CITY OF READING, OHIO

COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES – REGULAR SESSION

APRIL 3RD, 2012 – 7:30PM

CALL TO ORDER

President of Council Cris Nesbitt called the meeting to order at 7:30pm.

INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Mr. Nesbitt led those in attendance in the Our Father and the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL

Council Members Present – Mr. Roth, Mr. Gertz, Mr. Lynd, Mr. Albrinck, Mr. Lindeman, Mr. Ashbrock, Mr. Fischesser.

Other City Officials Present – Mayor Robert Bemmes, President of Council Cris Nesbitt, Law Director Dave Stevenson, Safety Service Director Patrick Ross, Clerk of Council Scott Heckle.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Without objection, the minutes for the March 20th, 2012 Regular Session were approved. Without objection, the minutes for the March 27th, 2012 Legislative Session were approved.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

Superintendent of Reading Schools, Scott Inskeep first addressed council. He thanked Mr. Lynd for emailing him and inviting him to speak at a council meeting. Mr. Inskeep made note that the relationship between the schools and the city are an example in shared services. He said the school and the city split the cost of crossing guards, a school resource officer as well as funds that are expended between the city and schools for facilities such as the football, baseball and softball fields. He believes there is a good relationship between the schools and the city. Mr. Inskeep said that his school buildings are old and in need of repairs. He recognizes that the cities priority must be safety. To make necessary repairs for the city and school repairs will be costly and neither the schools nor the city of Reading want to try to raise that amount of money during this economic environment. While in a committee meeting, Mr. Inskeep said one way to raise the money needed for his schools without generating some type of revenue was in the form of a tax. He is aware that taxes are not want anyone wants to hear. Mr. Inskeep said that he has never made any statement, positive or negative about anything the city of Reading does involving taking care of the facilities with regard to the shared services. If a parks levy were to go on the ballot this fall, Mr. Inskeep said that it would compete against a school levy. He commended Renee King for her efforts in trying to make Reading a better community. He understands that city council and the people who were present in the audience both want what is best for Reading kids and the community. He said the board of education does not have the money to throw at a project anymore than the city of Reading does.

Mr. Ashbrock thanked Mr. Inskeep for coming. Mr. Ashbrock asked if field turf were to be put on the football field is Reading schools obligated to provide 40% of the capital improvement.

Mr. Inskeep said yes. If that was what Reading schools had to do, they would support and do the best they can to help out. Mr. Inskeep said to come up with their share needed for the turf would be difficult to come up with at this point. He said that something would have to give if that happened, possibly teachers. He couldn’t make that kind of a recommendation to the school board at this time. He said that as property values continue to decline; a 1 mil levy went from generating

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$182,000 a year to $175,000. Mr. Inskeep said that a plan needs to be made. He made note that the cost to fix the school facilities will continue to increase.

Mr. Bemmes thanked everyone that showed up to the council meeting. He acknowledged that the city and the schools all want what is best for Reading. Mr. Inskeep has been a great leader for our schools. No person on council opposes anything that will improve Reading. With that being said, things need to be prioritized. Many communities around the area are seeking operating levies, and Reading is not immune to that. In 2013 when the estate tax goes away, many more communities are going to be forced to either severely cut their services or raise more revenues. Mr. Bemmes mentioned when he spoke to the gentleman from Wyoming who helps organize fundraising for field turf in other communities, he asked that man what a levy for Reading parks would do to an operating levy. The man said it would kill it. Mr. Bemmes said we must protect our basic core responsibilities and duties as a city. He feels that the best way to fund turf would be through a Reading High School Alumni Association. He said that right now is not the time to put up a levy to add turf to the football field.

Mr. Lynd asked Mr. Inskeep if there might be an operating levy for Reading schools in 2013.

Mr. Inskeep said yes, that is a very good possibility.

Mr. Lynd asked Mr. Inskeep if passing a parks levy in 2012, would hurt the passing of an operating levy for Reading schools in 2013.

Mr. Inskeep said it would hurt the chances of passing an operating levy for Reading schools in 2013. He believes that Renee King and her group just want to know from council either “yes” or “no.” Mr. Inskeep said that the schools and the city communicate to try to make sure a levy for the city and a levy for the schools are not on the same ballot in the same year. The community is only as strong as its school system, and our school system is very fragile and he imagines the city is as well. Mr. Inskeep does not have more than 1 month worth of operation in the general fund.

Mr. Fischesser believes the majority of citizens in Reading don’t realize how tough times are for the city, because Reading has not cut anything. Possibly in 2013 that might change. He is thankful Reading isn’t in as bad of shape as other communities around but that could change. He would love to see turf on the football field but he doesn’t see it happening anytime in the near future. He has to look out for the entire city.

Mr. Albrinck asked Mr. Inskeep if Reading schools had the money for the 60/40 split if major expenses were needed, in this case a parks levy requiring turf being put on the football field.

Mr. Inskeep replied “no.”

Mr. Albrinck said the city didn’t have their share of the money needed for that either. By virtue of the shared agreement, 40% of the cost for turf would have to come from Reading schools. He reminded everyone that even with a 1 mil levy, borrowing money would still have to happen and interest expenses would occur. He agrees with Mr. Bemmes in regards to projects such as the turf needs to come from a Reading High School Alumni Association.

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Mr. Inskeep said that the Reading schools are one of the larger employers in the city of Reading and the schools do contribute 2% of their earnings tax back to the community. Last year that amount added up to be around $200,000.

