[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6371406,"mediaKeyId","2149728-6fae265c0786fc91cc69b796b16b54e8","parentId",2149728,"title","Votes at a glance: Jan. 17 Westerville City Council","audioSeconds",2474,"startMs",1616000,"endMs",4090000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2149728-6fae265c0786fc91cc69b796b16b54e8&start=1616&end=4090","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2149728-6fae265c0786fc91cc69b796b16b54e8/thumbnail_1616000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6371406/Ohio/Votes-at-a-glance-Jan-17-Westerville-City-Council","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6371406-fd070c625a5c8c915fcdc573d557b01e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771037175&Signature=I4phsnWxZhLXJfM-YwA5SbAjLlg~itbLlIwfdoOMZWCIlfBTSYPL3KeQOQRLY2NOH0Ntu2kM~z~gBSy6H5pkNT8vVsZTYBGQdGsZNaZT6qgxo5u1-3I8KtIM617xJMSsa5aZaoy3XvGfpIvGIpxePzD2HnBTgMmuKEGmAyRMZXvPXHAwNKYpLDzbkpfoQEe2PB6OdQ-nOg5RR8UUqfMo04k7L2snmP7XyhiaSRwbdvQ7s0e5-hVlNk05HFWcQ6x5oq4pkSrDGHtpO-hPl35IYs7f~Hg7XbE2orr6Xm4fT9vhiljgpZHZnCg~s10G6R69ClipiRg6Lt3Qe3fItIeCDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Westerville OH","date","2025-01-07T00:00:00Z","article","At its Jan. 17, 2025 regular meeting, Westerville City Council recorded several formal actions. This roundup lists each item, the motion outcome and the vote where recorded.

• Resolution honoring Dave Samuelson (Resolution 2025‑1): Council adopted a resolution recognizing Mr. Samuelson’s 12 years of service on the Planning Commission. Vote: unanimous adoption.

• Ordinance 2024‑20 (right of way appropriation for roadway work in Westar): Second reading held; no final vote on Jan. 17.

• Ordinance 2024‑21 (issuance and sale of bonds, up to $33,000,000, for Westar transportation improvements): Second reading held; no final vote on Jan. 17.

• Motion to authorize purchase of a Pierce pumper and dispose of existing Engine 112: Motion carried unanimously; council authorized purchase through State of Ohio cooperative contract and waived formal source selection.

• Appointment: John Kinsell appointed to Volunteer Peace Officers Dependents Fund Board: Unanimous.

• Appointment: Alternate to the Income Tax Review Board named Paul Kreitz (alternate) following voice vote; Kreitz received the necessary votes in the on‑the‑floor voice selection.

• Motion to proceed to draft legislation prohibiting gender conversion therapy for minors (amend NDO): Motion to instruct staff to draft ordinance passed 5–2; staff to present the first reading Jan. 21, 2025.

These votes were recorded during the Jan. 17 meeting; items scheduled for additional readings or public hearings will return to council on subsequent agendas.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Westerville OH, City Council Meeting January 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of formal votes and appointments taken at the Jan. 17 meeting including resolution honoring Dave Samuelson, appointments, fire truck purchase and motion to draft conversion‑therapy ordinance.","taxTitle","Westerville, Franklin County, Ohio","taxId",65949,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6371411,"Westerville council authorizes purchase of Pierce pumper to replace Engine 112; delivery estimated ~3 years",151,3667000,3818000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2149728-6fae265c0786fc91cc69b796b16b54e8&start=3667&end=3818","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2149728-6fae265c0786fc91cc69b796b16b54e8/thumbnail_3667000.jpg","/articles/6371411/Ohio/Westerville-council-authorizes-purchase-of-Pierce-pumper-to-replace-Engine-112-delivery-estimated-3-years","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6371411-2662ea6de1b30868844446c0be3005c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771037175&Signature=enF1cx5vCOP~2~AHDH3qIfgNdSdi5Le9fsASIje8kTMUNQEstgxFLtpk~qfy8D6jlD9WtxKnXeKXcCet0E87xmVf5KN8rqCu3G8VoFAMKImj3TqIAqbo-KHtUwC30IkZqYeA9bliJfsqnuIsDwPgzFvTyI4szAMQUwK4ReFfhEfP0YE74Ar2iPRyD~ZkE0GPHfSn1QKO8tt7tRerK7ew4u9muD6cZThnnv-sj1bO4FKiOz67es3Bko5ciSlY-VBkzhyBQjAxdbpcWvcMyKFSIgtTes7VO7auJUfCI~zORVZ9ycg4GvzYyJB28UIuA-GU9ktO5xFEKqSdHZ~Y-disyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Westerville City Council on Jan. 17 unanimously authorized the city manager to purchase a Pierce pumper (replacement for Engine 112) through the State of Ohio cooperative contract with Atlantic Emergency Solutions and to dispose of the existing end‑of‑life apparatus.

