomes; minimal support for a 40,000 sq ft grocery store; support for a hotel, market hall, flex community space, and community center. Councilman White raised concern that the grocery option might be seen as Heinens moving, but that wasn't clearly communicated. The design team will develop a single preferred plan for an August 22 community session. Additional amenities (recreation center, senior center, dog park) may be considered during budgeting. Timeline: joint PC/Council session August 10, Council update August 11, PC concept plan review in September/October, developer RFQ/RFP by year-end.

26-0061 Excess General Fund Carryover Balance

• Jeff Knoblauch (Assistant City Manager) explained that the 2024 excess carryover (over 40% target) was $3.3 million. Per Ordinance 24-152, at least 50% must be spent on infrastructure. Already $593,000 was used for the inclusive playground, leaving $1,062,000 needed to meet the threshold. Staff provided a list of possible uses: 15 additional street resurfacing segments (based on PCI ratings), safety equipment (message boards, drone, grapple truck), and connectivity projects. Councilman Sutton argued the original intent was for truly unfunded projects, not just accelerating already-planned ones. Council discussed Barlow Road sidewalk (project #1, $2.3 million) and Stowe Road sidewalk (unfunded, $570,000). Staff will compile a list of all unfunded projects and explore splitting the Barlow sidewalk. Council also considered using funds to offset increased fiber project costs due to new requirements, and the need for a clear definition of infrastructure. No final decision; discussion will continue.

Key Outcomes

• The Environmental Awareness Committee’s four proposed actions were supported by council to proceed.
• For communications, staff will expand Code Red access, improve post-event notifications, and explore a better non-emergency platform. The Police and Fire Chiefs will work on cross-border coordination.
• Temporary special events and food truck ordinance revisions will be brought back in fall 2026 after further work with fire and police.
• The low-speed vehicle ordinance (TMP-8586) was forwarded for a first reading at the August 11, 2026 council meeting, with updated documentation and a speed map to be attached.
• The Clinton Crossing project will continue with a preferred plan to be presented at an August 22 community session, followed by Planning Commission and Council reviews.
• No final decision was made on the excess carryover balance; staff will provide a list of unfunded projects and a definition of infrastructure for further discussion at a future meeting.