Mr. Albrinck asked if the school board had ever talked about hiring a development director for the schools.

Mr. Inskeep said he is that person. When he began as superintendant, he had an assistant superintendant, a director of special education and a director of buildings and grounds. All of those positions have been eliminated.

Mr. Albrinck mentioned that if the alumni association was able to accomplish providing the football field with turf, they still need to continue to raise money for the schools for other needs besides turfing the football field.

Mr. Lindeman asked if the school board would need to come up with their share of a 60/40 split for the cost of turf if a citizen initiated levy were to pass.

Mr. Stevenson said if a levy were to pass for turfing the football field, the money generated from the levy in the form of a tax would pay for the turf. The real question is what the school would have to pay after turf would be installed in the form of maintenance and repairs of the turf. If a levy is passed for a one time expenditure without a provision that money is going to be continuing to be accumulated then you are wasting your time. It will cost more to replace the turf on the back end then on the front end. The turf field will last 8-10 years and then need to be replaced.

Mr. Lynd has met with his committee several times and spoke with the Reading football field improvement group (3) different times. They first approached council on Feb. 7th, 2012 asking for a parks levy that would include turfing the football field. He feels it is important that council answers the group. Mr. Lynd made a motion to have council vote to have the city of Reading develop a parks levy for the November ballot in 2012. Motion seconded by Mr. Gertz.

Discussion- Mr. Gertz agrees with Mr. Lynd that the group interested in putting turf on the field deserves an answer. He wonders if turf is the best solution. The city is putting money into the grass this year and he feels there are too many games played on the field. Mr. Gertz believes that turfing the football field is a grassroots effort. He does not support the idea that city council put the parks levy on the fall ballot. He feels the group should get the required signatures and have them put it on the fall ballot.

Mr. Roth told the group of people in the audience who support putting a parks levy on the fall ballot for turf that their drive was great. He thinks it is something that can be accomplished. He has an idea he wants to share with Renee King and her group at their next meeting to get turf on the football field in 5-10 years.

There was discussion between members of council and Mr. Stevenson about how to properly word the type of levy council would be voting to develop.

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Mr. Lynd made note that he is asking for council to vote on and develop a parks levy and as the levy were to be developed, the wording would be decided on determining where the money were to go (turf, pool, park improvements).

Mr. Nesbitt mentioned the motion was made by Mr. Lynd, seconded by Mr. Gertz to ask that council develop a parks levy that included field turf for the football field and as well as other improvements to the city.

Motion made by Mr. Gertz, seconded by Mr. Ashbrock to allow anyone from the audience to speak on the matter of a parks levy before it is to be voted on. Motion passed by voice vote.

Jennifer Brannen Martin said that her, her husband and many others began raising money for the turf football field years ago. She said that this needs to be looked at as revenue building. A turf field would benefit Reading. She said that the football field in Reading is a safety issue and is a mess. She said that her group rose over $20,000 and was never told what happened to that money. She asked where the $20,000 went.

Mr. Bemmes said he has answered that question may times. Several checks were written in 2007 that totaled up to around $20,000. $16,000 of the $20,000 came from 3 large donors. By 2008, the group realized the money for turf wasn’t going to be able to be raised through donations. In 2010, athletic boosters at Reading High School wanted scoreboards at Koenig Park. The 4 largest donors of the $20,000 raised all agreed to spend the money they had donated on the scoreboards for Koenig Park. Mr. Bemmes believes there is still $6,000-$7,000 remaining in that fund.

Miss Martin went on to explain that money was still being raised and didn’t understand why the money was taken out for the scoreboards.

Mr. Ross asked why Reading little league football took their donation out of that fund if they were still going to raise money for turf.

Miss Martin said the money was taken out after being told the money was going towards paying for scoreboards at Koenig Park.

Mr. Ross believes the money donated from Reading little league football was taken out prior to deciding the money was going towards scoreboards at Koenig Park.

Mr. Lynd mentioned that most of this had already been discussed in prior meetings with the football field improvement group and wants to see where we are at now and move forward from here.

Mr. Fischesser asked for Mr. Ross to do some research regarding the dangers of using the football field in its current conditions and if it is determined that it is dangerous then it needs to be closed until the problem is rectified.

Mr. Ross said he will look into it.

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Mr. Lindeman said this should be looked into rather soon. The city is planning on spending $12,000 this year to re-sod most of the field. If the field is deemed dangerous and needs closing, this should be determined before the $12,000 is spent.

Lynn Roy (801 E. Columbia Ave.) called Princeton, Winton Woods and Oak Hills. She went through some of the revenue these fields bring in as well as some information regarding insurance that teams are required to carry.

Mr. Ashbrock said that creating an identifiable stream of revenue that can offset the cost of eventual replacement of the turf is a great concern to him. Patience will pay off if we step back and see where we are. He feels more homework and study needs to be done.

Miss Roy said they have applied for (3) grants, each totaling $300,000.

Mr. Albrinck said the problem with not getting the NFL grant was that the field wasn’t owned by the schools.

Mr. Gertz mentioned that Reading has had successful football players that have played on the Reading football field. He believes Reading can get the field back in an acceptable condition.

Mr. Bemmes mentioned how other communities around Reading are in jeopardy of losing some basic services and Reading could be in the same position soon.

The motion made by Mr. Lynd, seconded by Mr. Gertz to ask that council develop a parks levy that included field turf for the football field and as well as other improvements to the city FAILED by a 6-1 Roll Call vote with Mr. Lynd voting “yes.”