Tiffin Council repeals riverfront incentives, approves grants and budget items in unanimous votes

Tiffin City Council on Monday passed a package of ordinances and resolutions that unwound previously approved riverfront development incentives and approved emergency grant and budget measures, with all roll-call votes recorded as 6-0.

Council members said the measures remove city-sponsored incentives so the riverfront project can pursue private financing. The action included a series of repeal ordinances and resolutions and separate votes to accept a NOPEC grant and to appropriate incoming funds to the police and fire budgets.

The votes matter because they formally remove city-level TIF and PACE districts and associated authorizations for the riverfront site, actions council members said are intended to let the private developer move forward without city incentives. Law Director Zachary Fowler told the council the developer was “no longer asking for these tax incentives,” and that the repeal actions would “unwind” prior legislation tied to the project.

Key items and votes

- Amendment to Ordinance 25-10: Councilmember Steyn moved to insert “National Park Service” into the fourth whereas clause of the ordinance authorizing the sale of Louisa K. Fast Park; Councilmember Jones seconded. Roll call recorded six “yes” votes; the motion passed 6-0. (Motion text in transcript: “I'd like to make a motion, the fourth paragraph to include National Park Service.”)

- Resolution 25-14 (repeal of Resolution 22-304 regarding the city Energy Special Improvement District): Introduced by Councilmember Kevin Reisner. Reisner moved to suspend the three-reading rule and immediately pass; Councilmember Hayes seconded. Suspension and passage both passed on roll call, 6-0.

- Resolution 25-15 (repeal of Resolution 22-305, necessity for ESID public improvements): Introduced by Kevin Reisner; Reisner moved suspension for immediate passage; Councilmember Jones seconded. Suspension and immediate passage passed 6-0.

- Ordinance 25-13 (apply for and accept the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC) Energized Community grant; declared emergency): Introduced by Kevin Reisner; Reisner moved suspension for immediate passage; Councilmember Herneman seconded. Suspension, emergency, and passage all passed 6-0.

- Ordinance 25-14 (amend February 2025 budget to appropriate incoming funds into police and fire budgets): Introduced by Kevin Reisner; Reisner moved suspension for immediate passage and thanked staff and the Ohio Attorney General’s office for help procuring grants. Councilmember Jones seconded. Suspension and passage recorded 6-0.

- Ordinance 25-15 (repeal ordinance creating the Riverfront Commercial Municipal Public Improvement TIF-equivalent fund): Introduced by Kevin Reisner; Reisner moved suspension for immediate passage; a second was recorded and passage carried 6-0.

- Ordinance 25-16 (repeal ordinance authorizing participation in financing special energy improvement projects): Introduced by Kevin Reisner; Reisner moved suspension for immediate passage; motion seconded and passage carried 6-0.

- Ordinance 25-17 (repeal ordinance to proceed with acquisition, construction and improvement of public improvements in cooperation with the ESID): Introduced by Kevin Reisner; Reisner moved suspension for immediate passage; motion seconded and passage carried 6-0.

- Ordinance 25-18 (repeal ordinance that levied special assessments related to the ESID): Introduced by Kevin Reisner; Reisner moved suspension for immediate passage; motion seconded and passage carried 6-0.

Council discussion and context

Law Director Zachary Fowler said the county commissioners had received a boundary-line petition related to a separate item and that county staff were preparing a resolution for the commissioners to consider. Fowler also said the city has been working with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the city’s tree commission on proposed updates to the codified tree ordinances; he said the council would see that language when it is ready.

On the Louisa K. Fast Park sale, Fowler said the Federal General Services Administration requested that the National Park Service be added to a whereas clause; Councilmember Steyn moved that insertion and the council approved the amendment 6-0.

Ending

Council members recorded no dissenting votes on the package of repeals and the budget and grant ordinances. Several items in the evening’s agenda remained at earlier reading stages (for example, participation in the ODOT road-salt contract and design services for river-wall repairs) and were not acted on for final passage at the Feb. 3 meeting.