​By: Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

​At its regular meeting at 4:00 p.m. today, Toledo City Council is expected to give first reading to Ordinance 116-19 which would extend the moratorium on applications for special use permits for residential drug and alcohol treatment facilities within Council District 4 until the end of the year. The moratorium currently in place expires April 15 and is to allow Council time to review what impacts the concentration of such facilities may have on neighborhoods. The Toledo Plan Commission was recently presented a completed study and recommendations on the topic from its staff, which will be presented to Council’s Zoning & Planning Committee tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.

By: Brian Dicken, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

​​The state of Ohio’s transportation budget for 2019-2020, HB62, has moved to the Ohio Senate for its consideration. The House of Representatives passed the bill last week by a vote of 71-27. Included in the bill is an increase in the motor fuel user fee of 10.7 cents per gallon over the next two years. The user fee on diesel and other fuels will increase by 20 cents per gallon over the next three years. Both fees are proposed to increase on October 1. Also included is a registration fee for hybrid and electric vehicles. It is expected that these increases will generate an additional $870M per year for roads and bridges across Ohio. Governor DeWine originally proposed an increase of 18 cents per gallon that would have generated an additional $1.2B per year to address the current shortfall for roads and bridges. The Ohio Senate is expected to put forth yet a third option for consideration on the table before a conference committee works out the final version at the end of the month. By law, the transportation budget must be signed by the Governor by April 1st.

​By: Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

​​By: Brian Dicken, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

Over the next several weeks, we’ll be taking a deeper dive into the Chamber’s public policy agenda. This week we’ll be taking a look at the transportation section. It is important to understand that the Toledo region is within a day’s drive of more than 100 million people in the United States and Canada. Therefore, it is critical to our economic success to have an efficient and well maintained transportation infrastructure in order to move people, goods and materials. ​

By: Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

At its regular meeting at 4:00 p.m. today, Toledo City Council is expected to vote on Ordinance 42-19, Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz’s proposed 2019-2023 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget. The proposal includes $11,512,546 for projects in 2019, of which $8,100,000 is designated for matching and planning dollars, $237,546 for the 1% for the Arts program, and $3,175,000 for new projects. These new projects include $250,000 for the city’s IT network, $400,000 for updates to Levis Square, $150,000 for building inspection permit system updates, $425,000 for landfill EPA compliance, $500,000 for parks and recreation infrastructure, $200,000 for city facility mechanical upgrades, $325,000 for police training range updates, $125,000 for brine equipment, and $800,000 for sidewalk replacement. 

​By: Brian Dicken, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

​Every two years, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce updates its public policy agenda to reflect the issues of concern of the membership. The process is comprehensive, taking into account the results of member meetings, expertise from committee members, and an understanding of the issues generally impacting the business community in the region.

​By: Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

​At the regular meeting of Toledo City Council today at 4:00 p.m., action is expected on Ordinances 39-19 and 40-19 which would authorize easements to facilitate development of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.’s hot briquetted iron production facility. First reading is expected on 39-19 which would allow Generations Pipeline, LLC to install a 16-inch subsurface natural gas pipeline through a portion of the Collins Park Water Treatment Facility property. Council is expected to vote on 40-19 which would allow IronUnits LLC to install a rail line and conveyor system across and in the vicinity of Front Street.

​As a current participant or past graduate of the Institute for Leadership & Advocacy, service on a public sector board or commission is an excellent way to involve yourself in the local government decision-making process. These bodies exist for different functions and consist of local leaders who use their expertise to make or inform decisions that impact the community. 

​Council Member Spotlight
 
Jennifer Zalecki is the newest addition of the Small Business Advisory Council, having been appointed in 2018. She is the President/CEO/Owner of Battery Wholesale, a specialty retail chain operating in Northwest Ohio and Southwest Michigan since 1983. The family-owned business operates seven locations, including retail stores, two warehouses, a battery build shop, and a business-to-business sales division. Zalecki enriches the Council with her experience of managing all aspects of the day-to-day operations of her consumer-facing business.
 
Relatively new to service in professional business organizations, Zalecki is eager to learn about the issues that affect Ohio businesses and give back to her community. In addition to the Council, she also serves on the Boards of the Toledo Area Small Business Association, ProMedica Physicians and Continuum Services, and the Stone Oak Homeowners Association.

This story was originally posted in the CSI Week in Review. For more information on the Common sense Initiative, please visit their website. 

​By: Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

​At its regular meeting at 4:00 p.m. today, Toledo City Council is expected to vote on Ordinance 501-18 which would approve a $50,000 contribution for a talent alignment strategy study being led by the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce. The study will analyze the availability of talent and 21st Century skills in the Toledo region to ensure education and workforce efforts are aligned with the economy. This evaluation will allow the development of strategies to better fill the needs of the region’s talent pipeline. Partners in the initiative include Lucas County, the Wood County Economic Development Commission, the Fulton County Economic Development Corporation, The University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, and the Toledo Community Foundation.