MANSFIELD — Continued discussion on a “Miracle Mile” cruising crackdown. Resurfacing work at the Clear Fork Reservoir. Initial work on the 2025 water main replacement program. Improvements on Ohio 13 from U.S. 30 to South Airport Road.
And 15 other pieces of legislation, including a moratorium on recreational marijuana dispensaries.
It’s going to be a busy Tuesday evening for Mansfield City Council, which cancelled its scheduled April 2 session due to predicted inclement weather that caused much of north central Ohio to pause for an evening.
It all starts with a public utilities committee meeting at 6 p.m. to discuss the water main plan and the “municipal building improvement project.” There is no legislation scheduled Tuesday evening for that project.
There is a streets committee meeting planned at 6:10 p.m. and a public affairs committee at 6:20 p.m. to discuss the city administration’s finalized plan for 2024-2028 federal Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership Program funds.
Council is scheduled to begin its caucus at 7 p.m. Its legislative session, which is normally when public comment is allowed, is scheduled to begin immediately after caucus.
(Below is a PDF with scheduled legislation for Mansfield City Council on Tuesday evening.)
Among items on the agenda, local lawmakers are expected to:
— vote on an ordinance amending current laws reducing the height at which weeds become illegal, and also make it more expensive for property owners if the city has to have lots mowed.
There are exceptions made for “native plants,” provided there is “purposeful maintenance.”
According to the change, “the city shall allow and encourage the purposeful
maintenance of native plants that can be left unmowed without a height limit on a case by case basis, based on visual inspection that allows for such growth when a reasonable number of the following cues are present:
(1) Clean edges and boundaries such as mown strips along bordering properties, pathways, driveways and sidewalks, except the tree lawn and within 6 feet of a public street
(2) Fences and borders
(3) Obvious regular maintenance is occurring
(4) Flowering plants and trees
(5) Wildlife feeders and houses
(6) Familiar layouts and design elements
— give a first read to a proposed crackdown on “cruising” on the so-called “Miracle Mile, reducing weekend evening “cruising” in the area along Park Avenue West between Home and Trimble roads.
— vote on a proposal to appropriate $30,000 from the water fund to repair and resurface the Clear Fork Reservoir marina parking lot, campground entrance and boat ramps.
— honor recently retired Mansfield Fire Department Assistant Chief Jim Bishop for 30 years of service to the city.
— vote on the appointment of Ellen Heinz to fill an unexpired term on the Downtown Improvement Advisory Board.
related reading
— discuss during caucus allowing the city public works director to enter into a contract for engineering services for a 2025 water main replacement program. The work will use funds generated by a 0.25-percent municipal income tax voters approved in the March primary.
— vote on a proposal allowing the public works director to enter into a contract for engineering services to study needed road improvements on Ohio 13 from U.S. 30 to South Airport Road. The legislation said the Richland County Regional Planning Commission has funds from the Federal Highway Administration to pay for 90 percent of the study. The remainder of the study will be funded through the city’s permissive sales tax proceeds.
