[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6044903,"mediaKeyId","3609419-de5c0668ab4c57ec84a8ec10d500971d","parentId",3609419,"title","Finance director: community center memberships growing; mid‑year budget review and reserve policy work planned","audioSeconds",271,"startMs",3723000,"endMs",3994000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3609419-de5c0668ab4c57ec84a8ec10d500971d&start=3723&end=3994","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3609419-de5c0668ab4c57ec84a8ec10d500971d/thumbnail_3723000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6044903/Upper-Arlington/Franklin-County/Ohio/Finance-director-community-center-memberships-growing-midyear-budget-review-and-reserve-policy-work-planned","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6044903-e367a97c3eb2bbdafb9a34349f9fa838/orig.mp4?Expires=1771208289&Signature=NlukeecInTCzuHWta49w8w5cTsF3gbZI-qwP0lc1Jb0lHISlW7GhQes5cQtp7WgeD6h8l5XcMWTCSY6bk7N~on8DtHiY6lKEyVCat2jEWPR4TEfTz7CHJznyz71kgmIcgFjWQJSCQU4nvj2Ar3wA~XH3pJ4-rS6vxTESfpioj3ladEpjcDLOdkRNrre2apwnGqXKxK1QCBrKRWIWYohHcxgTcF~tjWxQAg5uLJkY865hPvky7aggszFDURIscI~JhEKfc6xDYE0RANrRRZW6WFeKQjjdRWqfIOeDfPtnt5D0aRx4HmRkAm30jiPs0ygvz6-7c8er8CHaI5gJJaOw-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Upper Arlington OH","date","2025-05-12T00:00:00Z","article","The city finance director presented April financials to council, saying overall revenues are where staff expected and that staff will present additional financial detail on the new Bob Crane Community Center in coming months.

“We’re over 7,000 memberships,” the director said of the new community center’s memberships, but he cautioned that opening costs and initial maintenance have created a timing mismatch in early financial reporting. The finance director said he expects a community center financial report in the monthly packet within the next month or two.

Why it matters: Council requested updates on budget priorities and reserves. The finance director said he has been meeting with council members on reserve and budget priorities and will return after summer break with proposals. He also noted the start of the 2026 budget process and said the city will present a tax budget soon.

Other notes

- The city hosted an Ohio MBE procurement fair at the community center with about 40 vendors; staff praised the turnout and the facility as an event venue.

- The finance director said staff will present a mid‑year fiscal review when council returns from summer break and that the 2026 budget process will begin next month.

Ending

Council had no follow‑up questions at the meeting. Staff will return with the community center financial report and mid‑year budget materials later this year.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Upper Arlington OH, City Council Meeting - May 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The finance director briefed council on April financials, reported more than 7,000 community center memberships since opening, described upcoming mid‑year and 2026 budget work and said the city hosted an Ohio MBE procurement fair at the community center.","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},6044908,"City Council approves ordinance joining Central Ohio shared mobility program, authorizes service agreement with Veeride (Veo)",1744,3912000,5656000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3609419-de5c0668ab4c57ec84a8ec10d500971d&start=3912&end=5656","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3609419-de5c0668ab4c57ec84a8ec10d500971d/thumbnail_3912000.jpg","/articles/6044908/Upper-Arlington/Franklin-County/Ohio/City-Council-approves-ordinance-joining-Central-Ohio-shared-mobility-program-authorizes-service-agreement-with-Veeride-Veo","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6044908-02d35b850fe8b64941313e638916bec3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771208289&Signature=fwYHkrYvjsDgEyAycxSBYj4fgy15igXMBenSEIGYilzGXe0Mr-qIWKqgPXRZ8iGqNXlN5jF0cz~yXka693K0doeoom3z9vITo6gFF1WCZ4aUQSBkcaoMEzbW670WQzFLSxbuL-00jZommsmUWID5BeWXZs0hg7EarecgMRRdmIU4J2L2c~Hkawxz4WytPwXjN~e23F4gaawusiwgD3Fv6W9FnhLeP3D59DDLHHgAQsHnBmFDdjoA9maakDIW3hYzvJK2nqC0uskuWu0k~FFBxPrmrqL6Z8nNjQrshWqmaGzL~3S8PufkHOtVdQpkH9ZDg6tvvexKzFacQ4dGxttNHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Upper Arlington City Council voted to adopt Ordinance 16‑2025, authorizing the city to participate in the Central Ohio shared mobility program and allowing the city manager to sign a service agreement with Veeride Inc. (doing business as Veo) to operate scooters, e‑bikes and other micromobility devices in the city.

