Following is a summary of the Tuesday, September 21 City Council Meeting. To watch the full meeting, visit www.hudson.oh.us/WatchMeetings.
Public Hearings
- A public hearing was held about an ordinance amending sections of the Land Development Code. There were no public comments.
Public Comments
- The mayor made a statement concerning his comments at the September 13, 2021 Hudson Board of Education meeting.
- Residents spoke about the comments made by Mayor Shubert at the September 13, 2021 Hudson Board of Education meeting.
Council Comments
- Council members made statements regarding the comments made by Mayor Shubert at the September 13, 2021 Hudson Board of Education meeting.
Report of the Manager
- Postponement of Two Sidewalk Projects. The City Manager recommended that the SR 303 Sidewalk Project (Nicholson to W. Case) and the Owen Brown Street Sidewalk Project (Lennox to Morse Road; Norfolk Southern underpass) be postponed until 2022. This is due to a possible waterline project in conjunction with proposed plans for the Downtown Phase 2 area and possible funding opportunities from the American Recovery Plan Act. Though the sidewalk would not installed exactly where the waterline would be, the City does not wish to inconvenience residents in that area twice in such a short amount of time. Staff would like to install the waterline and then add in the sidewalk right after the waterline is finished.
- A council member expressed concern for the workload of sidewalk projects in the upcoming year due to the proposed postponement. Staff said they could move up a handful of other sidewalk projects to replace the postponed ones and they will still be within budget and remain on schedule to complete the Sidewalk and Trail Plan in 2025.
Discussion Item
- Downtown Phase 2 Public Open House September 29. Staff expressed they would like to follow Fairmount Properties’ presentation of the proposal for a new, larger Heinen’s and housing in the Downtown Phase 2 area with a Public Open House for citizens to offer their input.
The first public input open house will be held on Wednesday, September 29 at 7 p.m. in the City Hall Community Room located at 1140 Terex Road. Small stations will be set up throughout the room for residents to provide input about aspects of the proposed plan. City staff and Fairmount Properties will be on hand to answer any questions. Please park in the back and enter through the back doors. If you are unable to attend this open house, there will be opportunities to submit feedback online following the open house at www.hudson.oh.us/FairmountProposal, and throughout the duration of the project.
- Staff is anticipating they will receive an offer and letter of intent from Fairmount Properties by the end of this week. An executive session is anticipated at next week’s Council Workshop to discuss the offer, negotiations, and parameters Council would like to authorize staff to pursue.
- Additional public input opportunities will be scheduled as this process progresses.
- Council members wish to see what the public has to say and more details before committing to moving forward. Public dialogue and input would continue throughout the long approval process (Planning Commission, public hearings, etc.) that would take place after entering into a purchase and sale agreement.
Consent Agenda
The following Consent Agenda items passed 6-0.
- A motion to acknowledge the timely receipt of the August 2021 Monthly Financial Report.
- A motion directing the Clerk to send notice to the Ohio Division of Liquor Control indicating the City does not request a hearing regarding a stock transfer for a permit to sell alcoholic beverages for Fred. W. Albrecht Grocery DBA Acme Fresh Market in Hudson.
- A motion authorizing the City Manager to utilize the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funding towards the design and construction of the SR 303 Water Transmission Line Replacement Project in 2022.
- A resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for Federal Surface Transportation Block Grant Program funds, Resurfacing Program funds, and Transportation Alternatives Set Aside funding programmed by the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study to resurface Valley View Road and E. Barlow Road; Terex Road, Hudson Industrial Parkway, E. Barlow Road, and SR 91/Terex Road Improvements; and construct the Boston Mills Road Trail and Akron Secondary Trail along Metro RTA property.
- A resolution authorizing the City Manager to make a joint application with the City of Stow for federal Surface Transportation Block Grant Program funds programmed by the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study for the Norton Road Reconstruction Project.
- A resolution authorizing the City Manager to amend the existing agreement with Granicus, Inc. to provide a Boards and Commission upgrade. This will add a feature that will create efficiencies and streamline the applications and appointments process, from data input to communications, record keeping, and online reporting.
- A resolution affirming the acceptance by the City Manager’s designee of an Assistance to Firefighters Grant in the amount of $174,872.73 awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This will be used to purchase self-contained breathing apparatuses for the Hudson Fire Department. The City’s match is $17,487.27.
- A resolution to approve then and now certificates for purchases made.
Legislation
- An ordinance amending sections of the Land Development Code. These proposed amendments incorporate some commercial items, a focus on efficiency, and address noted requests from Council and residents. Second reading.
- A resolution authorizing the City Manger to enter into a Community Reinvestment Act Area Agreement with “Project Crunch”. “Project Crunch” is currently looking to purchase 35 acres at Season’s Greene to build a 200,000 – 250,000 square foot centralized robotic warehousing storage and fulfilments center at Patriot Parkway and Seasons Road. Second reading.
- A resolution authorizing an amendment to the City Manager’s employment agreement to provide a merit increase in salary. Second reading.
- An ordinance allowing the refinancing of existing financial obligations of the City. It allows for the sale of $7,725,000 of notes to finance the cost of the new bus garage and salt storage facility. First reading.
- An ordinance allowing for the refinancing (issuance and sale of $740,000 of taxable economic development nontax revenue bond anticipation notes, in anticipation of the issuance of bonds) of existing financial obligations of the City. It allows for the rollover of note proceeds used to pay for the former Windstream property at 100 Owen Brown Street purchased as party of the Downtown Phase II project. First reading.
- An ordinance allowing for the financing (issuance and sale of $1 million of notes) of Hudson Public Power’s replacement of a distribution transformer at its Eastside substation (located on Stow Road, across the street from Hudson City School District’s baseball complex). First reading.
- An ordinance allowing for the financing (issuance and sale of $850,000 of notes, in anticipation of the issuance of bonds) of the sidewalk/trail installation on West Barlow Road from State Route 91 to Nicholson Drive. First reading.
- An ordinance affirming the City Manager’s action to enter into a purchase and sale agreement with Michael and Lisa Mitov to purchase property located at 2217 Ravenna Street, including approximately 7 acres on two adjacent parcels for future public purposes. This is a first reading.