OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Toledo City Council Meeting – June 16, 2026: Safety Zone Ordinance & Routine Business

City Council — Tuesday, June 16, 2026
BodyToledo, Ohio
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, June 16, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:53:05
Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Here.

0:01

Gaddis.

0:02

Here.

0:03

Hobbs.

0:04

Jones.

0:06

Come Ives.

0:07

Here.

0:07

Quorum present.

0:10

Items one through seven are from the Department of Public Utilities.

0:20

Oh, President Williams.

0:22

Thank you.

0:22

I just wanted to um introduce the mayor.

0:26

We're gonna move the mayor's um legislation up top.

0:31

Clerk, can you please um adjust that and tell us the what number is that, Clerk?

0:40

Is it number 20 on our agenda?

0:44

Yeah, it's number 20 on our agenda.

0:46

So we're gonna move that up so the mayor can present on this piece of legislation.

0:55

I just wanted to let you know also there's a new version that was put in.

0:59

It is in your folders.

1:01

Thank you.

1:01

Uh I'll turn this over to Mayor Kapsakavich.

1:04

Um, you can have the floor.

1:06

All right, thank you very much.

1:08

Uh President Williams and uh Chair Cramer.

1:16

The administration is here today to talk about uh an ordinance uh that is uh that at least begins the conversation on how we can uh make our large gatherings a place where individuals can enjoy themselves and have fun, uh, but also be safe.

1:40

Uh it is the first uh response uh to what happened at the old West End recently, but it does not have to be the only response.

1:54

I felt it was important to begin the conversation.

2:00

And at the table here, we have John Madigan from the law department, uh Chief Carl, the safety director, Austin Mack from my office, to sort of talk about the logistics of what this ordinance does.

2:15

But I just wanted to sort of give an overview, maybe a view from 10,000 feet about some of our thinking.

2:24

Um we felt, first of all, this is not necessarily a uh finished product.

2:33

Uh it to think about this uh maybe the way you would think about a term paper in college.

2:39

Uh let's uh not think about this as uh the final paper that we're turning into the professor, but maybe rather as the first draft.

2:48

Um it is our hope that city council can work with us to turn this first draft into a second draft, third draft, fourth draft, and to the point where we get the final paper that we can turn into the professor.

3:01

We felt we understand City Council's legislative schedule and we respect City Council's legislative schedule.

3:11

While all public gatherings in Toledo are important, we did feel and do feel that there is unique importance to thinking about the Fourth of July gathering in Promenade Park, where we are I'm certain we're gonna have the largest firework show we've ever had in the history of the city of Toledo as we celebrate the 250th birthday of America.

3:31

Uh Austin has helped uh raise the private funding necessary to make that the case.

3:37

I know how much money we typically raise for fireworks.

3:40

We have exceeded that uh by a great margin, so we're gonna have the best fireworks we've ever had, which means we're gonna have a lot of people down there.

3:49

We will have tens of thousands of people there, and we want to make sure that if we believe new policies and processes and procedures are necessary to safeguard um the citizens for that event.

4:07

We knew we had to get this legislation in the packet last Friday.

4:11

So I guess if we sort of rush to get something before you, it was with an eye toward getting something passed by 4th of July.

4:19

I can understand.

4:21

I'm not I'm happy to very briefly to the extent I can talk through what this does.

4:27

I can understand that city council is gonna have opinions and might want to influence it and add here and delete there, and we absolutely welcome that.

4:37

Let's do that in real time.

4:39

I don't know if maybe a working group offline uh could be useful toward that effort.

4:48

Uh we're willing to block out ours, even this week if we want to do that difficult work.

4:54

I know sometimes with the legislation like this, there's a temptation to maybe have a hearing, put it in committee.

5:01

I'm all for that.

4:59

I'm just a little I just want you to know at the beginning that the purpose of doing this now is to get it on the books by 4th of July, and I just worry a little bit about having this stuck in a committee as a result.

5:16

So council and this wisdom can do what it wants, but we'd love to move this to the extent we can.

