[00:00:03]
[CALL TO ORDER]
WE WILL CALL THE MARCH 25TH DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO ORDER.JAMIE, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE VICE MAYOR LUDO? HERE.
AND MR. RENER WILL BE LATE? YES.
[ADJOURNMENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION]
THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSES OF PERSONNEL MATTERS CONSIDERING THE EMPLOYMENT OF A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE AND CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY FOR PUBLIC PURCHASES.JENNY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL MS. CRA? YES.
UH, WE WILL RECONVENE THIS MEETING IN THIS LOCATION AT 7:00 PM THANK YOU.
[RECONVENE (7 P.M.)]
REGULAR DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH THE 25TH TO ORDER.UM, KATHY, WOULD YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS/RECOGNITION]
PRESENTATION THIS EVENING FOR AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION RE-ACCREDITATION.SO I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME LARRY HUMMEL, REGION FIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE A PWA TO PRESENT THE PLAQUE, RECOGNIZING THE CITY OF DUBLIN'S REAC RE-ACCREDITATION ON BEHALF OF STAFF.
UH, ACCEPTING THIS PLAQUE, UH, WILL BE EMILY GULLIVER, BOB TAYLOR, PAUL HAMMERSMITH, JEANNIE WILLISON, MICHAEL DARLING.
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
MADAM MAYOR COUNCIL, UM, A FEW COMMENTS, IF YOU WILL, IF YOU ALLOW ME TO, TO MAKE THAT ON YOUR BEHALF.
IT'S GREAT HONOR THAT I'M HERE.
FIRST OFF, TO REPRESENT, THIS IS MY, UH, FIRST TERM AS REGION FIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE A PWA BOARD REPRESENTING SEVEN CHAPTERS IN THE MIDWEST IN ONTARIO.
THE OPPORTUNITY HERE OBVIOUSLY IS, UH, YOU'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE.
UH, YOUR ACCREDITATION FIRST WAS IN 2003.
UH, YOU'VE HAD RE-ACCREDITATION AGAIN THIS TIME AROUND THE, THE OPPORTUNITY DOESN'T COME FOR A LOT OF AGENCIES OR DEPARTMENTS AROUND NORTH AMERICA.
A PWA IS THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA AND 205 ACCREDITED AGENCIES.
MOST OF THOSE ARE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE HOUSED WITHIN 165 ENTITIES.
SO SOME LARGE ENTITIES HAVE MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE ACCREDITED.
SO OUT OF 165 ENTITIES, UH, YOUR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS IS ONE OF THOSE IN NORTH AMERICA.
UH, A BIG HONOR IN MY OPINION, I I WAS A FORMER, UH, PUBLIC SECTOR DIRECTOR FOR 17 YEARS AND SPENT ALMOST 30 YEARS THERE AS WELL AND NEVER QUITE MADE IT.
WE WERE CLOSE, BUT A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS COME FROM THIS PROCESS AND, AND IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF AND, AND TO SUPPORT, OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU WILL.
UH, ACCREDITATION IS A MARKET PROFESSIONALISM INDICATING A PUBLIC WORKS AGENCY HAS MADE A COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IN THE DELIVERY OF PUBLIC WORKS, OPERATIONS AND SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT SERVES ACCREDITATION, RECOGNIZES AN AGENCY'S POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND PRACTICES WHICH HAVE BEEN EVALUATED AGAINST NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES DETERMINED TO BE APPROPRIATE FOR THAT SPECIFIC AGENCY.
A TEAM OF EVALUATORS CONSISTING IN EXPERIENCED PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS FROM CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS REVIEWED 153 PRACTICES FROM DUBLIN, DPW, UH, IN THE DEPARTMENT'S COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES APPLICABLE TO THEIR, UH, WORKS.
I'M PROUD TO REPORT THE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED 100% COMPLIANCE AND WITH ALL THOSE APPLICABLE PRACTICES, IN ADDITION, THE EVALUATORS RECOGNIZED TWO MODEL PRACTICES THAT WILL BE SHARED ACROSS NORTH AMERICA.
UH, THOSE SPECIFICALLY WERE IN THE HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION PROGRAM.
UH, THEN THEY CALLED OUT AN EXCELLENT EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION PROGRAM AS DESCRIBED IN YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER.
IT'D BE A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR OTHER AGENCIES WAS THE COMMENTS.
UH, SO IT WILL BE SHARED IN FUTURE REVIEWS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA AND THEY TRAFFIC OPERATIONS AND TRAFFIC CALMING, UH, PRACTICE THAT IS WELL PLANNED AND INCLUDES A GREAT DETAIL FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING.
SO TWO OF YOUR PRACTICES OUT OF THAT, THAT LIST WILL BE SHARED IN ALL OF THE FUTURE ACCREDITATION
[00:05:01]
PROGRAMS. THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATION OF THE EVALUATION, THE ACCREDITATION COUNCIL FOR A PWA, GRANTED FULL ACCREDITATION TO THE DUBLIN DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION, REGION FIVE, AND IT'S OVER 30,000 MEMBERS, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT THE PLAQUE TO RECOGNIZE THIS ACHIEVEMENT AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ENTIRE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND TO ESPECIALLY TO ACCREDITATION MANAGER EMILY GOVER AND BOB TAYLOR.MAYBE YOU CAN HAND IT OFF AND YOU GUYS GATHER AROUND HIM AND I THINK LINDSAY WANTS TO GET YOUR PICTURE.
HE THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR RECOGNITION, OUR OUTSTANDING TEAM THAT WORKS IN THAT AREA.
OKAY, NEXT IS GOING TO BE OUR EARTH MONTH PROCLAMATION.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVIE SHEPHERD, LEAN, SHE AND AINSLEY, JJ MEMBERS OF THE NONPROFIT GROUP 6 1 4, OUR FUTURE, WHO ARE HERE TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION.
UH, I WILL READ YOU THIS PROCLAMATION, UH, IN GREAT PRIDE OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
EARTH DAY IS AN ANNUAL EVENT CELEBRATED ON APRIL 22ND, WHICH HELPS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WHILE PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE HABITS TO PROTECT RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS A SUSTAINABLE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS THE FOUNDATION OF A HEALTHY SOCIETY AND A ROBUST ECONOMY, AND IT AND CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS, PUBLIC POLICY AND COMMUNITY ADVOCACY.
AND WHEREAS IT IS THE CITY'S DESIRE TO BE THE MOST SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL CITY OF CHOICE, WHICH INCLUDES BEING A MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DESIGN, ZERO WASTE, CARBON NEUTRAL AND SUPPORTIVE OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY ASPIRES TO CONSERVE RESOURCES, REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, WASTE, LITTER AND POLLUTION, PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE OF WILDLIFE, VEGETATION, STREAMS, AND RIVERS, ALL OF WHICH ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL, THE CITY OF DUBLIN WILL OFFER A VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO CELEBRATE EARTH MONTH, INCLUDING NATURE HIKES, A COMMUNITY BACKYARDS CLASS, A COMMUNITY PLANTING AT COBA PARK, AN ANN ARBOR CELEBRATION AT HAWKS NEST PARK, AND AN EARTH DAY ART CHALLENGE FOR THE KIDS TO SUBMIT ARTWORK DEPICTING HOW EARTH DAY IS CELEBRATED IN THE DUBLIN COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS RESIDENTS WANTING TO GET INVOLVED IN A CLEANUP OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK CAN PICK UP A KEEP DUBLIN GREEN KIT FROM THE DIVISION OF OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT AT THE DUBLIN SERVICE CENTER.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHRIS AROSE GROOMS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN, OHIO DO PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF APRIL 24TH AS EARTH MONTH, I'M SORRY, APRIL, 2024 AS EARTH MONTH.
WE ENCOURAGE THE SUPPORT OF GREEN INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT DUBLIN, OHIO AND FOR OTHERS TO UNDERTAKE SIMILAR ACTIONS.
LADIES, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS OF SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES YOU'RE BE UNDERTAKING? SO, UM, AS 6 1 4 FUTURE, WE WORK IN PROMOTING A SUSTAINABLE EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES AT THE IRISH FESTIVAL AND SPOOKTACULAR.
WE ALSO ATTEND LATCHKEY EVENTS TO HELP PROMOTE, UM, SUSTAINABLE ACTIVITIES WITH KIDS.
UM, WE HAVE ALSO COLLECTED OVER 200 PUMPKINS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS TO COMPOST AT THE CITY OF DUBLIN OR TO DONATE TO AN ANIMAL SHELTER.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY FOR THE RECOGNITION OF OUR WORK AND FOR THEIR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE DUBLIN.
AND WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK HALLIE TE, WHO IS THE FOUNDER OF THIS ORGANIZATION.
WELL, THANK YOU LADIES FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
WE ARE A GREENER COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF IT, SO APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS.
[00:10:20]
OKAY,[CITIZEN COMMENTS]
THIS BRINGS US TO THE PORTION OF OUR AGENDA FOR CITIZEN COMMENTS.THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO COMMENT ON ANY TOPIC THAT IS NOT ON THIS EVENING'S AGENDA.
UH, LINDSEY DO WE HAVE FOLKS THAT HAVE SIGNED IN TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT SINCE THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, WE HAVE RECEIVED 136 COMMENTS IN SUPPORT OF COUNSEL PASSING A RE RESOLUTION, UH, CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA.
OF THOSE COMMENTS, 54% ARE FROM DUBLIN RESIDENTS, AND 28 OF THOSE WERE REPEATED RESPONSES FROM THE LAST MEETING FROM FROM THE SAME PEOPLE.
WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE REGISTERED TO SPEAK THIS EVENING.
AND I WILL JUST REMIND EVERYONE THIS EVENING IF WHEN YOU COME FORWARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
I, UM, AM A RESIDENT OF DUBLIN 46 0 1 WIRTZ COURT.
UM, I, I SEE THAT CITY OF DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL TALKS A LOT ABOUT SAFETY, AND SAFETY OF COURSE IS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US, BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SAFETY, WE CAN'T JUST TALK ABOUT OUR OWN SAFETY AND NOBODY ELSE'S.
UM, I, I FEEL PERSONALLY THAT THAT'S VERY WRONG.
MY PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND IS WITH THE COUNCIL ON AMERICAN ISLAMIC RELATIONS, A CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION.
I WAS THE DIRECTOR OF THE CINCINNATI OFFICE FOR 16 YEARS, AND I DEALT WITH HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF CIVIL RIGHTS CASES OVER THE YEARS.
PRIOR TO THAT, I WAS THE DIRECTOR AT THE ISLAMIC CENTER OF GREATER CINCINNATI FOR SIX AND A HALF YEARS, THE LARGEST MOSQUE IN THE GREATER CINCINNATI AREA.
SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE AMERICAN MUSLIM COMMUNITY AND THE AMERICAN ARAB, UH, COMMUNITY.
AND SO IN MY YEARS WITH CARE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NOTICE THE MOST OFTEN IS THAT WHEN THERE IS CONFLICT WAR VIOLENCE, UM, ESPECIALLY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THE UNITED STATES IS INVOLVED AS IT IS RIGHT NOW IN PROVIDING MONEY AND WEAPONS TO ISRAEL, UM, TO CONTINUE THE SLAUGHTER AND, UH, THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA, THAT IT IS THE AMERICAN MUSLIM AND THE AMERICAN ARAB COMMUNITY, UM, THAT IS IMPACTED MOST GRAVELY HERE AT HOME.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN MOST RECENTLY, UM, SINCE OCTOBER IS WE HAVE SEEN A 200% INCREASE IN THE NUMBERS OF REQUESTS FOR HELP THAT THE ORGANIZATION IS RECEIVING FROM MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN, MUSLIM AND ARAB AND AMERICAN ARAB COMMUNITY.
AND THESE ARE INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE, HATRED, DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, UM, SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE.
AND I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THAT IS VERY WRONG.
SO, UM, NO, THE THE ARAB AND, UM, MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN DUBLIN RIGHT NOW DOES NOT FEEL SAFE.
UM, IT IS A TIME OF, UM, GREAT ANGUISH FOR US.
WE HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS OVERSEAS, AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE AFRAID FOR OUR CHILDREN ON THE SCHOOL BUSES.
I KNOW ONE FAMILY WHO HAS, UM, SINCE OCTOBER TAKEN HER CHILDREN OFF THE SCHOOL BUS BECAUSE OF, UH, FEAR FROM THE ABOUT WHAT THE SCHOOL, THE BUS DRIVER IS SAYING TO CHILDREN ON THE BUS.
UM, AND NO AMOUNT OF, UM, GREEN LIGHTS FOR RAMADAN ON THE DUBLIN LINK, ALTHOUGH IT'S LOVELY.
UM, AND NO AMOUNT OF PEACE POLLS IS GOING TO CHANGE THAT.
AGAIN, THOSE ARE BOTH LOVELY THINGS IN TIMES WHEN EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL, BUT RIGHT NOW WE NEED MORE THAN THAT.
WE NEED A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION FROM THE CITY OF DUBLIN.
WE NEED TO KNOW THAT THE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF CITY OF DUBLIN IS NOT SUPPORTING THE SLAUGHTER AND THE GENOCIDE THAT IS GOING ON IN GAZA RIGHT NOW.
THE CITY OF COLUMBUS, JUST WITHIN THE LAST TWO HOURS, PASSED A A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION.
MY NIECE, WHO IS A MOTHER OF THREE, INCLUDING A SET OF TWINS IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS, HAS LOST 45 POUNDS FROM STARVATION WHEN THERE IS FOOD WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE ACROSS THE BORDER, FOOD THAT IS BEING DENIED ENTRANCE INTO GAZA BY THE ISRAELI MILITARY AND BY ISRAELI CITIZENS WHO ARE BLOCKADING THE ENTRANCE POINTS INTO GAZA.
[00:15:01]
SHE IS LITERALLY DYING OF STARVATION IN FRONT OF OUR EYES, AND I HAVE TO IMAGINE THAT HER CHILDREN ARE AS WELL, OR THAT SHE IS GIVING HER FOOD TO HER CHILDREN SO THAT THEY DON'T DIE OF STARVATION.AND, AND SHE MIGHT, SHE'S ALSO GOT A VERY SERIOUS KIDNEY INFECTION RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE ONLY WATER THAT THEY HAVE TO DRINK IS DIRTY WATER.
THE, THE, THERE IS NO CLEAN WATER ALLOWED INTO GAZA.
THE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS HAVE BEEN BOMBED.
AND, AND THIS IS ONE PERSON THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, SOMEBODY THAT WE CARE ABOUT VERY DEEPLY.
SHE HAS A SISTER WHO'S A NURSE AND WHO'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, STITCHING UP PEOPLE WITHOUT ANESTHETIC.
UM, PEOPLE WHO ARE RECEIVING SHRAPNEL WOUNDS, FOR INSTANCE, WITH A NEEDLE AND THREAD.
OKAY? SO THIS IS VERY, VERY PERSONAL TO US.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, UH, WAY OVER THERE, ALTHOUGH IT IS, BUT TO US, IT'S, IT'S RIGHT HERE.
IT'S VERY, VERY PERSONAL AND VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
AND SO IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO SAY THAT WE'RE JUST FOR SAFETY FOR US AND OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR OWN NICE LITTLE WELL TO-DO SUBURB HERE.
THAT'S ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT TO, TO ONLY BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OURSELVES AND NOT OTHER HUMAN BEINGS, TO ME IS SELFISH AND NARROW-MINDED.
UM, THE LAST THING I WANNA SAY IS THAT YOU ARE EITHER FOR THE CONTINUING TO THE KILLING TO CONTINUING GAZA OR YOU'RE AGAINST IT.
SO PLEASE CONSIDER VERY SERIOUSLY A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION.
IF YOU COULD PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD, AND AS A REMINDER, THERE IS A, IS A TIMER THAT, UM, THERE JUST TO YOUR RIGHT TO BE HELPFUL.
I LIVE AT 4 1 7 5 BENGAL COURT, DUBLIN, OHIO.
RESPECTED GOVERNOR, VICE GOVERNOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I WORK AS A HOSPITALIST IN AN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.
I WITNESS LIFE AND DEATH IN EXTREME DOMAINS AND TERMS. WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT? SOME DAYS IT'S MY POST CARDIAC ARREST PATIENT THAT IS CLINGING ONTO LIFE THROUGH A BREATHING MACHINE, FED ARTIFICIALLY IN A PERMANENT STATE OF COMA MONTHS AFTER MONTHS, YEARS AFTER YEARS, AND FAMILY HOPING THAT ONE DAY THAT PERSON WILL WAKE UP.
SOME DAYS IT'S MY 56 YEARS OLD WITH A RARE TUMOR IN HER CHEST WHO HAS OUTLIVED HER DISEASE TERMINAL ON A BREATHING MACHINE.
AND SHE LOOKS ME EYE TO EYE AND ASKS ME WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN WE PULL THE TUBE OUT.
AND WITH A HEAVY HEART, I HAVE TO TELL HER THAT SHE WILL, SHE WILL DIE.
SHE TAKES A PIECE OF PAPER AND WRITES DOWN, I DON'T WANT TO DIE.
BUT THEN THE FAMILY PROCEEDS WITH TERMINAL EXTUBATION AND I PRONOUNCE HER DEAD 60 MINUTES LATER SOME DAYS.
IT'S MY VERY DIFFICULT YOUNG ALCOHOLIC WHO'S FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE IN A COUNTRY THAT TAKES PRIDE IN THE BEST AND MOST ADVANCED MEDICAL CARE.
AND HE IS VERY FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE THE RECIPIENT OF A DCD LIVER TRANSPLANT, WHICH MEANS THAT SOMEONE HAD TO DIE FOR HIM TO LIVE, TO LIVE.
YET AFTER A VERY SUCCESSFUL SURGERY AND NEW LIFE, I SEE HIM AGAIN IN THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF COMPLICATIONS OF ALCOHOL ABUSE AND INTOXICATION.
SINCE HE HAS DECIDED TO DRINK AGAIN ONLY IN A GREAT NATION LIKE OURS, WE ARE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THESE EXTREME MEASURES DONE TO SAVE HUMAN LIFE BECAUSE OF LAWS THAT WERE SUPPORTED AND PA PASSED BY LAWMAKERS LIKE YOURSELF WHO VALUE AND SUPPORT LIFE AND HUMANITY.
THEN I WAKE UP TO PALESTINE, RAFA, AND ZA, WHERE WE ARE WITNESSING THE MOST WELL-DOCUMENTED GENOCIDE, ETHNIC CLEANSING EVER FACED BY MANKIND.
JOSEPH BURRELL, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SECURITY POLICY STATED, AND I QUOTE, BEFORE THE WAR, REZA WAS THE BIGGEST OPEN AIR PRISON.
NOW REZA IS THE BIGGEST OPEN AIR GRAVEYARD AND THE, AND THE GRAVEYARD FOR THE GREATEST PRINCIPLES OF HUMANITY, THE GREATEST PRINCIPLES OF HUMANITY THAT THE WEST TAKES PRIDE IN.
IT IS HURTFUL AND SHAMEFUL THAT OUR GOVERNMENT WITH THE STRONGEST POLITICAL PRESENT PRESENCE ALLOWED THE UN RESOLUTION TO PASS WITH ANINE VOTE IN A GENOCIDE WHERE THE OVERWHELMING DEAD ARE WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
AND HUNGER IS USED AS A WEAPON OF WAR.
[00:20:01]
TAXPAYER MONEY HAS BEEN USED TO AID THIS GENOCIDE.NO ONE TONIGHT CAN DENY DEATH.
WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE, BUT WHEN I DIE, I WANT TO DIE WITH A CLEAR CONSCIOUS KNOWING THAT I WAS ON THE SIDE OF HUMANITY.
I CAN ONLY RAISE MY VOICE, BUT YOU CAN DO SO MUCH MORE.
HISTORY, MIGHT REMEMBER YOU AS GREAT CITIZENS AND LAWMAKERS, BUT WHEN HISTORY WILL WRITE ITS CHAPTER ON HUMANITY, IT'LL HAVE A LOT OF EMPTY PAGES FOR THE MAJORITY OF US.
BUT I HOPE AND PRAY TONIGHT THAT THE DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL HOLDS UP TO ITS VALUES AND WILL BE REMEMBERED AS THE COUNCIL AND CITY OF COURAGE, THE COURAGE TO SAY WHAT ANY HUMAN BEING WOULD SAY.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE ON THE SIDE OF ISRAEL OR, OR, OR PALESTINE.
YOU JUST NEED TO BE A HUMAN BEING WITH COURAGE.
THE ANSWER IS VERY SIMPLE AND CLEAR, BUT IT TAKES COURAGE TO SAY BECAUSE THERE ARE MONETARY AND POLITICAL STRINGS ATTACHED TO IT.
YOU ALL KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS, BUT THE QUESTION IS, DO YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO SAY WHAT IS RIGHT? ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
MY NAME IS, UH, RINE ALI AND MY ADDRESS IS 4 1 8 2 CONINE COURT.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH GOOD EVENING AND MAY I USE THE WORD SALAAM, WHICH IS IN ISLAM WE SAY PEACE P UPON YOU ALL.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO START, BUT I'M GONNA START WITH THE HISTORY OF PALESTINE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW ANY HISTORY OF PALESTINE.
IN 1948, I'M GONNA START WITH MY PERSONAL, UM, EXPERIENCE.
MY GRANDFATHER LOST HIS HOUSE IN PALESTINE.
I HAVE A VIDEO AND PICTURES OF THE HOUSE ON MY PHONE EVERY TIME I SHOW IT TO MY KIDS SO THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A HOUSE THERE AND WE'LL BE BACK THERE INTO OUR STOLEN LAND ONE DAY.
MY GRANDFATHER CAME TO THE US IN THE SIXTIES AND BOUGHT HIS KIDS.
HE WORKED HARD TO BUILD HIMSELF AFTER HE LOST EVERYTHING, HOPING FOR A SAFE AND SECURE PLACE AND TO BE VALUED AS A DEDICATED AND EDUCATED PEOPLE.
MY DAD GOT HIS MASTER IN LAW FROM NYU AND HERE I'M AT, I AM, I'M LIVING IN DUBLIN, WHICH I CALL IT MY HOME NOW, BUT I'M STILL HAVE MY PALESTINIAN ROUTE.
IT'S BEEN 13 YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN A TEACHER AND I WILL BE GRADUATING WITH MY MASTER'S DEGREE NEXT MONTH IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP.
EVERY COURSE I LEARNED FOCUSED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPECTING THE DIVERSITY OF A STUDENT AND HOW WE SHOULD CREATE SAFE AND INCLUSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM NO MATTER OF THEIR BACKGROUND.
COUNTRY RELIGION, UNFORTUNATELY WE LEARN IT IN THIS COURSE AND IN BOOKS, BUT LEADERS DOESN'T APPLY THESE DAYS IN THE REAL WORLD DUE DUE TO THE DOUBLE STANDARDS.
AS A FUTURE LEADER, I SHOULD ENSURE THAT MY STUDENTS STAFF ARE RESPECTED, CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
I THINK YOU AS A LEADER CAN DO THAT AS WELL.
WHEN YOU FAVOR PEOPLE OR RESPECT SOMEONE WHO IS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRY THAN PALESTINE, WHOSE RELIGION IS DIFFERENT THAN MINE, I CALL IT DOUBLE STANDARD.
WE ARE STANDING HERE TO TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE FAMILIES WHO ARE BEING KILLED, HUNGRY, STARVING TO DEATH, AND EVERY EVERYONE IS WATCHING AND NOT CONDEMNING THIS GENOCIDE OR CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE.
AS YOU BEING A LEADER, SHOW US YOUR JUSTICE, FAIRNESS IN YOUR ACTION AS WELL.
TO OUR FAMILIES WHO ARE LIVING IN THE TENT OR KILLED OR DIED UNDER RUBBLES, 70% OF THE BUILDING ARE BOMBED.
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THE SIGN YOU PUT FOR PEACE DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING TO ME.
YOUR ACTIONS SHOW ME HOW YOU STAND WITH YOUR COMMUNITY AND MAKING THEM FEEL SAFE, LIVING IN PEACE AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT STANDING WITH A RIGHT OF CHILDREN TO LIVE PEACEFULLY.
I'M WEARING THIS SCARF TODAY AND THAT SCARF IS THE THREAT TO MY LIFE AS I REPRESENT MY CULTURE.
AS YOU HOPEFULLY HEARD ABOUT THE THREE COLLEGE STUDENT IN FER THAT THEY SHOT BY A GUN, UH, BY A MAN, AND NOW ONE OF THEM ARE PARALYZED AND THERE'S ANOTHER SIX, ONE, UH, SIX YEARS OLD CHILDREN IN CHICAGO.
HE WAS TAPPED TO DEATH FOR BEING PALESTINIAN, BUT THEIR UH, LANDLORD, MY DAUGHTER, SHE'S IN DUBLIN SCHOOL AND SOMETIMES WHEN I TALK TO HER ABOUT PR, YOUR IS PALESTINIAN, AND SHE SAID, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK THAT IN FRONT OF MY TEACHER OR MY FRIENDS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I'M AFRAID AFTER THOSE TWO INCIDENT, I'M AFRAID TO SPEAK THAT PALESTINIAN, YOU WANT ME TO BE KILLED? THAT'S WHAT SHE TOLD ME LAST TIME.
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THERE IS NO SAFE HERE IN DUBLIN.
AS LONG AS I CAN'T BE ABLE TO SHOW MY IDENTITY
[00:25:01]
OR MY CULTURE, STOP USING WORDS AND SIGN WITHOUT ACTION.SYLVIA, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE COME FORWARD.
STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
SYLVIA TAMIM, 6 4 3 4 RINGS END COURT IN DUBLIN.
I WAS HERE LAST MEETING AND AFTER SEEING THE DISAPPOINTING RESPONSE OF OUR DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE WAKE OF THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA, I HAD TWO CHOICES.
I COULD SIT ON MY HANDS AND CONTINUE TO BELIEVE OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WHEN THEY SAY THEY BELIEVE IN LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, OR I COULD CALL OUT THE HYPOCRISY AND DUPLICITY AND THE REALITY I SEE THE DAY BEFORE RAMADAN, THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TOOK A PHOTO NEXT TO THE PEACE POLE IN KAUFMAN PARK.
THE POLL REPRESENTS CO OUR COMMITMENT TO PEACE BUILDING THROUGH RESPECTFUL CONVERSATIONS AMONG DIVERSE COMMUNITY.
WE HOPE IT SERVES AS A REMINDER TO THOSE WHO SEE IT, THAT CREATING PEACE HERE AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IS AN INCLUSIVE EFFORT.
THE LAST SENTENCE, WE HOPE IT SERVES AS A REMINDER TO THOSE WHO SEE IT, THAT CREATING PEACE HERE AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IS AN INCLUSIVE EFFORT DEMANDING CEASE FIRE TO STOP THE KILLING AND STARVATION OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS AND END OF THE BRUTAL AND INJUST OCCUPATION IS WHAT WILL BRING PEACE.
I'M SURE THE PEOPLE OF GAZA AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS WOULD APPRECIATE THAT MORE THAN A PHOTO, A PHOTO OP NEXT TO A SEVEN FOOT POLE THAT DOES NOT DO ANYTHING EXCEPT MAKE YOU ALL FEEL LIKE YOU DID SOMETHING WHILE YOU ACTUALLY STOOD FOR NOTHING.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO BELIEVE THAT THE PEACE, THE PEACE POLL AND CITY COUNCIL'S INTERACTION WITH IT IS MORE THAN AN, UH, OPPORTUNISTIC FACEBOOK POST AND THAT CITY COUNCIL TRULY BELIEVES IN THE MESSAGE THAT ACHIEVING PEACE IS AN AN INCLUSIVE EFFORT.
NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL THE ORGANIZATION, YOU WOULD PUT OUT A STATEMENT DEMANDING A PERMANENS FIRE TO NOT DO SO WOULD BE, UH, HYPOCRITICAL AND DOUBLE STANDARDS, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING SUCH A THING WAS DONE RIGHTFULLY SO.
TO NOT DO THE SAME FOR GAZA IS DESPICABLE AND SHAMEFUL.
I HOPE THE WORDS YOU HEAR FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS TONIGHT ENCOURAGES YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
THANK YOU LINDSEY HENA MASU, WELCOME.
IF YOU COULD PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
MY NAME'S HENA MASU AND I OWN A HOME AT 57 10 ER HALT ROAD, DUBLIN, OHIO.
SO MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT OUR CITY WAS NAMED BY JOHN SHIELDS UPON SETTLEMENT IN THE EARLY 18 HUNDREDS BECAUSE ITS BEAUTY REMINDED HIM OF THE HILLS AND VALLEYS OF HIS BIRTHPLACE DUBLIN, IRELAND AT THE TIME, IRELAND WAS WELL INTO COLONIZATION BY THE BRITISH AND SHIELD'S.
WORDS LEAVE NO DOUBT THAT HE HAD LEFT HIS HOME COUNTRY WITH SOME AMOUNT OF REGRET AS IT WAS BEING DAMAGED AND DESTROYED BY AN OUTSIDE POWER.
THROUGH ITS RULE OF IRELAND, THE BRITISH CONFISCATED LAND FROM THE NATIVE LANDOWNERS AND REGRANTED IT TO THEIR OWN SUPPORTERS.
IRISH CITIZENS WERE STRIPPED OF THEIR HOMES, LIVELIHOODS AND THEIR RIGHTS AND HIGH LEVELS OF POVERTY AND DESPAIR SETTLED IN.
EVENTUALLY A FAMINE WEAKENED IRELAND CONTRIBUTED TO A MASS EXODUS OF REFUGEES AND LED TO OVER 1 MILLION DEATHS.
AND NOW HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF IN PALESTINE.
OVER 700,000 WERE FORCED TO FLEE FROM THEIR HOMES IN 1948.
TAKE REFUGE IN WHAT IS CONSIDERED THE OPEN AIR PRISON OF GAZA, LEAVING BEHIND EVERYTHING SO QUICKLY THAT MANY PALESTINIAN FAMILIES STILL HOLD ON TO THE KEYS TO THE FAMILY HOMES THAT THEY WERE FORCED TO LEAVE WITH HOPES TO ONE DAY RETURN.
SINCE OCTOBER, CLOSE TO 2 MILLION HAVE AGAIN BEEN DISPLACED BEING CORRALLED INTO SMALLER AND SMALLER SEGMENTS OF THEIR LAND.
AND WE HAVE NOW ENTERED THE FAMINE PHASE OF THE STORY.
IN PALESTINE, FARMS AND CROPS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AND LIFE-SAVING AID HAS BEEN CUT FROM GAZA, THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF 2 MILLION IS FACING STARVATION.
[00:30:01]
PARALLELS BECAUSE HERE IN DUBLIN WITH FESTIVALS, BUILDINGS AND STREETS CELEBRATING IRISH CULTURE, IT IS DISINGENUOUS TO IGNORE THE ACTUAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE OF THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND.WITH OVER 32,000 CIVILIAN DEATHS IN GAZA SINCE OCTOBER AND ALMOST 80,000 INJURED, WE ARE WELL ON TRACK TO SURPASS THE NUMBERS OF THE IRISH DEATH AND DISPLACEMENT OF THE 18 HUNDREDS THAT WE ALL SO READILY CONDEMN TODAY TO HAPPILY DISPLAY IRISH CULTURE IN SO MUCH THAT WE DO THAT ALLOWS SUCH LEVELS OF SUFFERING TO HAPPEN AGAIN WITHOUT SO MUCH IS CALLING FOR AN END TO THE VIOLENCE.
CALLING FOR HISTORY TO NOT REPEAT ITSELF IS HYPOCRITICAL AT BEST.
A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THESE DEATHS IS CHILDREN OVER 13,000.
SO FAR AS DISEASE AND STARVATION ACCELERATED.
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT WE WILL REACH 16,000 DEAD CHILDREN IN UPCOMING WEEKS AND CONTINUE TO GROW FROM THERE.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS CURRENTLY IN DUBLIN CITY SCHOOLS IS 16,500.
OVER THE SPAN OF JUST MORE THAN FIVE MONTHS, US FUNDED ISRAELI BOMBS WILL SOON HAVE KILLED THE SAME NUMBER OF KIDS THAT MAKE UP THE ENTIRE BODY OF THE STUDENTS AT DUBLIN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THIS SHOULD FEEL UNFATHOMABLE TO US ALL MAYOR GROOMS. I ATTENDED THE STATE OF THE REGION EARLIER THIS MONTH WHERE YOU SPOKE.
IT IS WITH PRIDE THAT I HAVE WATCHED DUBLIN BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE LINK US WORK.
BUT AT THE EVENT WHEN SHANNON HARDIN SAID THAT 2024 WILL BE REMEMBERED AS THE YEAR WE DECIDE WHAT KIND OF COMMUNITY WE WANT OUR KIDS TO GROW UP IN, I HAD TO PAUSE WITH THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION GROWTH IN CENTRAL OHIO DUE TO IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES, OUR ENTIRE REGION'S FUTURE SUCCESS WILL RELY ON OUR ABILITY TO WELCOME AND RESPECT PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
THE STORY OF LINK US WILL BE JUST A PART OF AN OVERALL NARRATIVE THAT WILL TELL US IF CENTRAL OHIO TRANSITIONED FROM TO A PROSPERING INTERCONNECTED COMMUNITY OR IF A RAIL SYSTEM FURTHER DIVIDED US, LINK US WILL GIVE US THE MEANS TO CONNECT.
BUT IT IS A REGIONWIDE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ALL PEOPLE'S HUMANITY THAT WILL SIGNAL OUR DESIRE TO CONNECT AND THRIVE WITH ONE ANOTHER.
YOU CITY COUNCIL CAN LEAD THE WAY BY PASSING A RESOLUTION, CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA AND AN END TO THE US FUNDING OF THESE ATROCITIES TO DRIVE THE MESSAGE FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAT INNOCENT PEOPLE ACROSS THE WORLD ARE WORTH SAVING.
AND FOR THOSE FUTURE IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES WHO DO LAND IN CENTRAL OHIO FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, IT SETS THE TONE FOR OUR CITY TO SEE THEM AND WELCOME THEM AS THE EQUAL HUMAN BEINGS THAT THEY ARE.
AND FINALLY, COUNCILWOMAN FOX.
YOU REFERRED PEOPLE TO THE PEACE POLE NEAR KAUFMAN PARK.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, AFTER SIX MONTHS OF WATCHING THE SLAUGHTER IN VIVID REALTIME OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS, THE SUGGESTION OF A PEACE POLE AS ANY SORT OF CONSOLATION OR RESPONSE IS INCREDIBLY DISMISSIVE OF OUR TRAUMA.
WE ARE ASKING YOU TO STAND WITH US, STAND WITH THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS AND STAND WITH THE FOUNDERS OF THIS CITY.
LET'S NOT USE THE PEACE POLL AS A SILENT LONGING FOR PEACE, BUT AS A REMINDER IN 12 LANGUAGES THAT AT TIMES WE HAVE TO STAND TALL AND FIRM.
WELCOME AND I'LL REMIND YOU TO PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
MY ADDRESS IS 5 8 6 0 BURY LANE.
UM, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
AS A LIFELONG DUBLIN RESIDENT, I FIND IT VERY CONCERNING THAT OUR CITY IS STILL SILENT AS WE WATCH 30,000 HUMAN BEINGS BE MASSACRED WHILE ALSO BEING STARVED TO DEATH, WHILE ALSO BEING TRAPPED.
THIS CITY COUNCIL HAS ISSUED STATEMENTS IN SOLIDARITY WITH UKRAINE AND DURING THE BLM MOVEMENT.
SO WHY THE SILENCE NOW WHEN MORE THAN TRIPLE THE AMOUNT OF CHILDREN HAVE DIED IN GAZA, AS HAVE DIED IN UKRAINE AND EXCUSE ME, NOT DIED.
THIS SILENT COMPLICITY TRANSLATES INTO A RHETORIC THAT SOME LIVES MATTER MORE THAN OTHERS, AND THAT DEHUMANIZATION IS A DIRECT THREAT TO OUR SAFETY AND OUR WELLBEING HERE IN DUBLIN, OHIO BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE SEE THE VIDEOS AND THE PICTURES, THEY DON'T SAY, OH, WELL THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT RELATED.
THEY SEE US AS A CONTINUATION OF THOSE PEOPLE, WHETHER WE CHOOSE WHETHER WE LIKE THAT OR NOT.
SO WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, DIRECTING US TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AS YOU DID AFTER THE PRE PREVIOUS MEETING IS DISMISSIVE AND IT'S LIKE PUTTING A BANDAID ON A SEVERED LIMB.
[00:35:01]
THE PROBLEM ISN'T THAT WE NEED HELP COPING WITH OUR EMOTIONS.THE PROBLEM IS IS THAT WE CONTINUOUSLY WATCH.
WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY WATCHING THE BRUTAL AND SADISTIC MURDER OF PEOPLE WHILE OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TURNS A BLIND EYE TO IT, AND THAT IS INCREDIBLY DEHUMANIZING.
THE LEAST THE CITY COULD DO TO SUPPORT US DURING THIS TIME IS TO CALL FOR THE MURDER TO STOP.
MAY YOU NEVER HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO YOUR KIDS WHY THIS WORLD THINKS YOUR LIFE IS WORTH LESS THAN IN ANIMALS.
PLEASE CONSIDER CALLING FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE NOW.
IF YOU'D PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
I LIVE AT UH, 6 7 6 4 BALLER PLACE IN DUBLIN.
UM, AS A PHYSICIAN, I WATCHED THE NEWS COMING OUT OF GAZA AND I CAN'T HELP BUT BE HORRIFIED.
WHAT? BY WHAT I SEE AND WHAT I HEAR TO SEE HOSPITALS DESTROYED UNDER THE NARRATIVE THAT HAMAS IS HIDING IN THEM IS INDEFENSIBLE IS MY PERSONAL BELIEF THAT NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCE, A HOSPITAL SHOULD BE A SAFE SPACE.
HOSPITALS ARE PLACES OF HEALING.
PEOPLE DON'T COME TO US BECAUSE THEY WANT TO.
THEY COME TO US BECAUSE THEY NEED HELP AND THEY'RE SCARED FOR THEIR LIVES.
WHEN PATIENTS COME TO SEE ME, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR BACKGROUND, WHAT THEIR PAST, WHAT CRIMES ARE WRONG, THEY HAVE COMMITTED, THEY CAN EXPECT THAT THEY ARE SAFE WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE HOSPITAL.
AND TO SEE THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SHATTER THAT PROTECTION AND TURN HOSPITAL BUILDINGS INTO RUBBLE IS BEYOND SHOCKING.
HOSPITALS IN GAZA WERE ALREADY UNDERFUNDED, UNDERSTAFFED, UNDER SUPPLIED BEFORE THE WAR.
AND TO NOW SEE WHAT LITTLE THEY HAVE BE RIPPED AWAY IS INEXCUSABLE.
DOCTORS AND NURSES HAVING TO LIE TO PATIENTS, TELL THEM EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE OKAY WHEN THEY KNOW IT WON'T.
PERFORMING SURGERIES AND PROCEDURES WITH NO ANESTHETICS AND HAVING TO DEAL WITH POSTOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS SUCH AS INFECTIONS BECAUSE THERE'S NO SUPPLIES AVAILABLE.
NEWBORNS ARE BEING BROUGHT INTO THIS WORLD WITH THE SOUNDS OF THEIR CRYING BEING DROWNED OUT BY BULLETS AND BOMBS.
HOSPITALS ARE AT RISK OF RUNNING OUTTA ELECTRICITY.
ONE WESTERN PHYSICIAN DESCRIBED A VISIT HE HAD AND A HARROWING STORY OF A YOUNG GIRL WITH BURNS SO BAD THAT YOU COULD SEE HER FACIAL BONES.
SHE HAD NO CHANCE OF SURVIVAL, BUT THERE WAS NO MORPHINE TO GIVE HER.
AND SO NOT ONLY WAS SHE GONNA DIE, SHE WAS GONNA DIE IN AGONY.
ANOTHER PHYSICIAN EXPLAINED THAT YOU COULD PUT A THOUSAND FIELD HOSPITALS IN GHANA, IN GAZA, AND IT WOULD ADDRESS A 10TH OF THE NEEDS.
THESE ARE THE CONDITIONS THAT EVEN THE WORST HOSPITALS IN THE UNITED STATES CANNOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO FATHOMING.
ALL THESE ACCOUNTS ARE FROM OUTSIDERS THAT ONLY VISITED, ONLY THE POOR SOULS OF GAZA KNOW THE TRUE HORROR OF THEIR SITUATION.
AND ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING WHILE THESE ISRAELI ARMY RESTRICTS AID AND VITAL SUPPLIES TO THAT REGION.
DURING COVID, THE HOSPITAL THAT I WORKED AT TOLD US THAT WE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS WERE HEROES FOR STEPPING UP DURING THAT TIME.
BUT WHAT WE DID PALES IN COMPARISON TO WHAT THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS DO IN GAZA.
THEY'RE TRULY PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO DO WHAT LITTLE THEY CAN AND MANY OF THEM ARE LOSING THEIR LIVES.
IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT WE AS CITIZENS ARE FORCED TO FUND THIS ILLEGAL WAR, ILLEGAL WAR WITH OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
THERE ARE CITIZENS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE INADVERTENTLY HAVING TO FUND THE MURDER AND STARVATION OF THEIR OWN FAMILY MEMBERS WITH NO RECOURSE.
WHETHER YOU'RE POLITICAL ASPIRATION SUPPORT ISRAEL OR NOT, THE SHEER ATROCITY SHOULD BE A REASON FOR PAUSE.
YOU CAN BOTH, YOU CAN SUPPORT THE NATION OF ISRAEL AND ITS PEOPLE AND AT THE SAME TIME CONDEMN THE ACTIONS OF ITS GOVERNMENT.
IT'S NO SECRET THAT THERE IS ONE SIMPLE REASON WHY THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT IS ABLE TO ACT WITH SUCH IMPUNITY, AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT OF THIS COUNTRY.
THIS COUNTRY IS THE ONE THAT ENABLES THAT BEHAVIOR, AND THE TRUTH IS THAT ONLY THIS COUNTRY CAN STOP IT.
CHANGE DOES NOT START AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
WE MUST START FROM A LOCAL LEVEL AND SPREAD, SPREAD UPWARDS.
THERE ARE MANY CITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY THAT ARE SLOWLY COMING TO TERMS WITH THE REALITY OF THIS UNENDING CONFLICT.
THIS CITY'S WEBSITE CLAIMS THAT DUBLIN IS THE MOST SUSTAINABLE, CONNECTED AND RESILIENT GLOBAL CITY OF CHOICE.
NOT PASSING A RESOLUTION FOR IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE WOULD BE A CHOICE AND WOULD NORMALIZE THE MURDER OF THOUSANDS OF MORE CIVILIANS.
IT WOULD BE NOTHING, NOTHING SHORT OF COMPLICITY.
LINDSAY WAHIDA ABAZA, WELCOME.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
I THINK IT'S ALREADY ON RIGHT.
WAHIDA ABAZA, 8 0 1 0 BALMORAL COURT.
UH, GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, MAYOR AMRO GROOMS, VICE MAYOR LUDO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.
MY NAME IS WAHIDA ABAZA AND I HAVE BEEN A PROUD DUBLIN RESIDENT FOR THE LAST 16 YEARS.
[00:40:01]
WHILE IN DUBLIN, I HAVE RAISED THREE CHILDREN, AGE 21, 18, AND 16, ALL OF WHOM HAVE ATTENDED DUBLIN CITY SCHOOLS.I'M A PEDIATRICIAN LOCATED IN DUBLIN AND THE MAJORITY OF MY PATIENTS ARE DUBLIN RESIDENTS.
ALL OF THIS JUST TO TELL YOU THAT, UM, MY LIFE HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN.
THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS PUT OUT A STATEMENT AT THE END OF FEBRUARY CALLED PROTECTING CHILDREN AND CONDEMNING HATE DURING TIME OF WAR.
IT'S A VERY LONG STATEMENT, BUT I WILL SUMMARIZE.
ALL CHILDREN DESERVE OUR UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT.
ALL CHILDREN SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM TORTURE AND DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY, INCLUDING EXTENDED DETENTION.
THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS MUST BE UPHELD THROUGH THE MAINTENANCE OF SAFE SPACES FOR CHILDREN, ACCESSIBILITY OF MEDICAL CARE, AND THE PRESENCE OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND SHOULD NEVER BE THE TARGET OF AGGRESSION.
THE POLICY DETAILS BOTH THE SHORT TERM AND LONG, LONG-TERM EFFECTS ON CHILD HEALTH AND WELLBEING.
NOW LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THE CHILDREN IN GAZA ARE ENDURING AT THIS TIME.
OVER 13,000 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN KILLED IN GAZA SINCE OCTOBER 7TH.
OVER 600,000 CHILDREN ARE CURRENTLY TRAPPED IN RAFA.
THERE IS NOWHERE SAFE FOR THEM TO GO.
EVERY SINGLE HOSPITAL AND SCHOOL HAS BEEN BOMBED AND DESTROYED.
THEY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD, WATER, AND MEDICINE.
THEIR HOMES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE BEEN TORN APART.
THEY ARE BEING MAIMED IF NOT KILLED, AND THEIR PARENTS ARE BEING MURDERED IN FRONT OF THEIR EYES.
THEY'RE BEING FORCED TO WATCH THEIR MOTHERS BE RAPED BY DOZENS OF SOLDIERS BEFORE SHE'S KILLED.
THEY'RE BEING LURED TO DEATH BY ISRAELI SOLDIERS WHO ARE PLACING TOYS IN OPEN AREAS AND SNIPING CHILDREN WHO RUN TO THEM.
THEY ARE STARVING TO DEATH IN AN ENTIRELY PREVENTABLE, MANMADE SITUATION.
THEY ARE NOT HAMAS, THEY ARE NOT TERRORISTS, THEY ARE CHILDREN.
I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO COMPREHEND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA OF WHAT THOSE EYES HAVE SEEN, NOR CAN I IMAGINE HOW DIFFICULT IT WOULD BE TO CONTINUE LIFE WITH THOSE MEMORIES IF, IF THEY'RE EVEN GIVEN THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE LIVING IF THIS GEN, IF THIS GENOCIDE IS NOT ENDED.
IN SHORT, NONE OF THE RECOMMENDED SAFEGUARDS PUT OUT BY THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS ARE BEING UPHELD IN GAZA.
IT HAS NEVER BEEN CLEAR THAT WE NEED AN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE, SAFE AND UNRESTRICTED HUMANITARIAN ACCESS TO AND WITHIN THE GAZA STRIP TO REACH THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES.
THE IMMEDIATE, SAFE AND UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF ALL ABDUCTED AND IMPRISONED CHILDREN AND AN IMMEDIATE END TO ALL VIOLATIONS AGAINST CHILDREN, INCLUDING KILLING AND MAIMING.
THE CHILDREN IN GAZA CANNOT WAIT.
EACH MINUTE RISKS ANOTHER CHILD DYING OF HUNGER.
AS THE WORLD WATCHES, STARVATION IS ONE OF THE MOST PAINFUL WAYS TO DIE.
WHAT YOU CAN DO, YOU CAN JOIN THE U US, THE 75 PLUS US CITIES THAT HAVE PASSED RESOLUTIONS CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE INCLUDING AKRON, YELLOW SPRINGS, DAYTON, ATHENS, TOLEDO.
AND AS OF A FEW HOURS AGO, COLUMBUS, OHIO.
LISTEN TO THE 70% OF AMERICANS.
LISTEN TO THE 70% OF AMERICANS THAT SUPPORT A CEASEFIRE.
SHOW THAT YOU CARE ABOUT THE DEATH AND STARVATION OF CHILDREN.
SHOW YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT YOU ARE LISTENING AND THAT YOU HAVE A HEART.
PLEASE DO NOT INSULT US WITH TALK OF MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND A PEACE POLL WHEN THERE IS A LITERAL GENOCIDE BEING COMMITTED.
IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU LOVE, THEN DO IT FOR THOSE CHILDREN BECAUSE ALL CHILDREN DESERVE PROTECTION.
THANK YOU LINDSAY REAGAN, HANOWSKI.
IF YOU'LL PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS REAGAN HANOWSKI AND I LIVE AT 6 8 4 5 AND FIELD TRACE.
I ADDRESS YOU TODAY WITH A PROFOUND SENSE OF DUTY AND URGENCY URGING YOU TO HEED THE CALL OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO TAKE A BOLD STANCE IN SUPPORT OF A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE AND GAZA.
AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU HOLD THE POWER TO AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE STAKES ARE AS HIGH AS THEY ARE NOW.
[00:45:01]
RESONATED DEEPLY WITH ME WHEN YOU SPOKE OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO FORGE LEGACIES THAT TRANSCEND THE CONSTRAINTS OF TIME.NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A LEGACY OF COMPASSION, JUSTICE, AND PEACE BY ISSUING AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT, ADVOCATING FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE AND GAZA, WE DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT TO UPHOLDING THESE PRINCIPLES.
IT IS CRUCIAL THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THE GRAVITY OF THIS SITUATION.
OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE ONGOING CONFLICT, PERPETUATING A CYCLE OF VIOLENCE AND SUFFERING.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF DOUBLE IN TAX REVENUE ARE FUNNELED INTO SUPPORTING THE ISRAELI MILITARY.
A MILITARY ENGAGED IN ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN WIDELY CONDEMNED AS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AND VIOLATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW.
INNOCENT LIVES ARE BEING LOST, FAMILIES TORN APART IN FUTURE SHATTERED.
THE STAGGERING NUMBER OF CHILDREN KILLED IN GAZA IS A STARK REMINDER OF THE IMMENSE HUMAN COST OF THIS CONFLICT, A COST THAT SHOULD COMPEL US TO ACT WITH URGENCY AND CONVICTION.
CONSIDER THIS, THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN KILLED IN GAZA MIRRORS THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WITHIN OUR OWN SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THIS HEARTBREAKING REALITY ONLY FURTHER UNDERSCORES OUR URGENT NEED FOR DECISIVE ACTION BY ISSUING A FORMAL STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE, WE SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE.
WE REFUSE TO BE COMPLICIT IN THE SUFFERING OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS REGARDLESS OF THEIR NATIONALITY OR ETHNICITY.
WE STAND FOR PEACE FOR JUSTICE, AND FOR THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE THAT EVERY HUMAN LIFE IS PRECIOUS AND DESERVING OF PROTECTION.
FURTHERMORE, AS A CHRISTIAN, LIKE MANY OF YOU, I APPROACH THIS CONFLICT WITH THE YNK PERSPECTIVE.
WE CAN TAKE INSPIRATION FROM THE NUMEROUS CHURCHES AND CHURCH COALITIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY CALLED FOR AN END TO THE VIOLENCE.
