[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6109377,"mediaKeyId","2762243-a3f1df500f24a84041cd56396910b2ca","parentId",2762243,"title","Votes at a glance: Consent agenda approved; 2025–26 municipal program of services adopted","audioSeconds",6024,"startMs",1341000,"endMs",7365000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2762243-a3f1df500f24a84041cd56396910b2ca&start=1341&end=7365","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2762243-a3f1df500f24a84041cd56396910b2ca/thumbnail_1341000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6109377/Upper-Arlington/Franklin-County/Ohio/Votes-at-a-glance-Consent-agenda-approved-202526-municipal-program-of-services-adopted","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109377-1c8bb16aed45bb33137d32e187560200/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213539&Signature=hhBB1NzrKufzclX1iwr6kKUiZiaqoXRDnT6rP4c5nE6oTFuVaxvlv9t3QXtVTfL57wyHbITQrMWbsYhWkZlRm931jl77QMFBNC9bGKTuufaH45NloEH1Ymsmya1SyO89bVYc6mRZt08Or2JH03xLQNOWrCUfmctnltmowvM2~ev0ivraK5~YzE0nfKe8zrm103tTuIYN8MCCth1L9QTXnaTlXZcTEXEwTQsHurIF7r7-uSGAjnUfjpG2-1yJlHsEN9OEs6Lznnah97IWSt82M9Ip1rEkWuVZ8aoNLZ6Dw9g4i8kJlwUA9sdZtCx3FqxZSdPHysheaSgjyaGZpBct6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Upper Arlington OH","date","2025-02-24T00:00:00Z","article","Two formal actions were recorded during the Feb. 24 meeting: the approval of the consent agenda and the adoption of the 2025–26 municipal program of services.

- Consent agenda: Council moved and seconded approval of the consent agenda at the start of the meeting; the motion carried on a voice vote (no roll-call tally recorded in the transcript).

- Municipal program of services: Council moved and seconded to adopt the 2025–26 municipal program of services (described in the meeting as the final version). The ordinance was approved on a voice vote during the meeting (no roll-call tally recorded in the transcript).

Nut graf: Both votes were taken by voice; the meeting transcript does not record individual member yea/nay votes or numerical tallies. The city clerk’s official minutes and the meeting video/audio record can supply a formal tally if required.

Ending: No further legislative actions were finalized at the meeting; multiple ordinance amendments remained at second reading and will return for additional drafting and subsequent votes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Upper Arlington OH, City Council Meeting - February 24, 2025 ","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved the consent agenda and adopted the 2025–26 municipal program of services in voice votes; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript.","taxTitle","Upper Arlington, Franklin County, Ohio","taxId",65958,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6109382,"Council debates motorized devices and skateboards in parks; consensus to remove park ban from draft ordinance",1896,7200000,9096000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2762243-a3f1df500f24a84041cd56396910b2ca&start=7200&end=9096","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2762243-a3f1df500f24a84041cd56396910b2ca/thumbnail_7200000.jpg","/articles/6109382/Upper-Arlington/Franklin-County/Ohio/Council-debates-motorized-devices-and-skateboards-in-parks-consensus-to-remove-park-ban-from-draft-ordinance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109382-9a44c483f5ddbd97a2d1b8f3116508b5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213539&Signature=XWyOku5d3NLfWUy5231O3-6LUDxa8BhcA8Tn3p4Slgh8hQWR3PmY-h9lAl5R9CcD8YGgmSMJOZAQP0gddAghrqLFKuDfDKIbJQqeJZwqKrUMsBc0BEdE5NZ76Dvs5FxUXtbHw9Ts6s9aZYnd4XuNYMeq4f1o9Oqr11MlDUldKWSFI~wsNUcs7MKlRCa62HbqStReHwiKWx0mvP5iV6yIaga2oLRSMkwZOVA-n~faeqOYHe~RrmuRDK2dJuXyUPCk9~mmd8w4ZZxodpOKYiC-6OYf-NHAnzNLPQH94H6Sb~VFhrCYta2gGH~47VicmaxoBeqjhsSqo32zuYUrNUUv8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Council discussed proposed changes to the Upper Arlington Code of Ordinances that would update rules governing bicycles, motorized bicycles, scooters and related devices, and addressed enforcement realities for park and street incidents.

