All right, it is two o'clock.

I'm gonna call to order the agenda review meeting for July 7th, 2026.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Martinez?

Present.

McPherson.

Meldon.

Morris.

Here.

Seranto?

Here.

Williams.

Here.

Driscoll.

Gaddis.

Here.

Hobbs.

Jones.

Colmives.

Kramer.

Here.

Eight present.

Okay.

Item number one from the Department of Public Utilities.

Good afternoon, members of council.

Rick Aikman, Deputy Director of Department of Public Works.

And beside me is Andy McClure, Commissioner of Plan Operations.

The legislation before you this morning or this afternoon is authorizing the mayor to enter into an emergency contract for the repairs to the carbon dioxide system at the Collins Park Water Treatment Plan, authorizing the appropriation and expenditure of an amount not to exceed 85,000 from the water replacement fund and said repairs.

Waiving competitive bidding of the provisions of Toledo Municipal Code Chapter 187 and declaring an emergency and requesting SEP.

We'll yield now for questions.

See no questions, SCP.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next we will have Total Minister Court.

My apologies to the court.

I uh looked for number one and not you guys weren't as numbered as number one, so my sincerest apologies.

Thank you, Council always.

We appreciate uh the opportunity to come before you.

My name is Robert Disbro the second.

I'm the finance officer at Toledo Municipal Court.

To my left is Selma Espinosa, she is the Commissioner of Court Services.

We come to YA seeking authorization enter to enter into a uh new five-year contract for jury services, jury summons.

What we do is we piggyback on the Lucas County Common Police Court system uh at a fraction of the cost would it take for us to set up our own in-house summons.

And uh as a side note, uh we actually worked with a company called Ideas 42.

They're a pri non-for-profit company that works with government and and educational facilities to redesign our summons and by they use behavioral uh uh behavioral science uh statistics and we put up with a format how to reschedule to make it easier for people if it's a conflict to reschedule and the data is shown out that uh if a person reschedules they are more likely to show up for that jury summons than if they just don't know what to do, they get paralyzed so to speak, and they they end up ignoring the sum uh summons.

So we've had good and again that was at no cost to the city, so we were very grateful to ideas 42 for giving us that.

So uh and we uh seek SEP and we uh seek any questions you may have.

Thanks, no question.

I just want to I am so excited you're using behavioral science.

I think that we as a city should really adopt that.

It has moved so many city feet forward, so I'd love to hear at the end how that works out.

Um super stoked that you're doing it.

Thank you.

Like I said, I know it was at no cost, and they they do this for all branches of government is my understanding, so it could be utilized by any money.

Great.

Thank you.

Um seeing no more questions.

Uh Chair Hobbes not here, uh Chair Williams.

SCP.

SEP.

Thank you.

And again, I apologize.

Item two through nine from the Department of Finance.

Thank you.

Uh good afternoon, Chairman Martinez, members of City Council.

Uh Melanie Campbell from the Department of Finance here for these next several items.

Um I'll be joined at the table uh by our debt manager Jamie Takis and our assessment officer Roberto Martinez.

Um agenda items two, three, and four are all related to the 2025 assessed services program.

Um these ordinances are presented to council annually so that special assessments can be levied against property owners for work that was completed during fiscal year 2025.

Um agenda item two is for um street lighting in the downtown area.

Um agenda item three is uh street lighting outside of downtown.

Um agenda item four is for uh tree maintenance, so that would be removal or trimming of trees in the right-of-way, and then lastly, um levying assessments for the street services program, which includes things like snow and ice control, uh leaf pickup, um mowing in the boulevards and triangles.

Um again the work was completed in 25.

Um the levy uh ordinances are presented to council and if approved, presented to the county auditor and then collected on special assessments uh property tax bills next year.

Uh we'd be happy to take any questions if you have them.

Um and we are requesting first reading.

First reading and all four of them.

Uh yes, it would be on all four.

Councilman Sarante.

Yes, uh for first reading is fine on all of those that you've listed.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next um agenda item is item six, which is an annual um ordinance that we bring forward related to the city's sidewalk program.

Uh the ordinance would authorize issuing a sidewalk note in the amount of two million five hundred and twenty uh for the sidewalk program for 2026 as well as for prior years.

Um the note would be issued in October, and we'd be happy to answer any questions if you have them.

We're also requesting first reading on this one.

So I'm not sure who was first, but I'll go to Councilmember Gaddis.

Thanks.

Um could you explain more about the note and and if we have uh a plan on what sidewalks then after that?

So the this sidewalk program for 2026 would have actually started very early in 2026 as engineering services work through identifying an entire list of sidewalks.

It's referenced in this ordinance, but it also would have come before council in a resolution to start that program earlier this year.

Um so this note funds that work that's happening because it's paid by property tax owners then over a 10-year period moving forward.

Okay, I see.

So it's the 10-year-old.

Okay, thank you so much.

Thank you, Chair.

Councilman, Councilman Saranti.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

So were any sidewalks done last year in 25?

We did not have a sidewalk program last year.

I that's what I thought.

I just wanted to confirm that.

And how does this 2.5 million compare to previous years when we did a sidewalk program?

This 2.5 is the combination of this year's program, which is 1,505,000, and then remaining uh program years from I think 23 and maybe 21 that are still ongoing, um, and that's the the difference there in the notes that we're issuing.

Okay, all right, and you're requesting first reading.

We are requesting first reading.

Okay, first reading is fine.

Thank you.

Next, please.

Um, the next agenda item seven is for issuing a note for um city services borrowing.

Again, this is related to the special assessment program, which includes street services, tree maintenance, um, and street lighting.

Um, this note uh will fund the program uh for this year.

Um, then the costs will be certified next year and collected the following year.

Um the note would be issued later this year in December in a not to exceed 30 uh point one million, and we are also requesting first reading on this one.

Chair Swante?

First reading is fine, Mr.

Chairman.

First three, next.

Thank you.

Um the next um ordinance and the next two are companion pieces of legislation um relating to the existing but um inactive small business assistance fund.

Um that fund is an enterprise fund and the city's books that was originally established uh back in 1989 to account for the assets of the small business assistance corporation, um, which was dissolved at that time.

Um the assets did include um parcels of land as well as some you know property and equipment and furniture.

Um there's been no activity in the fund since 2023.

It does not have any revenues or expenditures budgeted.

The fund does have a negative net position, which would be eliminated through a transfer from the general fund so that the fund can then be officially closed, and we'd be happy to take any questions on this one as well.

And we are requesting SCP.

Councilmember Yattis.

Thank you.

So it was established in 1989, or that it was there's been no activity since it was first established in 1989.

No activity since in 23, 24, or 25.

Okay.

And then what was the goal of it being established?

Um I went back to the original legislation, um, and it really just says that um the small business assistance corporation um advised the city that it was dissolving and they were turning over their monies, receivables, and assets to the city, so the city established this fund then to account account for that.

Okay, and then the goal is to put it into the general fund and mix it up.

The the fund is no longer needed for any operational purpose, but it does have a deficit position, so that deficit position would be eliminated by the general fund, and then the fund would be closed, and it's it's not used for any purpose going forward.

Okay, okay, thank you.

Thank you, Chair.

Just a quick question.

What so we had a carrying deficit for how long?

Um it's been several years now that it's had a a deficit position going back to 2021.

Um looks like it's related to kind of tracing the history, um, you know, the disposal and sale of assets, and there was a loss on some of those, so created the negative net position.

Got it.

Okay, councilman Sorranty.

Uh like SCP on this one.

Uh Councilmember Driscoll?

Thank you, Chair.

Um, so there was there must though there was activity at some point in 2022.

There the activity over the years has been um it looks like paying um you know utilities or property tax bills on the the parcels that were the assets within the fund and then the disposal of those assets ultimately and the loss on the uh disposal of the assets.

So whatever property was associated with this we don't own any longer.

No, no, there's no um assets anymore.

Okay, yeah.

So when was the last like small business related uh activity that took place from the fund?

It I think it really was just the assets that were on the books and then those being disposed of.

When did it become a into deficit position then?

Um 2021.

Okay.

Um why can we no longer just carry the deficit?

Uh what's what's the genesis of just of closing it out?

I think operationally we're we're no longer using the fund.

There's no revenues that come in, there's no assets left, it's a deficit position that we want to um eliminate from our books, officially close the fund, and then administratively we don't have to do any reporting relationship.

Okay, so it's a reporting issue.

Was this in the budget for this year?

I don't remember this as part of the budget provider.

Um, because we didn't we don't budget any revenues or expenses there.

But did we have it in in the budget this year to transfer from the general fund and close the we did not at the start of the year, no?

So this is an unfifte of general fund money that is not budgeted for.

This would be a one-time yes, and and the um one of the ordinances would actually appropriate that authorize the transfer.

What would it be attributed to like at the end of the year?

Like where's this money coming from?

So it would come from the general fund balance, which is negative anyways.

Uh the general fund has a positive fund balance, but we do have a fund balance deficit.

But we transfer.

Yes.

So this just increases the size of the transfer from the rainy day fund.

Yes.

Essentially.

Okay.

Um, thank you very much.

So one quick question just to follow up on Councilman Driscoll's question.

So this is a real financial loss, or is this just a paper loss?

Um it was a it was a loss on the sale of the asset.

So for on the financial statements, yes.

Okay, so it cost us to sell the money or to sell the property.

It didn't make sufficient revenue when we liquidated the asset, and this is where it's carrying, and we've carried that for the last four four years.

Yes, yes.

Okay, councilmember Gaddis.

Thanks.

By way of referral, can I get a list of all the funds that we have?

All of them, even if they're negative, and then what their balances are.

Yes.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chair.

Okay.

I'm I'm I'm sorry, Councilman Sarranti, you said SEP.

SEP.

Thank you.

Next, please.

Thank you.

That would be it for you guys, right?

All right.

So we will move on to Department of Fire and Rescue Operations.

Good afternoon, everyone.

Hi, I'm Tammy Powell, Fire and Rescues EFA, and with me today is DC Gallagher Gallagher, who is our buildings manager.

And FIRES requesting the mayor to authorize an approved fire to enter into a contract with industrial power systems and waive the competitive bidding of an amount not to exceed 40,000 for repair of the HVAC system located at fire station six.

Councilwoman Morris.

This isn't really a question but a comment.

I was um with some family over the holiday, and uh one of them is uh firefighter at that station, and we all know how hot it was last week, and uh for our firefighters who um really go into harm's way go into very um hot buildings um it's it only makes sense that we take care of our firefighters and that we get these um repairs done as quickly as we can.

So I can't support this enough, so thank you.

Just for point of references, where is sixes?

1155.

Oak and pass it, got it.

Thank you.

Uh Councilman Serranto.

Um thank you, Mr.

Sherman.

When was that station uh opened originally?

12 years ago.

Okay, and already we have HVAC issues significantly.

It's been ongoing for seven to eight years.

Uh I took over this position uh June, July of last year, so uh I spent a long time learning the process, but I worked a line beforehand, so I know that there's been ongoing problems uh with this station.

The first thing that I discovered when I started digging into this a little deeper is the blueprints and the build of the building called for diking uh equipment throughout the building.

Yeah, and when you call people out, the first thing that they ask for is blueprints, and we have Mitsubishi equipment installed.

So it's been a revolving door of contractors for the last seven or eight years to try and get this thing right.

Um everybody comes in and has never really been afforded the time or opportunity uh to start from square one and troubleshoot this adequately, and that's what we're doing with IPS currently.

Just seems troubling that a station that's about 12 years old, and I've been to that station a couple of times.

It's a beautiful uh architecturally wonderful looking building and so forth, but it just seems odd that we would have those issues, significant issues to the tune of 40,000 uh, you know, with the station that's one of the newer ones.

Do we have older stations that are still having HVAC issues also?

We have 18 stations, and to some extent we expect all of them to have problems with the AC and the heat.

I mean, they run 24 hours a day.

Oh, I I know I know.

Okay, all right.

Could you uh I'm sure I'm the only one on the panel that will ever ask this question, but could you send us, Tammy, a list of each of the stations and the location?

Because I I see a lot the numbers, but I I need to visualize where that station is.

Absolutely, that'd be very easy.

I'm sure I'm the only one that's ever asked that.

I have that information for you, and their birth date will be attached with it.

Okay, that would be great to know.

Yeah, that'd be great because we do have uh like the Glendale station is pretty old.

Okay, thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um other questions?

If not, Chair Hopps?

Oh, Dr.

Jones.

Sorry, quick question.

Um, also in that line, by way of referral, would you have just the possible anticipation of replacement for these for each of the stations?

So specifically for this fire station sick, you need HVAC.

So, how many other stations would need that replacement or any other parts systems that will be breaking down that needs to have really be replaced?

And we have the last three years that I have been up there.

We've spent between five and ten thousand dollars annually on repairs at station six.

So to do a replacement and along with the other stations.

Yeah, that I think that'll be very helpful just to see what the state of these stations are and what basically basically to anticipate breaking down next, so we can be ahead of this.

So I'll write that up, but thank you very much.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Thank you.

It's going to be SCP, but um, in speaking to some of the leadership for TFRD, getting a better understanding of the 40,000 as costs are rising with tariffs and everything else.

And so they wanted to make sure they had enough to cover all that needed to be done, and then you know, make it 20,000 a month later get in there, and now it's up to something else, and have to come back and ask us for something else.

So that's why the 40,000 was we were going to be sure to get everything we needed to get done, and then hopefully we won't have to go back and you know when you have a system that runs um for 24 hours a day.

Um getting 12 years out of it is really pretty good because it never is either heat or air.

All constant going, never being able to shut off.

So that we got 12 years out of the system the way things are being made now, it's pretty good.

So thank you, SCP.

Thank you.

Okay, items 11 through 15 from the Department of Police Operations.

Good afternoon, Lieutenant Holmes, Captain Morelli, and Sergeant Bergman, police.

Uh item number 11.

This ordinance authorizes the mayor to accept deposit appropriate and expend 77,000 from the Office of Criminal Justice Services for the Violent Crime Reduction Program grant and the expenditure not to exceed $10,000 from the law enforcement trust fund.

Majority of this funding will provide overtime pay to support extended operations of the special operations bureau to reduce violent crime.

The remaining grant funds in the trust funds will be utilized to purchase an unmanned aerial vehicle to assist in the reduction of violent crime.

There is no match for this grant, and we are requesting SCP.

Councilman Colmees?

Thank you so much.

Is there a any company associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle, or is this going to be just tapped into our own system?

What does this look like?

This is gonna be bid out a project that's bid out, so we won't know the vendor until then.

I see.

So it could uh potentially be a flock like the one that we already have or a different one.

Um I'm not aware of um, I'm not aware of which drone company we're gonna go with yet.

It would have to go up a bid.

That being said, uh, grants like this, um it's probably going to have to be what we would call like a blue line drone or blue list.

Um I we really haven't even begun looking at drones at this point.

