200 South Hamilton Road

Gahanna, Ohio 43230

City of Gahanna

Meeting Minutes

City Council

Trenton I. Weaver, President

Jamille Jones, Vice President

Merisa K. Bowers

Nancy R. McGregor

Kaylee Padova

Stephen A. Renner

Michael Schnetzer

Jeremy A. VanMeter, Clerk of Council

Monday, March 16, 2026

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, March 16,

2026, in Council Chambers. President of Council Trenton I. Weaver

called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. Vice President of Council

Jamille Jones delivered an Invocation and led members in the Pledge

of Allegiance. The agenda was published on March 13, 2026.

7 -

Present

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

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

ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA:

None.

HEARING OF VISITORS:

Fred Kenimer of 3625 Eyre Hall Pass, New Albany, OH, stated that he

had lived in Gahanna from 1982 through 2022 and noted his long history

in the community. He recalled speaking with former Mayor Jim McGregor

in the past regarding a fox sighting by the river and noted that

Councilmember Renner had been one of his neighbors. He stated that he

had met with Mayor Jadwin previously and reflected on the many positive

experiences he had in the city. Mr. Kenimer explained that he attended

the meeting to speak about the Rapid Relief Team (RRT), where he

served as an ambassador for the local chapter. He stated that the

organization operated globally and that Councilmembers should have

received a brochure via email. He noted that RRT had hosted events in

the past, including providing a meal for first responders at the high school

approximately nine years ago. He explained that the organization

engaged in both proactive and reactive efforts. He described several

recent response efforts, including assistance related to tornadoes in

Kentucky, flooding north of San Antonio, and fires in Los Angeles, noting

that these represented only a few examples of their work in North

America. He emphasized that the organization maintained a global

presence. Mr. Kenimer stated that he wanted to make Council and the

Mayor aware that RRT remained available to assist with both reactive

and proactive needs. He noted that he had shared his contact

information with Clerk VanMeter, Mayor Jadwin, and Chief Spence and

encouraged officials to reach out if needed. He stated that his goal

involved giving back to the community and expressed appreciation for

the work done by Council. He concluded by stating that he looked

forward to supporting future efforts through RRT.

CONSENT AGENDA:

1. Minutes - To Approve:

2026-0058

2026-0059

Council Regular Minutes 2026-03-02

The minutes were approved on the Consent Agenda.

Committee of the Whole Minutes 2026-03-09

The minutes were approved on the Consent Agenda.

2. Resolutions:

RES-0007-2026

A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE A THEN AND NOW PURCHASE

ORDER UNDER OHIO REVISED CODE 5705.41(D)(1) FOR THE

PURPOSE OF STOP LOSS COVERAGE THROUGH SUN LIFE

The Resolution was adopted on the Consent Agenda.

RES-0008-2026

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A

SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER (SRO) CONTRACT WITH THE

GAHANNA-JEFFERSON PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR THE 2026-2027

SCHOOL YEAR

The Resolution was adopted on the Consent Agenda.

RES-0009-2026

RES-0010-2026

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO ENTER INTO

THE SIX REMNANT DEFENDANTS SETTLEMENT.

The Resolution was adopted on the Consent Agenda.

A RESOLUTION DETERMINING THE SELECTION OF SUCCESSOR

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE GAHANNA

NEW COMMUNITY AUTHORITY.

The Resolution was adopted on the Consent Agenda.

End of Consent Agenda

A motion was made by Bowers, seconded by Jones, to Pass the Consent

Agenda. The motion carried by the following vote:

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

Yes:

ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION / FIRST READING:

ORD-0009-2026

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS

- Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) Grant Fund for Body-Worn

Camera Services

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

ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING & EMERGENCY ADOPTION:

ORD-0008-2026

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 921.04 OF THE CODIFIED

ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA TO UPDATE SEWERAGE

SYSTEM CAPACITY CHARGES; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY

The Clerk read the Ordinance by title.

