​By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

At Toledo City Council’s regular meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22, individuals recently selected by Lucas County Probate Court Judge Jack Puffenberger to serve as temporary replacements for four previously vacant seats will be able to attend a meeting and vote for the first time. Those individuals include John Hobbs III who will serve on the District 1 seat, Vanice Williams who will serve on the District 4 seat, Tiffany Preston Whitman who will serve on an at-large seat, and Cerssandra McPherson who will serve on the other vacant at-large seat. Mr. Hobbs is a self-employed barber and pastor at Dominion Fellowship Church, Ms. Williams is a consultant at First Light Consulting, LLC, Ms. Whitman is the Director of Academic Innovation & Testing Services at the University of Toledo, and Ms. McPherson is a paraprofessional at Toledo Public Schools.

On Sept. 8, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Capitol Conversation presented by AT&T series welcomed Frank LaRose, Ohio Secretary of State, to discuss issues currently impacting Ohio’s businesses.

​By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

At its regular meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 8, Toledo City Council is expected to give first reading to Ordinance 367-20 which would approve $400,000 for expanding the Cityworks PLL electronic platform for use by the Division of Building Inspection. The platform is currently used by other city departments involved in approving permits. According to the city, expanding use to the Division will allow for a more efficient review process and facilitate planned upgrades to eventually allow for electronic submission of plans. The process to implement expansion of the platform will take between 12 and 18 months, and the city intends to move forward with adopting electronic submissions within that timeframe.

​By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

At a special meeting at 1:55 p.m. on Tuesday, September 1, just prior to its regularly scheduled agenda review meeting for next week’s session, Toledo City Council is expected to vote on ordinances that would authorize general obligation bonds in 2020 for capital improvement projects. Ordinance 339-20 would approve $10,555,000 in bonds for the reconstruction of Summit Street downtown, Ordinance 340-20 would approve $4,000,000 in bonds for various other street projects, Ordinance 341-20 would approve $1,225,000 in bonds for redevelopment of Levis Square downtown, and Ordinance 342-20 would approve $1,000,000 in bonds for sidewalks. Also on the agenda is Ordinance 338-20 which would authorize issuance of $2,460,000 in notes for sidewalks and also retire an outstanding note.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced last week that all mail sorting for northwest Ohio will be moved from its processing facility in Pontiac, Michigan to its processing facility in Cleveland, Ohio beginning September 16 and ending November 14. While this is a temporary decision to support prompt delivery of absentee ballots and request forms for the November election, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce hopes it results in timely delivery of all mail and consideration for ultimately re-establishing processing services in Toledo.

​By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

At its regular meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11, Toledo City Council is expected to give first reading to four ordinances that would approve vacating certain right-of-way to facilitate the Colony development planned by ProMedica and Continental Real Estate Co. The overall project will include two apartment buildings, a hotel, and a mixed-use structure near ProMedica Toledo Hospital. Ordinance 312-20 would approve vacating a strip along Central Avenue, Ordinance 313-20 would approve vacating portions of Brian Cliff Road, Ordinance 314-20 would approve vacating a portion of Kelly Avenue, and Ordinance 315-20 would approve vacating portions of Rathburn Drive. The requests have been recommended for approval by the Toledo Plan Commission and the Lucas County Board of Revision.

Today the Toledo Public Schools Board of Education reviewed and unanimously approved the district’s re-opening plan for the 2020-2021 school year. The plan includes a three-tier color category system developed to determine how district operations will occur related to the status of the COVID-19 pandemic:

​By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

On the agenda for Toledo City Council’s regular meeting on Tuesday, July 28 at 4:00 p.m. are Resolutions 280-20 and 282-20 which would approve placing renewal of the city’s temporary 0.75 percent income tax, and a new temporary 0.25 percent income tax for roads and bridges, on the November 3 general election ballot. Both proposals would be for a period of four years beginning January 1, 2021, when the current 0.75 percent income tax is set to expire. According to the city, the 0.75 percent income tax would generate $56.8 million annually, and the 0.25 percent income tax would generate $18.9 million annually. While transfer for general fund purposes would continue to be allowed using capital improvement funding revenue generated from renewal of the 0.75 percent income tax, revenue generated from the new 0.25 percent income tax would be placed in a designated fund to be used solely for roads and bridges.

​By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

At its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 14 at 4:00 p.m., Toledo City Council is expected to consider Ordinance 250-20 which would assign new leadership for certain Council committees. Changes would include assigning council members Rob Ludeman as chair and Katie Moline as vice chair of the Finance & Debt Oversight Committee; Cecelia Adams as chair and Theresa Gadus as vice chair of the Neighborhoods, Community Development & Health Committee; and Chris Delaney as chair and Matt Cherry as vice chair of the Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform Committee. Also, Council President Cherry would become vice chair of the Regional Growth, Development & Small Business Enterprise Committee and Council Member Gadus would become vice chair of the Water Quality & Sustainability Committee.

As a result of the regular council meeting being cancelled on June 30, a special meeting will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7. Toledo City Council is expected to vote on Resolution 212-20 which would adopt the Downtown Toledo Transportation Study. The study was conducted by a consultant team led by Mannik & Smith Group on behalf of the city to address future transportation needs of downtown. It recommends key roadways for improvement alternatives including designating: