Toledo City Council passes package of ordinances including FEMA BRIC, OPWC awards and multiple capital appropriations

The Toledo City Council voted Feb. 25 to adopt a package of resolutions and ordinances authorizing grant acceptances, appropriations and contract awards across multiple departments.

Among the largest actions, the council approved Ordinance 043-25 to accept a FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant of $931,153 for the Wright Avenue embankment stabilization project. The ordinance authorizes deposit, appropriation and expenditure of the funds in the capital improvement fund and empowers the mayor to accept bids and award contracts for the project.

Ordinance 049-25 authorizes acceptance of assistance from the Ohio Public Works Commission not to exceed $2,168,282 for five roadway projects, including appropriation and an identified repayment source for any loans. The council also approved Ordinance 048-25, authorizing a cooperative grant agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for a Reconnecting Communities design and construction project.

Other adopted ordinances include a $50,000 general-fund sponsorship for the 2025 Glass City Jazz Fest (041-25); a medical screening services agreement for the Toledo Police Department wellness program not to exceed $59,850 (044-25); an expenditure of up to $208,000 from the Urban Forestry Commission Trust Fund for tree-maintenance equipment (052-25); and a U.S. Department of Energy grant of $285,750 for improvements at Fire Station 21 (053-25). The council also approved contracts and purchases for stormwater mapping (Wolpert Incorporated, up to $85,000, Ordinance 050-25), a Trimble SX12 scanning total station (up to $54,000, Ordinance 047-25), and an Imagination Station water-line repair contract with an appropriation not to exceed $350,000 (Ordinance 054-25).

Housing and community development items were approved on suspension, including Ordinance 063-25 authorizing up to $150,000 from the general fund for professional consulting on a Choice Neighborhood planning effort, and Ordinance 064-25 approving acceptance and appropriation to implement the HUD "Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing" program (grant amount not specified in the transcript).

Most items were adopted after motions to suspend rules and emergency declarations; roll-call voice votes recorded affirmative responses from council members present. The transcript records no extended debate on these ordinances during the Feb. 25 session.

Votes at a glance (selected ordinances/resolutions recorded in the meeting): - Resolution 036-25: ceremonial recognition (adopted) - Resolution 037-25: ceremonial recognition (adopted) - Resolution 039-25: ceremonial resolution expressing support for a platform (adopted) - Ordinance 040-25: amend fund locations in prior ordinance (adopted) - Ordinance 041-25: $50,000 sponsorship for Glass City Jazz Fest (adopted) - Ordinance 042-25: designate applicant agent for FEMA grants (adopted) - Ordinance 043-25: accept FEMA BRIC grant, Wright Avenue — $931,153 (adopted) - Ordinance 044-25: Police wellness medical screening — not to exceed $59,850 (adopted) - Ordinance 045-25: appropriate Ohio opioid settlement funds for fire-department responses (adopted) - Ordinance 046-25: TMACOG assessments and stormwater dues (adopted) - Ordinance 047-25: Trimble SX12 purchase — up to $54,000 (adopted) - Ordinance 048-25: ODOT Reconnecting Communities cooperative grant (adopted) - Ordinance 049-25: OPWC assistance — up to $2,168,282 for five projects (adopted) - Ordinance 050-25: Wolpert impervious surface mapping — up to $85,000 (adopted) - Ordinance 051-25: CDL training — $35,000 (adopted) - Ordinance 052-25: Urban Forestry equipment — up to $208,000 (adopted) - Ordinance 053-25: U.S. DOE grant for Fire Station 21 — $285,750 (adopted) - Ordinance 054-25: Imagination Station water-line repair — up to $350,000 (adopted) - Ordinance 055-25, 056-25: membership dues and code amendments (adopted) - Ordinance 057-25 to 059-25: various parcel/vacation actions (adopted) - Ordinance 062-25 to 064-25: Housing & Community Development expenditures and HUD grant acceptance (adopted; HUD grant amount not specified) - Ordinance 065-25: claim settlement — $32,500 (adopted) - Ordinance 066-25: police vehicle salvage agreement (adopted) - Ordinance 067-25 (first reading) and 068-25 (street sweeper appropriation) (068-25 adopted) - Ordinance 069-25 and 070-25: water utility membership dues and Ohio Utilities Protection Service (adopted) - Ordinance 071-25 and 072-25: building/inspection professional services and mutual-aid agreements (first reading/adopted as noted) - Ordinance 073-25 and 074-25: Lucas County planning funds and zoning amendment (adopted) - Ordinance 075-25 to 077-25: zoning map changes and a special-use permit (075-25 moved to committee; 077-25 adopted)

The meeting closed after announcements and a first call of council members.