0:59 I call to order the city council meeting of May twelfth, twenty twenty six.
1:03 Clerk, please call the roll.
1:30 Dustin Pearson, assistant professor.
1:34 Department of English, language and literature at the University of Toledo for a poetry eating.
1:50 Well, thank you for the invitation to read a poem.
1:53 I was asked to read a poem about community, and I figured since it was just Mother's Day, this poem would be a nice way to bridge those two.
2:01 It's called Exchange Rate.
2:05 What comes over me that day on the phone?
2:09 Now, more than ever, my mother and I talk to each other as people in an unspoken agreement to shut the groomed airs of parents and children.
2:23 You didn't get the life you deserved, I say.
2:27 But in our thirties and sixties, neither life is over.
2:33 She'd made a joke, thinking about prospects and regrets.
2:50 When I stand in front of mirrors, noting sooner than I imagined the uneven exchange rate of decay between a body and a mind, and the doubt it brings to me and spectators alike.
6:22 Councilmember Colme.
6:26 I just want to take a moment to thank Dr.
6:29 Dustin Pearson for gracing us with poetry today.
6:34 I think it's always important to bring in folks with uh different perspectives than just having a religious uh body for us.
6:44 So I'm really grateful that he was able to make it.
6:46 Dustin Pearson is the author of A Season in Hell with Rimbaud, winner of the 2024 Nancy Dasher Book Award, Millennial Roost, and A Family is a House in 2019.
6:57 The route named Justin Dustin, one of nine black poets working in academic, cultural, and government institutions committed to elevating and preserving the poetry art form.
7:06 He's an assistant professor in the Department of English language and literature at UT, where he teaches creative writing and literature.
7:12 So we're super grateful to Dustin for joining us.
7:15 And then also to our Jews House choir.
7:17 Thank you so much for taking time.
7:33 Founded in 2014, Juice House started with a group of UT students, faculty and alumni who came together with a desire to give back to their campus and their city.
7:42 What began as an idea to give free, healthy juice to overwork to med students on the health science campus?
7:48 Has be since become a student organization and community endeavor to cultivate a positive healthy social ecology for all students and members on UT's campus.
7:57 Today, members of Juice House include both community members, students, faculty, staff, and alumni dedicated to improving our city.
8:05 So thank you so much for gracing us with your incredible talents today.
8:09 It's definitely appreciated.
8:12 And you all are welcome to stay for our council meeting if you like.
8:16 Most people don't, and if you stay, you might find out why.
8:23 Councilwoman Moores.
8:24 Thank you so much for gracing us with your beautiful voices today.
8:30 We were just saying it just gave us chills.
8:32 So I don't know who drove the 40 minutes, but it was well worth it.
8:36 Actually, one hour and ten minutes.
8:40 Thank you, thank you, thank you.
8:41 And uh we understand if you don't want to stay, but um thank you again for gracing us.
8:46 It was a beautiful way to start our meeting.
8:53 Oh, recognize Councilman Woman McPherson.
8:56 Clerk, please begin with the resolutions in attendance.
8:59 Recognizing WGTE FM ninety one on their fiftieth anniversary.
9:14 Councilmembers Meldon, Morris, Surantu, and Hobbes present resolution one seventy-six-26, recognizing W G T E FM ninety one on their 50th anniversary.
9:27 Whereas W G T E FM 91 has served the residents of Toledo and the surrounding region for 50 years as a trusted source of music, news, cultural programming, and community engagement.
9:29 And whereas since its founding on May 2nd, 1976, FM 91 has provided diverse and inclusive programming that reflects the real voices, interests, and experiences of the Toledo community.
9:54 And whereas WGTE FM91 is the only radio station in the area that continues to play classical music, and whereas FM 91 has played a vital role in promoting local artists, supporting public discourse, and fostering civic participation through its broadcasts and outreach efforts.
10:14 And whereas the station has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to education and the enrichment of listeners through its high quality programming, and whereas FM 91's dedicated staff, volunteers, and supporters have contributed to its longevity and success, ensuring that it remains a valued institution in Toledo's cultural landscape, and whereas the civic city of Toledo recognizes the importance of independent and community oriented media in strengthening civic life and preserving local identity.
10:48 Now therefore it be resolved that we celebrate and honor FM 91 on the occasion of its 50th anniversary and commend its enduring service to the Toledo community.
11:23 Resolution adopted.
11:31 Thank you very much.
11:33 I'm the radio station manager of WGTE FM.
11:37 I'm my name is Brad Cresswell.
11:39 I know some of you have seen before and talked with you on the radio before, but we thank you for this 50-year anniversary recognition.
11:49 We hope to have more years in the future.
11:53 So we're here to another 50 years.