City staff and the city attorney walked council through three areas of focus: the scale of calls for service involving motorized devices, whether skateboards should be treated differently than bikes or scooters, and how criminal enforcement operates in practice. Staff provided police call-for-service data on scooters, electric bicycles and skateboards and noted that the dataset includes only incidents reported to police, not all resident complaints to other city offices. A staff chart showed a modest number of park-related calls in 2024 but council members said those figures likely undercount complaints received elsewhere.

On skateboards, staff advised against allowing skateboards in the street — a change some council members had raised — citing safety differences. Staff noted skateboards typically lack lights or braking devices and are slower than bicycles, creating a greater risk of impeding traffic or losing control on streets. “Skateboards have that minimal profile … skateboards have that minimal profile, and a skateboard doesn't have brakes or handles, which poses a greater risk of losing control and potentially falling into the street,” a staff presenter said. The presentation left the current code’s sidewalk/park placement in place but opened the door to council-driven changes.

Council and staff discussed motorized single‑wheel devices, electric ‘one‑wheels’ and other emergent micro‑mobility devices. Under the draft ordinance, motorized devices are treated separately from non‑motorized skateboards. Councilmembers noted enforcement challenges: police generally issue citations only when officers directly observe offenses or in the immediate aftermath of an accident, and juvenile cases route to juvenile court rather than mayor’s court. Staff said they do not expect large numbers of citations from the ordinance but that clearer rules could help when parties and officers are present after an incident.

A separate parks rule in the draft had prohibited motorized devices in parks. After discussion, council signaled a preference to remove the parks-specific prohibition from the ordinance as drafted and to instead focus on discouraging reckless behavior and clarifying where motorized devices are permitted. City Attorney Darren said staff will remove the parks prohibition and work on further drafting between the second and third readings.

Nut graf: Council reviewed proposed code updates for micro-mobility and skateboards, acknowledged enforcement limitations for phone-in complaints and juvenile incidents, and directed staff to remove a proposed blanket ban on motorized devices in parks while continuing to refine permitted locations and language for skateboard and scooter use.

Council also asked staff to consider cross-references to other ordinances (for example, the city’s golf-cart rules and speed-limited street language) to avoid inconsistent treatment of devices across different types of streets. Staff plans to circulate revised language before the third reading, addressing concerns raised about single-file requirements and the practicalities of sidewalk and street use.

Ending: Staff will bring a revised draft reflecting the council’s direction — chiefly the removal of the parks ban and further language work on skateboard use and device classifications — for the next ordinance reading.","Council reviewed an ordinance amending local code on bicycles, motorized bicycles and scooters and discussed enforcement limits for motorized devices and skateboards; staff and council signaled they will remove a proposed prohibition on motorized devices in parks and consider revisions to street-use language for skateboards.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6109387,"Fire division unveils first five‑year strategic plan, prioritizes training, staffing and community programs",1184,4456000,5640000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2762243-a3f1df500f24a84041cd56396910b2ca&start=4456&end=5640","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2762243-a3f1df500f24a84041cd56396910b2ca/thumbnail_4456000.jpg","/articles/6109387/Upper-Arlington/Franklin-County/Ohio/Fire-division-unveils-first-fiveyear-strategic-plan-prioritizes-training-staffing-and-community-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109387-2d370ba0fb0a251d2d9800d77e50a5dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213539&Signature=aKcJhMZ6c7dlDmko3Y0Vwhs0zdYiMKCtSc~YNhR4FiX1ntCvDW5gqMcPBCtImEfNV4zBzUp8tQ8OAJ-O4dsjNXNolJpePunvt2LQ3hIgAxeo33buoSFjOxAh7YMQPbRHLa6pKrWTzDgVt4iEBBxfmz9qryK~mPODDSfFQUGHlCDW0PKJM4YECT5MGRjbaDC~xxbilwDMnxDZSaF7RB-jVIY2Aqqt9R8OCSrghlAc0edln0mAeO72LiXZt-fCeWsognz5cffK5QOuKvqjjUauASQQwHqK-IBF5k1ukgtH-Ch6KQv2EBRN0DSHzd-hMj1IolNcJ-tFpepmaJYRaXtYdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Upper Arlington Fire Division presented its first formal five-year strategic plan to City Council on Feb. 24, outlining initiatives on training and professional development, operational performance and staffing, capital improvements, and community risk reduction.