I see.

Okay.

And so this would just be used to go during an emergency situation and to be able to view it, or what's um so it would be used for a few different purposes, but this isn't um like the um DFR drone for first respond or big giant drone, right?

This would be a drone that is more of um an out of well, I guess I would call like an out-of-the-trunk right, comes like in a big pelican case or a big plastic case.

Uh we would pull that out.

Um, we would use that for operations if we were doing like um a violent violent crime sweep, um, or if we were using it like for hot spot policing, like we've had a couple incidents downtown now where we're policing, we've beefed up special enforcement um in a downtown area, right?

We would utilize a drone like that, so we'd be able to take it to different locations with us um and have it readily at hand.

Um, also if we were to do any type of um surveillance on like a gun buy, right?

If we were buying guns, we would be able then to utilize that to track track a subject, um, find out where people are coming from or going to to pick up to pick up like a weapon, um, and then we would also use that to like any kind of violent crime search warrants, robbery series, things like that, just to enhance um officer safety.

I got you.

Okay, thank you for those answers.

Appreciate it.

Councilman Driscoll.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

What's the balance of the law enforcement trust fund?

We can take that by referral.

Okay, sounds good.

Thank you.

See no more questions, Chair Hobbs.

SEP, please.

SCP?

Next, please.

Item number 12 authorize the expenditure of an amount not to exceed 147,000 from the capital improvement funds for the purchase of mobile data terminals and for the mayor to accept bids and award contracts for said purchase.

These MDTs will be installed and utilized in the 14 new vehicles previously purchased.

We are requesting SEP please.

Dr.

Jones?

For my understanding, what is a mobile data terminal?

What do you use there?

It's the computers in the car.

Okay.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Chair.

Chair Hopps.

SCP, please.

SCP?

Okay, next, please.

Item number 13 authorize the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Bureau of Justice Assistance through the Office of Criminal Justice Services to accept and deposit appropriate and expend the 2025 Paul Coverdale Forensic Science Improvement Grant in the amount of $32,455.39 cents for equipment and supplies for the Toledo Police Forensic Lab and authorizing the mayor to accept bids and award contracts.

These funds must be allocated for opioid related costs, and we'll provide equipment and supplies for our lab.

There is no match for this grant, and we are requesting SEP please.

See no questions, Chair Hopps, your pleasure.

SCP, please.

SEP.

Next, please.

Item number 14 is this ordinance authorized the mayor to accept bids and award contracts for the expenditure of an amount not to exceed 105,000 from the law enforcement trust fund for the purchase of a laser scanner for police.

The 3D laser scanner will be utilized by our traffic section.

The scanner greatly reduces the time to process crash scenes as it quickly collects evidence without missing details, minimizing human error.

The collected information is then utilized to create a uh two-dimensional or three-dimensional diagram, analyze velocity velocities and momentum, and create courtroom animations of the accident scene.

And we are requesting SEPs.

See no questions.

Oh Councilmember Kramer.

Thank you.

Just a quick one.

Do we have any of these laser scanners already?

We have one in our SIU unit, but this was this one is specifically for our traffic investigators.

Okay.

Thank you.

I was just gonna add very cool.

I'm always impressed with the technology coming out to help ensure that things are solved quickly and efficiently effectively.

So thank you for this.

Um Chair Hobbs.

SCP, please.

SEP, thank you.

And finally, sorry.

Item number 15.

This off this ordinance authorized the mayor to accept deposit appropriate and expend 194,888 and eighty-eight cents in grant funds from the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission.

This is the second quarter for 2026, and it authorizes the mayor to accept bids and award contracts.

There is no match for this grant, and we are requesting SEP police.

See no questions, Chair Hobbs, at your pleasure.

SEP, please, thank you.

Thank you so much.

All right, thank you.

Item number 16 from Department of Public Service.

Good afternoon.

Commissioner Karen Randy Wilkins from the Department Division of Parks and Recreation.26.

This is the capital expenditure fund for the park system revitalization of parks infrastructure.

It's a simple little amendment requesting to add the phrase capital equipment necessary for maintenance of the parks.

So I'm happy to answer any questions.

See no questions.

Chair Hop or Susie.

Chairman Color.

Oh, hold on one second.

Councilman Sarantu, my apologies.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Um, what kind of equipment are we talking about specifically?

So a best example I can give you would be we have some trucks coming that will likely need some plow packages and salt dispensers in the back, that sort of thing.

Okay.

Great.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

SCP, please.

SEP.

Thank you.

Okay.

Clerk, it's all you.

All right, under the clerk reports, we have a resolution declaring the intent to vacate alleys north of Western Avenue east of London Street.

We have a second resolution declaring the intent to designate the building at 4500 North Detroit Avenue as a historic landmark.

Under items from zoning and planning, we have the vacation of a 16-foot wide alley running northwest to southeast from Bancroft to Utica Street.

Uh President Williams.

Yes, I just wanted to explain because it did come from November of 23.

Um the reason it took so long is when the Islamic Church asked for the vacation.

It was approved by the Board of Revisions, but it had some fees that were astronomical attached to them.

So I am waiving those fees for them.

Um they've been a good neighbor to that neighborhood, um, and they've really done a good job being a part of that neighborhood is right behind the gas gas station on Bancroft, and that alley um will help the vacation of that alley will help them continue with their good work.

So I just wanted to explain that because it says November of 23.

It uh we just discovered it, and um I wanted to make sure I explain that.

Thank you, Chair.

Next we have the vacation of the remaining portion of an alley located within 20 in Salt Street.

Uh then we have uh amending to later municipal code section 1108.0401 quality and installation regarding native plants.

Uh, we have an item likely to be related to zoning and planning, um, declaring a moratorium until November 30th, 2026 on the issuance of permits for new gas stations or fueling centers.

Councilman Driscoll.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh, we'll be amending this legislation to just do a request a study from the plan commission.

There won't be a moratorium included with this, and again, the the primary thing we're studying is the zoning categories in which uh gas stations can apply for an SUP.

Most notably, I don't think they should be allowed to apply for them in neighborhood commercial zoning districts, but that will be the purpose of the study.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Chair Hobbs.

I'm sorry, could you sit again?

The last part.

I need to hear your voice drawing.

Sure.

Uh I feel very strongly that uh the neighborhood commercial zoning district, uh, which would be like neighborhood mixed use buildings like the Mickey Finns building, the Black Kite building.

I don't feel like gas stations should be allowed in that zoning district, and that's the question that I'm asking the plan commission to study ultimately.

Right now they're still allowed to apply for an SUP in those districts.

Um I think they should be confined to industrial zoning districts or regional commercial zoning districts, which is why I voted yes on the SUP on the Monroe Street gas station that came before us at our last meeting.

Uh but I feel you know the the forward solidal plan, I think, lays out uh walkability, um, what we want to see in our neighborhoods, what we want to see, we want to see mixed use development, and I think gas stations are sort of antithetical to that, and so ultimately I think this is an issue that the plan commission should study.

I know we're updating our zoning code anyways over the course of the next few years, but it's gonna take I would assume probably close to a half a decade to finish that process.

So I think in the meantime, I think our we should be very conscientious about the kind of development that we're allowing, especially into our legacy neighborhoods.

Councilmember Gaddis.

Thanks, Chair.

Um maybe uh uh councilman um Driscoll can answer this, but a will this be amended then to drop the moratorium and B.

Do you have a timeline on the study that you wish to see, or has Plan Commission been able to give you a rough timeline?

Councilman Driscoll.