The ordinance was moved and seconded on the floor and approved by voice vote. “All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye… Motion carries,” President Wakasanjit said after the vote.

Why it matters: The agreement will replace the city’s previous docked bikeshare footprint with a Veo system that uses mobility hubs and mapped parking locations and offers several device types. Officials said the arrangement is a revenue share with no direct city cost for devices or hubs.

Staff presentation and vendor comments

Director Chad Gibson told council the city worked with Columbus on the procurement and that Columbus selected one regional vendor to reduce clutter and improve operations. He said Veo’s technology includes geofencing, slow zones and designated parking locations that reduce problematic device placement.

Joe Bhatt, senior policy and partnerships manager for Veo, explained the company’s approach to operations, saying the vendor combines GPS technology, mapped parking locations and a local operations team to manage vehicles. “We want to have the technology reduce bad or problematic outcomes … but we also have staff that are gonna be responsive and proactively out monitoring and actively managing the fleet,” Bhatt said.

Council questions and clarifications

Council members asked whether the program costs the city; Gibson said it does not and described a revenue share tied to mobility hubs. Council members also asked about rider age and school bike racks: staff said state law sets minimums (discussed during the meeting as 16) while Veo’s operator policy requires riders to be at least 18. School bike racks were not included in the initial map because school representatives did not opt in.

Other clarifying points provided by staff and the vendor:

- Previously: the city’s earlier docked system was installed in 2017 with grant support (staff said an 80% grant funded most stations).

- Ridership examples: Gibson cited Ohio State University’s system use—nearly a half‑million rides in one year—to illustrate potential demand; Upper Arlington’s prior docked system averaged about 1,100 starts or stops per year.

- Pricing and user flow: Bhatt described a typical user flow: download the Veo app, add payment, scan vehicle QR code, ride, then end the ride by photographing properly parked device. He said typical pricing is $1 to unlock and about $0.39 per minute for standing and seated scooters; membership options are available.

- Safety and helmets: Veo encourages helmet use and runs community helmet giveaways, but the company does not require helmets in its user policy; local law and operator policy govern age limits.

Implementation steps and staff direction

Gibson told council staff and the city attorney’s office were finalizing contract language with Veo and that staff would finalize the initial map of approved mobility hub and bike‑rack parking locations for the vendor to implement. He said public bike racks at parks and city facilities will be included; private business racks may be added later if owners opt in.

Action taken

Ordinance 16‑2025 was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. The ordinance authorizes the city manager to execute a service agreement with Veeride Inc. to deploy and operate micromobility devices in Upper Arlington. No roll‑call tally with individual council member votes was recorded in the meeting minutes.

Ending

With the vote, staff will finalize the service agreement with Veo, populate the agreed parking map into Veo’s system and begin coordination for a phased regional rollout.","Council passed Ordinance 16‑2025 to join the Central Ohio shared mobility program and authorize a service agreement with Veeride Inc. (Veo) to operate scooters, e‑bikes and other devices; staff said the contract is revenue‑sharing, not cost‑bearing, and the rollout will use mapped mobility hubs and public bike racks.",{"_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},6044913,"Upper Arlington zoning board, community development report emphasizes permit volume, code updates and Henderson Road study",2291,1507000,3798000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3609419-de5c0668ab4c57ec84a8ec10d500971d&start=1507&end=3798","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3609419-de5c0668ab4c57ec84a8ec10d500971d/thumbnail_1507000.jpg","/articles/6044913/Upper-Arlington/Franklin-County/Ohio/Upper-Arlington-zoning-board-community-development-report-emphasizes-permit-volume-code-updates-and-Henderson-Road-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6044913-842ae93a50baaa5730ffb37e10fc7c1a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771208289&Signature=CZsfUxj19KB01NuM3yXsmZcUkFcRGKU6P8Z78bwFRAVPyYOegTFKGnIHA1w46jcInXSXoOCWkbMfs1TKbkV~k6sSquFbzxYoiWO8JlRBmvZ5yPA34WRIOAVkIxWHJuXwc5tHZB3fD12auZaWdtxvcSBhzSxG3h6SFEOJ1fXcmuWKmy5VX6x10YPr808QOIKmWXdy4Y~Ix-vFy-jkk8uIMvmR5VW6s8aSGiS1-HNiKq5l8tX8CYOvoW8VuvBkgI8SYQRQX83qYb9MSFBqoM9kwrBeMsnlRJhj7Y5I-NeHv03PCoqiF6gU6HAXKifaptYdbRMA9JPTriv-QTWYCNYShw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Zoning and Planning and the City of Upper Arlington Community Development Department gave City Council a combined update Tuesday evening outlining high permit volumes, recent policy changes and next steps for long‑range planning.

