No, that's fine.

I tried to do it for the fine.

I'd rather hear the other.

Good afternoon, everybody.

I call this agenda review of Toledo City Council May 19th, 2026 to order.

Clerk, will you please call the role?

Com Ives.

Kramer, here.

Martinez.

McPherson.

Here.

Meldon.

Here.

Morris here.

Sarantu.

Here.

Williams.

Driscoll.

Here.

Gaddis.

Here.

Hobbs.

Jones.

Here.

Forum present.

Thank you so much.

Uh items one and two come from the Department of Public Service.

Welcome.

Hi, good afternoon, Council.

Thanks for having us.

I'm Sarah Stacy, Commissioner of Urban Beautification, and I'm here with Director Joe Fosna of Public Service.

Item number one is to authorize the expenditure of an amount not to exceed 26,000 from the general fund for the collection hauling and processing of materials collected at our 2026 clean Toledo recycling events and some additional things that may be collected at the Clean Toledo Center, mostly e-waste.

This is to authorize the mayor to accept bids and enter into this necessary contracts for recycling disposal services.

This ordinance will help cover costs for three scheduled clean Toledo recycling events and support a large volume of materials collected by vendors for proper recycling and disposal.

I'm happy to try to answer any questions, and we're asking for SEP, please.

Thanks.

Could you just remind us where the events are going to be?

And we will have two events at Central Avenue 1189 Central Avenue, our um transportation building.

And one event is planned at Ravine Park 2.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Chair.

All right.

SCP is Shelby.

Thank you.

Um item number two.

This ordinance is to authorize an expenditure of $75,000 from the general fund as an annual contribution paid to keep Toledo Lucas County beautiful, KTLCB.

Um this is to help cover costs for neighborhood cleanups, their litter league, and recycling programs.

Uh KTLCB is a great partner of ours.

They provide supplies and logistical support for cleanups in neighborhoods, parks, public spaces, and key corridors.

And they annually distribute approximately 9,000 bags, 4500 pairs of gloves, safety vests and litter tongs all help keep Toledo clean and beautiful.

Um this uh service continues to grow, and I believe our commitment to partnering with KTLCB is important.

Um and this work uh will help us continue to build safe and vibrant neighborhoods.

Um pending any questions, we are asking for SAP, please.

I'd like to recognize Councilmember Hobbs for those attendance, and we'll go SVP.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Items three and eight.

Come to us from the Department of Public Facilities.

Good afternoon, members of council.

Calvin Harris, uh Commissioner of Sewer and Drainage Services.

I'm here today to present items number three, which is proposed legislation authorizing the expenditure from the sanitary sewer replacement loan fund from an from the Ohio Water Development Authority of an amount not to exceed ninety-nine thousand for the repair of maintenance total 31234.

This structure located near the corner of Sherwood in South Detroit was damaged during a high-level sanitary sewer overflow in in the early in late May of last year.

This repair is necessary to restore the structure's integrity and for it to continue operating properly.

I'm respectfully requesting SCP and happy to answer any questions.

Councilmember Goddard.

Thank you.

Thank you.

What's the proposed timeline to get this completed?

The manhole.

Uh hopefully, once we get this uh contract procured, we'll have it done in probably in a week.

Okay.

Great perfect.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chair.

Councilman Martinez, your recommendation, please.

Uh SCP, thank you.

I'm here to present item number four, which is proposed legislation authorizing an annual expenditure of an amount not to exceed $40,000 annually, $20,000 from the sewer operating fund and $20,000 from the water operating fund to provide payment to the Ohio Utility Protection Service, also called OOPS for an annual membership fee.

I'm respectfully requesting SCP and happy to answer any questions.

Councilman Martinez, your recommendation.

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

Patika Pope Bannister, director of the Department of Public Utilities, Public Works.

This request is for uh community gardens to refund the programming that we have.

The legislation authorizes the expenditure of up to $50,000 from the water infrastructure fund for the cost of installing water infrastructure community garden locations within the city.

So this request um allows us to cover the cost of installation up to $5,000 per location.

The locations selected will be based on community impact and need.

Thank you, Chair.

Well, I am very glad to hear about this, because I mentioned it before of when this will be back online.

So will this take place?

Well, when is the expected date for I guess applications to come through for this?

Or you already have a list from last time.

So uh we are accepting applications.

The application is on the website, and we've already started a um a list of those that are interested.

Okay.

I mean as of recently, okay.

Because I just want to because I've been getting questions, so I'll just really want to put people on to get on at least the list or try to get some priority with that.

Um, I guess another question would be about the um wording the wordage.

So I know we there is a difference between community gardens and urban ag so I really want that messaging to get a little bit more clearer.

Okay, when it comes to that community gardens are usually labeled as the small organization-oriented um gardens that you would see throughout the neighborhoods.

Then you have urban agriculture, which is usually for profit, they take up multiple parcels, usually on a bigger stance.

So when it comes to that, I know that you're saying that up to five thousand dollars per location, but also keep in mind that if it is in a farm, there will be more water possibly being used versus a community garden.

So I would just want one to be prepared for that and with the messaging when you're starting to really advertise this, probably separate that out.

Community gardens and urban agri or urban farms, um, because that that definitely is a big difference as well.

Um, would you have um?

So I'm trying to see if there was would be a breakdown.

What is like the usual cost that you've seen from the past gardens or farms when it came to water?

Do you have like or would I have to put in a referral as far as just water expenses?

Um if you put in a referral, then I can um get that information to you.

Because it it varies because some of the projects are smaller than others.

Right.

So we'll we'll sift through and we can give you an average cost.

Okay, and then as as far as like metrics, um, because I definitely would want to keep an eye on this depending on like how much water is used, how much is being spent per month for the grower or the farmer.

Of course if there was need to be any replacements that would take place trying to get a little bit more of a data metrics when it comes to this as well so we can be prepared for future funding and things of that that nature as well too.

But I I'll put that in referral.

