Matthew Cleland

The agenda for the board meeting includes non-resolution board items such as the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a consent agenda. Consideration of reports covers the 2025 Programming Update and the Treasurer's Report, which details revenues, expenditures, fund balances as of December 31, 2025, and fund advances. The board approval section includes numerous resolutions for 2026 blanket purchase orders for various services (e.g., utilities, insurance, bank fees), funding requests through external agencies (e.g., Ohio EPA, National Environmental Education Foundation), contract approvals (e.g., Electrical Supply Service, WGTE Public Media), and revisions to Board Governance Policies and Bylaws. Discussions from the floor involved public input on data centers and the potential elimination of a trail segment, as well as acknowledging the retirement of a long-serving employee.

The meeting agenda included standard non-resolution items such as the Pledge of Allegiance. The consent agenda proposed blanket approval for items, including the reading and disposition of minutes from the December 17, 2025, regular board meeting. Reports scheduled for consideration covered the 2025 Programming Update and the Treasurer's Report. The agenda also detailed numerous resolutions for board approval, involving the ratification of payables for December and January, approval/authorization for electrical supply service contract, establishing a payroll clearing fund, and requests for funding through various agencies including the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Ohio Department of Agriculture, and the National Environmental Education Foundation. Further approvals included an agreement with WGTE Public Media, rejection of bids for two projects (Providence Metropark West Pedestrian Bridge Replacement and Glass City Metropark Mini Maumee Water Play Underground Vault Equipment Replacement), contract amendments for Glass City Riverwalk services, revisions to Board Governance Policies and Bylaws regarding purchases, and contract approvals for forestry mulching and hardwood tree removal. Additionally, approval was sought to engage a consultant for programming at Providence Metropark and the Manor House.

This document outlines the 2025-2026 Deer Management Plan for Metroparks Toledo, addressing ecological impacts from deer overabundance and requesting a Deer Damage Control Permit for 2026. The plan details management areas, specific reasons for the program, population estimates, desired long-term goals for reducing damage and sustaining biodiversity, and management techniques including culling and controlled archery. It emphasizes an integrated evaluation approach using aerial surveys, browse damage assessments, and plant monitoring.

The Board Meeting agenda included routine items such as the Pledge of Allegiance and a Consent Agenda, followed by consideration of reports from the Director and CFO/Treasurer. Key reports covered the Metroparks Toledo Cityworks Implementation and the Treasurer's Report, which included budget vs. actual comparisons as of November 30, 2023. The primary focus was on numerous resolutions involving board approvals, contracts, deeds, and agreements. These approvals included ratifying the Schedule of Payables (Resolution No. 85-23), amending previous resolutions to increase blanket purchase orders for legal services from Marshall & Melhorn, LLC (Resolution No. 86-23) and for 2023 recycling and waste disposal services (Resolution No. 87-23). The board also addressed several financial measures for 2024, including the 2024 Annual Appropriation Measure and establishing use/amount of blanket purchase orders for 2024. Furthermore, approvals covered ratifications of land purchases and contracts for timber sales and playground surfacing installation. Board initiated topics included introductions of new staff and recognition of staff receiving professional awards.

The agenda for the Regular Board Meeting included Non-Resolution Board Items such as the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the Consent Agenda for which a blanket approval motion was proposed, excluding items removed for separate discussion. Key reports included the Metroparks GIS presentation on map benefits and the Treasurer's Report. Board Approvals involved several resolutions addressing financial adjustments, including supplementing the 2022 Certificate of Estimated Resources and Appropriations Measure for various funds (e.g., increasing appropriations for summer programs, debt service principal/interest, and Glass City Riverwalk construction). Other contract approvals covered Playground Surfacing replacement at Pearson Metropark and revisions to Park District Rules and Regulations. The session also included an Executive Session to review the status update concerning negotiations for park district collective bargaining units.