11:56 I mean, it's wonderful that I came here 17 years ago from the NPR station in New York, and I was immediately impressed, and I've stayed here.
12:07 Toledo is a wonderful place to work, to play, to live, and we take a small part in trying to get that message out to everybody.
12:17 So we thank you for the recognition.
12:23 I'm Dale Thornton, the interim president and CEO of WGTE.
12:28 A lot has changed with media over the years, as we all know, and probably not more so than with public media today.
12:36 But one thing hasn't changed, and that's our relationship with the city and our support of the city and our efforts to continue to bring the city the programming that they're used to and that they love and that we hope to continue, as Brad said, for another 50 years.
12:53 Thank you for this recognition.
12:56 Councilwoman McPherson.
12:59 Congratulations, and I want to say thank you for allowing our young people to come and experience uh WGTE and one of the programs with shoot this.
13:13 Thank you for opening up the doors to our young people so that they could hands-on experience TV and other things.
13:23 So I personally want to say thank you and 50 more years of WGTE.
13:32 Councilwoman Morris.
13:34 Thank you, President Williams.
13:36 And it's wonderful to have you here.
13:39 Um my worlds are are merging, not even colliding, they're just merging.
13:44 And I don't know if many of you know, but prior to working um with former Marcy Captor, my first big girl job was WGTE.
13:54 And um in 1994, I was a TV 30 auction assistant.
13:59 And we had two thousand community volunteers, and one of them is on this dais uh over there.
14:06 And he'll tell you about some of the things that he did when he was there.
14:10 But he was one of my auctioneers.
14:12 And I just remember that my boss Bob uh Barb Conway said it was going to be the hardest job I was gonna ever have.
14:19 And I don't think she was correct.
14:22 But um it was interesting because at that time we were over at 136 North Huron, and we were in two different buildings that weren't necessarily contiguous.
14:32 And uh if there was something going on in the studio, you had to walk around the block to get into the building.
14:40 And uh I didn't have a printer, and if I needed to change something, I had to take my little disc and I had to walk outside and hope somebody wasn't at that computer, and then print it and then walk back.
14:52 It was people don't understand how things used to be.
14:56 You used to get stuck in the elevator on a very regular basis, uh, and one of the best things that they had was 25 cent pop that was down in the basement.
15:05 Um I was also a member of the Sesame Street Sluggers baseball team that was for one season, and that was enough for me.
15:14 Uh but we had um commu companies, many companies that underwrote this endeavor, and they came with money, but they also came with their volunteers.
15:24 People would take off the entire week, week and a half for the auction.
15:29 They underwrote it.
15:31 Um it was really the precursor to home shopping, it was the precursor to Amazon, and uh it's really interesting because coming full circle, I served as uh on the board for nine years and also as the chairperson of the board for nearly two years.
15:49 And um, whether it's classical music, whether it's educational resources, whether it's the voices around us podcast, which is amazing.
15:58 And if you have not listened to it, shame on you because it features local people talking about all of the different things that are wonderful in our community, whether it's history, aging, religion, culture, uh women's issues, arts, legal, there's so many different things that we're talking about and addressing.
16:19 So while public media is in transition, it's really under attack, and losing federal funding is just imperative that we continue sustaining this jewel in our community, and um WGTE has been our study, and so we thank you for 50 years of service, and we're looking to 50 more and then 50 more.
16:48 Council Councilman Serratu.
16:50 Thank you, madam president.
16:52 Uh I have a real perspective because I was a longtime volunteer for the Channel 30 auction.
16:59 Um, and I re vividly remember uh in 1976, former station manager Bob Smith, uh God bless his soul, uh really dreamed about having FM91.
17:15 And it happened on his watch, and he was so pleased uh that night of the auction to announce that that was gonna be the premiere of FM 91.
17:24 And that was a great achievement.
17:26 Uh, not just what Bob did, but the entire staff and the board of trustees of WGTE making that a reality, and it's it's made a tremendous difference uh in our community, as has WGTE television, uh which started in about uh the early 60s out of the University of Toledo.
17:45 So I remember uh those auctions, they were great.
17:49 Uh as many of you know, I can't pass the physical to be a fireman, but I hosted the firehouse quickie board, and um it was a lot of fun.
17:59 But we had a great auction, uh it's been a great community uh center.
18:04 And what really impressed me so much, all the volunteers that we had literally people would take their vacation time from work to work the Channel 30 auction for a whole week, and it was a tremendous success.
18:17 So uh councilwoman Morris is absolutely correct, it was the forerunner of home shopping network and Amazon and so forth, because people just loved it.
18:25 So congratulations uh to all of you, you.
