OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Toledo City Council Agenda Review - May 6, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, May 6, 2026
BodyToledo, Ohio
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, May 6, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:35:48

Transcript — Verbatim
3:40

Good afternoon, everyone.

3:42

Welcome to the City Council agenda review on this May Six, twenty twenty six.

3:48

Clerk will please follow the role.

3:49

Come on.

3:51

Kramer here.

3:52

Martinez.

3:56

McPherson here.

3:58

Meldon here.

3:59

Morris here.

4:02

Williams.

4:03

Here.

4:03

Driscoll here.

4:05

Get us here.

4:06

Habs.

4:07

Jones.

4:08

Here.

4:09

Eleven present.

4:10

Thank you so much.

4:12

Uh, we will start with the new items from the administration.

4:15

Item number one.

4:17

Uh please welcome.

4:19

Hi, good afternoon.

4:20

Megan Robeson, Chief of Operations for the City of Toledo.

4:22

Today I have Commissioner Ryan Murphy, uh, Director Joe Fosna, and Commissioner Sarah Stacey joining me.

4:29

Uh, this legislation authorizes the mayor to enter into a five-year agreement with the option for five one-year renewals with republic service for curbside refuse and recycling collection.

4:39

The first year expenditure is estimated to be 11 million seven hundred thirty-one thousand with an annual three percent increase plus additional fuel charges over the five-year agreement.

4:49

We have identified service level commitment language to be incorporated into the contract support in the contract to support timely collection, timely service complaint resolution, quality service, and resident education.

5:02

We have a committee hearing scheduled for May 20th at 2 p.m.

5:05

where additional information will be shared.

5:08

I'm happy to answer any questions.

5:12

We will begin with Councilman Martinez, but before I just want to reiterate that we're having a hearing on the 20th at 2 p.m.

5:19

Uh, we will also be hearing um the item number three uh pertaining to the solid waste fees as well at that hearing.

5:28

I'm sure it'll come up.

5:29

So Councilman Martinez.

5:30

Uh thank you, Mr.

5:31

Chair.

5:31

Yeah, so my question I will actually also put it by referral.

5:34

So I'd actually like to know what the true cost of the contract is.

5:37

Because it sounds like, especially with gas being five dollars, you know, a gallon, and they're using diesel, it's even more.

5:44

Uh I I want to make sure that we're projecting and comparing what this new contract is going to cost the taxpayers.

5:52

Thank you.

5:56

Thank you.

5:57

Uh Councilmember Gaddis.

5:59

Thank you.

6:00

That's loud.

6:02

Um, that was my concern as well.

6:04

I mean, they're projecting gas to go up another dollar or two with as um the war with Iran continues.

6:13

What is that gonna look like for this contract?

6:16

I'd like to see specifics, especially for um the committee hearing.

6:21

Thank you, Chair.

6:22

Absolutely.

6:23

Councilwoman McPherson.

6:26

Thank you.

6:27

And just to prepare you, I guess, for the hearing, um, do the same thing.

6:32

Um, can you give us what the bid was initially when we were in meetings with priority versus this?

6:42

And then what in it in this contract um safeguards us because it's a five-year contract.

6:51

What safeguards us year to year if they are not meeting our obligations, which we have required for them to do in making sure that the residents are receiving the services, and also is there anything in the contract that um could handle subtracting money or funds from them when they do not meet the quota or streets have not been picked up in those uh would like to see that and you can prepare that for the hearing?

7:29

Absolutely.

7:30

We'll have all of that information available at the hearing.

7:32

Yep.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████25%
Public Safety████████████████████20%
Vacant Property Registration███████████████15%
Water And Wastewater Management██████6%
Transportation Safety██████6%
Fiscal Sustainability█████5%
Homelessness█████5%
Economic Development████4%
Personnel Matters███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Toledo City Council Agenda Review - May 6, 2026

The Toledo City Council held an agenda review meeting on May 6, 2026, beginning at 7:00 PM. All 11 council members were present. The meeting featured presentations and discussions on numerous items including a new refuse contract, bulk waste enforcement, solid waste fee increases, youth programming, street safety projects, and police operations. No final votes were taken; most items were referred to committee or given first reading. A special committee hearing is scheduled for May 20, 2026, on refuse and solid waste matters.

Consent Calendar

  • Items 6-8 (water treatment valve replacement, preventive maintenance, drinking water agency membership) were recommended for SCP (Second Consideration and Passage).
  • Item 9 (Employee engagement Mud Hens event, $36,000) recommended for SCP.
  • Item 12 (OpenGov budgeting software, $230,000 for three years) recommended for SCP.
  • Items 14-16 (pedestrian beacon, Monroe Street safety grants) recommended for SCP.
  • Items 18-19 (JAG grant $152,792 and OPOTC training grant $331,951) recommended for SCP.

Discussion Items

  • Item 1: Republic Services Curbside Refuse/Recycling Contract – Megan Robeson, Chief of Operations, presented a five-year agreement (with five one-year renewals) estimated at $11,731,000 for the first year with a 3% annual increase plus fuel charges. Council members Martinez, Gaddis, McPherson, and others requested cost comparisons, bid details, safeguards (KPIs), and accountability measures. Council President Williams noted community input supporting Republic. A committee hearing is set for May 20 at 2:00 PM. The item went to committee.

