Whitehall City Council Committee Meeting - February 10, 2026

The Whitehall City Council Committee Meeting convened on February 10, 2026, at 6:30 PM to discuss a full slate of legislative items, committee reports, and presentations. Key highlights included a resolution to apply for a Safe Routes to School grant, a supplemental appropriation for a pavement management assessment, an in-depth presentation on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), and extensive discussion regarding the proposed Department of Neighborhoods and updates to the Council's Rules of Procedure. Several items were advanced to future meetings for formal action.

Presentations

• Mayor Michael T. Bivens presented a proclamation recognizing Black History Month.
• Carlie Boos, Executive Director of the Affordable Housing Alliance Central Ohio, gave a detailed presentation on the regional housing crisis and the potential impact of ADUs.

Discussion Items

Safe Routes to School Grant (Resolution 004-2026)

Public Service Director Casey Rowlands presented a resolution authorizing the Mayor to apply for a 100% reimbursable ODOT Safe Routes to School Planning & Development Grant. Director Rowlands explained the grant would fund a School Travel Plan for all five Whitehall schools, addressing the lack of sidewalks and the fact that 80% of students are walkers. The application deadline is March 6, 2026. A motion to advance the resolution was made and seconded.

Department of Neighborhoods Funding (Ordinance 008-2026)

A second reading of an ordinance amending appropriations for the Department on Neighborhoods sparked significant debate.

• Economic Development Director: Expressed concerns that the legislation sets a negative precedent for non-charter departments, potentially signaling instability to businesses and staff. Argued the department is needed to address resident issues (landlord-tenant, elderly care) that currently fall through the cracks.
• Councilmember Harcar: Shared a personal story of assisting a 91-year-old veteran who had fallen, arguing a Department of Neighborhoods could provide critical follow-up and support for such cases.
• Mayor Bivens: Stated that Whitehall has the highest poverty, eviction, and infant mortality rates in Central Ohio, underscoring the need for a dedicated department. He noted that only a third of a percent of the budget is allocated to the department and that seven finalists are being interviewed for the director position.
• Councilmember Dixon: Expressed that his previous concerns about the department's redundancy were not given proper respect. Questioned why a department not needed since 1947 is required now.
• Councilmember Brown: Framed the decision as a choice between investing in a Department of Neighborhoods or spending more on cleaning curbs.

Council Rules of Procedure (2026-2027 Term)

• City Attorney Nicodemus: Suggested the council codify specific, commonly used Robert's Rules motions into their own rules to ensure everyone operates from the same understanding, reducing confusion and friction.
• Councilmember Morrison: Supported strict adherence to rules to prevent what he termed a "circus" atmosphere and ensure professionalism.
• Councilmember Dixon: Argued the problem for him was personal arguments rather than a lack of rules.
• Councilmember Harcar: Proposed adding rules to prohibit recording of executive sessions and requiring council members to review legislation and supporting materials in advance of meetings.
• Outcome: After a brief discussion, the council voted to postpone the detailed review to later in the meeting to allow a scheduled presentation. Later, due to the late hour and absence of key members, the discussion was postponed entirely to the next committee meeting in two weeks.

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) / Ordinance 004-2026

Carlie Boos presented extensive research on ADUs, covering their history, current use, and policy implications.

• Key Data: 53,000 Franklin County families pay over 50% of income on housing. 83% of Central Ohioans support ADUs. ADU construction costs are estimated at $150–$225 per square foot.
• Council Discussion: Topics included potential for absentee landlord exploitation, cost barriers, property value impact, and spillover effects on neighbors. Boos argued that high construction costs and mortgage requirements typically limit ADU tenants to family members or known individuals for the foreseeable future.
• Legislative Update (Director Russell): Announced a planned postponement of the third reading to bundle the ADU ordinance with updates to the city's rental registry. The goal is to create a more robust registry requiring local property agent contact information and potentially opt-in inspections to address council and resident concerns about enforcement.
• Multiple councilmembers expressed strong support for the collaborative, bundled approach to address community concerns.

Standing Committee Reports

• Admin. & Financial Management: Advanced Drafts #2 ($25k pavement assessment), #3 (Investment Policy revisions), and #4 ($6,631 for auditor furniture, $4,200 for basketball jerseys via Then and Now certificates).
• Community & Elder Advocacy: No legislation. Chair Harcar shared information on advocacy to end child marriage in Ohio and recognized Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.
• Economic Development / Infrastructure / Public Safety: No pending legislation.
• Parks & Recreation: Scheduled a special meeting on February 16 to interview Parks & Rec Commission applicants. Reminded the public of the Rise Plan (strategic and parks master plan) open house on February 11.

Key Outcomes

• Safe Routes to School Grant: Advanced to the next meeting for suspension and adoption (Feb 17).
• Neighborhoods Department: Discussion continued; no vote taken. Further deliberation expected.
• ADU Legislation / Rental Registry: Third reading and public hearing postponed. Director Russell will return with a combined proposal linking ADU development to an enhanced rental registry and code enforcement standards.
• Council Rules: Postponed to the next committee meeting (Feb 24) for final discussion.
• Pavement Assessment / Investment Policy / Certificates: Advanced to a vote by the full council.
• Parks & Rec Interviews: Special meeting set for Feb 16, 2026.