[{"_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",6523090,"mediaKeyId","5065837-6650e3fa28281b4b14393df4492999d6","parentId",5065837,"title","Parks staff report strong summer program site visits but cite pool construction delays and staffing limits on extended hours","audioSeconds",868,"startMs",4063000,"endMs",4931000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065837-6650e3fa28281b4b14393df4492999d6&start=4063&end=4931","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065837-6650e3fa28281b4b14393df4492999d6/thumbnail_4063000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6523090/Toledo/Lucas-County/Ohio/Parks-staff-report-strong-summer-program-site-visits-but-cite-pool-construction-delays-and-staffing-limits-on-extended-hours","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6523090-2d02578bc5db9713e95501d4db1db441/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137330&Signature=oGDFTuWNIJSi1AmBzKv2zmWNtssgpMhmR8sfdkM~lkvuAZO-6C7zSMQM-G87i0jN4Y~QoCUQAPxBkxnie1qEMTApLISZLE0VTc8ow71IWlcI~V~Gfy8r6sIDIwSi9ww3r1PxaW8~2oCjqUDLj6GVDNL2WKY2kA0jOOzw3r-KQJtJbzKTjNnT3ot6IhUToMwdHoLRE3nTxCaBgiY9DfEtExHoSJJQsHrqDrcRfR6dNTYkInAPlRPV5X5tgk3P1bQrlQybNnvYmccE8hjkF~RqeAQfxvdNU3iG0eAtK5OqVpxfz0hOgtobZa0KwdNWHajno7cpweIRu3AkSKq7IsqthA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Toledo","date","2025-06-23T00:00:00Z","article","Department of Parks and Youth Services staff told the City Council Parks, Education, Workforce and Health Committee that summer youth programs show good attendance and quality during site visits, but that lifeguard staffing and construction delays have affected pool and splash-pad availability.

Director Joe and program staff said most active summer programs have been meeting attendance and quality expectations based on site visits, and that a formal report will be compiled after programs finish and partners submit final paperwork. “Most of what I have to share comes from those site visits…we're seeing that they have good attendance numbers,” a department official said.

Committee members pressed staff on splash-pad and pool hours during heat advisories. Staff said coverage depends on lifeguard schedules and overtime willingness: several splash pads and pools close one weekday for staff schedules, and keeping them open on a closed day requires staff willing to work overtime. For one recent heat day, staff said lifeguards were not available to extend hours, though other lifeguards later volunteered to cover additional days. Staff encouraged callers to contact programs in advance, since schedules can change.

On construction, staff said Roosevelt Pool’s contractor now estimates an August 1 completion after permit delays and unforeseen rework. Staff said a health-department permitting delay prevented site work from starting on time and that once demolition began crews discovered prior work that required additional repairs. For Jamie Farr, staff said demolition revealed an older pool built inside the later tank, requiring extra demolition and additional sewer and site work before a splash pad can be installed.

Staff also noted some program-level successes: the Wayman Palmer Y’s Books and Basketball program has strong engagement and participants praised the availability of bus passes for participants. Staff credited a partnership with the local transit provider (discussed at the meeting as a bus-pass arrangement) for helping attendance. A final summer-program report is expected after programs conclude and partners submit final reports and invoices.

