OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Toledo City Council Meeting - June 23, 2026: Infrastructure, Public Safety, and Zoning Decisions

City Council — Tuesday, June 23, 2026
BodyToledo, Ohio
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, June 23, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:27:49
Transcript — Verbatim
0:14

Yeah.

0:17

Yes, I am.

0:23

Okay.

0:26

So I think it is really.

1:32

Jewel like jewelry.

3:53

I crossed or ordered the city council meeting of June twenty third, twenty twenty six.

3:59

Clark, please call the role.

4:01

Kramer.

4:02

Here.

4:02

Martinez.

4:03

Present.

4:04

McPherson.

4:05

Here.

4:06

Meldon.

4:06

Here.

4:07

Morris.

4:08

Here.

4:08

Sarantu.

4:09

Here.

4:10

Williams.

4:10

Here.

4:11

Driscoll.

4:12

Here.

4:12

Get us.

4:13

Here.

4:14

Hobbs.

4:15

Jones.

4:16

Here.

4:17

Colmies.

4:17

Here.

4:18

Twelve present.

4:19

Please stand for the invitation.

4:21

Hi, Reverend Dr.

4:22

TK Barger of the Unitarian Church.

4:25

The pledge of allegiance to our flag and the singing of a national anthem from Paige Privateer at Owens, a student at Orange Community College.

4:38

Thank you, Councilmember Kramer, for the invitation to give today's invocation.

4:44

I am the senior minister at First Unitarian Church of Toledo, and I have lived in, worked in, and loved this city for almost fourteen years.

4:55

I asked the council and the public to join me, please, in meditation, contemplation, prayer, whatever term you use to acknowledge people's sacredness and spiritual nature, including each person's own holiness as an individual in community.

5:15

I ask that in this chamber today and in the work you and we do throughout Toledo, we invoke our higher nature by considering and living the golden rule of doing for others in the way we would be treated.

5:32

May we embody compassion and be people who help other people?

5:38

May we hold good morals, ethics, and values.

5:43

May we do what we can to end hunger, to provide for health and wellness, to house and clothe, to teach and learn, to promote safety, to welcome to care.

5:58

And when we don't achieve, even in the times we offend, may we reset to be true to self and continue to act in ways that earn trust and respect while we give trust and respect to the people we serve.

6:18

The city council's work is for the people.

6:21

Council members' labor is not easy and it's not light.

6:26

It is necessary, and I'm thankful that you chose to represent the people of our city.

6:33

May this meeting be good and do good.

6:37

Amen.

7:18

What's so proudly we held at the twilight night's last gleaming?

7:27

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perceiving watched was so gallantly streaming, and the rocket's record, the bombs first, gave proof to the night that I flag was to say that the land of the fruit and the home of the councilwoman McCramer.

8:47

I just wanted to thank Paige as well as Reverend Barger for being here today.

8:53

Paige, as you said, President Williams is a student at Owens Community College, and she sang uh the national anthem at commencement.

9:01

So um I heard her saying, and I thought, we need to bring you to council.

9:05

So thank you so much for being here today.

9:08

All right.

9:10

Clerk, please begin with the resolution in attendance recognizing Dean Davis for the civil medal, silver medal in the 2026 National Mural Competition.

9:22

Mr.

9:22

Davis, would you please come to the podium?

9:26

Resolution two fifty-five twenty-six recognizing Dean Davis for the silver medal in the twenty twenty six National Mural Competition.

9:35

Whereas Dean Davis, a proud native of Toledo's East Side in District Three, has dedicated his artistic career to uplifting the people, history, and culture of the city of Toledo through transformative public art.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Miscellaneous██████████████████████████████████34%
Arts And Culture██████████████████18%
Public Safety████████████████16%
Zoning and Planning███████████11%
Procedural█████████9%
Community Engagement██████6%
Water And Wastewater Management███3%
Technology and Innovation██2%
Parks and Recreation█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Toledo City Council Meeting - June 23, 2026: Infrastructure, Public Safety, and Zoning Decisions

On June 23, 2026, the Toledo City Council met in formal session at 4:00 PM in Council Chambers. All 12 councilmembers were present. The meeting included recognitions, appointments, and a large consent docket, along with significant debate on a police automatic license plate reader (ALPR) contract expansion and several zoning items. Most items passed unanimously, but there were notable split votes.

