* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:02] OKAY, I WILL CALL THE [CALL TO ORDER] REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MONDAY, FEBRUARY THE FIFTH, 2024 TO ORDER. JENNY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE VICE MAYOR LUDO? HERE. MAYOR AROSE GROOMS. HERE. MS. ROSA. HERE. MS. FOX. HERE. MS. KEELER? HERE. MS. CRA. HERE I'LL MAKE A MOTION [ADJOURNMENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION] THAT WE ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSIDER THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES TO CONSIDER CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION RELATED TO A REQUEST FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE THAT INVOLVES PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE DIRECTLY RE RELATED TO AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN WHICH EXECUTIVE SESSION IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE POSSIBLE INVESTMENT OR EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS TO BE MADE IN CONNECTION WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AND PREPARING FOR CONDUCTING OR REVIEWING NEGOTIATIONS OF BARGAINING SESSIONS WITH PUBLIC EMPLOYEES CONCERNING THEIR COMPENSATION OR OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT AND CONFERENCE WITH AN ATTORNEY FOR THE PUBLIC BODY CONCERNING DISPUTES INVOLVING THE PUBLIC BODY THAT ARE SUBJECT TO PENDING OR IMMINENT COURT ACTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. THANK YOU. JENNY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MS. FOX? YES. MS. OSA? YES. MR. KEELER? YES. MS. CRAM? YES. MAYOR AROSE GROOMS? YES. VICE MAYOR LUDO? YES. OKAY. THIS MEETING WILL, UM, BE RECONVENED AT 7:00 PM AT THIS LOCATION. THANK YOU. OKAY. UH, [RECONVENE (7 P.M.)] IT IS NOW INDEED SEVEN O'CLOCK. WE WILL RESUME THE MONDAY FEBRUARY 5TH REGULAR DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE CRAIG LABELLE FORWARD TO PLEASE COME AND LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. WELL, THANK YOU AND WELCOME. UH, AT THIS POINT IN [SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS/RECOGNITION] TIME, I'D LIKE TO INVITE ALLISON LAROI UP, UH, FOR A SPECIAL PRESENTATION. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. IT'S WEIRD TO BE ON THIS SIDE. . UM, EARLY LAST YEAR, NFL PLAYER DEMAR HAMLIN WENT INTO SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST AT THE AGE OF 24 ON A MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL GAME. AND A FEW MONTHS LATER, LEBRON JAMES, 18 YEAR OLD'S SON EXCI, EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR MEDICAL EMERGENCY. THESE HIGH PROFILE INCIDENTS SHED LIGHT ON THE OVER 356,000 SUDDEN CARDIAC ARRESTS THAT OCCUR IN THE UNITED STATES. EACH YEAR. OF THAT NUMBER 2000 YOUNG SEEMINGLY HEALTHY PEOPLE UNDER AGE 25 DO NOT SURVIVE WITH A SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST EVENT. THE QUICK USE OF AN AUTOMATIC EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR, AN A ED AND CPR, CAN DOUBLE THE CHANCES OF SURVIVAL FOR EVERY MINUTE THAT PASSES. WITHOUT CPR AND A ED, THE VICTIM'S, UM, CHANCE OF SURVIVAL DECREASES BY SEVEN TO 10% BASED ON THESE STATISTICS. LAST YEAR, CITY STAFF LED BY EVENT ADMINISTRATOR LORI GISEL, WHO'S WITH US TONIGHT, CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON BRINGING AEDS INTO DUBLIN PARKS. THE CITY HAS NOW PURCHASED SEVEN OUTDOOR AEDS, TOTALING JUST OVER $25,000. THE PURCHASE WAS FUNDED THROUGH THE CITY OF DUBLIN, WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, AND THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT AWARDED BY THE EDEN SHRINERS, THE WEATHERPROOF A ED CABINETS ARE EQUIPPED WITH LIGHTS, SIRENS, A HEATING UNIT, AND WIFI ENABLED ALERT SYSTEM. SO WHILE WE HOPE THAT WE NEVER HAVE TO USE THESE LIFESAVING DEVICES, THEY WILL ALWAYS BE READY SHOULD WE NEED THEM. INSTA INSTALLATION HAS ALREADY BEGUN. WE HAVE MORE THAN HALF OF 'EM ALREADY INSTALLED IN OUR PARKS, AND THEY WILL ALL BE DONE BEFORE THE START OF THE SPRING SPORTS SEASON. THEY ARE IN RIVERSIDE CROSSING PARK, DARI FIELDS. IT'S IN FRONT OF THE JUSTICE CENTER NEAR THE PICKLEBALL COURTS AND THE SKATE PARK, AVERY PARK, EMERALD FIELDS, AND KAUFMAN PARK. TONIGHT, WE'D LIKE TO THANK OUR GENEROUS PARTNERS THAT HELPED MAKE THIS PROJECT POSSIBLE. AND JUST A BIT LATER, MAYOR EMER GROOMS WILL PRESENT A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING AMERICAN HEART MONTH IN THE CITY OF, OF, OF DUBLIN. TONIGHT, WE HAVE WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP REPRESENTED BY TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATOR ERIC RICHTER, WHO'S HERE, ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF JOHN DONAHUE, EMS MANAGER KEVIN MCDOWELL, AND REPRESENTING THE ALADDIN SHRIN. SHRINERS IS CRAIG LOBDELL, WHO WAS UP HERE BEFORE. SO IF YOU GUYS COULD JOIN US AND THANK YOU. AND GOOD EVENING. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE, UH, TODAY AND CERTAINLY A PLEASURE TO, UH, UH, RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO GET THE AEDS INTO OUR, UH, CITY PARKS, UH, AS WE ALL SAW THAT UNFORTUNATE, UH, BUT ALSO FORTUNATE, UH, MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL GAME, WE SAW THAT, UH, BUFFALO BILLS LAMAR HAMILTON, UH, GO DOWN. UH, I'M PROUD TO ALSO SAY, UH, THE OUTSTANDING [00:05:01] JOB THAT WE HAVE DONE HERE IN, UH, THE DUBLIN COMMUNITY, INCLUDING WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, UH, WITH OUR PARAMEDICS AND THE DEFIBRILLATORS AND, UH, PACERS, UH, PACING MACHINES THAT WE HAVE ON OUR PARAMEDICS. UH, WE HAVE SEEN, UH, 30% RETURN, UH, SPONTANEOUS, UH, CIRCULATION AS A RESULT OF DEFIBRILLATION EARLY CPR. AND WHEN I TALK ABOUT THAT RETURN OF SPONTANEOUS CIRCULATION, THOSE PATIENTS ARE ALSO, UH, WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO LEAVE THE HOSPITAL AS WELL. UH, SO