All legislative power of the Municipality shall be vested in the Council, except as otherwise provided by this Charter and the Constitution of the State of Ohio. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Council shall have and possess the following powers:
A. The power to levy taxes and incur debts subject to the limitations imposed thereon by this Charter.
B. The power to adopt and to provide for the enforcement of local police, sanitary and other similar regulations as are not in conflict with general laws.
C. The power to provide for the exercise of all powers of local self government granted to the Municipality by the Constitution of the State of Ohio in a manner not inconsistent with this Charter or the Constitution of the State of Ohio.
D. The power to establish the number of employees in the various offices, departments, divisions, bureaus, boards and commissions of the Municipality and to establish the rates, ranges and methods of their compensation, their hours of work, and to provide such fringe benefits as deemed proper by the Council. The Council may, by an affirmative vote of not less than four of its members, delegate any of its powers under this sub-section to the Manager.
E. The power to require such bonds as in the opinion of the Council are necessary for the faithful discharge of the duties of the officers and employees of the Municipality. The premium for said bonds shall be paid by the Municipality.
F. The power to create other offices, departments, divisions, bureaus, boards, and commissions; and the power to combine, change and abolish any office, department, division, bureau, board or commission established by Council. The power hereinabove expressed in this subsection shall be exercised by ordinance and upon the concurrence of at least five members of Council. The Council shall not abolish the offices of Manager, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Clerk of Council, Council members, Finance Director and Law Director. The Manager may hold such other offices and positions with the Municipality as provided by this Charter or as the Council may authorize by a vote of at least four of its members.
G. The Council shall have the power: to adopt and provide for the enforcement of zoning classifications, districts, uses and regulations by ordinance; to adopt and provide for the enforcement of ordinances regulating the subdivision and platting of land within the Municipality; to regulate the subdivision and platting of land outside of the boundaries of the Municipality as provided by general law; to adopt and provide for the enforcement of ordinances requiring actual construction or assurance of construction of streets, utility lines and facilities, sidewalks, curbs and gutters and other improvements or facilities as a condition precedent to the approval of a plat of a subdivision; to adopt and provide for the enforcement of ordinances regulating the construction, reconstruction, alteration, enlargement, repair or demolition of buildings and other structures, as defined by ordinance, within the Municipality; to adopt and to provide for the enforcement of housing codes or ordinances, regulating the use and occupancy of any building or structure, as defined by said codes or ordinances, within the Municipality.
H. The Council shall have the power to establish, by ordinances, the rates of charges made of consumers of all municipal utilities and services.
I. The Council may provide, without competitive bidding, for an annual or special independent audit of any or all municipal funds. Such audit may be in addition to an audit by representatives of the State Auditor or other state official or agency as may be determined to be required under the Constitution of the State of Ohio.
J. The Council, in addition to all other rights and powers granted to it under the general law, may by ordinance grant permission to any person, firm or corporation to construct and operate a public utility on, across, under or above any public street or ground within the Municipality. It may prescribe in the ordinance the kind and quality of service or product to be furnished, the rate or rates to be charged therefor, and any other terms conducive to the public interest; provided that such grant of permission shall not extend beyond twenty-five years, however such grant may be amended or renewed in the manner and subject to the provisions established by this Charter for original grants. No consent of the owners of property abutting on any public street or ground shall be necessary to the effectiveness of any such grant, amendment or renewal. All such grants, amendments or renewals shall be made subject to the continuing right of the Council to provide reasonable regulations for adequacy of service and maintenance and the operation of such utilities with reference to such streets and public grounds, including the right to require such reconstruction, relocation or discontinuance of appliances, plant or equipment used in such street or public grounds as shall, in the opinion of Council, be necessary in the public interest.
K. The power to acquire title to or interests in real property shall be vested in the Council, whether such property is acquired by: the exercise of the power of eminent domain, purchase, gift, lease, devise, bequest, in trust, or otherwise.
The power to sell or otherwise convey, lease or grant interests in real property shall be vested in the Council. Such sale, conveyance, lease or grant shall be in the manner as provided by the ordinance authorizing the sale, conveyance, lease, or grant. Title to all real property shall be taken in the name of the Municipality.
To ensure transparency and prevent conflicts of interest, Council members and all relevant City staff shall certify in writing disclosures of actual and potential conflicts of interest involving any real estate transactions with the City prior to Council vote on said transactions. This requirement does not apply to the acquisition by appropriation of property pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 163 or when real property is acquired or obtained by the City for a public easement, dedication, donation, bequest, forfeiture, or right of entry unless otherwise required by Ohio law.
L. To exercise all other powers granted to the Council by this Charter and by the Constitution and laws of the State of Ohio.
(Amended November 2, 2021)