[{"_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",6264239,"mediaKeyId","3098302-b8d13f2e594e81b0c2f0cf1444c53ba4","parentId",3098302,"title","Bexley council appoints Jessica Saad president pro tem, excuses President Lampe; consent agenda approved","audioSeconds",74,"startMs",165000,"endMs",239000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3098302-b8d13f2e594e81b0c2f0cf1444c53ba4&start=165&end=239","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3098302-b8d13f2e594e81b0c2f0cf1444c53ba4/thumbnail_165000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6264239/Bexley/Franklin-County/Ohio/Bexley-council-appoints-Jessica-Saad-president-pro-tem-excuses-President-Lampe-consent-agenda-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264239-53b6a576c038ff310045db4f746af48e/orig.mp4?Expires=1776236035&Signature=fQLBXrOWumw~pgpyqTQ-PkjoGTP5rOYqLB9P8WcPB02XTwRDh1m5ptGFtuUOLPYKl~kOUzpMA5fbHCAK-DaHQJUlUcTWFY00gyrCTC8b48xpvWL8tLFEJiScgQhjuaYJvccMouIUtD6TezB93AJp~1OX6BzE~XWE08Hfxpbr5Wxlw08fZnr-PV~4PcSRZXzDQcnuVO-JEK9RJoRK-xTBnRnGRt3FkVoT2uiIGuuMsRFUCtYfOhyVGwC~gLbNY3EiQhgnCNatG8-EUd2xjMarLMorz9OxlRZUJ~iWz9asaN6zT42vwOSp6x2VeQBGx~hU6i~4SgBhE4RpA2Hd5TIpqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Bexley, OH ","date","2025-04-23T11:54:28Z","article","BEXLEY, Ohio — At the start of the April 22 meeting, Bexley City Council completed several organizational votes.

Councilmembers moved and approved by voice vote the appointment of Jessica Saad as acting president pro tem. After that action, a motion to excuse Council President Monique Lampe for travel passed on a voice vote.

Later in the meeting the consent agenda — which included the April 8 meeting minutes — was approved by roll call. The audit call identified the following affirmative responses during roll call: Councilman Hurley (yes), Councilman Markham (yes), Councilman Silverman (yes), Councilmember Feibel (yes), and Councilmember Saad (yes); the chair declared the consent agenda passed.

The meeting adjourned at the scheduled time after committee reports and administrative updates.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Council held organizational votes at the meeting start: voice vote to appoint Jessica Saad as acting president pro tem, motion to excuse President Monique Lampe carried, and the consent agenda passed by roll call.","taxTitle","Bexley, Franklin County, Ohio","taxId",72409,"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},6264244,"Council schedules public hearing on DORA map change; ordinance at second reading",76,2693000,2769000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3098302-b8d13f2e594e81b0c2f0cf1444c53ba4&start=2693&end=2769","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3098302-b8d13f2e594e81b0c2f0cf1444c53ba4/thumbnail_2693000.jpg","/articles/6264244/Bexley/Franklin-County/Ohio/Council-schedules-public-hearing-on-DORA-map-change-ordinance-at-second-reading","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264244-ebe5bddbc94f7f6f701990fa7f7d2bc6/orig.mp4?Expires=1776236035&Signature=ZoBWFDZi8aDx7SOs8vfr6JxP9Ffb9AYb2UXMz-IblPWuV25MnQOR3aHbWfcBP4Q5JNBQuf-v31~WqVy2nlhahv8qE~WD77RqTZwXpUsu8rYn5pB3xNEi2nM1YZvDsZw3VnwgFsU06BqaS9yw~9h4fO-vlvcARUQ~4Hndqw3pqEIM2FzTvSKBD5dItsaMtDlaDinii0qntL6A3fDFiI6hw-KLWcBLgtSfCudn05WBH5bRgLIcrNFsudyp99QH6uCiZRc0DsZpzuiKBaS9uiBvQofxJxbqQ-HMZtc0A122X--tK3LnYqnMXlCJurJudTc8dk0K4tGkHf1xlhbvcUOp5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","BEXLEY, Ohio — The Bexley City Council conducted a second reading on Tuesday of Ordinance 11-25, which would amend the city’s designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA) boundaries to add a business adjacent to the Main Street district. The ordinance was introduced by Councilmember Laurieann Fiebel and remains under consideration.

Fiebel explained the ordinance would extend the DORA map to encompass a business that requested inclusion. Under state law, the city must publish notice of the proposed change in two consecutive publications and hold a public hearing within the statutory notice period; staff said the publication schedule had slipped by a few days and they were confirming hearing timing but planned the public hearing for May 13.