THAT'S TRULY, UH, A TRUE PARTNERSHIP, UH, AND TEACHING CPR AS WE DO AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, IN HERE IN DUBLIN. SO, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU. CERTAINLY LIKE TO THANK OUR PARTNERS, UH, WITH THE PARKS, UH, IN APPROACHING US WITH THIS, UH, PROGRAM. AND ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE SHRINERS FOR AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND, UH, RECEIVING AND ALLOWING US TO APPLY FOR THIS, UH, AWARD. AND, UH, GRANT, THANK YOU. YEAH. EVERY YEAR, UM, WE HAVE A SOCIETY GROUP, UM, THAT BELONGS TO THE LAD AND SHRINE. IT'S CALLED AHA, WHICH STANDS FOR THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION. AND, UH, WE HAVE FUNDS THAT WE CAN DISPERSE ON A YEARLY BASIS. AND IT WAS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO AWARD SOME OF THAT MONEY TO THE WASHINGTON CORN, UH, WASHINGTON COUNTY, UH, FIRE STATION, UH, CHIEF AND THE ASSISTANT CHIEF. SO WHEN WE HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY, I THOUGHT, WELL, THEY'RE RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM ME. I'M GONNA CHECK IT OUT AND SEE IF THEY COULD USE THIS MONEY. AND THEY USED IT, AND WERE VERY HAPPY AND VERY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO, UH, TO SPONSOR THAT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION AND I'LL, I WILL READ IT BRIEFLY HERE, PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST IS THE THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE US WITH APPROXIMATELY 356,000 PEOPLE OF ALL AGES EXPERIENCING SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST EACH YEAR. AND WHEREAS MORE THAN 15% OF OUT OF HOSPITAL CARDIAC ARRESTS OCCUR IN A PUBLIC LOCATION. AND WHEREAS PUBLIC ACCESS TO AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS OR AEDS AND COMMUNITY TRAINING CAN PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN EARLY DEFIBRILLATION. AND WHEREAS WHEN A VICTIM IS TREATED WITH BOTH CARDIOPULMONARY RECITATION AND AN A ED, THE CHANCES FOR SURVIVAL ARE DOUBLED. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF DUBLIN IS GRATEFUL FOR THE STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH WA, WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND THE ALADDIN SHRINERS, AND TOGETHER WITH THREE, THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE COMMUNITY'S HEALTH AND SAFETY. AND WHEREAS SEVEN NEW AEDS WERE RECENTLY PURCHASED FOR INSTALLATION IN CITY PARKS, WHICH ARE UTILIZED BY MORE THAN 30,000 CHILDREN AND ADULTS ANNUALLY, MEANING THAT THESE DEVICES COULD HELP SAVE LIVES SHOULD AN EMERGENCY OCCUR. AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL HEART, LUNG AND BLOOD INSTITUTE RECOGNIZES THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY AS AMERICAN HEART MONTH NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHRIS AROSE GROOM'S MAYOR ON BEHALF OF DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY AS AMERICAN HEART MONTH IN THE CITY OF DUBLIN, AND CALL UPON ALL CITIZENS TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES ON BASIC LIFE SAVING TECHNIQUES AND THE LOCATIONS OF AEDS IN PUBLIC SPACES. SO THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK, UH, NEXT WE WILL HAVE AN UPDATE FROM VISIT DUBLIN AND SCOTT DRINK, IF YOU COULD, IF YOU COULD PRESS YOUR LITTLE BUTTON THERE. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. UH, MY NAME IS DAVE SCUDI. I'M NOT SCOTT DRINK, BUT I AM PLEASURE TO BE HERE TONIGHT. I WELCOME HIM AS WELL. UM, I SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR VISIT DUBLIN, AND WE HAVE 15 VOTING MEMBERS. WE ALSO HAVE SEVEN EX OFFICIOS. AND OUR ROLE, OF COURSE, IS TO WATCH OVER THE AFFAIRS OF VISIT DUBLIN. AND UH, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A, THAT'S A BIG CHALLENGE AT TIMES WITH SOME OF THE THINGS WE DO, ALL THE GREAT PROJECTS WE HAVE. BUT, UH, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE A, A, A GREAT LEADER IN SCOTT DRE. AND I'M HERE JUST TO INTRODUCE SCOTT. UM, ACTUALLY HE STARTED WHEN IT WAS CALLED THE DUBLIN CONVENTION AND VISITOR BUREAU BACK IN 2001. SO IF WE DO OUR MATH RIGHT, 23 YEARS, SCOTT DRE HAS BEEN WITH THIS ORGANIZATION. [00:10:01] HE GIVES US GREAT LEADERSHIP, UH, VERY WELL CONNECTED IN THE STATE OF OHIO AND REGIONALLY AS WELL. SO HE GIVES US A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF GET AHEAD OF THE GAME A LITTLE BIT. HE'S ON TOP OF IT. HE'S GOT OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TOURISM AND TRAVEL INDUSTRY. SO, UH, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE AND I THINK, UH, AS YOU WELL KNOW, HE WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH CITY STAFF AS WELL. SO I'M HERE TO INTRODUCE SCOTT, AND HE'S GONNA GIVE YOU YOUR PROGRESS UPDATE HERE FOR THIS QUARTER. THANK YOU. THANKS, DAVE. I THINK HE JUST CALLED ME OLD, BUT I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT. UM, BRING THAT UP. OH, JUST HIT A BUTTON. THERE WE GO. MY BAD. ALL RIGHT, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY. APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. A QUICK UPDATE ON LAST YEAR. UH, A COUPLE NUMBERS. UH, BED TAX, OBVIOUSLY WE DID VERY WELL. UP 10%. UH, THE FIRST TIME I CAN SAY IT, I'M GLAD TO SAY THAT WE REACHED 2019 PRE COVID LEVELS, SO I'M NEVER EVER GONNA COMPARE BED TECHS AGAIN TO 2019. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. OCCUPANCY WAS 62%. UM, TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE PER, IT WAS UP 7%, BUT IF YOU GET A PERSPECTIVE OF 2019, IT WAS 71%. SO WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO ON OCCUPANCY. UM, YOU CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW COULD WE BE DOWN SO SUBSTANTIALLY IN OCCUPANCY, BUT YET BE UP ON BED TECHS BECAUSE THE HOTEL RATE, UM, PEOPLE AND VISITORS AND DOUBLED PAID MORE FOR A HOTEL ROOM THAN THEY HAVE IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY. $123 AND RESTAURANT SALES, UM, DID VERY WELL. AGAIN, ABOUT 5% CONSIDERING, UM, THE FOOD COSTS AND INFLATION AND SUCH. UM, IT WENT VERY WELL. UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE METRICS ARE GREAT, UM, BUT IT ALWAYS GIVES ME A NARROW VIEW OF THE PERSPECTIVE, THE BENEFIT THAT VISITORS HAVE IN THE CITY OF DELMAN. THESE ARE JUST HOTEL METRICS THAT WE HAVE. IT'S SO MUCH MORE BROADER, IMPACTFUL, THE ECONOMY THAT WHEN THE VISITORS COME HERE, WHEN VISITORS COME HERE, OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE, THEY'RE DUMPING MORE MONEY IN THE RESTAURANT, RESTAURANT SHOPS, RETAIL, ECONOMIC, THE WHOLE TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT ECONOMICS AS WELL. IF YOU TALK TO CRAIG BARNUM OR, UH, CAMERON MITCH, OR EVEN IAN MONTGOMERY, THEY'LL TELL YOU THAT THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH DOUBLING SU UH, DEMAND HERE BY RESIDENTS. WE HAVE TO HAVE VISITORS TO COME IN HERE TO, TO PROVIDE MORE IMPACT AND MORE SUBSTANTIAL SUCCESS FOR THE RESTAURANTS AS WELL, AND THE WHOLE ECONOMY. A COUPLE, UH, HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE SEVERAL, UM, ORGANIZATIONAL METRICS THAT WE USE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THESE ARE JUST A HANDFUL, UM, THAT WE HAD SUCCESS IN LAST YEAR. RECORDS, UH, THE 50 MILLION IMPRESSIONS, THOSE ARE THE NATIONAL MEDIA THAT YOU SAW IN MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, BLOGS, ET CETERA, ALL OVER THE WORLD. UM, BUSINESS LEADS AND THE REGIONAL CAMPAIGN, AGAIN, THAT'S A CAMPAIGN THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE SUPPORTED US OVER THE YEARS. UH, 15, 2 MILLION IMPRESSIONS. HERE'S A LITTLE GRAPH. UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE, UH, UH, LINES, BY THE WAY, WE ARE NOT GEOGRAPHICALLY CHALLENGED. THOSE ACTUALLY ARE CALLED DMAS. THEY'RE NOT DIVIDED BY STATES. UH, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE DMA, THAT DETROIT, INDIANAPOLIS, PITTSBURGH, ALL VERY, VERY STRONG MARKETS FORCE IN TERMS OF IMPRESSIONS. UH, WE'LL BE DOING THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR. IT'LL GO FROM MAY THROUGH AUGUST. UH, IT'LL BE VERY STRONG. WE ALSO DO A HOLIDAY RUN AS WELL. ONE OF THE METRICS THAT I THINK IS THE COOLEST, AND WE DON'T, IT'S VERY UNSCIENTIFIC, UM, BUT IT'S SOMETHING I REALLY LIKE. IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE ONES, IS WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY THE DUBLIN VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER DOWNSTAIRS, UM, IN HISTORIC DUBLIN. IT'S UNSTAFFED, IT'S OPEN 365 DAYS A YEAR. IT'S, WE HAVE A LITTLE LOGIN BOOK, BUT PEOPLE JUST COME IN THERE AND SIGN IT. UM, NOT FORCING 'EM TO DO IT. AND PEOPLE LAST YEAR SIGNED IN FOR 47 STATES AND 13 COUNTRIES. THOSE ARE JUST PEOPLE THAT HAPPEN TO WRITE ABOUT. SO WHEN I HEAR ALL OF YOU TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A GLOBAL CITY, UM, TO ME, WE'RE ALREADY THERE. I MEAN, THIS SAYS THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY JUST COMING IN TO SIGN A, A CASUAL LOG BOOK AND OUR VISITOR CENTER. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. UM, SO THAT'S ENOUGH OF THE PAST. LET'S LOOK IN THE FUTURE. A COUPLE INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE GOING ON THIS YEAR. I WANNA TALK ABOUT HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT FOR A MINUTE. UH, WE HAVE A COUPLE THINGS GOING ON THAT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT. WE ARE WORKING WITH HISTORIC DE THE HISTORIC SOCIETY, UM, UH, ON A NEW WALKING MAP. UM, THAT'LL BE USED BY RESIDENTS, BY VISITORS, BY SCHOOL GROUPS. THAT'LL GIVE THEM A LOT OF HISTORY. WORK WITH MIKE AND CLAY AND TOM AND, AND AMY AS WELL ON THAT. UM, I THINK COUNCILWOMAN CRAM MENTIONED LAST WEEK ABOUT THE NEW MUSEUM THAT IS GOING ON 35 SOUTH HIGH. WE'RE REAL EXCITED ABOUT THAT. UM, WORKING WITH THEM, ANTHONY, WE CAN TO KIND OF PROMOTE THAT, THAT'LL GET MORE PEOPLE ON THAT SIDE. THAT'S ONE OF BEEN OUR GOALS OVER THE YEARS, IS TRY TO GET MORE VIBRANCY ON THAT SIDE OF, OF SOUTH HIGH STREET. UM, AND I THINK WITH THAT GOING ON THERE, UM, WE, WE ACTUALLY HAD, UM, A HOLIDAY CRAWL, UH, BACK IN DECEMBER. WE WERE TALKING TO MISSING JIMMY'S GROUP AND THEY SAID THAT THAT NIGHT OF THE CRAWL WAS THE HIGHEST, UH, REVENUE SALES THEY HAD SINCE THEY'VE BEEN THERE IN TWO YEARS. SO, UM, I THINK THE MORE WE PUSH PEOPLE THAT WAY, THE BETTER. UM, I THINK ALSO THE, THE, UM, FERRY DOOR TRAIL, UH, THIS YEAR WE'LL HIT OUR 10000TH CUSTOMER WITH THAT. UM, AND AGAIN, IT'S UNIQUE. IT'S KIND OF QUIRKY, BUT IT'S DRIVING ECONOMIC IMPACTS. IT'S DRIVING PEOPLE INTO THOSE STORES, THOSE [00:15:01] RETAIL STORES GENERATING MONEY, UM, RAISING AWARENESS AND SUCH. SO WE'RE, WE'RE HUGE. ALWAYS BEEN HUGE ADVOCATES. HAVE HISTORIC DUBLIN. UM, WE'VE BEEN THERE SINCE 1988. IT'S IN MY HOME, AWAY FROM HOME FOR 20 SOMETHING YEARS. SO, UM, WE'RE FULLY COMMITTED AND REALLY LOVE THAT AREA AS WELL. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THERE'S AN ECLIPSE COMING. UM, IT'LL BE APRIL 8TH. UM, THERE YOU GO. VERY STYLISH. MAYOR GROOMS. I LIKE IT. UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR ABOUT A YEAR OR SO. UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S, WE HAVE A, A WEBSITE, WE HAVE A PACKAGE GOING ON. OTHER THINGS GOING ON JUST KIND OF RAISE AWARENESS. IT'S, IT'S, I THINK IT'S ON A, A MONDAY. SO SUNDAY NIGHT IS, IS A TIME OF NEED FOR OUR HOTELS. SO WE HAVE THAT GOING ON. WE HAVE A KIND OF VIP UH, VIEWING OPPORTUNITY AS WELL. UM, AND I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW MANY PEOPLE WE'RE GONNA HAVE IN TOWN. I THINK IT'S GONNA BE PRETTY, PRETTY POPULAR. BUT I THINK JUST THE AWARENESS OF PUTTING DUBLIN AGAIN ON THE PLATFORM OF GIVING US AN A AWARE, AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE DUBLIN ON THE INTERNATIONAL NATIONAL STAGE IS, IS A, A REASON WE'VE BEEN DOING IT AS WELL. I DUNNO IF YOU CAN SEE THIS, BUT THIS IS A, A JUST A GLIMPSE OF WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE'RE IN THE PATH OF TOTALITY. I LIKE THIS GRAPH 'CAUSE IT SHOWS YOU WHERE WE ARE. AND IT'S, IT'S CRAZY TO THINK THAT DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS IS NOT IN THE PATH OF TOTALITY, BUT WE ARE JUST THE WAY THE ECLIPSE IS. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'LL BE PEOPLE FROM DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS, I'M SURE COMING OUR WAY JUST TO, TO SEE THE ECLIPSE AS WELL. I SHOULD HAVE LINDSAY COME UP HERE WITH ME, BUT I WON'T MAKE YOU GET OUTTA YOUR SEAT. 'CAUSE THIS IS REALLY A JOINT ANNOUNCEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND VISIT DUBLIN. UH, WE'RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE. WE'VE, WE'VE LAUNCHED OUR FIRST ONLINE MERCHANDISE STORE, UM, CALLED EVERYTHING DUBLIN, AND YOU GUYS ARE THE VERY FIRST TO, UM, ENJOY THE, THE SHIRTS. SO, UM, UH, ENJOY THOSE. UH, IT'S SOMETHING I THINK WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR YEARS. YOU'VE SEEN TREMENDOUS DEMAND FROM VISITORS, UH, ON ASKING US YEAR AFTER YEAR. AND WE SAID, FINALLY, LET'S DO SOMETHING. UH, LINDSAY AND JEREMY AND BRUCE AND THE WHOLE TEAM, THEY DID A LOT OF THE LIFTING ON THIS AND THE GREAT DESIGNS. THE STORE ITSELF, WHICH OPENED IN A COUPLE WEEKS. WE'LL HAVE LOTS OF APPAR, A LOT OF OTHER STUFF AS WELL TO BUY. THAT'S THE FIRST STEP. I THINK OUR LONG RANGE GOAL IS TO REALLY HAVE KIND OF A, AN ONSITE PLACE WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE SOMEONE BUY STUFF AND MOVE ON. BUT THAT, I THINK THAT'S DOWN THE ROAD. SO WE'RE EXCITED TO LAUNCH THAT. WE TALKED LAST TIME ABOUT OUR TRAVEL AND TOURISM ACADEMY. UH, YOU KNOW, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN A HUGE EFFORT CHALLENGE FOR US OVER THE YEARS. UM, AND WE PARTNERED WITH DUBLIN CITY SCHOOLS TO REALLY BEGIN TO KIND OF CHANGE THE DYNAMICS OF GETTING PEOPLE TO REALLY BE EXCITED ABOUT THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY. UM, THERE'S MORE THAN JUST BEING A SERVER. A COOK PROVIDES LOTS OF OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. SO, UH, THE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN GREAT. THE SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED THAT A COUPLE MONTHS AGO. THAT'LL START IN THE FALL, UM, FOR JUNIORS AND SENIORS. AND I'LL BE REALLY HANDS-ON STUFF TOO. IT WON'T JUST BE IN CLASSROOMS, IT'LL BE AT RESTAURANTS. IT'LL BE AT ATTRACTIONS AT HOTELS AND LEARN FIRSTHAND ABOUT THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY. UH, WE HAVE NOT BEEN HERE, I BELIEVE, SINCE UH, YOU GUYS APPROVED YOUR MA UH, PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN AND YOUR CIPI GUESS AGAIN, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS ON THAT. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT, UM, THE, THE POSSIBILITIES OF DARY FIELDS. UM, IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT AMENITY FOR, FOR RESIDENTS AND IT'S GONNA BE A TRUE ECONOMIC IMPACT GENERATOR FOR THE CITY AS WELL. AND WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED TO MEGAN, OUR BOARD HAS, WE, WE'RE NOT DONE HELPING. WE BELIEVE WE WANT TO BE A RESOURCE FOR ALL OF YOU. UM, YOU CAN'T FLIP THE BILL FOR THIS WHOLE THING. I THINK THERE'S TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO HELP WITH THESE FIELDS. WE'RE, WE'RE WILLING TO HELP IN ANY WAY WE CAN, UM, IN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS. WHEN THAT, WHEN THAT HAPPENS, UH, ONE OF OUR LONG RANGE GOALS AND OUR STRATEGIC PLAN IS TO BE A BETTER ACCESSIBLE, UM, COMMUNITY. UM, WE'RE WORKING WITH AN, UH, COMPANY CALLED WHEEL THE WORLD, UM, WHICH, UH, THEY ARE HELPING US KIND OF GUIDE US AS ONE OF OUR LONG RANGE GOALS. UM, THEY SAY WHAT 15% OF THE US POPULATION, UM, HAS SOME KIND OF ACCESSIBILITY DISABILITY RIGHT NOW THAT'S GONNA GROW TO 25% IN THE NEXT 10 TO 15 YEARS. SO WE WANT TO BE THERE AND ABLE AND BE A WELCOMING COMMUNITY AS BEST WE CAN, UM, TO GET READY FOR THAT. AND THEN FINALLY, LOOKING WAY DOWN THE ROAD, UM, ALL THESE THINGS ARE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT INTEL, OBVIOUSLY HONDA, EXCUSE ME, HONDA BEING HUGE. AMTRAK, THE THREE C AND D, UM, PASSENGER RAIL. AND OF COURSE LAST WEEK WE ATTENDED YOUR METRO CENTER, UM, UH, EVENT AS WELL. THE REVITALIZATION, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO US. I MEAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE SEVEN OF OUR 18 HOTELS ARE IN METRO CENTER, SO THERE'S ALREADY BUILT AN AUDIENCE RIGHT THERE. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY. GREAT, THANK YOU SCOTT. YEP. QUESTIONS FOR SCOTT? YEAH. UM, FIRST, THANKS SO MUCH. I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO THESE PRESENTATIONS 'CAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW AND WE THANK YOU. UM, THE REGIONAL CAMPAIGNS THAT WE'VE DONE. YEP. GREAT SUCCESS IN THOSE REGIONS. THOUGHTS ABOUT OTHER REGIONS, MORE FOCUS ON THOSE REGIONS. JUST CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT 2024 IS GONNA LOOK LIKE. YEAH, 20, WE'RE STILL GONNA, WE'RE SICK WITH DETROIT, UM, PITTSBURGH, INDIANAPOLIS AND CINCINNATI CLEVELAND. UM, OVER THE YEARS WE, WE'VE DABBLED IN LEXINGTON, UH, LOUISVILLE ONE YEAR WE [00:20:01] WENT TO CHICAGO, BUT IT'S SO EXPENSIVE, UM, TO GO TO THOSE LARGER MARKETS. SO IT'S REALLY THE DRIVE YOU KIND OF DRAW A A THREE HOUR CIRCLE AROUND DUBLIN DRIED MARKET, TARGETING THE FAMILIES. THAT'S REALLY OUR BREAD AND BUTTER. UM, IF WE REALLY DO THAT NOW, YOU KNOW, IF WE GET INTO FLY MARKET AND MAYBE GO TO DC THAT'S, UH, DOWN THE ROAD, WE JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST, BIGGEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK. BUT REALLY FOR THE DRIED MARKET, THAT'S REALLY KIND OF THE CIRCLE THAT WE TRY TO KEEP OUR, OUR MARKETING EFFORTS IN. YEAH. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR SCOTT? WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU. REALLY APPRECIATE THE UPDATE. YEAH, APPRECIATE. THANK YOU. OKAY, THIS BRINGS US TO THE CITIZEN COMMENTS PORTION OF OUR AGENDA. ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA MAY ADDRESS COUNSEL. UM, SO IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT EITHER IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS COUNSEL THIS EVENING? HEARING NONE, WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT [CONSENT AGENDA] AGENDA. IS THERE A REQUEST TO REMOVE ANY ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? IT CONSISTS OF THE JANUARY 22ND, 29TH MEETING MINUTES. ANY APPLICATION FOR PLACEMENT OF FARMLAND IN AN AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT? HEARING NONE. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? I WILL MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. THANK YOU. IN A SECOND. SECOND. THANK YOU. JENNY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MS. CRAM? YES. MAYOR AROSE GROOMS? YES. MS. FOX? YES. VICE MAYOR. A LUDO? YES. MS. JOSA? YES. MR. KEELER? YES. VERY GOOD, THANK YOU. THIS BRINGS US TO INTRODUCTIONS, [Resolution 01-24] PUBLIC HEARING, UH, RESOLUTION ZERO ONE DASH 24 FIRST OF THE YEAR, ACCEPTING THE LOWEST AND BEST BID FOR THE RIVER FOREST STORM AND ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT. I'LL DO SO. THANK YOU. AND OUR STAFF REPORT THIS EVENING WILL BE FROM BRIAN GABLE. GOOD EVENING. MEMBERS OF COUNCIL STAFF CONDUCTED A COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS FOR THE RIVER FOREST STORM AND ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, WHICH IS WITHIN THE RIVER FOREST SUBDIVISION LOCATED SOUTH OF MEMORIAL DRIVE AND WEST OF DUBLIN ROAD. THE PROJECT INCLUDES THE REHABILITATION OF ROADWAYS, DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS TO ALLEVIATE ROADWAY AND ROADSIDE FLOODING AND THE, EXCUSE ME, AND REST RES RESTORING THE PROPER FLOW OF ROADSIDE DITCHES WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY. THE 2023 THROUGH 2027 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM INCLUDED $1.6 MILLION FOR THE RIVER FOREST STORM AND ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT. SHOULD COUNSEL APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION, UH, THIS EVENING. AN APPROPRIATION TO FUND THIS CONTRACT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE FIRST QUARTER. SUPPLEMENTAL TO BE CONSIDERED BY COUNCIL ON JANUARY 16TH, 2024. TWO BIDS WERE RECEIVED AND PUBLICLY OPENED. STRAWSER PAVING COMPANY INCORPORATED SUBMITTED THE LOWEST AND BEST BID OF $2,155,198 AND 60 CENTS, WHICH WAS 0.01% OVER THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE OF 2,150,000. THIS BID IS NEARLY A HALF MILLION DOLLARS LOWER THAN THE BID RECEIVED IN JUNE OF 2023 WHEN THE PROJECT WAS INITIALLY ADVERTISED. CONSTRUCTION ON, UH, THE CURRENT BID IS EXPECTED TO COMMENCE IN THE SPRING OF THIS YEAR AND BE COMPLETE BY OCTOBER OF 2024. STAFF RECOMMENDS COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THIS RESOLUTION ACCEPTING AS LOWEST AND BEST. THE BID OF STRAWS ARE PAVING COMPANY INCORPORATED IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,155,198 AND 60 CENTS FOR THIS PROJECT. I'D BE GLAD TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS COUNSEL MAY HAVE REGARDING THIS RESOLUTION. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. BRIAN. AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IF THERE'S ANYONE PRESENT THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK RELATIVE TO THIS LEGISLATION? YES SIR. PLEASE, IF YOU'LL COME TO THE PODIUM HERE, PRESS THE BUTTON TILL YOUR GREEN LIGHT COMES ON AND SHARE WITH US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. IS THAT IT? YOU DID IT. THERE YOU GO. ALRIGHT. NAME'S TIM SOAK. I WAS PAST PRESIDENT OF THE RIVER FOREST CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND LIVED THERE ON THE CORNER OF DUBLIN AND IN ASHFORD SINCE BROKE, GONE 1980. SO, UH, AND WE'RE ALL REALLY, THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD IS JUST REALLY, REALLY EXCITED AND HAPPY, UH, THAT THIS GOT, THIS WAS ABLE TO GET DONE AND GET STARTED. UH, WE'VE BEEN WAITING A REALLY, REALLY LONG TIME FOR THIS AND, UH, I JUST WANT ON BEHALF OF THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD RIVER FOREST, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND, UH, WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING STARTED. GREAT. GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK RELATIVE TO THIS LEGISLATION? HEARING NONE COUNCIL QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION. YOU KNOW WHAT, WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE. I, AS YOU SAID, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME. UM, WE CERTAINLY DO APPRECIATE THE PATIENCE AND CERTAINLY THE CITY, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE NEARLY HALF A MILLION TAXPAYER DOLLARS. SO, UM, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A, A GREAT RESULT THERE AS WELL. OKAY. IF THERE'S NOTHING FURTHER, JENNY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE? MS. OSA? YES. MR. KEELER? YES. VICE MAYOR LUDO? YES. MS. CRAM? YES. MS. FOX? YES. MAYOR AROSE [00:25:01] GROOMS? YES. OKAY. RESOLUTION ZERO TWO DASH OH . WOW. I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE'S EVER BROUGHT A SIGN TO CITY COUNCIL BEFORE THAT SAYS YAHOO, SO THANK YOU. THAT'S VERY KIND. [Resolution 02-24] OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION ZERO TWO DASH 24, ACCEPTING THE LOWEST AND BEST BID FOR THE 4 1 3 0 TOLER ROAD DEMOLITION PROJECT. AND OUR STAFF REPORT IS FROM KENDALL BLAKE. WELCOME. GOOD EVENING. MEMBERS OF COUNCIL STAFF CONDUCTED A COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS FOR THE 4 1 3 0 TOLLER ROAD DEMOLITION PROJECT. THIS SCOPE, THE SCOPE OF THIS WORK IS NECESSARY FOR THE FUTURE TOLLER ROAD TO EMERALD PARKWAY OVER I TWO 70 CROSSING PROJECT. THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE FOR THIS PROJECT IS $385,000. THE PROJECT IS FUNDED IN FROM THE 20 23 20 27 CIP IN THE AMOUNT OF 10.1 MILLION FOR ACQUISITION AND AN ADDITIONAL 900,000 FOR ACQUISITION AND DEMOLITION IN ORDINANCE 36 23 ON JANUARY 24TH, 2024, SIX BIDS WERE RECEIVED AND PUBLICLY OPENED. COMPLETE CLEARING INCORPORATED, SUBMITTED THE LOWEST AND BEST BID OF $387,692. THE WORK IS EXPECTED TO COMMENCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH VACANT STRUCTURES. COMPLETE COMPLETION IS EXPECTED BY MAY, 2024. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION ZERO TWO DASH 24, ACCEPTING THE LOWEST AND BEST BID OF COMPLETE CLEARING, INCORPORATED IN THE AMOUNT OF $387,692. AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. GREAT, THANK YOU KENDALL. UH, IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK RELATIVE TO THIS LEGISLATION THIS EVENING? HEARING NONE COUNCIL QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION. IF THERE'S NOTHING FURTHER, JENNY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MS. FOX? YES. MS. CRAM? YES. VICE MAYOR LUDO? YES. MR. ROSA? YES. MAYOR AROSE GROOMS? YES. MR. KEELER? YES. OKAY. THIS BRINGS US TO THE OTHER BUSINESS PORTION [OTHER BUSINESS] OF OUR AGENDA. UM, AND THE FIRST ITEM OF THAT IS THE ADULT USE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA LEGISLATION UPDATE AND OPTIONS. AND, UH, I'LL INTRODUCE IT. OUR STAFF REPORT WILL BE FROM OUR CITY MANAGER, MEGAN NOAH CALLAHAN. GOOD EVENING. MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. AS COUNCIL'S AWARE, AT THE NOVEMBER, 2023 GENERAL ELECTION, OHIO VOTERS APPROVED STATE ISSUE TWO TO LEGALIZE THE COMMERCIAL SALE, RECREATIONAL USE AND HOME CULTIVATION OF MARIJUANA FOR PERSONS 21 YEARS AND OLDER ISSUE TWO TOOK EFFECT DECEMBER 7TH, 2023. AND YOU'VE LIKELY SEEN IN THE NEWS THAT THE OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR GENERAL INTENTIONS TO CHANGE THE LAW TO WHAT EXTENT IS STILL TO BE DECIDED. BUT WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT SITUATION AND CONVERSATION. THE CITY OF DUBLIN HAS AN EXISTING BAN ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUSINESSES, WHICH INCLUDES CULTIVATORS, PROCESSORS AND DISPENSARIES, WHICH MEANS THAT THERE ARE NO OPERATIONS THAT HAVE SUCH A RIGHT TO AN ADULT USE LICENSE IN DUBLIN. THE CITY ADOPTED THIS LEGISLATION AS BOTH A ZONING AND A BUSINESS REGULATION IN 2017. I WANTED TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO A MEMORANDUM THAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET THIS EVENING THAT PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE ON THIS TOPIC AS WELL AS SOME LEGAL ANALYSIS AND OPTIONS THAT WE BELIEVE ARE AVAILABLE TO COUNSEL. MOVING FORWARD. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AND WE'LL LOOK TO INCLUDE THIS TOPIC ON AN UPCOMING WORK SESSION AGENDA. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. VERY GOOD, THANK YOU. UM, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FOR MEGAN WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT, EITHER IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK RELATIVE TO THIS LEGISLATION? HEARING NONE DIRECTIVES FOR? THERE WERE SEVERAL OPTIONS OUTLINED IN THE MEMO, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY PREFERENCES RELATIVE TO THOSE, UM, YOU KNOW, MEMORY, UM, A MORATORIUM WAS ONE OF THE OPTIONS THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED. AND JUST FOR COUNCIL'S AWARENESS, I, UH, I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH, UH, IN THE STATE OF OHIO AT, AT THIS POINT THERE ARE 44 CITIES THAT HAVE A SIX MONTH MORATORIUM. THERE ARE 17 THAT HAVE PLACED A 12 MONTH MORATORIUM, ONE THAT HAS PLACED A, UM, 18 MONTH, ANOTHER ONE THAT HAS PLACED A 24 MONTH AND THREE THAT HAVE PUT PERMANENT BANDS. UH, IN READING ABOUT THE MORATORIUMS, IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY AT WHATEVER, IF WE CHOOSE TO USE THAT OPTION, UM, AT WHATEVER LENGTH OF TIME TO JUST KIND OF TAKE [00:30:01] THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RESEARCH IS, WHAT THE LEGISLATURE MIGHT BE DOING, AND NOT HAVING TO GO BACK AND RE UM, AMEND, UH, LEGISLATION THAT WE MIGHT PUT FORWARD. SO, UM, KNOWING THAT MANY OF THE TOWNS IN OHIO HAVE UTILIZED MORATORIUMS, UM, I LIKE THE IDEA OF A MORATORIUM IF WE DO DECIDE TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE IT GIVES US SOME TIME, IT ADDS OUR NAME TO A MULTITUDE OF OTHERS, WHICH, UM, WOULD NOT MEAN THAT WE WOULD, THERE WOULD BE MUCH CHALLENGE ON THAT BECAUSE I THINK MANY, MANY TOWNS IN OHIO ARE DOING THAT. AND IT WOULD GIVE US TIME TO, UM, TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO. SO THAT, THAT WAS JUST, UM, SOME THOUGHTS THAT I MIGHT, THAT I HAD. GREAT. THANK YOU. OTHER, UM, IF YOU READ, THEY GAVE US THE DRAFT ORDINANCE. BASICALLY IT'S VERY MI WE ALREADY HAVE AN ORDINANCE. ALL IT IS TO CHANGE IT IS TO ADD THE WORDS ADULT USE MARIJUANA TO IT. SO IT'S A VERY MINOR CHANGE IN MY OPINION. I THINK WE SHOULD JUST GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE CHANGE. AND I DON'T THINK ANYTHING THE STATE'S GONNA DO IS GONNA CHANGE. WE HAVE A VERY BROAD, I GUESS, UM, LAW NOW. SO TO ME, ADDING THE WORD ADULT USE AND A DEFINITION FOR ADULT USE IS A PRETTY MINOR CHANGE, WHICH I WOULD SUPPORT. YEAH. I HAVE A QUESTION OF CLARIFICATION. SO, UM, MEGAN, YOU, YOU SAID BRING THIS FORTH TO A WORK SESSION FOR DISCUSSION AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, THE THINKING OF THE DISCUSSION AT THAT WE WOULD HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND. I