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:

ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING / ADOPTION:

ORD-0007-2026

APPROXIMATELY

FRANKLIN COUNTY, OHIO, TO THE CITY OF GAHANNA; LOCATED

AT 4736 AND 4722 JOHNSTOWN ROAD (PARCEL ID NOS.

ORDINANCE

7.6 ACRES

THE

JEFFERSON

ANNEXATION

FROM

TOWNSHIP,

170-000068 AND 170-000069).

The Clerk read the Ordinance by title.

Councilmember McGregor stated that she would support the annexation.

She noted that the property lay in Jefferson Township and that the City

had no control over how the township might zone the property or what

could be built there. She expressed her belief that the property would be

better situated within the City, particularly because it bordered several

City properties. She described the parcel as an orphan property within

Jefferson Township and stated that annexation would allow the City to

provide water and sewer services to support quality development.

President Weaver thanked all individuals who had worked on the item

and shared their insights throughout the months-long process. He also

thanked residents who had reached out or met with the applicant and

acknowledged their presence at the meeting. President Weaver stated

that, if approved, the rezoning application and development plan would

follow, noting that multiple steps remained in the process. He thanked

Trivium and the applicant for meeting with neighboring residents and

expressed his belief that the applicant remained committed to delivering

a quality project and being a good neighbor. He stated that annexation

concerned site control and noted that a project would proceed on the

properties regardless of whether the City or Jefferson Township retained

control. He expressed his belief that property owners had the right to

develop their property within the code. He stated that it remained unclear

what development might occur if the parcels remained in Jefferson

Township. President Weaver stated that he represented Ward 4

residents and that he aimed to reflect their wishes in his

decision-making. He stated that, if the annexation were approved, he

would work with residents and the applicant to ensure the final

development aligned with community interests. He concluded by stating

that he would vote no on the annexation.

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

Adopted. The motion carried by the following vote:

5 - Jones, McGregor, Padova, Renner and Schnetzer

Yes:

No:

1 - Weaver

1 - Bowers

Abstain, COI:

CORRESPONDENCE AND ACTIONS:

1. Clerk - None.

2. Council - None.

REPRESENTATIVES:

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

Councilmember Renner reported on the February 18, 2026, Community

Improvement Corporation meeting. He stated that President Mrus called

the meeting to order at 8:02 a.m. He reported that Director Gottke

presented additional information on the strategic plan, including

comparisons between the Gahanna CIC and other central Ohio CICs and

discussion of how mature organizations often evolve beyond land

banking. He stated that the board approved the 2026 organizational

meeting minutes and the January regular meeting minutes. He reported

that Treasurer Jeff Kessler presented draft financials for December 2025

and January 2026, noting balances of approximately $450,000, and that

the board approved the December draft financial report and Leppert’s

engagement letter. He stated that Director Gottke provided updates on

Creekside demolitions and stormwater work and that Jodelle Carder

reported on efforts to establish a property management contract with

Wallace Ackley. He noted that the board discussed SGT Coffee’s

request to use CIC property on High Street for parking. He stated that

Rachel Zarick presented Google storage options and that the board

approved a Google Workspace enterprise standard. He reported that the

meeting adjourned at 9:15 a.m. and that the next meeting would occur on

March 18, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. in the Committee Room.

Councilmember Bowers asked Councilmember Renner whether he could

provide additional detail regarding demolition and site progress. Mayor

Jadwin stated that Director Gottke could provide an update on demolition

to the extent information remained available. Director Gottke reported

that crews had demolished the buildings and that the contractor had

temporarily moved to another job while the CIC obtained an

EPA-required permit to complete pavement demolition. He stated that

the contractor would return to complete pavement removal and restore

the lots to grass once the permit was secured, which he anticipated

would occur within the next few weeks. He stated that staff had

communicated with Visit Gahanna regarding use of the lots for events,

including the Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival, and that staff continued

to work on access agreements to allow continued use of the properties.

Councilmember Bowers thanked Director Gottke for the update.