18:28 You're doing a great job, and uh hopefully uh people will realize in Washington and in Columbus what a great service public uh television and public radio is uh to the citizens of this country.
18:43 Councilman Martinez.
18:46 Uh thank you, Madam President.
18:47 I uh so I don't have the real world experience of volunteering a little before my time, but I I certainly grew up watching WWGTE and being introduced to a gentleman that introduced the world to Happy Trees and Happy Clouds and the diversity uh of um understanding how civics works and how you know science was brought into the schools when we may not have had the full capacity to have full teachers, but through your programming, we're able to expose children at an early age to the wonders of the world and science and travel and culture and Toledo stories and and but I I would be remiss if I didn't um uh from a very personal perspective of giving um opportunities to voices locally to start their own programs like Voices Latinas back in the day.
19:41 And now you're doing podcasts, you're adapting to the social media, and that's awesome what you guys are doing, and it sucks that your funding got cut.
19:48 It was a almost a tearing out of the heart of a lot of our public education because we a lot of us grew up watching WGTE and the programming you guys did growing up.
20:01 Um, so all I can say is thank you and keep up the fight.
20:05 You're not alone, and I sincerely appreciate all of your hard work and creativeness into filling those funding gaps.
20:13 Um I listen to MPR all the time, and um I sincerely appreciate all the hosts and what you guys do.
20:21 And thank you, and we look forward to another 50 years.
20:26 Well, you guys can come on and take a picture with your sponsors and the council if you will.
22:44 Clark, can you continue on with the second resolution in attendance?
22:48 Council President Williams and Councilwoman Morris present resolution 177-26 recognizing the 25th anniversary of the Toledo Crisis Intervention Team.
23:02 We're going to send this into committee, the public safety committee.
23:05 We have a lot of people that's involved in the crisis intervention team.
23:09 So we're gonna send this in and we're gonna bring this back up because it's a it's 25 years next year.
23:14 Um it'll be 25 years, so we'll put that in committee and then we'll bring that out next month.
23:19 And I now turn this meeting over to Councilmember Nick Comives, Clerk, will you please continue with new items from City Council?
23:33 Councilman Hobbs presents ordinance 178-26 authorizing the expenditure of 77,400 440 dollars from the Capital Improvement Fund District Improvement Program for the purchase and installation of speed feedback signage in district one, authorizing the mayor to execute the necessary contract and declaring an emergency.
23:58 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Sarantu, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbes, Jones, motion carried.
24:30 Councilwoman Morris presents ordinance 179-26.
24:35 Authorizing the expenditure of $17,000 from the Capital Improvement Fund District Improvement Program for the purchase and installation of lighted stop signs in District 6.
24:46 Authorizing the Mayor to execute the necessary contract and declaring an emergency.
25:00 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Sarantu, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbes, Jones, motion carried.
25:23 Council President Williams presents ordinance 180-26.
25:27 Repealing ordinance number 483-19.
25:30 Passed on October 1st, 2019.
25:33 Authorizing the mayor to enter into a grant agreement with the Toledo Warehouse District Association to support the purchase and installation of street furnishings in the warehouse district neighborhood.
25:43 Authorizing the expenditure of $25,000 from the Capital Improvement Fund District Improvement Program for Site Furnishings in District 4 and declaring an emergency.
25:57 Please continue with the new items from the administration.
26:39 Amending the Toledo Municipal Code by repealing section 1725.14 titled Removal of Personal Property After an Eviction.
26:48 Amending sections 90 963.01 definitions enacting new sections 963.26 bulk collection and 963.27 set outs and 963.99 penalty for the purposes of addressing improper set outs, enforcing bulk collection compliance, and alleviating blight to the sustainability and beautification committee.
27:11 Ordinance 183-26 repealing section 963.03B of the Toledo Municipal Code and enacting a new section 963.03B to revise the monthly solid waste fees and declaring an emergency to sustainability and beautification please ordinance 184-26 authorizing the mayor to enter into and execute necessary agreements with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency OEPA for purposes of the 2026 community and litter grant authorizing acceptance deposit appropriation and expenditure of grant proceeds in the amount of 100,000 dollars into the operation grants fund authorizing the expenditure of 25 thousand dollars from the general fund 1% for the environment for grant matching obligations authorizing the acceptance deposit appropriation and expenditure of fees collected, authorizing the mayor to accept bids and award contracts for the purchase of services and other necessary items to carry out the terms of this grant and declaring an emergency comives Kramer Martinez McPherson Morris Sarantu Williams Driscoll Gaddis Hobbes Jones motion carried emergency comives Kramer Martinez McPherson Morris Serantu Williams Driscoll Gaddis Hobbes Jones motion carried passage comives Kramer yes Martinez Yes McPherson Yes Morris Yeson to Williams Yes Driscoll Yes Gaddis Yes Hobbs Yes Jones Yes Ordinance passed Councilman Martinez presents the following four items from the Department of Public Utilities Ordinance 185-26 authorizing the mayor to accept bids and award a contract for a period of up to two years with the option to renew for one year for the removal hauling and beneficial reuse of spent Lyme produced by the Division of Water Treatment authorizing the expenditure of an amount not to exceed 5,500,000 annually over the term of the contract from the water operating fund and declaring an emergency first reading councilman Martinez uh thank you madam president this is first reading, but we are having a committee hearing tomorrow on water quality.
