OML UPDATE AT-A-GLANCE
 
Here are the top things you need to know from this past week:
 
-       Cybersecurity is an evolving and critical challenge to Ohio’s municipal leaders. On March 31 from 9 a.m., the Ohio Innovation and Technology Association (OITA) is holding the 2022 Cybersecurity Summit to discuss cybersecurity challenges and goals with state leaders including Lt. Governor Husted, Secretary of State LaRose, Attorney General Yost. The event is free to attend, and you can find the event flyer HERE for more information and registration. Click HERE for the full event agenda.
 
·        On Tuesday, the House Ways and Means Committee held a fourth hearing on HB 519, legislation that weakens enforcement efforts and compliance requirements for the filing of municipal income tax returns. The committee adopted an amendment before voting the bill out of committee by a vote of 13-3. Read more in the article below.
 
·        On Tuesday, the House State and Local Government Committee held a third hearing for opponent testimony on HB 563, which is sponsored by Reps. Fowler Arthur (R- Geneva-on-the-Lake) and Ferguson (R- Wintersville) which preempts Ohio’s municipalities from regulating short term rental properties such as Airbnb operations in residential neighborhoods. Over 60 local officials presented opponent testimony including the league, expressing opposition to this unnecessary and anti-democratic bill. Read more in the article below for greater detail.
 
·        On Wednesday, the House Insurance Committee held a first hearing on HB 512, sponsored by Rep. Abrams (R – Harrison) and Rep. Baldrige (R – Winchester) which would increase the employer contribution rates to the Ohio Police and Firefighter Fund (OP&F), costing Ohio’s cities and villages hundreds of millions of dollars. You can find the bill language HERE and the LSC Fiscal Analysis HERE. Read more in the article below.
 
·        On Wednesday, Governor DeWine delivered his State of the State Address in the Ohio House Chambers. As part of the Governor’s speech, he outlined the successes, opportunities and challenges ahead for the state. Read the article below to learn more about how the wonderful things happening in our state are the direct result of the achievements of Ohio’s municipal leaders.
 
·        This week, President Biden announced that the United States will welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainians and other displaced people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. Last week, Governor DeWine held the Ohio Summit on Ukrainian Refugees, which covered information Ohio communities should be aware of related to the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees in our communities. OML’s Mayor’s Association of Ohio President and OML Board member, Sidney’s Mike Barhorst, attended the summit and provides important information in the article below.
 
·        The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has announced the first “common application” for three major USDOT programs. The application deadline for Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG) Opportunity is Monday, May 23, 2022. For more information, read the article below.
 
·        The Ohio Redistricting Commission has brought in independent mapmakers after the Ohio Supreme Court once again rejected a third attempt by majority members of the Commission to draw new state legislative districts. The Commission is charged with creating and presenting to the Ohio Supreme Court a new map by March 28. Secretary of State LaRose has issued a directive to county boards of elections to remove candidates for the state legislature and state central committees from the May 3 primary ballot because a federal court did not approve the use of a previous district map. Additionally, late last week, the Ohio Supreme Court rejected the challenges to the latest congressional map due to issues of procedure. Another challenge was filed against the map on Tuesday.
 
·        The National League of Cities (NLC) has released new resources from the U.S. Treasury Department on reporting and guidance related to American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) specifically for Non-Entitlement Units of local government (NEU’s). Learn more in the article below.
 
·        Bricker & Eckler LLP is hosting the 14th Annual Construction Procurement for Public Entities in Ohio. This event is specifically designed for Ohio public owners and covers the project delivery methods available for public construction projects and when competitive bidding is required. Read more below for dates and registration information.
 
·        Registration is open for the Municipal Finance Officers Association of Ohio (MFOA) 2022 Annual Conference! The conference will be held in-person Wednesday, May 18 through Friday, May 20. The event will be held at the Marriott Columbus Northwest located at 5605 Blazer Parkway in Dublin, Ohio. As always CPE, CPIM and FIA credit will be offered for participants. To learn more and to register, click HERE.
 
  
GOVERNOR DEWINE DELIVERS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS REVIEWING SUCCESS STORIES LARGELY OF OHIO’S MUNICIPALITIES
 
On Wednesday, Governor DeWine delivered his State of the State Address for the first time in three years. Throughout his remarks, the Governor praised Ohio’s accomplishments in areas such as economic development, broadband expansion, public safety, education and manufacturing. It was difficult to not reflect that during the Governor’s litany of areas of success Ohio has achieved in the three years since the last address, that these achievements have all occurred or are occurring in municipalities as a result of the hard work by Ohio’s cities and villages and the leadership of our local leaders.
 
Although there were many applause lines in the Governor’s speech, none was larger or more robust by the standing ovation given by the members of Ohio’s when the Governor proclaimed unwavering support and funding for law enforcement and Ohio’s police officers. The important component of that recognition is that of the nearly 17,500 law enforcement officers in Ohio, almost 15,000 of those are municipal police officers employed and paid by Ohio city and village budgets. 
 
Governor DeWine rightfully praised the current generation of law enforcement officers as “the most educated, best trained, and most technologically savvy individuals to ever work in the profession.” That is because municipalities dedicate approximately 70% of their entire local budget to funding and supporting Ohio’s first responders. Ohio municipalities are funding Ohio’s policing efforts and should be rightfully recognized for providing this critical service in addition to the support from the state and federal governments. 
 
The Governor spoke to the cultural advantages that make Ohioans attractive to residents saying, “No matter where you live in Ohio, you’re within driving distance of amazing art, theater, and
major league sports teams.” These cultural advantages are predominately located in municipal corporations and are the product of the vision of Ohio’s municipal leaders, their determination and investment in the future of our state and communities.
 
Local leaders have been and remain committed to addressing critical issues impacting the lives of Ohioans with investment in efforts to identify and replace lead pipes, cleaning up brownfields and expanding access to broadband – all accomplishments that were mentioned by the Governor in his address. The partnership with the state is critical to future successes and greater investments in Ohio’s hometowns would garner greater results through the full restoration of the Local Government Fund (LGF) as a significant resource for continued success in these areas. 
 
On Ohio’s economic development front, Governor DeWine touted the fact that, “People are returning to the heartland; they are coming to Ohio because we have lower taxes, strong business climate and a good regulatory environment”. Ohio’s economy is surging, bond ratings are as high as they have ever been, and unemployment is only at 4.3%. The facts cannot be ignored that 80% of all business activity in the state occurs in a municipality, and over 85% of the state’s revenue collections are generated by commercial and business activity that occurs in Ohio municipalities. The success of Ohio’s businesses is directly related to the efforts of Ohio’s municipal leaders. With over 11.5 million Ohioans calling a city or village home, families choose to live in a municipality that provides stable and dependable services with unlimited opportunities for the future. The direct source of the strong business environment Ohio is experiencing, such as low taxes and common-sense regulatory authorities, are all derived from the achievements of Ohio’s municipalities.   
 
The OML and our members agree with the Governor when he announced to Ohioans and members of the General Assembly present for his State of the State speech that “There is simply no better place to raise a family than Ohio and no better place that provides more opportunity than Ohio.” The final line to that should be: "thanks in large part to the tremendous work by Ohio’s municipal leaders”! 
 

 
HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE PASSES MUNICIPAL INCOME TAX PREEMPTION LEGISLATION
 
On Tuesday, the Ohio House Ways and Means Committee amended and passed out of committee HB 519, legislation sponsored by Rep. Roemer (R – Richfield) and Rep. Lanesse (R-Grove City) which would significantly interfere with the ability of Ohio’s cities and villages to appropriately enforce filing requirements of municipal tax obligations and disrupts the ability of municipalities to communicate directly with their taxpayers.
 