City staff said other DORA conditions — hours of operation, signage, sanitation plans, and vendor compostable-cup requirements — would remain unchanged and that the city will review the program again next year. Fiebel told council that signage, hours and a public safety plan remain in effect for the expanded area if council adopts the ordinance.

No final council vote was taken Tuesday; staff will confirm the publication dates in the city dispatch and notify council if the hearing needs to be moved to the May 27 meeting to meet notice requirements.","Council took up a second reading of Ordinance 11-25 to amend the city’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) map to include an adjacent business. City staff said public notice will run for two consecutive weeks and a public hearing is scheduled for May 13.",{"_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},6264248,"Urbanist Jeff Speck to present walkability findings after Bexley preview; consultants say city already follows many best practices",218,557000,775000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3098302-b8d13f2e594e81b0c2f0cf1444c53ba4&start=557&end=775","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3098302-b8d13f2e594e81b0c2f0cf1444c53ba4/thumbnail_557000.jpg","/articles/6264248/Bexley/Franklin-County/Ohio/Urbanist-Jeff-Speck-to-present-walkability-findings-after-Bexley-preview-consultants-say-city-already-follows-many-best-practices","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264248-7ab2fea6f5bb9e17d8b800c16a2be5b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1776236035&Signature=U71i2RIzlBrcL4fn2OmIaMwUckHEXecQ~Erhhux4rezat3UZdHRNVP9x-PaojgbUXojGxUhEUshPw-v5-ppu~cVUmC-2nR6lsw3vfAIBFRBEaVpwTjUFOcH9F8nnfZKROaCrmXY2rKWOEtoJPel95OdY8ZXc~6MY3vq2j3SckB3-7KiUN5OFnvLmWMt58QqDrgAnWjp5Mu8NADLuYK492sPvvIJiT6Yp9mXKgpUGz~1cYSEFTbaebH4SFqpBAwW8BU36651vpKkd9qbj~uH~-HV5xlOiqPswTRaV8VPn7hgHWbvG5m40qS0hxHG5rPD8N~PClqrufW9WFk3FX7xNmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","BEXLEY, Ohio — City officials introduced consultants Jeff Speck and a colleague for a walkability study and commercial design guidelines update, and the consultants asked residents for input ahead of a public presentation scheduled for Wednesday evening at Drexel Theater.

Jeff Speck, a widely known urbanist, told the council and audience that his firm’s work looks at “the shape of your streets” and the user experience of walking. “I like to joke that I have the best job in America, which is I get to show up in cities and walk around, tell them what's wrong with them, and then leave,” Speck said, adding that the team saw opportunities in Bexley and “a lot that is already in the best practices that we recommend to other cities.”

Speck and a colleague said the firm had met with local stakeholders earlier in the day and planned to present both national best practices and “things we found here — opportunities we see and suggestions we have for you.” The presentation was scheduled for 7 p.m. at Drexel Theater; city staff said more stakeholder sessions will follow as the commercial design guidelines and streetscape updates advance.

Council members and staff emphasized sidewalks and bikeway concerns in the preview session. Councilman Ty Marcelino, who participated in the working group, urged consultants to keep in mind that many Bexley streets already have sidewalks nearby but that a small number of streets lack sidewalks. The consultant team and city staff said existing sidewalk coverage, bike lane integration and maintaining the city’s walkable character would be part of the review and recommendations.

Speck encouraged public comment and said the forthcoming presentation would include more detailed ideas and illustrations. City staff directed residents to the scheduled meeting and to follow-up community outreach.","Design consultants Jeff Speck and team previewed a walkability study and commercial design guide update for Bexley and invited residents to a public presentation the next evening at Drexel Theater.",{"_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},6264253,"Bexley council holds second reading on LinkUs BRT stop at Pleasant Ridge as residents raise safety and parking concerns",3374,894000,4268000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3098302-b8d13f2e594e81b0c2f0cf1444c53ba4&start=894&end=4268","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3098302-b8d13f2e594e81b0c2f0cf1444c53ba4/thumbnail_894000.jpg","/articles/6264253/Bexley/Franklin-County/Ohio/Bexley-council-holds-second-reading-on-LinkUs-BRT-stop-at-Pleasant-Ridge-as-residents-raise-safety-and-parking-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264253-b18a8d27e89b28763eca34022875220b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776236035&Signature=Xh0e3UtuzT9M3WrQkIhFXLqE1Grs6ETR1XqrISON0yAr6LcC2qsIXSGP1n8bA6oeGRHK8GtrQ890yCqQL8chMgy3T1uFZOg4RDOR0IouPQuUO~jIVwVLf8oHrHYEteFjSjvrWu~mji8-uAPVsRrWvXp7bz4F3En5btS-j5RZrWViqjhlNKCGfSjhFEBHZv0plcGy1FJGl6ekZJGxkpKC2FDJMtff9pspuT8RaVzTtBfk0fo~5vMEGebIBDihG2946NZhrPBCVHLqCpLKVkTUhEgFOItf8ttwwDB3E~zaUJU6nm~snyJTnesMK9qEqeJNSHWlKabrljavSt7muCDBOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","BEXLEY, Ohio — The Bexley City Council on Tuesday held a second reading of a resolution formalizing support for the LinkUs bus rapid transit (BRT) route along Main Street and the planned median station west of Pleasant Ridge Avenue, with COTA staff laying out technical details and several residents raising safety and parking concerns.