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

2026-0060

Councilmember Weaver's MORPC Report to City Council 2026-03-16

President Weaver reported on the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning

Commission meeting held on March 12, 2026. He stated that a

pre-commission meeting featured former Congressman Steve Stivers,

President and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, who discussed

business and regional support efforts. He reported that MORPC would

not hold a formal commission meeting in April and instead would conduct

four regional meetings. He thanked Council Office staff for assistance

with the report and encouraged review of the full report. He highlighted

the release of the future land use map and noted its availability through

the Mid-Ohio Open Data (MOOD) portal, which included more than

800,000 planning records. He thanked communities that contributed

updated data and noted the upcoming State of the Region event.

3. Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) - Padova

Councilmember Padova reported that Visit Gahanna would host a spring

showcase on April 14, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Noble Cut

Distillery. She stated that the event would provide an interactive,

community-focused open house where residents could learn about

programs, events, and partnerships, including the Creekside Blues and

Jazz Festival, Ohio Herb Center, Herbal Cocktail Trail, and Holiday

Lights. She noted that attendees could visit stations to learn about

tourism, local businesses, and community events and that participants

who visited each station would receive a complimentary single-day pass

to the Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival. She also reported that the

spring and summer Herbal Cocktail Trail launched on March 1 and would

run through August, featuring eight local businesses. She stated that a

future version of the trail would expand to include mocktails and coffee

drinks.

4. School Board (SB) - Jones

Vice President Jones reminded Council of upcoming school board

meetings, including a finance and facilities meeting scheduled for

Tuesday, March 17, and a regular board meeting scheduled for

Thursday, March 19, both at 6:30 p.m. at Clark Hall. She also noted that

the district would not hold school on Friday, March 20, due to a

conference compensation day. She reported that the district had mailed

the financial spotlight to all residents and made it available digitally on the

district website. She highlighted several student achievements, noting

that the high school earned bronze recognition for the 2025 AP School

Honor Roll, marking the first time Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools

received this distinction. She stated that the recognition reflected the

district’s commitment to fostering a college-going culture, expanding

opportunities for college credit, and supporting overall college readiness.

Vice President Jones also reported that all 30 members of the high

school’s DECA chapter qualified to compete at the international DECA

conference. She recognized several athletic accomplishments, stating

that senior Kael Clous won the school’s first boys bowling individual state

championship and earned recognition as the OSU Athlete of the Week.

She noted that the girls bowling team finished as state runner-up. She

reported that senior Jordan Mills placed fifth in her weight class at the

state wrestling tournament. She also recognized KyLee Tibbs as a

two-time girls wrestling state champion, noting that Council had

recognized her the previous year and that she repeated as state

champion. Vice President Jones concluded by congratulating all students

and athletes for their recent accomplishments.

OFFICIAL REPORTS:

1. Mayor

Mayor Jadwin thanked Council and acknowledged earlier comments

regarding the recent storm. She reported that the Parks team began

clearing trees on Friday night and that the service crew worked into the

night addressing infrastructure issues, including streetlights and pump

station outages. She stated that the storm demonstrated how the

community came together and emphasized the significant efforts of AEP

and its crews, noting that thousands of crews responded across Ohio.

She shared that she observed crews from Kentucky assisting locally and

expressed appreciation for their support. She stated that AEP provided

proactive and transparent communication throughout the event and

acknowledged that the power outages created frustration for residents.

She compared the situation to a severe ice storm approximately ten

years prior and expressed gratitude for the response efforts. Mayor

Jadwin reported that the City arranged a special storm debris collection

for the week. She stated that residents could drop off branches, leaves,

wood chips, and logs up to 20 inches in diameter at the service garage

located at 152 Oklahoma Avenue. She noted that the service would

operate daily through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and instructed

residents to enter from Lincoln Circle near the post office, where staff

would direct drop-off locations. She stated that the City would not accept

larger logs, soil, lumber, rocks, or household trash and directed residents

to the City website for additional information. She acknowledged the

additional workload placed on the public service team and noted the

volume of yard waste generated by the storm.