During Tuesday’s hearing, the committee adopted an amendment which was previously attempted in committee by the bill’s sponsor limiting the maximum fine for failure to timely file the required municipal tax return from the current level of $150 down to $25 or 50% of the tax due and limits the cap to 50% of the unpaid tax if the amount of the unpaid tax is less than $150. Additionally, the amendment mandates that all fees for first-time offenses be waved and that municipalities are prohibited from communicating with the taxpayer of any outstanding filing requirement until the six months after the original filing deadline, usually on or after October 15, if the taxpayer has requested and received a filing extension from the federal government. Committee members were told in testimony by the League at a previous committee hearing that 99% of Ohio’s municipalities do not receive notification or have access to information alerting them that their municipal taxpayer has received a federal extension. You can find the amendment HERE and the updated Legislative Service Commission (LSC) Analysis HERE.
 
The League does not support the amended language and continues to object to the interference this bill will cause in the administration of the single largest revenue source for a city or village. We believe the $25 is too low to be an effective compliance measure for tax administrators to ensure uniformity and transparency for all their municipal filers. We also oppose the new preemption the bill would place upon municipalities by mandating that an automatic waiver be granted for a first-time offense as this is a matter of local control and that authority should be preserved and retained to the tax administrator’s discretion. The now-amended bill preserves the ambiguous and poorly written language which allows taxpayers who receive a communication from the city in error to recover “reasonable costs” against the municipality for such an egregious communication. This opens additional revenue loss and unnecessary micromanaging of municipal collection and enforcement efforts.
 
The League greatly appreciates the efforts of ranking Minority Member Rep. Sobecki (D – Toledo), who offered an amendment that would have eliminated language preventing municipal tax administrators from sending notices regarding missing filing return before the federal extension deadline on October 16 and would have removed the language allowing for the recovery of reasonable costs associated with the communication. To the detriment of this attempt to restore balance to the proposal and lessen the opposition of the League, the committee rejected the amendment on party line votes.
 
The bill will now go before the full House of Representatives for a vote. We strongly encourage our members to continue to contact their legislators and to communicate with members of the Ohio Senate, where the bill will be presented for additional legislative action.
 
 
 
OML & DOZENS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS TESTIFY AGAINST SHORT-TERM RENTAL PREEMPTION BILL
 
On Tuesday, the House State and Local Government Committee held a third hearing on HB 563, sponsored by Rep. Fowler-Arthur (R – Rock Creek) and Rep. Ferguson (R – Wintersville), which would prevent the ability of municipalities and other local governments to enforce current or future regulation of short-term rental properties within their community including the number, duration and frequency of rental periods. If enacted, the legislation would gut the ability of citizens, stakeholders and local leaders to work together, as they currently do, to determine the appropriate location and operational conditions for these types of businesses in order to preserve the property rights of all members of the community.
 
In addition to the League, almost 60 opponents submitted testimony expressing their opposition to this preemption of local control and the continued harm done to Ohio’s local authorities by the state continuing to micromanage decisions that rightfully belong in the domain of local control. Opponents expressed their concern for the property of their residents who choose to live in a quiet, single-family residential neighborhood where relationships are fostered among neighbors and support property values and cooperation when any potential challenges arise. Local leaders are experiencing an uptick in complaints and concerns for the increase in out-of-state investors, who are often difficult to reach, purchasing single-family properties and converting them into commercial enterprises, disrupting the tranquility of neighborhoods. Current local authorities provide remedies for these challenges to homeowners’ right to preserve their property values and ensure a stable and safe environment for families to flourish and communities to bond. You can access all opponent testimony HERE.
 
HB 563 presents a solution where there is no problem by preempting local governments from regulating or prohibiting the use of short-term rental properties and would prevent enforcement of current and existing ordinances as well as any future regulatory attempts on this type of commercial activity in single-family residential neighborhoods. The bill does not address the disproportionate advantages short-term rental properties such as Airbnb’s receive by not being subject to Ohio’s Hotel and Lodgings tax, which directly supports the municipal services received by the businesses, and further limits the authority of local government to regulate these properties. You can read the bill’s analysis HERE.
 
We urge our members to continue to contact their representatives and express their opposition to this legislation as a clear violation of Home Rule authority that would prohibit municipalities from creating necessary regulations that protect the best interest of the residents in each individual community.
 