Okay.

And as far as replacements that's the equipment that we're installing.

Mm-hmm.

Or even um and also if they were past gardens and they're not a guard anymore because I know a lot of organizations kind of left that and left it to their own vices and some of the gardens just kind of vanished but those that were previously installed making sure are they still going to be installed or are they still going to be in use do they have plans to go revisit their garden or is there um what would you do with that equipment if they're not going to bring back a garden so that sort of information as well too but other than that I'm just really excited that this is coming back and looking forward to just telling people more about it and I will be happy to promote this too so if you have any sort of social media um blast uh that I can share just trying to get that word out so people can start getting these water taps.

But thank you very much for your work as well.

Thank you, Chair.

Of course I'd like to recognize President Williams in attendance as well Councilmember Gaddis.

Thank you.

And I'm excited as well I I had a question in the same vein as Dr.

Jones's do we do community garden follow-up check-ins to see if they're still continuing I know throughout my district there's some they've outlived their life cycle and they're no longer being used.

So do we check in to make sure that if we've installed those locations there's still a garden there.

I will take that as a referral I know we do reach out to make sure that they're winterizing at the end of the season uh we have materials that we provide them and then we have inspectors that will go out and make sure that everything is working well.

So we do have connection with them after.

Okay and then um it says up to fifty thousand dollars how often how much have we spent in previous years have we spent the full amount um I know I would have to go back and check um our last request but we have um used all the funds from our last okay so you're anticipating the whole 5000 will be used yes okay okay thank you thank you chair I just want to thank you for having the program I know I've referred a couple of gardens to you in the past and they're always appreciative so thanks so much for carrying this on.

Councilman Serantu thank you Mr.

Sherman are sewer charges director sewer charges also gonna be uh charged to the people it's a water irrigation meter so no it's water only just water only okay thank you thank you Mr.

Chair of course councilman Martinez your recommendation uh thank you mr chair actually councilman asked my question so that's good to know um by way of referral can we have a expectation by district so we know what community gardens are receiving the benefit and if not we can make sure that if we're aware of community gardens that are interested we can make sure that they are um they can apply uh so SCP thank you item number six please all right uh andy McClerk Commissioner plant operations um I'll be presenting six seven and eight um for convenience I would like to present six and seven at the same time I'll ask for separate approval at the end is there they're essentially for the same project.

So the raw water main real estate acquisition um the the design of the raw water main is essentially complete.

There are a lot of real estate services, including easement negotiations um property purchase um there may be some easements to have you know pay for, and we didn't feel that it was appropriate to try and put this in with the loan.

So we're um asking to appropriate uh money from the replacement fund, and we're also reappropriating money left over from the basin eight project, which was bond funded.

Um so item six is the reappropriation for bond funding from on basin eight.

Um take any questions and request SCP.

Your recommendation, Councilman Martinez.

My apologies.

Sorry, SEP.

SCP.

All right, and then item seven is from the water replacement fund for the same project.

Again, I'll take any questions when we request SEP.

SCP.

We will go to SCP.

I know that I just I do want to acknowledge that this is no small feat.

I'm sure there were I don't know how many parcels you had to work with for easements on this, and I'm also aware that it's uh going through a pretty uh through a landfill.

So I know you guys had your work cut out for you, so I just want to express my gratitude for how much work it took to make this happen.

Thank you.

I'll pass that along to the folks on the project.

Awesome.

So all right.

Um item number eight is just it's um it goes hand in hand with uh previous legislation to accept grants from Ohio EPA for preparation of educational materials related to source water protection.

Uh City of Toledo is um asked to uh participate in this because uh the Lake Erie watershed is such a big area, and we you know need the source water protection for have uh protection against HABS.

Um the previous scope uh we'd are uh we were approved previously for an old scope for the um grant work, the educational materials, and the granting agency approved uh a hot uh larger scope of work.

Uh so we need to accept a little bit of more money from them.

So this would be an additional four thousand eight hundred forty-one dollars, uh, raising the total amount of the grant to 19,970.

We take in questions and request SEP.

Councilman Hobbes, your recommendation?

Or Martinez, your recommendation, sorry.

I'm not as good looking, but thank you.

Um, so what a terrible problem to have.

You know, we have to accept one morning SEP.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Item nine comes to us from the office of the mayor.

Good afternoon, members of council.

Uh Simon Nee, Commissioner of Government Affairs, here with Josh Quinlan from our division of road and bridge maintenance to introduce item nine.

Item nine authorizes the mayor to enter into a grant agreement with the Ohio Rail Development Commission for a $5.5 million grant to complete design and engineering of a railroad grade separation or overpass at one of the two uh railroad crossings on uh either Manhattan or Summit at the southern end of uh Point Place.

So I'm sure you all know how frequently both of these crossings uh get blocked by stop trains, not uncommon to see them both blocked at the same time, which really restricts movement in and out of the neighborhood for our emergency responders in addition to just for the movement of daily traffic.

Uh so uh this grant will uh allow us to complete the design and engineering necessary to select the uh the preferred location and complete environmental review so that we are um ready to apply for uh federal construction funding in the future with an essentially shovel ready project.

So it's a great opportunity to take a real step forward with um with this project that addresses a long-standing need.

Uh, I would just emphasize that the the which of these two locations we select um will definitely include public input.

Uh ODOT is going to uh oversee the design process, and uh there are public input requirements built into that process.

Um there's no match for this grant, and the commission does need to encumber the funds by uh June 1st before they expire at the end of the state fiscal year.

So for that reason, we respectfully request SEP and are happy to take any questions.

Councilwoman Morris.

Thank you, Chair, and thank you for um going after these funds.

This is this is a huge problem for District 4 and for uh district six.

Uh we had issues just even building a um uh fire department uh right there, and and if you've ever been stuck in this Bermuda triangle, um it's scary.

And um, so I'm I'm really excited about trying to figure out how we can better serve that community.

