ARTICLE
At its regular session today, Toledo City Council is expected to vote on Ordinance 81-18 which would adopt the mandated changes required by Ohio House Bill 49 to allow businesses to file their municipal net-profit taxes via the Ohio Business Gateway. The ordinance would also bring Toledo in compliance with HB 49’s elimination of the “throwback rule” related to the taxation of gross receipts from the sale of tangible property produced in a jurisdiction. The ordinance comes following the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas decision last week that a centralized filing system administered by the Ohio Department of Taxation is constitutional. While multiple Ohio jurisdictions were plaintiffs in this case, the City of Toledo has an independent suit on this matter in the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas which is pending. Council is also expected to vote on the following legislation: • Ordinance 63-18 which would authorize $5.5 million from the Water Replacement Fund for the 2018 Water Main Program. This would fund the continuation of the City’s annual program to replace deteriorating and undersized mains and loop dead ends within the distribution system. • Ordinance 65-18 which would authorize $200,000 from the 2017 Matches and Planning Program for the local share of costs to design the roundabouts at the Front Street & Millard Avenue and Tiffin Street & Millard Avenue intersections. These projects are part of the street improvements associated with the new hot briquetted iron plant being constructed by Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. • Ordinance 72-18 which would approve a zone change from limited industrial to regional commercial at 1337 North Summit Street to facilitate creation of a food truck park. The proposal was previously approved by the Toledo Plan Commission and Council’s Zoning & Planning Committee. • Ordinance 76-18 which would approve the Stickney West Urban Renewal Plan for 40 acres located at Stickney Avenue and Expressway Drive. The plan aims to alleviate blighted conditions and facilitate the maximum opportunity for redevelopment of the site. The plan was previously approved by the Toledo Plan Commission and Council’s Zoning & Planning Committee. Ordinance 68-18, which would consolidate the current Board of Community Relations & Affirmative Action and the Toledo Youth Commission into a new Human Relations Commission, will likely be referred to Council’s Education, Recreation & Employment Committee. The new commission would consist of 10 members, five of whom would serve on an executive committee and be paid $3,000 annually. All Council meetings are held in Council Chambers on the first floor of One Government Center, located on Jackson Boulevard in downtown Toledo.