I AS A DUBLIN CITIZEN JOIN MORE THAN THE 30 LOCAL HEADS OF CHURCHES WHO HAVE COLLECTIVELY DECLARED WE CONDEMN THE PUNISHMENT OPPOSED UPON MORE THAN 2.2 MILLION PALESTINIANS LIVING IN GAZA WHEN ON OCTOBER 8TH THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT CUT OFF WATER, GAS, AND ELECTRICITY, PUTTING EVEN MORE PRESSURE ON A COMMUNITY ALREADY SUFFERING FROM A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, WE ARE CALLED TO ADVOCATE FOR PEACE AND FOR JUSTICE, TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE OPPRESSED AND THE AFFLICTED.
LET US NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF OUR COLLECTIVE VOICE.
BY STANDING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY WE CAN MAKE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THOSE AFFECTED BY THIS INJUSTICE.
LET US SEIZE THIS MOMENT TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY, TO BE AGENTS OF POSITIVE CHANGE AND TO LEAVE BEHIND THE LEGACY OF COMPASSION AND SOLIDARITY THAT TRANSCENDS THE STALENESS OF TIME.
AS YOU YOURSELF SAID, VICE MAYOR, IN THE SPIRIT OF CIVIC DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY, I IMPLORE YOU TO TAKE ACTION WITHOUT DELAY.
LET US RAISE OUR VOICES AND SUPPORTIVE PEACE COUNCIL MEMBERS STAND FOR AN IMMEDIATE IMPERMANENT CEASE FIRING GAZA.
IF YOU'LL PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
I LIVE AT 8 0 1 0 BALMORAL COURT.
GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS MAYOR AROSE GROOMS VICE MAYOR A LUDO.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF A CEASEFIRE TODAY.
I'M A LIFETIME NATIVE OF DUBLIN.
I WENT TO DEER RUN AND THEN TO GRISEL, AND I JUST GRADUATED FROM JEROME LAST YEAR.
I NEVER THOUGHT IN MY 18 YEARS OF DUBLIN SCHOOLING THAT MY HOMETOWN DID NOT CARE IF I LIVED OR DIED.
I FIGURED THAT IT WAS COMMON DECENCY TO CARE WHEN CHILDREN WERE KILLED OR WHEN WOMEN WERE RAPED OR WHEN FAMILIES WERE BOMBED.
I FIGURED THAT AT THE BARE MINIMUM, DUBLIN WOULD CARE IF ITS OWN STUDENTS WERE EXPERIENCING A 200% INCREASE IN HATE CRIMES WHILE ALSO MOURNING THE MASS MURDER OF PALESTINIANS, THE GENOCIDE OF A PEOPLE WHO LOOKED AND TALKED LIKE THEM SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE.
AND YET, AND YET IT IS NOW CLEAR TO ME THAT DUBLIN COULDN'T CARE LESS ABOUT MUSLIM OR PALESTINIAN STUDENTS.
HOW CAN I FEEL A SENSE OF BELONGING IN A TOWN THAT WOULD STAND IDLY BY WHILE MY PEOPLE WERE MURDERED FOR 160 DAYS STRAIGHT? HOW CAN I CALL THIS MY HOME WHEN IT IS CLEAR THAT NOBODY WOULD SPEAK UP IF I WERE KILLED? LET ME REPHRASE.
NOBODY WOULD SPEAK UP AND THEY WOULD SUPPORT MY KILLER UNCONDITIONALLY IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.
IS THIS THE ENVIRONMENT THAT DUBLIN HAS AIMED TO CULTIVATE FOR THEIR STUDENTS? THAT IS NOT WHAT I WAS LED TO BELIEVE.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE PEACE POLL THAT WAS RECENTLY INSTALLED IN KAUFMAN PARK.
IT IS TRULY ABHORRENT THAT A WOODEN STICK SAYING, MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON THIS EARTH IS USED TO ABSOLVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU OF YOUR SILENCE AND COMPLICITY IN THIS ACTIVE GENOCIDE.
A PIECE OF WOOD WITH EMPTY PHRASES IS NOT ENOUGH WHEN YOU HAVE NOT EVEN ADDRESSED THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION THAT STANDS IN ANY FORM, ANY IN THE WAY OF ANY FORM OF PEACE.
[00:50:01]
STATING A DESIRE ON A FOR PEACE ON A WOODEN STICK DOES NOT GUARANTEE ITS REALIZATION, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S SERVED AS A TOKEN GESTURE TO STIFLE GENUINE CALLS FOR PEACE.PEACE IS NOT A PASSIVE PHRASE MEANT TO SIMPLY APPEAR.
IF WISHED FOR HARD ENOUGH, WE MUST FIGHT FOR PEACE.
NEARLY INSTALLING A WOODEN STAKE FALLS SHORT WHEN THE UNDERLYING ISSUES REMAIN UNADDRESSED, HINDERING ANY GENUINE PROSPECTS FOR PEACE.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IF THE POLL IS USED AS A FORM OF APPEASEMENT TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM TRULY CALLING FOR PEACE.
WHEN YOU REDIRECT OUR CALLS FOR A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION POINTING OUT YOUR MEANINGLESS STICK AS RETRIBUTION, YOU ARE STANDING IN THE WAY OF PEACE.
YOU ARE TELLING US THAT YOU WILL DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO ACTIVELY PROMOTE PEACE, BUT WILL INSTEAD CONSTRUCT A USELESS SYMBOL TO APPEASE YOUR OWN GUILT.
ON MARCH 10TH, DUBLIN, OHIO RELEASED A STATEMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UNVEILING OF THE PEACE POOL SAYING THAT THE QUOTE, THE CITY REAFFIRMS ITS DEVOTION TO PEACE AND CONTINUES TO FOSTER A FUTURE THAT IS OPEN, HEALTHY, DIVERSE, AND WELCOMING FOR ALL.
AND YET, YOUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE BEEN HERE FOR WEEKS RALLYING FOR AN ACTUAL SYMBOL OF YOUR DEVOTION THAT YOU HAVE STILL FAILED TO PROVIDE.
THE CITY CANNOT CLAIM TO DEVOTE, DEVOTE ITSELF TO PEACE AND FOSTER AN INCLUSIVE FUTURE WHEN FOR ALL, WHEN ITS SILENCE IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ERASURE OF PALESTINIAN FUTURES.
EACH OF THE 13,000 STUDENTS OR CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN MURDERED BY THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES WANTED THE FUTURE THAT DUBLIN HAS PROMISED.
EACH OF THEM WANTED TO GO TO SCHOOL AND PLAY AND LIVE.
EACH OF THEM WANTED TO LIVE EVERY CHILD LOST TO VIOLENCE.
EVERY INDIVIDUAL DENIED A FUTURE BY CONFLICT REPRESENTS A TRAGIC FAILURE OF THE PEACE THAT DUBLIN CLAIMS TO CHAMPION.
EVENTUALLY, THAT STAKE WITH ITS HOLLOW MESSAGE WILL DECOMPOSE INTO THE SOIL LIKE THE BODIES OF THE OVER 30,000 PALESTINIANS THAT HAVE BEEN BURIED UNDER THE RUBBLE IN THE PAST FIVE MONTHS ALONE.
MY ONLY QUESTION IS, WILL THIS TEMPORARY FORM OF APPEASEMENT BE THE ONLY TRACE OF DUBLIN'S COMMITMENT TO PEACE? WILL WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL OUR CHILDREN LEARN ABOUT THIS IN THE SAME CLASSROOM WHERE I LEARNED ABOUT THE APPEASEMENT AND SILENCE OF THE HOLOCAUST? OR WILL THEY BE ABLE TO STAND FIRM IN THE FACT THAT THEIR HOME DEFENDED LIFE AND JUSTICE? THANK YOU.
THANK YOU LINDSAY RONNIE ABAZA, WELCOME.
IF YOU COULD PLEASE STEP FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS RONNIE ABAZA, EIGHT ZERO ONE ZERO BELMAR COURT.
I WAS BORN IN TOLEDO, OHIO, NOT TOO FAR FROM HERE, AND, UH, MOVED HERE IN 2008 TO MAKE DUBLIN MY HOME.
I'M A UROLOGIST AND I SPECIALIZE IN PROSTATE AND KIDNEY CANCER SURGERY AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE BECOME INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR WHAT I DO.
AND I TELL YOU THAT NOT TO BRAG.
I TELL YOU THAT BECAUSE I'VE SPENT MOST OF MY CAREER HERE IN DUBLIN AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT.
AND I HAVE PEOPLE COMING FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO BEAUTIFUL DUBLIN, OHIO TO HAVE SURGERY WITH ME.
EARLIER THIS MONTH WE ACTUALLY, I DID A ROBOTIC KIDNEY SURGERY AT DUBLIN METHODIST HOSPITAL THAT WE BROADCAST AS A LIVE SURGERY TO ITALY TO A CONFERENCE, A MEDICAL CONFERENCE THERE.
SO, UH, THE WONDERS OF TECHNOLOGY, BUT AGAIN, THESE ARE ALL THINGS JUST FOR US TO BE VERY PROUD OF, UH, AS, UH, AS PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN DUBLIN.
DUBLIN HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL PLACE FOR ME TO, UH, DO WHAT I DO TO, TO BUILD MY CAREER, TO WORK HERE, TO LIVE HERE, TO RAISE MY FAMILY HERE.
AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY.
I ALSO HAVE A ROLE HERE IN THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY.
UH, I'M IN MY FIFTH YEAR NOW AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF NOR ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTER.
UH, WE HAVE A COMMUNITY OF WORSHIPERS THAT EXCEEDS 2000 PEOPLE EVERY FRIDAY AT FOUR DIFFERENT PRAYER SERVICES.
WE, UH, AT OUR TWO, UH, HOLIDAY PRAYER SERVICES EVERY YEAR, UH, WE EXCEED, UH, FIVE TO 8,000 PEOPLE.
OUR EMAIL LIST, WHICH IT'S NOWADAYS, IS A WAY YOU MEASURE THE PROMINENCE OF AN ORGANIZATION.
OUR EMAIL LIST HAS OVER 4,000 PEOPLE ON IT, BUT I'M NOT HERE TONIGHT AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF NOLA CULTURAL CENTER.
I'M NOT HERE AS A MUSLIM AMERICAN.
I'M HERE AS A HUMAN BEING BECAUSE WHAT IS GOING ON IN GAZA IS NOT ONLY IMPORTANT TO PALESTINIANS, IT'S NOT ONLY IMPORTANT TO ARABS OR ARAB AMERICANS.
IT'S NOT ONLY IMPORTANT TO MUSLIMS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALL HUMAN BEINGS OR SHOULD BE IMPORTANT TO ALL HUMAN BEINGS.
AND AS A DUBLIN CITIZEN, SOMEONE WHO PROUDLY CALLS DUBLIN MY HOME, I NEED TO KNOW THAT MY CITY AND MY CITY GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZE MY HUMANITY AND
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THE HUMANITY OF EVERY PERSON REGARDLESS OF THEIR HERITAGE, THEIR RELIGION, OR WHICH SIDE OF A BORDER THEY LIVE ON.YOU'VE HEARD MANY VOICES HERE TONIGHT AND PREVIOUSLY ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT A CEASEFIRE TO ISSUE A CEASEFIRE STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN.
IN DOING SO, YOU WOULD JOIN MANY CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE DONE SO, INCLUDING DETROIT, ATLANTA, CHICAGO, SAN FRANCISCO, MINNEAPOLIS, SEATTLE, ST.
LOUIS, AND CLOSER TO HOME DAYTON, ATHENS AND AKRON.
AND AS YOU HEARD AS OF A COUPLE HOURS AGO, THE CITY OF COLUMBUS, AGAIN, YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT JUST AN ISSUE FOR PALESTINIANS.
THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
IT'S SILLY TO THINK THAT IN FIVE MINUTES I COULD CONVINCE YOU TO DO SO WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU ABOUT THIS AND, AND YOU HAVE YET TO DO SO.
BUT WHAT I'LL TELL YOU IS THAT I'M HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT IT.
OUR COMMUNITY'S HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT IT.
WE'RE HAPPY TO WELCOME YOU AT NOR ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTER.
THANK YOU FOR VISITING US IN THE PAST.
WE WELCOME YOU TO COME AND VISIT.
WE ARE HAPPY TO COME AND VISIT YOU AND TELL YOU MORE ABOUT WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR YOU AS OUR CITY GOVERNMENT, AS OUR LEADERS TO ISSUE THIS STATEMENT.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT I'LL TELL YOU IS THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN GAZA RIGHT NOW IS A ME TOO MOMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S A GEORGE FLOYD MOMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I'VE NEVER SEEN OUR COMMUNITY SO ANGRY AND SO WILLING TO STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT FOR THEMSELVES AS NOW.
AND WE WILL BE HEARD AND WE WILL BE WATCHING AND WE WILL BE VOTING.
THANK YOU LINDSAY NAZA KACHA, WELCOME.
PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
I WOULD LIVE AT 5 7 5 8 FINNEGAN COURT IN DUBLIN.
I'M THE POLICY AFFAIRS MANAGER OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF OHIO.
I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN DUBLIN, OHIO FOR 16 YEARS.
I'VE RAISED MY FAMILY HERE, THEY'VE GONE TO SCHOOL HERE.
UM, AND I'VE, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN REALLY PROUD TO BE, UM, A RESIDENT OF DUBLIN AND I'M HERE CALLING ON THE CITY OF DUBLIN TO PASS A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE IN PALESTINE AND TO END THE ONGOING GENOCIDE IN GAZA.
YOU HAVE TOLD OUR COMMUNITY AND, AND HUMANS WHO HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR AN END TO THIS INJUSTICE THAT THIS IS OUTSIDE OF YOUR JURISDICTION AND THAT WE SHOULD CALL OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND OUR SENATORS IN WASHINGTON DC BECAUSE THIS IS THEIR BUSINESS AND THEIR JOB.
BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THIS ACTUALLY IS YOUR JOB AND THAT IT IS TOTALLY WITHIN THE SCOPE OF YOUR JURISDICTION.
WHAT THIS IS ACTUALLY IS A DEFINING MOMENT IN THIS COUNTRY, IN A MOVEMENT OF JUSTICE.
AND NO MOVEMENT FOR JUSTICE EVER BEGAN IN CONGRESS, EVER BEGAN IN WASHINGTON.
DC EVER BEGAN WITH THE PRESIDENT.
IF YOU CONSIDER MANY MOVEMENTS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, LIKE THE FIGHT FOR WOMEN TO HOLD OFFICE OR THE RIGHT FOR WOMEN TO HAVE A VOTE IN THIS COUNTRY OR THE RIGHT OF WOMEN TO OWN PROPERTY, IF YOU CONSIDER THE FIGHT FOR THE END TO SLAVERY OR TO END SEGREGATION, IF YOU CONSIDER THE FIGHT TO PROTECT WORKERS' RIGHTS, ALL OF THESE WERE GRASSROOTS MOVEMENTS THAT BEGAN IN CITIES AND TOWNS LIKE THIS ONE WHERE PEOPLE TOOK A STAND FOR JUSTICE.
TO BE CLEAR, THERE IS AN ONGOING GENOCIDE IN GAZA IN WHICH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BRUTALLY MASSACRED, AND MORE THAN 1 MILLION PEOPLE ARE FACING IMMINENT STARVED STARVATION BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF THE COLONIST STATE OF ISRAEL THAT ARE ENTIRELY FUNDED AND SUPPORTED BY THE UNITED STATES.
THIS WOULD NOT BE HAPPENING WITHOUT THE ONGOING AND EXPLICIT SUPPORT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE TURNING OF A BLIND EYE BY THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WHO WON'T STAND UP FOR WHAT'S RIGHT.
I AM NOT PALESTINIAN AND I'M NOT ARAB, BUT MY FRIENDS AND MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SEEN HOW DISTRESSED I HAVE BEEN OVER THIS AND I HAVE AND OVER WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE.
AND I'VE RECEIVED MANY MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY AND SUPPORT AND COMPASSION.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS TO TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS EXPECTED, AND YOU ARE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS CITY AND YOU HAVE POWER AS ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS CITY.
YOU ARE IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST INJUSTICE AND HELP TIP THE SCALES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION OR BE
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AMONG THOSE WHO SUPPORTED THE MASS GENOCIDE OF A WHOLE PEOPLE BECAUSE IT WAS TOO UNCOMFORTABLE FOR YOU TO SAY SOMETHING OR TOO DIFFICULT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES AND TO DO THE RIGHT THING.THANK YOU LINDSAY ISHA ACHMED.
PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
UH, 5 5 8 4 IN NEWTON MOORE PLACE.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK MY WONDERFUL CITY OF DUBLIN, OUR MAYOR, OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE OUR VOICES AND HEAR US TALK.
I AM A MUSLIM AMERICAN WOMAN LIVING IN THE BEAUTIFUL CITY OF DUBLIN, 10 YEARS THIS YEAR.
I AM A MOM OF TWO WONDERFUL DAUGHTERS AND BEING A MOTHER IS A REASON THAT BROUGHT ME TO SPEAK HERE TODAY.
I HAVE ALWAYS PRIDED MYSELF ON BEING A PROUD AMERICAN.
HOWEVER, SINCE OCTOBER 7TH, 2023, MY OUTLOOK ON THE WORLD HAS DEFINITELY SHIFTED.
I DIDN'T KNOW MY HEART WAS CAPABLE OF BREAKING THIS MUCH.
I JUST CANNOT WRAP MY HEAD AROUND WHAT I AM WITNESSING HAPPENING.
FOR SIX MONTHS STRAIGHT, A REAL LIFE GENOCIDE IN GAZA UNFOLDING IN MY EYES.
I WAKE UP AND SLEEP TO THE HORRORS OF SEEING ADULTS, CHILDREN AND NEWBORNS.
SOME AS TWO DAYS OLD, BLOWN TO PIECES FROM BOMBS, MANY BURNED TO DEATH AND OTHERS TRAPPED UNDER RUBBLE FOR DAYS BEFORE DYING ALONE.
SCARED AND THIRSTY SCREAMS FROM PARENTS LEARNING OF THEIR CHILDREN AND LOVED ONES BEING KILLED.
AND YET THERE IS NOTHING THAT IS BEING DONE TO STOP THIS.
32,000 PEOPLE KILLED, 13,000 CHILDREN KILLED, AND OVER 17,000 CHILDREN ARE ORPHANED RIGHT NOW IN GAZA, 17,000 INNOCENT ORPHAN CHILDREN, SOME WHO ARE TOO YOUNG TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING AND CONFUSED WHERE THEIR PARENTS ARE ORPHANED CHILDREN, SOME WHO ARE MISSING LIMBS, OTHERS WITH BURNED FACES AND BODIES CRYING IN PAIN WITH NO MEDICAL HELP.
GAZA'S CHILDREN ARE BURNING AND THE WORLD IS SILENT AND NO ONE IS BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
RAMADAN, THIS YEAR IS HEAVY ON OUR HEARTS.
IT IS A SERVING REMINDER OF THE DIRE CONDITIONS IN GAZA.
MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE IN GAZA FACE ACUTE MALNUTRITION.
ONE IN THREE CHILDREN UNDER AGE TWO IS NOW ACUTELY MALNOURISHED.
THERE ARE NEWBORN BABIES WITHOUT FORMULA AND MOTHERS THAT CANNOT BREASTFEED BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE NUTRIENTS TO PRODUCE MILK.
I SEE IMAGES OF PEOPLE BREAKING THEIR FAST WITH ANIMAL FEED AND GROUND UP GRASS AS SOUP BECAUSE THERE IS LITERALLY NOTHING TO EAT.
GRASS THINGS ARE SO DESPERATE.
ONE MOM WAS QUOTED AS SAYING, IF I COULD CUT OFF MY ARM AND FEED MY KIDS, I WOULD.
AND LET ME REMIND YOU, THIS IS NOT A FAMINE DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
IPC HAS STATED THAT IT IS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE EVER RECORDED FACING CATASTROPHIC HUNGER, AND IT IS ENTIRELY MANMADE.
PEOPLE SHOULD UNDERSTAND AS A WORLD CITIZEN, WE SHOULD ALL BE UNITED ON THE ISSUE OF HUNGER.
AND HUNGER SHOULD NEVER BE USED AS A COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT.
NO, THIS IS NOT THE PRICE OF A WAR.
THIS IS A CLEAR VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ON DAY 171.
THESE ARE PEOPLE AND CHILDREN JUST LIKE OURS.
KIDS WHO DESERVE TO HAVE A NORMAL CHILDHOOD, GO TO SCHOOL, GROW UP AND GET OLD.
WHY IS THIS BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM? WHY ARE INNOCENT CHILDREN BEING PUNISHED? 40% OF THE CASUALTIES ARE CHILDREN.
I AM TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO DESCRIBE THE DISSOCIATION THAT OCCURS WHEN WATCHING THE BARB IN GAZA WHILE LIVING IN THE COUNTRY OVERSEEING IT WHERE EVERYONE IS JUST LIVING ON NOR NORMALLY.
I CAN JUST SAY IT FEELS LIKE A DYSTOPIAN WORLD.
I ASK EACH ONE OF YOU WHO HAVE CHILDREN AND DON'T THINK THE EFFECTS OF THE WAR IN GAZA APPLY TO YOU.
ASK YOURSELF, WHEN OUR FUTURE GRANDCHILDREN READ ABOUT THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA AND ASK US, WHAT DID YOU DO TO HELP OR STOP THIS? WHAT WILL YOU SAY? I KNOW YOU'RE WONDERING, OKAY, BUT AMERICA HAS ITS OWN PROBLEMS OR CITY OF DUBLIN HAS ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE RESOLVED.
WHY SHOULD WE GET INVOLVED IN ANOTHER COUNTRY? WE COME TO YOU, OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS BECAUSE YOU HAVE INSTITUTIONAL POWER THAT WE DO NOT.
YOU STANDING UP FOR PALESTINE MATTERS.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY SPEAKING OUT, BY LEARNING ABOUT THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE BEFORE OCTOBER 7TH, 2023, AND EDUCATING OTHERS AND AMPLIFYING OUR VOICES FOR INJUSTICE.
THIS IS WHY I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE DUBLIN IS MY HOME AND CHANGE STARTS AT HOME.
I URGE THE CITY OF DUBLIN TO PLEASE UNITE IN ASKING FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE.
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THANK YOU, LINDSAY.IF YOU COULD PLEASE STEP FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
UM, I COME TO YOU TONIGHT LIKE SO MANY TO SPEAK FOR CEASEFIRE IN GAZA.
UM, I'M A RESIDENT OF DUBLIN SINCE 1992.
WHEN MY PARENTS MET HERE OR WHEN MY PARENTS MOVED HERE.
UM, I WENT TO DUBLIN HIGH SCHOOL BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN IT WAS JUST DUBLIN HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, WENT TO OHIO STATE, UM, WENT TO TOLEDO FOR MED SCHOOL, DID RESIDENCY AT RIVERSIDE, WHERE I MET ANOTHER WONDERFUL DOCTOR, UM, WHO, UH, ASKED ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
I THINK SOMEWHAT BECAUSE UNLIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE SPEAKING HERE, I LOOK LIKE YOU GUYS AND MY HISTORY IS AKIN TO YOU GUYS.
UM, I WILL SAY THAT I DID NOT KNOW THE PLIGHT OF THE PALESTINIANS FOR A LONG TIME.
UM, MY EYES HAVE RECENTLY BEEN OPENED BY COWORKERS OF MINE.
UM, AND WHAT IS GOING ON IS REALLY HARD TO SEE ON A DAILY BASIS.
UM, I'M A PHYSICIAN, I'M A HOSPITALIST.
UM, I'VE WORKED AT RIVERSIDE IN DUBLIN FOR GOING ON 20 YEARS NOW.
UM, TO SEE HOSPITALS BEING BOMBARDED THE WAY THEY ARE, UM, FACILITIES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A PLACE OF REFUGE, A PLACE OF SAFETY, A PLACE THAT PEOPLE CAN GO FOR TREATMENT AND TO SEE THEM BEING BOMBED AND TO NOT BE AN AREA OF SHELTER, UM, BREAKS MY HEART.
I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD MANY STORIES OF THE THE 13,000 CHILDREN THAT HAVE DIED, THE BASICALLY A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE CITIZENS THAT ARE NOW STARVING.
UM, I'M NOT GONNA CONTINUE TO BORE YOU WITH THE, OR NOT BORE YOU.
SORRY THIS IS NOT BORING, BUT I DON'T WANNA, UM, CONTINUE TO REPEAT THE STATISTICS BECAUSE YOU KNOW THEM, YOU CAN SEE THEM.
UM, I JUST WANNA SPEAK TO YOU AS A HUMAN AND ASK FOR CEASEFIRE BECAUSE WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO STAND HERE AND TURN A BLIND EYE TO THIS.
AS HUMANS, WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO LET THIS GO ON.
UM, AS MOTHERS, AS FATHERS, AS PARENTS, WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO, TO LET THIS GO ON AS CITIZENS OF DUBLIN.
WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO TURN A BLIND EYE TO THIS.
UM, I KNOW ALL OF US SAT THROUGH HISTORY YEARS AGO AND WE HEARD THE STORIES OF THE HOLOCAUST AND I KNOW WE ALL PROBABLY PLAYED THAT GAME OF WHAT WE WOULD'VE DONE.
THIS IS OUR CHANCE NOW TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION AS TO WHAT WE WOULD DO.
I ASK FOR YOU TO, TO DEMAND A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA, A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE NOW.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
UM, I WAS HERE LAST TIME AND UM, I WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AGAIN.
UM, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, CITY STAFF, CITY COUNCIL.
