News Flash

Following is a summary of October 25, 2022, City Council Workshop. To watch the meeting, visit www.hudson.oh.us/WatchMeetings. 

Correspondence and Council Comments

• Council mentioned citizen concerns about speeding on Victoria Parkway. Police installed speed signs and the information will be reviewed by the Traffic Safety Committee. 
• Council mentioned resident concerns about coyote activity which appears to be increasing this year. Council asked staff to look at ways to possible cull the coyote herd and the information gathered will be discussed at the November 22^nd meeting. 
• Council thanked staff for delaying the Milford Road closing one week due to other closures by Dominion and Norfolk Southern Railroad.
• The Pickleball/Tennis Courts are now open, as well as the Electric Vehicle Charging Station in the Downtown Parking Terrace. 
• The Mayor is working on scheduling an Open Forum at the library on December 1. More information to come.

Discussion Items

• Pedestrian Safety around Hudson Schools at Unsignalized Crosswalks. Staff discussed the report from the City’s traffic engineering consultant regarding recommendation for additional Flashing Crosswalk signs in Hudson school zone crosswalks.  
• Traffic Signal Box Public Art. Staff has completed a review among Ohio cities that have traffic box art programs. Staff looked at other cities such as Stow, Kent, Hilliard, and Twinsburg. Those communities often have a public arts commission to administer the program costing approximately $400 to $1000 per box installation. The box wraps typically last about 3 to 5 years.  Hudson has approximately 30 traffic signal boxes,10 of which are in the downtown corridor. Council asked staff to hold on this traffic box art and research Municipal Art Commissions and bring the information back to Council at a future workshop.  
• Preliminary 2023 – 2027 Five-Year Plan Review. Council discussed personnel and operating costs for all funds. Revenues are up about 10% higher than projected for 2022. The estimated increase for healthcare is 3% currently. There is no increase in the number of employees from what was budgeted. 
• Opioid Funding Options. The City received $5,705.87 in July 2022 and it is expected to receive a similar amount each year for the next 17 years. Council discussed options for using those proceeds. Council will discuss further at a future workshop on November 15^th.  
• Interconnection Policy for connecting to residential and commercial solar power generate systems to the City’s power grid.  Staff reviewed the current credit process for HPP customers who operate private electric generation systems including solar arrays and storage technologies and the subsequently return surplus energy to the City’s electric grid. We have about 25 customers now. Our costs and credits are simply pass-throughs. We do not make a profit like private electric companies do. Based on the discussion, staff will revise the legislation for the next Council Meeting on November 1^st.

Next Week’s Agenda Items

• Ordinance adopting Guidelines for the use or rental of space at City Hall or other City  property. Third reading.  Council still has many questions and concerns that will lead to further discussion at a future workshop.
• Ordinance establishing Section 243.23 to the Codified Ordinances to adept a monthly transparency in expense report supplied to City Council by the Director of Finance. Third reading. Will be discussed at next week’s meeting.

Executive Session

• Council entered executive to discuss the employment of a public employee.

Meeting Adjourned