200 South Hamilton Road

Gahanna, Ohio 43230

City of Gahanna

Meeting Minutes

City Council

Merisa K. Bowers, President

Trenton I. Weaver, Vice President

Jamille Jones

Nancy R. McGregor

Kaylee Padova

Stephen A. Renner

Michael Schnetzer

Jeremy A. VanMeter, Clerk of Council

Monday, August 18, 2025

7:00 PM

City Hall, Council Chambers

CALL TO ORDER: Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call

Gahanna City Council met in Regular Session on Monday, August 18, 2025,

in Council Chambers. President of Council Merisa K. Bowers called the

meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Vice President of Council Trenton I. Weaver

delivered an Invocation. Scouts Pack Troop 317 led members in the Pledge

of Allegiance. The agenda was published on August 15, 2025.

7 - Merisa K. Bowers, Jamille Jones, Nancy R. McGregor, Kaylee Padova,

Stephen A. Renner, Michael Schnetzer, and Trenton I. Weaver

Present

ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA:

None.

PRESENTATIONS:

1. Joint Resolution/Proclamation Presentation by Council & Mayor:

Designating August 2025 as Share the Road and Distracted Driving

Awareness Month, in memory of Roseann Peiffer

President Bowers introduced a joint resolution and proclamation designating

August 2025 as Share the Road and Distracted Driving Awareness Month in

memory of Roseann Peiffer. She said Roseann was an experienced

triathlete, a beloved mother, wife, and friend who died earlier in the year

when a distracted driver crossed the center lane and struck her while she

was cycling. Bowers said the resolution and proclamation served as a

reminder that crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists were preventable

only if people remained vigilant, urged drivers to slow down and put away

distractions, and called on everyone, drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, to

take responsibility for keeping one another safe. She said the proclamation

also affirmed the City of Gahanna’s commitment to building safer

infrastructure to support walking, cycling, and active transportation. She

thanked the cyclists, cycling advocates, community members, and the

Gahanna Division of Police for their work and dedication, announced that the

Council would share a video comment from Roseann’s sister Kristen, and

introduced Nicole Reece to speak on behalf of Roseann’s family after the

video.

Kristen Jindra, via video comment, said that on May 31, 2025, her life

changed irreparably when her father called to tell her that her sister Roseann

had been killed by a distracted driver. She described the screams she heard

that day and said the deaths of Roseann, herself, Roseann’s husband Mike,

and her parents destroyed the family they were. She said Roseann was her

only sister, older by eighteen months, and that they did nearly everything

together, including having their first children. She said Roseann’s daughter

and her own child would grow up without memories of Roseann. Jindra

recounted Roseann’s athletic achievements, triathlete, cyclist, marathoner,

ultramarathoner, swimmer, hiker, and snowboarder, including winning a

212-mile gravel race in Michigan and competing at national and world levels,

and said those achievements represented only one piece of Roseann’s life.

Jindra said Roseann was a devout Catholic, loving sister, daughter, wife,

incredible mother, and humble friend. She described the collision as

occurring when a sober man crossed the entire road and struck Roseann.

She asked what his punishment would be and said he would receive ninety

days in jail and a license suspension. Jindra cited a new data tool from

thewhiteline.org and said Ohio recorded roughly 3,100 vulnerable road user

deaths between 2001 and 2023, about one human life taken every three

days, and said Ohio ranked forty-eighth for accountability. She said the U.S.

Department of Transportation estimated 39,345 traffic crash deaths in 2024

and questioned what incentives would exist to prevent such deaths if the law

did not impose stricter consequences.

Nicole Reece thanked the City of Gahanna and Councilwoman Bowers for

raising awareness and giving the issue attention. Reece identified herself as

the president of the Toledo Area Bicyclists, the largest cycling group in

northwest Ohio, and said she represented the triathlon community as well.

She said Roseann was her friend and coach and that the proclamation

served as both a symbolic honor and a call to action. Reece said she

convened a steering committee in northwest Ohio and urged

coalition-building among advocates across the state to create change more

efficiently and effectively. She challenged the community to join the coalition

and help build safety for cyclists.

President Bowers, Mayor Jadwin, and Councilmembers presented the

resolution and proclamation to Nicole Reece on behalf of the City of

Gahanna. Attendees applauded.

HEARING OF VISITORS:

Maximilian Orsley of Gahanna, OH, spoke on the joint

resolution/proclamation and pedestrian and cyclist safety.