Um the fact that uh Columbus has to be reminded that they actually won Toledo in the Michigan-Ohio war is problematic for me because you are finally able to get some rail money into the city of Toledo, which is a feat in and of itself.

So I'm just thankful that Columbus remembered where we are, and that uh we're gonna get some of that money, and uh however it gets here, however it happens, thank you so much for all of your diligent hard work.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Kramer.

Thank you, Chair, and thank you so much.

This is a huge grant.

So kudos, and this is gonna change people's lives.

This is gonna make it easier for people to get around the city, which is important.

Um, and I love the public input part.

Can you tell us how the uh residents of Toledo are going to be made aware of opportunities to put in input and are there gonna be meetings or how's that gonna work?

Sure, Josh may be able to speak a little bit more to the details, but um this so this project is gonna be um run the same way that we would run uh an ODOT uh roadway project and to get through the environmental review process for those projects, uh stipulate specific requirements for public involvement depending on the nature of the project, how involved it is, and what the potential impacts are.

So that that varies by the nature of the the project.

And uh Josh, I don't know if you have anything to add to that.

Yeah, I think Simon pretty much hit the nail on the head with the size and scope of the project.

So depending on what the size and scope is, ODOT triggers different levels through their environmental process, and as part of their environmental process, it'll be posted on their site, and then usually we reshare those on our site as well.

So social media and the local news media would be the best way that they would see.

Okay, and is it gonna be kind of a democratic process?

So like people vote for which street they want, or how how will that be decided?

A lot of it comes out of the preliminary engineering report, which is part of this process.

Um so there was a feasibility study that was already completed that ODOT so graciously paid for and conducted, and then this process will get more in depth to see which one of those two options is more feasible and which one and then the public input is part of that.

So it's definitely part of it, maybe not fully though.

Okay, alright.

Thank you so much.

Yep.

Councilman Sarantu.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

So it may be already addressed this, but when would the when do you think the project would begin?

When do you think it would be completed?

So that is a very good question.

So without construction funding being funded, it's kind of unknown, but assuming the design and everything goes through, you're looking at at least 10 years and potentially even longer than that, because right adjacent to it is the people know there's a very large first energy substation right there that would have to have work done to that.

So the coordination with first energy and then also the coordination with CSX is going to be a lengthy process.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Of course, uh President, just kidding.

Councilmember Melvin.

Thanks.

Sorry.

And thanks.

And sorry.

Why is it a lengthy process?

So everything with the railroad, the railroad has their process that has to go through.

ODOT has their process to go through.

You're talking about a federal rail um grant that goes through, so they have their process, and then first energy also has their process to go through.

Um, so just lining up the timing of all those is going to be significantly longer than most projects.

Just to add a little bit more on the utility coordination, that's that's particularly uh would be an issue at the Summit Street location because right next to where that pin is on the map is substation, some high mass transmission lines, and they just gave us kind of a ballpark estimate of what they thought it would cost to relocate those transmission lines, which is gonna be uh necessary to do the project and a major expense, but there's gonna be a lot of engineering that goes into even figuring out how to do that.

So both of these alternatives are complex from an engineering perspective in different ways.

So that's part of the the need for a lot of time as well.

So it it's more than just um the complexity of enormous organizations.

It is the complexity, the technicality of the work being done.

It's both, yeah.

Well, that's a terrible combination.

Um, but it is a relief that it's not just you know huge organizations not wanting to I don't know, uh, innovate in processes, which is like kind of a frustration.

Well, hey, I just want to give you a lot of credit for this.

You know, I mean, you mentioned shovel ready, so if I'm interpreting this right, I mean this is the city of Toledo being ready with this project and being able to catch those dollars when they're available.

Is that a fair way of thinking about what is happening here?

Correct, yeah.

When we complete this process, we'll have all our environmental review will be done, which is a big uh hurdle to get over, uh, especially in this environment to be competitive for federal grants.

Um we'll have our preliminary engineering done and we'll be able to apply for these competitive funds, and say if you give us money, we're essentially right to build this.

Yeah, well, kudos.

I mean, it's just a it's a really great example from you know, Simon, your work and your team, and you know, with with your demeanor, I'm not shocked that this is uh this is happening, so kudos.

Thank you.

I was wondering how long it would take.

Councilman Suronto.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

You know, this brings to mind what uh councilwoman Morris and I have discussed publicly, and that is the railroad crossing with no gates uh on Detroit Avenue near to LaGrange, uh, and how dangerous we had a fatality there uh not that long ago.

So I don't know if you could check with the railroad and just see what their time frame is on that, but um we just want to avoid uh more fatalities at that uh crossing.

Is that something you could look into or should we just do it ourselves?

You said that was Lagrange in Detroit.

Yeah, with range in Detroit.

There are no uh gates.

Um I don't think there's even lights there.

There are lights, okay.

But it's it's very dangerous, and we did have a fatality there a few months ago.

So it would be and they did respond uh and also the councilwoman and I contacted PUCO, which oversees that, but uh we haven't heard anything more.

It would be interesting if you could help us get an update on that time period.

I have to look into that for you.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Of course.

Councilwoman Morris.

Just to piggyback on that, I think that they did um they they did uh award um some type of security funding for those two uh intersections, both on Detroit Avenue and also on Lagrange just north of Sylvania.

Um that is a different rail line, that's Norfolk Southern.

Um, so and this is CSX.

Um again, playing with rail companies is not fun, and uh they kind of rule everything.

If you think the oil companies are crazy, just hold my beer.

Um but I can tell you that um they are uh allegedly going to to um secure those locations.

I'm not sure on a timeline, but perhaps Simon and Abby um can get that information to us.

So just piggybacking, thank you.

Of course, President Williams, your recommendation, SCP.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Item number 10 comes from the Department of Transportation.

Welcome.

Good afternoon, Christy Soncrant, Commissioner Engineering and Construction Management.

This resolution gives the city the authority to apply for applications through the Lake Erie West Regional Council to fund future roadway projects.

