Following is a summary of the February 14, 2023 City Council Workshop. To watch the meeting, visit www.hudson.oh.us/WatchMeetings.
Executive Session
- Council entered executive session to interview applicants for the Ward 4 Council open position.
Correspondence and Council Comments
- Council discussed concerns about the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment incident and if the hazardous chemicals would have any impact on Hudson’s air or water. Staff has been monitoring the situation and has reached out to the EPA for more information. Staff will look into water and air quality testing and will be putting out communications to the public this week. Hudson is in a different watershed from Palestine, and our water flows in from the northwest. Right now, according to the Summit County Executive press release, there is no indication that Summit County’s water supply has been impacted by the events in East Palestine. The City has an emergency operations plan that is updated every couple of years which addresses various situations. We are working with EPA and other health officials involved in the E. Palestine incident so we can update our Emergency Operations Plan and learn from their experience.
- EAC met and has developed three focus areas for goals and they would like Council’s approval. The proposed goals will be distributed to Council and discussed at a future workshop.
View the Council Comments Section of the video to see the full discussion.
Discussion Items
- Friends of Hudson Parks presentation on invasive species in the Hudson Park System. The presentation discussed non-native, invasive species that have taken over the natural areas in our parks system. Discussed was the Darrow Road Park Meadow Project that began in 2020 and the new Darrow Road Park Stream Restoration Project scheduled for this year. The Stream restoration will reconnect the ditched stream to the wetlands and restore its natural ecosystem function.
- Hudson Garden Club request to decorate the Clock Tower and Gazebo with flowers in recognition of the 75th Anniversary of the Annual Home and Garden Tour. The City does not generally allow use of these historic structures in this manner and is seeking approval from City Council to honor this request. Hudson Home and Garden Tour is one of the oldest home and garden tours in the country. The Hudson Garden Club also donates money to the City to help with its downtown and parks. Council agreed to allow the decorations for this purpose.
- Proposals received for the Fiber to the Residents Project. City staff met with the Council Ad-Hoc Committee and determined to interview each of the companies that submitted a proposal for the Fiber to the Residents Project. The goal of the project is to provide high-speed fiber service to the residents and to reduce our existing debt in Velocity Broadband.
- Comprehensive Plan survey methods. Council reviewed the Steering Committee’s possible survey methods and agreed that paying for an outside firm to do a statistically valid survey would be appropriate.
Future Agenda Items
- Resolution to thank Dave Lehman for serving on various boards and commissions.
- Resolution to thank Beth Bigham for serving City Council.
Meeting Adjourned