Ravenna Picks Map D for New Wards, Races an Emerald Lake Grant Deadline and Gets a Sunshine Law Refresher

Ravenna City Council packed three meetings into two nights this week. On Oct. 19, a Committee of the Whole meeting chose a new ward map and moved more than a dozen spending items forward. A special meeting followed that same night to beat an Emerald Lake grant deadline. On Oct. 20, attorneys from Bricker Graydon Wyatt led a two hour workshop on council rules, open meetings and public records. Redistricting: Council Narrows Five Maps to One Council spent roughly 45 minutes on Oct. 19 working through five proposed ward maps, labeled A through E. Members voted 6 to 1 to move Map D forward into a redistricting ordinance. Ward 4 Council Member Tim Calfee cast the lone no vote. Map C went first. At Large Council Member Carmen Laudato described it as a conversation piece that would have created a ward just for downtown. Map A came off the list after Laudato withdrew her support. Calfee then moved to advance Map E. He said it moved the fewest census blocks and kept added areas close to existing boundaries. That motion failed 2 to 5, with only Calfee and Ward 2 Council Member Tyler Marovich voting yes. At Large Council Member Amy Michael then moved to advance Map D. Supporters said it places most of downtown, including its businesses and multifamily housing, together in Ward 1. Ward 3 Council Member Matt Harper said D was much cleaner and would be easier for residents to understand. Calfee countered that D pulls territory from three different wards, making it the most disruptive choice. Map D comes with one correction. A small triangle near the old stadium site will stay in Ward 2. Laudato said that keeps the lines clean and stays within the allowed population deviation. Laudato explained that Wards 1 and 4 will gain territory under any map. Wards 2 and 3 saw the most development since the last review, so they lose ground. Ward Lines Last Reviewed in 1991 Kairis read an editor’s note from the city code to correct a claim that council ignored the issue for 60 years. Ward boundaries were set by a 1972 ordinance. After the 1990 census, a 1991 ordinance kept those lines because population had not shifted enough to require change. Laudato said the current effort began in May. The League of Women Voters helped facilitate two public open houses. Calfee cautioned that only about 10 people commented on the maps, so the feedback should not be read as widespread approval. What Happens Next for Candidates The Oct. 19 vote does not adopt the map. It directs that Map D be written into an ordinance. Kairis said the change will rewrite Section 206.01 of the city code, which defines each ward by street center lines. Kairis outlined a possible schedule: First reading in November Public hearing in November Second reading in December Final vote at council’s year end special meeting Timing matters because petitions for ward seats can be pulled in January. Wards 3 and 4 are up for election. Michael urged anyone considering a run to confirm which ward they live in before pulling a petition. Marovich added that anyone unsure should check with the Board of Elections. At large seats and the mayor’s office are not affected by ward lines. Council kept the redistricting item off the consent agenda so it can receive multiple readings. Emerald Lake Grant Moves Fast to Beat Oct. 30 Deadline Council unanimously approved two Emerald Lake ordinances at the special meeting that followed the Committee of the Whole. Ordinance 2026-148 authorizes the mayor to apply for an Ohio Department of Natural Resources grant through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. It covers the Emerald Lake Preserve Expansion Phase 2 project. Kairis said the application deadline is Oct. 30. This is the city’s second attempt at this grant. Ravenna received a grant years ago for another property at Emerald Lake. Kairis said that original grant restricted use of the land, preventing parking. He said this grant is less restrictive. Laudato said the proposed low impact parking would improve accessibility and helps make the application more competitive. Ordinance 2026-149 authorizes the mayor to sign a dual agent agreement. Laudato explained it acknowledges that the buyer and seller are represented by the same real estate agent. Kairis said the arrangement mirrors how the original grant was handled. Both ordinances passed 7 to 0 with three readings waived and emergency clauses adopted. Recreation Pay Changes Delayed to January Council also corrected two earlier personnel ordinances during the special meeting. Calfee, who chairs the Personnel Committee, said council always intended the changes to start Jan. 1. That date was left out when the original ordinances passed. Ordinance 2026-146 sets Jan. 1 as the effective date for both the pay increase and the title change from recreation program supervisor to recreation manager. Council amended the ordinance 7 to 0 to add the title change before approving it. Ordinance 2026-147 sets the same Jan. 1 date for a pay increase for the program