Yeah, we we are striking the moratorium, so it's just requesting a study.

We will not be doing a moratorium.

The legislation will not be requesting a moratorium, and the uh it sounds like the staff have been thinking about looking into this anyways, and so I think that we're looking at less than six months.

This the study should be done before the end of the year.

Okay, moving on.

All right, our resolution is in attendance.

We have uh recognizing Dr.

Trix on his retirement.

Item likely do we relate from the committee of the whole is also a resolution in attendance recognizing crisis intervention team?

President Williams.

Yes.

Um I'm excited to bring this forward resolution in attendance.

Uh the crisis intervention team is celebrating 25 years of working in the community, and they have a lot of advances.

So I want to celebrate what they've been doing, how they've been working with the mental health uh agencies and how they have grown to every officer being trained in crisis intervention.

So I'm excited to bring them forth and celebrate 25 years.

Thank you.

Okay, under appointments from the office of the mayor.

We have an appointment to the administrative board of zoning appeals, Gloria Shepherd, an appointment to the Toledo Community Improvement Corporation, Robert Pasker, a reappointment to the plumbing board of control, Jim Coyle, an appointment to the home improvement and home remodeling board of control, April Weber.

Then uh new items from City Council.

The first is authorization for three years plus two one-year renewals of contract with Granicus.

Uh next is the resolution providing for an election of one-quarter percent municipal income tax levy for neighborhood safety, police and fire.

President Williams.

Yes, for the for these two ordinances or resolutions.

We're gonna turn this over to Deputy Mayor Arnold and um the legal department who speak about uh these two ordinances.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President, Mr.

Chair, members of council.

I'm Abby Arnold, Deputy Mayor.

Um joined with Dale Ensch and Eileen Granada from the law department.

Uh, we're here to present 301 300 and 301-26.

As you know, the city of Toledo continues to face a significant structural budget deficit.

This is not the fault of Toledoans, but rather a structural wound inflicted by severe cuts at the state and federal levels.

Together, we cut nine million dollars from this year's budget.

But the problem is that we've already cut to the bone.

We spend less per resident on city services than any other major city in Ohio, less than Columbus, less than Cleveland, less than Dayton, less than Akron.

We cannot cut our way out of this deficit.

Further cuts will impact service delivery, and those cuts reduce value for residents, not cost.

I believe we all agree the safety of our residents in the neighborhoods in which they live is our top priority.

This is why we want to ask voters to approve a new temporary quarter percent income tax to support neighborhood safety.

If approved, this would make Toledo's tax rate the same as the state of Ohio's and would generate 25 million dollars annually, which, as you know, will not solve all of our budget challenges.

But what it will do is keep Toledo firefighters and police officers on the job, disrupt criminal gang activity, and invest in Toledo's neighborhoods, not just downtown.

So next Tuesday, council has the opportunity to place the neighborhood safety income tax on the November 2026 general election ballot.

Council's vote is not to raise taxes, it is a vote to trust Toledo residents to make that choice for themselves.

Thank you.

Um Councilmember Kramer.

Thank you so much for being here today.

I just wanted to make sure it is clear that this is an earned income tax um levy that is being proposed, so it is only on active income.

Is that correct?

That is correct.

Okay.

Earned income only, so it would not affect retirees, that type of thing.

And it will be for anybody who's working in the city of Toledo, regardless if they live here or not.

That is correct.

Who's earning income?

Anyone who earns income in the city of Toledo.

Got it.

And it can also be used for costs uh incurred by uh violence interrupters, Monsi, those kind of programs as well.

Yeah, the the it's neighborhood safety, so the types of things um, you know, uh this could this would absolutely allow us to continue having police and fire classes, um, you know, do all the things to support the fire and police services, um equipment, those types of things to um continue to meet the service needs of our residents, but also clean up blight, demolish um unsafe structures, design roads to make it safer to um you know ride or or play in your neighborhood.

Thank you very much for that clarification because we do know that safer neighborhoods means you know cleaning up a lot of stuff, improving lighting, all that stuff.

So okay, thank you.

Dr.

Jones, you're next.

Thank you, Chair.

I actually I'm on um the tail end of council councilwoman's uh Kramer's comment because I really wanted to make sure what this money is being spent for based upon conversations, not even in-person conversations, but on social media, people are still understanding this that they do not know where this money is coming from.

Um they feel that this is uh just another tax, they don't know where it's going.

So that's why um I really implore with this messaging to be on point, and I'm glad that you mentioned the different things that it can be used for.

Um, I did mention Monsi before.

I would also mention code blue so that they can have some permanent line item as well.

Um I know that you mentioned blight and things of that nature, and I think that will probably I don't know how to really say this because it is neighborhood safety, but I think the definition of neighborhood safety also has to be expanded upon too, because we automatically think of police and fire, and we're thinking of of course staffing over time, but we also have station repairs and new stations and things of that nature, but we also need to understand what exactly would relate to the person that's doing everyday things.

So that's what I had mentioned with Monsi.

That's what I had mentioned, and you mentioned the the building demolishing of buildings, but it's still really anything goes.

So I would really implore just focusing on what is really needed at this time, and then of course, phasing in and talking to those who are part of just what constitutes as neighborhood safety, because I feel that the residents really need to know they are watching the pockets and they really need to know what specifically this money is going for.

But again, wanted to re reiterate what councilwoman Kramer had said, this our vote would only place it on the ballot, but it is up to the residents to impose this tax.

And I I really want to make that clear, and I thought I know that we're gonna make that clear as well, but just what the the current discussion is kind of up in the air right now.

So I just really want you all to be specific with what exactly this can go towards, um, even though it's not specific within the actual ballot initiative, but this is a way to make up for that revenue, and um we'll we'll just see how it goes, but just honing in on that message would definitely help out a lot.

Thank you, Chair.

Councilman Sarante, I believe you're next.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I just want to uh confirm here when you say a temporary tax, that means that in every four years it would have to be renewed by the voters in the city.

Am I correct on that?

That is correct.

Okay, and this also includes um combating uh gang violence in the city of Toledo.

Absolutely.

Um I think I think I think that the council and the administration agree that there's a lot of things that make a neighborhood safe, and so um absolutely gang activity would be one of those things.

I mean, all the things that you mentioned, Dr.

Jones, um, you know, ultimately those are decisions that can be made with this body annually as we do the budget.

Um so yes.

Great, thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Councilwoman McPherson.

Thank you, Chair.

Two clarifications on the resolution amending.

Can you speak to the amendment?

The TMC 1905.

Can you speak to that amendment?

Yeah, I might ask the law department to speak to that.

You're talking about 301-26.

Yes.

I think it could be dangerous, but I'm pretty sure I'd rather you do it.

Well, what we're gonna be doing is amending the code in order to incorporate the new tax.

Okay, I'm for the record.

I'm just I'm asking the questions because I know these are questions that we will get asked, but since you're here, you can explain that.

Also, um, just to follow up, you mentioned um this tax is um for those that are employed, and you started to mention some some persons that will not be taxed on this, which you continue to clarify.

You said persons receiving well, this is it, it would be um anyone who earns an income.

So anyone who's not earning an income, um, I specifically called out someone who's retired, it would not impact anybody who's not earning an income would not pay this tax.

I'm asking for clarification so it can go on the record so people can hear this.

Um would Social Security be one.

No, they would not pay this.

That's why I'm asking.

See, these are questions that people want to know, and where we mess up is we don't clarify and make things clear so people understand, because as if you looked on all the media right now, they're blowing us up because oh, this is all you do is throw out another tax levy and tax us, and so I want it to be on the record who, how, how long, and this was um initially, this was proposed through the administration and brought to council.

