Sylvania City Council adopts emergency ordinance on police policy notices, moves to reject citizen initiative

On May 4, 2026 the Sylvania City Council voted 6–1 to adopt Ordinance 75 as an emergency measure, a provision the council described as affirming the Sylvania Police Department’s obligation to notify council of certain policy changes and reaffirming the city’s commitment to community safety and nondiscriminatory policing.

Mrs. Westfall, who introduced the ordinance, told the council that members had received the amended ordinance in advance and that the Committee of the Whole had reviewed point-by-point changes after a presentation by the law director. "All members of council have received in advance an ordinance affirming the city of Sylvania police department's policies requiring notice to city council of certain policy changes and reaffirming the city of Sylvania's commitment to community safety, professional law enforcement, and nondiscriminatory policing," Westfall said before moving passage of Ordinance 75 as an emergency measure.

The roll-call vote recorded the following: Hanson — yes; Hanum — no; McCann — yes; Murphy — yes; Richardson — yes; Dowell — yes; Westfall — yes (6–1). The mayor presided over the vote and the clerk recorded the tally.

The council also introduced and approved Resolution 4 as an emergency measure, a nonbinding statement affirming the city’s commitment to respecting and valuing all people.

Separately, Westfall reported that signatures for a citizen initiative titled the "Sylvania conservation and equal access ordinance" had been submitted to the Board of Elections for certification and that the council must respond by May 30, 2026 on whether to pass, amend-and-pass, or reject the measure. Council members debated whether action should be phrased as "contingent" on certification. Law Director Breining cautioned that wording matters; she argued the council could choose not to act until the board completes certification rather than making an action explicitly contingent on another body’s act.

The Committee of the Whole had recommended rejecting the initiative and asking administration to prepare legislation; that committee motion passed 6–1. In full council, Westfall moved that the council reject the initiative petition and ask administration to prepare legislation for council consideration; that motion carried by voice vote, and the administration was directed to prepare the item for the May 18 meeting.

Next steps: administration will prepare the proposed legislation to reject the initiative for consideration at the council's May 18 meeting; any final council action remains subject to the Board of Elections’ certification of signatures.