Shannon Tolliver, chair of the Board of Zoning and Planning, told council the volunteer board uses a mix of professionals to review applications and that it generally meets once a month for a work session and once for a planning meeting. “We typically have 1 work session and 1 planning meeting per month,” Tolliver said. She said the board evaluates variance applications to ensure proposals “meet the intent of the ordinance,” are minimal in scope and do not negatively affect neighborhoods.

The update detailed the department’s workload and how that work is managed. Director Chad Gibson said the city processes roughly 3,600 permits per year on average and that, over the past five years, permitted construction value has averaged about $200 million per year. “We are consistent. That is a robust number,” Gibson said, and he credited improvements to the city’s permit intake system and use of contract inspectors to manage spikes.

Why it matters: Council members said the volume of work and redevelopment in a land‑locked community affect policy choices on neighborhood compatibility, lot splits and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The board’s decisions shape zoning variances, redevelopment expectations on corridors such as Lane Avenue and Kingsdale, and how the city implements its master plan and smaller corridor studies.

Council members pressed for clarity on process and timing. Vice President Close asked how staff manage the permit load; Gibson said the city uses contract inspectors for peaks and has modernized electronic plan intake. Close also asked whether the board and council could deepen coordination so urgent code changes don’t wait for the master plan; Tolliver and Gibson said staff track recurring issues and bring batch code amendments forward when ready.

Highlights and details

- Workload and output: Tolliver said the board handled 22 meetings and 78 applications in 2024. Gibson said the department averages roughly 3,600 permits per year and that permit revenues run a little over $1.5 million annually after a recent fee schedule rebalancing.

- Policies and tools: Tolliver credited the city’s neighborhood compatibility policy (adopted in 2023–2024) with reducing contentious rezoning outcomes by providing objective standards for building height and street‑segment compatibility. The board also uses the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), corridor plans (including the Lane Road corridor plan) and third‑party architectural reviews to guide decisions.

- Major studies and next steps: Gibson said the city will issue an RFP for an updated master plan (presentation to council expected in June) and is considering how to implement findings from the recently adopted housing study and the Henderson Road study (Envision Henderson). He said LinkUS regional transit work will return bus service to Lane Avenue in September 2026 and that first‑/last‑mile micromobility changes are scheduled to roll out later this year.

- Trends the board is seeing: Tolliver and staff said common applications include detached accessory structures being repurposed as work‑from‑home offices, ADU requests, enclosed breezeways and requests to attach previously detached garages. The board evaluates such requests for neighborhood impact and minimal variance requirements.

- Staffing and process improvements: Gibson named recent hires by division (code enforcement, building inspections and an economic development analyst) and said a new permit intake system and process changes have increased efficiency. He also described use of a third‑party architect to provide objective design review before applications reach the board.

Council requests and staff commitments

Council members asked staff to provide a code compliance report in June showing year‑to‑date metrics; Gibson confirmed staff will present that report. Council members also asked staff and the board to identify when targeted code cleanups (the “low‑hanging fruit”) should be brought forward rather than waiting for the master plan; Gibson and Tolliver said staff track recurring issues (Justin Milam, senior planner, is the tracking point) and will bundle amendments when appropriate.

Quotations

“Sometimes when we have, like, an architecture question, we look to our architects to say, hey, what do you guys think specifically?” Shannon Tolliver, chair, Board of Zoning and Planning.

“We are consistent. That is a robust number,” Chad Gibson, Director, Community Development Department, on annual permit volumes.

Ending

Council members praised the volunteer board’s workload and asked for continued coordination as the city moves into the master plan and housing‑study implementation phases. Staff said they will return with the code‑compliance report in June and will finalize an RFP for the master plan later this spring.","The Board of Zoning and Planning and the Community Development Department updated City Council on zoning activity, permit volumes, staffing additions, the master plan process and the Henderson Road study; council members pressed staff on permit processing, code cleanup and accessory dwelling unit trends.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Finance director: community center memberships growing; mid‑year budget review and reserve policy work planned

City Council approves ordinance joining Central Ohio shared mobility program, authorizes service agreement with Veeride (Veo)

Upper Arlington zoning board, community development report emphasizes permit volume, code updates and Henderson Road study