5:22

So what is this?

5:25

First of all, um, I think we should be heartened uh by the fact that other cities are uh dealing with some of the issues we are, and we are this ordinance is not a reinvention of the wheel.

5:38

In fact, this ordinance pulls from policies that are already on the books in places like Detroit, Fort Wayne, Atlanta, is it Philadelphia or Washington, Washington, other cities are seeing some of the things that we are seeing, um, and the ideas that are in this ordinance have been called together from other cities.

6:03

While the events at the Old West End are certainly the most traumatic and highest profile events that this community has endured, I do think that the Old West End happened at a time when there were some other events at OLPH, some of these teen takeover events that all raise questions about young people, and whether our officers have the tools necessary to protect safety in an environment where all of a sudden you blink your eye and there are a hundred, 14-year-olds that have descended upon uh a situation, and it is with that backdrop that some of this has been inspired.

6:55

It is true that this is an attempt to hold uh parents accountable for the actions of the young people in their lives.

7:07

That is true.

7:08

That is one of the things that I heard as a result of what happened at Old West End, a desire for holding parents accountable, parental accountability, parental responsibility that probably more than anything else, that was a theme that came through to my phone and my email and my texts and the letters I've gotten as a result, and this certainly achieves that.

7:32

Uh this um this draft contemplates uh uh fines for parents whose young people uh violate rules, and uh all the way up to even criminal penalties.

7:50

Uh so this there is a real aspect of parental accountability contemplated in this ordinance.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety███████████████████████████████████████39%
Water And Wastewater Management████████████████16%
Youth Programs███████7%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████7%
Community Engagement██████6%
Transportation Safety█████5%
Parks and Recreation████4%
Economic Development████4%
Personnel Matters███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Toledo City Council Meeting – June 16, 2026

The regular meeting of the Toledo City Council on June 16, 2026, was dominated by the first reading of a proposed ordinance creating special event safety zones in response to the recent Old West End Festival shooting and other teen takeovers. The mayor presented the ordinance as a first draft emphasizing prevention and parental accountability. Council members expressed broad support for action but raised detailed concerns about enforcement, due process, and youth inclusion. The council also debated the renewal of the Flock automatic license plate reader contract, eventually scheduling a committee hearing on June 22 and a vote on June 23. Numerous routine ordinances from public utilities, finance, transportation, and other departments were approved by consent.

Consent Calendar

  • Items 1–7 (Public Utilities): Approved sewer repair contracts ($1.18M), continuation of Promise Pay collection services ($500K), boiler replacement at Collins Park ($125K), Reynolds area pump station improvements ($1.7M), aeration tank cleaning ($450K), amendment to solids handling boiler contract, and emergency contract for spent lime hauling ($750K). All received SEP (suspend the rules for immediate consideration).
  • Item 8 (Human Resources): Approved dependent audit contract with Part D Advisors Inc., expected savings of $500K–$1.4M. SEP.
  • Items 9–10 (Neighborhood Safety): Approved $69,556 for Hoodstock Foundation case management and conflict mediation, and $34,560 for youth workforce development (Mobility Aid lawn mowing program). SEP.
  • Item 11 (Community Services): Approved $25,000 for Junior Achievement fifth-year internship program. SEP.
  • Items 12–15 (Communications): Approved contracts for a public swag store (no city cost), streamlined internal merchandise purchasing ($50K), creation of employee engagement trust fund, and call recording services ($23,346). SEP.
  • Item 16 (Development): Approved $100,000 from City Center TIF for dynamic lighting under MLK Bridge at Maritime Plaza, matched by Metro Parks and Arts Commission. SEP.
  • Item 17 (Plan Commission): Approved $125,000 for consultant to prepare local landmark designations for 20 publicly owned sites. SEP.
  • Items 18–19 (Finance): Approved reappropriation of DIP program funds and $19,000 Ohio Municipal League dues. SEP.
  • Items 21–26 (Transportation): Approved lead service line replacement funding ($6M for 750 lines), traffic signal/sign upgrades ($250K), roadway departure safety project (design 2026, construction 2029), Laskey Bridge over Shiny Creek rehab (design 2026), bridge matches program ($4.6M), and snow/ice control study ($200K). All SEP.
  • Item 29 (Public Service): Approved $30,000 over three years to match a Levitt Foundation grant for free concerts in four parks. SEP.

