Findlay council hears citizen cease‑and‑desist, law director says initiative does not automatically halt work on Downtown North River projects

Findlay City Council filed a cease‑and‑desist letter from a citizens group and accepted a legal opinion from the city law director addressing whether an initiative petition halts city activity on the Downtown North River and Anchor Park projects.

The legal opinion, read into the record by the law director, concluded that the mere filing of an initiative petition does not automatically stop existing planning, design, contracting or related actions. The law director said the initiative process only produces binding legal effect if the proposed ordinance is approved by voters.

The matter drew multiple public commenters who urged the council to pause project work until voters decide and raised concerns about historic contamination at the redevelopment site. Danny Delong, a Ward 7 resident, told council that residents repeatedly oppose the park’s proposed costs and asked council to wait on additional spending until initiative status is resolved. Patty Klein of Ward 3 said she wants the community to vote on the plan. Hedy Sadler of Ward 6 warned of hexavalent chromium in soil near the proposed park and said proceeding now risks public health and potential liability. Katie Erickson, also of Ward…