That is correct.

Council's position now is to make that decision in voting and saying it is best that we not say yes or no, but give it to the voters and let the voters decide whether or not they want this.

I'm only doing this for clarification for all the people that are sitting out in the audience and those that are watching council, because what happens to council, we get the bullets, we get the darts because everyone is saying here again, council is throwing this out here, and council is not throwing it out here.

I believe that any decision that's going to affect your pocket constituents, you should have the right to vote on it.

Whether I agree with it or not, you should have the right to vote on it.

So that's why I was asking the questions like I did.

And and councilwoman, that's actually a great jumping off point.

The what you're gonna be doing is required under Ohio law is to vote on this resolution that advances this question to the Board of Elections, directs them to conduct the election, and what the people will be voting on is whether or not to authorize this ordinance to be passed.

Their question is, shall this ordinance be passed?

So at that point, once the people speak, council would be in a position to move forward.

My final question on the timeline on this, and attorney, you may be able to clarify this.

The timeline and having this done, um is there does this have to go to a first read?

Does this have to go?

How does this go?

No, you're able to vote on it next week.

We have it written as an emergency, so you can vote on this next week as long as we go through those procedural things, suspension emergency that you typically do, and um, and then we'd have to get it to the board of elections by August 5th, pursuant to state law.

Thank you.

Um, and then I'm um I'm done for real on this one because uh I got it from um some constituents that we are pushing this through really fast, and um the transparency issue for all of us, and I want you to hear me.

When we do things like this, the trust of our citizens is in jeopardy because in past instances there has been hidden agendas, and so when we do this, we ignite or the light bulb goes off again with our citizens of are they trying to run one on us again?

I I want you to understand because I listen to my constituents, and I hear their concerns, and I want them to know that I am asking the questions, and that I am sincere about what I do and how I do it, and that I am asking it to the administration so that you know the constituents are concerned, and this I understand that it has to be done at this appointed time to get on the ballot, but then the planning or the lack of planning on our part to have put this out earlier so people could digest, hear, ask questions, all of that is now diverted.

And this I understand that it has to be done at this appointed time to get on the ballot, but then the planning or the lack of planning on our part to have put this out earlier so people could digest hear ask questions, all of that is now diverted.

And so I'm I'm saying this because this is what we are getting.

And the concern then is okay.

Are they really being truthful and honest with us?

And then that's where we have to deal with it, as um Dr.

Jones said, and explaining this, because we have to explain it to our constituents.

So I'm done.

Thank you for the sermon.

Sorry.

Mr.

Chair, may I just respond?

Sure.

Thank you.

And I appreciate what you're saying.

I think the only thing I would say is voting yes on this next Tuesday starts that public conversation.

I mean, getting it on the ballot is one step, but then we have the rest of you know until November to have that public conversation.

So I just wanted to remind everybody that that we have that still.

Thank you.

Uh Councilmember Gaddis.

Thanks.

And I appreciate that.

I think that uh piggybacking off of my colleague is that the language would be solidified by council at that point.

So there will not be time there will not be time for a committee hearing, public input, that kind of stuff has been uh stopped, and I think that that is what she's saying.

That process of bringing the community or allowing the community in has been stifled.

Um I've received, and I know I've spoken to some people, a lot of um calls from my community.

Um they're struggling to get by, they're very fearful of this, they uh are worried about temporary to them, temporary, they think about the the um three-fourths income temporary tax, and how we still have that.

Um, because temporary means a different word um to our citizens, our residents.

Um how much cuts to from the federal and the state government have had on our city that this is something that we need to bring forth to them.

Thank you.

Um since 2008, the city of Toledo has lost 288 million dollars in revenue that it once could count on from the state of Ohio.

Um that's just in a few categories that do not think that's all encompassing.

Um that amount amounts to about 16 million dollars annually.

And then do you have federal numbers at all?

Um I I don't have that with me right now.

Um, I I can you know I can cite where we've you know some of the grants that we've had got jeopardized, some of that type of stuff, but I think the most sustainable numbers would be these the 16 million annually that we used to be able to count on.

Yeah, no, and I appreciate that, and I think that I think that our neighbors are feeling that cut too, right?

Those federal cuts and in SNAP and in housing and and all of that is just becoming uh uh accumulation of struggles.

Um I think that's all for now.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you.

Um Madam President.

Thank you.

Um thanks for presenting this resolution.

Um I think that um some things that haven't been said out because I won't repeat, um, but uh we cut grass six times versus sixteen times this year.

We also were this close away from not having a police and fire class.

Um we almost are to the point where we we will have to lay off uh on our budget.

Um we will definitely if we don't figure something out, um we will probably be laying off this year.

Um in this next year's budget, we'll probably have layoffs.

Um the unfortunate thing is we are in times where we don't know um where to get other revenue from a lot of folks have some great great ideas, but when you talk about people and people's jobs, um it was hard for me to work on the budget.

I'm glad, and I think this council for sure uh we worked our tails off on this budget um to find cuts, and it was it was grueling.

Um the next step is to lay off.

Uh and that's something that's real, and I think that it should be spoken to the general public.

I understand um because I'm struggling at like everybody else.

I I mean, and I'm I'm that's real life.

I actually am struggling, me.

Um trying to figure it out.

I got a disconnotion disconnection notice on my gas bill, so I'm gonna promise to pay.

But um I paid it, uh, it's just everyone's struggling right now, and even the city is.

Um this is uh a chance that we give, we didn't give them choice with the the trash fees, we didn't give our residents the choice with the license plate fees, but we gotta give them a choice for this.

Um and it's unfortunate, and you know, these are the hard decisions that we make, and uh as we move forward, we're gonna have harder decisions to make.

And if this doesn't pass, that we definitely will have harder decisions to make.

I mean, if the the voters tell us we have to do what we tell them to do.

So um appreciate our council thanks to the budget task force for working through this because it was rough.

Um, and that's all I got.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh Councilwoman Morris.

Thank you.

Thank you for presenting this.

This is a hard issue to to go to voters uh with.

Um, you know, you had mentioned that we cut nine million out of this past budget, um, and this will raise 25 million.

It's still not gonna be enough.

Um, but it gets us in a better situation.

And from what I hear from residents, I mean it's it's hard.

It's hard to do everything, it's hard to get insurance, it's hard to um just get your milk and your your butter and everything else that you have uh to to make ends meet.

We've got school coming up, so we've got school supplies.

There's just it's a lot, and uh people are really struggling.

And um, but I think it's important.

Um, you know, people had asked me, they said, well, you know, you're supposed to budget, I have to budget.

Why aren't you budgeting?

Well, we are budgeting.

The problem is is that we are not receiving money from the state and the federal government that we had had in the past.

So how much can anyone maybe Abby?

I don't know if you can if you can uh tell us how much money do we spend on police and fire out of our budget?

Is it like which per what percentage?

Um I can get you this by way of referral, but it's uh I think it's like 70% of the general fund budget is police and fire, and like 85% of their budgets are personnel.

I'll get you the actual numbers, but something like that.

I think that's important for the public to see that, and it's not to pit fire and police against other city services, but at the same time, we have other city services that we have to provide, but we are prioritizing our safety forces so that we can have a safe city.

So I think it's important for the residents to know that figure.

Um, and that we and I think that they would trust us as a city uh uh leaders if we had a little bit more um uh uh I guess I don't know um lined out um a list of some of the things that we would be I mean neighborhood safety is is a big balloon and and it is but I think if we had some structure, I think residents I think it would sell a little bit better with them.

