MINUTES

The Council of the city of Oakwood, Ohio, met in a work session on Monday, June 17, 2019 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 was City Manager Norbert Klopsch. Also attending for the first agenda item about the new city website were Clerk of Council Lori Stacel and Personnel & Properties Director Jennifer Wilder.

Mayor Duncan called the meeting to order at 5 p.m. The meeting began with a detailed presentation on the new City website. Mr. Klopsch mentioned that the original website was created in 1998 and was last updated in 2007. Those two websites were created by staff at MVCC. The 2007 version is outdated and the website software no longer meets the City’s needs, particularly given the latest technology of cell phones, tablets, laptops and desktops. Mr. Klopsch complimented Ms. Stacel and Mrs. Wilder for their leadership in developing the new website. The preliminary plan for the project began last fall and the detailed work in creating the website was completed over the last two to three months. Ms. Stacel and Mrs. Wilder then provided a detailed overview of the website, including the content and all of the features. At the conclusion of the presentation, Ms. Stacel mentioned that the website will go live on Thursday, June 20 and that any changes or additional content items can be easily and quickly incorporated. Mayor Duncan and all of Council thanked Ms. Stacel and Mrs. Wilder for their excellent work. Ms. Stacel and Mrs. Wilder departed the meeting at the end of this agenda item.

At 6:25 p.m., Mayor Duncan continued the work session and led a discussion on the following agenda items:

• • COUNCIL COMMITTEES
  • o Planning & Zoning, Vice Mayor Byington
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      Short-term Rentals: Mr. Klopsch suggested that the City should either establish regulations under which short-term property rentals can be operated in Oakwood, or prohibit them altogether. Given the population density and limited parking throughout Oakwood, Mr. Klopsch stated that it is staff’s recommendation that short-term rentals be prohibited. Mr. Stephens commented that he was initially open to the use of Oakwood properties as short-term rentals, but has changed his mind. He told a story of an experience at an out-of-state soccer tournament where he witnessed the negative impacts of short-term rentals in a bedroom-type community like Oakwood. City Attorney Rob Jacques will draft legislation for a first reading at the July 15 council meeting. That legislation will define short-term rentals as anything less than 25 days and will include language prohibiting their use.
  • o Public Properties, Mr. Epley
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      Patterson Park Access: Mr. Klopsch distributed a drawing depicting modifications to the entrance gate to Irving Field. The governing board of Patterson Park Youth Baseball has requested that approximately 300 feet of the entrance roadway to Irving Field be accessible 24/7 to allow Patterson Park patrons access to an existing gravel parking lot along the eastern edge of their facility. Staff reviewed the request and believes it to be reasonable. The Patterson Park Youth Baseball club has agreed to pay all of the associated costs for installing new fencing, a new gate and an access driveway to their parking lot.