MEAN, HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE, IF YOU WOULD. THANKS. UM, I WANTED TO PROVIDE THIS COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION TO COUNCIL THIS EVENING, TEE UP THE CONVERSATION AND THEN PLAN ON HAVING A MORE, THAT, THAT WAS JUST MY THOUGHT. I MEAN, YOU ALL ARE FREE TO DISCUSS IT NOW OR AT A LATER DATE OR THAT WAS JUST ONE PATH FORWARD TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION. YEAH, I, I, I, I LIKE THAT IDEA FOR, FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS BECAUSE THIS IS STILL, UM, RELATIVELY NEW SET OF ACTIONS. A A LOT OF, UM, MUNICIPALITIES, UH, AROUND THE, UH, AROUND THE AREA, AROUND THE STATE ARE GOING TO BE HAVING SOME DISCUSSIONS. AND I JUST THINK IT'S PRUDENT FOR US TO JUST HEAR, UM, SOME OF THE, THE APPROACHES BEFORE MOVING FORWARD. UM, AGAIN, THE ACTUAL ENACTMENT WOULDN'T BE A, A SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE, BUT I, I THINK IT'S, IT'S WISE OF US TO, TO DO THAT. SO I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT ACTIVITY PROBABLY SOONER RATHER THAN LATER FOR SCHEDULING THAT. BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE A USEFUL, UH, A USEFUL STEP IN THIS PROCESS. THANK YOU. AND IF THERE IS ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN PREPARATION FOR THAT DISCUSSION, WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT RESEARCH. I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN MEMBER DEROSA. UM, I WANT TO TAKE ACTION AND I, I WANT OUR VOICE TO BE HEARD AND I WANT A PLACE AT THE TABLE, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE HOMEWORK FIRST. AND, BUT I DON'T WANNA WAIT TOO LONG, SO THE SOON SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. ANYBODY ELSE? I, I WOULD AGREE WITH, WITH, UM, WHAT ANDY AND KATHY HAVE SAID, UM, I DO THINK WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING. WE CAN'T LET IT SIT THERE. UM, SOONER IS BETTER THAN LATER. WELL, GREAT. WELL THANKS EVERYONE FOR, YOU KNOW, TAKING THE, THE TIME TO LOOK INTO THAT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, THAT, UM, THAT THERE'S MANY THINGS TO CONSIDER AND THAT WE, WE DO INTEND TO, UM, ACT JUDICIOUSLY. UM, SO WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE SEND THAT MESSAGE AND, AND I SUPPOSE AS, UM, WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR THINGS, UM, TRUST THAT YOU'LL BRING BACK THE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. WILL DO. OKAY. UM, THIS BRINGS US TO THE PORTION OF OUR MEETING OF STAFF COMMENTS. I'LL SEND IT BACK TO CITY MANAGER O CALL. I DO NOT HAVE ANY COMMENTS THIS EVENING. OKAY. UH, COUNCIL REPORTS. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE HAS ANYONE HAD MEETINGS SINCE. UM, OKAY. SO WE'LL GO TO ROUND TABLE [COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE] AND I'LL START HERE ON MY FAR RIGHT WITH AMY CRAM. ACTUALLY, I DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT TO SAY, BUT SINCE WE HAVE WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP STILL SITTING HERE, I WAS GONNA THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR CITY, EVEN DURING HEART MONTH, BUT ALL YEAR LONG. AND YOU MUST BRING GOOD LUCK BECAUSE YOUR MEETINGS ARE ALWAYS AN HOUR. AND LOOK, WE HAVE A SHORT MEETING TONIGHT, SO . THANK YOU, JANE, YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT MUCH. UM, I KNOW I'M ATTENDING WITH ANDY TOMORROW AT THE JAPANESE ETIQUETTE EVENT, AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE TRYING TO GO TO THE, UM, COUNCIL GENERAL'S INVITATION FOR THE EMPEROR'S BIRTHDAY. SO I DID ATTEND, UH, THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMERCE GROUP'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, CONFERENCE. AND I FIND IT FASCINATING EVERY TIME THAT WE HAVE [00:35:01] THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO SOME OF THE GROUPS THAT WE HAVE SUCH A DIVERSE CULTURE HERE THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS LEARNING SOMETHING NEW AND YOU'RE ALWAYS BRINGING HOME MORE INFORMATION. SO OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. GREAT. THANK YOU MR. KEELER. SO I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY THE OVER 150 PEOPLE WE HAD LAST WEEK AT THE METRO CENTER REVITALIZATION, UH, CONVERSATION. UM, A COUPLE THOUGHTS CROSS MY MIND, NOT ONLY DUE TO, UH, SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT SOME OF THE ATTENDEES MADE TO ME AFTER THE EVENT, BUT ALSO JUST IN KIND OF REFLECTING AS A TENANT OF THAT, UM, AREA MYSELF PARKING, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S A PROPOSAL TO MAYBE HAVE UP TO NINE STRUCTURED, UM, PARKING FACILITIES. UM, THAT'S A LOT. AND THAT'S VERY EXPENSIVE. YOU KNOW, IT SEEMED TO ME KIND OF COMMON SENSE IS WE SORT OF START SMALL, KIND OF WHITTLE AWAY AT IT, ONE OR TWO OR THREE HERE AND THERE TO START. BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP THE SURFACE PARKING TO SOME DEGREE. UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT BRIDGE PARK, THERE'S SURFACE PARKING, STREET PARKING, UM, DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS. THE SAME. IF THERE'S ANY WAY, AND THIS IS REALLY FOR THE CONSULTANTS TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO RESTRICT PARKING TO PATRONS OF CERTAIN BUSINESSES, UM, EVEN IF IT'S, UH, THE BUSINESS LETTING THE PATRONS KNOW THESE SPOTS ARE RESERVED FOR YOU. UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW EASY IT IS TO ENFORCE THAT, BUT I KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, CAMPUS ON A FOOTBALL SUNDAY OR FOOTBALL SATURDAY, I DON'T PARK IN THE PERMIT AREA. SO IT CERTAINLY WORKS FOR ME. UM, I'VE BEEN LESS THAN OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO MOVE THE NEEDLE WITH RESPECT TO SOME OF THE BUILDINGS OWNED BY, OUT OF CITY, OUT OF STATE LANDLORDS. BUT THE REALITY IS I THINK WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH INFILL. UM, AND, UH, IN THE END, IF YOU LOOK AT PLACES LIKE NEW YORK AND, AND PHILADELPHIA AND, AND IN EUROPE, THE OLD, THE OLD BUILDINGS ARE KIND OF SURROUNDED BY THE NEW. AND WHAT TENDS TO HAPPEN IS THE LANDOWNERS OR THE, THE PROPERTY OWNERS OF THOSE ODOR BUILDINGS KIND OF SUCCUMB TO THE PEER PRESSURE AND END UP HAVING TO UP THEIR GAME BECAUSE THE SURROUNDING BUILDINGS LOOK SO GREAT AND, AND THEY KIND OF JUST SORT OF BLEND, UM, INTO OBSCURITY. SO, UM, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO, OR, OR WILL NECESSARILY WIN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF ALL THESE LANDOWNERS, BUT WE CAN AND FILL, UH, RESPONSIBLY AROUND IT AND GET A, A, A RESULT THAT I THINK WE'LL BE HAPPY WITH. AND THEN LASTLY, I, I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF OUR EVENTS FOLKS ARE STILL HERE, BUT, UM, WE HEARD FROM SCOTT DURING EARLIER, AND ONE OF THE THOUGHTS I'VE HAD, AND I'VE SHARED THIS CONVERSATION WITH HIM, IS THAT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT, UM, MANY OF THE EVENTS THAT WE HAVE HERE, WE ARE LEFT WITH A LOT OF EXTRA STUFF. UM, WHETHER IT'S TUMBLERS, T-SHIRTS, SWEATSHIRTS, WHATEVER. UM, AND INSTEAD OF THOSE, UH, SITTING IN A MUSTY STORAGE FACILITY AND YOU KNOW, NOT BEING USED OR DONATED TO CHARITY, IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT IF, UM, THOSE, THOSE, UH, THINGS WOULD BE OPEN TO FOLKS OUTSIDE THE CITY OF DUBLIN. I MEAN, THE IDEA IS TO SPREAD THE WORD AND HAVE FOLKS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS WEARING DUBLIN T-SHIRTS. UM, SO, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY THERE ARE THINGS LIKE THE COMMUNITY SERVICE DAY THAT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY WORK IN THAT REGARD. BUT, UM, THE IRISH FESTIVAL T-SHIRTS AND ANY OTHER EVENTS LIKE THAT THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE, THAT ARE LEFT OVER THAT WE COULD REPURPOSE, I THINK WE COULD SAVE THE CHAMBER OR SAVE THE, UH, VISIT DUBLIN SOME MONEY AND SEEING AS HOW, YOU KNOW, WE GIVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THEM. EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS. THANKS. THANK YOU, KATHY. I'VE GOT NOTHING TONIGHT. THANK YOU. I'M GOOD. KRISTEN. NOTHING TONIGHT. UH, I HAVE A COUPLE UPDATES TO, UM, TO GIVE 'CAUSE WE WON'T BE BACK TOGETHER IN THIS FORMAT FOR QUITE SOME TIME. SO, UM, I DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE NPR RADIO SHOW WITH ANNA STOVER. UH, AND THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR RETAIL TOBACCO LICENSE AND OTHER THINGS. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT ON, UM, THE 24TH ALSO WAS THE WHISTLE STOP TOUR, UH, DOWN AT MORSEY AND IT WAS A VERY INFORMATIVE TIME FOR THE FUTURE OF RAIL AND SOME VERY PASSIONATE FOLKS. UM, JANE AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE AZTECS ROBOTICS CLUB AND THEY WERE, UM, GOING TO COMPETITION LAST WEEKEND, AND I HAVE NOT YET HEARD THE RESULT ON HOW THAT CAME, BUT WE CERTAINLY WILL CHECK IN WITH THEM. UM, KATHY AND AMY AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE BUSINESS IMPACT BREAKFAST THAT THE [00:40:01] CHAMBER PUT ON, UH, VERY INFORMATIVE, UH, PRESENTATION AROUND INTEL AND ITS IMPACT WITH SOME OTHER THINGS AS WELL. UM, COMING UP, UH, HERE IN THE NEAR TERM ON THE 7TH OF FEBRUARY WILL BE DATA DAY THAT'S GOING TO BE HELD AT THE OHIO UNIVERSITY CAMPUS THAT MORSEY IS PUTTING ON. SHOULD BE A, UM, GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR ABOUT, UM, ALL OF THE DA DATA THAT'S CHANGING IN COLUMBUS AND THEN THE REGION AND WHAT MIGHT BE THE OUTCOMES OF THAT ON THE EIGHTH. UM, JOE NARDONE IS GOING TO BE THE SPEAKER AT THE PRE-COM COMMISSION LUNCH FOR THE MORSE. UH, HE IS THE, UH, CEO OF THE PORT AUTHORITY AIRPORT AUTHORITY. UH, AND HE WILL BE THERE TO DISCUSS THE NEW TERMINAL AND THE FUNDING OF THAT NEW TERMINAL ON THE EIGHTH, WHICH IS CERTAINLY VERY EXCITING FOR OUR REGION. I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT ON THE 11TH TO THE 15TH OF FEBRUARY, I WILL BE AT THE, UH, NARC CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON DC. WE DO HAVE MEETINGS ON THE SCHEDULE WITH ALL OF OUR SENATE REPRESENTATIVES, AS WELL AS OUR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE MEMBERS THAT ARE IN THE 16 COUNTY REGION THAT MAKES UP MORS E. UM, ON THAT THURSDAY THE 15TH, WE DO HAVE MEETINGS WITH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, WITH THE FEDERAL RAIL ADMINISTRATION AND WITH AMTRAK TO CONSI TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF RAIL, UH, AND WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS BEFORE WE COULD, UM, COULD PROGRESS TO THE NEXT STAGE, UM, OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. AND THEN ON THE, UH, FEBRUARY THE 22ND AND 23RD, UH, WE ARE GOING TO ORLANDO. UM, WE'RE GONNA FLY INTO ORLANDO WITH, UH, A CONTINGENT FROM ONE COLUMBUS AND VARIOUS CEOS FROM AROUND THE COMMUNITY. UM, WHEN WE FLY INTO ORLANDO, WE'RE GOING TO MEET WITH THE BRIGHT LINE PEOPLE AND WE WILL TAKE THE BRIGHT LINE TRAIN FROM ORLANDO TO FORT LAUDERDALE IN FORT LAUDERDALE. WE'RE GOING TO MEET WITH THE AMTRAK FOLKS AND TAKE AN AMTRAK TRAIN INTO MIAMI. UH, AND WHEN WE WILL COME HOME FROM MIAMI. UM, BOTH THE NARC CONFERENCE AND THIS TRIP TO ORLANDO ARE AT THE INVITATION IN THE EXPENSE OF MORSEY. UH, AND WE DO, UM, BECAUSE MARK OWENS HAS CONNECTED US, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH PATRICK GOODER, WHO IS THE CEO OF BRIGHTLINE ON THE THURSDAY EVENING THAT WE'RE THERE. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO GIVING YOU A REPORT BACK ON THE OUTCOME OF THOSE, UH, THAT TRAVEL. BUT THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT, UM, AS WE PURSUE WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE HERE IN DUBLIN. WITH THAT, IF THERE'S NOTHING FURTHER, WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.