Toledo City Council Regular Meeting – October 20, 2026

City Council met at 4:00 PM in Council Chambers at One Government Center with 11 members present. The meeting opened with an invocation by Pastor Ruth Clinton of Christ Presbyterian Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. Council adopted three recognition resolutions, held two second-reading ordinances and a Flock-related resolution, and unanimously approved a series of funding, grant, and contract ordinances.

Recognition Resolutions

• R-432-26, recognizing Chief Michael C. Troendle on his retirement, was adopted unanimously. Council members praised his 33-year career, leadership, accessibility, and use of technology such as intelligence-led policing and the real-time crime center. Chief Troendle thanked Council and said he planned to take time off before deciding his next steps.
• R-433-26, recognizing TARTA on its 55th anniversary, was adopted unanimously. The resolution noted voters approved TARTA in January 1971 by 62,208 to 19,454, making it Ohio’s first regional transit authority. TARTA CEO Laura, Board President Kendra Smith, and a CAC member spoke about the agency’s partnerships, ridership, and upcoming free 55th anniversary event on Thursday, October 29, from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Glass City Center.
• R-434-26, recognizing the Toledo Blade for 190 years of publication, was adopted unanimously.

Second Reading Items

• O-413-26, authorizing reallocation of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds under the American Rescue Plan Act, was held until the November 4, 2026 meeting.
• O-425-26, authorizing an agreement with the Toledo-Lucas County Regional Board of Health for the Healthy Food Small Market Program and appropriating $355,297 from the General Fund, was held until the November 4, 2026 meeting.

Discussion: Flock Resolution (R-435-26)

R-435-26 requested termination and non-renewal of all City of Toledo agreements with Flock Group, Inc., removal or deactivation of Flock equipment, and deletion of Flock-generated data consistent with applicable law.

• Councilmember McPherson asked to hold the resolution until the previously authorized audit of Flock cameras was completed, saying she wanted data specific to Toledo before voting.
• Council President Williams supported holding the item, noting that she had met with a Flock representative and that the city auditor had been given 30 working days to complete the audit, with a target date of November 4.
• Councilmember Komives urged voting that day, saying the public had clearly spoken against Flock and citing examples of misuse and wrongful detentions elsewhere in the country.
• Councilmember Meldon argued that action could be taken before audit results were complete, comparing it to stopping a suspected allergen while waiting for blood work.
• Councilmember Driscoll described the resolution as largely symbolic because the decision ultimately rests with the mayor and police chief.
• Councilmember Martinez called the resolution symbolic theater and preferred to wait for the audit; he also said he had legislation on prohibited uses in an upcoming packet.
• Councilmember Gaddis said supporting residents is not theater, noted that her FOIA request had gone unanswered for more than 100 days, and asked that audit details be shared with the public.
• On the vote to suspend the rules for immediate passage, the roll call appeared to show 7 yes and 5 no. The chair first said “motion carried,” then stated that nine votes were needed for suspension, so the resolution was held to the November 4, 2026 meeting.

Ordinances and Resolutions Adopted Unanimously

Each of the following was approved unanimously after council suspended the reading rule and, where applicable, declared an emergency:

• R-437-26: Accepted the property tax amounts and rates for the 2027 budget as determined by the County Budget Commission, authorized tax levies, and certified them to the County Auditor.
• R-438-26: Authorized the Finance Director to request advances from the Lucas County Auditor’s office.
• O-439-26: Authorized a grant agreement with the Federal Highway Administration and Ohio Department of Transportation for the Front and Main Corridor Modernization project, with grant proceeds not to exceed $19,510,645.
• O-440-26: Authorized expenditure of up to $15,000 for a walk-behind paint sprayer.
• O-441-26: Authorized acceptance of a $58,035.77 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program grant from the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
• O-442-26: Authorized acceptance of a $55,535.77 Impaired Driving Enforcement Program grant from the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
• O-443-26: Authorized amendment of the ESO Solutions, Inc. software license for Fire’s electronic patient care and national fire incident reporting software for an additional three years, with two one-year renewal options, at up to $105,000 annually, and waived competitive bidding.
• O-444-26: Authorized acceptance of a donation not to exceed $13,000 from Elevance Health, Inc. for EMS supplies and equipment.
• O-445-26: Authorized an amended agreement with The Fair Housing Center for source of income testing services and a $5,000 General Fund expenditure.
• O-446-26: Authorized acceptance of $89,272 in settlement proceeds from Ford Motor Company for a pursuit-ready vehicle and patrol outfitting.
• O-447-26: Authorized a hazardous materials training grant agreement with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and acceptance of $10,650 in grant proceeds.
• O-448-26: Authorized appropriation and expenditure of $1,500,000 from the Water Replacement Fund for raw water main tile restoration.
• O-449-26: Authorized a supplemental agreement with Promise Network Inc. for $400,000 to support the Department of Public Utilities Fresh Start Debt Relief Program and waived competitive bidding.
• O-450-26: Authorized a grant agreement with the Ohio Department of Development for up to $2,000,000 to support redevelopment of the historic Spitzer Building at 520 Madison Avenue, including a subrecipient agreement with 520 Madison LLC and the Lucas County Land Bank.
• O-451-26: Authorized an amended Joint Economic Development Zone contract among Toledo, Maumee, and Monclova Township, and authorized use of up to $210,000 from Toledo’s JEDZ income tax share for the Riverfort Drive Roadway and Utility Extension Project.

Other Business

• R-436-26, adopting the 2027 City Council calendar, received a first reading only and was not voted on.
• Council approved the consent items dispatching with the reading of the October 6, 2026 Toledo City Journal and excusing certain council members from missed meetings.
• Councilmember Gaddis raised concerns about the accessible parking permit process, citing roughly 10 recent complaints from residents, including a single mother with children who elope and seniors asked to wait in alleys. She called on Councilmember Driscoll to hold a meeting on the issue.
• Councilmember Komives noted that the council had approved bringing in $21.7 million in grants that day, praised the Front and Main project, and expressed concern that the PUCO hazardous materials training grant had fallen from nearly $30,000 five years ago to $10,650 now.
• Councilmember Kramer reminded residents that early voting was open and that Election Day was November 3.

Key Outcomes

• All three recognition resolutions and all 15 finance, grant, and contract items on the agenda were adopted unanimously.
• O-413-26, O-425-26, and R-435-26 were held to the November 4, 2026 meeting.
• R-436-26 was introduced on first reading and will be considered at a later meeting.
• The Flock resolution did not receive the necessary nine votes to suspend the rules and proceed to immediate final passage.