News Flash

Following is a summary of the September 19, 2023, City Council Meeting. To watch the meeting, visit www.hudson.oh.us/WatchMeetings. 

Approval of the Minutes

• Council approved minutes from the September 5, 2023 Meeting and September 12, 2023 Workshop by a vote of 6-1.

Proclamations

• Special Recognition of Constitution Week 2023.

Public Comments

Click on this link to view the Public Comments in their entirety.

• Resident discussed his concerns with what he feels was a rush to permit the temporary storage area for the Ohio Turnpike construction near Stow Road. 

Correspondence and Council Comments

Click on this link to view the Council Comments in their entirety. 

• Council thanked staff for quickly replacing a fire hydrant on Highgate Drive.
• Council welcomed Hudson High School students attending the meeting tonight for their government class.
• The meeting on Friday with Senator Sherrod Brown went well. While it does not appear that we will be able to get the grant money from our initial submission, we may be able to receive funding if we resubmit the grant application.
• The Mayor thanked Martha Marsh for her contribution to Hudson and previously presented her with a certificate making September 15, 2023, Martha Marsh Day.
• The 25th Annual Case-Barlow Farm Fall Harvest Fest was a great success last weekend.
• A local girl scout troop met with the Hudson Community Foundation asking for a matching donation to place a park bench in honor of scouts receiving a Gold Award.  

Report of the City Manager

Click here to view the full discussion.

• Land Development Code Use Allowances for North Main Street. The Land Development Code contains specific text relevant to use allowances for the west side of North Main Street in downtown Hudson. Staff provided an update on the business turnover on Main Street.  Three spaces on Main Street are currently vacant: Fair Trade on Main (owner retired); Winds of Change (businesses have shown interest, building owner doesn’t think there will be an issue re-leasing that space); Main Street Cupcakes (vacant for some time, most changing to fill due to interior layout of store).

Others that appear vacant now, but will be filled soon include The Grey Colt (new business is coming and will be announced soon -- only vacant a month.); Peachtree (Revival Room new concept bar and restaurant scheduled to open later this month); Ohio Organics (has been re-leased to a business for some time but the business owners are opening another location first and plan to open their Hudson location following that); All Brides Beautiful (announced their closure soon -- has been good interest from businesses wanting to lease that space.)

Downtown vacancies have been turning over relatively quickly, usually within only a few months. The exception is 134 Main Street that seems to be the decision of the property owner, as there has been interest in this space. 

The rental cost for Main Street and First and Main properties are a few dollars more than those located off Main Street. Rental costs fell in line with other peer communities, and slightly below Pinecrest. 

Staff will research changes to the code to allow businesses on North Main to apply for a variance in restricted form to help make more difficult locations be filled. Staff will report back to Council with draft text.  

• Ohio Turnpike Staging Area Update. Staff provided background on the permit approval process. Staff will come back to Council with information for a discussion on adjusting requirements in the Land Development Code in the future. 
• Inflation Reduction Act – Solar for All Program. As a follow up to previous discussions, staff confirmed that we would not be a qualifying community, but we still could connect qualifying residents with the program.
• 2022 Audit. Audit of last year’s finances came back clean with no citations. 

Appointments

• None.

Consent Agenda

Council passed the consent agenda by a vote of 6-0. 

• Motion to acknowledge timely receipt of August 2023 Monthly Financial Report.
• Resolution to advertise for bids and enter into a contract for the City Hall Board Room A/V project. Direction from the Council retreat. 
• Resolution to retroactively authorize the application to the Ohio Department of Commerce Cemetery Grant Program and accepting the award.
• Resolution to accept American Rescue Plan Act First Responder Wellness, Recruitment, Retention & Resiliency funding and to provide retention bonuses for eligible members of the Hudson Emergency Medical Services.
• Resolution to enter into a license agreement for a dumpster enclosure on City land behind the Main Street stores. Council expressed concerns about adding more dumpsters and directed staff to move to legislation for three readings for further discussion. 
• Resolution to enter into a professional services contract with GAI Consultants for the design of the SR 303 Sidewalk Improvement Project from Hudson Crossing to Nicholson Drive.
• Resolution to increase the project cost to bid and award the Middleton Road Sidewalk Phase 2 Project in the amount of $1,568,016. Reword to show actual increase.
• Resolution to advertise for bids and enter into a contract for replacing the retaining wall at Edgeview Drive and SR 91.
• Resolution to apply for Federal Surface Transportation Block Grant Program Funds, Resurfacing Program Funds, and Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Funding by the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study to construct various projects.
• Resolution to make a joint application with the City of Stow for Federal Surface Transportation Block Grant Program Funds, Resurfacing Program Funds, and Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Funding by the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study for the Norton Road Reconstruction Project and Veterans Trail Rails to Trail Project.

Legislation

• Ordinance amending Title Four-Utilities, Chapter 1040 “Water Wells Prohibited Where Municipal Water Service Available: Exceptions.” Second reading.
• Resolution to enter into an agreement with the City of Cleveland for an extension of a waterline along Chittenden Road in the Village of Boston Heights. First reading.
• Ordinance for the issue and sale of $740,000 of taxable economic development nontax revenue bond anticipation notes, for the purpose of paying costs of acquiring approximately 4 acres of real property near the southwest corner of Owen Brown Street and Morse Road. First reading.
• Ordinance to issue and sell $925,000 of taxable economic development not tax revenue bond anticipation notes for paying costs of acquiring approximately 1 acre of real property located at 94 Owen Brown Street for sale or lease for private redevelopment. First reading.
• Ordinance to issue and sell $1,400,000 of notes for the costs of constructing, furnishing, and equipping a new clubhouse at Ellsworth Meadows Golf Club. First reading.
• Ordinance to issue and sell $7,500,000 of notes to pay the costs of improving City-owned property  at 5810 Hudson drive the constructing, furnishing, equipping, and improving a new salt storage facility and new bus maintenance facility. First reading.
• Ordinance to issue and sell $1,900,000 of notes to pay costs of acquiring real property on Hudson Drive to provide a public works facility. First reading.
• Ordinance to issue and sell $1,750,000 of notes to pay costs of improving the City’s recreational facilities by installing and improving a multipurpose trail along Boston Mills Road between Timberline Trail and Lake Forest Drive. First reading.
• Ordinance to issue and sell $1,000,000 of notes to pay costs of improving the City’s recreational facilities by installing and improving a multipurpose trail along Valley View Road between SR 91 and Hunting Hollow Drive and continuing on Hunting Hollow to Prospect Road. First reading.

Executive Session

• Council entered executive session to consider the purchase of property for public purposes.

Meeting Adjourned