Mayor Jadwin announced that the 2026 Community Grant Program portal

opened that day. She stated that the program provided funding

opportunities for Gahanna-based nonprofits and encouraged eligible

organizations to review guidelines and submit proposals. She noted that

staff scheduled a virtual meeting to explain the process and answer

questions and directed interested parties to the City website for details.

She stated that Director Wybensinger remained available to answer

questions.

Mayor Jadwin reported that the City would implement updates to the

utility billing portal effective April 1, 2026, to improve user experience.

She advised that residents who used autopay would need to re-enter

account and payment information in the new system due to security

measures and stated that customer service staff could assist residents.

She directed residents to the City website for additional details, including

information about associated fees.

Mayor Jadwin noted that she attended the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning

Commission meeting and pre-commission session featuring Ohio

Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Steve Stivers, who

discussed business impacts and legislative issues. She also reported

attending a meeting of the Central Ohio Mayors and Managers

Association, where Jason Hall of the Columbus Partnership discussed

regional challenges, including housing, property taxes, and data center

growth. She stated that the meeting provided an opportunity for

communities to share experiences, collaborate, and address common

challenges, emphasizing both competition and cooperation among

municipalities.

Mayor Jadwin highlighted upcoming events, including the early bird

deadline for pool memberships on March 31, 2026, and the egg hunt

scheduled for March 28, noting limited remaining availability. She also

announced plans for a second annual Mental Health and Wellness Fair in

May and stated that the City would share additional details once

finalized.

2. City Attorney

City Attorney Tamilarasan reported that the plaintiff in the Taglia trip and

fall case from Academy Park voluntarily dismissed all claims, resulting in

dismissal with prejudice and closure of the case. She also reported that

she was piloting a mediation program designed to divert certain cases

from formal prosecution in Mayor’s Court or Franklin County Municipal

Court. She stated that the program would initially focus on neighbor

disputes involving escalating complaints and that she had identified initial

candidates. She explained that the program aimed to address root

causes and deescalate conflicts and stated that she would provide

updates on its progress and potential expansion.

COUNCIL COMMENT:

Councilmember McGregor reminded residents to prepare for sudden

storm events, noting that the recent storm occurred with little warning.

She advised residents to keep nonperishable food items such as

granola bars, fruit snacks, and bottled water readily available. She

recommended maintaining a heat source that does not rely on electricity

and shared that she used a kerosene heater when necessary. She also

recommended using a solar charger for cell phones and stated that she

successfully recharged phones during the outage. She suggested using

LED lanterns for lighting and emphasized that simple preparations could

make outages more manageable.

Councilmember Bowers reported that she circulated her constituent

report covering December 2025 through February 2026, which

summarized events, activities, issues, and questions she received during

that period. She stated that she had planned to host a constituent hour at

the library but that a power outage affected the facility. She explained that

she still attended and spoke with residents, including individuals visiting

for other activities, and noted that she connected with a neighbor she had

not previously met. She thanked Vice President Jones for her remarks

during the invocation regarding the community’s response to the storm

and also thanked AEP Ohio for providing timely information. She

announced that she rescheduled her constituent hour for Saturday, March

28, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. at the Gahanna Branch Library and invited

residents to attend.

Vice President Jones reported that her January and February constituent

report was attached to the agenda and clarified that her upcoming

constituent hour would occur on April 18, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at SGT

Coffee. She expressed appreciation for the community’s response to the

storm and specifically commended Parks and Recreation staff and the

Gahanna Police Department. She described observing police officers

manage traffic during the storm and expressed appreciation for their

efforts in maintaining safety during chaotic conditions.

President Weaver expressed gratitude to city staff, police officers,

volunteers, and residents who supported one another during the storm.

He noted the strength of the community and encouraged residents to

utilize debris drop-off services as recovery efforts continued.

2026-0056

2026-0062

Councilmember Jamille Jones' Constituent Report - January-February

2026

Councilmember Merisa K. Bowers' Constituent Report

2025-February 2026

December