Commission approves series of ordinances including tax abatements, property sales and infrastructure contracts

The Sandusky City Commission on April 28 approved a slate of ordinances covering tax abatements for redevelopment projects, multiple property sales, amendments to design contracts for sidewalks and crosswalks, city equipment purchases and other routine items.

The approvals included three enterprise-zone/community reinvestment-area agreements for downtown and other properties, sale of several city lots on East Market Street and Franklin Street, a design-services amendment tied to an Ohio Department of Transportation grant, purchase and repair authorizations for municipal vehicles and information-technology licenses, and a memorandum of agreement with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to reimburse costs tied to communications and IT equipment at the Jackson Street Pier. Most items were approved under suspension of rules and by roll-call vote.

Why it matters: The ordinances clear legal and contractual steps that allow planned private investments, neighborhood land dispositions, and federally related operations at the pier to move forward. Several items involve outside funding or federal partners and include requirements that the city fulfill continuing obligations (for example, recurring upgrades under the Customs arrangement).

Most significant items and context

• Enterprise-zone and community-reinvestment agreements: The commission adopted community reinvestment area/enterprise-zone agreements covering projects described in the agenda packet including Campbell Lofts LLC, GMA Asset Management Group LLC (314 West Market Street) and Chops Dairy Incorporated (3717 Venice Road). Commissioners said the abatements apply to improvements beyond existing property value and typically run for a stated period (for the Campbell item staff said a 75% abatement on improvements for 10 years). Commissioners framed the agreements as tools to repurpose historic structures and avoid demolition costs.

• Property dispositions: The commission approved the sale of city-owned parcels at the southeast corner of East Market and Franklin streets to named purchasers (Joe Hunter and Maureen Leahy; Tina Lees). Staff noted map materials were available in the packet and explained addresses sometimes are not assigned until development begins.

• East Cleveland Road / downtown crosswalks design amendment: The commission authorized an amendment to the professional design services agreement with Chagrin Valley Engineering to add design work for three downtown crosswalks (including new rapid‑flashing beacons) and to bring Cleveland Road plans to ODOT standards. Staff said the additional design costs were a relatively small local match to secure approximately $1.5 million in ODOT funding.

• Equipment, vehicle and license purchases: The commission approved expenditure ordinances for a warranty/repair of an ambulance (city share described as roughly half of a quoted $34,000 repair under warranty arrangements), and the purchase of Windows Server Core and client access licenses from a vendor listed in the packet.

• Memorandum of agreement with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Jackson Street Pier): The commission approved an MOA to reimburse costs for communications and IT services at the customs center at the pier. Several commissioners pressed staff for detail before voting — asking whether the city is reimbursed, what the five-year upgrade obligation requires, whether the equipment is titled to the federal government, and whether the $43,000–$44,000 figure in the packet was reasonable. Staff said the MOA stems from the original agreement tied to the pier rehabilitation and indicated federal requirements obligate local upgrades every five years; staff recommended approval to avoid breaching the contract and interrupting ferry operations.

Votes at a glance (selected ordinances from the regular agenda)

- Community reinvestment area agreement with Campbell Lofts LLC — adopted (motion moved, seconded; roll-call approval). Note: staff stated the abatement applies to improvements above the property value and said the city is eligible for enterprise-zone abatements across the city.

- Enterprise zone agreement with GMA Asset Management Group LLC (314 W. Market St.) — adopted (motion moved, seconded; roll-call approval).

- Enterprise zone agreement with Chops Dairy Incorporated (3717 Venice Rd.) — adopted (motion moved, seconded; roll-call approval).

- Sale of city parcels at E. Market & Franklin to Joe Hunter and Maureen Leahy — adopted (motion moved, seconded; roll-call approval).

- Sale of city parcels at E. Market & Franklin to Tina Lees — adopted (motion moved, seconded; roll-call approval).

- Amendment for East Cleveland Road / US-6 sidewalk, curb and drainage design (Chagrin Valley Engineering) — adopted (motion moved, seconded; roll-call approval). Staff said the amendment was needed to meet ODOT standards so the city could receive grant funding covering most construction costs.

- Ambulance repair under warranty (manufacturer’s repair vendor) — adopted (motion moved, seconded; roll-call approval). Staff said paying the warranty share ($~17,000) is far less than replacing the vehicle.

- Purchase of Windows Server Core licenses and client access licenses — adopted (motion moved, seconded; roll-call approval).

- Memorandum of agreement with U.S. Customs and Border Protection for Jackson Street Pier communications / IT equipment — adopted after extended questions from commissioners about cost, reimbursement and contract terms.

Commissioners and staff framed most approvals as necessary steps to advance redevelopment and maintain services. Several votes included at least one abstention recorded in the roll call for individual ordinances; staff and commissioners flagged where additional back‑up or packet detail exists and said they would provide or review it after the meeting.

Ending

The meeting concluded after the roll-call approvals and the commission moved on to the city manager’s report and routine donations and announcements.