Fire Division Chief Sorgi told council the replacement is part of the 2025 budget and was advanced two years because current ordering timelines mean delivery would take about 1,140 days from order to delivery (just under four years). Engine 112, placed in service in 2016, responded to 2,885 incidents in 2024 — an average of roughly eight responses per day — and the new apparatus is intended to match Engine 113 (delivered in 2023) to standardize fleet equipment and reduce maintenance, training and interoperability costs. Chief Sorgi said the anticipated service life of the new pumper is about 12 years before it moves to a reserve role.

Council members asked whether features and price would be locked for the long lead time; staff said the purchase secures the features and contract price at time of order, barring any requested changes. Council also discussed the long delivery timeframe and the practical limits of technology changes during that period.

The motion authorized purchase through the State of Ohio cooperative contract and waived local formal source‑selection requirements; council voted unanimously to approve the purchase.","Council unanimously authorized the city manager to buy a Pierce pumper through the State of Ohio cooperative contract and to dispose of the existing end‑of‑life engine; delivery is estimated at 1,140 days and life expectancy is 12 years.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6371416,"Westerville council votes 5–2 to draft ordinance banning gender conversion therapy for minors",353,4185000,4538000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2149728-6fae265c0786fc91cc69b796b16b54e8&start=4185&end=4538","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2149728-6fae265c0786fc91cc69b796b16b54e8/thumbnail_4185000.jpg","/articles/6371416/Ohio/Westerville-council-votes-52-to-draft-ordinance-banning-gender-conversion-therapy-for-minors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6371416-81ac9b035bd2b94c871481b50d6c6772/orig.mp4?Expires=1771037175&Signature=O2KpR6vMNCc3VsHgOtiNWeNqmXg8D-B894M1mGrhwKFa4FDZBQUFnaP1-czKEMbi5JNF4DFqAHnBjZTGd4JYo3WSQzqe-UrsIJOAsDYSFBRaVovxJNCYQwgDi45-CY3RHgHzX~r3uLuFtaapQGcUbHpKPj4zOwCUCAkmKUyah8LYx7TacKaIsVYFdn3DjMSYxcnLE9uoEesJ7e9ZUjecwKS5qu419uLQ57fPgCW1WVICtdGsfauLwxLewYWhm5Vx4MI0HKX4h43M6WQCJhClc8lRPuo8DJ5LeX-dvH-z-ecHDPmrNenqWoXfGtlNkDLrR--M7D5-NaoytXI~qQANzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Westerville City Council voted 5–2 on Jan. 17 to direct staff to prepare an ordinance that would prohibit licensed providers from administering gender or sexual‑orientation conversion therapy to minors. The motion instructs staff to draft language for an amendment to the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance (NDO) and schedule the first reading for Jan. 21, 2025.

Councilmember Nate Grimes introduced the motion and said the intent is to protect minors. \"That's the intent. I don't think we would be able to go beyond minors,\" he said when asked about scope. Grimes referenced ordinances in other Ohio cities as drafting models and asked staff to align the local measure with Westerville’s NDO.

Supporters on council emphasized the city's authority to protect vulnerable residents. Opponents and some members raised legal and implementation concerns during debate: Council members noted that NDO enforcement complaints become public records and that banning certain therapies could affect licensed medical or mental‑health providers in ways that raise liability or access questions. One councilmember asked staff to collect statements from medical organizations for later consideration.

The vote was for a motion to proceed; it is not a final ordinance. Staff confirmed they will present the first reading of drafted language at the Jan. 21 meeting. Council discussion referenced Northern Ohio municipal examples and noted that additional drafting work will be required to address confidentiality, enforcement mechanics and the interaction with existing professional licensing.