Successful projects are typically awarded grants of 80% of project construction cost with the city responsible for the remaining 20%.

Projects have not yet been decided, but projects that are applied for will be based on need and well commence construction between 2030 and 2031.

Requesting SCP and will take any questions at this time, Councilman Driscoll, your recommendation.

SCP, I do think that when we know what we're gonna apply for, I think we should meet with ever the district representatives if it's a project that touches their district.

Yes, thank you.

SCP, thank you.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Item number 11 comes from the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Yes, good afternoon, Council.

I am Colleen Ali, Deputy Director with the Department of Housing and Community Development.

I am asking the authorization and appropriation of 145,899 from the unappropriated balance of the general fund to provide funding support for the remaining balance of the acquisition and transition costs of the merger of beach house, doing business as leading family homes and family health.

Ordinance 521-25, which was passed in November 2025, authorized that appropriation for the entire amount of two 291,798 dollars from the general fund.

We had already dispersed 145,899.

And just uh to explain this a little bit further.

What we typically do is we don't give people money ahead of time.

It's usually and typically reimbursable.

You do the work and now we pay you.

But because of the nature of this situation of the acquisition and merger, leading family homes was a need of having funds to be able to have that merger happen.

They needed to bring on computers, they needed to be able to pay staff, they needed to do a number of things to make this be able to happen.

So what we did was instead of paying the entire amount, we put it in half, which we have already paid them, they have received it, and then we requested a documentation for that half saying, Did you do what you said you're gonna do?

Show us the time.

She's show us how you use this money because we don't want to get ahead of ourselves when we've given them almost $300,000, and then we're coming back later on saying, Did you do it?

Where's the documentation proved that you did what you did?

So they did what they said they were gonna do, and now they're requesting the remaining balance because they have spent that money and they need that money, and it was appropriate in 2025, it just didn't unfortunately get moved over to 2026 when we had requested it.

And so we're asking that this money be appropriated for that so we can do the final installment of that, and they can continue on with that merger and acquisition that they have encountered.

And we are asking SCP and I will entertain any questions.

Councilman Driscoll.

Thank you, Chair.

I'm glad these organizations merged.

This is a good thing, I'm glad we're encouraging it.

I'm I'm happy uh to vote yes on this.

I do kind of wonder why it wasn't in the 2026 budget.

And and that might be a question for finance.

Um, but I don't uh boy, we took our time and did a lot of work on that budget, and I don't want to undermine it with.

I mean, every once in a while you have expenditures that kind of arise up, but if we knew we were gonna do this, I'm not I'm not really sure why.

So I don't know if it's best to handle that question here or by referral.

Uh, if you feel like maybe the finance department needs to weigh in on that.

Um, yes, I agree by referral, would probably be the best.

Okay, then we'll submit a referral for that because I I don't want to, like I said, I don't want to undermine our budget process.

We do that for a reason, and we are we knew about this, right?

So I think we gotta just tighten up that process.

But either way, I'm supportive of the expenditure.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Jones, your recommendation, SCP.

Thank you.

Thank you.

There is one item likely to be relieved of the water quality committee.

That'd be ordinance 60 appropriation from various funds for customer assistance grant program for utility customers, 100,000.

Councilman Martinez.

Uh thank you, uh Mr.

Chair.

Yeah, so last week we had a uh water quality meeting.

We discussed a variety of topics.

One of them was uh the water turnoff process.

Um and it sounded like there was a very holistic approach.

Uh a very uh methodology method, I can't pronounce the word method.

Sure, we'll go with that.

Um, a very good process in place, firm but fair.

Um we noticed that the timeline was a bit long from start to finish.

So I think if we had any uh objection, if we couldn't truncate that by at least 30 days, um, but I know the water department has been working very diligently, not just with the internal department, but also neighborhood organizations.

They've been very proactive in getting the word out, um, and we had a very good hearing on it.

So I am very supportive of relieving this from committee and getting it into productive use.

So thank you.

Thank you to Director Um Bannister for all of our assistance in this and having a very robust uh program.

Uh I was very impressed.

Thank you.

We have three items likely to be relieved of housing, community development, and public health.

Ordinance 200-26, accept 40th year ESG funds from HUD, submit a one-year action plan and appropriate $619,354, 202-26, accept the 35th year home funds from HUD and appropriate 1,971,147.86 cents for the prior year carryover, $5,759, or I'm sorry, $5,759,943.

203-26 accept the 52nd year CDBG funds from HUD, appropriate 7,026,026 with a prior year carryover of 985,000.

We have two resolutions in attendance.

We're recognizing the 2025-2026 ACES students from Councilwoman McPherson and recognizing the winners of the 58th annual Cotillion 2026 from President Williams.

We have a DIP repealing ordinance 483-19 and a grant with Toledo Warehouse District Association for street furnishings for 25,000 from CIP.

We have a corrected, we had to get a an account code for that.

185-26, a contract for two years, one-year renewal option, removal, hauling, and reuse of spent Lyme, 5,500,000 from the water operating fund.

Councilman Martinez.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

And the word is methodical.

Thank you, Councilwoman Kramer.

So we had a hearing uh last week, and we did discuss the spent Lyme issue.

Um the vendors were invited.

Uh there were a lot of questions, and I know we have some referrals up to the administration for response.

Um, and I do have a text amendment to the legislation that we worked with the law office and um the clerk of council to uh address, although I'm not ready to present it as of yet uh because we are still waiting for the uh referrals to come back, and that'll kind of dictate which uh direction we go.

But what basically what it is is uh requesting that the administration award the second highest best user based on uh the issues with our previous vendor.

Uh one of the concerns that we have or is what I'm hearing uh regarding the other vendors is capacity issue.

Um so all the vendors were invited to um to the meeting, so two of the three showed up.

Um we had some public testimony about some of the complaints on console, uh, some of the recurring issues from Angola Road came up.

