Contractor licensing proposal to be referred to committee to allow broader stakeholder deliberation

​By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

At its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 11 at 4:00 p.m., Toledo City Council is expected
to refer Ordinance 2-20 to committee for an extended period of time to allow for a process to be established for broader deliberation by stakeholders. The ordinance, opposed by the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce and a number of other local organizations, would require additional construction tradespersons to complete examinations and obtain a local license to perform work in the city. This action, recommended via a statement from Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz and ordinance sponsor Council President Matt Cherry, would halt consideration of the ordinance while this process occurs. More details are likely following the council session.
 
Also at the session, Council is expected to vote on the following items:

• Ordinance 31-20 which would authorize the city to execute an agreement to establish a Lucas County 911 Regional Council of Governments for the organization and operation of a consolidated Public Safety Answering Point. Currently, 911 emergency calls are routed to six answering points throughout the county. In December, a planning committee established per Ohio law consisting of representatives of various jurisdictions in the county voted to consolidate services into a single answering point.
• Ordinance 37-20 which would approve $1,225,000 in capital improvement program funds for the second phase of improvements to Levis Square Park located downtown. The project includes updates to various infrastructure and landscape elements of the park.
• Ordinance 42-20 which would authorize agreements with The Toledo Edison Company for replacement of 28,000 streetlights throughout the city with LED bulbs. The total cost of the project would be $5,796,000 and is estimated to save $580,000 annually on energy costs. The project is expected to be completed December 2021.

Ordinance 39-20, which would approve an enterprise zone agreement with Niki Toledo for its planned construction of two retail buildings at the former site of Elder Beerman at 3311 Secor Road, is expected to be held for future action. The agreement includes a 50 percent property tax exemption for 15 years of assessed valuation prior to remediation of the site, and 100 percent exemption for the same period on the increase in valuation following remediation. The project will involve the creation of 23 new full time and 40 part time positions.
 
All Council meetings are held in Council Chambers on the first floor of One Government Center located on Jackson Boulevard in downtown Toledo.

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​​Tim Schneider
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​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.