Discussion Items

Special Event Safety Zones (Item 20 – moved up on agenda)

  • Mayor Kapszukiewicz presented the ordinance as a first draft, drawing from policies in Detroit, Atlanta, Fort Wayne, and Washington, D.C. He emphasized prevention over punishment, allowing police to create targeted safety zones at large events (e.g., July 4th) with rules against unaccompanied minors, coolers/backpacks, and providing authority for proactive crowd management. Parental accountability includes fines ($250–$500) and potential criminal penalties.
  • Council President Williams expressed general support but insisted on amendments to make designated zones more specific and avoid targeting certain groups. She agreed to move forward with SEP and amendments.
  • Councilman Martinez (District 2) strongly supported the ordinance, noting it could also apply to banquet halls. He offered to submit amendments.
  • Councilwoman Gaddis raised concerns about signage, notification to teenagers, and the scope: would block parties be included? The administration clarified zones would only apply to events with large crowds and specific intelligence of risk, not all permitted events. She also requested safety grants for organizers.
  • Councilman Meldon questioned the practical implementation: an officer could ask a 14-year-old with a backpack to leave the zone. He worried about conflating teen takeovers with planned events, and about the burden of proof falling on police. He suggested a separate law holding parents accountable citywide, but the mayor explained that targeted zones were chosen to avoid broad opposition.
  • Councilwoman Morris supported the step, asked administration to engage state/federal partners for overtime and address gun trafficking and unsecured weapons.
  • Councilwoman Comives asked what “reasonable public safety rules” meant, and raised the risk of simply moving young people to other downtown areas. She urged including the philanthropic community and youth voices.
  • Councilwoman Jones questioned verification of the required 25-year-old adult accompanying minors, noted household makeups (single mothers, grandparents), and warned against over‑policing. She suggested the ordinance sets expectations more than provides a perfect enforcement tool.
  • Councilman Serratto backed the ordinance, emphasizing parental accountability and the need for identification procedures.
  • Council President Williams asked about post-enforcement: have prosecutors and judges been consulted? The law department said civil violations don’t require court; criminal charges would require proof the parent recklessly abandoned the child. Councilman Driscoll questioned how often zones would be used; the administration didn’t have a firm list but cited the 4th of July as the immediate example.
  • Councilman Meldon noted the ordinance was drafted only 10 days after the incident and urged making sure children are not seen as the enemy. He suggested a notification timeframe for designated events.

Flock License Plate Readers (Item 28)

  • Sergeant Pat Bergman proposed a one‑year, $14,000 contract amendment for portable ALPRs, waiving competition for system compatibility.
  • Council President Williams supported the tool for solving crimes, noting the original two‑year proposal was voted down; this shorter term is a compromise.
  • Councilwoman Gaddis asked for a committee hearing due to constituent privacy concerns.
  • Councilman Martinez supported Flock as a force multiplier and said he plans to introduce a school safety program using it. He acknowledged privacy concerns but favored swift passage.
  • Councilman Serratto cited positive uses for locating missing persons and rejected defunding the police.
  • Councilwoman Comives asked whether the item required reconsideration of the previous vote; the law department was asked to clarify.
  • Councilman Driscoll noted the contract doesn’t expire until early August, so time exists for a hearing before voting.
  • Chairman Hobbs (acting) moved to hold a committee hearing on Monday, June 22 at 4 p.m., with a vote on Tuesday, June 23. Council President Williams agreed.

Transition of District Improvement Program (DIP)

  • Chief of Staff Lucy Frank presented an amendment transferring DIP management from Economic Development to City Council. The ordinance and companion finance item (already passed) clean up account codes and allow residents to suggest ideas online. Over 70 projects totaling $3.5 million have been completed since 2018. The transition is intended to increase clarity and access. SEP approved.

