200 South Hamilton Road  
Gahanna, Ohio 43230  
City of Gahanna  
Meeting Minutes  
Committee of the Whole  
Jamille Jones, Chair  
Merisa K. Bowers  
Nancy R. McGregor  
Kaylee Padova  
Stephen A. Renner  
Michael Schnetzer  
Trenton I. Weaver  
Jeremy A. VanMeter, Clerk of Council  
Monday, June 1, 2026  
City Hall, Council Chambers  
Immediately following the regular City Council meeting beginning at 7:00 PM  
CALL TO ORDER:  
A.  
Gahanna City Council met for Committee of the Whole on Monday,  
June 1, 2026, in Council Chambers. Vice President of Council Jamille  
Jones, Chair, called the meeting to order at 8:06 p.m. The agenda was  
published on May 29, 2026. All members were present at the meeting.  
There were no additions or corrections to the agenda.  
B.  
ITEMS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION:  
ORD-0020-2026  
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS  
- State Capital Grant Fund and Capital Improvement Fund for Academy  
Park and Friendship Park Projects  
Stephania Ferrell, Director of Parks and Recreation, requested an  
ordinance authorizing supplemental appropriations related to  
improvements at Academy Park and Friendship Park. Director Ferrell  
reported that the City was awarded a $113,000 scrap tire grant through  
the efforts of Management Analyst Sean Bock and Project Manager  
Catherine Eichel. The grant will support the installation of a  
poured-in-place playground surface as part of the Academy Park  
playground renovation project. She explained that the funding will allow  
the entire playground surface to utilize poured-in-place material rather  
than a combination of poured-in-place surfacing and engineered wood  
fiber, resulting in improved accessibility and inclusivity. Director Ferrell  
stated that the grant requires a 100 percent local match and the  
establishment of a separate account for grant administration. She  
explained that a separate account has already been set up. She  
requested a supplemental appropriation totaling $226,000, consisting of  
the grant award and required local match, from the unencumbered,  
unappropriated balance of the State Capital Grant Fund to the Ohio EPA  
grant account established for the Academy Park project.  
Director Ferrell also reported that Parks Manager Zac Guthrie presented  
the Friendship Park playground improvement project to the Gahanna  
Kiwanis Club. She stated that the organization donated $10,000 to  
support the project. The donation will be used to enhance the playground  
value and inclusive features of the playground. Director Ferrell requested  
a supplemental appropriation of $10,000 from the unencumbered,  
unappropriated balance of the Capital Improvement Fund for the  
Friendship Park playground project.  
There were no questions or concerns raised by members of Council.  
Recommendation: Introduction/First Reading on Regular Agenda on 6/15/2026;  
Second Reading/Vote on Consent Agenda on 7/6/2026.  
RES-0021-2026  
A
RESOLUTION  
AUTHORIZING  
THE  
TRANSFER  
OF  
APPROPRIATIONS WITHIN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND  
AND AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO THE STATE  
CAPITAL GRANT FUND FOR THE ACADEMY PARK PROJECT  
Director Ferrell requested a resolution authorizing the transfer of  
appropriations within the Capital Improvement Fund and the transfer of  
funds to the State Capital Grant Fund for the Academy Park playground  
project. Director Ferrell explained that the legislation would authorize the  
transfer of $113,000 from the Capital Improvement Fund to the State  
Capital Grant Fund to satisfy the local match requirements associated  
with the scrap tire grant awarded for the Academy Park playground  
renovation project.  
No questions or concerns were raised by members of Council.  
Recommendation: Introduction/Vote on Consent Agenda on 6/15/2026.  
C.  
ITEMS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE:  
RES-0017-2026  
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE TAX BUDGET OF THE CITY OF  
GAHANNA, OHIO, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JANUARY 1,  
2027  
Joann Bury, Director of Finance, presented the proposed 2027 Tax  
Budget and requested adoption of a resolution authorizing its submission  
to the Franklin County Budget Commission. She explained that the  
annual tax budget is required to allow the Budget Commission to  
determine the City’s need for existing tax levies and establish the  
corresponding levy amounts and rates.  
President Weaver requested clarification regarding an increase in  
expenditures within the Community Environment category reflected in the  
2025 actual financial data. Director Bury explained that the increase was  
primarily attributable to the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC)  
supplemental appropriation approved during 2025. President Weaver  
inquired about projected 2026 expenditures exceeding anticipated  
revenues. Director Bury stated that the variance was attributable to a  
supplemental appropriation approved late in 2025 for the Central Ohio  
Health Care Consortium (COHCC) assessment. She explained that the  
associated encumbrances rolled into 2026 when payment was made,  
resulting in a limited use of fund balance during the fiscal year.  
No additional questions were raised by members of Council.  
Recommendation: Introduction/Vote on Consent Agenda on 6/15/2026.  
D.  
ADJOURNMENT:  
With no further business before the Committee of the Whole, the Chair  
adjourned the meeting at 8:13 p.m.