Clarifying details: Roosevelt Pool contractor estimated an August 1 completion (source: Department staff); Jamie Farr required additional demolition after crews found an older pool within the tank (source: Parks staff). Staff said lifeguard availability limits the ability to extend hours and that decisions about overtime drive whether splash pads/pools remain open on scheduled closed days.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Toledo - Parks, Education, Recreation & Health Committee on 2025-06-23 3:00 PM - .:: Food Licenses & Youth Education & Engagement ::. - Jun 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Parks and Youth Services staff said site visits show good attendance and program quality for summer youth programs; staff also reported staffing limits that affected splash-pad and pool hours and detailed construction delays at Roosevelt and Jamie Farr pools.","taxTitle","Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio","taxId",2665,"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},6523095,"Parks and Youth Services releases youth engagement strategic plan after focus groups with 176 residents",865,2666000,3531000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065837-6650e3fa28281b4b14393df4492999d6&start=2666&end=3531","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065837-6650e3fa28281b4b14393df4492999d6/thumbnail_2666000.jpg","/articles/6523095/Toledo/Lucas-County/Ohio/Parks-and-Youth-Services-releases-youth-engagement-strategic-plan-after-focus-groups-with-176-residents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6523095-50eeadaf1f4820f0f44e3d2e7a170ccd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137330&Signature=KjKu-A8Ob~33PuZ1ZIZdfw1AfExxHjDMDxx8YnXxK47ncLDV~aNByatw7eVFu3mxDtfv2GJ3p2VZwwoO47zQl3RJUpR5RqQCZT1mSd2fNcyK3Y4bti-mzKl08tPScpXcfHUaQBpe1ZoXVHZeliwrb0xOZUrFPDSH3MVEam7x842O9ldIz9ogVgevgxBjugVsm67grJpW2eh8~UDR-xreXxda1gaP~B8JTJxJun8E9mjkXaDDAWJZmtNMAs2lqBhogvq1-Cd7bEu-zZcFu10UXPXW7HpUpFBuqVRW9dviZsVpSeF0nXdO-EJAJLb1D7Qp3SiNs8yqjDvACyRUKnGlVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Department of Parks and Youth Services presented a strategic plan to the City Council Parks, Education, Workforce and Health Committee that aims to increase youth engagement and retention in Toledo through career exposure, expanded youth-centered programming and targeted supports.

Commissioner Stephanie Covington and consultant Dr. Zakiyah Brown summarized a multi-month engagement that included eight individual interviews, four adult community focus groups (57 participants), four youth focus groups (61 participants) and 50 surveys, totaling 176 participants. The study identified key barriers and offered recommendations to connect young people to education and local career pathways.

Dr. Brown described the methodology and key findings: gaps in workforce readiness and career exposure, weaknesses in soft skills and life-preparedness, transportation and infrastructure barriers, safety concerns in public spaces, insufficient youth-centered engagement and communications, housing affordability worries for young adults, and desires for equity, inclusion and belonging. “A lot of the youth were sharing that they wanted some more skills to prepare them for when they go into the workforce,” Brown said.

Recommendations in the report include expanding mentorships, internships and job-shadowing programs; creating neighborhood hubs that provide wraparound supports (laundry, food pantry, social workers); piloting a year-round youth bus-pass program; repairing infrastructure and corridors that limit access; creating a youth impact fund to underwrite youth-led initiatives; establishing equity benchmarks for representation; hosting quarterly youth town halls; exploring housing vouchers or cooperative housing for young adults; and building a digital youth opportunity portal to centralize jobs, internships and programs.

Commissioner Covington said the department will prioritize recommendations for the remainder of the year and into 2026 and will meet with local organizations, educational institutions and industry partners to pursue collaborative implementation. “This project was really great of engaging a number of voices to know what are the gaps, what are the opportunities,” Covington said.

Committee members expressed support and offered to help link students with shadowing, arts and financial-literacy opportunities. Parks director Joe and committee staff said summer youth programs are underway and that program-level site visits show generally strong attendance and quality, with a final report due after programs conclude and paperwork is returned to the department.