Chief Zimmer said the plan grew from a process that included a consultant, AP Triton, an internal workshop and substantial public engagement. AP Triton’s outreach included more than 21,000 emails and social-media contacts; the firm received 655 public survey responses, which Chief Zimmer said was the highest response the consultant had seen for a community of this size. “Ninety-two percent of respondents who received services rated them very satisfied,” Zimmer said, citing the survey results.

The plan’s four strategic initiatives list specific goals and objectives. Initiative 1 focuses on training and professional development, including enhanced new-employee and leadership training and continued EMS education. Initiative 2 centers on operational performance and staffing; the department will pursue a standards-of-cover (SOC) analysis and a community risk assessment (CRA) to identify gaps in service and improve response planning. Initiative 3 targets capital items such as frontline apparatus replacement, station maintenance and a planned replacement of the fire-education trailer approved in this year’s budget; Zimmer flagged planned replacement of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) before 2030 as a significant capital need. Initiative 4 addresses community risk reduction, expanding public education, fire prevention activity and the CARES program.

Assistant Chief Mike Bell said community responders will pursue a deeper data analysis: Chief Zimmer noted the department’s new records-management system will improve the ability to analyze response data and benchmark performance. The division reported recent average response times of approximately 4 minutes, 48 seconds (down slightly from a 2023 CPSM study figure of 4:57).

Council members asked about the plan’s implications and costs. Zimmer and Bell said the plan is intended as a road map; leadership will work with administration and finance to identify budget implications and phased implementation. “Everything that’s in this five-year strategic plan is very achievable financially,” Zimmer told council, while noting some large-ticket items — for example, equipment or station replacement — will require longer lead time and inclusion in capital planning.

Several council members asked how the department will measure progress and whether the plan’s goals will be adjusted if circumstances change. Zimmer said program managers have been assigned to objectives and that division leadership will monitor performance regularly. The SOC and CRA work will provide geographically detailed data about call volumes and response coverage to inform staffing and station-location decisions.

Nut graf: The fire division’s strategic plan formalizes priorities including workforce training, a data-driven standards-of-cover/community risk assessment, equipment and station planning, and expansion of prevention and community programs; the plan will guide multi-year budgeting and operational decisions but requires further cost estimation and phased implementation.

Council members welcomed the plan and the high public satisfaction numbers reflected in the community survey, and asked staff to return with more granular cost projections and data-driven recommendations to support any future staffing or capital requests. Chief Zimmer said the plan will be updated periodically and that leadership views the strategic plan as the start of an ongoing management cycle, not a final, static document.

Ending: Staff indicated they will proceed with SOC/CRA work, integrate findings into budget planning and return to council with implementation steps and capital timelines.","Fire leadership presented the department’s first formal five-year strategic plan, highlighting strong public satisfaction, an emphasis on training, a proposed standards-of-cover and community risk assessment, capital equipment priorities and expansion of prevention/community programs.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6109393,"Upper Arlington sets March opening, previews programming and memberships for Bob Crane Community Center",1142,1448000,2590000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2762243-a3f1df500f24a84041cd56396910b2ca&start=1448&end=2590","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2762243-a3f1df500f24a84041cd56396910b2ca/thumbnail_1448000.jpg","/articles/6109393/Upper-Arlington/Franklin-County/Ohio/Upper-Arlington-sets-March-opening-previews-programming-and-memberships-for-Bob-Crane-Community-Center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109393-cc5945c0cfa109768d7e12ed2ffd324d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213539&Signature=UA3SkgY4MMh-uDjVi4M99-uCSaximuqQW7TzuBhvduMb0kEPHJ-3GNrFiD6w61JzJnJ4Em0i7Gas2QwCBBegMNG8F3rnlsVrh5hXXIWs0-biXRS82eJpUOxFNqRu3Du5wmhBnA30klzSFDzRXnOyWyYBOGV8h1sqPPgNeREGf~h88kGBvtfEn~mCh16rXl3PFyKq9sp2RNrWgV-VMbAIhjJQssqWPb1vNVOxgl~IY-V-lg28UZ8hvyh87S6MfBKip~aGuZZtszs0MdRBHsQS9M2P5fQatvejZPMqPoilzJsz4ovSfO1CSYe4TC342vylwkFx6NVHdHL2-tSdBYK8DQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Upper Arlington city staff announced timelines and programming details this week for the new Bob Crane Community Center, saying memberships will go on sale March 10, tours will be offered March 25–29, preview days will run April 1–3 and the facility’s formal grand opening is scheduled for a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. April 6 with full operations beginning April 7.