29:31 This will be the third item on the agenda to discuss.
29:34 I did not want to hold this up, however, depending on how the uh hearing goes tomorrow.
29:39 This may refer back to committee.
29:41 Uh hopefully we'll get a lot of the uh questions answered uh tomorrow.
29:45 Uh what I'm trying to avoid is another snafu like last year.
29:48 Uh this is definitely important.
29:50 Uh that we do get this resolved in a very uh manageable way.
29:55 Um, that doesn't impact our community as it did last time.
29:58 So if you have any interest, uh we're having a committee hearing on this will be the third item on the agenda tomorrow at 4 p.m.
30:07 Ordinance 186-26 authorizing the appropriation and expenditure of an amount not to exceed 100,000 dollars from the water replacement fund for the Heather Downs Pump Station in Fluent Valve Project, authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract for the purchase of pump station valves, waiving the competitive bidding requirements of TMC chapter 187 and declaring an emergency.
30:31 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Serantu, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbes, Jones, motion carried.
30:39 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Serrantu, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbes, Jones, motion carried.
31:02 Ordinance 187-26 authorizing the mayor to enter into a one-year contract with Business Inc.
31:09 for the basin's refurbishment project.
31:11 Authorizing an expenditure not to exceed 100,000 dollars from the water operating fund for said project.
31:17 Waiving the competitive bidding requirements of TMC chapter 187 and declaring an emergency.
31:24 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Sarantu, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbes, Jones, motion carried.
31:32 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Serantu, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbes, Jones, motion carried.
31:58 Authorizing the expenditure of an amount not to exceed $15,000 annually from the water operating fund to provide payment of the City of Toledo Department of Public Works membership dues to the Association of Ohio Drinking Water Agencies Incorporated for years 2026, 2027, and 2028 and declaring an emergency.
32:20 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Serontu, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbes, Jones, motion carried.
32:27 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Seranto, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbs, Jones, motion carried.
32:49 Councilwoman McPherson presents the following item from the Department of Human Resources.
32:57 Authorizing an expenditure not to exceed $36,000 from the general fund.
33:02 Employee Engagement Committee for the provision of an employee engagement activity with the Toledo Mudhens Baseball Club and declaring an emergency.
33:11 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Seranto, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbes, Jones, motion carried.
33:18 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Serontu, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbs, Jones, motion carried.
33:40 Councilwoman McPherson presents the following item from the Department of Parks and Youth Services.
33:48 Authorizing the expenditure of $542,179 from the general fund for youth engagement and development initiatives.
33:58 Authorizing the mayor to enter into necessary agreements for these initiatives and declaring an emergency.
34:04 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Seranto, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbes, Jones, motion carried.
34:12 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Serontu, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbs, Jones, motion carried.
34:33 Councilman Meldon presents the following item from the Department of Development.
34:40 Authorizing the mayor to enter into a grant agreement with the Toledo Warehouse District Association for improvements necessary to support the Huron Street Furnishing Project.
34:50 Authorizing the appropriation and expenditure of an amount not to exceed $25,000 from the City Center Tax Increment Financing Municipal Fund and declaring an emergency.
35:03 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Serontu, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbes, Jones, motion carried.
35:11 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Seranto, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbs, Jones, motion carried.
35:33 Councilman Serantu presents the following item from the Department of Finance.
35:40 Authorizing the mayor to enter into a subscription agreement for a term not to exceed three years for the open gov budgeting and planning.
35:48 Reporting and transparency platform.
35:50 Authorizing the annual expenditure of an amount not to exceed two hundred and twenty-nine thousand four hundred and seventy-three dollars from the general fund.
35:59 Waiving the competitive bidding requirements of TMC Chapter 187 and declaring an emergency.
36:06 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Serontu, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbes, Jones, motion carried.
36:13 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Serontu, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbs, Jones, motion carried.
36:34 Councilman Driscoll presents the following four items from the Department of Transportation.
36:43 Councilman Driscoll.
36:45 Thank you, Council President.
36:47 I uh wanted to let Council and members of the committee know we've scheduled a transportation committee hearing for the 21st at 2 o'clock to discuss this ordinance.