 
FIRST HEARING HELD ON LEGISLATION INCREASING OP&F EMPLOYER RATE
 
On Wednesday, the House Insurance Committee held the first hearing for sponsor testimony on HB 512. The bill, which is sponsored by Rep. Abrams (R – Harrison) and Rep. Baldrige (R – Winchester), would increase the required employer contribution rates to the Ohio Police and Firefighter Fund. You can find the sponsor’s testimonies HERE.
 
The proposal would increase the rates that cities and villages pay for retirement contributions to the Ohio Police and Firefighter Fund to 26.5% for both police and fire, compared to the current contribution rates of 19.5% for police and 24% for firefighters. The increase would happen incrementally over five years. You can read the bill language HERE.
 
The cost of this increase would be borne by local governments and would total hundreds of millions of dollars. According to the Legislative Service Commission (LSC) Fiscal Analysis, “the estimated additional contribution costs for such employers statewide would be about $23.4 million in calendar year (CY) 2023: approximately $17.6 million for employing police officers and $5.8 million for employing firefighters. After the contribution rate increases are fully phased in in CY 2027, the estimated additional costs for employers statewide would be about $117 million per year."
 
Municipalities are still recovering from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and many cities across the state face continued revenue losses as employers institute permanent work-from-home policies. Even as the economic recovery is ongoing, municipalities are continuing to provide Ohioans and businesses with critical local services while facing uncertain revenue projections for the future and experiencing financial challenges related to inflationary increases.
 
There is a concerning narrative in certain conversations that irresponsibly portray Ohio local government’s fiscal concerns as having been resolved by recent actions taken by the federal government and that communities are free of financial challenges, both currently and into the future. While municipalities have received limited and bifurcated federal aid, those funds have only provided marginal and temporary stabilization for local budgets and in no way are resources that communities will be the beneficiary of into the future. Those revenues were meant to serve as critical, stop-gap stabilization efforts for businesses, communities and individuals and are temporary, one-time only sources of funding with significant restrictions placed upon their use through qualifying eligible categories of expenditures enforced by the federal government. HB 512 would create significant revenue loss and disruption for municipalities of every size in Ohio and will not address the challenges the supporters have identified as being the genesis for the legislative proposal.
 
We strongly encourage our members to continue to contact their members of their state legislative delegation (House and Senate) and impress upon them the significant financial challenges HB 512 will cause for their municipalities and urge them to oppose this bill.
 
 
OHIO SUMMIT ON UKRAINIAN REFUGEES CONVENES
TO PREPARE STATE & LOCAL OFFICIALS FOR REFUGEE PLACEMENTS

Last week, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine opened the Ohio Summit on Ukrainian Refugees at St. Vladimir Grand Hall in Parma. Hosted by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), the event brought together various organizations to ensure Ohio is ready to help should it be asked to accept Ukrainian refugees. More than 110 people attended, representing at least 60 organizations, including resettlement agencies, faith-based organizations, charities and others with an interest in the well-being of Ukrainians. They heard presentations from federal and state officials, as well as panel discussions regarding the resettlement process and the refugee experience. In attendance was current OML Board member and President of OML’s Mayors Association of Ohio, Sidney’s Mike Barhorst. President Barhorst shared his reflections of the event and important information for municipal leaders related to the acceptance of Ukrainian refugees below. 
 
As you know, I attended the Ohio Summit on Ukrainian Refugees yesterday. The Ohio Summit on Ukrainian Refugees was called by Governor Mike DeWine and was held on the property of Saint Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Parma, Ohio. The greater Cleveland area has a large Ukrainian diaspora population, numbering more than 40,000. The Summit was covered by at least nine television stations and was very well-attended.
 
In addition to the Governor, the two-hour meeting included a power-point presentation. I've included a copy of the presentation and a copy of the agenda (HERE), so you can get a better understanding of what was covered during the two-hour Summit.
 