Recognitions & Appointments

  • R-255-26: Recognizing Dean Davis for winning the silver medal in the 2026 National Mural Competition. Passed unanimously (12-0).
  • A-256-26: Confirmed Kyle Dockery to the Comfort Heating, Cooling & Refrigeration Board of Control. Passed unanimously (12-0).
  • R-226-26: Recognizing Dr. Timothy Trax on his retirement was deferred to July 14, 2026.

Consent Calendar (Routine Approvals and Unanimous Actions)

The following items were approved unanimously (12-0) without debate:

  • O-235-26: Real estate sale to Toledo-Lucas County Public Library for Highland Park property (1865 Finch Street) and release of reverter interest on 423 Shasta Drive. Emergency declared.
  • O-257-26: Amending the District Improvement Program (DIP) process and supervision.
  • R-258-26: Recognizing July as Postpartum Awareness Month.
  • O-259-26 through O-265-26: Seven Public Utilities items including sewer repair contracts (up to $1,180,870), a one-year agreement with Promise Network Inc. for collections and affordability program management (up to $500,000), purchase of a chemical feed system boiler ($125,000), loan acceptance for Reynolds Area Pump Station Improvements ($1,729,357), aeration tank cleaning at Water Reclamation Facility ($450,000), boiler replacement amendment, and emergency transport/disposal of spent lime from Collins Park Water Treatment Plant ($750,000). All declared emergencies.
  • O-266-26: Dependent audit services for city health care plan.
  • O-267-26: Gun violence reduction through conflict mediation and wraparound support ($69,556).
  • O-268-26: Youth workforce development for lawnmowing services for low-income elders and disabled ($34,560).
  • O-269-26: Reappropriation for Junior Achievement of Northwestern Ohio’s 5th Year program ($25,000).
  • O-270-26 to O-273-26: Four Communications items: online branded merchandise store contract, bulk special orders of branded merchandise (up to $50,000), establishment of New Employee Engagement Trust Fund, and call recording services ($23,346).
  • O-274-26: Grant agreement with Metroparks Toledo for artistic lighting display at Maritime Plaza under Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge ($100,000).
  • O-275-26: Designating historic local landmarks ($125,000).
  • O-276-26 and O-277-26: Finance items: reappropriation within Capital Improvement Fund DIP budgets and $19,166 for Ohio Municipal League dues.
  • O-279-26 to O-284-26: Six Transportation items: $6 million lead service line replacement loan, $250,000 for traffic signal upgrades, cooperative grants for Roadway Departure Safety Project ($180,000 design/$1,120,280 construction) and Laskey over Shantee Creek Bridge ($168,000 design/$894,341 construction), $4.6 million for Bridge Matches and Planning Program, and $200,000 for a snow operations study.
  • O-285-26: Settlement of property claims for Matt Jasin ($14,277).
  • O-287-26: Support for Levitt Foundation BLOC grant ($30,000 over three years).
  • O-291-26 to O-293-26: Zoning changes at 802/806 Nebraska Avenue, 3404-3434 W. Central Avenue/3311 Secor Road (subject to one condition), and special use permit for gasoline sales at 5303 W. Bancroft Street (subject to conditions and two waivers). Unanimous passage.
  • O-278-26: Temporary Independence Day Fireworks Safety Zone from July 4, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. through July 5, 2026 at 6:00 a.m., with youth supervision requirements. After discussion clarifying it applies only to that 12-hour period and a working committee will develop future legislation, passed unanimously (12-0).

Discussion Items

  • O-286-26: Amending the agreement with Flock Group, Inc. for portable Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs) for the Toledo Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) for one year, expenditure not to exceed $14,000. Councilmembers debated privacy concerns, data governance, and police effectiveness. Councilmember Meldon raised issues about private company data use and the need for guardrails, noting the earlier passage of a responsible AI strategy. Councilmember Kramer expressed concern about data misuse potentially targeting vulnerable groups (e.g., transgender individuals). Councilmember Martinez and others supported the tool as a force multiplier, citing successful use in solving murders and locating missing persons. Councilmember Sarantou noted the police department controls data dissemination. The ordinance passed 8-4, with Councilmembers Gadus, Jones, Komives, and Kramer voting no.
  • O-288-26: Special use permit for gasoline and fuel sales at 1322 Bernath Parkway. The Plan Commission had denied the SUP but approved related plat removal and rezoning. Councilmember Martinez explained the unusual situation and recommended disapproval of the SUP. The ordinance failed 1-11 (only Councilmember McPherson voting yes).
  • O-289-26 and O-290-26: Removal of Lot 1 from the Community Unit Plan and zoning map change at 1322 Bernath Parkway. These were approved 8-4, with Councilmembers Gadus, Jones, Komives, and McPherson voting no.
  • O-294-26: Special use permit for gasoline sales at 5305/5321 Monroe Street and 4700 Nantuckett Drive. Passed 9-3, with Councilmembers Gadus, Jones, and McPherson voting no.

Key Outcomes

  • All items except O-286, O-288, O-289, O-290, and O-294 passed unanimously (12-0 or voice vote).
  • O-286-26 (ALPRs): Passed 8-4 (Yeas: Driscoll, Hobbs, Martinez, McPherson, Melden, Morris, Sarantou, Williams; Nays: Gadus, Jones, Komives, Kramer). Emergency declared.
  • O-288-26 (Bernath Parkway SUP): Failed 1-11 (Yea: McPherson; Nays: all others).
  • O-289-26 (Bernath Parkway lot removal): Passed 8-4 (Yeas: Driscoll, Hobbs, Kramer, Martinez, Melden, Morris, Sarantou, Williams; Nays: Gadus, Jones, Komives, McPherson). Emergency declared.
  • O-290-26 (Bernath Parkway zoning change): Passed 8-4 (same split as O-289).
  • O-294-26 (Monroe Street SUP): Passed 9-3 (Yeas: Driscoll, Hobbs, Komives, Kramer, Martinez, Melden, Morris, Sarantou, Williams; Nays: Gadus, Jones, McPherson).
  • Councilmember Williams announced the parking garage will close after 5 p.m. on June 24. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.

Meeting Transcript

Yeah. Yes, I am. Okay. So I think it is really. Jewel like jewelry. I crossed or ordered the city council meeting of June twenty third, twenty twenty six. Clark, please call the role. Kramer. Here. Martinez. Present. McPherson. Here. Meldon. Here. Morris. Here. Sarantu. Here. Williams. Here. Driscoll. Here. Get us. Here. Hobbs. Jones. Here. Colmies. Here. Twelve present. Please stand for the invitation. Hi, Reverend Dr. TK Barger of the Unitarian Church. The pledge of allegiance to our flag and the singing of a national anthem from Paige Privateer at Owens, a student at Orange Community College. Thank you, Councilmember Kramer, for the invitation to give today's invocation. I am the senior minister at First Unitarian Church of Toledo, and I have lived in, worked in, and loved this city for almost fourteen years. I asked the council and the public to join me, please, in meditation, contemplation, prayer, whatever term you use to acknowledge people's sacredness and spiritual nature, including each person's own holiness as an individual in community. I ask that in this chamber today and in the work you and we do throughout Toledo, we invoke our higher nature by considering and living the golden rule of doing for others in the way we would be treated. May we embody compassion and be people who help other people? May we hold good morals, ethics, and values. May we do what we can to end hunger, to provide for health and wellness, to house and clothe, to teach and learn, to promote safety, to welcome to care. And when we don't achieve, even in the times we offend, may we reset to be true to self and continue to act in ways that earn trust and respect while we give trust and respect to the people we serve. The city council's work is for the people. Council members' labor is not easy and it's not light. It is necessary, and I'm thankful that you chose to represent the people of our city. May this meeting be good and do good. Amen. What's so proudly we held at the twilight night's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perceiving watched was so gallantly streaming, and the rocket's record, the bombs first, gave proof to the night that I flag was to say that the land of the fruit and the home of the councilwoman McCramer.

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