[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6491128,"mediaKeyId","5690188-81226762e9ee73cd08ccf0fd3566e0d4","parentId",5690188,"title","Council members propose landmarking consultant, vacant-lot reuse study and small grants","audioSeconds",2159,"startMs",2044000,"endMs",4203000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5690188-81226762e9ee73cd08ccf0fd3566e0d4&start=2044&end=4203","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5690188-81226762e9ee73cd08ccf0fd3566e0d4/thumbnail_2044000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6491128/Toledo/Lucas-County/Ohio/Council-members-propose-landmarking-consultant-vacant-lot-reuse-study-and-small-grants","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6491128-2bd11e3a732bca819c8c67a7b6d74c11/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442862&Signature=Z2SZB-9cNyoE8-qheeLt10uwItg7~nioKttIfg4ge7RdxwxWSYoTcjWwgJFfSZkORaGqxVYdL5ZHhygfo2qWKCMfwo3w6nXboEuMqYMNJ53ZZmgo9xxhhYDzBz65QYrmBtwtbv3tgXCv3ZQqmNCPDaWeTL6VwPh6pPkjJWi-EecZx9VBzITQFhCiUV-y6hEQwB8YV-5g3SbT4SDo0u7NJG82aYTAMUh0OsiFPYWPPNC3mRhPLNcA0PDxVc-g1yR-Gc86UYdKfmvO~-D1osg~FnEeqz-jRCND~G4qjd2Ogeo7y8v~U8OtD6HjqVn8Vw5eoWTFPzrp6cYN6tZ2rlD5~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Toledo","date","2025-08-27T00:00:00Z","article","Council members used the Finance Committee forum to present several council-originated midyear requests and studies that would guide long-term land use and community engagement.

Councilman Martinez requested $7,500 to support the recently reestablished Hispanic Affairs Commission for leadership training, marketing and programming. Martinez said the amount is likely a one-time request and that the mayor's office and the Department of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion would manage the funding.

Councilwoman Gaddis proposed hiring a consultant to do the labor-intensive work of preparing local landmark designations flagged in a prior planning study; she called it a one-time ask to move 39 properties identified after a moratorium study toward formal landmarking. Gaddis also asked for a vacant-lot reuse study to identify high-potential community uses for city-owned parcels, reduce the city's grass-cutting maintenance burden and align vacant-land work with neighborhood plans, the climate action plan and Forward Toledo. City staff told the committee that the city maintains a database of city-owned vacant parcels in GIS but has not completed a reuse study.

Council members suggested potential program links to recently approved city initiatives and funds. One councilmember noted a pending $5 million program the administration previously approved that could potentially be aligned to support vacant-lot reuse work; staff said they would explore whether existing funds or new grant sources could fund the study.

Ending: Committee members said they would consider the requests and that referrals and further detail would be provided at subsequent hearings to inform budget decisions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Toledo - Finance, Debt & Budget Oversight Committee on 2025-08-27 4:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Several council members submitted midyear requests including a $7,500 allocation for a reconstituted Hispanic Affairs Commission, funding to hire a consultant for local landmark designations, and a study to guide reuse of city-owned vacant lots.","taxTitle","Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio","taxId",2665,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6491134,"Toledo staff propose $15,000 city match for urban-ag microgrant pilot; Lucas County Land Bank to match",895,2242000,3137000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5690188-81226762e9ee73cd08ccf0fd3566e0d4&start=2242&end=3137","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5690188-81226762e9ee73cd08ccf0fd3566e0d4/thumbnail_2242000.jpg","/articles/6491134/Toledo/Lucas-County/Ohio/Toledo-staff-propose-15000-city-match-for-urban-ag-microgrant-pilot-Lucas-County-Land-Bank-to-match","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6491134-967a0d4374566f54fae47615dd1482d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442862&Signature=cEQpDZh4KjSX6n3MN0H5X6FNLTW2-jJfUrdJfG~fB58QnytsdPlrlkiX~462U2m2ACh2FWySjvj-UZAoKjxO-JPKNiiU~I~g0dPGYnaRNcfM0kopwqp1IhYovHyHjlJqaq9v2gdazMm3ZMQk0jhN8wp6OaKzLSrZuBSA7rsE-gyarrhdlqprjJen06a8-kHffNPpsFZa0BtFGEssqGWRplaBOFulC06JbX03-wpykU2pU5srT7QuAzDzcip39bakuYyI6GhSkeJbIsXSz91s9MUeN1sqvlNS3pK6iVoh9DT55relxta3jK99L1SlgHUZEZEocCttaS-1u12DrNvhVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mara Momoni, Toledo's newly hired food policy manager, presented a proposal to create an Urban Agriculture Microgrant Program and requested $15,000 from the city to seed a $30,000 pilot (the Lucas County Land Bank has committed to match the city contribution).

