Following is a summary of the Tuesday, May 24, 2022 City Council Workshop. To watch the full meeting, visit www.hudson.oh.us/WatchMeetings.
Executive Session
- Council entered executive session to interview applicants for boards and commissions.
Correspondence and Council Comments
- Council recognized Hudson resident Michelle Ward-Ciancio for being named Summit Artspace Champion.
- June 7th, Council will have a proclamation recognizing Hudson resident Ashton Swinford for winning the Woman’s Division of the Cleveland Marathon. With a time of 2:46:46, she was faster than all but four of the male competitors and just over two minutes ahead of the second-place female.
- H.O.M.E. Meeting. Council discussed the H.O.M.E. Meeting held on May 16. Kate Schlademan, Chris Foster, and Acting City Manager Thomas Sheridan represented the City at the meeting that also included members of the School Board, Park Board, and Chamber of Commerce. Members at the meeting discussed the 1927 school building and other H.O.M.E. Committee items including the election of the Chairman who will be Thomas Sheridan. The schools discussed several options they had explored for the future of that building and land. They discussed those options as well as an additional option that the City may want to discuss to partner with the schools to lease the land and share maintenance costs. City representatives indicated they would have to discuss the idea with the whole of Council to see if Council would want to discuss the option. No commitments were made at the meeting. The H.O.M.E. Committee plans to continue to meet quarterly going forward after a long hiatus since 2017.
Discussion Items
- Private Property Storm Water Policy. City Staff provided Council with an update on the City’s Storm Water Policy. City staff presented an outline of discussions with the Ad Hoc Storm Water Committee and a draft update of the policy, which includes work on Council approved private property based on specific criteria set forth in the policy. Not all private property storm water issues would be remedied by the City.
The criteria would consider projects that affect several properties or a larger area, which are beyond what a homeowner could accomplish on their own property, or that are a nuisance, or impact emergency services during a rain event, or if other infrastructure is impacted.
A priority list of projects is being developed based on established criteria. Also being considered is a change to the nuisance Code that would address when one landowner does something to divert storm water onto another landowner’s property. Staff is also looking into the cost of ongoing maintenance when they determine the scope of a proposed project.
Because these projects would cost more than $25,000, each project would come before Council for approval in the future following a design and study. Staff would start the policy in August as part of the Capital Projects Discussion.
- Annual Road Tour. The Engineering Department held its informational road tour for City Council on May 14, 2022, which provided an on-site overview of the 2022 asphalt street maintenance program and other upcoming infrastructure projects. It was an opportunity to discuss road conditions and funding. The current road condition rating is 78, one of best, if not the best in the state. Staff is recommending the City stay in a maintenance mode now, spending at least $2.3 million per year to maintain this standard in Hudson.
- Fiber to Residential Neighborhoods. City staff has been exploring opportunities to provide fiber internet access to all Hudson residents efficiently and at a low cost to the residents. The City VBB staff was informed of a program in Medina County that is currently doing a similar type of project with a private fiber contractor since 2020. To investigate these new opportunities in more detail, staff would like to issue an RFP to gauge the interest of potential firms to fund and build additional residential fiber options throughout the City of Hudson. Council gave staff the direction to move forward with the RFP and staff will return to Council when the RFP is completed and prior to advertisement.
- Flying Flags at City Hall. Discussion requested by Councilwoman Kowalski. She was approached by a resident who asked the City to fly the Pride Flag at City Hall in June for Pride Month. Currently, the City’s informal policy is not to fly any flags, except government flags or governmental group flags, on the City’s public properties. Council discussed the issue and agreed that only government flags should fly on City properties. Staff will come back to Council with a written formal policy at a future meeting in 2022.
- Amending Council Rules Regarding Introduction of Legislation by Council Members. The proposed ordinances intend to clarify the process of the introduction of ordinances and resolutions that are placed on a regular or special City Council meeting agenda for action. Councilman Sutton and Councilwoman Kowalski introduced their individual legislations to be considered by Council. After discussion, Council will put Councilman Sutton’s version on for a first reading on June 7. That version requires any item a Councilmember wishes to place on the agenda to be discussed at a workshop, and if 4 Councilmembers concurred, the item would be placed on legislation on the Council meeting agenda. There is a provision for emergency items that might come up and need an exception to this rule.
Consent Agenda
The consent agenda items were read and had minimal comments from Council. They will appear on the next meeting agenda as consent items.
Legislation
The legislative items were read and had minimal comments from Council. The items will appear on the next meeting agenda.
Future Agendas
Council members asked that the following be placed on future agendas:
- A Proclamation for Hudson resident Ashton Swinford for winning the Woman’s Division of the Cleveland Marathon to appear on the May 7, 2022, agenda.
- Hudson Festival Days Proclamation scheduled for June 7, 2022.
- Councilman Sutton’s legislation amending Council rules regarding introduction of legislation by Councilmembers.
Executive Session
Council entered executive session to discuss the purchase and sale of public property.