Um, so I just want to make sure uh that whatever we decide to do.

Number one, we have to get this LIME taken care of.

I think that is a must.

What I don't want to do is um promote bad behavior and continue having these same constituent complaints in these areas.

Uh the pit iron goal road still has not been taken care of.

Uh it sounds like Consola has been cleaned up, but oh, but for EPA stepping in to make them clean up.

Um so it sounds like even the number one uh vendor has capacity issues.

So I'm not sure the approach, but I am willing to listen to other options.

But as of right now, what I'm recommending is the second highest uh or the second lowest bidder.

I think they're like 40 to 55 cents difference per uh per ton or something like that, and then also originally it's I'm willing to just do a one-year contract for that to provide everyone the ability to scale up, get correct with either the oversight administration from the OEPA or what have you.

Um, and then also that gives us time to strengthen the debarment language.

Debarment language basically is a contracting requirement that says if you're in violation of any rules or regulations laws, that you can be basically you can't bid on a contract anymore.

We have that language, unfortunately, it's very weak, in my opinion.

Um, and I don't know who enforces what because if that was the case based on my interpretation of the current department language, Rocky Ridge would not have been allowed to continue their contract.

So that's just obviously I'm not an attorney, but that was just my interpretation of the debarment language.

Um I am open to other suggestions.

If any member has would like to you know work with me on this, I'm happy to.

Uh I am kind of holding this until we get uh our referral questions answered from the administration, but I'm very concerned that uh whomever takes this spent line that I do in a responsible manner to our constituents.

So regardless if you're in South Toledo, East Toledo, West Toledo, North Toledo, downtown area, wherever that you don't have to worry about your health or safety uh because of airborne particulates or any type of leakage because it's drying and just seeping into the sewer system.

So more to come on that, but I would um just want everyone to know that I did take this very serious.

I want to make sure that we're being fair and equitable.

It's also my understanding that the whole um bid process has been kind of skewed a little bit.

Um there was maybe some mistakes made, and I just want to give the administration an opportunity to correct them and make sure that everyone's on the fair playing field.

Um there's more to this, but uh I will uh yield my time at this point, but I just wanted to let everyone know that we need to get this.

We need to we need some sort of solution.

Thank you.

Thank you.

If I may, when do you anticipate sharing the amendment with the rest of council?

You'll have it by Friday to Friday's packet.

Friday's packet, okay.

And did you contact the potential awardee about the change in terms?

I have not done anything at this point.

Okay.

That's why I I didn't want to dump the gun.

Sure.

I you did mention the one year piece, so that's why I'm curious because sometimes they will change their pricing if we do a shorter contract.

So I would just concern about that.

Uh, Councilman Sarantu.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um, my understanding is that the console site has not been totally cleaned up yet.

So by way of referral, uh, like our environmental service department to weigh in on this and uh tell us whether the site has been cleaned up thoroughly or not.

Secondly, I do want to reiterate that we did make several referrals uh on this spent line issue, and we don't have any answers yet, and I'm not prepared to vote uh on this uh next week if we don't have the answers in writing from the administration.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Of course, President Williams.

Thank you.

Um I definitely want to make sure that we get these referrals answered, but we can't hold this up any longer, so whatever you guys want to do, we'll do it on Tuesday.

Thank you.

Continue on with the agenda, please.

Uh let's see where we 197-26 still under a second read items contract for five years for the operation of the Talese Toledo police impound lot with five-year renewal, two million four hundred and seventy one thousand six hundred and seventeen dollars and thirty-five cents from the municipal toll fund.

Councilman Sarontu.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh, again, we have made uh at least a few referrals on this issue.

This is an important issue, an important decision for council to address, and again, we need the answers to those referrals before we can intelligently vote on this issue.

So I appreciate if the administration would uh speed up the process of answering the referrals on the toll rot issue.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

President Williams.

I was looking at the chair of the committee, but uh I encourage everybody to come to the committee hearing May 21st because we're talking about it there.

So maybe some referral answers could be answered uh at that at that safety meeting on Thursday at 4 p.m.

as the 21st.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Morris.

Thank you, Chair.

Um, I will not be able to be at that meeting, but I did just forward all of council information about the business that currently holds the tow lot uh contract uh is a district six um company.

Um that doesn't mean that they deal with everything with the tow lat, but they work in uh and it's a three-year term contract.

Patrick McKinney, who is the head of um the place on uh I can't think of the name of it off the top of my head, I'm sorry.

You pull our parts or yeah, uh it's the old cherry um you cherry picked auto parts, and um so he will be here on Thursday, and I hope that you will give him um you know every every courtesy to come up and speak, and then also if you have questions afterwards, again, I just provided his contact information if you do have questions.

So thank you.

Of course, ordinance 204-26 resolution with the intent to vacate Bismarck Street lying north of Swan Creek.

We're still waiting on the legal description in a word document.

We have seven new items from City Council from Councilman Hobbes dedicating Cyril's Road between Dorse Street and Nebaska in honor of Dr.

Crystal Ellis from Council President Williams dedicating the corner of Miami and Wilmot at 1101 Miami in honor of Kamani Latigue, and from Councilwoman McPherson dedicating the corner of Junction in Indiana in honor of Lee and Vernon Lydell.

All three of these went through the Board of Honor and were recommended for approval.

Councilmember Meldon.

Just a super quick question, I love the the Dr.

Ellis honor.

I'm I'm curious if we can't think of something additional, maybe at the Ottawa Park Pudding Green.

Um there's like the legend of Dr.

Ellis, like chipping and taking people's money there.

Uh is one of my favorite things in the world.

He would just chat people, I mean, you know, he'd make wages.

He would win all the time.

Uh, and I just think that'd be a fun.

I don't know what it is.

I mean it's a putting green, it's a little strange to do, but I'm just telling you, I've heard more about Dr.

Ellis on that putting green than uh than almost anywhere.

That's all.