Um what are some of those things and uh what aren't some of those things?

Uh when people pass when the voters pass the the roads tax, it has to go to roads.

Um and people, you know, if if they understand that it's temporary, and keep in mind the three-quarter of a percent, um, the roads, those are voted every four years.

Um I understand that's a frustrating uh uh statistic that it was only supposed to be temporary, but the voters vote this when they go to the polls.

So this would be another vote at the poll.

Um every it would be for four years, correct?

Okay.

So I think it if we could maybe delineate, you know, fire police.

I I think we should really kind of list those rather than just say, and I know there I that might not be a popular um statement, but I think it would help uh a voter if I mean if it's roads, it's roads, right?

But if it's this kind of ambiguous term, um I think I think I as a voter would be more willing to support it.

Um I just I I think this is really hard, and like I said, I think this is something that we really are are kind of reaching in our conscience.

I'm happy we're going to the voters because I trust the voters, and I I hope that they will make a good decision.

Um thank you.

Thank you very much.

Uh so I'm just gonna make a quick comment.

So um thank you for bringing this to us.

I'm sorry, I can never tell if I'm too low or too high on this.

Um Councilman Seranto and I were on council when we were almost bankrupt.

And we had to invoke exigent circumstances to lay off police and fire, didn't want to.

There was no money.

Contracts just didn't work at the time.

Um, and I don't want to go down that road again.

I I've seen you know the edge of the abyss of what could happen.

Detroit, not too far from us, went bankrupt.

Had to great had to do the great camp compromise, and you see how they've rebounded.

I firmly believe in the voters of Toledo where we're gonna make the right decision and help support our safety forces moving forward.

Um but I I've seen what the alternative is or could be, and certainly do not want to make that choice again.

I don't think we have to.

I think we're far enough in advance of this, and we're relying on our voters to make the right decision for the path uh of our our community moving forward.

So I I sincerely appreciate you doing this.

I think this should have happened a while ago, um, but I think we've all been very uh prudent on our spending and how we're utilizing very uh limited taxpayer funds.

Um I don't see uh a doge or a fraud waste and abuse in terms of how we spend our our dollars here.

I think if anything, we overly complicate how we spend our dollars and very scrutinize every single penny on how they're utilized.

Um so I I think as we move forward, this next budget cycle will definitely um be a critical path uh in terms of how the city moves forward and grows.

So with that being said, thank you.

Next, please.

Next we have submission to the electors a charter change for section 6.33 and 171 regarding city council employees.

President Williams.

Um the next few the next four um uh agenda items are um cleaning up some charter changes that we need to do.

Um this first one, I'll go over all you can read them all, um, and I can just go over all of them after she gets done if that's okay, Chair.

Certainly.

Okay, okay.

Uh the second one is submission to the electors, a charter change for section 87D regarding term limitations for council members.

Next submission to the electors, a charter change for section 13, 14, 17, 83, and 92 regarding city council and mayor elections.

Then next is submission to the electors, a charter change for section five uh regulations clarifying amending the municipal charter.

Okay, so I'll start with the first one.

Um this is for city council.

We all have been talking about this for a while that we need to be in charge of our own employees, so that that's what this one is cleaning it up so that we can be in charge of our employees and not leave it to the administration.

The second one is 87D.

That one um was brought forward by several council members um regarding our term limits and how we were in a situation where we needed to appoint a previous council member because if we appointed someone that was elected already or won the election, they would have it two days would accounted for a whole term.

So this is kind of cleaning this up that if they come at a certain time during that, um, we should be they should it shouldn't count towards their term.

Um and then the next one is some recommendations for cleanups to align us with um some um Ohio constitution items, and also um I would defer um to legal with some of those items that are on there um to align us to the Ohio Constitution.

Uh and then the last one is to also align us with the Ohio Constitution on clarifying how we amend our municipal charter.

If you guys have any questions about any of the charter changes, um that's why legal is here in the pit.

Um a lot of them are just cleaning up, and some of them are council-led initiatives, especially the term limits, um, counting and counting towards their um actual uh like two-day shouldn't count towards a four-year term.

That's unfair to the person that's appointed, and we want to make sure that um that person has an opportunity to be the full term.

So any questions, I'm willing to take any of them, and uh we work through a lot of them through our uh administrative task force, and I've been working with Lego and also talking to the Board of Elections.

I know they reached out to several people here to clean up so we can align our charter and the way we do our elections.

So that's all I got.

Councilman Driscoll.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Can we give just a little more clarification for the first uh um charter amendment uh regarding our employees?

What's the the genesis of this?

What are we trying to fix and uh what what will our operations look like in the future if this does change?

Presently uh Dale Inch, City Law Director.

I think the the most consequential change is to section 171, which talks about who's in the classified service and who is not, and the way it is currently written, I think it's it doesn't include all of council employees, and so what we are trying to accomplish is to make sure that council was in control of its floor in the same way that the mayor's office is in control of its floor.

So we added in this last I under 171.

If you look at your amended language, officers and employees of city council, and then so some of these other things that are included in the ordinance all sort of bolsters that same concept of defining redefining who's an employee dropping some older language.

We amended section or we're proposing to amend section 33, which talks specifically about the um uh council employees.

The clerk is is unclassified and serves at your pleasure, and you could construe that already the officers are included in that, but some of you have been in uh executive sessions where we've talked about some of the difficult legal situations that we might face should we bump up against who's classified and who's not.

So that's what we tried to do.

So the charter would then treat all of our employees the same way that we currently treat the auditor or the clerk.

Right, even though they're not enumerated in the charter.

That that's exactly right.

That's the question is to make sure that they're all unclassified.

So when it if if it comes time to terminate an employee, uh it would still require an act of council, though, is that correct?

Well, that's a good question.

I'm glad you asked it.

Um part of the amendment to 33, and and this is something that by the way was kicking around some seven or eight years ago.

But what we're doing under uh also under 33, and including enumerating who uh you know the the control that you have over your employees is when it comes to things like hiring discipline and termination, we're allowing council then to adopt specific rules about how you might do that, and and those rules council rules are already incorporated by reference into the charter, so that would allow you this flexibility.

So you don't get into this situation where you arguably are in now where um you know uh a legislative aid or somebody like that, that uh discipline or something like that has to come in front of the entire body because you know the this body only speaks through its votes.

It doesn't, there's no behind the scenes type stuff.

So that's that's what we're trying to accomplish.

So we would address those changes through council rules.

That's right.

And we'd be you know, we anticipate uh helping with that process if you have any questions about how to do that.

Uh I think it would be good for all of us to know what those council rules are and what maybe even get those in place before we agree to vote on this side.

Um I just think we should be cautious about upending that system.

But that's right.

Yeah, and just to make it clear what you're you're doing is giving yourself the authority to to make adopt rules and your rules and the way in which you adopt rules is far more flexible than a charter change.

Right.

Okay.

Just to note too uh when you're voting on this, you're voting just to submit it.

Right.

Of course, if you could speak into the mic, please.

And again, thanks.

Sarah Stevens from the law department.

Voting on these proposed charter changes is just a submission to the electorate.

It's not um just do that.

Right, got it.

Thank you very much.

Councilman Sarantu.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um, could the could you clarify something here?

Uh I'm gonna talk about 87D, the term limits.

Okay.

So under what circumstances would somebody that is appointed to fill a vacancy on council be limited just to the two full terms as we presently have.

Because it says here that all other service on council pursuant to appointment to fill a vacancy shall be counted toward the 12-year limitation.

