Mary Ann Hellinger

The council reviewed committee reports regarding municipal finance, park activities, and public safety. Key updates included the status of infrastructure projects like water line replacements and road improvements, the pursuit of grant funding for pedestrian safety, and fleet management updates. Extensive public commentary addressed community concerns about zoning developments, including traffic, flooding, and infrastructure needs. The council formally rejected a zoning map amendment for a planned unit development and approved an invoice for pre-construction services related to the Veterans Memorial project.

This document outlines the Safe Routes to School Travel Plan for Ontario Local Schools, aiming to establish walking and biking as safe, connected, and convenient transportation options for the community. The plan identifies key barriers to active transportation, including inadequate infrastructure, unsafe intersections, limited awareness of benefits, increased traffic, and the absence of encouragement activities. It proposes a combination of infrastructure enhancements and non-infrastructure programs, structured around the 'E's' (Engineering, Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, Evaluation), to overcome these challenges and promote student safety and health.

The council reviewed committee reports concerning sewer connection legislation, financial budget preparations, and upcoming municipal recreation events. The Service-Safety Director provided updates on infrastructure projects, including waterline bid openings, bridge closures, and brush collection schedules. The Mayor discussed community programs such as transit route pilots and the Hometown Hero Banner application process. Public commentary focused on concerns regarding traffic studies for local road projects, queries about land leases, and the impacts of proposed zoning changes. The council adopted resolutions concerning the school travel plan and the city paving program, and considered an ordinance to amend the official zoning map.

Key discussions included committee reports, with the Safety Committee meeting in executive session and a Parks/Finance Committee meeting scheduled for February. The Mayor reported on the conclusion of environmental actions for the Wilson property, the opening of Hometown Hero Banner applications, and the filling of the bailiff position with a retired officer. The Service-Safety Director reported on ordering a replacement salt spreader following a truck accident and submitting requests for letters of support for an intersection study on Walker Lake Road and Lexington Springmill Road. Conceptual plans from ODOT for the Home Road/State Route 309 bridge were also reviewed. The Treasurer discussed monthly financial reports, including interest, tax, and occupancy tax details. Public commentary included thanks to the police department for assistance following a local incident. A public hearing was held regarding a proposal by Redwood USA, LLC to build a single-story apartment rental neighborhood, requiring a rezone from R-2 to PUD across 15 acres of Mansfield property and 80 units in Ontario. The developer detailed plans for construction, management, maintenance standards, site access, utility upgrades, and applicant screening processes. The Council also considered and adopted Ordinance No. 26-05, awarding a contract for a snow and ice package for a new truck, and accepted Resolution No. 26-02 concerning the 2026 Ontario School Travel Plan.

The Council meeting featured committee reports, including discussions by the Economic Development Committee on improving business relationships and the Streets Committee approving nine road resurfacing projects for 2026. The Mayor reported on the approval of a new computer server purchase order, mandatory Cyber Security Training, attendance at the Mayoral Vision 2026 Conference, the approval of contracting Burton Planning Services for the safe route to school grant utilizing a four-grant plan, traffic light part sourcing issues, and the deadline for Hometown Hero banner applications. The Service-Safety Director reported on the completion of repairs to Well #2, acknowledgment of plow truck driver efforts during cold weather, addressing three watermain breaks, presenting the 2025 Cemetery Report, exploring upgrades for outdated traffic signal equipment, reviewing the Traffic Impact Study for Redwood Development and Chic-fil-A, collecting quotes for the City Hall backup generator repair, and scheduling required safety training. Public commentary included discussions on attendance issues, concerns regarding the traffic study for the Redwood project, and inquiries about zoning laws for the Walker Lake Road intersection. A representative from Redwood USA, LLC detailed material specifications, site plan requests, inspection protocols for drainage systems, escrow requirements, projected tax contributions, unit occupancy statistics, the preference for a PUD structure, rental attractiveness factors, management staffing, the absence of security cameras, restrictions on subleasing, and rent calculation methodologies. A Traffic Engineer presented traffic study results for Walker Lake Road, focusing on peak hour counts and turn lane warrants based on ODOT guidelines. Key actions included the second reading of Resolution No. 26-02 accepting the 2026 Ontario School Travel Plan and the first reading of Ordinance No. 26-06 regarding the zoning map change to Planned Unit Development for the Walker Lake Road project.