Momoni said the pilot would award grants of $1,500 to $3,000 to small-scale growers, community groups, farmer collectives and qualifying for-profit or nonprofit operators. The program's goals are to transform underutilized land into food-producing sites, increase access to fresh produce in neighborhoods with limited grocery access, and support processing, cooling and distribution capacity for small operators.

\"The number 1 barrier to starting a farm is land access,\" Momoni said, summarizing findings from more than 60 interviews with local growers and food-system stakeholders. She identified practical needs the grants would cover: soil testing, hoop houses and high tunnels, irrigation and water access, tools and equipment, compost and farm inputs, site remediation or raised beds where contamination is a concern, washing/processing infrastructure, and modest support for labor, insurance and bookkeeping.

The draft program favors projects located in areas with documented food-access barriers and operations under five acres; it also proposes simplified reporting and a committee to evaluate applications that would include land bank representation. Momoni proposed a timeline to refine program criteria this fall, review applications in winter and begin implementation in the spring growing season.

Council members broadly supported the pilot. Councilmember Driscoll framed the idea as similar to the city's facade and white-box grants and said it could put vacant lots to productive use. Councilwoman Williams and others urged that local growers who already operate in Toledo be engaged; Williams specifically named several established local growers and said the city should leverage existing local expertise. Several members requested referral information about other city or county programs and longer-term budget implications before committing ongoing funding.

Ending: Staff said they would provide comparative examples and future-year cost estimates by referral and seek stakeholder feedback if the pilot is funded.","Mara Momoni, the city's new food policy manager, asked the Finance Committee to fund a $15,000 pilot microgrant program (matched by the Lucas County Land Bank) to support urban growers with grants of $1,500\t3,000 for infrastructure, soil testing, distribution and related needs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6491139,"Administration details midyear adjustment package including $200,000 for Riverside mobile-home demolition",231,1676000,1907000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5690188-81226762e9ee73cd08ccf0fd3566e0d4&start=1676&end=1907","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5690188-81226762e9ee73cd08ccf0fd3566e0d4/thumbnail_1676000.jpg","/articles/6491139/Toledo/Lucas-County/Ohio/Administration-details-midyear-adjustment-package-including-200000-for-Riverside-mobile-home-demolition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6491139-d41e6e9f3ba97bc3f4243ba277beb60d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442862&Signature=LwphMyse72iTHGV3IQ4Ko3xn47uGNumjNr094P-9jUa8mFxmttzcTDQYi3teU6ILmCpXFHuzLy6CP7FWgG8fpmNVAW6GJSed6Kbw0Xe7X6GdcQFvdrZZ2kqeqFSqAvBvitjpKkvl3C-EGNOTWIi~RfJTV16ypAaLpywp36Y6x6N32nYAkxRbjTBNFLcwXk0WSgOCl0VNq4FmdI~YPwt8i0tjrU1rTi08eAf2hJLBx7~NKpwehysS74lMraCnJeWw27l5ActNmJwzmTsfAC7crXz7I8T0xMO7o8KCOgtmN~jS3rm4IOUEfjxPYoRGO-Td~JIegH1oo2U9VnJrcdGoKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The administration presented its proposed midyear budget adjustments to the Finance Committee, describing a multi-fund package that would increase general-fund appropriations by $10,040,000 and add funds to other operating accounts.

A staff presenter described the largest components as reallocations for the Toledo Municipal Clerk of Courts and judges' offices (net zero within those units) and $9.4 million added for police and fire wages tied to recently approved bargaining agreements and retroactive pay. The presenter also listed a $200,000 allocation for urban beautification to cover demolition at the Riverside Mobile Home Park and a $40,000 increase for the ongoing antflow contract. Fire department ALS medical supplies were increased by $400,000 to reflect year-to-date expenditure trends.

Other changes include a $100,000 CIP increase for Pontiac Preserve improvements, reallocated parts-and-materials savings to complete light repairs in the SCM and R fund (net zero), an approximately $3.2 million increase in the Division of Water operating fund for chemicals, electricity and contract repairs at the ozone plant, and an increase in Toledo Public Power's budget to reflect higher usage year-to-date. Staff described the general-fund package as largely funding wage obligations arising from recently approved bargaining agreements and addressing operational variances that have appeared in year-to-date reporting.

Committee members asked for follow-up detail on some items: Council Vice Chair Driscoll asked when the capital fund transfer occurs (year-end closing); Councilwoman Williams asked whether bids had been issued for the Riverside demolition (bids had not been issued; staff said the city's internal demolition team estimated about $200,000 using a contractor); and other members requested referrals to provide additional detail on specific CIP and ARPA-funded projects.