Mr. Orsley thanked the City and Council for the proclamation and for

recognizing the need to protect pedestrians and cyclists. He took issue with

the proclamation’s wording that suggested increased individual attentiveness

alone would prevent deaths, and he urged the Council to take action by

building safer infrastructure, specifically separated bicycle lanes with

concrete barriers to prevent cars from striking cyclists.

Jessica Miller of Sunbury, OH, spoke on the joint resolution/proclamation

presented in memory of Roseann Peiffer.

Ms. Miller said she was Roseann Peiffer’s sister-in-law and thanked the

Council and Mayor for the joint resolution and proclamation and for honoring

Roseann’s memory and legacy. She urged Council members to “compete

with yourselves” to leave Gahanna’s roads safer than they were when they

took office.

CONSENT AGENDA:

1. Minutes - To Approve:

2025-0155

2025-0156

2025-0157

Council Regular Minutes 8.4.2025

The minutes were approved on the Consent Agenda.

Council Special Minutes 8.11.2025

The minutes were approved on the Consent Agenda.

Committee of the Whole Minutes 8.11.2025

The minutes were approved on the Consent Agenda.

End of Consent Agenda

A motion was made by Weaver, seconded by Renner, to Pass the Consent

Agenda. The motion carried by the following vote:

7 - Bowers, Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver

Yes:

MOTIONS:

MT-0010-2025

A MOTION TO APPOINT HOLLY HAINES TO THE PARKS AND

RECREATION BOARD, SEAT 1, FOR THE UNEXPIRED TERM

ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2025

President Bowers noted the position was open due to a vacancy in July. Ms.

Haines previously applied for the seat and was previously interviewed by

Council. Bowers noted that Haines demonstrated impressive knowledge and

stewardship of the natural environment and added that Haines would be a

great addition to the Parks and Recreation Board.

A motion was made by Schnetzer, seconded by Renner, that the Motion be

Approved. The motion carried by the following vote:

7 - Bowers, Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver

Yes:

RESOLUTIONS:

RES-0034-2025

JOINT

RESOLUTION

AND

PROCLAMATION

DESIGNATING

AUGUST 2025 AS SHARE THE ROAD AND DISTRACTED DRIVING

AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF GAHANNA

Vice President Weaver offered his heartfelt condolences to the family and

friends of Ms. Peiffer and thanked the advocates, family, and friends who

joined the meeting that evening. He noted that with school back in session

he observed children on roads that lacked sidewalks or trails and said that

sight weighed heavily on his mind when he drove. He added that his wife

worked as a public school teacher and urged drivers to pay attention.

Weaver also recognized Mr. Orsley’s comments during the Hearing of

Visitors.

President Bowers acknowledged those in the audience who spoke regarding

the resolution and referenced Mr. Orsley’s comments. She described a

seminar video that showed a vehicle veering off a divided highway and

crashing through a farm stand, noting the discussion about defensive

architecture such as bollards or other proactive construction that could save

lives. She said Gahanna and central Ohio were recognizing the critical need

for such infrastructure, observed that the City of Gahanna incorporated it into

the new library and the municipal complex designs, and stated that the

resolution included a paragraph calling for continued investment in

infrastructure that supported safety while also urging people to drive

seriously.

A motion was made by Renner, seconded by Weaver, that the Resolution be

Adopted. The motion carried by the following vote:

7 - Bowers, Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver

Yes:

ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION / FIRST READING:

ORD-0035-2025 AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING, APPROVING, AND RATIFYING THE

SUBMITTED RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA

TAX INCENTIVE REVIEW COUNCIL FOR TAX YEAR 2023

President Bowers introduced the Ordinance and the Clerk read it by title.

ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING / ADOPTION:

ORD-0031-2025 AN

ORDINANCE

REAL

ESTATE

LEVY

SPECIAL

WITHIN

ASSESSMENTS

THE 2022 SIDEWALK

FOR

CERTAIN

MAINTENANCE

PROGRAM,

APPROVE

COSTS

AND

QUANTITIES, AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY

President Bowers introduced the Ordinance and the Clerk read it by title.

President Bowers announced an amendment required to accept a substitute

EXHIBIT A.

