Worthington council approves street and sidewalk program, funds bicycle and pedestrian projects; selects pool construction team

Worthington City Council on March 17 approved the 2025 street and sidewalk maintenance program and amended the award to name Strauser Paving as the contractor, and approved capital funding for five bicycle and pedestrian projects after a presentation from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board.

The street and sidewalk maintenance ordinance (Ordinance No. 8-2025, as amended) passed on a roll-call vote. Staff recommended awarding the base contract and all four bid alternates to Strauser Paving after four companies bid the project and the low bids came in well under the city’s estimates. "Strauser Paving... was the low bidder on the project, and we are recommending that the ordinance be amended to insert them to be awarded this project," City staff said. Staff said Strauser’s pending startup of an asphalt manufacturing plant in April will lower their costs and allowed the city to add all four alternates while staying within budget.

Council also approved Ordinance No. 9-2025 to appropriate capital funds for bicycle and pedestrian improvements tied to priorities from the board’s master plan. Rebecca Green, representing the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, outlined recent and planned work, including pedestrian rapid‑flash beacons at neighborhood park crossings, a sidewalk gaps pilot that has been folded into the annual street program, a bicycle boulevard pilot in Colonial Hills and plans to adapt the boulevard language based on resident feedback.

Green summarized the board’s purpose: "Our mission statement is to connect the community by advocating for enhanced mobility for all citizens and visitors on bike and foot," and highlighted recent installations, feasibility studies (including at the 5‑Points/Colonial Hills intersection), and outreach events such as the annual Stroll and Roll (over 100 participants in 2024).

On the sidewalk gaps program, staff said the pilot initially had three participating properties and that a fourth property has since committed; letters to homeowners identified for potential sidewalk construction will go out in the coming week and mailers will follow after the contractor establishes a start date. Staff said portions of sidewalks along streets scheduled for repaving are offered to homeowners to repair themselves or to join the city program; funding in the street contract allows the city to add additional gap‑fill locations during the season.

Council also acted on several other items:

- Electric aggregation: Council adopted a resolution renewing the city’s electric aggregation program and authorized the city manager to enter a supply agreement consistent with the resolution’s criteria. Energy Alliances, the city’s consultant, presented market analysis showing large increases in wholesale "capacity" prices—described by the consultant as having risen roughly ninefold—and recommended a 12‑month contract term with a 100% renewable energy certificate (REC) offset so the city can reassess quickly if market conditions change. The resolution includes an opt‑out at no charge for residents.

- Outdoor pool project: Council selected Roselli Construction Company as the city’s construction manager at risk (CMR) for preconstruction services and authorized Williams (Williams Architects) to serve as the owner’s representative to advise the city during design and construction. Roselli staff told council they are already working on the adjacent natatorium project at Thomas Worthington High School and expect that familiarity with the site will help coordination; Roselli noted potential supply‑chain and tariff issues (for example steel) and said they will work with the design team on alternate materials and cost management during preconstruction.

- Collective bargaining and community grants: Council approved the 2025–2027 collective bargaining agreement with Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 9 (Ordinance No. 10-2025, as amended). The council also approved the annual community grant program (Resolution No. 11-2025) and the Community Arts Programming Grant recommendations administered by the McConnell Arts Center (Resolution No. 12-2025); two council members recorded abstentions on the arts grants because of identified conflicts of interest.

Why it matters: The maintenance contract and the sidewalk‑gap work are immediate, budgeted projects that will affect neighborhood connectivity and safety this construction season; the bike‑and‑ped funding supports studies and designs that can leverage outside funding (for example, ODOT and COTA LinkUS) and longer‑term projects such as Olentangy Trail maintenance. The electric aggregation decision balances short‑term market volatility with the city’s renewable energy goals.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance No. 8-2025 (2025 Street and Sidewalk Maintenance Program; award to Strauser Paving as amended): Passed. Roll call — Herman: Yes; Booker: Yes; Lloyd: Yes; Brewer: Yes; Kwalcik: Yes; Robinson: Yes; Dorothy (president): Yes.

- Ordinance No. 9-2025 (2025 Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements — capital appropriation): Passed. Roll call — Robinson: Yes; Herman: Yes; Lloyd: Yes; Brewer: Yes; Booker: Yes; Golic: Yes; Dorothy: Yes.

- Ordinance No. 10-2025 (Collective bargaining agreement with FOP Lodge No. 9, 2025–2027, as amended): Passed. Roll call — Lloyd: Yes; Kwalcik: Yes; Herman: Yes; Booker: Yes; Robinson: Aye; Brewer: Yes; Dorothy: Yes.

- Resolution No. 08-2025 (Electric aggregation program renewal; authorize manager to execute supply agreement consistent with criteria): Passed by voice vote (ayes). The resolution preserves a 100% REC offset and no‑charge opt‑out for residents; staff recommended a 12‑month term.

- Resolution No. 09-2025 (Selection of construction manager at risk for outdoor pool — Roselli Construction Company): Passed by voice vote (ayes). Authorizes CMR preconstruction services.

- Resolution No. 10-2025 (Selection of owner’s representative — Williams Architects / Nancy Weir): Passed by voice vote (ayes). Authorizes owner’s rep for aquatics expertise and document review.

- Resolution No. 11-2025 (2025 Community Grant Program allocations): Passed by voice vote (ayes).

- Resolution No. 12-2025 (Community Arts Programming Grant recommendations via McConnell Arts Center): Passed; abstentions recorded (Council Member Lloyd and Council Member Kwalcik).

What to watch next: Staff said mailers and homeowner letters for the sidewalk‑gap work will be sent once the contractor provides a start date (Strauser’s plant was expected to begin production in April), and the bike‑and‑ped agenda items include feasibility and design work — including Olentangy Trail maintenance grant development and a Karen Avenue bike‑lane proposal tied to the Karen Avenue waterline project. Council will bring separate legislation for bond issuance and the construction appropriation when the city finalizes pool construction costs.