Here is the agenda for today’s (10/5/20) City Council Meeting. Due to the directives surrounding COVID-19, the Council will be meeting via Zoom this evening but you will be able to watch the video of both the work session, the budget meeting and the regular session at the City’s YouTube page.

The videos are now broadcast live at this URL so if you tune in at 6:30pm for the work session and 8pm regular session, you can watch the Council meeting live: https://www.youtube.com/CityofBedfordOH

The public will be able to submit any questions, comments or concerns to citymanager@bedfordoh.gov which will be monitored throughout the meeting.  Please feel free to send you questions ahead of time. 

Mayor Koci, City Council and the Administration will answer / reply during the public comments portion of the meeting.  Once again, thank you for your cooperation, understanding and partnership during these unprecedented times.

Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to the City of Bedford YouTube channel (big red subscribe button below the video). If you subscribe, you will get a notification when the live video starts as well as getting a link to watch it later.

In the Work Session, we will be discussing:

  • The Regular Session agenda
  • Fences – We will be discussing the height requirement and should it be changed. The discussion is in relation to being able to protect plants from deer, which can jump a 6’ tall fence from standing. Bedford’s laws limit fences to 6’ tall.
  • Historic Preservation Board – A review of the ordinance that governs this board found the ordinance to be lacking in how the board should operate and could possibly be putting the City at risk for a lawsuit. The Council will be reviewing that board to determine how it will function going forward.
  • Budget dates – Just deciding when we will meet to go over budgets.

In the Regular Session, we will be voting on:

  • Amending Ordinance 6950-97 Section 1341.19 entitled “Removal of Weeds by Owner, Occupant; Notice” – This update clarifies this law and makes allowances for front yard gardens.
  • Amending §911.03 “Rate Reduction for Disabled Persons and Senior Citizens”
  • amending Ordinance No. 9546-17 concerning Section 913.02 “Sewer Rates.” – This and the next 2 items are just annual clean up. The income numbers on the ordinances need to be updated to reflect new income levels. There will also be the annual rate increase to cover inflation and expected expenses.
  • Amending Ordinance No. 9637-18 concerning Section 913.03 “Rate Reduction for Senior Citizens and Permanently Disabled.”
  • Replacing Ord. No: 7780-05 Relating to Water Rates
  • Amending Section 351.18 “Truck Parking In Residential Areas” – This change is in response to the discussion in the last Work session regarding RVs being parked on the street and causing problems. Most vehicles that size are banned from street parking and this just updates the law to cover more modern vehicles
  • Initiate energy improvements conducted by Gardiner – Gardiner came in about a year ago and assessed the City buildings for ways to improve energy efficiency. Most of these improvements will be paid for by grants.
  • Repeal Criminal Activity Nuisance law – The City was sued by ACLU over this law. As part of the settlement, the CIty has agreed to repeal this law.
  • Giving permission to apply for a NOACA grant through TLCI. This is a grant for making transportation improvements to the City. I believe they would like to use this one to put in charging stations for electric cars.