We have amending ordinance 469-25 to change the account code for a D6 dip project, 80,000 for a basketball court, then we have amending ordinance 470-25 to change the account code for a D6 dip project, 175,000 for pickleball courts, and the third amending ordinance 178-26 to change the account code for a D1 dip project, 77,400 for speedback signage.

Next we have declaring a moratorium until November 30th, 2026 on issuance of permits for new gas stations or fueling centers.

This is from Councilman Driscoll, Councilman Soranto, and Councilwoman McPherson.

Thank you.

Councilman Driscoll.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um, I think we've all probably been aware of the number of gas stations that have come through city council the last year or so.

Um this is happening all over the country because uh all the national chains are expanding and they're interested in many new markets, obviously.

Sheets has been the big one for us locally, but Bucky's Wawa, all these major firms are starting to expand, and then also some of the smaller firms are trying to try to corner the markets.

You're seeing Speedway expand, maybe not even because they can make money, but because they want to box out.

So, anyways, we're gonna be seeing a lot more of these and um I just want to be very clear about the purpose of moratorium.

More terms aren't about stopping development, they're about pausing development, and you have to have a legitimate reason for it.

And I think we do uh because according to our code, we allow uh gas stations to go into neighborhood commercial zoning district, not just regional commercial or industrial neighborhood commercial zoning districts are supposed to be pedestrian oriented, uh mixed use, the kind of mom and pop stores, small stores that you see, and uh we still allow gas stations in them, and I think that's that that's incorrect.

That's what's in the legislation that I think I'd like uh to be studied by the plant commission.

Uh, because if we're gonna allow gas stations to go into those districts, we need to understand what it does to the neighborhood, what it does to the future developable uh development of that site.

I mean, if you I mean, I think we all understand the development potential of the Vestrulin neighborhood.

If you drive down Summit Street, you know, we we all anticipate there'll be a lot of development going on, but just as you pass the wonderbred Lofts where people are paying north of two dollars a square foot to live.

Just as you pass that, there's an old gas station site on Summit Street uh that that should be a really prime development Canada.

The reason it's not is because it was an old gas station.

So you now have an environmentally contaminated site next to uh some of the some where some of the wealthiest people in Toledo live.

Um you also could turn if you didn't want to go that direction, you could turn left down LaGrange and just across from the old LaGrange school site.

Uh, there's a gas station that you can barely see because it's mostly covered in trees and weeds half the time.

Because these sites uh they're not automatically brownfields, but if there's any environmental contamination from gas, they become brown fields pretty quickly.

So we need to be really this this is the kind of land use that we need to be really careful about how we regulate.

I think uh what zoning districts we want to put them in is important.

I think it's we need to finally get an answer about 24 hours of operation.

And then this isn't necessarily a land use question, but the question about uh how we license these based on the size of the store is an important one too, because a lot of these gas stations, if they're bigger than the 10,000 square feet, they're not going to fall under our carry-out uh regulations in terms of um licensing, and a lot of these new national chains are building much bigger stores.

So I think there's uh grounds for uh what is what is a six-month moratorium, which is pretty short, especially by our standards, um, to study these three issues, and maybe more, uh, but we've got to be careful about this kind of development and what it does to neighborhoods.

Thank you.

Uh President Williams.

Thank you.

Um I appreciate uh my colleagues bringing this forward, but um I have an issue with it.

A few years back, we put a moratorium on convenience stores and gas stations, and we did a study, and uh the same gentleman that emailed us not too long ago, Mr.

Reedy.

Have much respect for him and his businesses.

He emailed us and said, stop it.

You just were saying let us do it.

And now he wants us to stop it along with some folks that are associated with him.

Um, I have an issue with with this legislation, this moratorium because the the very places that you mentioned, Mac that were uh councilman Driscoll that were um were gas stations should be gas stations again.

Um we don't have good gas stations in central city, and having good gas stations in central city is very important.

Um, the issue with the moratorium is telling the sheets and the speedways and the small mom and pop gas stations that want to open, is we don't want you to open there.

We want to study it.

We did a study already, and we actually put these gas stations and convenience stores through a lot that during that time where Mr.

Reedy actually stand up in a public meeting and said, Don't do this.

We want to do business.

You can't be against businesses, and here we go putting a moratorium on again.

Um, I literally just asked for sheets.

I found the data for sheets to go on Moreau and Detroit.

Like this makes no it just makes no sense to me that to put a moratorium on gas stations at this point in time, because who doesn't like a buckies?

And I'm not even being funny.

If we can get buckies here, that that means that we have arrived and we are welcoming people to come into this city.

This council actually said we want more people to come into this city.

We need to attract things.

This is pushing them away.

I am not um in favor of this moratorium, especially when we just did this to these businesses, these types of businesses in conjunction with convenience stores.

We just did this a few years back, and we put these businesses in turmoil and stress, and here we go doing it again, and it's so crazy because I remember Mr.

Reedy stood right here and said, Don't do this.

He's still right here, and then a few years later, he tells us you really should hold off on build bringing more gas stations because they're messing it up.

We can't zone uh competition away.

And this is what it feels like.

Um, not saying anything about my colleagues, it's just that we can't do this and then expect to get to a population by the mayor's standards 20 to 30 to get more people into the uh city.

If we're putting and on top of that, we are in a point where our budget is crazy, and we're cutting down someone that actually is paying a some of the larger organizations like a sheets are paying livable wages.

We need the income tax.

So here I am representing a district that wants good gas stations, wants because one wants good gas stations and has problems with bad gas stations.

So I say no moratorium.

I hope my colleagues hear what I'm saying.

We did this before, we got a study done.

Add another piece of the study on there, but don't do a moratorium.

Thank you.

Councilmember Gettys.

Thanks.

Hi, I'm in support.

Uh your March of last year, we uh looked at uh we did an update with the administration on the gas station and carryouts, and it was evident that these larger mega uh gas stations do not fit the confines of the licensing that we fought so hard for because we had so many negative um nasty gas stations.