Clarifying details: the engagement reached 176 people (8 interviews, 4 community focus groups with 57 participants, 4 youth focus groups with 61 participants, and 50 surveys) and proposed near-term steps including reviewing priorities for late 2025 and 2026 and convening partners for cross-sector implementation (source: Dr. Zakiyah Brown, Dr. Stephanie Covington).","The Department of Parks and Youth Services presented a strategic plan identifying workforce readiness, soft-skill gaps, transportation barriers and safety concerns as top retention challenges for Toledo youth and proposed mentorships, a youth opportunity portal and a year-round bus pass pilot among other recommendations.",{"_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},6523101,"Lucas County health commissioner says board approved purchase of new Toledo facility; funding ask to follow",201,2291000,2492000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065837-6650e3fa28281b4b14393df4492999d6&start=2291&end=2492","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065837-6650e3fa28281b4b14393df4492999d6/thumbnail_2291000.jpg","/articles/6523101/Toledo/Lucas-County/Ohio/Lucas-County-health-commissioner-says-board-approved-purchase-of-new-Toledo-facility-funding-ask-to-follow","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6523101-9632f5f7e4746b75c83738b605ab9367/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137330&Signature=VV0NmwELBW4GGfPMXCZgimV~9PkiN8O4LWGg-oxV5msjVdd-duM-tp3sg1zWGy6HbkYpJjS8Gd2jCiYnIM1RQKw0RvMFLvQU3Qgjxxv9rk5aQgbgLdJ1vJ6CAbMT~kZ0SpMlgixVEfdim1yq7MGDn6fue0Bwoe0qt~Q6WC-Bs~AEL-qv00lvvMSFS3seigLXyaulWIqkGwDX4B~uQxHdqJfUD8iBQC3AN~t8ZTFo3UILgdwGI2LBMae6xvLsjQPFFze4i43m5TOGKirpeM5kakNhoQZez4QrTFU~5pWbpf9gzg2gbxcvohFN18Ct1MZ-eFDXhLT0SbDf5ibtmpqvqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lucas County’s public health commissioner told the City Council Parks, Education, Workforce and Health Committee that the health department board approved an agreement to purchase a new building to replace an aging facility and that the department will ask local jurisdictions to commit to a five-year funding plan.

At the meeting Commissioner Kareem said the board approved buying a building on “Spill Bush” (as discussed to the committee) and that the final cost includes the purchase price plus interior renovations to adapt the site to health services. Kareem said the department plans to allocate capital costs by population among the jurisdictions it serves.

Kareem described the current building as increasingly unreliable: he said families seeking vaccinations had been exposed to extreme temperatures and that the office has suffered winter and summer shutdowns because of failing systems. He said the new site will reduce ongoing maintenance spending and anticipated the County will request appropriations in upcoming budget cycles so jurisdictions can share the capital cost over five years.

Kareem said the county board negotiated the purchase with the Catholic diocese, which had previously planned to sell the site for demolition as a future jail location; the department expects to remodel the interior to house services including WIC, sexually transmitted infection clinics, and other programs. “We’re asking for the jurisdictions all across Lucas County to commit for five years to pay off that building or that capital project including the remodel,” Kareem said.

Committee members raised timing and budget questions. Kareem said city budget staff will see the request during next-year budget discussions and that the proposal aims to save money over the long run by avoiding repeated emergency maintenance on the existing building. He also said the department plans to work with partner jurisdictions to finalize appropriation shares based on population.

Clarifying details: the board has approved an agreement to purchase a building (location described in the presentation as “Spill Bush”); the department proposes a five-year funding commitment from the jurisdictions it serves (source: Kareem). The diocese negotiated the sale and will relocate (source: Kareem). Remodel and interior work are anticipated but specific renovation costs were not specified.

Kareem asked council members for support during forthcoming budget review and said staff will brief jurisdictions and explain the population-based funding formula.","Commissioner Kareem told the committee the health department’s board approved buying a building on “Spill Bush” (as presented) and will seek multi-jurisdictional appropriations over five years to finance purchase and remodel; staff argued the move will reduce maintenance costs at the current building.",{"_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},6523104,"Toledo health officials outline food-operator licensing process after public push on expired permits",1457,154000,1611000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065837-6650e3fa28281b4b14393df4492999d6&start=154&end=1611","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065837-6650e3fa28281b4b14393df4492999d6/thumbnail_154000.jpg","/articles/6523104/Toledo/Lucas-County/Ohio/Toledo-health-officials-outline-food-operator-licensing-process-after-public-push-on-expired-permits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6523104-2ddd0f1a138162d9cbcf1be0ffec4bea/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137330&Signature=ViiPO1VojvwRLkIGlEjbHoWjgtwSuw06g4tsf1wO3BofCSFaC4QgTLuj7CmoGOc6Je3-F2IOJ7FzmnmeMkngctz8ZhiCMeSoppFp~GbD1pDVP6rcCsmg8F~LfGJRPlnMri~Ybvaj-Bt6MkZPdWGTxY30o1jTi0xOWHBOQR8CG6kd9yKmTWXrbOr8G38I36y3pwMuRC8f8PuiVASO7tCOHyuHFAlLBNHhez-AeTkDVdFzqWI5EQxRrE0zfNJUQLPa8QE5U2wlS89~JIE1bwlP~GF9RJMYTOi~uN-EXFb9G2F0kLTNL3XUP~uRdP~uxQPjmc7z2K1cKvSJxeaN4V9RQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lucas County Health Department detailed how food-service operators obtain and maintain licenses and defended a recent public posting of expired permits after hundreds failed to renew.

