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Toledo City Council approves multiple emergency appropriations, accepts grants; $50 million sewer loan introduced
Summary
At its March 11, 2025 meeting the Toledo City Council passed a slate of ordinances and resolutions including equipment purchases, grant acceptances and membership dues, and received a first reading for a proposed loan of up to $50 million for Bayview Water Reclamation Plant improvements.
The Toledo City Council on March 11 approved a package of ordinances and resolutions that included emergency appropriations for equipment and services, acceptance of several state and federal grants for public safety and homeland security, and routine membership dues. Council members also heard a first reading introducing a proposal to apply for up to $50 million in loan proceeds for improvements at the Bayview Water Reclamation Plant.
Council action at the meeting included immediate (emergency) passage of multiple items, largely on unanimous votes, and several first readings that will return to council for later approval. The measures affect departments across the city, including police, public utilities, transportation and municipal facilities, and include small-dollar operating contributions and larger capital authorizations.
Most of the measures were taken with brief or no debate and passed on recorded roll calls. The council approved the acceptance and appropriation of state and federal grant funds for police training and homeland security, a sustained contract for municipal court case-management software, contributions to local victim-witness services, and multiple capital purchases. One ordinance authorizing a $30,000 Vision Zero billboard campaign passed with one recorded no vote by Councilman Martinez.
Votes at a glance (bill, short description, amount, outcome):
- Coordinated purchase (Coord 6725): CAT D8 dozer — authorizes expenditure not to exceed $1,200,000 from the Capital Improvement Fund; emergency adopted (roll call recorded). Outcome: adopted (Yes: 9; No: 0).
- Ordinance 71-25: Amended professional services contract with SafeBuilt Ohio LLC — authorizes up to $200,000 annually; emergency adopted. Outcome: adopted (Yes: 9; No: 0).
- Ordinance 72-25: Mutual aid professional building inspection services (Lucas County) — authorizes up to $25,000 annually from the General Fund; emergency adopted. Outcome: adopted (Yes: 9; No: 0).
- Resolution 80-25: Support for the Ohio Commission for the U.S. Semiquincentennial (America250OH) — adopted. Outcome: adopted (Yes: 9; No: 0).
- Resolution 81-25: National League of Cities 2025 membership dues — $16,860 (first reading announced). Outcome: first reading.
- Ordinance 82-25 (Toledo Municipal Court): Case management software agreement with Integrated Software Specialists Inc. (ISS) — authorizes $72,000 for year one, years 2–5 subject to future appropriation; emergency adopted. Outcome: adopted (Yes: 9; No: 0).
- Ordinance 83-25: Accept $71,808.74 state grant for police officer training (Ohio) — emergency adopted. Outcome: adopted (Yes: 9; No: 0).
- Ordinance 84-25: Contribution of $50,000 from law enforcement trust fund to Toledo-Lucas County Victim Witness Assistance Program — emergency adopted. Outcome: adopted (Yes: 9; No: 0).
- Ordinance 85-25: Accept $92,337 (2024 State Homeland Security Program) from Ohio Emergency Management Agency — emergency adopted. Outcome: adopted (Yes: 9; No: 0).
- Ordinance 86-25: Accept Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) $131,341.07 — emergency adopted. Outcome: adopted (Yes: 9; No: 0).
- Ordinance 87-25: Contract with ABCO Services Inc. for truck bed covers, equipment and deck systems — up to $52,000 from Water Replacement Fund; emergency adopted. Outcome: adopted (Yes: 9; No: 0).
- Ordinance 88-25: Vehicle/equipment replacement for Police Department — authorizes up to $500,000 from the Capital Improvement Fund; presented as first reading (no final vote at this meeting). Outcome: first reading.
- Ordinance 89-25: Building enhancements & improvements at Toledo Municipal Courthouse — authorizes up to $100,000; emergency adopted. Outcome: adopted (Yes: 9; No: 0).
- Ordinance 90-25: Municipal Garage Fund appropriation up to $25,000 annually for vehicle replacement — first reading. Outcome: first reading.
- Resolution 91-25: Endorsement of Toledo Public Schools Safe Routes to School travel plan update — first reading. Outcome: first reading.
- Ordinance 92-25: Cooperative agreements and acceptance of capital improvement funds up to $1,750,000 — first reading. Outcome: first reading.
- Ordinance 93-25: Cooperative agreements with ODOT for bridge repair (Anthony Wayne Trail over Swan Creek) and purchase of a tandem-axle plow truck — first reading. Outcome: first reading.
- Ordinance 95-25: Vision Zero billboard campaign — authorizes $30,000 from the General Fund; emergency adopted. Outcome: adopted (Yes: 8; No: 1 — Martinez).
- Ordinance (Sanitary Sewer Loan — Bayview): Ordinance 90625 (as introduced): Application for loan proceeds from Ohio EPA Water Pollution Control Loan Fund and Ohio Water Development Authority for Bayview Water Reclamation Plant Improvements — authorizes acceptance of up to $50,000,000 in loan proceeds and $1,000,000 from sanitary sewer replacement fund for loan administration and project costs; presented as first reading. Outcome: first reading.
- Ordinance 90725 (parks/youth): Ordinance 90725 (Youth Engagement, Mentoring and Development Initiatives) — authorizes $1,197,000 from the General Fund; first reading. Outcome: first reading.
- Ordinance 98-25: Ohio Mayors Alliance membership — $12,500; emergency adopted. Outcome: adopted (Yes: 9; No: 0).
- Ordinance 99-25: U.S. Conference of Mayors 2025 membership dues — $13,870; emergency adopted. Outcome: adopted (Yes: 9; No: 0).
- Ordinance 100-25: City of Toledo 2025 Ohio Municipal League dues — $18,352; emergency adopted. Outcome: adopted (Yes: 9; No: 0).
- Ordinance 101-25: Vacation of a portion of Bresnahan's Green, Clemente Trace and Rogan Way in Collingwood Green Subdivision — emergency adopted. Outcome: adopted (Yes: 9; No: 0).
What the council did not decide today: several larger capital and program items were introduced on first reading and will return for a future vote, including the proposed $50 million loan for Bayview improvements and the vehicle/equipment replacement ordinance for the Police Department.
Council records and procedure notes: Many items were adopted by emergency ordinance (which allows immediate effect); first readings were noted for larger or more complex projects. The March 11 roll calls recorded councilmembers Hobbs, Jones, Martinez, McPherson, Melden (Sam Melden), Morris, Williams, Driscoll and Gaddis as voting where roll calls were read.