Key Outcomes

  • Safety Zone Ordinance (Item 20): Council decided to move forward with SEP and will develop amendments. Final passage targeted before July 4, 2026. A working group may meet in the next two days.
  • Flock ALPR Contract (Item 28): Committee hearing scheduled for June 22, 2026, at 4 p.m.; full council vote set for June 23, 2026.
  • All consent items (1–19, 21–26, 29) passed by suspension of the rules (SEP).
  • DIP program transfer (new item): Approved by SEP.
  • Recognition resolutions: Recognized Dean Davis for a silver medal in a national mural competition (presented by Gaddis and Morris), recognized Dr. Tracks’ retirement (delayed for scheduling), and recognized July 2026 as Postpartum Month (resolution from Councilwoman Jones).

Meeting Transcript

Here. Gaddis. Here. Hobbs. Jones. Come Ives. Here. Quorum present. Items one through seven are from the Department of Public Utilities. Oh, President Williams. Thank you. I just wanted to um introduce the mayor. We're gonna move the mayor's um legislation up top. Clerk, can you please um adjust that and tell us the what number is that, Clerk? Is it number 20 on our agenda? Yeah, it's number 20 on our agenda. So we're gonna move that up so the mayor can present on this piece of legislation. I just wanted to let you know also there's a new version that was put in. It is in your folders. Thank you. Uh I'll turn this over to Mayor Kapsakavich. Um, you can have the floor. All right, thank you very much. Uh President Williams and uh Chair Cramer. The administration is here today to talk about uh an ordinance uh that is uh that at least begins the conversation on how we can uh make our large gatherings a place where individuals can enjoy themselves and have fun, uh, but also be safe. Uh it is the first uh response uh to what happened at the old West End recently, but it does not have to be the only response. I felt it was important to begin the conversation. And at the table here, we have John Madigan from the law department, uh Chief Carl, the safety director, Austin Mack from my office, to sort of talk about the logistics of what this ordinance does. But I just wanted to sort of give an overview, maybe a view from 10,000 feet about some of our thinking. Um we felt, first of all, this is not necessarily a uh finished product. Uh it to think about this uh maybe the way you would think about a term paper in college. Uh let's uh not think about this as uh the final paper that we're turning into the professor, but maybe rather as the first draft. Um it is our hope that city council can work with us to turn this first draft into a second draft, third draft, fourth draft, and to the point where we get the final paper that we can turn into the professor. We felt we understand City Council's legislative schedule and we respect City Council's legislative schedule. While all public gatherings in Toledo are important, we did feel and do feel that there is unique importance to thinking about the Fourth of July gathering in Promenade Park, where we are I'm certain we're gonna have the largest firework show we've ever had in the history of the city of Toledo as we celebrate the 250th birthday of America. Uh Austin has helped uh raise the private funding necessary to make that the case. I know how much money we typically raise for fireworks. We have exceeded that uh by a great margin, so we're gonna have the best fireworks we've ever had, which means we're gonna have a lot of people down there. We will have tens of thousands of people there, and we want to make sure that if we believe new policies and processes and procedures are necessary to safeguard um the citizens for that event. We knew we had to get this legislation in the packet last Friday. So I guess if we sort of rush to get something before you, it was with an eye toward getting something passed by 4th of July. I can understand. I'm not I'm happy to very briefly to the extent I can talk through what this does. I can understand that city council is gonna have opinions and might want to influence it and add here and delete there, and we absolutely welcome that. Let's do that in real time. I don't know if maybe a working group offline uh could be useful toward that effort. Uh we're willing to block out ours, even this week if we want to do that difficult work. I know sometimes with the legislation like this, there's a temptation to maybe have a hearing, put it in committee. I'm all for that. I'm just a little I just want you to know at the beginning that the purpose of doing this now is to get it on the books by 4th of July, and I just worry a little bit about having this stuck in a committee as a result.

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