A motion was made by Weaver, seconded by Jones, that the Ordinance be

Amended by Substitution of EXHIBIT A. The motion carried by the following

vote:

7 - Bowers, Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver

Yes:

A motion was made by Weaver, seconded by Renner, that the Ordinance be

Adopted, as Amended, as an Emergency. The motion carried by the following

vote:

7 - Bowers, Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver

Yes:

ORD-0032-2025 AN

CERTAIN

MAINTENANCE

ORDINANCE

ESTATE

PROGRAM,

LEVY

SPECIAL

WITHIN

ASSESSMENTS

THE 2024 SIDEWALK

APPROVE COSTS AND

FOR

REAL

QUANTITIES, AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY

President Bowers introduced the Ordinance and read it by title.

President Bowers noted that she appreciated the residents' comments at the

Public Hearing on the assessments at the last Regular Meeting on August 4,

2025. She said their voices were heard and that the administration would

continue to take those comments into consideration as it moved forward.

She also recognized the constant cost of home ownership.

A motion was made by Weaver, seconded by Renner, that the Ordinance be

Adopted as an Emergency. The motion carried by the following vote:

7 - Bowers, Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver

Yes:

ORD-0034-2025 AN ORDINANCE TO REAUTHORIZE AND AMEND THE CREEKSIDE

OUTDOOR REFRESHMENT AREA (CORA) IN ACCORDANCE WITH

OHIO REVISED CODE 4301.82

President Bowers introduced the Ordinance and read it by title.

A motion was made by Weaver, seconded by Renner, that the Ordinance be

Adopted. The motion carried by the following vote:

7 - Bowers, Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver

Yes:

ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION, WAIVER & ADOPTION:

ORD-0036-2025 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO AWARD AND

ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH HGC CONSTRUCTION CO. FOR

THE RENOVATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE PRICE ROAD

HOUSE

FACILITY;

AUTHORIZING

SUPPLEMENTAL

APPROPRIATIONS; AND WAIVING SECOND READING

President Bowers introduced the Ordinance and the Clerk read it by title.

A motion was made by Renner, seconded by Padova, that the Ordinance be

Waived for Second Reading. The motion carried by the following vote:

7 - Bowers, Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver

Yes:

President Bowers encouraged attendees to review last week's Committee of

the Whole meeting on August 11, 2025, noting many guests attended

tonight’s meeting and the meeting progressed quickly. She described the

Price Road House project as an outdoor exploration center that would serve

future generations, said they had a contract to move forward with the project,

and thanked Parks and Recreation Director Ferrell for her tenacity in

advancing it.

A motion was made by Renner, seconded by Padova, that the Ordinance be

Adopted. The motion carried by the following vote:

7 - Bowers, Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver

Yes:

ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION, WAIVER & EMERGENCY ADOPTION:

ORD-0033-2025 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN

AGREEMENT WITH WINSTED COMPANY, LLC, FOR FURNITURE

PROCUREMENT AND INSTALLATION SERVICES RELATED TO

THE RENOVATION AND EXPANSION OF 825 TECH CENTER

DRIVE;

WAIVING

SECOND

READING

AND

DECLARING

EMERGENCY

President Bowers introduced the Ordinance and the Clerk read it by title.

A motion was made by Renner, seconded by Padova, that the Ordinance be

Waived for Second Reading. The motion carried by the following vote:

7 - Bowers, Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver

Yes:

A motion was made by Renner, seconded by Jones, that the Ordinance be

Adopted as an Emergency. The motion carried by the following vote:

7 - Bowers, Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner, Schnetzer and Weaver

Yes:

CORRESPONDENCE AND ACTIONS:

1. Clerk - None.

2. Council - None.

REPRESENTATIVES:

1. Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) - Renner, Padova

Councilmember Renner said that a CIC meeting occurred that evening at

6:00 p.m., which he missed because the notice was difficult to find in his

email. He reported that he confirmed the CIC’s regular meeting for the

following morning at 7:30 a.m. Mayor Jadwin confirmed the meeting would

begin at 7:30 the next morning and run from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. as an

extended meeting due to the length of the agenda. Councilmember Renner

acknowledged the schedule.

2. Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) - Weaver

2025-0162

Councilmember Weaver's MORPC Report to City Council 8.18.2025

Vice President Weaver thanked the Council Office for its assistance in

preparing the report and encouraged members to review it. He reported that

the commission met on August 14, 2025, and livestreamed the meeting, and

he announced that the commission would next meet on September 11, 2025.

He said Scott Brown, regional liaison from Ohio Auditor of State Keith

Faber’s office, presented the Auditor of State Award with Distinction to

MORPC. He noted that the commission elected Mayor Jadwin to serve as

secretary of the executive committee and congratulated her. He reported

that Gahanna had become home to an air quality alert monitor and that the

commission adopted MORPC’s 2025-2028 Regional Sustainability Agenda.