36:56 And so I think uh we ought to move this to uh committee to the transportation committee, okay.
37:08 She has to read it first.
37:10 Authorizing the mayor to enact an annual license fee upon the operation of motor vehicles on public roads and highways, authorizing the acceptance and deposit, all license fee revenues into the street construction, maintenance and repair fund.
37:25 Councilman Driscoll.
37:27 Just for the record, I will I don't call on myself.
37:30 You call me I move that we move this ordinance to the transportation committee.
37:43 Ordinance 194-26 authorizing the mayor to enter into cooperative grant agreements with and accept financial assistance from the Toledo Lucas County Public Library for a construction project.
37:56 Authorizing the acceptance deposit appropriation and expenditure of grant proceeds into the capital improvement fund in an amount not to exceed $50,000, authorizing the mayor to accept bids and award contracts related to the design and construction and declaring an emergency.
38:13 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Serantu, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbes, Jones, motion carried, emergency.
38:21 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Serontu, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbes, Jones, motion carried.
38:44 Ordinance 195-26 authorizing the mayor to enter into a cooperative grant agreements with and accept financial assistance from Lucas County for design and construction projects.
38:56 Authorizing the acceptance, deposit appropriation and expenditure of grant proceeds into the Capital Improvement Fund in an amount not to exceed $9,892,573.
39:08 Authorizing the mayor to execute all necessary documentation for the grants.
39:13 Authorizing the mayor to accept bids and award contracts related to the design and construction and declaring an emergency.
39:28 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Serontu, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbes, Jones, motion carried.
39:50 Ordinance 196-26 authorizing the appropriation and expenditure of an amount not to exceed $1 million from the unappropriated balance of the Franklin Park Westfield Municipal Public Improvement Tax Increment Fund TIF for a design project.
40:06 Authorizing the mayor to accept bids and award contracts for this project and declaring an emergency.
40:12 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Serontu, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbes, Jones, motion carried.
40:20 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Serantu, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbes, Jones, motion carried.
40:43 Councilman Hobbes presents the following three items from the Department of Police Operations.
40:48 Ordinance 197-26 authorizing the mayor to enter into a Toledo police impound lot management services agreement for initial term of five years with an option to renew for an additional five years.
40:59 Authorizing the annual expenditure of an amount not to exceed two million four hundred and seventy-one thousand six hundred and seventeen dollars and thirty-five cents from the municipal toll fund, waiving the competitive bidding provisions of TMC Chapter 187 and declaring an emergency.
41:21 Ordinance 198-26, authorizing the mayor to enter into a grant agreement and accept and deposit grant funds from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council for the United States Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program in the amount of $152,792.78.
41:46 Authorizing the appropriation and expenditure of funds from the Operation Grants Fund.
41:52 Authorizing the general fund expenditure of an amount not to exceed $5,000.
41:57 Authorizing the waiving the competitive bid requirements of chapter 187 of the Toledo Municipal Code and declaring an emergency.
42:06 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Serantwo, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbes, Jones, motion carried.
42:13 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Sarantu, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbes, Jones, motion carried.
42:38 Authorizing the mayor to accept a grant in the amount of $331,951.92.
42:45 From the state of Ohio for police officer training.
42:48 Authorizing the deposit appropriation and expenditure of said funds.
42:52 Authorizing the mayor to accept bids and award contracts and declaring an emergency.
42:58 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Serontu, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbes, Jones, motion carried.
43:06 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Serantu, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbes, Jones, motion carried.
43:29 Councilwoman Jones presents the following four items from the Department of Housing and Community Development.
43:38 Authorizing the mayor to accept deposit appropriate and expend the emergency solutions grant in the amount of $619,354 from the U.S.
43:48 Department of Housing and Urban Development to fund emergency solutions grant program activities.
43:54 Authorizing submission to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development of the 2026-2027 Annual Action Plan and declaring an emergency.
44:04 To the Housing and Community Development Committee.
44:08 Ordinance 201-26 authorizing the disappropriation of $7,550.18 cents from the previous emergency solutions grant year.
44:18 Authorizing the reappropriation and expenditure of $7,550.18 cents from the unappropriated balance of the ESG operating grant fund and declaring an emergency.
44:39 Comives, Kramer, Martinez, McPherson, Morris, Serrantu, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hobbes, Jones, motion carried.
45:00 Ordinance 202-26 authorizing the mayor to accept deposit appropriate and expend the home investment partnership program grant in the amount of $1,971,147.86 cents from the U.S.
45:16 Department of Housing and Urban Development for the purpose of funding the 2026 home investment partnership program.
