Changes to local preference requirements for city contracts on Toledo City Council agenda

​​By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

At its regular meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 30, Toledo City Council is expected to give first reading to Ordinance 154-21 which would amend local preference requirements for evaluating bids for city contracts. Currently in the municipal code: 

• Bids from businesses with their principal location in Toledo are evaluated on a 3 percent reduction basis on contracts of $40,000 or more, and a 5 percent basis on contracts of less than $40,000. 
• Bids from businesses located in Toledo with their principle location outside the city are evaluated on a 2.85 percent reduction basis on contracts of $40,000 or more, and a 4 percent basis on contracts of less than $40,000. 
• Bids from businesses outside Toledo but in Lucas County are evaluated on a 2.75 reduction basis for contracts of $40,000 or more, and a 3.5 percent basis on contracts of less than $40,000. 
• Bids from businesses located outside Lucas County but in 9 surrounding Ohio counties are evaluated on a 2.25 percent reduction basis on contracts of $40,000 or more, and a 3 percent basis on contracts of less than $40,000.

The ordinance would specify that bids from businesses located in Toledo with their principle location outside the city cannot be evaluated on a reduction basis when competing against a bidder whose principal location is in the city. The same exception currently exists for bids from businesses located in Lucas County but not in Toledo when competing with a bidder located in Toledo, and for those in the county region when competing with a bidder located in Lucas County. Also, the ordinance would add Monroe and Lenawee Counties in Michigan to the surrounding county category.

Also at the meeting, Council is expected to vote on the following:

• Two ordinances that would approve Mayor Kapszukiewicz’s nominees to serve on the Toledo Plan Commission. Ordinance 151-21 would approve the appointment of Kristopher Ball for a three-year term. Ordinance 152-21 would approve the reappointment of Eric Grosswiler for a four-year term.
• Resolution 153-21 which would express council’s opposition to House Bill 157 in the Ohio legislature which would repeal the state’s temporary municipal income tax withholding policy established by House Bill 197 in response to COVID-19 in 2020. HB 197 stated for the purposes of municipal income tax withholding that those working remotely during the pandemic are considered to be working at their regular place of work.
• Ordinance 157-21 which would grant a property easement on city-owned property to FCA US LLC near its Toledo Assembly Complex to address storm water drainage. According to the city, the easement is necessary to facilitate closing on the sale of other city-owned property to FCA for its proposed construction of a 250,000 square foot vehicle customization facility.
• Two ordinances regarding the Emergency Rental Assistance Program which would provide residents with assistance for payment of housing and utility expenses in response to COVID-19. Ordinance 159-21 would accept $8,142,755 from the U.S. Department of Treasury for the program. Ordinance 160-21 would accept $4,597,468 from Lucas County and authorize the city to administer its funding on behalf of the county.
• Two ordinances regarding lead-based paint remediation. Ordinance 161-21 would accept $1,200,000 received by the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department as part of a legal settlement to assist with lead-based paint remediation at 40 child-occupied facilities by March 25, 2023. Ordinance 162-21 would authorize $200,000 to the Health Department for expenses related to implementation of the city’s lead-safe rental housing program.

The public may watch the council meeting online by visiting https://toledo.legistar.com and scrolling down to the March 30 meeting and clicking on “in progress”.

---

Tim Schneider
​
​As Manager for Local Government Advocacy, Tim Schneider advocates for local policies and laws that safeguard and foster a pro-business environment in the Toledo Region. Tim has more than 10 years of legislative and public policy experience with the local, state and federal levels of government.