And uh councilman, I hope everybody got the uh amended ordinance that we submitted this morning.

And I'm sorry it was so late.

We've really been working hard in this language and spent some time over the holiday weekend trying to figure out how to best accomplish the um suggestion from this body.

Um we could call this the councilwoman Kramer rule.

Um because you're but you're not the only person who's been impacted by this.

But I think that's when uh we started to hear this conversation come up a little bit more in earnest, which is there is a situation where uh councilwoman had just been elected.

I think the this body uh wanted to appoint her from the vacancy that had recently happened, and um she rightly uh I don't know whether the offer was ever made, but that was would have been ill-advised because she would not have been able to serve the um uh or even get on the ballot for the third term because of the 12th consecutive year rule.

And so that's what we're trying to allow here is that um appointed service before somebody's first elected term won't be counted against them.

They'll be able to serve that you know that that little bit of a vacancy, and it can span depending on how long the vacancy occurs, but there's it doesn't go on forever because of the uh the rules and charter section 15a.

So well, let me be specific.

Let's say you have a council person that resigns from office and there's one year left in their term.

So council by way of the charter appoints a successor, and then that successor, when that term ends one year later, is gonna have to run.

Is that person subject again under these if this passes to three full terms plus the one year that they were appointed?

So it would be 13 years.

Right.

If you're you just just to clarify, councilman, you're talking about for the new person who's going to be appointed, is that correct?

To fill the vacancy, what how long could that person serve?

John Smith resigns his counsel term early.

There's one year left on John's term in office.

Council, by way of the charter, has to appoint a successor.

That successor gets appointed, then has to run at the next election for that for John, okay?

So let's say they serve one year as an appointee, then they run again.

Does that one year, is that held against them?

In other words, would they serve a full 13 years on council?

Well, we'll call the appointed person Jane Doe, and Jane Doe would that would not count against her ability to serve for 12 consecutive years because that appointed service prior to the first elected term is now under the contemplated amendment, not counted.

Now keep in mind that district members are treated differently than at-large members when it comes to filling vacancies and when they have to stand for election, and something else we did not address because we were not asked to is what happens when somebody uh is elected to a partial term in that or they're filling in.

Um and so that that rule stays in place.

I think the last time I saw that was with Councilman Cherry, who I believe served about 10 years after he replaced um uh Mike Collins.

Mike Collins, right?

So so when you say district, how how does that differentiate from the at large with regard to this?

I don't have my charter in front of me, but there's a shorter window for district members to fill those roles.

I'm assuming be the that the whoever when they fashion these rules 30 plus years ago, they wanted the district members to be closer to the people and and not have appointed people serve for quite as long.

So it's a tighter window when they have to serve or when they have to go up to in front of the people for a vote.

So by way of referral, could you tell us uh in terms of if we're filling a vacancy for a district council person?

We s uh we elect Jane Doe to fill a one-year vacancy because the next election for the district office is one year from now.

Would that person also be able to serve 12 years continuously plus that one year if they're a district person?

Yes it's that that term of appointed service prior to that first elected term will not count against the 12 consecutive terms.

I thought that's what the body was trying to accomplish with you know a situation which uh councilwoman Kramer was faced with okay but by way of referral could you answer that absolutely all right thank I we just need to know for sure what the effect is for at large as well as district council members.

Thank you.

Understood I just gotta add one thing what we we also were trying to do with with talking about this period of of service before the first elected term is to avoid I don't know gamesmanship or anything like that but I don't think it's the this body's intention to have somebody step aside you know after two terms on council because there's another vacancy that's more appealing and that wouldn't count against the 12th consecutive terms of service and so that's the line we are trying to walk and that's why this was pretty challenging to to try to draft okay thank you thank you Mr Chair Madam President I'm sorry I missed your light council member Gaddis.

Thank you.

Could you um talk a little bit more about the um change for section five clarifying the amendmenting the municipal charter please sure um yes we are amending the charter to amend a section about how we amend the charter um the we weren't part of this litigation but we were involved with it and and long story short the process that we currently have in place is not consistent with the process that's set out in the Ohio Constitution and the Ohio Constitution is superior to our charter even though we're a home rule form of government and so we um our charter calls for um these type of questions the amendment questions to go forth by way of resolution and the constitution calls for them to go by way of ordinance and so we have changed that but what we also tried to do and I I think we have is to make it easier to understand for people who um whether it's the people who are trying to bring an initiative to change the charter or whether it's all of us including the lawyers trying to figure out exactly what the process is and so we've just tried to clean it up and make it a little bit more straightforward but the only true substantive change is changing resolution to ordinance that's that's the real the the the work that we needed to accomplish I appreciate your time thanks Councilwoman Morris thank you Chair and uh I just want to go on record that I think that all members should be treated the same whether you're a district or whether you're at large if you're appointed to a position I think it it should be the same for each you know I just think it's important I will talk with you after this meeting um I just want to have some offline conversations about some of the concerns that I have with this so thank you.

Okay Clerk please continue all right um next we have the uh removal of the honorary designation of Monsignor Schmidt way on St.

Clair Street President Wayne thank you so much this actually went in front of the board of honors um there was an application to remove the designation and the board of honors voted um the majority voted to um remove it myself and Barbara Floyd voted not to remove it because there was no day no actual documentation that Monsieur Smith uh had uh did anything but uh exert the the right of Father Robinson to um have legal representation during uh the meeting um at this point I still have that same stance I don't feel like my sewer smitch sign should be taken down um at I mean father Robinson was a horrible person and he did that and I uh definitely disagree with what he did but um as we live in the country um where you have the right to legal representation and that's what my sewer smith did for Father Robinson people don't like that they did that but everybody has right to represent um and that's all I I know I know Barbara Floyd and myself voted to not remove it um and the other members on the um board voted to remove it uh so that's why this is here um is before us to remove it I don't see any way um easy I don't have a reason why to remove it but at the end of the day this is uh a choice of you all um there's been a lot of information sent to us uh father Robison is a horrible horrible person and um he deserves he deserved what he got um so I I I just feel bad that it has gone

Uh, so that's why this is here.

Um, it's before us to remove it.

I don't see any way.

Um easy, I don't have a reason why to remove it, but at the end of the day, this is uh a choice of you all.

Um, there's been a lot of information sent to us all.

Father Robinson is a horrible, horrible person, and um he deserves he deserved what he got.

Um, so I I just feel bad that it has gone, it went on so long, but I don't think that anything was presented to me or the board of honors to remove the sign.

So thank you, Chair.

Uh Councilmember Morris.

Thank you, Chair.

And um I was not at that meeting, and I was not part of any of those decisions.

I just was driving to work today, and I was driving past the stadium, and I saw Gene Cook way, and Gene Cook to me is just synonymous with with the Mudhounds.

Um did a lot for the even sat in on the dais.

Um he did a lot for our community and our country.

Um I think that these signs should inspire.

I think they should um be held up uh as pillars of our community to to emulate, and um, you know, I didn't I I didn't know Monsignor Schmidt.

Um I I um I know that he was he did a lot of things for CYO, and CYO, you know, has honored this individual.

Um, but I think this time has elapsed.

Um I given that um you know we we have family members who are concerned uh about this uh that we have uh members in the Catholic Church that are concerned, we have young people that are concerned.

If it if it evokes such a negative um uh feeling, I think that it's it's it's time that it's not there anymore.

So um I just I just have to get that off of my chest.

I I don't have any kind of um you know buy-in to any anything here.

