Update on Search for New City Manager
A student asked the council for an update about the search for a city manager. Council President Eboni A. Johnson, OC ’97, reported that the City Manager Search Committee is in the beginning stages of working with an executive search consultant to hire a new city manager. For the past several months, the subcommittee was working to identify a consultant that the city could work with. There is not yet an official timeline for the search, but more updates will be released as the search is finalized.
Sustainability Coordinator Presents Updates on Oberlin’s Climate Action Plan
Linda Arbogast, sustainability coordinator of Oberlin, provided an overview of the history of sustainability efforts in Oberlin, as well as an update on the city’s progress since 2019. She described the changes to the city’s renewable energy, including solar panels and an 85 percent renewable energy grid. Greenhouse gas emissions have decreased 50 percent since 2012. Changes have also been made surrounding the energy use, conservation, and efficiency categories, as well as toward transportation progress with the addition of buses available for all Oberlin residents. Arbogast noted that education and outreach, especially collaboration with Oberlin College, have been an essential aspect of their sustainability efforts. She also presented data that showed the possible negative effects of Oberlin failing to reach its climate goals, which could include difficulty for farmers and increased amounts of disease. She noted that they are reaching out to other communities, both local and out of state, to assist them in their own sustainability efforts. Arbogast has also reached out to other communities to ask for assistance in furthering Oberlin’s climate initiatives.
Council Approves Amendments to the Budget Allocation
Finance Director Marin Fowler explained the proposed amendment to the budget based on departmental adjustments which would go into immediate effect. The reallocation of the budget includes money for continued professional training for the Oberlin Police Department. Law Director Interim City Manager Jon Clark explained that the money would be used to purchase VR headsets so the training could be conducted on-site in Oberlin during regular shift hours, which would make it so that police officers do not have to be sent to other sites and the department does not have to pay for the offsite training.
Council Approves Amendment Allowing City Manager to Acquire Necessary Property Easements
An amendment authorizing the city manager to gain certain easements — a right to use somebody else’s land for certain approved purposes — to allow the construction of a multi-use path was approved by the council. Clark explained that completing the installation requires eight easements from private property owners. The terms have mostly been negotiated with the owners, and the total cost of the easements, based on a square footage calculation, is around $25,000. Clark is hopeful that within the next few months, properties will have been cleared, and bidding on labor costs will begin in the summer. The goal is for the project to be finished by the end of the year.
Council Approves Amendment to Provide Reporting Structure Within City Administration
The amendment, passed by the council, moves the position of the equity coordinator from the Planning Department to general administration. Clark explained that this change was based on discussions that made it clear that the demands of the position are well outside the functions of the Planning Department.
Council Approves Amendment to Urge the Electorate to Vote in Favor of Ohio Issue 2
State Issue 2, the Local Infrastructure Bond Amendment, would provide $2.5 billion over 10 years for local infrastructure projects and has received support from both political parties. The county engineers have not asked the electorate to vote in the past, but this year they are, as Oberlin usually receives about $300,000 a year, which makes up between 20–30 percent of their public infrastructure budget. The Council voted to urge the electorate to vote in favor of this amendment on May 6. To allocate funds, each of the districts creates their own criteria for projects and recommends them for funding.
Council Approves Resolution Adopting Traffic Safety Awareness Plans for the City of Oberlin
The Council voted to adopt Vision Zero, a comprehensive plan to help reduce the number of traffic fatalities and other motor accidents. Oberlin is not eligible for federal traffic safety awareness plans because of the lower number of crashes and accidents within the city. Accepting the safety plan would allow the community to seek additional traffic safety funding over the next few years.
Council Approves Salary Increase for Oberlin City Council Clerk
The Council voted to increase the salary of the Oberlin City Council Clerk so that it is consistent with the increase all other city employees have received.
Council Communications
The meeting concluded with Council communications. The Oberlin Housing Renewal Commission will host an open house on April 24 from 4–6 p.m. at Oberlin Enrichment and Activity Center, which will include participation from multiple community partners. The Civil Service Commission met March 13 to elect a Chair and Vice Chair, approve an entrance exam for full time officers, and to approve a classification for the Community Liaison position. The final draft of the social equity plan has been reviewed, and a reading of the plan will take place on April 21. The recreation commission will meet on March 18 at 7 p.m.. A plan has been approved for two college parking lots which will satisfy the requirement for the new Oberlin College dorm on Woodland Street. Michael McFarlin, council vice president, noted that at a meeting for local government officials in Washington, D.C., he learned that the taxes and municipal bonds which allow for smaller cities to fund public infrastructure may be cut within the coming months of the new administration. McFarlin noted that the council may need to have conversations with the community about coming together to deal with this. It was also mentioned that the hiring process for the Finance Assistant position is nearly complete.