Health officials told the City Council Parks, Education, Workforce and Health Committee that plan review and licensing are governed by state law and described the step-by-step process for new restaurants and mobile food units. They also said an aggressive publicity push this year produced a rapid increase in renewals.

The health department said the first step for a new food operator is submitting a complete set of drawings and a menu, plus an equipment list (make and model), required education certificates and fees. Sarah Becker, an environmental health specialist, said inspectors use the menu to verify the facility layout and equipment are appropriate: “education is primary prevention,” Becker said, adding that the department provides packets and a flowchart to help applicants prepare. Becker said the department has 30 calendar days to review plan submissions under state law and that an approval letter is valid for one calendar year.

Jennifer Gostock, environmental health director, said the department had not previously publicized lapsed permits at this scale. “We have never publicized it as much as we did this year,” Gostock said, and added the outreach included social media and press notices. She said the effort prompted many operators to come in to pay; the number of outstanding licenses fell from “over 200” to eight, Gostock said, and the remaining eight are being referred to legal.

Public health commissioner Kareem placed the program in a statewide context, saying Lucas County licenses roughly 4,000 facilities and that the food-safety program operates on behalf of the state. “A lot of the stuff we do…is prescribed in ORC,” Kareem said, referring to the Ohio Revised Code; he added the county carries out state-authorized inspections and licensing.

Becker described inspections and timelines: after plan approval and building, the operator obtains a certificate of occupancy and fire inspection; the health department then performs a pre-licensing inspection (no food present) to confirm the facility matches the approved plans. For mobile units the process is similar but adapted to trailer, pushcart or teardown units; Becker said mobile operators must still meet handwashing and warewashing requirements and typically need a fire inspection even if building inspection does not apply.

On fees and renewals, Gostock said the department uses a formula in local code to calculate fees (hours spent, number of inspectors, inspection time) and that this year’s fee increases returned rates to pre-COVID levels. She also said the state is launching a new online portal (referred to in the presentation as the ACA/Acela portal) that will let operators create accounts, receive linked invoices and pay electronically, eliminating paper applications.

Committee members asked about enforcement, cottage-food and farmers-market rules, and whether the publicity campaign was effective. Kareem said the publicity was effective and fair to operators who paid on time. On cottage-food and farmers-market exemptions, health staff said rules come from the Ohio Department of Agriculture and that the department distributes state fact sheets and follows state definitions.

The committee also asked how inspections of mobile units are scheduled; Becker said inspectors have assigned neighborhoods and that each mobile receives at least one operational inspection per year, sometimes scheduled around festival dates or performed when an inspector encounters a unit in the field.

Clarifying details: Becker said review time is legally 30 calendar days; approvals last one calendar year (source: Sarah Becker). Kareem reported the county licenses about 4,000 food facilities (source: Kareem). Gostock said outstanding licenses dropped from over 200 to eight after publicity and follow-up payments (source: Jennifer Gostock). The transcript noted about 250 mobile licenses countywide (source: Sarah Becker). The department said fee increases returned rates to pre-COVID levels (source: Jennifer Gostock).

The presentation concluded with staff offering application packets, site visits before submission, and written letters when additional information is required. Staff said the department will move to the statewide online portal for permit issuance and payment next year.","Lucas County health staff explained the state-mandated plan-review and licensing process for restaurants and mobile food units, defended a recent publicity drive that cut outstanding renewals from over 200 to eight, and described an upcoming statewide online portal for permits.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parks staff report strong summer program site visits but cite pool construction delays and staffing limits on extended hours

Parks and Youth Services releases youth engagement strategic plan after focus groups with 176 residents

Lucas County health commissioner says board approved purchase of new Toledo facility; funding ask to follow

Toledo health officials outline food-operator licensing process after public push on expired permits