45:23 Authorizing the expenditure of home carryover funds from all years prior to program year 2025-34th in the amount of $5,759,943 and authorizing submission to the U.S.
45:39 Department of Housing and Urban Development, the 2026-2027 Annual Action Plan and declaring an emergency.
45:46 So the housing and community development committee.
45:49 Ordinance 203-26 authorizing the mayor to accept deposit appropriate and expend the community development block grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development in the amount of $7,026,000, $26, authorizing the expenditure of CDBG carryover funds from all years prior to program year 2025, the 51st, in the amount of 985,000, authorizing submission to the U.S.
46:18 Department of Housing and Urban Development of the 2026-2027 Annual Action Plan and declaring an emergency.
46:26 To the Housing and Community Community Development Committee, please.
46:31 Clerk, please continue with the clerk reports.
46:34 Under the clerk reports, it's ordinance 204-26, declaring the intent to vacate a portion of Bismarck Street lying north of Swan Creek, located in the city of Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio, and declaring an emergency.
46:46 First reading, please.
46:52 That completes our agenda.
46:53 Councilmember Colmeis, first call.
46:55 Thank you so much, Clerk.
46:57 I move to dispense with the reading of the Toledo City Journal for the city council meeting of April 28th, 2026.
47:04 Seeing no objections, so moved.
47:07 I move to excuse Councilwoman McPherson for non-attendants at the city council meeting of April 28th, 2026, and Councilman Saran too for non-attendants at the agenda review meeting of May 6, 2026.
47:17 Seeing no objections, so ordered.
47:21 I just have a couple of things today to mention.
47:24 First, I just want to um share a little update with you all that I had today about the Omnipolymer site with some EPA representatives.
47:35 It's in District 1, and they've been working there for uh some time uh since September of last year, and it looks like they're on track to remove remediate any chemicals or other toxin uh toxic material uh by June or July of this year.
47:51 So it's a really exciting development for our city and a big thank you to the EPA for their work.
47:56 Um also I got a new tree planted in my yard, a new city tree uh over the weekend.
48:03 I'm thrilled uh to have it.
48:05 I've been asking for it for a while, so I'm really grateful to have a new tree in my yard.
48:12 And uh last, I just wanted to mention that the solid waste and bulk set out ordinances will be heard at the Sustainability and Beautification Committee hearing that takes place on May 20th at 2 p.m.
48:26 Um I'd encourage everybody to attend if you're able.
48:29 And that's all I have today, Clerk.
48:34 Councilwoman Kramer, first call.
48:38 I just wanted to take a minute and congratulate all the graduates for 2026.
48:43 Um, I had the opportunity to attend uh a graduation last week, two of them last week.
48:49 Um, and my son's girlfriend graduated from the University of Toledo, so we're really excited for Ashlyn Gurney.
48:55 Um, but all the graduates, it's a very exciting time.
48:58 Um, and I also wanted to give a big kudos to the students at Ansat, uh, the Academy of Natural Science and Technology, I believe it's called.
49:07 Um, they had a plant sale this weekend, the day before Mother's Day, which is just perfect.
49:12 And all the students were there working and they could really explain all the plants and you know what they all were and where they flourished.
49:19 So I just want to give a big shout out to them because that was really incredible to see.
49:24 And we were overachievers and we bought a lot of stuff that day.
49:28 Um, and I also wanted to thank all of those folks who planned the EcoFest at the Glass City Metro Park this weekend.
49:36 It was a fantastic event, and there were a lot of people there.
49:39 It was a great day for it, and it really just showed that how many people really care about um sustainable items and living in a way that is environmentally conscious.
49:52 Um, TARTA was there with one of their electric vehicles.
49:55 So, you know, we it was just a lot of different organizations working together to make sure people understand how they can you know live more sustainably and environmentally conscious way.
50:07 So thank you very much.
50:11 Councilman Martinez, first call.
50:14 Uh thank you, Madam Chair.
50:15 Um I don't have much uh today.
50:18 Uh just a reminder to all the District 2 residents in Broadway, Harvard Terrace area.
50:25 Looks like we're gonna have the dark frog dash.
50:28 So there's gonna be some street closures.
50:30 Uh we posted on social media just to remind everyone because a lot of times nobody knows, and you're trying to get out of your driveway at eight, nine o'clock in the morning, and you're stuck.
50:38 Uh, so want to make sure that we got the information out ahead of time.
50:42 Um we do have a um water quality meeting tomorrow.
50:48 Uh so we want to make sure there's a lot of questions around uh the spent lawn contract and the previous uh vendors and want to make sure that we have uh a good conversation about it because really this is the only opportunity we have to have the conversation because once we approve this, we will not get to say in who gets the contract or how it's um um spent, so to speak.