Councilman Alex Silverman introduced the item as “the second reading of resolution 02-25 to support the LinkUs bus rapid transit route on Main Street, including the planned median station on Main Street west of Pleasant Ridge Avenue,” and then turned the presentation to city and transit staff for technical detail.

The presentation underscored COTA’s view that a Pleasant Ridge station would serve the walkable core of Bexley. Kim Sharp, COTA’s senior director of development, said East Main is a 13-mile corridor and “1 mile of that is within the city of Bexley.” Patrick Harris, COTA’s chief of external relations, noted ongoing regional planning and said LinkUs is intended to give residents “a much more regional transit” option as the area grows.

Megan Meyer, Bexley’s director of administration and development, reviewed local engagement and a two-week online survey the city had posted to gather feedback on the proposed location. Meyer told council that roughly three-quarters of the survey comments were generally supportive and that about 60% of respondents who addressed Pleasant Ridge specifically were supportive, with roughly 19% expressing concerns.

City and COTA staff addressed questions about traffic, station design and safety. Meyer said traffic patterns would not be changed by the center station and that “any turn that is currently illegal will stay illegal.” She described the station’s “bull nose” design and called the illustrated crossing “the most safe crosswalk that we have” in the immediate area. Sharp added that stations will include a sheltered platform, lighting, cameras and an emergency call box.

Residents who live or work adjacent to the proposed stop urged council to reconsider the location. Kathy Schroer, council president at Christ Lutheran Church, said the proposed station would sit “directly in front of our playground and our open lawn” and that the church’s preschool serves “103 children enrolled… open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.” Schroer said she had “no issues with the rapid transit, just the Pleasant Ridge position” and asked the council to consider the safety and parking impacts on the church’s daily operations.

Beverly Sapienza, a resident at 2729 Main Road, also told council she was “not opposed to the BRT, but I am very opposed to its location at Pleasant Ridge,” citing concerns about strangers clustering near the playground, the risk to small children, and potential use of a small adjoining church lot as informal park-and-ride parking.

Council members asked for additional details about the survey and outreach. Councilman Hurley asked whether the survey was still live and noted that the staff tallied only comments that explicitly favored or opposed; Meyer confirmed the survey remained open and that staff planned further targeted follow-up with owners and residents immediately adjacent to the proposed station. Councilman Ty Marcelino asked staff to keep the survey open longer to broaden response and to set a firm closing date.

COTA officials said the agency expects the underlying local route (line 2) to remain in place for five years after BRT opens, per federal guidance, but that local frequency will be adjusted over time. Sharp estimated construction of an individual center station would be on the scale of “about 4 months” of on-street work and said buses would run roughly every 15 minutes on the BRT corridor.

The resolution (02-25) was at second reading before council; no final vote was taken Tuesday. Staff pointed listeners to Bexley.org/LinkUs for background materials and to a scheduled public presentation and walkability talk by outside consultants the following evening.

The council meeting included two public commenters on the Matter of Pleasant Ridge (the Christ Lutheran Church representative and a resident). Council members said they will continue to receive and review survey comments and stakeholder follow-up before any final action.

Votes or formal actions on the resolution were not completed on April 22; the item remains under consideration at a later council meeting.","Council heard COTA and city staff on a proposed center-running bus rapid transit (BRT) station at Main Street west of Pleasant Ridge Avenue. The item was at second reading; no final council vote was taken. Residents from Christ Lutheran Church and neighbors cited childcare safety, parking and congestion concerns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bexley council appoints Jessica Saad president pro tem, excuses President Lampe; consent agenda approved

Council schedules public hearing on DORA map change; ordinance at second reading

Urbanist Jeff Speck to present walkability findings after Bexley preview; consultants say city already follows many best practices

Bexley council holds second reading on LinkUs BRT stop at Pleasant Ridge as residents raise safety and parking concerns