I mean, I remember Mr.

Councilman Hobbes talking about how the trash blown in my district from one gas station to the other in fact, and and that those regulations have stopped that, but the newer ones do not fit in that, and I am I am concerned that um as time comes, we'll see the same thing because they're not fitting in the confines of our licensing.

The other thing I really want to stress is that um Monzi was working with John Hopkins on the different harms in the neighborhoods.

Um I know that they were doing a study, but I think that looking at the harms of um gas stations, we know that there's documentation out there on what they do to walkable neighborhoods that that might be something that we want to also um look as we're looking deeper into as we're uh if this moratorium passes.

So thank you.

Thank you, Councilman Martinez.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chair.

So I'm kind of at the crossroads here.

Uh so I certainly understand what uh my colleague uh councilman Driscoll is saying, as well as President Williams.

Um, and having had one maybe two come in my neighborhood encroaching in neighborhoods in the 24 operations that aren't your traditional what we would think of mom and pop scale um gas stations, uh, is concerning.

Um I see both sides of this, and I would agree that we need to do something because the larger national chains or even regional chains don't fit kind of the whack-a-mole that we've been playing for the past 20 years with gas stations and convenience stores.

Um, so we have a new player in town, and the game is kind of different.

Um, and I don't know if a one size fits all.

That's why we have the SUP and for the review, so we can take it on an individual basis.

That being said, the anomalies between what we're accustomed to dealing with versus a regional national change, are very, very different, and the 24 hour operation and the impact in neighborhoods and light pollution and odor and stuff like that play a very big role.

I have a very vocal um resident base that have big concerns about these, but in the same respect, in the appropriate locations, we've had big success having the sheets in on uh Reynolds and um Southwick.

Uh that place is booming.

Uh, we have it in over on almost on Door Street near Springfield.

Uh you see people, it's more of a fast casual slash restaurant/slash convenience stores, almost like a mini buckies, if you will.

And if you haven't been to Bucky's, it's an experience.

Let me let me uh share that with you.

It's um, but I I think the challenge is, you know, trying to find that happy medium.

I think we have the SUP process for that reason.

That being said, as we go through the code change, which I think we've pretty close to selecting a uh candidate to do the code rewrite, this definitely needs to be a point of conversation and community engagement, especially in neighborhood commercial areas where it transitioned, or what used to be residential is now more commercial because just because of flight or uh disinvestment or what have you.

Um, I think we need to think very to my colleagues' point very uh thoughtfully about how do we deal with the new kid in the town with these types of gas stations, if you will.

So I I'm open to hear both sides of this.

I kind of curious how to see this out of go.

Thanks.

Councilmember Melvin.

Thank you so much.

Um yeah, I mean, I think it's a really interesting conversation.

My I guess my bigger question, it might be for uh Councilman Driscoll, is like, does it actually matter what the study says?

I mean, I'm having deja vu with car washes, it's the same thing with with density, or kind of saturation of the market, it's the same thing with like large brands coming in, it's the same thing with reuse of the site, and we put a study out, and they said we don't have too many.

And my feeling was, does it, and I respect planning and zoning so much, like I mean I respect that profession and that expertise so much, but it does feel like we're having a lot of different types of conversations that we're hoping a study is kind of like a silver bullet.

So I guess my question is like, does it actually matter what the study says?

Because I'm hearing different things about like maybe we only allow them where there used to be a gas station.

Like that's an interesting, that's a really interesting idea.

I've never heard before.

So I guess my question is, like, what is the study supposed to accomplish?

And if it says something that we don't want, then what?

I mean, there's a part of me that says, do we just chart our own course here?

I don't know.

It's just my just my thought.

I mean, I don't I don't have a, I don't have a bucky's in the fight here, I don't really know anything about any of that stuff.

I'm not traveling across country to go get a shirt.

I don't do that, but I appreciate you know, Council President Williams.

You saying, if there's a big national brand that's gonna come in and pay people a living wage, that matters, right?

So I don't know, it seems complex.

I my question is maybe like so what?

What if the study says what we don't want it to say?

Then what do we do?

I don't know.

Councilwoman Councilwoman McPherson.

Thank you.

Um I am in support of the moratorium, and I think it will give us the time to look at all of the things that have just been said.

Um, yes, sheets is large, sheets comes in and they pay a good wage, but they also bring in a lot of their employees, they're not here, they're not Toledoans.

They bring in, uh, and I know that because I went to grand openings of sheets.

Um that's their that's their take, that's how they do.

Sheets is not a neighborhood gas station either, and my concern is with the bigger gas stations coming in, and again, monopolizing.

I am in total support of the smaller gas stations in the businesses, and so uh, yes, uh, small is good, big is good also, but it's not in a neighborhood.

Uh sheets cannot be in a neighborhood.

Do we need other gas stations in our neighborhoods?

Yes, but then there's that about those former gas stations that now we got issues because they were gas stations.

Now, what do we do with them because they're in our neighborhoods?

So this is a good time to look, and I I get what President Williams is saying that we've had that, but it was really when we had that, it was more so on the small uh convenience stores and all of that, and what how Dollar General and Dollar Tree and Family Dollar was coming in and just taking over in our in our communities, and then not doing and not taking care of the stores and then leaving them high and dry in our communities.

That was the main issue.

So to have this, I am in total support of it.

Um six months is not a long time, but we need to look at it and we need to look at it according to our population.

I mean, do we need two more sheets in in this community in the city?

And yes, they pay a good wage.

Okay.

But we got the issue right now with Speedway, and you know, they don't want speedway out there, they didn't want sheets out there.

I think it's a conversation that we we need to have, and we also need to have it with the citizens of Toledo, as those are the ones that are the taxpayers.

They are the ones that pay the taxes, and they're the ones that need to have an input on this totally.

What we decide, yes, but we need to first hear from the citizens because those are the ones that we represent and that we serve.

That's all I have.