51:14 Uh so I want to make sure that all the questions are answered and that the community has a voice uh can voice their concerns, and then also um, yeah, I think that's it.
51:27 Pretty uh happy Mother's Day to everyone, and thank you.
51:33 Councilwoman McPherson, first call.
51:36 Um, just glad to be back a little bit.
51:42 Don't everybody say nothing.
51:46 Um at the council meetings, I'm glad to be back at council meetings.
51:51 Um, I would like to give a shout out to Republic because of the work that they um so graciously did and came back and did on my street.
52:06 So don't get the big head, y'all.
52:08 But um keep doing what you're doing, um, people are watching closely, and to um councilman comai's excitement about the trees.
52:21 I got a call today, and they weren't excited about the tree.
52:25 So um glad um some are excited about the trees that are being planted in front of their house, but they are those that um would have liked to have been asked whether or not they were gonna if they wanted that tree in front of their house.
52:41 I ain't mentioning no names.
52:43 They are in the room.
52:50 Um, for the rest of the citizens that are not aware or didn't get a notice, you may see some planters out in front of your house planting trees because this is the season and the city will be planting trees.
53:07 Thank you guys for your cards and your calls and your visits.
53:10 I really appreciated everything and everybody checking up on me.
53:16 And um, I will be in and out still, but thank you.
53:21 Councilwoman Morris, first call.
53:23 Thank you, clerk, um, and welcome back to my sister over there.
53:28 Uh, just wanted to give a shout out to all of the poll workers who ably continue our elections every so often.
53:37 Um, you know, these people have to be there by 5 30, and they leave upwards of 9 30.
53:44 So we're talking about a 16-hour day uh on top of three hours of training on top of setting up the polling location the night before.
53:54 And yes, it is compensated, but it is not compensated enough.
53:59 So just wanted to give a shout out to all of them who, like I said, keep us moving.
54:04 Um, and a reminder that the outdoor farmers market is open.
54:08 Uh, you know, it's always open uh year-round, but the the sides have come off, and um and all of the different vendors are out there.
54:16 So please, if you have a moment, um, you know, stop by.
54:19 There are so many different local businesses that are there on top of all of the great produce that is grown in our region, and then lastly, um, thank you to you all.
54:31 Uh, the joke was on me that uh Uno de Mayo was actually uh a party for my birthday uh part of it.
54:29 And uh it was a big surprise party.
54:42 So thank you all for your um kind words and thoughts.
54:45 I truly appreciate it, and I'm very blessed to have wonderful colleagues.
54:51 Councilman Soranto, first call.
54:54 Um this past week uh we lost a great uh Toledoan and uh very uh vibrant city employee uh Dan Hiskey.
55:05 And uh, you know, Dan served as the city treasurer, he served as the deputy mayor under Finkbiner, and he also served us as a city auditor, and he did a great job.
55:18 Dan was also uh a uh seasoned instructor at the University of Toledo in public finance.
55:25 Uh and uh when he was here as a city auditor, he was just a tremendous help uh to all the council members and uh just it's just a real loss because he um he really made a difference in the city and he loved the city and he's a he had a tremendous amount of integrity.
55:43 Uh and he was also a Vietnam veteran.
55:46 He never talked about that, but that's the way Dan was.
55:49 He didn't brag about himself, he just did the job and was always there to help us.
55:53 So our sympathies go out uh to the community because it is a great loss.
56:02 Councilman Driscoll, first call.
56:07 Uh yeah, happy belated Mother's Day.
56:09 Um, uh uh thing I'll bring up about my mother is she retired last week.
56:15 Friday was her last day.
56:16 Well, technically, she has one more day.
56:17 She has to work because she's gonna use up her sick time.
56:20 Uh so she's coming back in two weeks.
56:22 Uh, but she's calling it a retirement, so why why can't we congratulate mom?
56:26 She worked uh very hard her whole life and and pretty much always had two jobs, sometimes three, and at one point, four jobs.
56:33 She was working four jobs.
56:35 Um, so she's a hard worker, she's earned this, and I'm I'm happy for I um I say I won't get a chance.
56:43 Uh we won't have a meeting then, but I do want to say uh happy birthday to my wife a week from to a week from yesterday.
56:49 Uh so next week is her birthday.
56:52 I also want to say uh just a uh a lot of gratitude for the way the city approaches um and the administration approaches the work that gets done in the old west end ahead of old West End Festival.
57:04 It's it's clear that they take it seriously, and as resident there um I can tell, but also everybody lives in the neighborhood.
57:12 It's a huge appreciation that we get all the work and infrastructure work done, or we try to ahead of festival.
57:16 It's it's the biggest neighborhood festival every year, and just shows that we are paying attention to what's going on in the community.
