Toledo City Council approves dozens of ordinances and grant resolutions; ShotSpotter renewal passes 8-1

TOLEDO, Ohio — The Toledo City Council on May 20, 2025 approved a long list of ordinances and grant resolutions covering grants, infrastructure projects, zoning changes and contract renewals.

Council members highlighted a number of routine appropriations and emergency declarations tied to utilities and public services before turning to several items that drew recorded roll-call votes. The most notable contested vote was Ordinance 202-25, a $213,855 renewal with SoundThinking Inc. for the ShotSpotter gunshot-detection system, which passed after a recorded vote with one councilmember opposed.

Why this matters: the package includes infrastructure repairs and equipment purchases that affect the city’s water and sewer systems, housing and public safety programs, and zoning changes that will shape development in multiple neighborhoods.

Votes at a glance (select items; all items were acted on by roll call unless noted): - Resolution 190-25 — Recognizing winners of the AIA Toledo High School Design Competition. Outcome: adopted (roll call recorded). (See separate article on the recognition.) - Resolution 199-25 — Honoring the first Toledo Fire and Rescue paramedics (50th anniversary). Outcome: adopted (roll call recorded). (See separate article.) - Ordinance 186-25 — Authorizing up to $24,000 from the special assessment fund for vehicle leases for the Division of Urban Beautification; declared an emergency. Outcome: passed (roll call recorded). - Ordinance 200-25 — Accepting a $2,480 grant from the Ohio Historical Records Advisory Board for a plat map preservation project; declared an emergency. Outcome: passed (roll call recorded). - Ordinance 201-25 — Approving a petition related to the Northwest Ohio Advanced Energy Improvement District special assessments; declared an emergency. Outcome: passed (roll call recorded). - Ordinance 202-25 — Authorizing renewal with SoundThinking Inc. (ShotSpotter) and appropriating $213,855; declared an emergency. Outcome: passed 8-1 (Komives: No; Martinez, Morris, Sarantu, Williams, Driscoll, Gaddis, Hartman, Hobbs: Yes). - Ordinance 203-25 — Five-year agreement for collection and composting of food waste; up to $35,000 annually; declared an emergency. Outcome: passed (roll call recorded). - Ordinance 204-25 through 209-25 — Series of public utilities and replacement-fund appropriations for emergency repairs, equipment purchases, pump station work and a Denali Water Solutions contract for a digester cleaning project (Ordinance 208-25 authorizes up to $1,000,000 from the sanitary sewer replacement fund); each declared an emergency and passed on recorded votes. - Ordinance 210-25 — Authorizing application and cooperation with the Ohio Water Development Authority for refinancing municipal water revenue bonds; declared an emergency. Outcome: passed (roll call recorded). - Ordinance 211-25 — Housing & Community Development adjustment to ESG operating grant balances; declared an emergency. Outcome: passed (roll call recorded). - Ordinance 212-25 — Accepting a $243,034.22 state grant for police officer training; declared an emergency. Outcome: passed (roll call recorded). - Ordinance 213-25 — Accepting a $32,678.94 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant for the Toledo Police Department; declared an emergency. Outcome: passed (roll call recorded). - Ordinance 214-25 — Amending prior ordinance to authorize additional EMS supply expenditures; declared an emergency. Outcome: passed (roll call recorded). - Ordinance 215-25 through 225-25 — Multiple zoning and planning items (including map changes, zone-condition repeals and special-use permits) were introduced, many as first/second reads. Most of these items passed on recorded votes; a small number recorded individual "No" votes on specific items (for example, on Ordinance 217-25 the roll call shows Councilmember Gaddis voting No while others voted Yes). - Ordinance 226-25 — Amendments to the Toledo Municipal Code (part 11) affecting small-box discount store use categories; removed from committee and brought for first reading. Outcome: removed from committee and given first reading (procedural action recorded in minutes).

Discussion and next steps: Most of the items were routine appropriations and emergency declarations that received roll-call approval. A handful of zoning and planning ordinances will move into implementation or require additional administrative steps; some first reads will return for second reading or committee review. The ShotSpotter renewal—because of the recorded No vote—may attract continued public attention.

Meeting context: the meeting included ceremonial recognitions, considerable utility- and public-works-related spending measures, zoning map changes, and multiple grant acceptances. Several items were adopted under emergency declarations, consistent with the council’s procedure for time-sensitive repairs and contracts.

Ending: The council completed its agenda after the roll-call votes and adjourned following brief council remarks and procedural items.