Toledo City Council to vote on Chamber-supported Veteran-Friendly Business Enterprise program

​​By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

​At its meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 25, Toledo City Council is expected to vote on Ordinance 268-21 which would establish a Veteran-Friendly Business Enterprise (VFBE) certification to support city contract opportunities for these businesses. Under the ordinance, if a business is currently certified by the State of Ohio as a VFBE, full-reciprocity would be granted to that business to be certified as a VFBE by the city. If a business is not currently certified by the state as a VFBE, it may become certified by the city upon meeting the same requirements established by the state. The ordinance is strongly supported by the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce as it would help to recognize the many contributions of our veterans and veteran businesses.

Also at the meeting, Council will likely vote on the following:

• Ordinance 211-21 which would establish a temporary program to provide relief from accumulated arrearages for eligible low-income, senior citizen and disabled residential customers of the city’s sewer, water, and storm water systems to help avoid termination of service. The program would be limited to customers who have accumulated arrearages of more than $200. 
• Ordinance 241-21 which would approve adjustments to the 2021 general operating and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budgets. Adjustments would include eliminating $4 million in total revenue from temporary suspension of the traffic camera enforcement program, and eliminating the budgeted transfer of $11 million from the CIP fund to the general operating fund. The city is expected to receive $180.9 million in direct funding under the ARPA, with the first half expected to be disbursed in the coming days and the other half expected 12 months later. After guidance was issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury, the total amount is approximately $8 million less than originally expected.           
• Ordinance 271-21 which would establish a new Department of Parks & Youth Services including a Division of Parks, Recreation & Community Enrichment; Division of Youth Services; and Division of Educational Engagement & Workforce Development. The ordinance would also approve $400,250 from the General Fund for salaries for a department director and commissioner for each division for the last half of the year, and for the development of strategic plans within each new division. No committee hearings were held on the ordinance.

 
Council is expected to give first reading to Ordinance 267-21 which would require permits for the operation of short-term rental units in the city. A permit would be required for each unit which would be valid for one year and carry a fee of $50. The ordinance would also establish occupancy and parking limits, neighborhood notification requirements, and safety standards. Those operating a unit without a permit could be fined a maximum penalty of $500.
 
Council is expected to refer Ordinance 272-21 to the Toledo Plan Commission for its review and recommendation. The ordinance would require the Plan Commission to annually review special use permits for the first three years of the permit, and require review of the permits when a code enforcement action is filed in court against the permit holder. Currently, special use permits are subject to annual review but they are generally not required.
 
The public may watch the Council meeting online by visiting https://toledo.legistar.com and scrolling down to the May 25 meeting and clicking on “in progress”.

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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.