In addition to the power-point presentation, I made the following notes for communities that may be interested in resettling Ukrainian refugees:
 
1) none of the Ukrainian refugees who have fled Ukraine have been given refugee status in the United States, to this date; as a result, they are not being allowed to enter the country; (subsequently, President Biden has announced that the United States will be accepting 100,000 individuals who successfully complete the eligibility requirements for immigration.)
2) refugee status would grant immediate aid, including financial aid; without that status, there is no federal aid provided;
3) many of the refugees have suffered tremendous psychological shock due to the war and their displacement, and will need ongoing, intensive counseling and mentoring;
4) nearly every family unit will be multi-generational, but few will have an adult male presence, as the men have remained behind to fight for their country;
5) most of the Ukrainians will have lost everything with the exception of the clothes on their backs and, in addition to clothing, will need food, shelter, furniture and appliances when they arrive;
6) Ukrainians are hard-working and freedom-loving people; they will want to support themselves;
7) that said, many of them may lack the skills necessary for immediate employment (i.e., there will be little demand for Ukrainian attorneys in the United States; that individual may need to learn to be a welder or machinist, a nurse or a custodian);
8) communities who want to host Ukrainian refugees need to be welcoming, immigrant friendly;
9) communities open to welcoming Ukrainian refugees need to have established resources, with organizations that can provide the humanitarian needs necessary to support the refugees;
10) most of them will want to return "home" but because rebuilding Ukraine will take years, most will remain in the United States; and,
11) any community desiring to assist would need to be able to provide:
a. housing for at least six months;
b. employment opportunities;
c. the opportunity to obtain English language proficiency;
d. educational and childcare opportunities for children, many of them
small; and,
e. access to mass transportation.
 
Additional information on refugees in Ohio

There are multiple paths that can lead a refugee to the United States, including via refugee status, various visa options, and those programs based on humanitarian or religious needs. While these are all federal programs, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) Refugee Services Program works with local resettlement agencies to provide the federal government with information on capacity. It also oversees programs that help refugees achieve economic self-sufficiency and social adjustment following their arrival in the U.S. Actual services are provided by nine resettlement agencies and other non-profit agencies located throughout Ohio. Depending on the type of placement additional services may be available through the state of Ohio.

Since 2018, more than 500 Ukrainians have been resettled in Ohio, mostly in Cleveland. Many were resettled due to the Lautenberg Amendment, a federal program established in 1990 that allows religious minorities from the former Soviet Union to seek refuge in the United States. More than 14,000 Ukrainian nationals have been resettled in the U.S. under the Amendment in the past five years.
 
OML will continue to keep our members updated on the actions related to these resettling efforts for Ukrainian refugees.
 
 
U.S. DEPT. OF TREASURY RELEASES NEW AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) GUIDANCE FOR NEUs
 
The following information comes from the National League of Cities (NLC).
 
This week, the U.S. Treasury Department hosted a webinar on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) reporting and guidance specifically for Non-Entitlement Units of local government (NEU’s). You can find the presentation slides HERE and a recording of the webinar HERE. Below are additional resources for NEUs:
  • Treasury website for NEU’s: (HERE)
  • For NEU grant managers: Step-by-step guidance on account creation, roles, and agreements/supporting docs submission for NEU’s. (HERE)
  • In addition to these new resources for small NEU’s, Jacob Leibenluft, the Treasury Departments Chief Recovery Officer, spoke at NLC’s ARPA SLFRF Peer-Learning event at the Congressional City Conference last week. You can find his remarks HERE.
 
In the coming weeks, NLC will highlight the most important and helpful information shared in the webinar through blogs and other material. We will make our members aware as those resources become available.
 

 
U.S. DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION OPENS APPLICATIONS FOR THREE MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS
 
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has announced first “common application” for three major USDOT programs. Municipalities can use the resources below from the National League of Cities (NLC) to limit their application costs and maximize their competitiveness.
 
