Toledo City Council approves settlements, contracts, grant and zoning changes

The Toledo City Council on Jan. 14, 2024, voted to adopt a series of ordinances that included three settlement payments, emergency contracting for public-works needs, a consulting services contract for the utilities department, acceptance of a $25,000 park grant and several zoning and code changes.

The council approved settlements authorizing payments from the city's risk management fund for pending claims: $800,000 in Pratt v. City of Toledo; $145,000 to settle Fuel Outdoor of Toledo LLC's federal claim; and $60,000 to resolve claims by David Sanders, including a pending union grievance. Each settlement ordinance was declared an emergency and passed by roll call during the meeting.

Council members also approved emergency and noncompetitive contracts: a waiver of formal bidding to allow Edward Kelly & Sons to perform emergency sanitary sewer repairs at Arlington and Francis; and a three-year professional services contract with Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc., for ongoing rate and financial modeling and strategic planning for the Department of Public Utilities, with an authorized expenditure up to $350,000 from the Utility Administration Fund. The council declared emergency status for several of those measures to speed implementation.

The council accepted a $25,000 grant from the Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation to add visitor amenities at Birmingham Park and authorized appropriation and contracting for the project. The council also approved a one-year software-as-a-service agreement for website chatbot software, authorizing up to $18,000…