OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Toledo City Council Meeting: Recognitions, Appointments, and Unanimous Passage of Ordinances on April 28, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, April 28, 2026
BodyToledo, Ohio
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, April 28, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:29:49

Transcript — Verbatim
0:12

I call to order the city council meeting of April twenty eighth, twenty twenty-six.

0:18

Clerk, please call the roll.

0:21

Jones.

0:22

Here.

0:22

Cole Mives.

0:23

Here.

0:24

Kramer.

0:25

Here.

0:26

Martinez.

0:27

Present.

0:27

McPherson.

0:29

Meldon.

0:30

Here.

0:31

Morris.

0:33

Serantu.

0:34

Here.

0:34

Williams.

0:35

Here.

0:36

Driscoll.

0:37

Here.

0:38

Gaddis.

0:39

Here.

0:39

Hobbs.

0:40

Here.

0:41

Eleven present.

0:43

Please stand for the invocation by Pastor Jerry Booz.

0:48

The Pledge of Allegiance to our flag and the national anthem by Cole Crofts, a sophomore at TSA, jazz major.

1:06

Let us pray.

1:09

Eternal God, we come before you all the same.

1:12

Thank you, first of all, for being God, for being our redeemer, our keeper.

1:18

Father God, we come now before you and petitioning you God to watch over this council, Father.

1:26

I ask you to give them the wisdom to lead your people.

1:31

We know that we are living in difficult days, difficult times.

1:35

But it does not change who you are.

1:38

So I pray, God, that they lean on you to get the understanding, to know what the next steps are.

1:46

Father God, we thank you for our leaders.

1:50

We ask you to protect them, guide them.

1:52

We thank you for those who are joined together in this room tonight.

1:57

Whatever it is that they need, we ask you to grant it.

2:01

And we ask it now in the mighty name of Jesus.

2:05

Thank you and amen.

4:24

All right.

4:25

Um thank you so much.

4:31

Hey, hey, Cole, before you run off.

4:33

Good job.

4:36

Um, you know, shocker that TSA would put out, you know, develop kids who could play the national anthem about eighteen different instruments, but I think if we have one, I mean we can have them run it back with the pick a totally new instrument.

4:50

Um so kudos, good to see you.

4:52

It was a wonderful surprise.

4:53

That's all I want to say.

4:54

Good job.

4:56

Thank you.

4:57

Uh Dr.

4:58

Jones.

5:00

Thank you, President.

5:00

Um, first of all, just thank you to Pastor Booth for saying prayer, definitely a needed word at this time and just coming in at the last minute.

5:09

Thank you for for doing that for me.

5:11

Um, and thank you to Cole.

5:13

Uh, this definitely was a surprise, and you played beautifully, and um very proud of just what TSA has been producing as far as those who are really ingrained in the arts and culture and and really adding to Toledo as it is.

5:26

So thank you again.

5:28

And thank you, Chair.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████████████████34%
Community Engagement██████████████████████22%
Personnel Matters█████████████13%
Youth Programs████████████12%
Zoning and Planning██████6%
Economic Development█████5%
Historic Preservation████4%
Arts And Culture███3%
Transportation Safety█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Toledo City Council Meeting – April 28, 2026

The Toledo City Council convened on April 28, 2026, with 11 members present. The meeting featured recognitions for the Toledo Design Collective (25th anniversary), legislative intern Ashley Westgate, and the Kid Mayor/Kid Council. Council unanimously passed all agenda items, including a series of second-read ordinances, new appointments, and a moratorium on demolition permits for historic school buildings.

Recognitions & Presentations

  • Toledo Design Collective (TDC) 25th Anniversary (Resolution 154-26): Council members and the mayor praised TDC for its contributions to urban planning, neighborhood master plans (e.g., Toledo Downtown Plan, Junction Neighborhood Master Plan, Vistilin Neighborhood Master Plan), and community engagement. Councilwoman Morris, Councilman Meldon, Councilman Driscoll, Councilman Martinez, Councilwoman Gaddis, and Dr. Jones expressed full support and gratitude for TDC's work. Founder Robert C. Fang and Director Ryan Bunch spoke about the organization's history and upcoming anniversary celebration on April 30, 2026, at the Sophia Quintero Art and Cultural Center.
  • Kid Mayor & Kid Council: Eleven student representatives from various elementary schools introduced themselves, including Kid Mayor Jamie Howard (Ella P. Stewart Academy for Girls). The mayor noted that Maumee and Perrysburg have adopted similar programs.
  • Ashley Westgate Recognition (Resolution 155-26): Council commended Ashley Westgate, UT graduate and legislative intern, for her service and achievements. Chief of Staff Lucy Frank highlighted the internship partnership with the Jack Ford Urban Affairs Center. Westgate expressed gratitude and planned to attend Villanova Law School.

Appointments & Confirmations

  • Electrical Board of Controls (Appointment 156-26): John R. Sally Jr. (replacing Rick Burson) confirmed to a term expiring January 20, 2029. (Waived Section 64.)
  • Board of Honor Reappointments (Appointment 157-26): Ramona Collins and Barbara Floyd confirmed for two-year terms expiring April 28, 2028.