UM, LAST TIME I WAS HERE THE CITY MANAGER, MEGAN, NO CALLAHAN MENTIONED.
SHE SPOKE WITH SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS INCLUDING THE SUPER, UM, THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR DUBLIN, MUSLIM, AND ARAB COMMUNITY.
SHE REPORTED BACK THAT THERE WAS NOTHING NOTABLE NEEDING, ADDRESSING.
WHAT SHE FAILED TO MENTION IS THAT SAFETY ALSO INCLUDES WHEN ONE IS ABLE TO GO ABOUT THEIR EVERYDAY LIFE FREE TO BE THEIR AUTHENTIC SELF.
THIS CANNOT BE MEASURED BY A REPORTING BACK FROM THE POLICE, SCHOOL, SUPERINTENDENT OR OTHER STAFF.
THIS TAKES LISTENING TO YOUR COMMUNITY'S VOICE.
I WOULD LIKE TO RELAY A PERSONAL INCIDENT THAT HAS DIRECTLY AFFECTED MY OWN FAMILY.
BACK IN LATE OCTOBER, MY FIRST GRADER WAS RIDING THE PUBLIC SCHOOL BUS HOME AND I KNOW SOMEONE, UM, SOMEBODY MENTIONED THIS EARLIER, SO THIS IS MY STORY ON THEIR BUS DRIVE HOME, THERE WAS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE RECENT EVENTS IN GAZA.
THE BUS DRIVER WAS INNOCENTLY ASKED BY THE CHILDREN, WHY ARE THE KIDS BEING KILLED IN GAZA? WITHOUT HESITATION, HE STATED, BECAUSE THE CHILDREN ARE BEING USED AS HUMAN SHIELDS.
THIS WAS THE RESPONSE TO KINDERGARTNERS AND FIRST GRADERS.
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CHILD? AND TO ME, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT IT SAYS.IT SAYS THAT WE AND ALL OF OUR ANCESTRAL LINEAGE ARE DISP DISPOSABLE.
NOW THIS IS JUST ONE INCIDENT OF A COMMUNITY WORKER WHO HAS BEEN MISLED BY THE MEDIA PROPAGANDA MACHINE AND HAS COMPLETELY LOST THE ABILITY TO SEE PALESTINIAN CHILDREN AS HUMANS.
YET THIS IS THE COMMUNITY MEMBER THAT I HAD ENTRUST IN WITH MY CHILD ON A DAILY BASIS.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, I CAN NEVER TRUST THIS INDIVIDUAL WITH MY SON AND HIS SAFETY.
HE HAS NOT RIDDEN THE BUS SINCE I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MANY MORE COMMUNITY WORKERS, TEACHERS, AND DUBLIN RESIDENTS ARE WALKING AROUND WITH THIS SAME UNEDUCATED, IGNORANT THOUGHT PROCESS AT BEST.
SO I AM HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU DUBLIN, DELVE BEYOND YOUR SCORECARD RATINGS AND ADDRESS THE ACTUAL EXPERIENCES OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THESE UNDERLYING INCIDENTS BY NOT REFERENCING PEACE PULLS, BUT ACTING UPON PEACE AND JUSTICE.
IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH THIS DECISION FOR ANY REASON, I ASK YOU EACH OF YOU TO SIT WITH YOURSELF AND INTERROGATE YOUR OWN COMPLICITY IN THIS GENOCIDE, ARE YOU ABLE TO UNEQUIVOCALLY DENOUNCE A MASS INJUSTICE OF A US FUNDED GENOCIDE AND FORCED HUMAN STARVATION CAMPAIGN? IF NOT, YOU ALSO LOSE THE TRUST AND SUPPORT OF ANY IMMIGRANT OR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY IN THE CITY OF DUBLIN.
YOUR VOICE AND PLATFORM MATTERS.
PEOPLE ARE WATCHING AND REMEMBERING HOW THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS RESPONDED TO GENOCIDE.
STOP FEEDING THE SILENCE BY NORMALIZING BUSINESS AS USUAL.
OUR COMMUNITIES CANNOT LIVE IN FEAR OF UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS.
SILENCE AND OPPOSING CEASEFIRE IS PRO GENOCIDE.
BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY AND JOIN THE OTHER NOW HUNDRED PLUS CITIES, INCLUDING THE CITY OF COLUMBUS FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE.
PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
UM, MY NAME IS LEAN HIRI AND I LIVE AT 6 2 6 0 POST ROAD.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT WHEN MY MOTHER WAS YOUNGER SHE ASKED HER PALESTINIAN FATHER, BENI, WHY PALESTINIANS HAVE SO MANY KIDS? AND HE SAID, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, SOME OF THESE KIDS ARE GONNA END UP IN HOSTAGES IN ISRAELI PRISON CELLS AND SOME WOULD GET KILLED AND ONLY ONE OR TWO WOULD SURVIVE.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE AWARE THAT THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN I OPPRESSED SINCE MUCH EARLIER THAN OCTOBER 7TH.
WHILE ISRAEL CONTINUES TO OCCUPY PALESTINE, PALESTINIANS ARE FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOMELAND OR INTO THE GAZA STRIP.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY GAZA IS THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED PLACES ON EARTH.
THE NUMBERS YOU HEAR TODAY, THE DEATH TOLLS, THE INJURIES, THE DISPLACEMENT, EACH REPRESENT A STORY, A HUMAN BEING WITH A LIFE THAT WAS ONCE AS COMPLEX AND VIVID AS YOUR OWN.
EACH NUMBER IS A REAL TRUE STORY THAT DESERVES TO BE HEARD.
PERHAPS YOU'LL EMPATHIZE MORE IF YOU HEAR A FEW.
MY BELOVED GRANDMOTHER IS A PALESTINIAN NAMED LEILA SHAKI.
SHE GREW UP IN YAH AND AS A LITTLE GIRL, HER FAMILY WAS VERY WEALTHY.
THEY HAD A NICE HOUSE AND THEY OWNED MANY OLIVE TREES AND ORCHARDS AND GARDENS AND ONE DAY THEY WENT TO VISIT HER UNCLE'S HOUSE IN THE WEST BANK.
THEY STAYED THERE FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEY COULD NEVER GO BACK HOME.
IT WAS NOT SAFE IN YHA THEIR HOMETOWN.
SO HER AND HER FAMILY HAD TO PICK UP EVERYTHING THEY HAD WITH THEM AND GO TO JORDAN
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WHERE THEY LIVED IN A HOUSE WITH TWO BEDROOMS ALONG WITH ANOTHER FAMILY.THERE WERE TWO FAMILIES EACH WITH AROUND NINE PEOPLE AND THEY HAD TO SHARE THAT HOME AND THEY HAD TO START FROM SCRATCH.
I'LL ALSO TELL YOU ABOUT MY GRANDFATHER, BASSEM AND DEJANI.
HIS FAMILY LIVED IN WEST JERUSALEM OUTSIDE THE WALL OF THE OLD CITY.
THEIR FAMILY WERE KNOWN AS THE CARETAKERS OF THE BUILDING WHERE JESUS HAD HAD THE LAST SUPPER IN THE KEY HOLDERS OF THE GATE OF DAVID.
THAT WAS THEIR ROLE FOR OVER 700 YEARS.
WHEN HE WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD, BASIM EL DEJANI AND HIS FAMILY WERE KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOME AS A ILLEGAL SETTLER.
TOOK IT OVER, THEY THEN MOVED TO LEBANON.
AT THE LAST MEETING YOU BASICALLY SAID THAT NO ONE HAS REACHED OUT TO ANYONE IN CHARGE ABOUT HOW THIS CONFLICT HAS AFFECTED THEM.
THAT'S NOT A REALLY GOOD THING TO SAY.
THAT'S A HORRIBLE THING TO SAY.
IT'S SO DEGRADING, IT'S SO INVALIDATING.
IF WE WEREN'T AFFECTED BY THIS, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE.
ME AND SO MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN GREATLY IMPACTED BY THE ONGOING GENOCIDE IN REZA.
THIS GENOCIDE HAS CAUSED ME TO HAVE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISTRESS ALONG WITH SO MANY OTHERS.
WHAT'S WORSE IS THAT I OFTEN FIND MYSELF FROWNING AND GUILTY IN THE MIDDLE OF A HAPPY MOMENT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE OF GAZA WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE ANY FEELINGS EVER AGAIN.
I DON'T WANNA GO OUT 'CAUSE I FEEL LIKE I SHOULDN'T.
FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS, I FELT HOPELESS, ISOLATED, WATCHED, IMPOSED UPON, SILENCED, AND AS IF MY OPINIONS AND FEELINGS DON'T MATTER.
I HAVE HEARD SIMILAR AND WORSE FROM OTHERS SINCE THE GENOCIDE BEGAN.
LET ME HELP YOU UNDERSTAND SOMETHING.
I TOLD YOU THE STORY OF MY GRANDPARENTS AND HOW SO MANY PALESTINIANS ARE PUSHED INTO GAZA.
IF MY RELATIVES HAD MADE DIFFERENT CHOICES, I COULD BE IN GAZA RIGHT NOW.
I AM DEEPLY AWARE OF THAT FACT, DEEPLY AWARE THAT I COULD BE ONE OF THOSE DEATHS YOU IGNORED, THAT YOU COULD BE STARVING ME TO DEATH BY STAYING SILENT, THAT I COULD BE LIVING IN A TENT, THAT THAT COULD BE ME CRUSHED UNDER THE RUBBLE OF WHAT WAS ONCE MY HOME.
THAT MY FAMILY MEMBERS COULD BE SLAUGHTERED RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY EYES, THAT I COULD BE AMPUTATED WITHOUT ANESTHETIC, THAT THAT COULD BE ME BLOWN TO BITS.
I'M JUST ASKING YOU TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
BY PASSING A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION, YOU'RE GONNA LIGHTEN THE PAIN AND HELP YOUR CITIZENS FEEL MUCH, MUCH BETTER.
I WILL FEEL SO MUCH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WORD IS FOR THIS.
I WOULD JUST FEEL SO MUCH HAPPIER AND MORE ABLE TO ENJOY THE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE IF I KNOW THAT I DID WHAT I COULD AND I GOT YOU GUYS TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE.
THE MORE CITIES THAT CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE, THE MORE LIKELY IT IS TO HAPPEN.
JUST ONE OF THE MANY POINTS PRESENTED TO YOU TODAY SHOULD BE REASON ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE PERMANENT AND TO THE GENOCIDE IN REZA.
THANK YOU LINDSAY RA ARI, WELCOME.
PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
LAST TIME WE CAME HERE ASKING FOR A CEASEFIRE AND YOU TOLD US THAT THE CITY HAS SAFE SPACE, RESOURCES AND A SYMBOL FOR PEACE AS A PEACE PULL AT THE KAUFFMAN PARK.
AS A RESIDENT OF DUBLIN, FEELING UNSAFE BECAUSE MY CITY WON'T CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA, I VISITED SAFESPACE DUBLIN.ORG.
I WENT THROUGH THE WEBSITE AND I FOUND ONLY ONE SOLUTION FOR MY SAFETY CALLING A NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER.
BUT WOULD THAT REALLY MAKE ME FEEL SAFE WHILE FEELING DISTRAUGHT AND DEVASTATED, THE SUGGESTED RESOURCE DID NOTHING TO INSTILL A SENSE OF SAFETY IN ME.
WHAT COULD I POSSIBLY TELL THE PERSON ON THE OTHER LINE? SHOULD I RECOUNT THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED AND HOW EVERY DAY I WATCH THE NUMBER GET BIGGER AND BIGGER WHILE I'M HELPLESS TO DO ANYTHING? SHOULD I DESCRIBE THE HAUNTING IMAGES OF STARVING CHILDREN SO SKINNY, YOU CAN SEE THEIR BONES.
SHOULD I SHARE THE STORY OF THE THOUSANDS STUCK UNDER THE RUBBLE? HOW COULD A MERE PHONE CALL ALLEVIATE THE SENSE OF INSECURITY THAT FOLLOWS ME EVERY
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DAY? WOULD ANY OF THAT REALLY MAKE ME FEEL SAFE? IT WOULDN'T.WHAT WOULD MAKE ME FEEL SAFE AND AS THOUGH MY CITY TRULY CARED FOR MY SAFETY IS IF YOU CALLED FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN PALESTINE.
THE OTHER RESOURCE THE CITY HAD INFORMED US ABOUT WAS THE PEACE POOL.
AFTER THE LAST MEETING, I VISITED THE PEACE BLOCK KAUFMAN PARK, A POLL.
I REALIZED I PASSED DAILY ON MY WAY TO SCHOOL.
THE WORDS MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH ARE INSCRIBED ON THIS POLL.
BUT STANDING THERE I HAD AN OVERWHELMING FEELING.
IT WASN'T CALMNESS OR SAFETY AND IT SURELY WASN'T PEACE.
THOSE EMPTY WORDS FELT LIKE A SLAP ACROSS MY FACE.
HOW CAN PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH WHEN THE PEOPLE LIKE YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR HAVE THE POWER TO END THE VIOLENCE AND BRING PEACE BUT CHOOSE NOT TO? HAS OUR COMING WEEK AFTER WEEK TAUGHT YOU NOTHING? HAVE YOU HEARD NOTHING OF WHAT WE'RE SAYING? WE'RE COMING.
WE COME ASKING YOU TO CARE ABOUT US, TO LISTEN TO US, BUT YOU HAVEN'T DONE THAT AT ALL.
HOW IS YOUR ID IDEA OF SAFETY, AN OLD RESOLUTION THAT IS UNRELATED TO OUR SITUATION? IF YOU ATTEMPT TO USE THIS PAST RESOLUTION AS AN EXCUSE, AT LEAST EXPLAIN HOW IT APPLIES TO THIS CURRENT SITUATION.
THE DUBLIN SAFE SPACE RESOURCES DO NOT MAKE ME FEEL SAFE.
THE PEACE KAUFMAN DOES NOT MAKE ME FEEL SAFE.
YOUR WORDS RING HOLLOW IN THE ABSENCE OF MEANINGFUL ACTION.
NONE OF THE EMPTY PROMISES YOU MAKE ARE MAKING ME FEEL SAFE.
IF ANYTHING, THEY MAKE ME FEEL AS THOUGH MY CITY DOES NOT CARE ABOUT ME BECAUSE THEY'RE UNWILLING TO TAKE ACTION.
I WANT YOU TO HEAR WHAT I'M SAYING, WHAT WE'RE ALL SAYING, AND PASS A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION TO MAKE ME AND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS IN THE CITY FEEL SAFE AGAIN.
WHEN YOU GO TO BED TONIGHT, LAYING YOUR HEADS ON SOFT PILLOWS TUCKED INTO YOUR WARM BLANKETS, SURROUNDED BY FOUR STURDY WALLS AND COVERED BY A STRONG ROOF, YOUR STOMACH'S FULL OF FOOD AND YOUR HEART'S FULL OF HOPE FOR TOMORROW.
I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THE CHILDREN, THE MEN, THE WOMEN OF REDA TO WHOM A PILLOW IS A FORGOTTEN LUXURY.
THEY'RE BLANKETS, NOTHING BUT A PLASTIC TARP SURROUNDED BY THE RUBBLE OF WHAT WAS ONCE THEIR WALLS AND THE NICE SKY SERVING AS THEIR ROOF, THEIR STOMACH'S EMPTY AND THEIR HEART FULL OF HOPE JUST TO SURVIVE.
PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
I LIVE AT 1 11, 1 15 PLUM RIDGE PLACE AND I GO TO DUBLIN DUR HIGH SCHOOL.
I UNDERSTAND THE WEIGHT OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AND YOUR TIME HERE TODAY, AND I JUST APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US TO SHARE OUR VOICES.
I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT EVERY ISSUE, INCLUDING THE ONE IN PALESTINE IS TIED WITH COMPLEXITY AND NUANCE.
AND HOWEVER, WE MUST REALIZE THAT FIVE MONTHS INTO A GENOCIDE, WE MUST SHIFT OUR FOCUS FROM USELESSLY DEBATING THE CONFLICT TO TAKING DI DIVISIVE ACTION TOWARDS PEACE.
YOU MAY WONDER WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR AMIR CITY COUNCIL TO TALK ABOUT A GLOBAL ISSUE ABROAD? YOUR STANCE ON PALESTINE IS MEANT TO REPRESENT YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND THE VALUES AND ALL OF OUR BELIEFS.
AND GIVEN THE SHEER AMOUNT OF PEOPLE HERE TODAY, SPEAKING AND BEING VOCAL ABOUT PALESTINE ALL THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT DUBLIN IS FOR A CEASEFIRE NOW MORE THAN EVER.
IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE USE OUR OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE OUR INFLUENCE AND BE A CATALYST FOR CHANGE ON A GLOBAL SCALE.
I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN THAT ADVOCATING FOR A CEASEFIRE IN PALESTINE MAY INVITE BACKLASH AND OPPOSITION.
HOWEVER, IF YOU'RE SO AFRAID TO JEOPARDIZE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS OR RISK YOUR REPUTATIONS BECAUSE YOU REFUSE TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE, I URGE YOU TO REMEMBER THAT THROUGHOUT HISTORY, FREEDOM HAS NEVER BEEN POPULAR.
FREEDOM HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONTROVERSIAL.
AND WHILE YOU ARE SO AFRAID OF NEGATIVE BACKLASH OR A FEW NEGATIVE COMMENTS, THE PEOPLE IN PALESTINE ARE ALREADY PAYING THE PRICE WITH THEIR LIVES, WITH THEIR HOMES, AND WITH THEIR ANCESTRY.
IT SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED CONTROVERSIAL TO WANT A GENOCIDE TO END.
I SHOULD NOT FEEL CRAZY FOR WANTING INNOCENT BABIES TO DIE OR TO, TO CONTINUE TO LIVE.
AND I SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED RADICAL FOR WANT, FOR WANTING MY CITY TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE.
[01:25:10]
THANK YOU, LINDSAY.PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
ASAD DEJANI, 62 60 POST ROAD, DUBLIN, OHIO.
THIS IS MY, UH, SECOND TIME HERE.
MY DAUGHTERS HAS SPOKEN WITH YOU GUYS THREE TIMES.
ON NOVEMBER 12TH, THERE WAS A GLOBAL STRIKE TO TRY AND BRING ATTENTION TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
AND ON THAT DAY, MY KIDS DECIDED TO JOIN THE STRIKE.
SO I SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL THAT MY KIDS ATTEND TO, EVERY COUNSELOR, TO EVERY VICE PRINCIPAL, TO EVERY SINGLE TEACHER OF THEIR TEACHERS STATING THAT MY KIDS ARE NOT COMING TO SCHOOL THAT DAY BECAUSE THEY'RE PART OF THAT STRIKE.
AND I PUT IN THE EMAIL THE HISTORY THAT THEY JUST SHARED WITH YOU ABOUT HOW THEIR GRANDPARENTS HAVE BEEN EXPELLED FROM THEIR HOMELAND ABOUT HOW THEIR COUSINS GRANDPARENTS WERE KILLED.
ONE OF THEM WAS KILLED IN 1967 AND THE OTHER WAS KILLED IN 1968 AND THOU, AND ALSO HOW THEIR OTHER COUSIN FAMILY HAS LOST 40 MEMBERS FROM THEIR FAMILY.
IN REZA, I RECEIVED TWO RESPONSES AND SINCE THAT DAY, NOT A SINGLE TEACHER OR COUNSELOR KEPT CHECKING ON THOSE KIDS, NONE EXCEPT ONE TEACHER FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL.
SO WHEN YOU SAY THAT YOU REACHED OUT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HE STATED THERE WAS NO REPORTS OR WHATEVER THAT WORDING THAT HE USED, THAT MEANS WE DO NOT, YOU DO NOT LISTEN TO US, YOU DO NOT SEE US.
LAST TUESDAY, FOUR MORE MEMBERS WERE KILLED.
THIS MORNING I DROPPED MY CHILD, MY FIRST GRADER TO SCOTTISH CORNERS BEFORE I WENT TO SEE AND TAKE CARE OF MY PATIENTS.
THERE WAS A PEACE POLE IN FRONT OF SCOTTISH CORNERS.
I STOOD THERE WITH HIM IN FRONT OF THIS PEACE POLE.
HE ASKED ME, WHAT ARE YOU DOING, MOM? I SAID, I WAS REFERRED TO THIS PEACEFUL BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ZA.
AND HE SAID, HOW IS THAT GONNA HELP MOM? I SAID, I DON'T KNOW.
I'LL ASK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO TONIGHT WHEN I SEE THEM.
PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
I LIVE AT 5 5 8 9 NEWTON MOORE PLACE.
UH, THROUGHOUT MY SPEECH, I'M GONNA BE DIRECTLY QUOTING BOTH THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER FOX.
IF YOU'D LIKE PROOF OF ANY OF THESE QUOTES, I CAN UH, PROVIDE THEM.
SO A FEW WEEKS AGO WE SPOKE AT A MEETING HERE.
I SPOKE FOR THREE MINUTES AND I DISCUSSED THE INHUMANE ACT BEING COMMITTED IN THE GAZA STRIP.
I SPENT AN HOUR OF MY AFTERNOON PREPARING TO SPEAK HERE.
UH, I'M A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WHO HAS MANY OTHER THINGS TO DO, BUT THIS WAS CLEARLY MORE IMPORTANT.
UH, I CAME UP TO THIS VERY PLATFORM AND I TALKED TO YOU, MY ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT ME.
I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THE ATROCITIES THAT ARE BEING COMMITTED EVERY DAY IN GAZA TO MY FELLOW PALESTINIANS.
I WAS NERVOUS TO TALK TO YOU AND DELIVERED MY SPEECH WITH A SHAKE TO MY VOICE.
I ADDRESSED YOU WITH KINDNESS AND
[01:30:01]
RESPECT, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH I'VE LOST.I GAVE YOU EVERYTHING THAT I HAD AND YOU RESPONDED WITH, AND I QUOTE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PASSION.
SPEAKING TO YOU GUYS RESPECTFULLY IS NOT MY PASSION.
WE LEFT THIS VERY ROOM DISCOURAGED AND ANGRY.
A GROUP OF KIDS COME IN HERE BRAVE ENOUGH TO TALK TO OUR REPRESENTATIVES, AND WE WERE GIVEN THIS ILL THOUGHT OUT RESPONSE.
THEN TWO WEEKS AGO, WE BROUGHT IN OUR ADULTS.
WE BROUGHT OUR PARENTS, OUR MENTORS AND OUR LEADERS.
WE THOUGHT THAT IF YOU DIDN'T LISTEN TO US, YOU WOULD LISTEN TO THEM.
THEY SPENT ABOUT TWO HOURS DELIVERING THEIR SPEECHES.
THEY GIVE YOU HORROR STORY AFTER HORROR STORY OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN GAZA.
YOU STARED AT THEM WITH NO EXPRESSION AND NO EMOTION.
MY NEIGHBOR, AMMAR, HE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT A GIRL WHO HAD HER LEG AMPUTATED WITH NO ANESTHESIA.
YOU STARED AT HIM WITH A BLANK FACE THE SAME WAY THAT YOU STARE AT ME RIGHT NOW.
YOU ACTED AS IF WHAT HE WAS SAYING WAS NORMAL.
WE TOLD YOU STORY AFTER STORY.
WE TALKED ABOUT DEATH, DESTRUCTION AND BOMBING.
YOU STAR AT US AS IF WE WERE CRAZY.
MANY PEOPLE BROKE DOWN ON THIS IN THIS VERY SPOT BECAUSE WHAT THEY WERE SAYING WAS SO HEARTBREAKING.
YOU CALLED US ONE AFTER ANOTHER WAITING TO GET THIS OVER WITH SO YOU COULD DISCUSS THE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS ON YOUR AGENDA.
YOU REFERRED US TO A MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH US.
WE ARE CALLING FOR A STOP TO THE KILLING.
ANYONE WHO IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE KILLING OF 30,000 INNOCENT CIVILIANS IS THE ONE WHO SHOULD BE REFERRED TO THESE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
AFTER HEARING ALL OF OUR SPEECHES, YOU GAVE US AN EXTREMELY INSENSITIVE RESPONSE THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WHAT WE WERE SAYING, THE MAYOR SAID, AND I QUOTE, WE REALLY CAN'T REITERATE ENOUGH HOW MUCH WE VALUE HEARING FROM OUR RESIDENTS AND THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT WE HAVE TO ONGOING DIALOGUE HERE IN THE CITY WITH EACH OF YOU END QUOTE, IF YOU VALUED OUR VOICES AND WHAT WE HAD TO SAY, THEN LISTEN TO WHAT I'M SAYING RIGHT NOW.
WE STAND HERE BEFORE YOU ASKING FOR A CEASEFIRE.
WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU TO ISSUE A STATEMENT SIDING WITH ANYBODY.
WE ARE ASKING YOU TO SIDE WITH PEACE.
WE ARE ASKING YOU TO PASS A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN GAZA.
IN FACT, WE ARE NO LONGER ASKING.
THAT MEANS YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO US.
WE ARE PERSISTENT AND WE'LL BE HERE EVERY OTHER WEEK UNTIL OUR DEMANDS ARE MET.
IN YOUR RESPONSE, YOU ALSO STATED, AND I QUOTE, WE WERE, WE REAFFIRM THE CITY OF DUBLIN'S COMMITMENT TO PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG ALL PEOPLE.
THIS STEADFAST DEDICATION IS EXEMPLIFIED BY OUR ACTIONS, OUR SERVICES, AND OUR INITIATIVES.