The community center will accept online and in-person membership purchases starting March 10; staff said front-desk sales also will be available at the municipal services center March 10–14. Parks and Recreation personnel will relocate to the community center beginning March 17 to begin operations and staffing. On-site tours will run March 25–29; preview days for targeted groups (older adults, families, middle- and high-school students, adults/corporate groups) are set April 1–3. The grand opening celebration is April 6, and regular hours start at 5:30 a.m. April 7, with the center open 5:30 a.m.–10 p.m. Monday–Friday and 8 a.m.–8 p.m. on weekends.

The center’s opening will be phased to let staff train and to allow residents to preview the facility before membership is required. “During these times, people can utilize the facilities. They can walk the building on their own. There’ll be staff available on each floor to help,” said TJ Putnam, Community Center Manager. Putnam and other staff emphasized the preview days double as live training for front-desk and operational staff so the first full week of public operations runs smoothly.

Matt Lever, Recreation Superintendent, said registration for spring and summer programs opens March 12 for residents and community-center members and March 14 for nonresidents. New and expanded offerings include year-round learn-to-swim classes beginning in June, evening and weekend aquatic programs (Aqua Sculpt, Aqua Zumba, Aqua Yoga), expanded fitness classes, five personal trainers, arts programming, a large slate of youth dance and performing arts classes, and extensive pickleball programming. Lever said the department has added a fourth summer day camp site for 2025, increasing capacity by about 100 to a total of 390 camp participants; 20 people remained on the wait list at the time of the presentation.

Northam Park’s new tennis and pickleball courts will have a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. May 1. Staff described six north-end pickleball courts with reservation slots available in one-hour increments from April through October. “You don’t have to have a reservation to play,” Lever said; reservations are intended to help players lock in a time and improve equitable access.

Council members asked about parking and traffic control during the high-demand preview and opening period. Putnam said the city planned a police presence for marquee events and early weeks of operation, temporary wayfinding and public parking signage, and staff parking allocations to free surface spaces; staff said they would use shuttles from nearby lots on high-demand days if needed.

Membership forecasts presented to council included two scenarios: a more conservative target in the mid-3,000s and an upper-range potential near 6,000 members. Staff said those projections may not fully account for participation from Medicare fitness programs such as SilverSneakers and Renew Active; the city recently confirmed that members with those programs will be eligible for community-center membership through their insurance programs where applicable.

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) described its role as a sounding board to staff on design, access and fees. Lindsay Crist, a long-serving PRAB member, said PRAB helped shape the Play UA financial-assistance program and pressed staff to broaden community input on the athletic turf management plan. “When we put our stamp of approval on something … it usually means that it’s unanimous amongst the board, and we’ve talked about it a lot,” Crist said.

Staff said tours already have attracted high interest; members of council reported hundreds of registrations for scheduled tours and asked that staff continue a broad communications push. The department said it plans earned-media outreach, photography and videography, and virtual walkthrough assets to promote the center beyond Upper Arlington’s typical channels.

Nut graf: The city’s Parks and Recreation staff and appointed advisory board presented a coordinated launch plan for the new Bob Crane Community Center — including membership sales, staggered previews and a mix of longstanding and new programs — and outlined operational, traffic and communication steps designed to manage strong early demand while training staff.

Council members welcomed the timeline and asked staff to track capacity, registration demand and operations closely after opening. Staff said they will evaluate program popularity seasonally and annually and add offerings where demand merits. The department plans to credit early registrants who purchase memberships after signing up for programs at the nonmember rate in the first month.

Ending: The presentation closed with council and staff saying the community center represents a major new amenity for Upper Arlington and with staff urging residents to watch the city’s Parks and Recreation pages for upcoming registration and tour links.","City staff outlined dates for memberships, public tours and preview days for the new Bob Crane Community Center, described operating hours and class registration timelines, and previewed new programming including aquatics, pickleball and expanded summer camps.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Consent agenda approved; 2025–26 municipal program of services adopted

Council debates motorized devices and skateboards in parks; consensus to remove park ban from draft ordinance

Fire division unveils first five‑year strategic plan, prioritizes training, staffing and community programs

Upper Arlington sets March opening, previews programming and memberships for Bob Crane Community Center