  • Item 2: Set Out and Bulk Compliance Legislation – Commissioner Sarah Stacey presented a new enforcement regime for improper bulk trash set-outs. Key changes: a $1,000 fine per violation, a two-step process with a 15-day compliance window, potential second fine, and city cleanup after 30-45 days. Council members raised concerns about the 45-day timeline, fine amount (some suggested $10,000 or tiered fines), collection of fines from out-of-state landlords, and the need to involve the business community. The item was referred to committee alongside the solid waste discussion.

  • Item 3: Municipal Solid Waste Fee Increase – Melanie Campbell, Finance, proposed increasing monthly fees from $11.50/$6.50 to $18.50/$10.50 for non-homestead/homestead properties, with further increases in 2027 and 2028 to align with collection costs. Last increase was in 2016. Councilman Martinez questioned if the new rates would cover the expected contract costs. The item was placed in committee.

  • Item 4: Ohio EPA Recycling Grant – $100,000 grant for three clean Toledo recycling events, requiring a 25% match from the 1% for Environment fund. Events will be for Toledo residents only. Recommended for SCP.

  • Item 5: Spent Lime Removal Contract – Urgent contract due to previous contractor cancellation. If not awarded this year, eight years of progress will be lost. Councilman Martinez expressed serious concerns about the bid process and requested referrals. First reading.

  • Item 10: Youth Engagement Initiatives $542,179 – Tiffany Whitman presented 69 programs funded. Shift from booklet to QR codes for cost savings, bus passes included. Council members emphasized early outreach to schools, including charter and private schools, and bilingual materials. Recommended for SCP.

  • Item 11: Warehouse District Association Grant – $50,000 city reimbursement (from TIF and DIP) for street furnishings; association will pay $25,000 and maintain for ten years. Councilman Driscoll called for strategic review of TIF balances. Recommended for SCP.

  • Item 13: $5 Vehicle License Fee Increase – Proposed to generate $1.1 million annually for street maintenance. Council members discussed burden on residents, inability to tier fees, and the narrow use for roads. Mixed opinions; first reading with possibility of hearing.

  • Item 17: Impound Lot Management with VMS – Proposed five-year agreement with Vehicle Management Solutions (VMS) for full impound lot operations, waiving competitive bidding. Annual cost $2,471,617. Would free up seven officers. Concerns raised about company history (San Antonio lawsuit over service members' vehicles), need for union agreement, and financial comparison. VMS representatives answered questions. Council requested further analysis; first reading.

  • Item 21: Winter Crisis Shelter Reappropriation – $7,550 from prior ESG funds to support St. Paul's Community Center winter shelter. Council members expressed gratitude and concern about St. Paul's potential closure next year. Recommended for SCP.

Key Outcomes

  • Committee Hearings Scheduled: May 14, 2026 (CDBG/ESG), May 20, 2026 (solid waste and refuse contract).
  • First Readings: Items 5, 13, 17.
  • Referrals: Multiple referrals requested for cost data, bid analysis, fine collection, and business community input.
  • No Final Votes: All items were either recommended to committee, given first reading, or recommended for SCP (second consideration and passage at a later meeting).
  • Clerk Reports: Resolutions recognizing WGTE FM 91's 50th anniversary and the Crisis Intervention Team's 25th anniversary were introduced. Several DIP items and ordinance repeals were noted.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the City Council agenda review on this May Six, twenty twenty six. Clerk will please follow the role. Come on. Kramer here. Martinez. McPherson here. Meldon here. Morris here. Williams. Here. Driscoll here. Get us here. Habs. Jones. Here. Eleven present. Thank you so much. Uh, we will start with the new items from the administration. Item number one. Uh please welcome. Hi, good afternoon. Megan Robeson, Chief of Operations for the City of Toledo. Today I have Commissioner Ryan Murphy, uh, Director Joe Fosna, and Commissioner Sarah Stacey joining me. Uh, this legislation authorizes the mayor to enter into a five-year agreement with the option for five one-year renewals with republic service for curbside refuse and recycling collection. The first year expenditure is estimated to be 11 million seven hundred thirty-one thousand with an annual three percent increase plus additional fuel charges over the five-year agreement. We have identified service level commitment language to be incorporated into the contract support in the contract to support timely collection, timely service complaint resolution, quality service, and resident education. We have a committee hearing scheduled for May 20th at 2 p.m. where additional information will be shared. I'm happy to answer any questions. We will begin with Councilman Martinez, but before I just want to reiterate that we're having a hearing on the 20th at 2 p.m. Uh, we will also be hearing um the item number three uh pertaining to the solid waste fees as well at that hearing. I'm sure it'll come up. So Councilman Martinez. Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah, so my question I will actually also put it by referral. So I'd actually like to know what the true cost of the contract is. Because it sounds like, especially with gas being five dollars, you know, a gallon, and they're using diesel, it's even more. Uh I I want to make sure that we're projecting and comparing what this new contract is going to cost the taxpayers. Thank you. Thank you. Uh Councilmember Gaddis. Thank you. That's loud. Um, that was my concern as well. I mean, they're projecting gas to go up another dollar or two with as um the war with Iran continues. What is that gonna look like for this contract? I'd like to see specifics, especially for um the committee hearing. Thank you, Chair.

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