CLEARLY YOU DO NOT SIDE WITH PEACE THROUGH REFUSING TO PASS A RESOLUTION, CALLING FOR PEACE, UH, YOU SIDE WITH DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.
AND NO, YOUR PEACE POOL IN THE, IN THE KAUFMAN PARK DOES NOT SHOW THAT YOU SIDE WITH PEACE OR PERHAPS LET ME BE MORE SPECIFIC.
YOU DO NOT SIDE WITH PEACE WHEN IT HAS TO DO WITH THOSE WHO ARE A DIFFERENT COLOR THAN YOU.
MAYBE IF IT WAS IRELAND AND NOT PALESTINE, MAYBE THEN YOU WOULD BE CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE.
IF YOU WERE ON THE SIDE OF PEACE LIKE YOU CLAIM TO BE, YOU WOULD'VE, YOU WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE.
YOU ALSO HAVE SAID THAT, AND I QUOTE, DUBLIN HAS A RESOLUTION THAT COMBATS INTOLERANCE, NEGATIVE STEREOTYPING AND DISCRIMINATION.
YOU ARE REFERRING TO, UH, RESOLUTION 37 DASH 17.
AND I DON'T SEE HOW THIS IS RELEVANT TO THE MATTER AT HAND.
WE ARE CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE.
WE ARE NOT CALLING FOR THE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION OF ANYONE OR ANYTHING.
A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION WOULD NOT PROMOTE DISCRIMINATION.
IT WOULD IN FACT PROMOTE PEACE THROUGH, THROUGH REFERENCING THIS RESOLUTION, YOU PORTRAY US AS RADICALS WHO ARE CALLING FOR DESTRUCTION AND DISCRIMINATION.
WE AREN'T CALLING FOR ANYTHING THAT GOES AGAINST THIS RESOLUTION.
WE ARE CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE.
IF YOU THINK THAT WE ARE CALLING FOR ANYTHING THAT DO WITH DISCRIMINATION, YOU ARE WRONG.
THE DEFINITION OF A CEASEFIRE IS AS FOLLOWS, A TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF FIGHTING, TYPICALLY ONE DURING WHICH PEACE TALKS TAKE PLACE THIS DEFINITION STRAIGHT FROM THE OXFORD DICTIONARY.
AND I PERSONALLY DON'T SEE HOW THIS PROMOTES ANY TYPE OF DISCRIMINATION.
NOW, MANY OF US HAVE ALSO REACHED OUT TO YOU VIA EMAIL.
WE RECEIVE THE SAME ILL THOUGHT OUT RESPONSES THAT YOUR ACTIONS CONTRADICT.
HONESTLY, AS A SOPHOMORE IN HIGH SCHOOL, I COULD HAVE GIVEN A MORE COMPASSIONATE AND WELL THOUGHT OUT RESPONSE.
COUNCIL MEMBER FOX SAID, AND I QUOTE, REST ASSURED, YOUR DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL IS LISTENING ATTENTIVELY TO YOUR CONCERNS.
AND WE STAND FIRM IN OUR COMMITMENT TO PEACE, HARMONY, AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG ALL PEOPLE IN OUR CITY END.
CLEARLY THE DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT PRACTICE WHAT THEY PREACH.
YOU CLAIM THAT YOU LISTEN ATTENTIVELY TO OUR CONCERNS.
I DON'T EVEN SEE THAT WHEN I'M STANDING HERE BEFORE YOU, YOU BLANKLY STARE AT US EVERY FEW MINUTES.
YOU'LL EVEN TAKE A PEEK AT YOUR PHONES CHECKING MAYBE ON YOUR FAVORITE BASKETBALL TEAMS IN MARCH.
YOU DON'T CARE BECAUSE THE MATTER
[01:35:01]
DOES NOT DIRECTLY AFFECT YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES.MAYBE IF YOUR FAMILY WAS TRAPPED IN, TRAPPED IN GAZA, THEN YOU WOULD CHOOSE TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE.
YOU ALSO CLAIM TO STAND WITH PEACE.
IF YOU TRULY STAND WITH PEACE, THEN PLEASE CALL FOR A PERMANENT AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN GAZA.
PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
SO, UH, I WORK AT A LOCAL TECHNOLOGY COMPANY HERE AND, UH, MY WIFE OWNS A DENTAL PRACTICE, UH, HERE IN DUBLIN.
UM, WE'VE BOTH BEEN HERE ABOUT 10 YEARS.
UM, THANK YOU FOR, FOR LETTING US SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT.
UH, JUST HAD A COUPLE WORDS HERE.
UM, IN THE P SOLEMN EMBRACE OF NIGHT WHERE SHADOWS WHISPER, AND THE WORLD SEEMS TO HOLD ITS BREATH, THE HEART CANNOT HELP BUT WEEP FOR THE AGONY.
UNFURLING FAR FROM OUR SHORES, YET SO CLOSE TO OUR SPIRIT.
THIS WAR, A TEMPEST OF SORROW AND LOSS DEMANDS MORE THAN MERE OBSERVATION FROM US.
IT BESEECHES OUR COLLECTIVE SPIRIT TO RISE, TO WEAVE THE THREADS OF HOPE INTO THE TORN FABRIC OF HUMANITY.
WITH THE UNITED NATIONS RECENT PA, PLEA FOR CEASEFIRE, A FRAGILE DON BECKONS, SHALL WE THE PEOPLE OF DUBLIN, OHIO NOT JOIN IN THE CHORUS OF THE WORLD'S LONGING IN PEACE? I AM HERE NOT MERELY AS A CITIZEN, BUT AS A VESSEL OF THE COLLECTIVE HEARTACHE AND HOPE THAT PULSES THROUGH THIS.
OUR STREETS, OUR CITY, A MOSAIC OF LIVES AND DREAMS STANDS ON THAT PRECIPICE OF A PROFOUND CHOICE.
TO EXTEND OUR HANDS IN AN EMBRACE OF PEACE BY SUPPORTING THE CEASEFIRE IS TO AFFIRM THE SANCTITY OF EVERY BREATH STIFLED BY CONFLICT.
HOW CAN WE REMAIN SILENT IN THE FACE OF SUCH SUFFERING? TO CHOOSE SILENCE IS TO LET HOPE SLIP THROUGH OUR FINGERS.
SILENCE IS LIKE CLOSING OUR EYES, LEAVING US IN A WORLD WHERE DAWN NEVER BREAKS.
LET US AS THE COMMUNITY OF DUBLIN BE THE DAWN THAT DISPELS THIS DARKNESS BY ISSUING A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE UN CEASEFIRE.
WE EXTEND A PROMISE OF SOLIDARITY, A VOW THAT CRIES, THAT THE CRIES OF THE INNOCENT DO NOT GO UNHEARD.
THAT THEIR TEARS DO NOT GO UNSEEN.
THIS RESOLUTION IS OUR TESTAMENT TO THE WORLD AND TO OUR OWN HEARTS, THAT IN THE SYMPHONY OF HUMANITY, OUR VOICES RISE IN A SOLEMN VOW.
FOR PEACE, FOR COMPASSION, FOR THE CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION ITSELF TO BE CHERISHED.
A SINGLE NOTE IN THE VASTNESS OF THE UNIVERSE, CARRIES THE WEIGHT OF A THOUSAND SILENCED PRAYERS.
IT IS A BEACON FOR THE WEARY, A LIGHTHOUSE FOR SOULS ADRIFT IN A STORM OF DESPAIR.
LET THE ANNALS OF HISTORY REMEMBER DUBLIN, NOT JUST AS A WITNESS, BUT A BEARER OF LIGHT IN THE DARKEST OF TIMES.
THIS IS OUR MOMENT TO TRANSCEND, TO REACH BEYOND THE CONFINES OF OUR DAILY LIVES AND TOUCH THE ESSENCE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A HUMAN.
OUR LEGACY AWAITS, LET IT BE ONE OF UNWAVERING LIGHT IN THE FACE OF DARKNESS.
PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
I LIVE 7 7 1 1 SCHOOL WAY COURT.
AS A DUBLIN RESIDENT, I DON'T FEEL SAFE.
YOU GUYS WISHED US A RAMADAN KAREEM, BUT I CAN'T HAVE A RAMADAN KAREEM.
WHEN I DON'T FEEL SAFE, I DON'T FEEL SAFE KNOWING THAT MY PEOPLE ARE BEING CARED, UH, KILLED, AND THAT MY CITY DOESN'T CARE ENOUGH ABOUT MY SAFETY TO SPEAK AGAINST IT.
RIGHT NOW, SINCE OCTOBER 7TH, 32,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED AND 40% ARE
[01:40:01]
CHILDREN.FOUR WEEKS AGO, MY FRIENDS AND I ATTENDED THE DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL MEDIAN FOR THE SAME REASON, ASKING YOU GUYS TO PASS A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION.
IT HAS BEEN FOUR WEEKS AND STILL THERE IS NO CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION.
THINK OF THE LIVES YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR, THE LIVES YOU COULD HAVE HELPED SAVE IF YOU LISTENED TO US FOUR WEEKS AGO.
I HOPE YOU LISTENED TO US FOR THE THIRD TIME AND ACTUALLY TAKE OUR WORDS INTO CONSIDERATION AND CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE AT THE NEXT MEETING.
WE EXPECT TO SEE A VOTE FOR A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION ON THE AGENDA, AND IF YOU DON'T, YOU HAVE FAILED US.
PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
A ABU ARO 6 5 9 5 BLACK HEART LANE.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY.
I AM A, A SENIOR CARDIOLOGIST.
I WORK WITH A MAJOR HEALTH SYSTEM HERE IN TOWN.
I WAS BORN IN GAZA, UH, LONG TIME AGO, 1964.
AND YOU KNOW, GAZA WAS OCCUPIED BY ISRAEL IN 1967.
SO I GREW UP UNDER THE OCCUPATION JUST TO IMAGINE GROWING UP UNDER THE OCCUPATION.
IMAGINE IF MEXICO COMES WITH THEIR TANKS AND JEEPS AND GUNS AND OCCUPY THIS COUNTRY AND YOU LIVE UNDER THEIR CONTROL, THEIR GUNS.
AND MANY TIMES I WOULD BE WALKING IN THE STREET, I GET PULLED BY THE AUSTRALIA SOLDIER, STAND ON THE WALL AND SEARCH YOU, HUMILIATE YOU.
SO THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HUMILIATED FOR 75 YEARS.
I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GO TO MEDICAL SCHOOL AND I DID MEDICAL SCHOOL OUTSIDE IN, UH, IN SYRIA.
THEN I WENT BACK AND I DID MY, UH, FELLOWSHIP, MY INTERNSHIP AT SHIVA HOSPITAL, THE IN FAMOUS SHIVA HOSPITAL YOU HEAR ABOUT.
SO, SO I WORKED WHOLE YEAR AS AN INTERN AT SHEVA HOSPITAL AND I GOT TO KNOW THOSE PHYSICIANS.
THEN I CAME AFTER THE, UH, AMERICAN DREAM AND AFTER I SPECIALIZED HERE, I NEVER FORGOT GAZA ON MY HOME.
I USED TO GO EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND WORK WITH THOSE PHYSICIANS.
SO WHEN THE ISRAELI ATTACK SHIP HOSPITAL, IT, IT WAS, IT MEANT SPECIAL MEANING TO ME.
THOSE PHYSICIAN, I WORKED WITH THEM AND I KNOW THEM BY NAME LIKE DR.
ANJA WHO LED THE ONCOLOGY DEPARTMENT, THE ISRAEL.
HE LIVED IN RAMEL NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE MY WI MY WIFE LIVES.
THE ISRAELI PULLED HIM OUT OF HIS HOUSE, HAD DIDN'T STAND ON THE WALL, THEY SHOT HIM WITH HIS WIFE.
THOSE PEOPLE, I KNOW THEM AND I WORKED WITH THEM.
IT WAS SO PAINFUL AND THEY WERE RETIRED.
IT'S LIKE, LIKE THEY HAVE GUNS OR ANYTHING OR ANY, OR ANY, ANY POLITICAL ACTIVITY EVEN SO, UH, AND I, I TALK TO THOSE PEOPLE ALL THE TIMES.
CAN YOU IMAGINE IF YOU ARE A DOCTOR AND, AND YOU HAVE AN INJURED CHILD AND YOU CANNOT, YOU LOOK AT THE CHILD, YOU CANNOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THERE ARE NO RESOURCES.
'CAUSE THE ISRAELI SANCTION EVERYTHING AND THE TANKS ARE OUTSIDE.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT? THEY, THEY, THEY, THEY DESTROYED THE CITY.
THEY DESTROYED THE HOME I GREW UP WITH, I GREW UP IN, AND IT'S, UH, MOST OF US ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS.
SAME THING WITH MY SISTER HANNAH'S HOUSE.
MY SISTER MARYAM ALL DESTROYED DR.
I KNOW THEY BOMBED HIS HOUSE WITH HIS KIDS IN IT AND THEY GOT ALL GOT KILLED.
UM, I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN, IN, IN THE, IN THE WESTERN VALUES, WHICH WE ALL HEAR ABOUT HUMANITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS.
WHERE IS IT? I MEAN, THEY ARE KILLING PEOPLE LIVE.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN WATCH IT, YOU CAN WATCH IT ON TV AND YOU CAN SEE THE KILLING LIFE.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE VALUES? HUMAN RIGHTS AND, AND, AND FREEDOM.
I MEAN, WE, YOU, WE, YOU ALL TALK, WE ALL TALK ABOUT FREEDOM AND ALWAYS IN THE TV, FREEDOM, FREEDOM.
[01:45:01]
TO PALESTINIAN, WE STOP TALKING ABOUT FREEDOM.I, I, I'M SURPRISED OF, I MEAN, I, I I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE ASKING FOR CEASEFIRE.
I THINK WE SHOULD ASK FOR HUMANITY TO STAND UP.
I THAT'S, I, I COULDN'T, I'M, I AM REALLY, I LOST MY FAITH IN, IN A HUMANITY WITH WHAT WE, WHAT WE SEE.
I WANNA LEAVE YOU WITH ONE THOUGHT.
I HAVE SEVEN KIDS AND I'M SURE YOU HAVE KIDS OR YOU HAVE A GRANDKIDS.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE HOUSE IS BOMBED AND YOUR KIDS INSIDE THE HOUSE AND YOU CANNOT DO ANYTHING TO GET THEM OUT? CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT? THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CAN DO EVEN WHEN YOU TAKE THAT DECISION FOR CEASEFIRE.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD GESTURE THAT YOU, YOU CARE ABOUT THESE PEOPLE.
YOU, YOU, I MEAN MAYBE RESTORE SOME OF THE HUMANITY VALUES, WHICH WE LOST ALREADY.
SO I, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO, TO CONSIDER IT AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
NO FURTHER CITIZENS HAVE SIGNED IN AT THIS TIME.
I WAS JUST GETTING READY TO ASK IF THERE WAS ANYONE PRESENT THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN IN AND WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
WE WILL NEED YOU TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
MY ADDRESS IS 6 8 3 0 SMORE, UH, WAY.
HE'S THE MOST PEACE-LOVING THOUGHT-PROVOKING PERSON I'VE EVER KNOWN.
I USED TO ATTEND BOOK CLUBS WITH AHMED OVER ZOOM DURING OUR COVID TIMES.
THE LAST BOOK WE DISCUSSED WAS UNTIL THEY, IT WAS TITLED UNTIL THEY CHANGED THEMSELVES, WHICH WAS TALKING ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY IN CREATING CHANGE IN SOCIETY.
HIS FAMILY WAS FORCEFULLY DISPLACED FROM YFA, THE CITY OF FIFA IN 1948, HIS GRANDFATHER AND FATHER.
SO HE WAS BORN IN REZA AND HE NEVER LEFT.
AHMED REALLY CARED ABOUT HIS FAMILY, SO HE MOVED THEM COUPLE OF TIMES TRYING TO MOVE THEM TO THE SAFE ZONE.
WHEN THE ATROCITIES STARTED, HE USED TO LIVE IN THE NORTH OF RAS RAZA AND THEN HE MOVED TO THE SOUTH.
ABDULLAH WAS IN A HOUSE THAT WAS TARGETED BY A I US FUNDED AMERICAN MADE AIRPLANE.
ABDULLAH WAS KILLED AND AHMED HAD TO COLLECT HIS REMAINS IN A PLASTIC BAG.
HE HAD TO COLLECT HIS SON'S REMAINS.
HIS 13-YEAR-OLD SON'S REMAINS IN A PLASTIC BAG.
NOW ALL AHMED IS POSTING ON HIS SOCIAL MEDIA.
THAT'S WHAT HE HAS LEFT OF HIS SON RECORDINGS AND VIDEOTAPES THAT HE SHARES ON HIS SOCIAL MEDIA.
AHMED'S PROFILE PICTURE ACTUALLY READS, I BELIEVE IN HUMANITY, INJUSTICE, PEACE AND MERCY FOR ALL.
I WAS WONDERING, WHY DO I NEED TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT AHMED'S AND ABDULLAH'S STORY? WHY DO I NEED TO PROVE MY HUMANITY TO THE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT BE MORE DISMISSIVE OF MY PAIN AND MY PEOPLE'S SUFFERING? OR CAN WHO CAN BE MORE, CANNOT BE MORE DISRESPECTFUL OF MY SUFFERING, WHO ARE REFERRING US TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND PEACE POLES IN A PARK? WHY DO I NEED TO PROVE THAT OUR PEOPLE HAVE FACES, THEY HAVE VOICES, THEY HAVE DREAMS, THEY HAVE VALUE, AND THEY'RE NOT CHARACTERS IN A GAME OF A CALL OF DUTY OR ACTORS IN A HUNGER GAMES MOVIE.
WHY DO I NEED THIS AND WHY DO MY COMMUNITY NEEDS TO PROVE THIS TO YOU? BUT THEN THE ANSWER CAME, I AM HERE TO DOCUMENT ABDULLAH'S VOICE 'CAUSE THIS IS WHAT AHMED HAS LEFT OF HIM.
I'M HERE TO DOCUMENT THIS IN THIS CITY'S PUBLIC RECORDS
[01:50:01]
AND THE HISTORY BOOKS.AND I WOULD LIKE TO DOCUMENT WHO ARE THE GENOCIDE ENABLERS WHO ALLOWED AHMED AND ABDULLAH TO BE TAKEN FROM HIS DAD? I WOULD LIKE YOUR CONSTITUENTS, 70% OF WHOM SUPPORT A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION TO KNOW WHERE YOU STAND IN THE FACE OF GENOCIDE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO TELL AHMED THAT I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING IN MY POWER.
I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING IN THE PEACEFUL WAY TO TRY TO END HIS SUFFERING AND PRESERVE HIS SON'S MEMORY.
UH, PLEASE IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, UH, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS INTO THE RECORD.
I RESIDE AT 75 68 ASH LORD COURT HERE IN DUBLIN.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF DUBLIN FOR SIX YEARS.
I CURRENTLY SERVE ON THE COMMUNITY INCLUSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I'M HERE SPEAKING AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN, NOT AS A MEMBER OF THAT COMMITTEE, WHICH I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER I'LL BE SERVING ON THESE VOICES MATTER.
WE WILL BE HERE AT EVERY MEETING UNTIL YOU DECIDE AND TO DISCUSS ADOPTING A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION.
I HOPE YOU HEARD EVERY SINGLE VOICE TONIGHT AND TOOK IT TO YOUR HEART.
WE UNDERSTAND YOU DON'T AFFECT INTERNATIONAL POLICY, BUT YOU DO AFFECT THE LIVES SITTING HERE IN FRONT OF YOU THIS EVENING.
WE WILL BE HERE AGAIN AND AGAIN.
PLEASE HAVE THE DISCUSSION, TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.
I'LL BE HERE WITH MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS MEETING AFTER MEETING.
I DON'T THINK YOU'VE EVEN STARTED BUSINESS TONIGHT.
THIS IS BUSINESS TWO AND IT'S SERIOUS.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? OKAY, HEARING NONE.
UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU SINCERELY FOR YOUR SUPPORT, UH, FOR AN END TO THE WAR IN ISRAEL AND GAZA.
UM, YOUR DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL IS LISTENING ATTENTIVELY TO YOUR CONCERNS.
UH, AND WE STAND FIRM IN OUR COMMITMENT TO PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG ALL PEOPLE IN OUR CITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THAT DUBLIN IS HOME TO MANY COMMUNITIES WITH DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AND TRADITIONS.
WE, AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE CHARGED WITH REPRESENTING ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS WHILE UPHOLDING THE DUTIES OF OUR LOCAL CHARTER.
DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT CREATE LEGISLATION REGARDING INDIVIDUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS SUCH AS POLITICAL OR MILITARY ACTION.
IT DO, IT DID NOT IN THE UKRAINE WAR NOR ANY OTHER AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE ACTIVELY WORK ALONGSIDE OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO FOSTER A FUTURE THAT IS OPEN, HEALTHY, DIVERSE, WHERE ALL FEEL WELCOME AND VALUED WITH A SENSE OF BELONGING AND SECURITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO ENGAGE WITH US AND UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE THIS IS NOT THE OUTCOME YOU DESIRE, PLEASE KNOW WE VALUE YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS CONVERSATION AND WE SHARE YOUR DESIRE FOR PEACE.
OUR FOCUS REMAINS ON PROVIDING SAFE AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS WITH CITY COUNCIL.
WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO OTHER BUSINESS.
THIS EVENING OUR DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, CHRISTINE NARDIA IS HERE THIS EVENING AND SHE AND HER TEAM SPECIALIZE IN CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THE RESOURCES THEY NEED IN FOSTERING OPEN COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS.
AND SHE'S HAPPY TO SPEAK WITH YOU.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.IS THERE A REQUEST TO REMOVE ANY ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT CONSISTS OF THE MARCH 4TH AND MARCH 11TH MEETING MINUTES? HEARING NONE.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
JAMIE, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MR. KEELER? YES.
[01:55:01]
YES.UH, WE WILL TAKE OUR SECOND READING OUT OF ORDER SLIGHTLY, UH, AS WE HAVE SOME FOLKS HERE THIS EVENING.
[Ordinance 04-24]
DASH 24 AUTHORIZING THE PROVISION OF CERTAIN INCENTIVES TO SAR NOVA HC LLC TO INDUCE IT TO PURCHASE AN OFFICE BUILDING FOR THE RELOCATION OF THE COMPANY'S EXISTING OFFICE AND THE EXPANSION OF THAT OFFICE AND ITS ASSOCIATED OPERATIONS AND WORKFORCE WITHIN THE CITY AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.UH, OUR STAFF REPORT THIS EVENING WILL BE FROM JENNA GEHRING.
AS YOU'LL RECALL, STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING WITH SAR NOVA ON THE EXPANSION OF THEIR COMPANY WITHIN THE CITY OF DUBLIN.
THE PROPOSED INCENTIVE IS FOR 10% ON INCOME TAX.
WITHHOLDINGS OVER THREE YEARS VALUED UP TO 170,000 IN CONSIDERATION OF THE COMPANY'S CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN PLANNED WORKFORCE GROWTH IN DUBLIN.
THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES TO THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AND STAFF RECOMMENDS COUNCIL'S APPROVAL.
AND HERE WITH US THIS EVENING REPRESENTS SAR NOVA AS COO.
BRIAN ELLIS AND BRIAN WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
UH, IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT THIS EVENING THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK RELATIVE TO THIS RESOLUTION? UH, I'M SORRY.
WE'LL GIVE COUNCIL QUESTIONS DISCUSSION.
I THINK WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM SAR NOVA HERE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.
ON BEHALF OF OUR CEO, BRIAN LEDUC, THE CHAIRMAN OF OUR BOARD, MATT WALTER, AND THE 1400 EMPLOYEES THAT COMPROMISE SAR NOVA, WE WOULD LIKE TO SINCERELY THANK THE DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING THE CONTINUED GROWTH AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OF SAR NOVA IN THE DUBLIN COMMUNITY.
AS JENNA MENTIONED, MY NAME'S BRIAN ELLIS.
I'M THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AT SAR NOVA SAR.
NOVA HAS HAD ITS ROOTS IN THE DUBLIN COMMUNITY FOR OVER 25 YEARS, ULTIMATELY GROWING REVENUE FROM AROUND $1 MILLION TO PROJECTED $1 BILLION IN 2024.
SAR NOVA HAS CONTINUED TO DEVELOP ITS OPERATING FOOTPRINT OVER THOSE 25 YEARS, AND THROUGH THAT GROWTH HAS BECOME A LEADER IN HEALTH AND SAFETY PRODUCTS, SERVICES, AND TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS.
OVER THIS TIMEFRAME, WE'VE EXPANDED FROM OUR ORIGINAL OPERATING COMPANY OF BOUNDARY MEDICAL, WHICH PROVIDES MEDICAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE INDUSTRY.
WE'RE NOW FOUR DIFFERENT DIVISIONS.
IN ADDITION TO BOUNDARY, WE OPERATE TRIUM HEALTH SERVICES.
TRIUM SUPPORTS THE ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL MARKET WITH PRODUCTS AND SERVICES.
WE ALSO OPERATE DIGITECH, WHICH PROVIDES EMS BILLING SERVICES TO EMS AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND OUR FOURTH DIVISION IS CARDIO PARTNERS THAT PROVIDES LIFESAVING SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST SOLUTIONS, SUCH AS AEDS AND CPR TRAINING SERVICES TO VARIOUS INDUSTRIES THAT MAINTAIN PUBLIC ACCESS SPACES SUCH AS RETAIL, HOSPITALITY AND EDUCATION.