I just I just know that we should we should be um standing up really positive people in our community to to inspire others so thank you councilwoman McPherson thank you chair um I did attend the first um honor board meeting and listened to both sides and um I commend the board because then they took time um to not make a decision at that time but to um investigate more get more information um read up on everything that was given and then they came back with the vote that his name should be removed.

I appreciate the honor board for the time that they have put into this and listening and making that decision, and I also appreciate those that present it.

I support the removal any time we have um this type of dissension, and because of how what occurred, the timeline, and the hardship that is it has brought on to her family, to his family, to the citizens of Toledo, and all those that have been affected by this, and then to drive down and see his name.

I think it's time that it be removed, and I wholeheartedly support the removal of his name.

Thank you.

Councilman's Ronti.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I just want to uh confirm something that's very important during that hearing, there was not enough time for people to testify.

People council rules were limited to three minutes.

Since that time I have learned and seen with my own eyes, two pieces of documents, papers that Father Gerald Robinson signed, waiving his right to counsel for each of the two days that he was interrogated by the Toledo Police Department.

He waived his right to counsel for those two days.

And the facts of the matter are that Monsignor Schmidt and Deputy Chief Vetter ended that interrogation.

Brought in an attorney.

And a deterrent interrogation.

And I find it very interesting that after that, the police department never, never interrogated Father Robinson again.

Those are facts.

He waived his right to counsel for each of those two days.

And I would hope that counsel would take that into consideration as to what actually happened at that event.

Thank you.

Councilman Colmex.

Thank you so much.

I also want to take a second to acknowledge the letter that we all received yesterday from Sister Anne-Marie Borges of the Sisters of Notre Dame.

I think some of the more revealing lines from her letter include that no one is disputing the value that Monsignor Schmidt has brought.

However, through the preserved testimony of Detective Art Marks and Lieutenant William Keena in the murder trial of Father Joe Robinson, Monsignor Schmidt's role in shutting down the murder investigation is unequivocally clear.

She later goes on to mention this, and and I have to say, as a survivor of sexual assault, I know all too well this feeling that she's describing.

Because justice for sister Margaret Ann Paul was so long delayed, she remained invisible and discounted within the Catholic Church and this community.

Yes, there was a conviction, and her killer was incarcerated, but the presence of that sign keeps her invisible and discounted.

And there is no reason that she should be invisible or discounted.

So I hope that this council will support the removal of the sign.

I agree that its mere presence is enough to tarnish the look, the meaning, what it what it means.

I mean, to anyone of us who are a survivor when we have to be faced by this, it is noticed and um she deserves to be remembered for the good things that she did, and not because of a sign that exists now.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Uh, Councilwoman Kramer.

Thank you.

I will be brief.

I wanted to thank um Claudia and Lee for being here and for uh making their voices heard on this issue.

Um, I think it is very important.

I also uh agree with Councilmember Comives about the letter that we received um from Sister Amory Borges yesterday.

Um she actually taught my children at St.

Patrick of Heatherdowns.

Um, because I think it's important that we know that um there are people from the Catholic Church that uh feel like that sign should be removed.

Um I do also feel the same as Councilwoman uh Morris in terms of what the significance of those signs should be, they should be inspiring, they should um be for people who um you know make little kids aspire to greatness, and I do think that uh this sign has um not good connotation right now and should be removed, and I do feel um that the Catholic Church does have that opportunity for themselves to honor him if they would like to do that.

And I have been to the CYO fields many times, and I see his name there, and the Catholic Church you know can remember him in that way.

Um, but as a city, we can remove that street sign so that people do not have to see that when they go to the mud end scheme.

So uh thank you for all that you both have done.

We appreciate it.

Thank you.

Next, our final item is uh District 2 District Improvement Program Safety Cameras Project.

Great, thank you.

So what am I thinking of?

Um, I'll try to keep this brief.

Uh, I did email a memo that encapsulates uh everything we've been working on for the past year and a half.

Uh if there's any specific questions, I'm happy to answer.

Um this actually evolved uh quite a bit.

So originally back in 2022 when the Yvaldi uh school shooting happened.

One of my big questions was what would happen in the event something like that happened in the city of Toledo.

So I kind of went down this rabbit hole looking at different opportunities at the federal level, state level for grant funding.

We had a new administration come in, and any potential grant funding for school safety was either eliminated or pause indefinitely until such time as the new administration figured out what they were going to do.

Then last year in Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the Annunciation Church or School, there was an active shooter situation with little children praying.

So that really re-invigorated me to continue my search to see if there's any opportunity for funding to help secure school safety.

While I may be district two representative, my goal is to be the number one in the city of Toledo have the safest district.

So what I was what I'm proposing in collaboration with the Catholic Diocese, Tilly Public Schools, private and parochial schools, is to create a pilot project that would allow our safety forces to be able to respond much quicker and faster.

Some of the lessons learned in Uvaldi, Texas was really lack of action, and the whole incident went for like an hour and 17 minutes.

And it had it's like the third mass casualty in our country for children.

So what this does is we are working with our partner in Flock.

That is has its own different connotation, and I'm very sensitive to that.

But what this would do is provide a gateway systems, which are like a modem that would allow the school systems and TPD to have access to the exterior cameras only in the vent there is either an active shooter situation or emergency situation.

These are highly regulated.

There's a lot of public, there's a lot of police protocols in place.

This will save time, energy, and effort and create uh real-time monitoring, incident uh visualization, um, improve emergency response, and hopefully defer some criminal activity.

That is the first part of this.

Each school is independent.

This is a voluntary pilot project where they would have their separate uh memorandum of understanding with Toledo Police Department.

They can go through the the ins and outs of the data and who shares what who has access to what the second part of this is to um install additional cameras in the public right-of-way near school areas in intersections where we don't have as best coverage as possible.

For example, in the Reynolds Corner area near uh Rogers High School Stadium.

Uh there was an uh a drive-by shooting there that took a little time for response.

This would allow eyes and ears quicker, faster, more efficiently to address a shooter type situation and really make sure that we are keeping everybody safe.

I, as I spoke to all the principals in district two, um, trying to understand what their capabilities were, where their deficits were, and you have very sophisticated uh security systems, um, and you have uh sufficient security systems.

I I don't want to cause panic or anything like that.

I think our schools are very safe, and I want to make them safe.

I want to make sure that I give tools to our first responders to respond as efficiently as quickly as possible.

So I had a informational meeting because I wanted to make sure I address all of the uh concerns from not only to the city council but to the public school boards, our principals, our uh partner over at Flock, uh, the Chief of Police, safety director, mayor's office, um, our criminal investigating or intelligence uh group, uh, so we could all answer all the questions all at the same time, and I put together kind of FAQ.

Also, I invited uh common from the captor, uh, Senator Paul Higgs Hudson and State Representative Erica White.

Uh so this is just the first step.

And the second really question is how do we help parents in these types of situations and understand what happens in an emergency situation since cell phones are no longer allowed in schools?

So I'll be working with uh State Representative White to come up with uh some informational sessions for parents so they understand, get actual facts uh about their school safety uh protocols and initiatives.

Um I'm happy to take any questions if you have any questions, uh but I did do offer a virtual uh option as well as an in-person option, and I appreciate those that attended.

I thought it was very informative.

Uh, there was some conversations that I was not expecting to have about communication strategy, um, clarification about uh memorandum of understanding and what those kind of outline in detail.

Uh so I'm happy to go over all of that with you if you see fit.

So I will be asking uh to vote on this next on the 14th.

Uh, if there's any other questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

So thank you.

That completes our agenda.

See nothing else?

Meeting adjourned.