Because the motion directs staff only to draft legislation, no penalty or enforcement mechanism has yet been adopted; those details will be included in the ordinance draft brought back to council.","Council approved a motion to direct staff to draft an amendment to the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance to prohibit so‑called conversion therapy for minors; the motion passed 5–2 and staff will bring language for first reading on Jan. 21.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6371422,"Westerville council hears first reading of ordinance to regulate marijuana dispensaries, schedules public hearing Jan. 21",1033,2199000,3232000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2149728-6fae265c0786fc91cc69b796b16b54e8&start=2199&end=3232","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2149728-6fae265c0786fc91cc69b796b16b54e8/thumbnail_2199000.jpg","/articles/6371422/Ohio/Westerville-council-hears-first-reading-of-ordinance-to-regulate-marijuana-dispensaries-schedules-public-hearing-Jan-21","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6371422-45d7ad5b9586283b4434eaa872a379b5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771037175&Signature=exTx9M6b3qUd7tpAgqHkbnV4vUiWamXchWYf-PXYo4DNcR~X7k3QXIXLcHlCm1PEGnhffmSOnKf8kWyQFNkRiPvpcPOTC-4cOI4prBkWtZn9TEimsaGU1O~fgVaGVfUcv76RT2sUBVC4tfnaFDA2MMRf0ys39gZBaRGk81ir49Igs2i3NsTyBhvUszsgnI5pM3N8khhYUYy9PMCgmXUHjb~cWn2kzYJh3AHClmiMW2AfFYSFQUFb6lAO~tUiaO~s2w0qZV5BGEZA7CDB-M18O3oElG6yXDTo75iKUmOUZQarg4~-o87~HCPuyaZnoZxIJhOX8qmkGgHf-5J-BVF8lA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of Westerville staff presented a proposed amendment to Chapter 1183 of the city zoning code on Jan. 17 that would allow medical and dual‑use marijuana dispensaries under a special‑use permit (SUP) while prohibiting cultivation and processing within city limits.

The proposal, introduced at the meeting as Ordinance 2025‑1, would allow dispensaries in Community Commercial (CC) and Planned Community Commercial (PCC) zoning districts and limit the total number of dispensaries in the city to two, with at least one mile of separation required between them (the separation counts facilities outside the city as well). Staff asked that council advance the ordinance toward a third reading and recommended approval at that time; council set a public hearing for Jan. 21, 2025, at 7 p.m.

The amendment follows state developments dating to House Bill 523 (2016) and Ohio voters’ Issue 2 (Nov. 7, 2023). In presenting the draft, a staff member summarized the process staff used to prepare the amendment and said the change is intended to regulate both medical and adult‑use activity after local moratoria that expired earlier this month. Attorney Winkle said the city chose a special‑use permit because \"medical marijuana dispensaries, dual use dispensaries are fairly new in the state. They are highly regulated by the state. They're still federally illegal, and there's a limited finite number of licenses available.\" He described a two‑layer review: city staff screening and documentation, Planning Commission public hearing and recommendation, then council review and, if approved, permit issuance by the city manager or designee with annual renewal and a built‑in revocation and appeal process.

Staff highlighted a set of 15 standards in the draft. Among the conditions discussed: a 500‑foot buffer from libraries, schools, day‑care centers, parks and trails, and churches (the staff presentation said Ohio law interprets \"church\" as any place of worship); adherence to design standards for the host corridor; reporting requirements for theft, loss or diversion (the draft requires reporting losses in excess of $100); hours of operation proposed as 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and a requirement that applicants submit evidence of state licensing progress to demonstrate a reasonable probability of state approval. Planning Commission reviewed the draft in December and unanimously recommended approval to council.

Council members asked staff to clarify enforcement and monitoring. Attorney Winkle and staff said compliance would be monitored at multiple levels: state regulators would enforce state licensing and security requirements, and the city would independently ensure compliance with local standards and the ordinance’s reporting duties. Council also asked staff to bring comparative hours of operation from nearby jurisdictions for the second reading, and asked staff to clarify how future changes in surrounding land uses (for example, if a church opens near an existing permitted dispensary) would affect a permitted business. Staff said an approved dispensary would not automatically lose its renewal rights if a new surrounding use appeared, but that expansions or building modifications would likely require additional review.

Planning Commission representative Mister Glasgow told council the commission’s review contained limited discussion and that the draft attempts to prioritize medical‑card holders while balancing aesthetics and community considerations. Councilmembers noted that state and federal rules remain in flux and that final local standards can be adjusted in later readings.

The ordinance was introduced at first reading; council did not vote to adopt it on Jan. 17. A public hearing and second reading are scheduled for Jan. 21, 2025, at 7 p.m. Staff recommended the ordinance for approval at third reading if council so directs.","City staff presented a code amendment proposing to allow medical and dual‑use dispensaries in commercial districts under a special‑use permit process; Planning Commission recommended approval and council set a public hearing for Jan. 21, 2025.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Jan. 17 Westerville City Council

Westerville council authorizes purchase of Pierce pumper to replace Engine 112; delivery estimated ~3 years

Westerville council votes 5–2 to draft ordinance banning gender conversion therapy for minors

Westerville council hears first reading of ordinance to regulate marijuana dispensaries, schedules public hearing Jan. 21