He said the report included a link to MORPC’s complete legislative update

and highlighted upcoming events: a forum on emerging energy technologies

on August 27, 2025, at OSU, the Safe Streets Central Ohio meeting on

September 9, 2025, at the Wigwam Event Center, and the Summit on

Sustainability on September 30, 2025. He asked members to notify the Clerk

if they wished to attend the summit.

Mayor Jadwin said that MORPC officially adopted the 2025-2028 Regional

Sustainability Agenda (RSA) the previous Thursday. She said the RSA

provided a framework for MORPC members and regional partners to work

toward common goals and to advance a more sustainable region. She said

the RSA aligned with and enhanced other regional plans, including the

Metropolitan Transportation Plan and the Regional Trail Vision, and that the

Sustainable 2050 program tied directly to the RSA. She described the RSA

framework as including five overarching goals, 24 measurable objectives,

and over 130 strategies. She said the RSA would provide a menu of

activities that Sustainable 2050 members could use to document

achievements and to earn elevated certification levels. She reported that the

City of Gahanna recertified earlier in the year as a Sustainable 2050 member

with an elevated status of Gold Plus Equity Champion. She said MORPC

would develop an implementation resource guide for communities and would

work with members to update the Sustainable 2050 certification process.

She acknowledged the RSA subcommittee, led by Mike Shelton of the OSU

Sustainability Initiative, and said the subcommittee vetted the agenda

thoroughly and produced a thoughtful revised agenda.

3. Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) - Padova

Councilmember Padova reported that Visit Gahanna would provide the

music at the Gahanna Market the following Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:00

p.m. She said Jeff McCargish, who performed on the blues stage during the

Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival this past summer, with the band North of

Memphis, would perform. She invited members to stop by Creekside for the

Gahanna Market. Padova stated that the Herb Center hosted a motor coach

group that dined at 101 Craft Kitchen while in town. She said Visit Gahanna

prepared welcome bags for guests who stayed in Gahanna for a wedding

over the weekend. Padova noted that, although not a Visit Gahanna event,

Visit Gahanna was helping to promote the Chamber’s Taste of Gahanna,

which would take place that Sunday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Edison, and

she said tickets were available on the Chamber’s website.

4. School Board (SB) - Jones

Councilmember Jones provided highlights from the most recent board

workshop meeting. She explained that the Board Workshop meetings travel

around the district and that different directors present detailed information at

those meetings. She reported that Principal Williams from the high school

delivered a data update at the August 7, 2025, meeting and that the

presentation included many statistics; she encouraged anyone interested to

view the presentation online. Jones highlighted two statistics from the high

school data: fighting incidents decreased by 28 percent, and students

reported a 14 percent increase in belonging as measured by the Panorama

survey. She observed that the decrease in fighting suggested positive

progress regarding school resource officers and that staff across the district

implemented initiatives that likely contributed to these results. She noted that

the August 7, 2025, data focused on the high school but that teachers, staff,

and administrators districtwide were doing innovative work to produce similar

outcomes. Jones announced upcoming meetings, which included a Finance

and Facilities meeting scheduled for August 19, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., the

Regular Board Meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 21, 2025, at 6:30

p.m. at Clark Hall, and the next Board Workshop Meeting scheduled for

September 4, 2025, with time and location to be announced. She also

reported that Chief Spence and Dr. Deagle appeared in a video about safety,

which emphasized increased safety measures as students returned to

school amid increased bus, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic.

OFFICIAL REPORTS:

1. Mayor

Mayor Jadwin thanked Council for the opportunity to join the joint resolution

and proclamation recognizing Share the Road and Distracted Driving

Awareness Month. She said the proclamation honored Roseann Peiffer and

reminded the audience that a similar tragedy occurred about a year earlier

with the loss of Johnny Gaudreaux and his brother. She thanked Roseann’s

family and friends for sharing her story, observed that such tragedies

produced a ripple effect through families and communities, and said the

incidents underscored the need for more intensive consideration of how the

City of Gahanna handled and designed shared roadways. Mayor Jadwin

remarked that, with school starting, pedestrian and bicycle traffic would

increase and urged drivers to remain cognizant and focused. She referenced

Mr. Orsley’s earlier comments about infrastructure and said investing in

trails, multi-use paths, and safer roadway design formed a necessary part of

the City of Gahanna’s response. She noted that the engineering team,

including Senior Transportation Mobility Engineer Paige Wright, worked on

these issues daily.