Councilwoman Kramer.

Thank you.

Um I appreciate the robust discussion here.

Um my question is would the moratorium affect those gas stations that councilwoman six uh McPherson uh just mentioned the ones that are controversial right now.

How would that affect those?

Okay.

I I just kind of had to raise that because we I would say put it in as a referral, it's illegal and see um or maybe the planning, but see whether out in the process, you know.

I mean, I imagine if they've already gone through the process and have been permitted, then they're gonna do what they're gonna do.

Yeah, because I know there's a lot of controversy about some of those right now.

So okay, thank you.

Yep.

Uh Councilman Driscoll.

Thank you, Chair.

Uh, I know I already had my turn.

I I'll just say a few things.

Um, yeah, we will need to get an answer on that.

What will happen to those before this this also only is a ban on on issuing of the special use permit.

So any this is a short period of time, and I and I would entertain the idea of even going to a shorter period of time, um, like a three or four-month period, uh, just so that you know if the study will only take that long, that's fine with me.

Uh, but I do think there's some uh some things that we do need to clean up here, most notably uh is whether or not we should allow gas stations in neighborhood commercial zoning.

I think it's a regional commercial use.

I think it's more like an Arby's with the drive-thru than it is like uh like the black coffee shop.

I don't think that to me, that's a neighborhood commercial zoning use.

Um I don't I don't think a gas station is so that way.

I also want to say a few things here.

Um, being friendly to business isn't about uh chasing whatever dollar we can get.

Being friendly to business is about speaking with clarity and and to say to whoever the future developers are, whoever the interested entrepreneurs are, this is where you can do such and such business.

Right now, our code says you can absolutely do a gas station in neighborhood commercial business, unless, of course, uh a handful of people get riled up about it at a public meeting or a plan commission meeting and get to the ears of city council.

We are not speaking with clarity to the business community.

We're not speaking with clarity to the to the gas station community uh because they're they're coming to us and saying, Well, it says we can put one here, and we're saying sure, but it uh could it's all uh subject to the the political powers that be.

Uh and so I I think we do want to speak with clarity with our zoning code, and we and we have to allow for all sorts of land uses, but we want to be able to say to the gas stations of the world, this is actually where we think you ought to belong.

And I didn't like I said, the neighborhood commercial zoning district I think is is inappropriate for a gas station.

And to me, and I and I read the past study.

I know we did a study before on this, but it did not address that issue.

Uh it did not address the neighborhood commercial zoning district issue, and that's really what the study's about.

And like I said, I'd entertain a shorter moratorium if that's necessary.

Um, but uh I just want to address what whether we're actually being business friendly because I I don't think what the business community wants is um is is an arbitrary process.

I think they want to be able to know where they can make an investment.

Thank you, President Williams.

Thank you, Chair.

I just am I just will get leery on when we do more moratoriums versus just asking for the study because we literally were asked, was asked by the largest gas local gas station owner to do a moratorium.

That just doesn't feel right to me.

Um, like I said, I appreciate what Mr.

Reedy brings here, but he wrote a letter, a long letter asking us to do a moratorium, and it just seems like he just wants to isolate the can the competition.

Um he could say it's not, but I mean, I mean, it was it was it's a concerning to me, and I don't want to get into the habit of doing moratorium simply because um uh a large business owner says do the moratorium so that they're not doing X, Y, or Z to my business, and he didn't say that in a letter letter at all, but it just it just doesn't feel right to me.

And as I said before, um tax comes from businesses, and if we uh are hindering businesses, especially one that we just did this to, it it kind of like are we gonna do it again when we don't have enough?

Are we gonna stop uh stop doing it when there's I mean, it's just hindering business, and that's where I'm getting concerned at.

That's all I have, Chair.

Councilwoman Jones.

Thank you, Chair.

Um I'm kind of in the crossroads too, like Councilman Martinez, because on one hand, if you know what President Williams has said with the one person requesting this, and they're a competitor, then that's kind of some conflict there.

But also doing a moratorium while doing the study, I don't know if we need, I would like to see the study.

I would like to see some upstate uh update of the study, but I don't know if a moratorium is necessary if we can just vote no for like zoning and and things of that nature.

Um, but on the other hand, I will be interested in seeing just some update since the last study of these specific objectives of what these gas stations do within the neighborhood.

But I don't know if a moratorium is necessary.

That's that's the only thing I have, but I would want to see.

I guess I can do it by referral, like the objections, what specifically would we want an update on.

Um, we also have to consider the timing because if you if councilman Driscoll is considering the like shortening it to three months, we're getting into summertime, and then we're talking about capacity of the planning department and would this be done in time for that.

Um, and also what data do they have on hand right now that can fulfill some of the questions that we have about this study.

So I would want to kind of see some objective what specifically what specific metrics are we're trying to look at, and if we have that data already, we can do that, and then if not, then that's when the planning department can come through with that sort of objective.

But like I said, I'm I'm kind of on the fence when it comes to this.

I'm just worried about the timeline and then the capacity of it.

That's that's really where I'm coming from, and then also just the interest of how they are affecting the land use and the neighborhood placement as well.

Too thank you, Chair.

Councilman Driscoll.

Thank you.

Two things.

Last word, I promise.

Uh, first of all, we could I think we maybe just ought to refer this to committee.

We have an upcoming zoning and planning so we can get some answers.

I think it's tomorrow.

So uh we can talk to the director tomorrow.

Um, the other thing, I'm sorry, yeah.

Uh the other thing.

Um I just want to be very clear, because you could so one could be forgiven for inferring uh that that the letter that was written to the editor and sent to council had anything to do with this legislation.

The legislation we began working on this legislation weeks before that letter came in.

That did not influence our decision at all, and I don't think that's what anybody on this day is was implying.

I hope that's not the case, but just to be very clear, we've been we've been working on this legislation for some time.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That completes our agenda.

Thank you so much.

Seeing no further business before this council, this meeting is adjourned.