Riverside Council approves new meeting cadence, elects deputy mayor and adopts six housekeeping resolutions

Riverside City Council adopted a revised meeting calendar, elected Council Member Brenda Fry deputy mayor and approved six annual housekeeping resolutions at its organizational meeting on Jan. 9, 2025.

The council voted to change its regular meeting cadence to two meetings per month on a new schedule the city manager proposed; the council also approved an annual calendar that moves meetings around major holidays and retains a single July meeting. The roll call on the calendar showed five votes in favor and two opposed.

The calendar change was central to the evening because council members debated weekday impacts for volunteers and staff. City Manager Josh presented a draft schedule that would condense work sessions into the regular business meeting and proposed shifting some holiday meetings to the following Tuesday. Some council members said keeping the traditional Thursday meeting night was preferable for volunteer boards; others argued a Monday cadence would reduce delays when urgent legislation arises late in a week.

Council then moved through organizational business and a slate of housekeeping resolutions. Council Member Brenda Fry was nominated and confirmed as deputy mayor by roll call. The council approved Resolution 25‑R‑3001 revising the public records policy, and approved several appointments and intergovernmental representation items as part of the annual organizational housekeeping.

In separate votes, the council approved two right-of-way acquisition services agreements required by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for the Harshman and Beatrice signal improvement project (PID 118164). Those agreements authorize acquisition work covering five parcels: two permanent right-of-way takings and three temporary construction easements. Staff said construction for the signal project is scheduled for 2026 and estimated current construction costs at about $680,000; funding includes a Highway Safety Improvement Project grant overseen by ODOT.

Council also approved membership representation and staff appointments to regional groups: First Suburbs, the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC), its transportation and technical advisory committees, and the Tax Incentive Review Council (TIRC). Council Member Brown and Council Member Sarah Lomatch were appointed as the two primary representatives to First Suburbs with Council Member Brenda Fry named as an alternate. Staff nominations were adopted for MVRPC technical committee roles.

The council voted on a motion to let the Ohio Municipal League (OML) lead a regional challenge to a tariff filing by AT&T before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). The city manager warned that the AT&T filing would, if approved, shift relocation costs for telecommunications equipment out of the right-of-way onto local governments; the council voted in favor of participating in OML’s process to oppose the change and to consider formal ordinance language at a subsequent meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Adopt calendar for 2025 meetings (move to two meetings/month; proposed Monday cadence with adjustments around holidays): Passed (roll call: 5 yes, 2 no). Motion and second recorded in meeting minutes. - Election of deputy mayor — Nomination of Brenda Fry: Passed (roll call, unanimous among those voting). - Resolution 25‑R‑3001 — Revise public records policy: Passed (voice vote). - Resolution 25‑R‑3002 — Authorize agreement with OR Cohen Associates for right-of-way acquisition services (Harshman & Beatrice signal project, PID 118164): Passed (voice vote). - Resolution 25‑R‑3003 — Authorize agreement with Cahill and Associates (appraisal review for Parcel 5, Harshman & Beatrice signal): Passed (voice vote). - Resolution 25‑R‑3004 — Appoint representatives to First Suburbs (two regular representatives and one alternate): Passed (voice vote). Appointees named in meeting: Brown (regular), Sarah Lomatch (regular), Brenda Fry (alternate). - Resolution 25‑R‑3005 — Appointments to MVRPC and committees (board, transportation committee, technical advisory committee; staff named as TAC representatives): Passed (voice vote). - Resolution 25‑R‑3006 — Staff appointments to the Tax Incentive Review Council (TIRC): Passed (voice vote). - Motion to participate in OML’s challenge to AT&T tariff filing at the PUCO (seeking to avoid shifting right-of-way relocation costs to cities): Passed (voice vote); staff to coordinate with OML and bring any required ordinance language to the next meeting.

Discussion and context

Council’s calendar vote followed a lengthy discussion about conflicts with volunteer boards and community events. The city manager’s proposed calendar keeps some traditional practices—one July meeting mid‑summer and holiday adjustments—and recommends two meetings per month to combine business and work-session items into a single evening. Proponents said moving to Monday meetings could reduce delays when urgent items appear late in a week; opponents said altering the weekday could be inconsiderate to volunteers and city staff. The manager said staff would accommodate absences, and council agreed to regular review of the handbook language that specifies meeting days.

On the Harshman–Beatrice signal project, staff said ODOT requires right-of-way acquisition services now to keep the project on track for 2026 construction. The project will install a standard mast‑arm traffic signal and associated sidewalk work; staff said the project is funded in part with an ODOT Highway Safety Improvement Program grant. The agreements award primary acquisition services to OR Cohen Associates and an appraisal review for Parcel 5 to Cahill and Associates.

The AT&T tariff item drew regional concern during the meeting. Under the filing, AT&T requested that relocation costs for its telecommunications equipment in public rights-of-way be charged to local governments; city staff and the Ohio Municipal League contend that would shift long-standing utility obligations to municipalities. The council authorized staff to join OML’s opposition process and asked staff to return with draft ordinance language for formal action if needed.

What happens next

Staff will post the finalized calendar and return proposed handbook edits to reflect the new cadence. The city manager will bring OML-supplied ordinance language at the council’s next meeting if needed to formally join the challenge to AT&T’s tariff filing. For the Harshman–Beatrice project, staff will proceed with right-of-way acquisition work and keep the council apprised of design and construction milestones that carry into 2026.

Ending note

The council completed the organizational agenda and moved to public‑comment and discussion items; several council members and the city manager thanked staff for their work during a recent snow event and highlighted the importance of staffing and facilities to sustain public services.