Ending: Staff said the midyear package was introduced at council agenda review and that follow-up information and referrals would be provided to council members to support final action in the formal budget processes.","The administration presented a midyear adjustment package that would add $10.04 million to the general fund and includes citywide reallocations and targeted increases for public safety wages, fire medical supplies, a Riverside mobile-home park demolition, and water-fund operational needs.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6491144,"Toledo finance committee reviews July revenue, hears tax update; auditor's internal audit plan adopted",0,296000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5690188-81226762e9ee73cd08ccf0fd3566e0d4&start=296&end=296","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5690188-81226762e9ee73cd08ccf0fd3566e0d4/thumbnail_296000.jpg","/articles/6491144/Toledo/Lucas-County/Ohio/Toledo-finance-committee-reviews-July-revenue-hears-tax-update-auditors-internal-audit-plan-adopted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6491144-8db6cb624be52eee4241b63cc9251556/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442862&Signature=BN8fYsU1Tv-3hJR24Q2h-PqZ1EPOZFJGYIGTi9hxNM4kjPzO92wMZRPFMfoY5ChRTMymfop3mT5zwv3N8n9IrECszFpQ6JzTrdQekVCtMbRAzb8s97QRapQpNi-Z9rZx1kNYDVbgSUlrV7bDQVJBfJvuUep-kci0I22fNqne10ecITAD1dJcw2cKh18FQYAnuUzfWmlwMgIbNMZcwsm1mN1dKLUwO7-e2yasBxvEoBQZ4feF~Tc4iu-K698xK4ult0LTs2z1HTUwtN7NI7yfOd5Bp36sPHm-jidxhuwQLEEthkxM9FipRzJkEi1YTgXCe7SLd9msWCuLA3WDLNHaQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a regular monthly meeting, the Toledo Finance Committee reviewed July revenue and expenditure reports and received an income-tax update from Tax Commissioner John Zavisha. The committee also adopted the city auditor's internal audit plan covering July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.

The update from Tax Commissioner John Zavisha showed withholding roughly in line with last year. \"We're about even with last year, we were down slightly less than 63,000,\" Zavisha told the committee, and he said withholding was up $332,000 (2.3%) for the month of July. He said business net-profit payments were up about $1.9 million for the month, but that 82% of that growth reflected a single company whose payment was booked earlier this year than last. Zavisha flagged a possible timing issue in the individual net-profits category that he said he would monitor.

Zavisha reported refunds through July 31 of just shy of $2.9 million, running about 8% higher than last year and projecting to roughly $5.8 million for the year; the administration set aside $6.0 million for refunds. He also noted the IRS-unit's recent operational changes and preparations to refer some cases to the Ohio Attorney General in late third quarter or early fourth quarter. He described the practical effect of a referral: federal or state refunds due a taxpayer could be intercepted by the Ohio Attorney General and paid to the city; the attorney general charges a 10% collection fee, Zavisha said.

The committee heard an overview of general-fund performance: the report showed the city at about 52% of the year-to-date revenue estimate, with property taxes and a second-quarter casino payment on schedule. Charges for services were at about 64% of budget, driven in part by higher-than-expected ALS and EMS billing collections. The report also attributed an increase in the \"other revenue\" line to PFAS settlement proceeds earlier in the year.

On expenditures, staff said labor costs are running ahead of budget because of recently approved bargaining agreements with retroactive pay for police and fire; the packet included a forthcoming budget amendment to address those costs. Staff reported overtime overall is under budget and that pension, employment-tax and health-care increases (notably prescription-drug costs) remain areas to monitor.

City Auditor John Ryvalski asked the committee to adopt his office's internal audit plan for 07/01/2025\t6/30/2026. Ryvalski said the plan includes three internal audits: the city grass-cutting program (to assess vendor monitoring and complaint handling), asset management (physical assets and expendable inventory controls), and cash-and-receipt handling (controls over petty cash and small-scale cash operations). A committee member moved adoption and, by unanimous consent with no recorded roll call, the committee adopted the plan.

The committee packet also included all-funds and CIP summaries, updates on HUD 108 loan activity tied to two projects (Swainfield and the Delta Hotel), and a reminder that the state audit had not yet been released but was expected in the coming weeks. With no further business and no members of the public requesting to speak, the meeting adjourned.

Ending: The finance staff said it will continue monitoring withholding and refund timing, follow up on the IRS-unit's implementation with the Ohio Attorney General, and bring the auditor's performance-measure audit to the next Finance Committee meeting.","At its regular monthly meeting, the Toledo Finance Committee reviewed July revenue and expenditure reports, heard an income-tax update from Tax Commissioner John Zavisha about withholding and IRS-unit activity, and adopted the city auditor's internal audit plan for July 1, 2025\t6/30/2026.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council members propose landmarking consultant, vacant-lot reuse study and small grants

Toledo staff propose $15,000 city match for urban-ag microgrant pilot; Lucas County Land Bank to match

Administration details midyear adjustment package including $200,000 for Riverside mobile-home demolition

Toledo finance committee reviews July revenue, hears tax update; auditor's internal audit plan adopted