Youngstown council approves tax levies, renews 12‑month moratorium on tire/plastics incineration and clears $33M CSO contract

The Youngstown City Council met in regular session on Nov. 19, 2025 and approved a series of resolutions and ordinances affecting taxation, environmental regulation, wastewater infrastructure and neighborhood projects.

President Tom Hetrick called the meeting to order; seven members answered roll call. Council approved the Oct. 15, 2025 minutes and then proceeded through communications, planning recommendations and a set of resolutions and ordinances.

Council adopted a resolution accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies (RES‑25‑11). The measure was read, the rules were suspended and the resolution passed on roll call (yeas 6, nays 0). The council record shows the measure was treated as an emergency if it received six affirmative votes; it recorded six.

In a separate vote, Council passed RES‑25‑12 to support restoration, maintenance and preservation of the McGuffey Wildlife Preserve and McGuffey family pond and dock within Mill Creek MetroParks (yeas 6, nays 0).

On environmental regulation, the council read and adopted ORD‑25‑363, imposing a renewed 12‑month moratorium on pyrolysis, gasification or combustion of tires, chipped tires, plastics and electronic waste within the city. The ordinance passed after suspension of the rules; the roll call recorded five yeas and one abstention (Councilman Patrick Kelly abstained).

Infrastructure and wastewater items formed a major portion of the agenda. Council authorized payment of the city’s 2025 EPA NPDES annual discharge fees in the amount of $25,900 (ORD‑25‑364) and approved a $63,030.50 payment to Lindy Paving, Inc., for roadway repairs related to water‑line breaks (ORD‑25‑365). Council also authorized the Board of Control to award a contract for Meridian Road sanitary sewer rehabilitation with a project cost not to exceed $430,000 (ORD‑25‑366).

The council approved ORD‑25‑367 authorizing the Board of Control to contract with a consultant for final design and construction administration services related to the CSO 6057 control measure; the ordinance states the cost will not exceed $33,000,000. The item was read, rules suspended where noted and passed by recorded vote (yeas 6, nays 0).

Separately, the council appropriated $5,235,704 into the Waste Water Project Expense Fund for the West Division Street Interceptor Sewer Replacement Phase 2 (ORD‑25‑390). The ordinance notes the city will be reimbursed 100% from an Ohio Department of Development wastewater infrastructure grant; it passed on a recorded vote (yeas 6, nays 0).

Legal and contract actions included authorization to enter a settlement agreement and payment of $40,000 in connection with case 2024CV00919 to Erie Terminal Place, LLC and Rossi & Rossi Co. (ORD‑25‑368).

Economic development and grants: Council accepted a one‑year assistance agreement with the Mahoning County Solid Waste Management District to accept $130,998 for the 2026 litter control and recycling program (ORD‑25‑370). The body also authorized filing grant applications with the Ohio Public Works Commission for multiple street and signal projects (ORD‑25‑373 and ORD‑25‑374).

A proposed marketing consultant professional services agreement (ORD‑25‑372) — to advertise and enter a contract for a comprehensive marketing campaign for the city — was read but failed on a recorded vote (yeas 2, nays 4).

Council approved an Ohio EPA market‑development grant application in partnership with T.C. Redi‑Mix for a track jaw crusher for concrete recycling (ORD‑25‑375), and waived water and sewer tap‑in fees for a Marathon gas station project described in the ordinance as a roughly $1.5 million private investment expected to create approximately six jobs (ORD‑25‑376).

Emergency pump needs were addressed by ORD‑25‑377, which authorized payment to Xylem/Godwin up to $750,000 for rental and/or purchase of submersible pumps for the wastewater treatment plant’s auxiliary primary effluent pump station; the ordinance was amended on the floor to add the purchase option and was then approved.

The council handled numerous personnel, appropriation and neighborhood funding items, including amendments to the master salary ordinance, step increases for a health educator position, increases to existing contract amounts for design and construction services, and a string of small discretionary transfers to support parks, neighborhood cleanups and community events. Many of these items were approved by recorded votes where noted.

Zoning: an ordinance to change the zoning classification of 579 E. Philadelphia Ave. from RS 7.2 single‑family to RT 5.5 one‑ and two‑family residential was read and referred to the Planning Commission for further review (ORD‑25‑411).

Votes at a glance (selected items) - RES‑25‑11 (amounts/rates; tax levies): Passed (yeas 6, nays 0). - RES‑25‑12 (McGuffey Wildlife Preserve): Passed (yeas 6, nays 0). - ORD‑25‑363 (12‑month moratorium on pyrolysis/gasification/combustion of tires/plastics/e‑waste): Passed (yeas 5, abstain 1 — Kelly). - ORD‑25‑364 (EPA NPDES fees): Passed (yeas 6, nays 0); amount $25,900. - ORD‑25‑365 (payment to Lindy Paving, Inc.): Passed (yeas 6, nays 0); amount $63,030.50. - ORD‑25‑367 (CSO 6057 consultant contract authorization): Passed (yeas 6, nays 0); not to exceed $33,000,000. - ORD‑25‑372 (marketing consultant RFP/professional services): Failed (yeas 2, nays 4). - ORD‑25‑375 (Ohio EPA market development grant application with T.C. Redi‑Mix): Passed (yeas 6, nays 0). - ORD‑25‑377 (Xylem/Godwin pumps emergency payment): Passed after amendment (yeas 6, nays 0); amount $750,000 authorized for rental and/or purchase. - ORD‑25‑390 (West Division Street interceptor sewer replacement Phase 2 appropriations): Passed (yeas 6, nays 0); amount $5,235,704; noted 100% reimbursement from Ohio Department of Development wastewater infrastructure grant.

No direct quotations are recorded in the meeting minutes text provided; motions are generally recorded as "upon motion of Mr. Ray" when listed.

The council adjourned after a motion by Councilman Mike Ray, seconded by Councilwoman Anita Davis. The minutes document includes an approval notation dated Dec. 3, 2025.

What to watch next: the Planning Commission review of the zoning change for 579 E. Philadelphia Ave. and next steps on consultant selection and contracting for the CSO 6057 control measure, which carries the largest authorized cost noted during the session.