Legislative Actions (All Passed Unanimously)

  • Second-Read Ordinances:
    • Ordinance 109-26: Enacting Chapter 557 (Biometric Data Collection).
    • Ordinance 147-26: Extending the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) period for the Owens Corning World Headquarters improvements (under ORC 5709.511), authorizing amendments to the 1995 TIF agreement, and requiring a compensation agreement with Toledo Public Schools. (Declared emergency.)
    • Ordinance 148-26: Amending the Middle Grounds development agreement (1994, as supplemented 2013). (Declared emergency.)
    • Ordinance 149-26: Authorizing an agreement with the Metropolitan Park District and Owens Corning for the Glass City Riverwalk project, waiving competitive bidding, and authorizing property conveyance. (Declared emergency.)
  • New Items from Council:
    • Ordinance 158-26: Grant agreement with University of Toledo's Jack Ford Urban Affairs Center for a legislative intern partnership (not to exceed $15,000 from general fund). (Declared emergency.)
  • Toledo Municipal Court (Ordinance 159-26): Upgrading audio/visual/recording equipment in three courtrooms (not to exceed $201,357.61 from general fund), waiving competitive bidding. (Declared emergency.)
  • Administration Items:
    • Ordinance 160-26: Contract for fire alarm system at water reclamation facility (not to exceed $50,000 annually from sewer fund), waiving bidding. (Emergency.)
    • Ordinance 161-26: One-year stop loss insurance agreement with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, waiving bidding. (Emergency.)
    • Ordinance 162-26: Property Readiness Evaluation Grant Program (not to exceed $80,000 from general fund). (Emergency.)
    • Ordinance 163-26: Authorizing a Community Reinvestment Area tax exemption for Zalmay Sedage (remodel at 4455 Seacor Road into multifamily residential at 5744 Southwick Blvd). (Emergency.)
    • Ordinance 164-26: Sponsorship with Destination Toledo for 2026 Party in the Park series at Promenade Park (not to exceed $50,000 from general fund). (Emergency.)
    • Ordinance 165-26: 2026 Ohio Mayors Alliance annual membership ($12,500 from general fund). (Emergency.)
    • Ordinance 166-26: 2026 U.S. Conference of Mayors annual membership ($15,257 from general fund). (Emergency.)
    • Ordinance 167-26: Purchase of one tandem axle plow truck via cooperative purchasing (not to exceed $375,000 from Capital Improvement Fund). (Emergency.)
    • Ordinance 168-26: Cyber liability insurance policy (not to exceed $109,813 annually from risk management fund, with three renewal options). (Emergency.)
    • Ordinance 169-26: Purchase of fire/rescue vehicles and emergency equipment (not to exceed $1,250,000 from Capital Improvement Fund). (Emergency.)
    • Ordinance 170-26: Fire station improvements (not to exceed $2,500 from Capital Improvement Fund). (Emergency.)
  • Zoning & Planning Items:
    • Ordinance 171-26: Zoning change at 2500 Collingwood Blvd.
    • Ordinance 172-26: Zoning change at 4019 Roan Oak Road.
    • Ordinance 173-26: Zoning change at 2855-2857 Lagrange Street.
    • Ordinance 174-26: Special use permit for major public utility (Schneider Park Water Tower at 0 South Detroit Ave), subject to conditions.
    • Ordinance 175-26 (New Moratorium): Imposing a moratorium on acceptance/review/approval of demolition permits for buildings of historical community importance until December 31, 2026; requesting Plan Commission study protection of historic school buildings and potential redevelopment. (Declared emergency.) Councilman Martinez explained the moratorium addresses concerns about Toledo Public Schools' potential school closures (e.g., Harvard School) with no immediate demolition plans.

Key Outcomes

  • All 11 council members present voted unanimously on every motion, suspension, emergency declaration, and passage.
  • The Owens Corning TIF extension, Middle Grounds development amendment, and Glass City Riverwalk agreement were approved, securing long-term corporate presence and riverfront development.
  • A six-month demolition moratorium on historic school buildings was enacted effective immediately.
  • A total of $2,126,527.61 in new expenditures authorized from the general fund and capital improvement funds, plus ongoing insurance and membership costs.
  • Council members provided committee attendance excuses for several members (details on record).
  • Upcoming community events announced: District 2 road construction meeting (April 29, 6 p.m., Heavy Downs Library), District 5 spring town hall at Meadowvale Elementary, and a workers' memorial event (April 28, 6 p.m., Local 500).
  • Councilwoman Gaddis and Dr. Jones to host a renters' rights meeting (April 30, 6 p.m., West Toledo Library).

Meeting Transcript

I call to order the city council meeting of April twenty eighth, twenty twenty-six. Clerk, please call the roll. Jones. Here. Cole Mives. Here. Kramer. Here. Martinez. Present. McPherson. Meldon. Here. Morris. Serantu. Here. Williams. Here. Driscoll. Here. Gaddis. Here. Hobbs. Here. Eleven present. Please stand for the invocation by Pastor Jerry Booz. The Pledge of Allegiance to our flag and the national anthem by Cole Crofts, a sophomore at TSA, jazz major. Let us pray. Eternal God, we come before you all the same. Thank you, first of all, for being God, for being our redeemer, our keeper. Father God, we come now before you and petitioning you God to watch over this council, Father. I ask you to give them the wisdom to lead your people. We know that we are living in difficult days, difficult times. But it does not change who you are. So I pray, God, that they lean on you to get the understanding, to know what the next steps are. Father God, we thank you for our leaders. We ask you to protect them, guide them. We thank you for those who are joined together in this room tonight. Whatever it is that they need, we ask you to grant it. And we ask it now in the mighty name of Jesus. Thank you and amen. All right. Um thank you so much. Hey, hey, Cole, before you run off. Good job. Um, you know, shocker that TSA would put out, you know, develop kids who could play the national anthem about eighteen different instruments, but I think if we have one, I mean we can have them run it back with the pick a totally new instrument. Um so kudos, good to see you. It was a wonderful surprise. That's all I want to say. Good job.

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