Mayor Jadwin reported that the Franklin County Engineers Office led paving

and construction work along the Morse Road corridor and that the City of

Gahanna agreed to partner financially on the project with the City of New

Albany because the corridor crossed municipal boundaries. She said the

work would occur throughout September, advised travelers to consider

alternate routes, and likened the temporary inconvenience to remodeling a

kitchen with the expectation that the finished project would provide long-term

benefit.

Mayor Jadwin announced that the Division of Police had an on-site

Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA)

assessor that week as the final phase of a multiyear accreditation process.

She said the assessor would evaluate four pillars, which included recruiting,

training, community engagement, and mental health, and that the assessor

toured the new municipal complex at 825 Tech Center Drive and reviewed

police facilities. She said the assessor would conduct interviews with staff

and community members and would be in the community that week, and she

expressed the City of Gahanna’s hope to complete accreditation later in the

year.

Mayor Jadwin reported on community events. She noted that the final

Creekside Live concert would occur on Friday, August 22, 2025, with an

opening act beginning at 5:30 p.m. and Pop Gun performing later in the

evening. She encouraged attendees to arrive early for good seating. Finally,

Mayor Jadwin reminded the public of the Gahanna ice cream social on

Tuesday, August 26, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Creekside Plaza. She

said Planning NEXT and City of Gahanna staff would present the final draft

review of the strategic plan at that event, described the engagement as the

community’s last opportunity to provide input on the draft, and said

subsequent pop-up events would follow. She directed attendees to the City

of Gahanna website for additional information.

2. City Attorney

City Attorney Tamilarasan provided two updates. She reported that the

Pinnacle Pointe litigation involving Brookewood Construction concluded. The

appeal period had run and no party filed a timely appeal, so the litigation

ended. She also reported that the tobacco preemption litigation was

appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court, which she expected. She said that the

appeal process began but would move slowly and that she would keep

Council apprised of any developments. She invited members to contact her

with questions about any pending litigation.

COUNCIL COMMENT:

Councilmember McGregor thanked the Boy Scouts for attending and

commended the troop as an impressive group. She reported that several

scouts earned their Eagle Award through work with the Historical Society

and encouraged others to seek that achievement.

Councilmember Jones thanked the Boy Scouts and noted that she texted a

photo of the scouts to her husband, an Eagle Scout. She thanked the scouts

for spending their Monday evening with the Council.

Councilmember Padova echoed thanks to the scouts, offered condolences

to the family and friends of Roseann Peiffer, and thanked Roseann’s sister

for submitting the video. She expressed appreciation for the advocacy on

Roseann’s behalf.

Councilmember Renner thanked Troop 317 for providing such a large

turnout and observed that many of the scouts were likely seeing government

in action for the first time. He noted that the meeting recording would be

available on YouTube, thanked those who attended and presented, said he

was emotional during Kristen Jindra’s remarks, and urged greater attention

to infrastructure and separation between bike lanes and roadways. He

reported seeing motorists use the middle lane on Stygler as a passing lane

and recounted an incident near Woodmark Run in which a vehicle used the

middle lane. He expressed concern that a severe accident could occur.

Vice President Weaver thanked the scouts for leading the Pledge of

Allegiance and thanked the Division of Police for National Night Out, noting

his participation in the dunk tank. He added that Ward 4 hosted many

community events over the weekend and announced a constituent hour on

Wednesday, August 20, 2025, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in the front lobby

conference room.

President Bowers thanked Troop 317 for leading the Pledge, recognized

former Franklin County Engineer Cornell Robertson in attendance, and

thanked Bicycle and Trails Advisory Committee (BTAC) members Mr. Miller

and Mr. Drum for attending. She reported that she attached her bimonthly

constituent report to the agenda. She discussed the Gahanna energy choice

municipal aggregation program, noted that energy rates fluctuate, and said

the City of Gahanna currently provided 100% renewable energy for

customers who took no action. She explained that customers could opt to

remain in the municipal program or shop the Public Utilities Commission of

Ohio (PUCO) energy choice website for alternative contracts. She reported

that the municipal program saved about ten dollars compared to the

price-to-compare and said she identified another 100% renewable option

that cost one cent less. She encouraged residents to review the energy

choice options and to contact the administration or Councilmember Renner

for guidance.

2025-0151

Councilmember Merisa K. Bowers' Constituent Report

2025

June-July

ADJOURNMENT:

With no further business before the Council, President Bowers adjourned the

meeting at 8:00 p.m.