Commission Meeting January 14, 2025

All there.

**Presentations/Staff Report
Zoning and railroad track redoing thing.

Estrop not seeking another term.

They're spending 225K on storm drains and gutters, but a citizen said they weren't at the source. Gave them the specifics. But he got no response from anyone.

**Rue Statement
The prayer/invocation and pledge. Please give us peace in our community, Lord. (This is always directed at the citizens - we're still dangerous.)

His usual warning to citizen speakers about disruptions.

**Citizen Speakers
Melanie Stacey - homeless issues. Barron needs help, needs money, volunteers. Nobody else has opened any shelters.

William Monaghan - reads out Rue's address. Told by a Park Ranger that a city official harrassed them for bringing supplies to Buck Creek people living outside. 2 degrees tonight. 2 homeless people just died. It'd be nice if the city worked with us, rather than fight it. The warming center supposedly has lots of money, but contributes nothing. Election coming up - 3 seats up for election. Speak to that. How people can file for candidacy.

Matt Langer - email sent Dec 31, 2024. Income tax growth of the last 2 years, 2024 has been flat in revenue. So, growth in 2023, smaller than expected (CMI Authority tax #s), but now - are you considering this a decline? What source do you use - it's different from CMI Authority. 2024 reported 5% growth monthly, Dec 12% increase. CMI doesn't Income tax software shows no decline in 2023. Showing 5-7% growth in 2024. Same info when you guys went with RITA. Already signed deal. What is the source of your data? My taxpayer opinion doesn't have a collection problem, has a spending problem.

Barron - warming center. Shame on the people who are in the business of helping others in this city. The Salvation Army is closed for inclement weather, for example. If you can influence them. Why don't they get jobs? Help them get IDs, addresses.

William Kelly - Hardley House. homeless veteran. One of a few homeless to speak tonight.

Bruce Clay - We got 340 churches here. Claiming to be Christian.

Wes Fabian - same speech. The general gushing, nothing specific.

Andy Rigsbee - firefighter rep, running for Commission. Endorsed Estrop. We'd like to thank him for his service.

**Rue's Immediate Comments

I have asked the City Manager to have a work session so you can share more. In two weeks.

It's hard to be accused of not caring. We're trying to do something. Locan Cobbs and Tackett have been working on this homeless situation.

Tomorrow is the first day to obtain signatures. 3 seats up for election this year. Pull petitions and 3 weeks to get 250 signatures. Turn that in to the Board of Elections and they evaluate your candidacy. We'll know in February who has the correct signatures.

**Heck's Reports and Answers

Nobody on my staff has harassed anyone. Clark County Parks District are in charge of the parks. There was a police call complaint about people cutting trees down in the park. Addressed with those two people. It's illegal. The incident today - the park ranger was called about people dumping. You can't pull a trailer and dump stuff. We can have a conversation about allowing firewood. The officer was doing her job based on a complaint.

Homeless- there's a procurement process. The city funds Nehemiah Foundation that support the homeless/Barron's facility.

Logan Cobb Development Director reads the RFP for homeless.

Both fire stations have been sold (One was to the Haitian Community Center). Relocating Station 6 - no plans for this building. Station 5 will close, too. With all the new ones being built.

Katie has information on that. 2021-2024"
2021 increase 9.8%
2022 9.3%
2023 1.28% (viewed as declining)
2024 project 4.66%

Remote work affected our tax revenue. I have no idea what that means. That's why they moved to RITA to gain back those losses. This data comes from our general ledger. (LOL) that we are audited on annually. (Rue restated "annually audited).

**Commission Comments

Tackett
I've been working on the homeless issue since I started. I can't speak to the past I wasn't here. Clark County Emergency Mgmt has 8 warming centers listed. It's limited time and might not be overnight. But it's on their Facebook page.

I have heard OVER AND OVER that we've had a housing shortage. And the high rents now. I went out with Logan to encampments - boots on the ground - I learned so much. Homeless people didn't want shelter didn't want to give up their dog. Came from Montgomery County because it's better here. If you have warrants. Several had light posts cut down and taken up north to sell. People are chopping down the telephone poles.

I'm really offended when you all attack us. I heard the city is throwing people out of Snyder Park - they're chopping down trees and had to be addressed. IF we had Exec Inn and Sheltered Inc working - still not enough capacity. I ask all the time. I believe Bryan is hearing me.

I highly encourage churches to get involved. I did a blessing bag drive at Holiday in the City. I give people my When people demonize me online I have worked so hard on this this year (it's January?)

The county just turned Sheltered Inc down and they were the only RFP. Check in with your county commissioners.
Please explain that we can't just hand out money to any organization.

Estrop
The Board of Elections are a big help and can answer any questions you have about the elections. Their rules are very specific and strict. A lot to learn about campaign laws, too. You can also search our charter.

Brown
Community members came out in droves to vote against building 30 units of transitional permanent supportive housing. We missed an opportunity. You all came to the meetings to ask us and then the city voted against it.

Bridget
Asked Heck to confirm that it was not a million to Homefull, it was UP TO, for providing services. Was never meant to be a long-term contract.

**My Thoughts

Funny how Estrop sends people to the Board of Elections about the elections. You really need to talk to them. Anybody who is considering running for office.

Tackett's offended and ME ME ME ME ME.

How can the city fund Nehemiah Foundation? It's a church org?

What are Logan Cobb's qualifications for Development Director?

Katie - Remote work affected our tax revenue. I have no idea what that means. But she says that's why they moved to RITA to gain back those losses.

Katie said that this data comes from our general ledger (LOL) that we are audited on annually. (Rue restated "annually audited).

If you ever wondered why there's a data problem in Springfield, Ohio, it's because they are indeed making up the numbers as they go.