NOW WITH OUR CONTINUED GROWTH INTO MARKETS IN MIND, INTO NEW MARKETS IN MIND, I WANTED TO SPEND JUST A FEW MINUTES ON HOW WE ARE CONTINUING TO INVEST IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE WITH A FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY.
WE HAVE COMPLETELY REBUILT ANOVA FROM THE GROUND UP AND ARE NOW IN NEED OF A HEADQUARTERS FACILITY TO SUPPORT FUTURE GROWTH.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT OUR NEXT INVESTMENT IN OUR ORGANIZATIONAL FOOTPRINT, WHICH IS TO BUILD A NEW CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN A SHARED SERVICES CENTER, WHICH WILL CREATE A MORE COLLABORATIVE SPACE AND GIVE US ROOM TO EXPAND OUR PROFESSIONAL AND FUNCTIONAL DEPARTMENTS.
WITH A TARGETED MOVE DATE IN JUNE OF 2025, WE, WE PLAN TO RELOCATE AND EXPAND OUR CURRENT CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS FROM 5,000 TOTAL CROSSING BOULEVARD TO 5,000 BRADENTON AVENUE.
STAYING WITHIN THE DUBLIN COMMUNITY, THE COMPANY IS INVESTING IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR NEW HEAD HEADQUARTERS FACILITY, WHICH WILL BE LOCATED JUST ONE BLOCK NORTH OF OUR CURRENT FACILITY.
THE PLANT EXPANSION WILL PROVIDE THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE COMPANY TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON ITS CURRENT MOMENTUM IN SALES GROWTH.
WITH OUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET BEING OUR EMPLOYEES, THE IMPERATIVE BECAME EVIDENT TO EXPAND SAR NOVAS FACILITIES WITH THE PURPOSE OF CULTIVATING AN ENVIRONMENT OF GREATER COLLABORATION AND TO DRIVE THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS AND TECHNOLOGY OFFERINGS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE BRADENTON FACILITY WILL INCLUDE OVER $15 MILLION OF IMPROVEMENTS TO INCLUDE TECHNOLOGY, INVESTMENTS AND, AND ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENTALLY STABLE, ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE FEATURES THROUGHOUT THE 66,000 SQUARE FOOT SQUARE FEET OF THE FACILITY.
UPON COMPLETION, THE NEW HEADQUARTERS WERE HOUSED THE 192 EMPLOYEES THAT COMPRISE OUR SHARED SERVICES CENTER TODAY AND GIVE US THE ABILITY TO EXPAND THAT BY AT LEAST 15 EMPLOYEES BY THE END OF 2028.
WE'RE EXCITED FOR THIS GROWTH AND WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE BEING A PART OF THE DUBLIN COMMUNITY, WHICH
[02:00:01]
I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN, HAVE CALLED HOME FOR OVER 20 YEARS.THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND AT THIS TIME I'D LOVE TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS FROM YOU.
WELL, I'VE BEEN OUT TO YOUR FACILITY A NUMBER OF TIMES AND, UH, REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO OUT THERE AND, UH, APPRECIATE YOU CALLING DUBLIN HOME.
SO, UH, WELCOME TO YOUR NEW DIGS, I SUPPOSE.
UH, JAMIE, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL MAYOR AMMOS GROOMS? YES.
[Ordinance 03-24]
ZERO THREE DASH 24 AMENDING THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2024.AND THE STAFF REPORT WILL BE FROM JAMIE HOFFMAN.
GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
THE ORDINANCE OH 3 24 IS UNCHANGED FROM THE FIRST READING AND THE MEMO HAS BEEN UPDATED TO REFLECT THE PROJECT STAGE FOR DEBT FUNDED PROJECTS IN SECTIONS TWO, THREE, AND FOUR.
STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK RELATIVE TO THIS ORDINANCE? HEARING NONE.
COUNCIL QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION.
JAMIE, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MR. REINER? YES.
[Ordinance 05-24]
FIRST READINGS, ORDINANCES.ORDINANCE ZERO FIVE DASH 24 AMENDING SECTION NINE 1.12.
OUTDOOR FEEDING PROHIBITED OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN HONOR.
AND OUR STAFF REPORT THIS EVENING WILL BE FROM EMILY OLIVAR.
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AT THE NOVEMBER 27TH, 2023 CITY COUNCIL MEETING COUNCIL APPROVED ORDINANCE 47 23, WHICH PROHIBITS THE FEEDING OF WILD ANIMALS AND ANIMALS RUNNING AT LARGE WITHIN THE CITY.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW WITH OUR LEGAL TEAM, IT WAS DETER DETERMINED THAT THERE EXISTS A NARROW CONFLICT BETWEEN THE AMENDED CODE LANGUAGE AND SECTION 91.06 OF THE CITY'S CODE SECTION 91.06 DEFINES A CAT REGARDLESS OF WHERE IT IS KEPT AS A COMPANION.
ANIMAL AND COMPANION ANIMALS ARE PROTECTED BY CITY CODE.
TO RECTIFY THIS STAFF IS RECOMMENDING AMENDING SECTION 91.12 TO REMOVE REFERENCE TO FERAL CATS AND EXCLUDE COMPANION ANIMALS FROM THE DEFINITION OF A WILD ANIMAL.
UH, CITY STAFF DOES REMAIN AVAILABLE TO HELP IF RESIDENTS ENCOUNTER A FERAL CAT OR A COMMUNITY CAT AS THEY'RE SOMETIMES REFERRED TO.
WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTERS AND, UM, VETS AND CAN PROVIDE CATS WITH THE BEST CARE POSSIBLE AND HELP THEM FIND A LOVING HOME.
STAFF RECOMMENDS THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE OH 5 24 AT THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING ON APRIL 22ND, 2024.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE WILL CONTINUE TO REFRAIN FROM ENFORCING THE CONFLICTING PORTION OF THE CODE, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT THIS EVENING THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK RELATIVE TO THIS ORDINANCE? UH, HEARING NONE COUNCIL QUESTIONS.
THIS IS SCHEDULED FOR SECOND READING, PUBLIC HEARING ON APRIL THE 22ND.
[Resolution 11-24]
INTRODUCTIONS, PUBLIC HEARING VOTE RESOLUTION RESOLUTION 11 DASH 24, ADOPTING THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY OF CENTRAL OHIO.AND OUR STAFF REPORT THIS EVENING WILL BE FROM MICHAEL DARLING.
GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU MEMBERS OF COUNCIL BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IS RESOLUTION 1124 FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE ADOPTION OF THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY OF CENTRAL OHIO.
THE DRAFT PLAN UPDATE WAS PROVIDED ELECTRONICALLY FOR REVIEW AND THE COUNCIL PACKET AND IS REQUIRED BY OHIO REVISED CODE TO BE VOTED UPON FOR APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL BY EVERY MUNICIPAL CORPORATION WITHIN WACO'S JURISDICTION.
THE 357 PAGE PLAN UPDATE IS VERY COMPRESSIVE AND COVERS A 15 YEAR PERIOD BEGINNING IN 2024 AND ENDING IN THE YEAR 2038.
THE DRAFT PLAN DESCRIBES THE WASTE REDUCTION AND DIVERSION PROGRAMMING EFFORTS THAT WILL BE UNDERTAKEN DURING THE PLANNING PERIOD AND DEMONSTRATES THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE ADEQUATE TO ACHIEVE THE PLAN'S GOALS.
STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 1124 AND WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE ANDREW BOOKER FROM S WACO HERE WITH US THIS EVENING TO PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PLAN AND TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
[02:05:01]
GOOD EVENING.UM, I THINK THERE'S A, A SLIDE DECK THAT WE'RE GONNA SHOW, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
WELL, LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF,
I DO APPRECIATE IT AND, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS ANDREW BOOKER.
I'M THE PROGRAMS MANAGER AT WACO, THE SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY OF CENTRAL OHIO.
AND I AM HERE, IN FACT, TO TALK ABOUT THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN.
MICHAEL MADE REFERENCE TO THE FACT THAT IT'S 350 SOME PAGES LONG.
SO LET ME JUST APOLOGIZE RIGHT OUTTA THE GATE FOR THAT.
UH, AND WE'RE GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
I KNOW SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN AROUND AND MAYBE HAVE SEEN THIS PROCESS BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS IN THE PAST.
UH, I'M GONNA ASSUME SOME OF YOU HAVE NOT.
AND SO LEMME JUST START OUT BY INTRODUCING WHAT S WACO IS.
I'M PRETTY SURE YOU'VE HEARD OF US.
UH, WE'VE DONE SO MANY GOOD PROJECTS WITH, UH, UH, DUBLIN OVER THE YEARS.
UH, WE JUST DID A SAVE MORE THAN FOOD EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, THE FOOD WASTE DROP OFF.
WE'VE GIVEN GRANTS TO, UH, THE DOUBLES IRIS FESTIVAL FOR RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING AND JUST A VARIETY OF OTHER GREAT PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE DONE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO, I HOPE.
UM, THE SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY OF CENTRAL OHIO IS A REGIONAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.
UH, BACK IN, UH, 1988, THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED A LAW REQUIRING ALL COUNTIES TO BE PART OF WHAT'S CALLED A SOLID WASTE DISTRICT OR SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY.
AND WE WERE FORMED, UH, PURSUANT TO THAT LEGISLATION IN 1989.
UH, THERE ARE 52 SOLID WASTE DISTRICTS OR SOLID WASTE AUTHORITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF OHIO.
UH, ALL COUNTIES ARE PART OF ONE OF THESE THINGS.
UM, OUR JURISDICTION IS ALL 41 COMMUNITIES IN FRANKLIN COUNTY.
THAT INCLUDES CITIES, TOWNSHIPS, AND VILLAGES.
THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN IS ONE OF THE KIND OF FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS IN THE LAW FOR S WACO IN EVERY SOLID WASTE DISTRICT.
UH, IT WAS REQUIRED SHORTLY AFTER WE WERE FORMED TO BE CREATED FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND THEN EVERY FIVE YEARS WE'RE REQUIRED TO UPDATE IT.
UH, EACH TIME WE DO IT, WE HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE MEETING THE STATE RECYCLING GOALS ESTABLISHED BY OHIO EPA AND WE HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE'VE GOT ADEQUATE LANDFILL CAPACITY, UH, FOR THE WASTE THAT WE GENERATE THAT HAS TO GO INTO THE LANDFILL.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT IDENTIFIES AND PROVIDES, UH, A DESCRIPTION AND, AND THE FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT WE WILL IMPLEMENT TO REDUCE OUR RELIANCE ON THE LANDFILL.
UM, IT WAS A NICE INTRODUCTION TODAY WHEN THE PROCLAMATION WAS PRESENTED AND, AND PASSED, UH, DESIGNATING NEXT MONTH AS EARTH MONTH.
AND A REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR VISIONARY GOAL RELATING TO ST SUSTAINABILITY.
AND I NOTICED, AND I HAD READ IT EARLIER TODAY, UM, THE, THE SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO ZERO WASTE, WHICH IS A REALLY IMPORTANT AND AMBITIOUS GOAL OF YOURS.
AND I THINK YOU'RE GONNA SEE IN PLAN THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PROGRAMS THAT WOULD SUPPORT THAT GOAL.
THE PLAN ALSO HAS TO DEMONSTRATE THE FINANCIAL ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT THE PLAN AND THEN PROVIDE SOME AUTHORITY FOR US TO PASS RULES, UM, THAT WE, UH, AU ARE THAT WE IMPLEMENT AS WELL.
THE APPROVAL PROCESS, UM, IS A LITTLE BIT, UH, LENGTHY AND COMPLICATED.
WE DEVELOP A SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN AS A DRAFT.
WE SUBMIT IT TO EPA FOR THEIR COMMENTS.
WE RECEIVE THEIR COMMENTS, MAKE REVISIONS TO THAT.
WE COULD PUT IT OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, MAKE REVISIONS BASED ON PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE GET TO THIS STAGE.
WE ARE HERE TONIGHT FOR RATIFICATION.
WE PRESENT IT TO ALL 41 COMMUNITIES, UH, IN FRANKLIN COUNTY.
AND WE ASK EACH ONE TO EITHER APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE IT.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE LOOKING FOR APPROVAL.
IF WE REACH A THRESHOLD OF 60% OF THE POPULATION WITHIN THE COUNTY, IT MEETS THE RATIFICATION STANDARD.
WE CAN THEN FINALLY SUBMIT IT TO A HIGH EPA FOR APPROVAL, UH, WHICH WE PLAN TO DO NEXT MONTH BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE PLAN.
I THINK THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT GRAPHIC AND AN INFORMATIVE GRAPHIC FOR US JUST TO LOOK AT, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT PROCESS DOES, IN MY OPINION THAT MAY BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN ALL THAT STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS AND STUFF THAT WE DO FOR OHIO EPA, IS IT FORCES US TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH, TO TAKE A PAUSE, TO LOOK AT WHAT WE DO WITH CRITICAL EYES, UM, TO BENCHMARK AGAINST WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY AND OTHER SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO TYPICALLY IS WE DO A STUDY TO FIND OUT, TO DETERMINE AND TO DOCUMENT WHAT GOES INTO THE LANDFILL, WHAT IS STILL BEING THROWN AWAY BY OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESSES.
THIS GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATES THAT, AND I'M GONNA POINT OUT TWO THINGS IN PARTICULAR.
UH, THE FIRST THING IS A 25% OF THE MATERIAL THAT GOES INTO THE LANDFILL TODAY IS WHAT I WOULD CALL READILY RECYCLABLE MATERIAL.
THE KIND OF STUFF YOU GENERATE AT YOUR HOME EVERY DAY, OR YOUR BUSINESS, PAPER, CARDBOARD, PLASTIC BOTTLES, ALUMINUM CANS.
THERE'S STILL 25% OF THAT STUFF STILL ENDS UP IN THE LANDFILL.
UM, OVER TO THE LEFT ON THE GREEN PART OF THE GRAPH, 15% OF WHAT GOES INTO THE LANDFILL IS FOOD WASTE.
IT'S THE LARGEST SINGLE CONSTITUENT.
AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT REFLECTED IN SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE AND SOME OF THE PRIORITIES THAT WE IDENTIFIED.
THAT 15% TRANSLATES INTO 1 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD WASTE SENT TO THE LANDFILL EVERY SINGLE DAY.
EVERY DAY A MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD WASTE GOES INTO THE LANDFILL.
UH, AND THAT IS A VERY HIGH PRIORITY FOR US TO FIND WAYS TO GET IT OUT OF THE LANDFILL.
AND THEN FINALLY, YOU'LL SEE ON THE, UH, FAR RIGHT 24% OF OTHER RECOVERABLE MATERIAL, THESE ARE HARDER TO RECYCLE MATERIALS.
UH, TYPICALLY WE, THEY ARE TECHNICALLY ABLE TO BE RECYCLED, BUT WE MAY NOT HAVE THE PROGRAMS IN PLACE YET TODAY.
[02:10:01]
BUT THOSE ARE ONES THAT WHEN WE LOOK A LITTLE BIT LONGER DOWN THE ROAD IN A THREE TO FOUR, FIVE YEAR TIMEFRAME, WE'RE GONNA BE PUTTING PROGRAMS IN PLACE TO ADDRESS THOSE AS WELL.THIS IS A LIST OF ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT WE CURRENTLY IMPLEMENT AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THIS.
I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THAT THERE IS NOT A SOLID WASTE DISTRICT OR AUTHORITY IN OHIO THAT HAS A COMPREHENSIVE LIST LIKE THAT.
THERE ARE SOME OTHER QUITE GOOD ONES THAT WE WORK WITH ALL VERY CLOSELY.
WE HAVE YOUR COMMUNITY PARTICIPATES IN MANY OF THESE COMMUNITY, UH, CONSORTIUMS. SO WE HELP, UH, COMMUNITIES BID FOR THEIR TRASH AND RECYCLING SERVICES.
UM, UH, THE MAJORITY OF COMMUNITIES IN IN OUR JURISDICTION PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROGRAM.
UM, WE DO A LOT OF RECYCLE RIGHT, EDUCATION, SAVE MORE THAN FOOD EDUCATION.
YOU'VE PARTICIPATED IN THAT COMMUNITY WASTE REDUCTION GRANTS.
YOU'VE PARTICIPATED IN THAT EVENT.
EVENT WASTE REDUCTION GRANTS GRANT.
THE GRANT PROGRAM IS POPULAR IN GROWING AND HELPS US SUPPORT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS, UH, AND A PILOT NEW PROGRAMS AS WELL.
WE HAVE A IMPORTANT PROGRAM FOR SCHOOLS, THE SCHOOL RECYCLING CHAMPION PROGRAM AND SCHOOL DISTRICT RECYCLING PROGRAM, WHERE WE HELP SCHOOL DISTRICTS PUT IN PLACE OR EXPAND THEIR RECYCLING PROGRAMS, UH, EITHER AS INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS OR AS A SCHOOL, ENTIRE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE HAVE AN ENTIRE FOOD WASTE INITIATIVE.
WE HAVE AN ENTIRE WEBSITE SAVE MORE THAN FOOD.ORG.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT.
IT HAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS, FOR BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS ON HOW TO REDUCE THEIR FOOD WASTE.
AND WE DO COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS AS WELL.
AND THEN, UH, WE HAVE NEW BUSINESS PROGRAMMING.
IT TOOK US A LONG TIME TO REALLY GET THESE PROGRAMS STOOD UP, UH, AND WE NOW HAVE SOME SOLID PROGRAMMING IN, IN PLACE AND WE'RE REALLY GONNA PUSH HARD TO EXPAND THOSE PROGRAMS. UM, THAT 10% OF CARDBOARD THAT GOES INTO THE LANDFILL, 60% OF WHAT GOES INTO THE LANDFILL ACTUALLY COMES FROM BUSINESSES, NOT RESIDENTS.
SO THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF REALLY LOW HANGING FRUIT WHEN IT COMES TO CARDBOARD IN PARTICULAR AND WE'RE REALLY INVESTING IN THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THINGS.
AND THEN FINALLY, OUTREACH AND, AND LANDFILL TOURS.
WE SEE, UM, WE, WE WERE PRESENT IN, UH, IN FRONT OF OVER 15,000 PEOPLE.
15,000 RESIDENTS LAST YEAR AS A GR, AS A GROUP, AS OSWEGO TEAM, UH, TALKING ABOUT RECYCLING, COMPOSTING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND IN FACT, WE HAVE OVER 4,000 SCHOOLS CHILDREN COME DOWN FOR SCHOOL, UH, LANDFILL TOURS EVERY YEAR.
UM, AND THERE'S AN OPEN INVITATION.
WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE CITY COUNCIL COME DOWN FOR A LANDFILL TOUR AS WELL.
IT'S A VERY IMPACTFUL, UH, EXPERIENCE TO SEE HOW WE OP, OWN AND OPERATE THE LANDFILL.
AND IMPORTANTLY, UH, SEE WHAT GOES INTO THE LANDFILLS.
VERY INSPIRING TO SEE WHAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE.
SO I WOULD LOVE TO, TO HAVE YOU DOWN TO, TO TAKE A TOUR.
HERE ARE OUR, UH, AREAS OF PLAN GROWTH, AND OUR BUDGET REFLECTS IT, AND THE PLAN ITSELF, UH, REFLECTS IT.
THE FIRST ONE, I'LL JUST REITERATE A COUPLE THINGS.
BUSINESS RECYCLING IS A BIG PRIORITY.
SCHOOL RECYCLING IS A BIG PRIORITY RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL'S DOING SCHOOL, SCHOOL RECYCLING AND GRANTS.
BOTH OF THOSE PROGRAMS HAVE GROWN TO THE POINT WHERE WE REALLY NEED TO SPLIT IT INTO TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
SO WE'RE GONNA HIRE SOMEBODY JUST TO FOCUS ON THE SCHOOLS.
UM, HHW, YOU HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THAT.
IT MAKES UP A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF WHAT GOES INTO LANDFILL, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT MATERIAL.
THESE ARE THE, THE CHEMICALS, THE, UH, GASOLINE, THE USED MOTOR OIL, THE STUFF THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR GARAGE, YOUR BASEMENT, UM, THAT PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU MOVE, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH LAWN CHEMICALS AND POOL CHEMICALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE HAVE A PERMANENT HHOB FACILITY NEAR THE FAIRGROUNDS.
WE ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO TAKE THAT MATERIAL THERE.
WE HAVE, UH, UH, FOUR THIS YEAR, WE'LL HAVE FOUR MOBILE COLLECTION EVENTS.
WE HAVE ONE EVERY YEAR HERE AND, UH, DELIN, AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, UPWARDS OF A THOUSAND, UH, UH, CARS WILL GO THROUGH THAT.
WE'RE EXPANDING OUR PERMANENT LOCATION TO BE OPEN FIVE DAYS A WEEK AND OPEN ON ONE SATURDAY A MONTH, UH, IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
ORGANICS IS ANOTHER HUGE, INCENT IS ANOTHER HUGE AREA OF EMPHASIS.
WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO EXPAND FOOD WASTE DROP-OFFS.
WE'RE WORKING WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO EXPLORE CURBSIDE COLLECTION OF ORGANICS LIKE UP WELLINGTON HAS DONE AND BEXLEY HAS DONE.
UM, AND WE'RE LOOKING, UH, FOR OTHER INNOVATIVE, UH, NEW PROGRAMS ASSOCIATED WITH ORGANICS.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WILL BE FOCUSED ON UNDER THE PLAN.
LEMME TALK BRIEFLY, AND I KNOW IT'S LATE AND PEOPLE WANT TO GET GOING, AND I'M GOING AS FAST AS I CAN.
WE ARE FUNDED BY WHAT'S CALLED A $5 GENERATION FEE.
UM, EVERY TIME A LANDFILL, EVERY TIME A TRUCK, EVERY TIME A GARBAGE TRUCK COMES TO THE LANDFILL, IT'S WEIGHED, IT'S WEIGHED WHEN IT COMES IN THE GATE, AND IT'S WEIGHED WHEN IT LEAVES.
SO WE KNOW HOW MUCH WASTE WAS SENT TO THE LANDFILL.
AND IT IS ASSESSED A $39 75 CENT CHARGE EVERY TIME IT COMES IN.
$5 OF THAT UNDER THE STATUTE IS CALLED A GENERATION FEE.
AND THAT GOES TO FUND ALL THE WASTE DIVERSION PROGRAMS THAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT.
SO THAT'S THE FUND, THAT'S THE, THE, THE BASIC CORE FOUNDATIONAL WAY THAT WE FUND ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS GENERATES ABOUT $6 MILLION A YEAR.
AND IF YOU LOOKED AT, IF YOU READ THAT 350 PAGE PLAN, YOU WOULD REALIZE THAT WE HAVE ABOUT $18 MILLION OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, UM, PROJECTED FOR THE FIRST THREE TO FOUR YEARS OF THE PLAN.
UM, AND A LOT OF OUR, OUR RESERVE BALANCE, WE'RE GONNA BE INVESTING IN THOSE, IN THOSE PROGRAMS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALIZED IS WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE QUITE ENOUGH TO MAKE THE BUDGET BALANCE.
AND SO IN 2017, I'M GONNA GO BACK TO SOME HISTORY.
THERE WAS THE TRASH BURNING POWER PLANT THAT WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.
[02:15:01]
S WACO ABSORBED THE PUBLIC, THE OUTSTANDING ORPHAN PUBLIC DEBT, AND S WACO FOR MANY YEARS HAD A $7 FEE, SPECIAL FEE ATTACHED TO THE LANDFILL THAT HELPED PAY OFF ALL THAT PUBLIC DEBT.WHEN THAT PUBLIC DEBT WAS FINALLY RETIRED, INSTEAD OF REDUCING THAT FEE TO ZERO, WE RETAINED $1 OF IT AT THAT TIME IN 2017 FOR DIVERSION PROGRAMS. AND WE HAVE, AND WE SAID AT THE TIME THAT WE WOULD USE THEM FOR THINGS LIKE, UH, RECYCLING CARTS AND THAT KIND OF A, BUT WE HAVE NEVER REALLY FORMALLY AS AN, AS AN ORGANIZATION REALLY FORMALLY EMBEDDED IT WITHIN OUR PLAN OR MADE A REAL PUBLIC COMMITMENT.
NOW WE USE THIS AS AN INTERNAL FUNDING SOURCE.
IT DOESN'T CHANGE ANY OF THE RATES THAT ARE CHARGED AT THE LANDFILL, BUT IT FORMALLY ALLOCATES THAT $1 TO THESE DIVERSION PROGRAMS. SO NOW WE HAVE $6 A TON THAT WE CAN DEVOTE TO THESE IMPORTANT PROGRAMS. SO THERE'S NO CHANGE IN OUR FEE, GENERAL FEE.
THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO CHANGE IN THE FEE AT THE LANDFILL, BUT WE DO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL $1 PER TON THAT WE CAN DEVOTE TO THESE DIVERSION PROGRAMS. ALRIGHT.
NOW WHY AM I REALLY HERE? BECAUSE I'M HOPING THAT YOU'LL PASS A RESOLUTION ADOPTING OUR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN.
UM, WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO, WE, WE ACTUALLY ARE, ARE, ARE BEYOND THAT THRESHOLD, BUT WE WANT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY GOOD PARTNERS LIKE THE CITY OF DUBLIN TO PASS A RES RESOLUTION SHOWING YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE PLAN.
UM, WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF GOOD PROGRAMMING, MICHAEL, EMILY, AND WE'LL SPEAK TO THE PROGRAM.
THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE DONE TOGETHER, WE ANTICIPATE DOING MANY MORE WITH THE CITY OF DUBLIN.
WITH THAT, I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT THIS EVENING THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK RELATIVE TO THIS RESOLUTION? HEARING NONE COUNCIL QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION.
WE APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU DO AND CERTAINLY THE FOOD WASTE, UM, THAT'S BEEN ADDED TO THE WORK THAT WE DO HERE IN THE CITY, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP ON THAT.
WITH THAT, JAMIE, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MS. DEROSA? YES.
I'M GONNA PAUSE HERE FOR A MOMENT BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE MAY HAVE SOME STUDENTS HERE THAT MIGHT NEED SIGNATURES ON FORMS FOR SCHOOL.
AND THE HOUR IS GETTING LATE AND WE DON'T WANT YOU TO MISS YOUR BEDTIME.
SO IF YOU ARE A STUDENT AND YOU NEED A FORM SIGNED, EMILY GLOVER IS RIGHT HERE.
SHE WILL MEET YOU OUT THERE IF YOU NEED A FORM SIGNED, UM, OR YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY FOR THE BALANCE OF THIS RIVETING CONVERSATION.
[Resolution 12-24]
RESOLUTION 12 DASH 24, ACCEPTING THE LOWEST AND BEST BID FOR SHUTTLE SERVICES FOR THE DUBLIN IRISH FESTIVAL.THIS STAFF REPORT WILL BE FROM ALISON LEROY.
GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
UH, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE ACTUALLY BROUGHT A BID FOR OUR SHUTTLE SERVICES FOR THE IRISH FESTIVAL.
PREVIOUSLY, IT HAS FALLEN BELOW THAT $75,000 THRESHOLD.
UM, SO LAST YEAR WE SPENT EXACTLY $74,900.
SO WE KNEW WE WERE KIND OF PUSHING THE EDGE THERE AND WE HAD ANTICIPATED A LARGER INCREASE.
SO WE HAD BUDGETED FOR $84,000 WHEN WE PUT IT OUT TO BID.
UM, ONE OF THE SECOND BIGGEST COMPANIES THAT HAD BEEN AROUND IN THE CENTRAL OHIO AREA HAD SOLD OFF A GOOD NUMBER OF THEIR VEHICLES DURING COVID AND HAS NOT UNFORTUNATELY, UM, BEEN ABLE TO BUY BACK ENOUGH VEHICLES TO ACTUALLY FULFILL.
SO WHAT WE ARE FINDING AGAIN IS THAT, UM, CREATIVE COACH COMPANY, WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS FUN BUS.
IF YOU SEE 'EM RIDING AROUND BIG FUN BUS SIGNS ON 'EM, UM, THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT WE COULD FIND THAT, UM, IN CENTRAL OHIO.
WE TALKED TO A FEW PEOPLE FROM OUT OF TOWN, BUT AGAIN, THAT WAS COST PROHIBITIVE FOR THE TRAVEL AND THE HOTEL THAT THEY WOULD NEED.
UM, SINCE SO MUCH OF THEIR COST IS IN THEIR STAFF AS THEY RUN IT.
SO WE DID RECEIVE ONE BID FOR 78,500.
IT IS OVER WHAT WE SPENT LAST YEAR, BUT WE KNEW WE NEEDED TO ADD SOME, UM, SPECIFIC UNITS AT SOME SPECIFIC TIMEFRAMES.
WE WERE A LITTLE LOW ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
UM, NOT THAT WE EVER HAD A HUGE PROBLEM WITH IT, BUT WE KNEW IF ATTENDANCE WENT UP AT ALL, WE, WE WOULD START RUNNING INTO AN ISSUE.
UM, SO IT IS MORE THAN LAST YEAR, BUT IT'S LESS THAN WE HAD ANTICIPATED THE INCREASE TO BE.
UM, SO FOR THAT, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT COUNCIL APPROVE RESOLUTION, RESOLUTION 1224, ACCEPTING THE LOWEST AND BEST BID FOR A CREATIVE COACH COMPANY IN THE AMOUNT OF 78,500.
AND I SHOULD MENTION, THEY, UM, IN THAT CONTRACT, THEY ARE HOLDING THE PRICE REGARDLESS OF THE PRICE OF GAS AS WELL.
NU AND PRESENT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK RELATIVE TO THIS RESOLUTION.
HEARING NONE COUNSEL, QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, JAMIE, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE RULE MS. CRAM? YES.
[Resolution 13-24]
RESOLUTION 13 DASH 24 ACCEPTING THE LOWEST AND BEST BID FOR THE ANNUAL SIDE SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE.[02:20:01]
I'LL DO THAT.OUR STAFF REPORT WILL BE FROM BRIAN GABLE.
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL STAFF CONDUCTED A COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS FOR THE ANNUAL SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE 2024 PROGRAM ON MARCH 5TH, 2024.
FIVE BIDS WERE RECEIVED AND PUBLICLY OPEN BY ENGINEERING STAFF.
THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES FOR SIDEWALK REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENT THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND IS FUNDED FROM THE 2024 THROUGH 2028 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $269,000 FOR THE ANNUAL SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.
REGARDING, UH, STREET TREES, EACH SITE IS UNIQUE AND REVIEWED BY ENGINEERING AND FORESTRY, FORESTRY STAFF FOR TREE CONFLICTS, WHICH INVOLVES ANALYZING ACTUAL ROOT IMPACTS PRIOR TO ANY CUTTING.
STAFF COMMUNICATES IMPACTS TO THE RESIDENTS WHERE THE TREE IS LOCATED FOR TREES THAT MAY REQUIRE REMOVAL.
STAFF IS OFFERING SIDEWALK MEANDERING TO THE AFFECTED OWNERS SHOULD THE OWNER NOT DESIRE MEANDERING.
SOME TESTING CAN BE DONE BY STAFF PRIOR TO REMOVING THE TREES AFTER THE EFFECTIVE AFFECTED ROOTS HAVE BEEN TRIMMED.
AS ALWAYS, OUR GOAL IS TO PRESERVE TREES WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
IN 2022 AND 2023, ONLY FOUR STREET TREES REQUIRED REMOVAL EACH YEAR OF THE PROGRAM.
IN 20 21 3 SIDEWALK MEANDERINGS OCCURRED IN 2022 AND 2023.
NO MEANDERINGS WERE ABLE TO BE PERFORMED DUE TO SITE SPECIFIC CONDITIONS.
THE CITY ALSO UTILIZES SIDEWALK SHAVING AND NOW ALSO SIDEWALK LEVELING AS MAINTENANCE STRATEGIES PRIOR TO RECOMMENDING REPLACEMENT.
WITHIN THIS PROGRAM, STAFF RECOMMENDS COUNCIL APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 13 DASH 24, ACCEPTING AS LOWEST AND BEST THE BID OF PROFESSIONAL PAVEMENT SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $282,760 AND 25 CENTS FOR THIS PROGRAM.
I'D BE GLAD TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE REGARDING THIS RESOLUTION.
IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT THIS EVENING THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK RELATIVE TO THIS RESOLUTION? HEARING NONE COUNCIL QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION? UM, I I JUST HAVE TO ECHO THE THANK YOU FOR SAVING ALL OF THE TREES.
IT'S BEEN A HUGE CHANGE FROM THE, THE, MY FIRST COUPLE YEARS ON COUNCIL, AND I KNOW THAT'S A LOT OF WORK AND I I APPRECIATE IT AND I KNOW THE RESIDENTS APPRECIATE IT.
UM, MY QUESTION THAT PROFESSIONAL PAVING SERVICES, WE HAVE NOT DONE WORK WITH THEM BEFORE ON THIS, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
SO I I'M SURE THEY'RE GONNA BE WELL VERSED IN THE MEANDERING CHECKING, SAVING THE TREES APPROACH.
UH, YEAH, THE, THE CITY WILL BE THOROUGH WITH THEM AND, AND HONESTLY WE DO A LOT OF THE, THE, THE WORK FOR THAT, UH, PROCESS ANYWAY.
I THINK, UH, I THINK THE INNOVATION AND NOW THE LEVELING, I I THINK THAT'S FABULOUS AND I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF WORK, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
JUST A QUICK QUESTION AND, AND I DON'T NECESSARILY EXPECT A SPECIFIC ANSWER, BUT IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT AS TREES MATURE IN OUR GROWING CITY, THIS WOULD BECOME A BIGGER AND BIGGER PROBLEM.
SO IT WOULD SEEM LIKE THE FREQUENCY OR THE, I GUESS THE AMOUNT OF REPAIRS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE, THERE'S A LOT OF RED DOTS ON THIS ON YOUR SLIDE, UM, WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT THE AMOUNT WOULD INCREASE OVER TIME AS THE TREES GET LARGER.
IS THERE ANY KIND OF TREND LINE THERE? I MEAN, I GUESS THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS THE AMOUNT WE'RE BUDGETING FOR THIS YEAR IS ONE THING, BUT FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, 10 YEARS FROM NOW, COULD THIS THING POTENTIALLY MUSHROOM? THANK YOU.
UH, THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.
UM, SO AS WE APPROACH EACH OF THESE, UH, CONDITIONS WHEN WE TAKE OUT THE SIDEWALK, IF THERE ARE ROOTS PRESENT, WHICH OBVIOUSLY THERE TENDS TO BE, UH, WE WORK WITH FORESTRY STRAP TO IDENTIFY AND MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT OVERCUT ANYTHING THAT WE DON'T NEED TO CUT.
UM, AND THEN WE ACTUALLY EXCAVATE THE AREA UNDERNEATH IT AND PUT IN ROOT BARRIER, UM, WHICH IS A, A, A PROTECTIVE LAYER THAT HELPS PREVENT ROOTS FROM GROWING BACK INTO THAT AREA.
UM, THEN WE BACKFILL IT AND PUT SIDEWALK IN THERE.
SO IN THEORY, AS WE GO THROUGH THESE, UH, WE SHOULDN'T BE SEEING THE SAME REPETITIVE LOCATIONS, UH, COME BACK UP.
AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS JUST SOMETHING FOR ME THAT I WOULD BE THINKING ABOUT GOING FORWARD.
UM, SPECIFIC STREETS WERE CONSTRUCTED AND THE TREES WERE PLANTED AT, AT A, YOU KNOW, SPECIFIC TIME, ALL ROUGHLY ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
AND SO AS THOSE TREES MATURE, IT WOULD STAND A REASON THAT YOU COULD HAVE LONG STRETCHES OF STREET WHERE ALL OF THE TREES ARE CAUSING ISSUES OR MORE OF THE TREES ARE CAUSING AN ISSUE WITH THE SIDEWALK.
SO MY POINT IS, IS THAT THE, THE AMOUNT THAT WE'RE APPROVING FOR THIS YEAR'S MAINTENANCE IS ONE THING, BUT THERE, THERE COULD BE A POTENTIAL ISSUE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW OR 10 YEARS
[02:25:01]
FROM NOW WHERE THIS NUMBER IS DRAMATICALLY LARGER.AND I GUESS IT'S MORE OF A QUESTION THAN A STATEMENT.
I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT OVER THE YEARS, UM, ARE STREET TREE SELECTIONS AS FAR AS THE TYPES OF STREET TREES AND THE SPECIES THAT WE HAVE PLANTED.
UM, WE'VE LOOKED FOR THOSE TYPES OF TREES THAT HAVE DEEPER GROWING ROOTS.
UM, SO WE'RE DEFINITELY IN AREAS OF MORE MATURE TREES IN THE FIRST SEVERAL YEARS OF THE PROGRAM.
I THINK THE OTHER THING WE'VE LOOKED AT IS THE SIZE OF THE TREE LAWN TO GIVE THE TREE MORE ROOM TO GROW, UH, WITHOUT BEING IN CONFLICT WITH THE SIDEWALK.
ANY FURTHER? QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, UH, HEARING NONE? JAMIE, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MR. REINER? YES.
[Resolution 14-24]
14 DASH 24 ACCEPTING THE LOWEST AND BEST BID FOR THE BRIGHT ROAD CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS AND EMERALD PARKWAY AND MOUNT CARMEL ROUNDABOUT PROJECTS 22 0 3 1 CIP.AND OUR STAFF REPORT WILL BE TINA.
MAYORS AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
UM, STAFF CONDUCTED A COMPETITIVE BID FOR THE BRIGHT ROAD CORRIDOR, IMPROVEMENTS IN THE EMERALD PARKWAY ROUNDABOUT PROJECTS.
AND THIS PROJECT INCLUDES TWO SEPARATE PORTIONS OF TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS AND EACH IS REFERENCED IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE AGREEMENT WITH THE MOUNT CARMEL HEALTH SYSTEMS IN THE AREA.
THE IMPROVEMENTS WILL BRIGHT, WILL WIDEN BRIGHT ROAD FROM TWO LANES TO FIVE LANES, AND PROVIDE A DEDICATED RIGHT TURN LANE FROM BRIGHT TO SAWMILL AND ESTABLISHES A SECOND NORTHBOUND LEFT TURN LANE FROM SAWMILL TO BRIGHT.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE AGREEMENT NOTES THE CITY WILL MAKE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO HAVE WESTBOUND LEFT TURN LANE FROM BRIGHT ROAD TO THE MOUNT CARMEL SITE COMPLETE.
PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC OPENING OF THE HOSPITAL.
THE EMERALD PARKWAY AND MOUNT CARMEL ROUNDABOUT PROJECT WILL PROVIDE ACCESS FOR THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE HOSPITAL.
AND THIS PORTION OF THE PROJECT IS REQUIRED TO BE COMPLETED WITH THE PUBLIC OPENING OF THE HOSPITAL, WHICH IS EXPECTED IN QUARTER TWO OF 2025.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE AGREEMENT, AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE ROUNDABOUT, MOUNT CARMEL WILL REIMBURSE THE CITY $300,000 TO BEST POSITION THE CITY AND ALLOW MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY TO AWARD BOTH, BOTH PROJECTS TOGETHER OR ONE PROJECT INDIVIDUALLY.
THE BID DOCUMENTS FOR THE PROJECT REQUIRED CONTRACTORS TO SUBMIT COSTS FOR BOTH PROJECTS TOGETHER AS A BASE BID AND INDIVIDUALLY AS ALTERNATES.
THE 2024 THROUGH 2028 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM INCLUDES SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECTS.
AND ON MARCH 12TH, UM, 20 24, 5 BIDS WERE RECEIVED AND PUBLICLY OPENED.
STRAWSER PAVING COMPANY SUBMITTED THE LOWEST AND BEST BID OF $7,679,566 AND 95 CENTS, WHICH WAS 8.9% OVER THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE OF 7,049,400.
AND ITEMS THAT EXCEED THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE INCLUDE EXCAVATION ALONG WITH TRAFFIC SIGNAL POLES, AND VARIOUS DRAINAGE ITEMS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED RISING PRICES ACROSS THE STATE OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS.
CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN THE SPRING AND WILL BE COMPLETE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2025.
STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL THIS PREP RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE LOWEST AND BEST BID OF STRAUSER PAVING COMPANY IN THE AMOUNT OF $7,679,566 AND 95 CENTS FOR THE PROJECT.
AND I'M HAPPY TO DISCUSS ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PROJECT OR THIS RESOLUTION.
IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT THIS EVENING THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK RELATIVE TO THIS RESOLUTION? HEARING NONE COUNCIL QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION, A QUICK COMMENT.
UM, I KNOW THE RESIDENTS ARE GONNA BE REALLY EXCITED WHEN THIS IS FINALLY DONE.
I KNOW THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE HAPPY WHILE THE CONSTRUCTION'S GOING ON.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO GET LETTERS OF NOTICE.
I KNOW WORK STARTED LAST WEEK AND I KNOW IT WAS THE ELECTRIC COMPANY DOING THE WORK, BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, AT LEAST THE PEOPLE WRITE IN FRONT OF THAT WORK NEVER GOT LETTERS.
UM, AND NO ONE ON MACBETH GOT LETTERS.
SO I THINK EVEN THEY'RE SUPPO EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT A CITY PROJECT, I GUESS I, THEY WEREN'T NOT NOTIFIED.
SO I WOULD JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE GET LETTERS SENT.
AND WE'LL COORDINATE WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING GROUP ON THAT.
UM, I KNOW MEGAN HAD SENT OUT AN EMAIL REGARDING THE PLANTING THAT WOULD HAPPEN AT THE TERMINAL, UH, ROUNDABOUT AT, AT BRIGHT ROAD NEAR RIVERSIDE DRIVE.
SO HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUTTON UP SEVERAL KINDS OF PROJECTS IN THIS AND THE BRIGHT ROAD PEOPLE,
[02:30:01]
UM, WILL BE ABLE TO, TO GO ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS, UM, IN A NORMAL WAY.SO JUST TO ADD ON TO THE ELECTRIC WORK, UM, OUR CONTRACTORS THAT PERFORM PERMIT WORK FOR US DO HAVE NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND PAUL WAS FOLLOWING UP WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS AND COMPLY IN THE FUTURE.
JAMIE, COULD YOU, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MR. KEELER? YES.
[Resolution 15-24]
RESOLUTION 15 DASH 24 AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE FRANKLIN COUNTY ENGINEER AND THE DRAINAGE ENGINEERS OFFICE AND THE WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE COS GRAY ROAD AND FAUS DITCH DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.OUR STAFF REPORT WILL BE BY PAUL HAMMERSMITH.
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING AS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE FRANKLIN COUNTY ENGINEER AND A DRAINAGE ENGINEER'S OFFICE AND THE WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE COS GRAY ROAD AND FAIT DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT.
THE IMPROVEMENT SCOPE INCLUDES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING DETERIORATED TILE SYSTEM ALONG THE COS, ALONG COS GRAY ROAD CONSISTING OF 15 INCH AND 18 INCH PIPES WITH A FULLY FUNCTIONING STORM SEWER SYSTEM BEGINNING AT RINGS ROAD EAST IN AMLIN AND EXTENDING SOUTH APPROXIMATELY 2,700 FEET.
THE NEW STORM SEWERS WILL CONSIST OF 30 INCH, 36 INCH AND 42 INCH DIAMETER PIPES OUTLETTING INTO THE FOUL DITCH AT 52 75 COS GRAY ROAD.
THE SCOPE ALSO INCLUDES RESTORING AN IMPROVING APPROXIMATELY 4,200 FEET OF FOUL DITCH.
UH, UH, UM, SORRY, FILE STITCH, UH, FROM THE STORM SEWER OUTLET SOUTH TO THE EXISTING CULVERT BENEATH HAYDEN RUN ROAD TO PROVIDE FOR IMPROVED CADEN VANS OF STORMWATER.
AND THE ALIGNMENT IS SHOWN IN MORE DETAIL ON YOUR SCREEN.
AND THIS EXHIBIT WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN YOUR, UH, STAFF REPORT.
THE CURRENT ESTIMATED PROJECT COST OF THE IMPROVEMENT IS $2,137,300 IN SEPTEMBER, 2022, WORKING COOPERATIVELY WITH THE CITY OF DUBLIN AND WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
THE FRANKLIN COUNTY ENGINEER'S OFFICE PREPARED AND SUBMITTED AN OHIO PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT.
LAST YEAR, THE OHIO PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION AWARDED THE IMPROVEMENT, A GRANT OF $1,066,000 AND A LOAN OF $360,000 AS A RESULT OF THE AWARD.
AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE FRANKLIN COUNTY ENGINEER WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND THE CITY OF DUBLIN IS NECESSARY.
ON DECEMBER 12TH OF LAST YEAR, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP APPROVED A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH A CASH CONTRIBUTION NOT TO EXCEED $15,000.
THE FRANKLIN COUNTY ENGINEER'S OFFICE WILL REPAY THE $360,000 LOAN RESULTING IN THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE IMPROVEMENT BEING $533,350.
THE APO, THE OHIO PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION GRANT OF $1,066,000 RESULTS IN THE DOUBLING CONTRIBUTION TO THE IMPROVEMENT BEING $522,950.
WHILE 83% OF THE IMPROVEMENT IS LOCATED IN DUBLIN'S JURISDICTION.
THE DUBLIN CONTRIBUTION REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY 25% OF THE ESTIMATED PROJECT COSTS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT.
ALTHOUGH FUNDS FOR THE DUBLIN CONTRIBUTION WERE NOT SPECIFICALLY BUDGETED IN THE 20 24 20 28 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROG PROGRAM FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN 2024 FOR THE DUBLIN CONTRIBUTION FROM THE UNENCUMBERED UNALLOCATED FUND BALANCE IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT TAX FUND.
THE WORK FOR THE IMPROVEMENT IS EXPECTED TO COMMENCE IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR WITH NECESSARY TREE CLEARING AND CONTINUE THEREAFTER WITH THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE FILE WORK.
STORM SEWER INSTALLATION IS EXPECTED TO COMMENCE IN EARLY 2025 WITH ALL WORK BEING COMPLETED ON OR BEFORE JUNE 1ST, 2025.
STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE FRANKLIN COUNTY ENGINEER AND DRAINAGE ENGINEER'S OFFICE AND WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
I WOULD BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE ON THIS RESOLUTION.
UH, IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT THIS EVENING THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK RELATIVE TO THIS RESOLUTION? HEARING NONE COUNCIL QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, JAMIE, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE VICE MAYOR LUDO? YES.
[OTHER BUSINESS]
US TO THE OTHER BUSINESS PORTION OF OUR AGENDA[02:35:01]
THIS EVENING.AND THE FIRST ITEM THERE IS THE ANNUAL UPDATE FROM REV ONE VENTURES ON HIGH TECH ENTREPRENEURIAL SERVICES.
OUR STAFF REPORT WILL BE FROM JEREMIAH GRACIA.
WELCOME, GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UH, TONIGHT BEFORE YOU, UH, WE WILL PRE PREPARE AN UPDATE FROM REV VENTURES BASED ON OUR, UM, PREVIOUS, UH, SUPPORT, UH, OF REVENT VENTURES AND THEIR WORK FOR SUPPORTING HIGH TECH ENTREPRENEUR SERVICES.
AS YOU MAY KNOW, SINCE 2007, WE HAVE, UH, SUPPORTED THE WORK OF REVLON VENTURES AND JUST LAST FEBRUARY WE EXECUTED A RESOLUTION THAT AUTHORIZED US TO EXECUTE A, UM, AGREEMENT FOR THREE YEARS, UH, WITH REVLON VENTURES.
AND TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE CHRISTY CAMPBELL, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, COO, WITH REVON VENTURES TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE RESULTS OF THE 2023 WORK AND A BRIEF LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT FOR 2024.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CHRISTIE.
GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AND TO SEE ALL THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEADERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN A VERY, UH, BUSY EVENING, SO I WILL TRY TO KEEP THIS BRIEF.
UM, BEFORE I GO INTO A BRIEF UPDATE, I DID JUST WANNA THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT FOR THE WORK AND OUR MISSION TO HELP ENTREPRENEURS BUILD GREAT BUSINESSES IN THE COLUMBUS REGION AND MORE SPECIFICALLY HERE IN DUBLIN.
UM, I DO WANNA REMIND EVERYONE THAT THIS MISSION IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR BROADER REGION'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY LED BY ONE COLUMBUS.
AND OUR WORK IS ALSO BUILT INTO THE REGION'S COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, OR OUR CS LED BY MORS E.
UM, IT IS THIS CONNECTED STRATEGY AND THE SUPPORT OF MORE THAN 45 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS THAT ENABLES UP TO US TO HELP OUR CLIENTS ACHIEVE THE IMPACTS THAT I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT HERE TONIGHT.
UM, JUST AS A QUICK REMINDER FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT NOT BE AS FAMILIAR WITH WHAT REV ONE DOES, WE ARE A VENTURE DEVELOPMENT STUDIO.
UM, OUR GOAL IS COMPLETELY FOCUSED ON HELPING TO IDENTIFY TECH ENABLED BUSINESSES THAT CAN BE HIGH GROWTH, THAT HELP TO, UH, GENERATE REVENUE, ATTRACT CAPITAL, AND BUILD WEALTH IN OUR REGION.
UM, THIS IMPACT SLIDE HAS A LOT OF DATA ON IT.
UM, BUT AS JEREMIAH MENTIONED, SINCE OUR WORK BEGAN IN 2013, WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE CLIENTS THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH, WHICH NOW NUMBER MORE THAN 1300, HAVE HAD MORE THAN A 5 BILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE STATE OF OHIO.
THAT IS THROUGH THE REVENUE OUR CLIENTS GENERATE, THE CAPITAL THAT THEY ATTRACT.
UM, HERE IN OUR REGION ALONE IN COLUMBUS, THAT'S, UM, BEEN OVER 3 BILLION.
UM, LAST YEAR ALONE, WE SUPPORTED ABOUT 105 NEW CLIENTS AND FUNDED ABOUT 22, UH, COMPANIES THROUGH ABOUT 7 MILLION IN DIRECT FUNDING.
UM, THAT IS JUST THE FUNDING THAT WE SUPPLY TO THEM THROUGH REV ONE CAPITAL, BUT THEY ALSO ARE THEN ABLE TO ATTRACT MUCH MORE CAPITAL TO THEIR ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, REALLY THE COMBINATION OF THE VERY DEDICATED SERVICES AND GUIDANCE FOR ENTREPRENEURS PAIRED WITH THE INVESTMENTS THROUGH REV ONE CAPITAL IS WHAT ENABLES COMPANIES TO BE MOST SUCCESSFUL AT THIS EARLIEST STAGE, WHICH IS VERY RISKY.
