MINUTES

The Council of the city of Oakwood, Ohio, met in a work session on Monday, June 19, 2017 in the conference room of the Oakwood Municipal Building, 30 Park Avenue. The Mayor of the city, William Duncan, presided. Council members in attendance were Mayor William Duncan, Vice Mayor Steve Byington, Councilmember Rob Stephens, Councilmember Anne Hilton and Councilmember Chris Epley. Staff in attendance were City Manager Norbert Klopsch and City Attorney Rob Jacques. Also attending for the discussion about the Schenck Park were Assistant City Manager Jay Weiskircher, Leisure Services Director Carol Collins, Landscape Architect Eric Sauer and Oakwood resident Mary Montgomery.

Mayor Duncan called the meeting to order at 5 p.m. and began with a discussion about the Schenck Park. Mayor Duncan welcomed Mr. Sauer and Mrs. Montgomery. Mr. Klopsch gave a general overview on events that lead to plans for enhancements to the Schenck Pocket Park. He then asked Mr. Sauer to brief Council on design ideas. Mr. Sauer provided a description of the existing park and reviewed options for play structures and other park amenities. A section along the southeast corner of the park is designated for two play areas with the remaining land retained as passive park land. The final scope of park improvements will be dictated by the budget. Presently, there is about $60,000 available. Of this $60,000, $39,000 is grant money from the Montgomery County Solid Waste District and requires that play equipment and other park amenities be constructed from recycled materials. The city’s contribution towards the project is about $19,000 and the neighborhood is challenged to raise $10,000. Mrs. Montgomery explained that she is leading a neighborhood group to raise this money and that they are planning a large block party with fundraising components. Councilmember Stephens mentioned that he applied for a $3,000 grant from the Oakwood Rotary Club. If awarded, this grant money would contribute toward the $10,000 neighborhood challenge. A discussion then ensued on details regarding the proposed play equipment. At the conclusion of the discussion, Mayor Duncan thanked Mr. Sauer and Mrs. Montgomery for their work on this project. At 5:25 p.m. Mr. Sauer, Mrs. Montgomery, Mr. Weiskircher and Ms. Collins departed the meeting.

Mayor Duncan then led a discussion on the following agenda items:

• COUNCIL COMMITTEES
  • Finance, Vice Mayor Byington
    • ➢
      2018 Budget: Mr. Klopsch gave a general overview on the preliminary 2018 Capital Budget. This included a discussion about the Shafor Park Tennis Court Project. That project is currently budgeted at $400,000, with an additional $150,000 for roadway changes to Collingwood Avenue. Funding for the project would come from the Special Projects Fund. Mr. Stephens suggested that Council consider deferring the Shafor Park Tennis Court Project for another year pending resolution of funding losses from the municipal income tax. This matter will be discussed again at the next work session.
    • ➢
      Municipal Income Tax: Mr. Klopsch distributed two spreadsheets about the municipal income tax. One spreadsheet showed the losses that Oakwood has sustained over the last decade or so after other communities have raised their income tax rates. The second spreadsheet presented four methods to raise revenue to offset these losses. Mr. Klopsch asked Council to give thought to these four methods and suggested that the matter be discussed again at the next work session.