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.
Council is also expected to vote on Ordinances 497-18 and 504-18 regarding a February 26, 2019 citywide special election for proposed amendments to the city charter. The first ordinance would send for consideration to the Lucas County Board of Elections a question to require city enforcement of broad environmental protections under a Lake Erie Bill of Rights. The proposal could share the ballot with a question to require that a new Lucas County jail be located downtown, which Council had previously sent to the Board of Elections. The other ordinance would approve $275,000 for payment of expenses for the special election. State law requires the Board of Elections to charge the city for such special election costs, and the city charter requires that Council appropriate the funds.
Other ordinances expected to be voted on include the following:
Council is expected to give first reading to Ordinances 510-18 and 511-18 which would establish Tax increment Financing (TIF) districts in Overland Industrial Park and Ironville sites, respectively. The Overland TIF would be the second on that property aimed at supporting redevelopment, while the Ironville TIF would support and incentivize construction of the Cleveland Cliffs hot briquetted iron production facility.
Ordinance 498-18, which would prohibit a landlord in the City of Toledo from refusing to accept payments from rental assistance programs including the Section 8 housing choice voucher, will likely be referred to Council’s Neighborhoods, Community Development & Health Committee for additional discussion. The ordinance also specifies that an aggrieved person can seek civil action up to two years after the occurrence of a discriminatory housing practice.
Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz’s proposed $267,953,900 operating budget for 2019 will likely be referred to Council’s Budget Oversight Committee. The proposal includes a $7.8 million transfer from the CIP fund to pay for general operating expenses. Income taxes, which make up the majority of the city’s revenue, are estimated by the Administration to generate a record $184.3 million for 2019. State law requires that the city has until March 31, 2019 to pass a balanced operating budget, however, the Administration hopes to have the budget passed by Council in January in order to take advantage of potential savings.
All Council meetings are held in Council Chambers on the first floor of One Government Center, located on Jackson Boulevard in downtown Toledo.
Other ordinances expected to be voted on include the following:
- Ordinances 476-18 and 512-18 regarding the Division of Building Inspection. The first ordinance would approve a new fee schedule for building permits and associated services, which were last changed in 2015. Contractor and construction trade registration and renewal fees remain unchanged under the proposal. The other ordinance would expand the Division’s current contract for professional services with SAFEbuilt to include performing inspections services. Council previously approved $135,000 for the firm to provide plan review services.
- Ordinance 486-18 which would appropriate $856,324 from the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) fund for the District Improvement Program. The funds were appropriated previously for other projects which have been or are already completed and will be available for improvement projects in the council districts where the previously funded projects occurred. An amendment to the proposal is expected to be considered that would designate the funding for a city parks rebranding initiative.
Council is expected to give first reading to Ordinances 510-18 and 511-18 which would establish Tax increment Financing (TIF) districts in Overland Industrial Park and Ironville sites, respectively. The Overland TIF would be the second on that property aimed at supporting redevelopment, while the Ironville TIF would support and incentivize construction of the Cleveland Cliffs hot briquetted iron production facility.
Ordinance 498-18, which would prohibit a landlord in the City of Toledo from refusing to accept payments from rental assistance programs including the Section 8 housing choice voucher, will likely be referred to Council’s Neighborhoods, Community Development & Health Committee for additional discussion. The ordinance also specifies that an aggrieved person can seek civil action up to two years after the occurrence of a discriminatory housing practice.
Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz’s proposed $267,953,900 operating budget for 2019 will likely be referred to Council’s Budget Oversight Committee. The proposal includes a $7.8 million transfer from the CIP fund to pay for general operating expenses. Income taxes, which make up the majority of the city’s revenue, are estimated by the Administration to generate a record $184.3 million for 2019. State law requires that the city has until March 31, 2019 to pass a balanced operating budget, however, the Administration hopes to have the budget passed by Council in January in order to take advantage of potential savings.
All Council meetings are held in Council Chambers on the first floor of One Government Center, located on Jackson Boulevard in downtown Toledo.
 | 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. |
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