SO THIS CHART, I THINK, DOES A GOOD JOB OF SHOWING THE CUMULATIVE AND INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING IN THESE EARLY STAGE COMPANIES OVER TIME.
THE REASON IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO INVEST AT SCALE IN A LOT OF COMPANIES AT THIS STAGE, AS I MENTIONED, IT IS VERY RISKY.
SO JUST TO PUT INTO CONTEXT, THE AVERAGE FIVE YEAR, UH, SURVIVAL RATE FOR VENTURE BACKED TECH BUSINESSES NATIONALLY IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS IS ABOUT 35% PROUD TO REPORT THAT THE CLIENTS THAT WE WORK WITH CONSISTENTLY HAVE OVER A 50, 50% OR MORE.
SOME YEARS IT'S MORE LIKE 60%, UM, SURVIVAL RATE AFTER FIVE YEARS.
SO THAT IS A BASE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON UPON AND IT'S JUST A REALLY IMPORTANT GROWTH STRATEGY.
FROM THE SERVICES PERSPECTIVE, WE WERE REALLY EXCITED THAT LAST YEAR WE REACHED MORE THAN A THOUSAND ENTREPRENEURS HAD COMPLETED OUR PIPELINE PROGRAM, WHICH IS A THREE DAY BOOTCAMP THAT HAPPENS OVER THE COURSE OF TWO WEEKS.
AND THAT IS A PROGRAM WHERE ENTREPRENEURS WORK TO IDENTIFY THEIR FIRST CUSTOMER, ENSURE THAT THEIR MARKET ULTIMATELY WANTS WITH THEIR PLANNING TO BUILD OR HAVE ALREADY BUILT, AND GET THAT EARLY MARKET VALIDATION BEFORE THEY INVEST THE TIME AND MONEY TO BUILD A BUSINESS.
UM, I THINK LAST YEAR, EIGHT COMPANIES, UM, OR WOULD BE COMPANIES IN DUBLIN, WENT THROUGH THAT PROGRAM.
UH, ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT IS VERY, VERY BENEFICIAL TO OUR CLIENTS, AND ACTUALLY A JULIA DEWEY HERE FROM OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS TEAM RUNS THAT PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM WHERE WE BRING TOGETHER SERVICE PROVIDERS.
SO THINK ACCOUNTING, HR, LEGAL, FINANCE FOLKS WHO CAN PROVIDE EITHER REDUCED FEE OR PRO BONO SERVICES TO OUR STARTUP COMPANIES WHEN THEY MOST NEED THEM.
UM, AND LAST YEAR WE DELIVERED ABOUT $560,000, UH, IN THOSE SERVICES AND NEARLY 6 MILLION SINCE WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT WORK.
UM, A PROGRAM THAT'S REALLY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART IS OUR INNOVATION INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.
UM, MY DAUGHTER WAS HERE FOR A WHILE BUT HAD TO GO HOME
BUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT JUST THE TALENT PIPELINE THAT WE WANNA CREATE IN
[02:40:01]
OUR REGION FOR FOLKS WHO CAN GO INTO STARTUPS AND BE INNOVATIVE, UM, THIS PROGRAM IS REALLY WHERE IT'S AT.WE LAUNCHED THIS IN 2020 AND THIS IS WHERE WE PROVIDE, UM, UH, SALARY BENEFITS FOR STARTUPS.
WE HELP THEM PAY UP TO HALF OF THEIR HOURLY SALARY FOR INTERNS PLACED OVER 500 INTERNSHIPS SINCE 2020.
UH, LAST YEAR ALONE, ABOUT 125 INTERNS WERE PLACED INTO, UM, STARTUP CLIENTS IN DUBLIN SPECIFICALLY, THERE HAVE BEEN 47, UH, STUDENT INTERNSHIPS PLACED INTO DUBLIN COMPANIES.
SO A REALLY, REALLY GREAT PROGRAM AND CONTINUING TO SEE THAT PROGRAM GENERATE A PIPELINE OF, UH, STUDENTS WHO ARE NOW GOING ON TO ACTUALLY BE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WITH THOSE COMPANIES.
AND YOU'LL SEE THAT OVER A DOZEN OF THEM HAVE DONE SO SO FAR.
SO AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, UM, YOU KNOW, DUBLIN HAS BEEN A GREAT BENEFICIARY OF THIS PROGRAM THAT WE'VE CREATED FOR THE BROADER REGION OF THE MORE THAN 3 MILLION THAT DUBLIN HAS INVESTED INTO THE NONPROFIT THAT IS REV ONE, THE COMPANIES WE'VE SUPPORTED IN DUBLIN ALONE HAVE GENERATED OVER 150 MILLION IN REVENUE AND ATTRACTED TO THEIR COMPANIES OVER 260 MILLION IN INVESTMENTS.
UM, SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT THE CITY PROVIDES TO REV ONE OVER $77 IN INVESTMENT CAPITAL GOES BACK TO THESE COMPANIES.
UM, AND I DO WANNA MENTION THAT THESE ARE NOT JUST JOBS, THEY'RE REALLY GREAT JOBS.
SO OUR CLIENTS, UH, JUST THIS LAST YEAR ALONE HAD CREATED A RETAINED OVER A THOUSAND JOBS WITH THE AVERAGE WAGE BEING $105,000.
SO THE TECH ECONOMY IS A, IS IS A GOOD HIGH GROWTH ECONOMY.
UH, AND I'LL JUST FINISH UP HERE WITH, UM, JUST ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF ONE OF THE COMPANIES THAT WE WORK WITH HERE ON THE LEFT.
YOU FOLKS HAVE PROBABLY MET THE FOLKS AT DOSSEY BEFORE.
HE'S ALSO AN OSU ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, PROFESSOR AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER.
AND HE DEVELOPED THE SPIN OUT TECHNOLOGY.
THE COMPANY IS BASED UPON, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THIS COMPANY SINCE INCEPTION.
UM, WE WORK ALONGSIDE HE AND CEO TERRY SEASET, UM, TO HELP THEM BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, VALIDATE THEIR PRODUCT, GAIN FIRST CUSTOMERS, AND GO TO MARKET.
UM, PROUD TO TO REPORT SOME OF THE RECENT PROGRESS WITH DSI.
JUST IN JUNE AND JUNE OF 23, THEY RECEIVED FDA CLEARANCE TO TAKE THEIR FIRST PRODUCT TO MARKET.
JUST IN THIS PAST JANUARY OF 24, THEY WERE GRANTED APPROVAL FOR THAT PRODUCT TO BE ON MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT CODE.
SO THAT REALLY OPENS THE PATHWAY FOR THEM TO GO INTO AND SORT OF, UH, EXPAND SALES.
UM, THEIR CLIENTS INCLUDE MAJOR HOSPITAL SYSTEMS SUCH AS OSU AND UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS.
UM, AND THEY'RE EXPECTING A SECOND PRODUCT TO COME TO MARKET LATER THIS YEAR.
UM, WE EXPECT THEY'RE GONNA RAISE A LARGE SERIES A ROUND LATER THIS YEAR.
UM, AND THEY CURRENTLY HAVE 25, UH, FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, UM, BETWEEN DUBLIN AND THE BROADER CENTRAL OHIO REGION.
UM, SO LOOKING AHEAD, IF YOU THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE, THE MAJOR THINGS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO TO REALLY BUILD UPON THIS NONPROFIT MISSION, UM, THE MAIN THING THAT JULIE AND I DO EVERY DAY IS ADVOCATE WITH OUR MORE THAN 45 PART PARTNERS FOR WHY THEY SHOULD CONTINUE DOING THIS WORK.
UM, THIS ISN'T SUSTAINABLE WITHOUT SUPPORT FOR THE NONPROFIT.
UM, WE ALSO EXPECT TO LAUNCH TWO NEW, UH, PRE-SEED AND SEED FUNDS.
WE'LL LAUNCH A A $6 MILLION PRE-SEED FUND, LIKELY, AND WE INTEND TO BRING A NEW ANGEL FUND TO MARKET.
UM, AND A LOT OF OUR ANGEL INVESTORS COME FROM THIS REGION.
UH, WE ALSO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR FUTURE SPACE FOR ENTREPRENEURS.
WE DO OPERATE AN INNOVATION CENTER DOWN ON K UM, ON OS U'S CAMPUS.
I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TOUR THAT FACILITY.
UM, IT IS AN IMPORTANT FACILITY.
WE HAVE 60 BUSINESSES IN THERE, BUT IT IS VERY OUTDATED.
SO WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR AND, UM, PARTNER WITH OSU AND OTHERS TO LOOK AT HOW WE MAY BE ABLE TO CREATE NEW INNOVATION SPACE, UM, DOWN ON THE WEST CAMPUS.
AND THEN FINALLY, UM, A REALLY IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP THAT YOU ALL CONTRIBUTE TO THAT HELPS US TO REALLY, UM, TURN $1 INTO TWO AND $3 IS THE WORK THAT WE DO, UM, THROUGH THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT.
THEIR OHIO THIRD FRONTIER PROGRAM IS WHAT, UM, WE PULL DOWN AS MATCH FOR EVERY DOLLAR RAISED IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO, UM, WE ARE IN A THREE YEAR GRANT RIGHT NOW THAT IS UP IN MID, UM, 25.
AND SO WE WILL BE BACK OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AS WE ALWAYS ARE ADVOCATING FOR THIS WORK AND FOR FUTURE FUNDING TO HELP SUPPORT STARTUPS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN CENTRAL OHIO.
UM, HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT OUR WORK.
UH, IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT THIS EVENING THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT REGARDING THIS HEARING NONE COUNCIL QUESTIONS DISCUSSION? UM, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU.
EVERY TIME YOU COME YOU'VE ADDED 10 NEW INNOVATIVE THINGS, WHICH I GUESS IS WHAT YOU DO.
SO THANK YOU FOR, UH, PRACTICING WHAT YOU PREACH AND YOU'RE WELCOME.
UM, YOU MENTIONED, UM, REV ONE CAPITAL
[02:45:01]
A COUPLE TIMES.COULD YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SIZE OF THAT FUND AND WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS? YES, NO, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
SO, SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CALL IT THE TWO PARTS OF OUR BUSINESS.
SO WE OPERATE A NON-PROFIT REV ONE VENTURES, AND THEN WE HAVE A SERIES OF FOR-PROFIT SEED FUNDS THAT CURRENTLY ROLL UP TO THE NON-PROFIT.
UM, SO THE MAJORITY OF OUR TEAM IS EMPLOYED BY THE NONPROFIT, AND THEN WE HAVE FOR-PROFIT SEED FUNDS TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT 180 MILLION IN CAPITAL.
UM, OUR LARGEST SEED FUND WAS LAUNCHED LATE LAST YEAR, WHICH IS A $30 MILLION, UH, SEED FUND FOCUSED JUST ON LIFE SCIENCES.
AND THAT IS TWICE AS LARGE AS THE PREVIOUS FUND.
AND, UM, THE LIMITED PARTNERS IN THAT ARE REV ONE, OHIO STATE AND NATIONWIDE CHILDREN'S.
AND SO THAT'S VERY TARGETED AT THE GROWTH IN, UM, THERAPEUTICS, DIAGNOSTICS, UM, OTHER LIFE SCIENCES OPPORTUNITIES COMING OUT OF PRIMARILY OHIO STATE AND NATIONWIDE CHILDREN'S.
I I KNOW RAISING THE MONEY IS OFTEN THE HARDEST THING TO DO, SO, UM, IT'S CONTINUE TO INNOVATE THERE AND SUPPORT IS, IS GREAT.
OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? WELL, WE THANK YOU.
YOU CERTAINLY SURVIVED THE TEST OF ENDURANCE.
IF THAT IS ANY INDICATION OF YOUR PERSISTENCE IN THE MARKETPLACE, WE ARE WELL SERVED.
UH, NEXT WE'LL HAVE OUR AMERICA TWO 50 OH COMMUNITY, AND OUR STAFF REPORT WILL BE FROM KENDALL BLAKE.
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY.
THAT'S THE SEMI QUINCENTENNIAL WILL BE HELD ON JULY 4TH, 2026.
IN PREPARATION FOR THIS CELEBRATION, THE AMERICA TWO 50 OHIO COMMISSION CREATED BY THE HUNDRED 35TH OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS A MULTI-YEAR COMMEMORATION WHERE OHIOANS FROM ALL 88 COUNTIES WILL CELEBRATE OHIO'S UNIQUE ROLE FOR OUR NATION'S STORY.
AMERICA TWO 50 OHIO HAS A BOLD GOAL TO HAVE AT LEAST 250 COMMUNITIES THAT WILL DE BE DESIGNATED AS AN OFFICIAL AMERICA TWO 50 OHIO COMMUNITY, CREATING HUNDREDS OF EXCITING AND ENGAGING OPPORTUNITIES TO CELEBRATE AND COMMEMORATE THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES.
THEY'RE INVITING ALL LEVELS OF COMMUNITIES FROM ACROSS THE STATE TO APPLY.
LISTED ON THE SCREEN ARE THE TWO STEPS TO BECOME AN OFFICIAL AMERICA TWO 50 COMMUNITY, PASSING A RESOLUTION AND CREATING A COMMITTEE THAT WITH, WITH AT LEAST ONE EXTERNAL MEMBER TO PLAN LOCAL ACTIVITIES AND ACT AS A LIAISON TO THE AMERICA TWO 50 COMMISSION TEAM.
THE BENEFITS OF THE AMERICA TWO 50 OHIO COMMUNITIES, UH, RECEIVE, ARE LISTED ON THE SCREEN SUCH AS SIGNAGE, WHICH IS THE IMAGE ON THE TOP RIGHT, OR POSSIBLY A BANNER LOGO ON THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE.
EVENT PROMOTION, DIGITAL TOOLKITS, ACCESS TO ONLINE COMMUNITY PLATFORMS. AND ADDITIONALLY, THE COMMISSION ALSO HAS TWO GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT DUBLIN WOULD EXPLORE IF DIRECTED TO APPLY TO BE AN OFFICIAL COMMUNITY.
SEVERAL POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES OF HOW DUBLIN COULD CELEBRATE AND COMMEMORATE INCLUDED THE 2026 INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE THEME, A POSSIBLE NEW PARADE FLOAT ABBEY THEATER PERFORMANCES, HISTORICAL THEMED CAMPS, BANNERS AND HISTORIC DUBLIN, AND POSSIBLY PLANTING 250 TREES ON ARBOR DAY.
STAFF RECOMMENDS THE CITY SEEK DESIGNATION OF AS AN OFFICIAL AMERICA TWO 50 OHIO COMMUNITY.
AND WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT THIS EVENING THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENT RELATIVE TO THIS TOPIC? HEARING NONE COUNCIL QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION.
UM, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS WITH OTHER GROUPS IN MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE, BUT I, I REALLY THINK THIS WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TEAM WITH THE DUBLIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY BECAUSE IT'S THEIR 50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY THIS, UM, THIS YEAR.
AND WITH OPENING THE MUSEUM THAT WILL BE IN HISTORIC DUBLIN, I THINK IT'LL BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY WITH THEM AND VISIT DUBLIN.
SO I THINK AS WE FORM THE COMMITTEE FOR IT, DEFINITELY INCLUDE THOSE TWO GROUPS.
YEAH, JUST LIKE, COMMENT, UM, I THINK THE DOCUMENTS THAT MADE THIS COUNTRY GREAT SHOULD BE REEVALUATED, NOT AND RESURRECTED FOR PEOPLE TO STUDY THE CONSTITUTION, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, CREATED A REALLY UNIQUE GOVERNMENT, UNIQUE TO THE WORLD, AND ALSO HAD SOME GREAT LEADERSHIP TO LEAD IT AT THAT TIME TOO, WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON.
SO THERE SHOULD BE SOME FOCUS ON THESE GUYS, HAMILTON.
AND SO MORE AS A UNIFYING EFFORT, UM, FOR OUR COUNTRY IS PRETTY FRAGMENTED RIGHT NOW.
AND TO GO BACK TO WHAT REALLY MADE THIS COUNTRY GREAT, UM, AMONG ALL THE NATIONS.
[02:50:01]
PART OF THIS SHOULD BE INVOLVED WITH THAT.I I THINK THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY HERE TO SHARE, AND I KNOW THAT BY SPEAKING TO SOME OTHER PEOPLE, AND I'VE TALKED TO MEGAN ABOUT THIS, UM, I'M EXCITED ABOUT GETTING, UM, THIS RESOLUTION, UH, IN PROCESS.
THEY'RE ALSO ASKING THAT WE CELEBRATE ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL IT DOESN'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL 2026.
AND, AND THAT WITH THE HISTORIC MUSEUM AND THE NEW CABIN WE HAVE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU'VE SEEN THE CABIN ON SOUTH HIGH STREET THAT'S BEEN UNCOVERED, THE, THE TWO VACANT PROPERTIES.
HAVE ANYBODY SEEN IT? THE TWO VACANT PROPERTIES ACROSS FROM THE DUBLIN TAVERN THAT HAVE BEEN VACANT FOR A WHILE, THEY STRIPPED OFF THE SIDING AND THERE'S A LOG CABIN SITTING THERE ON HIGH STREET.
I HOPE THEY DON'T COVER IT UP.
BUT, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PLANS ARE.
THEY, THEY'RE ON THE INSIDE OF THE BUILDING.
THEY'RE PRESERVING ONE OF THE WALLS.
IT'S GONNA BE CIGAR LIKE, UH, LOUNGE AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THE INSIDE OF THE WALL.
IT'S, IT'S AMAZING TO THINK THAT RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN DUBLIN, IT SITS THIS LITTLE HISTORIC LOG CABIN THAT'S BEEN HIDDEN UNDER SOME SIDING FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
BUT ANYWAY, I, I'M TOTALLY FOR THIS.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO APPLY TO PARTICIPATE AS AN AMERICA TWO 50 OHIO COMMUNITY AND BRING A RESOLUTION FORWARD AT THE NEXT MEETING.
JAMIE, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL MS. FOX? YES.
[STAFF COMMENTS]
STAFF COMMENTS.I AM GOING TO FOREGO THE STAFF COMMENTS THAT I HAD PLANNED FOR THIS EVENING, AND I'M GOING TO REQUEST THAT CHIEF PE SPEAK TO THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED IN BRIDGE PARK EARLIER THIS EVENING.
UH, GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
I JUST WANTED TO UPDATE YOU ON AN INCIDENT THAT OUR OFFICERS RESPONDED TO IN THE BRIDGE PARK AREA.
UH, SHORTLY BEFORE COUNCIL, UH, BEGAN THIS EVENING AROUND 6 35, OUR OFFICERS RESPONDED TO A REPORT OF AN INCIDENT OCCURRING IN THE 6,600 BLOCK OF LONGSHORE STREET, UH, IN THE BRIDGE PARK AREA.
AS THE OFFICERS WERE RESPONDING, UH, TO THAT CALL, UM, OUR COMMUNICATIONS TECHNICIANS ASTUTELY PICKED UP ON AND, AND QUICKLY ADVISED THE OFFICERS THAT'S, THERE WERE INDICATIONS OF SHOTS BEING FIRED, UH, IN THAT AREA.
UH, THE OFFICERS QUICKLY RESPONDED TO THE SCENE, ASSESSED WHAT WAS OCCURRING, AND THEN IMMEDIATELY MOVED TO THE BUILDING FROM WHICH, UH, GUNFIRE HAD BEEN, UH, HEARD AND IMMEDIATELY MOVED THEN TO THE FLOOR WHERE THAT WAS OCCURRING.
OUR OFFICERS, UM, UH, FORTUNATELY WERE ABLE TO GET THERE SAFELY AND THEN QUICKLY, UH, BRING SOMEONE INTO CUSTODY WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THAT INCIDENT.
UM, THAT PERSON IS STILL IN CUSTODY.
OUR DETECTIVES AND OUR OFFICERS ARE STILL OUT INVESTIGATING THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THAT INCIDENT.
UM, BUT AT THIS TIME, THE ONLY PERSON INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT IS, IS IN POLICE CUSTODY.
UM, IMPORTANTLY, UH, NO ONE WAS STRUCK WITH GUNFIRE.
WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN INJURED, UH, IN THIS INCIDENT.
AND, AND AGAIN, WE DO HAVE SOMEBODY IN CUSTODY, UH, FOR THAT INCIDENT.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE AN UPDATE TO COUNSEL AND THEN RECOGNIZE, UH, CERTAINLY THE OFFICERS AND THE COMMUNICATIONS TECHNICIANS FOR HANDLING, UH, WHAT WAS VERY TROUBLING INCIDENT THIS EVENING.
UH, BUT AGAIN, VERY GRATEFUL THAT THERE ARE NO INJURIES, UH, RESULTING FROM THIS INCIDENT.
UH, AND THAT WE DO HAVE THE PERSON INVOLVED, UH, IN CUSTODY.
UH, WE WILL NOW GO TO COUNCIL REPORTS IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF? NO.
[COUNCIL REPORTS]
ON TO COUNCIL REPORTS, LIAISON REPORTS.WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER DEROSA WITH DUBLIN BRIDGES 33 CORRIDOR, ENVISION DUBLIN STEERING AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.
I WILL ONLY MAKE, UH, ONE COMMENT, UM, ENVISION DUBLIN, A STEERING COMMITTEE MEETS AGAIN TOMORROW.
UH, JUST THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE DEVOTED MANY, MANY HOURS AND WE'RE NOW GETTING TO THE POINT TO ROLL IT UP AND PUT IT INTO A PLAN.
AND, UM, COUNCIL WILL SEE IT, PLANNING AND ZONING WILL SEE IT.
AND, UM, JUST AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF WORK.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO COUNCIL MEMBER FOX.
I KNOW YOU REPORTED ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AT OUR LAST MEETING, BUT THAT IF THERE'S ANYTHING NEW THERE.
AND ON THE 33 CORRIDOR GROUP, NO, UM, NO REPORT SINCE THE LAST MEETING ON THE 33 CORRIDOR GROUP.
THE NEXT MEETING IS APRIL 12TH.
MR. KEELER, BOARD OF EDUCATION, LOGAN UNION, CHAMPAIGN COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION.
MR. REINER OF DUBLIN ARTS COUNCIL, VETERANS COMMITTEE.
UH, THE DUBLIN, UH, ARTS COUNCIL MET WITH THE, UM, THREE, UM, ARTISTS.
UH, THIS WEEK WE HAD BREAKFAST.
THEY WENT OUT AND VISITED THE SITE AND THEY'LL BE COMING BACK WITHIN A MONTH OR SO WITH A, UH, WITH THEIR DESIGNS IN WHICH ONE OF 'EM WAS GONNA BE SELECTED.
AND THEY WERE REALLY INTERESTED IN DUBLIN AND WHAT THEY WERE GONNA BE INVOLVED IN.
SO THERE WAS A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM.
[02:55:01]
WE TOLD 'EM THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE SINCE THIS PARTICULAR SITE BORDERS THE GOLF COURSE.TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE SEE THEIR ART EVERY MAY OR ACTUALLY JUNE NOW, BUT PRETTY EXCITING.
COUNCIL MEMBER CRAM, WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD.
UH, I JUST WANT COUNSEL TO KNOW THAT ON WEDNESDAY, THIS WEDNESDAY THE 27TH, A RB WILL BE HEARING ATCH AND ALSO 17 AND 27 NORTH RIVER VIEWS.
SO BIG APPLICATIONS BEFORE A RB THIS WEEK.
AND, UM, IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.
I ALSO ASK ASKED STAFF EARLIER, I'M CUR NOTHING TO OUR KNOWLEDGE OR THAT WE'VE HEARD IS HAPPENING WITH THE THIRD HOUSE ON SOUTH RIVERVIEW WHEN WE'RE PAST ALL THE DEADLINES WE HAD PUT ON THEM.
UM, SO IT'D BE NICE TO GET AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I MEAN, EVEN IF THEY GET STARTED NOW, WE'RE STILL LOOKING SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER.
I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT MEANS THAT JUST SAT ANOTHER YEAR.
SO, UM, IT'D BE NICE TO FIND OUT FROM STAFF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT THIRD, BUT IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE OTHER, THE REST OF THE STREET, UM, ON THE AGENDA THIS WEEK.
AND I WILL REPORT OUT ON THE MID OHIO REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION AND ENVISIONED DUBLIN STEERING COMMITTEE.
AS, UH, KATHY MENTIONED THE STEERING COMMITTEE HAS, I, I BELIEVE ONE OF OUR FINAL MEETINGS IN TERMS OF CONTENT, UH, TOMORROW.
AND THEN IT WILL HAVE A, UM, A PUBLIC, I BELIEVE IT'S FINAL PUBLIC REVIEW, AND THEN THAT WILL WRAP UP AND COME BEFORE THIS BODY.
SO THANKS TO JENNY AND ALL THE PLANNERS.
UM, IT HAS BEEN A HEAVY LIFT AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY'S INVOLVEMENT AND STAFF AS WELL, UH, FOR THE MID OHIO REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION.
SAW MANY OF YOU AT THE STATE OF THE REGION A WEEK AGO LAST FRIDAY.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE TO THAT.
AND I, UM, FELT LIKE THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD EVENT AND, UM, EXCITING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WILL BE HAPPENING, UH, IN THE NEAR TERM IN OUR REGION.
[COUNCIL ROUNDTABLE]
WILL START ROUND TABLE AND I WILL START WITH MY FAR LEFT, MR. KEELER? I'M GOOD.WELL THANK YOU FOR, UH, FOR BEING GOOD PARTNERS AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, YOUR ATTENTION IN THE MEETING TONIGHT.
AND WITH THAT, WE WILL STAND ADJOURNED.