 Key Updates:
1)     Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a combination of the National Infrastructure Project Assistance (a.k.a. Mega Projects), INFRA, and Rural Surface Transportation grant programs will be posted on Grants.gov (HERE)
2)     The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has $16B for Scenic Byways Programs and will be able to make new designations (HERE)
3)     Reminder: 2022 RAISE transportation grants are due April 8, 2022 (HERE)
4)     Feedback for USDOT Emerging Transportation Technology being solicited before 4/8/22 (HERE)
5)     The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced $409M for transit projects in 39 states (HERE)
 
Summary:
  • The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established two new programs and reauthorized one preexisting program which are being solicited together using this NOFO known as the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG) Opportunity.
  • Mega: $1 billion of FY 2022 funding for the National Infrastructure Project Assistance grants program, known as the Mega Grants program;
  • INFRA: Approximately $1.55 billion in FY 2022 funding to be made available for the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highways Projects grants program, known as INFRA;
  • Rural: $300 million in FY 2022 funding for the Rural Surface Transportation Grant program, known as Rural.
  • USDOT is combining these three programs into single NOFO to provide a more efficient application process for project sponsors. While they remain separate programs for the purposes of award, the programs share many common characteristics, including a larger project size, multimodal eligibility, and many shared statutory project requirements. Because of these shared characteristics, it is possible for many projects to be eligible and considered for multiple programs using a single application.
  • The new Mega program: Focused on large multimodal transportation projects, with 50% of the funding being awarded to projects greater than $500 million in total project cost, and the remaining 50% of the funding being awarded to projects between $100 million and $500 million in total project costs. The Mega program will help large multimodal projects with gaps in their financial plans.
  • The INFRA program: At least 15% of the funds are reserved for small projects (<$100 million) and at least 25% of the funds are reserved for rural projects. The program also includes a leverage pilot, under which $150 million is set-aside to prioritize for projects with greater non-Federal share.
  • The new Rural program: Reserved for surface transportation projects in rural areas, with a minimum of 90% of all projects having a minimum $25 million Rural grant award. The Rural program will focus on rural needs, such as improving highway safety and expanding access to rural transit service. Set asides for projects on the Appalachian Development Highway System and projects located in states with above average rural lane departure fatality rates.
  • Application Process: While the MPDG Opportunity consists of three separate programs, USDOT will evaluate common applications for the programs using common merit criteria and considerations to provide a more streamlined and efficient application process for project sponsors. The common set of criteria include: Safety; State of good repair; Economic impacts, freight movement, and job creation; Climate change, resiliency, and the environment; Equity, multimodal options, and quality of life; and Innovation. Additional considerations include: Cost effectiveness; Demonstrated project readiness, which includes technical assessment, financial completeness, and environmental review and permitting risk; and Geographic diversity among recipients, including a balance between the needs of urban and rural projects.
 
Application Deadline: The application deadline for Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG) Opportunity is Monday, May 23, 2022.
Application Submission: Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov.
For Further Information: Project Sponsors with additional questions or interested in receiving additional assistance are invited to visit the Department’s Grants homepage: www.transportation.gov/grants and look for Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant Opportunity.
 
The Department has published a Guide to Benefit Cost Analysis, FAQs, and will be hosting several webinars in the coming weeks. We will keep our members updated as resources continue to be made available.
  
 
 
BRICKER & ECKLER TO HOST WORKSHOP ON CONSTRUCTION PROCUREMENT FOR PUBLIC ENTITIES
 
On Thursday, May 12 from 7:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m., Bricker & Eckler LLP is hosting the 14th Annual Construction Procurement for Public Entities in Ohio. This will be both an in-person and virtual workshop.
 
This event is specifically designed for Ohio public owners and covers the project delivery methods available for public construction projects and when competitive bidding is required.
 
The morning session features a traditional presentation, with instruction from several Bricker & Eckler attorneys whose practices focus on construction and bidding. In the afternoon, attendees will work through fact patterns together and will interactively explore alternative delivery methods and review bidding issues, while receiving feedback from fellow participants and the presenters.
 
Limited in-person capacity is available. In-person tuition includes breakfast, lunch and handout materials. Option to attend virtually is also available. An early bird discount is available through April 12. If two or more people are attending from the same organization, contact Laura Schaller at lschaller@bricker.com for a discounted group rate.
 
This course has been submitted to the Commission on Continuing Legal Education for 6.50 total CLE hours instruction. Ohio Engineering CPD credit and EPA contact hours will be available upon request. To learn more and to register, click HERE.
 
 
 
OHIO EPA TO HOLD WEBINAR ON MANAGING CONTAMINATED SITES IN COMMUNITIES

On Thursday, April 14 from 2 to 3 p.m., the Ohio EPA is holding a webinar to make local leaders aware of how contaminated sites are regulated to keep residents safe and what redevelopment opportunities exist. This webinar will explain the basics of environmental clean-up regulations, will provide an overview of liability, due care, land use restrictions, and will explain Brownfield funding assistance that is available. Learn more and register HERE.
 
 
UPCOMING MARCH AND APRIL OML/OMAA WEBINARS
On Thursday, April 14 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., the League and the OMAA are hosting a webinar entitled “Crisis Communications for Municipal Government.” Facing the news media can be nerve-racking even under the best conditions. Now imagine yourself in a crisis or emergency situation facing hostile reporters who want answers to their tough questions. What would you do? What do you say? This webinar will cover the basics of news media and the rules of engagement (what you should and shouldn't say). Get tips for composing an effective message and compiling a plan to advance that message using earned media tactics such as print, radio, TV and social media. By the end of this webinar you’ll not only have a much better idea of what it feels like to face the media, especially in a crisis communication situation, you’ll have a summary of specific take-away points to help you face a crisis communications situation in real life. Learn more and register HERE.
 
Finally, on Thursday, April 28 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., the League and the OMAA are hosting a webinar entitled “Nuisance Abatement.” Ohio’s nuisance abatement law empowers municipalities to address properties with chronic code violations, as well as properties with chronic criminal activity. This webinar will provide a general overview of Ohio nuisance abatement law and a framework for its practical application in municipalities of all sizes. Learn more and register HERE.
 
 
 
COMMITTEE RECAP: BILLS OF MUNICIPAL INTEREST
 
·        SB 288 – Criminal Offenses. Sponsored by Rep. Manning, N. Ridgeville), would modify the Criminal Law regarding arson and related offenses; robbery, burglary, trespass, safecracking, and related offenses; theft, fraud, and related offenses; offenses against the public peace; offenses against justice and public administration; miscellaneous offenses; the meaning of "prior calculation and design"; certain vehicle license suspensions; a new offense of "aggravated rape"; and other miscellaneous provisions of that Law. During its fifth hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, the committee hearing testimony from several former members of the Ohio Criminal Justice Reform Committee, the Ohio Alliance for Safety and Justice, the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association and the Center for Employment Opportunities. The League is looking into this legislation.
 
·        HB 11 – Officer Database. Sponsored by Rep. Sheehy (D – Oregon) and Rep. Hicks-Hudson (D – Toledo), would require the Attorney General to create a law enforcement officer database for hiring eligibility. During its first hearing before the House State and Local Government Committee, the bill’s sponsors explained that the legislation is intended to help rebuild trust between communities and their local law enforcement. The League is looking into this legislation.
 
·        HB 113 – Law Enforcement. Sponsored by Rep. Upchurch (D – Cleveland) and Rep. Miller (D – Amherst), would allow the chief of police of a municipal corporation to conduct training schools for prospective law enforcement officers. During its first hearing before the House State and Local Government Committee, a substitute bill was adopted to combine the bill with HB 130, which would allow a police department to fill a vacant position in the classified civil service without a competitive examination. The League is looking into this legislation.
 
·        SB 260 – Political Subdivision. Sponsored by Rep. Lang (R – West Chester Twp.), would expand political subdivision joint purchasing authority to expressly include purchases for construction services. During its second hearing before the Senate Local Government and Elections Committee, several opponents including the Ohio Educational Purchasing Council and the Ohio Council of Educational Purchasing Consortia testified against the bill. The League is supportive of this legislation.
 
·        HB 364 – Waterworks Infrastructure Improvement. Sponsored by Rep. Patton (R – Strongsville), would make changes to the application process for the waterworks infrastructure improvement surcharge. During its second hearing before the House Public Utilities Committee, Aqua Ohio testified in support of the bill. The League is looking into this legislation.