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Vice Mayor Byington explained that to help mitigate the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation (“BWC”) has issued three premium rebates, or dividends, to Ohio employers. The first two dividends that the city of Oakwood received totaled $318,641.64. The third, which was authorized on November 2, 2020, resulted in an additional $566,175 for Oakwood, bringing the total dividends for 2020 to $884,816.64.

This income was unexpected and unbudgeted. Council believes it is prudent to transfer a large portion of it to the City’s Special Projects Fund, which is a special fund used to set money aside for future financial needs of the city. The supplemental appropriation ordinance being introduced now will authorize the transfer of $500,000 of the City’s BWC dividend to the Special Projects Fund.

Under Section 3.04 of the City Charter, this supplemental appropriation ordinance will take effect immediately.

Thereupon, it was moved by Vice Mayor Byington and seconded by Mrs. Hilton that the second reading be waived and that the ordinance be passed tonight.

Vice Mayor Byington explained that the Special Projects Fund provides a way for Oakwood to set money aside to pay for upcoming projects without the City having to go into debt.

Mayor Duncan commented that he is grateful to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine for authorizing the dividends to local government. The dividends were available because more people are working remotely, thus fewer BWC claims, and there have been significant gains on investments.

Upon call of the roll on the question of the motion, the following vote was recorded:

MR. WILLIAM D. DUNCAN YEA
MR. STEVEN BYINGTON YEA
MR. ROBERT P. STEPHENS YEA
MRS. ANNE S. HILTON YEA
MR. CHRISTOPHER EPLEY YEA

There being five (5) yea votes and no (0) nay votes thereon, said ordinance was declared duly passed and it was so ordered.

AN ORDINANCE
BY MR. STEPHENS NO 4928
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 311.05, TOY VEHICLES UPON ROADWAY, OF THE OAKWOOD TRAFFIC CODE TO CLARIFY THAT THE SAME DOES NOT APPLY TO THE USE OF CERTAIN SCOOTERS, SKATEBOARDS, AND ROLLER SKATES, AND ENACTING NEW SECTION 371.13, NON-COMMERCIAL SCOOTERS, SKATEBOARDS, AND INLINE ROLLER SKATES, OF THE OAKWOOD TRAFFIC CODE TO REGULATE THE USE OF SUCH VEHICLES UPON PUBLIC STREETS, ALLEYS, AND SIDEWALKS.

A copy of the ordinance, having been placed on the desks of each member of Council prior to introduction, was read by title.

Mr. Stephens explained that this is an ordinance to update Oakwood’s laws for the use of scooters, skateboards, and inline skates on public streets and sidewalks.

Scooters, skateboards, and inline skates are commonly used by children and adults in Oakwood for transportation and recreation. A recent review of Oakwood’s Code revealed that they are technically prohibited for street use and there are no regulations for their use on sidewalks.

The reason they are prohibited for street use is that they are classified as toy vehicles, a legal category that also includes things like sleds and wagons. That may have made sense at one time, but today these vehicles are used as commonly as bicycles. The ordinance being introduced tonight will update Oakwood’s laws to reflect this.

This ordinance accomplishes three things:

  1. It gives scooters, skateboards, and inline skates their own definitions, separate from the definition of “toy vehicle.”
  2. It allows scooters, skateboards, and inline skates to be used on public streets and alleys, treating them the same as joggers and other pedestrian traffic. That means: