Medina City Council approves multiple ordinances, grant applications and contract amendments

Medina City Council on April 14 approved a slate of ordinances, resolutions and contract amendments covering personnel rules, park and airport projects, and multiple grant applications.

The council voted unanimously, 5-0, on each item listed during the meeting after suspending the rule requiring three readings for a series of ordinances and resolutions. The items approved included changes to civil service examination procedures for lateral police applicants, purchases for park facilities, agreements for the U.S. 42 resurfacing project and related ODOT local project agreements, and two community-project grant applications due April 18.

The council approved an amendment to the civil service rules so lateral police candidates receive the same physical‑testing retest opportunity as new applicants. "So we wanna add that to our lateral entry language as well so that there's parity between the two," said Chief Kenny of the Medina Police Department.

Council approved a license agreement allowing Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital to use a weekly four‑hour block of the Community Recreation Center leisure pool, billed at $875 per month; the ordinance included an emergency clause so the license can begin in May as proposed. Parks and Recreation Director Worley said the city will purchase a precast concrete vault restroom to replace the facility at Roscoe Ewing Park through the Sourcewell cooperative purchasing program and expects installation this summer.

On transportation projects, the council authorized a preliminary engineering agreement with the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway and approved a local public agency (LPA) agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation to bid and manage the U.S. 42 resurfacing and pedestrian bump‑out project. City Engineer Patton said managing the project locally "does save the city money, and we have better control," and the council approved the emergency clause to allow prompt bidding.

Economic Development Director Kimberly Marshall told council that two community project grant applications will be submitted to Congressman Max Miller’s office: one for an entrance access road and apron at the Medina Municipal Airport (project estimate $2,680,000; local match $134,000) and one for State Road Phase 2 (estimated $2,690,000; local match $772,400). "The deadline to apply is April 18," Marshall said.

The council also approved a second amendment to the airport management agreement so certain lease rental payments intended for the airport operator (Coldstream Air Services) can flow to that operator instead of to the city; the law director said the change is needed to align with the original intent of the operator lease and auditors’ guidance.

Other adopted items included budget adjustments and procurement authorizations for the service department, a professional services agreement for economic development, and a municipal court renovation GMP (Ruhlin Company). During roll calls the five voting members — DeSalvo, Rose, Shields, Simmons and Simpson — voted yes on each listed ordinance and resolution.

Votes at a glance: ordinance/resolution and outcome (all votes 5-0 unless noted) Ordinance 61-25: Amends civil service rules for lateral police transfer examination — approved 5-0. Resolution 62-25: Authorize application for 2025 state violent crime reduction grant (equipment for SWAT participation) — approved 5-0. Ordinance 63-25: License agreement with Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for weekly leisure‑pool rehabilitation block (includes emergency clause) — approved 5-0. Ordinance 64-25: Purchase replacement precast vault restroom for Roscoe Ewing Park (Sourcewell cooperative purchase) — approved 5-0. Ordinance 65-25: Preliminary engineering agreement with Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway for US‑42 resurfacing, job no. 1151 — approved 5-0. Ordinance 66-25: LPA agreement with ODOT for US‑42 resurfacing and pedestrian bump‑outs (includes emergency clause) — approved 5-0. Resolution 67-25: Congratulating Anna Holdhouse on Girl Scout Gold Award — approved 5-0. Ordinance 68-25: Second amendment to airport management agreement with Coldstream Air Services (includes emergency clause) — approved 5-0. Ordinance 69-25: 2025 budget amendments (court project, 250th celebration, wellness funds) — approved 5-0. Ordinance 70-25: Amend salaries and benefits code section 31 04 b (training period extended up to 12 weeks; emergency clause passed) — approved 5-0. Resolution 71-25: Authorize FY26 community project grant application for Medina Municipal Airport entrance and apron (est. $2,680,000; local match $134,000) — approved 5-0. Resolution 72-25: Authorize FY26 community project grant application for State Road Phase 2 (est. $2,690,000; local match $772,400) — approved 5-0.

Discussion and administrative notes: several ordinances included emergency clauses to allow earlier implementation (license terms or to align contracts and billing). Council said the emergency clauses were requested to align contract effective dates with operational needs or grant application deadlines. Finance Director Durham noted budget adjustments tied to pass‑through wellness funds and the courthouse project.

The clerk’s roll calls show DeSalvo, Rose, Shields, Simmons and Simpson voted yes on each recorded ordinance and resolution. The council suspended three‑reading rules for the package before voting.

No formal dissent was recorded on the adopted items during the meeting. Several items were introduced with brief staff explanations and then carried by unanimous roll call. The council's action package authorizes staff to proceed with procurement, grant submissions and contract execution where applicable.