57:22 Obviously, everyone has big parties.
57:24 Um the neighbor, my neighbor Caddy Corner to me uh has a big party every year.
57:30 So this is a huge this is a huge festival, and we appreciate what they do.
57:34 Um like I said, 21st, we're having at two o'clock, we're gonna have a transportation committee meeting to talk about the license plate fee.
57:41 Look, I don't none of this stuff is ever fun to do, but I know some members had questions about this, and from my vantage point, it seems necessary, but we at least need to answer the questions that council members have on this before we move forward, and that's all I have.
57:56 Councilmember Gaddis, first call.
58:00 Um, it's the biggest week in American birding here in Northwest Ohio, and it's a festival that brings people from all over the world and brings 40 million dollars into our economy.
58:10 So if you get some time, get out there and look at the birds.
58:13 With that, I yield my time.
58:16 Councilman Hobbs, first call.
58:19 I have nothing, thank you.
58:25 Um, well, first, happy birthday to my twins, the first birthday today.
58:32 Um they have grown so much, they're already running around, and it's been a crazy household in the Jones household right now.
58:40 But um, looking forward to celebrating the day, and they're having a party this weekend, so it's gonna be very, very fun.
58:47 Um, so Zanaya induce or just in the second, if you want to be technical, but um happy birthday, babies.
58:53 Mommy loves you, and um now on to business, so May 12 um May 14th.
58:59 Uh this Thursday, we'll be having a housing community development and public health hearing going over CDBG.
59:08 Um, that's just an opportunity for council members or public to have extra questions, providing the um applicants to this round of CDBG, and just to get some um more clarity on just that process and what they looked for when choosing these recipients as well.
59:25 So that will be at 2 30 on the 21st floor.
59:29 So hopefully you can join us for that.
59:32 Um, I would like to, of course, do a belated Mother's Day as I actually has been a busy weekend um on Saturday.
59:41 I had the honor of um being one of the speakers in a fireside chat uh with my sorority, Delta Sigma Theatre Sorority Incorporated, Toledo Alumni Chapter for the Breakfast Formality Fundraiser that happens around the first Saturday every May.
59:57 Um we had the opportunity of awarding four seniors with $12,000 in scholarships, and then I also had the honor of speaking with my other store, Erbene Carter over at the chamber with Minority Business Assistance Center, and we had a very, very good conversation.
1:00:15 We also had one of the members from SWV to be a mistress of ceremonies, and so it was a very, very nice event.
1:00:25 Um, and we basically just it was just very, very well received.
1:00:31 Um, it's not my fault you didn't come.
1:00:36 So um also happening for the rest of this month.
1:00:39 Um, actually, tomorrow I'm continuing with my front porch talks.
1:00:43 Um, tomorrow it will be at West Toledo Library.
1:00:46 This is just an opportunity for residents to come and learn more about what's happening at council, any questions that is being asked of what we're talking about, discussions as well as just getting updates of just different services from the city.
1:01:00 Um next week it will be on the 18th at Mott Branch and then on the 21st at Sanger Branch, and all of these start at 6 p.m.
1:01:09 So it's open to the public.
1:01:11 You do not have to live in the neighborhood in order to attend one of these.
1:01:15 I hold these basically, um, this is the second year doing this, and I plan to continue doing this as a way to keep a residents informed about what we're doing.
1:01:25 Also on May 20th, um, that is a Wednesday.
1:01:30 We are uh myself hosting with Delta Hotels over off of Glendale our basically the first food truck rally um for food truck rodeo, however you want to call it.
1:01:42 Um that will be from 5 to 7:30 at the Delta Hotel, was previously the Radison, and currently we have about over 30 food trucks that will be present.
1:01:52 So come out if you are still interested in um being a vendor or uh food truck that wants to be part of this.
1:02:00 All that we ask is that you will be able to donate at least 10% of your revenue to connecting kids to meals.
1:02:08 So that is the end all result of this.
1:02:10 So looking forward to having that.
1:02:13 Hoping the weather holds out a little bit more, but if not, we still gonna have it.
1:02:18 So um, but just come out, enjoy a lot of cuisine.
1:02:21 There's a lot of different um trucks that'll be out there, and it'll be an exciting time.
1:02:26 So, other than that, I yield my time.
1:02:31 Council President Williams, first call.
1:02:34 I just want to thank Mac for keeping the corny dad jokes going with the word of the day.
1:02:39 Thank you so much.
1:02:39 It was a horrible, horrible, horrible representation of what Sam would have done.
1:02:44 So I thank you for carrying it on though.
1:02:47 It was just horrible.
1:02:48 Thank you so much.
1:02:49 Meeting adjourned.