The Celina City Council met Monday May 12th. The board from Jeremiah Schmidt with the Celina Dolphins and discussed an elevator repair and other infrastructure items. To view the meeting in its entirety:

Click Here

The following is an AI Generated summary of the Celina City Council meeting for May 12:

1. City council meeting addressing administrative approvals, corrections to previous minutes, and unresolved issues with the Celina Dolphins swim team’s lease agreement.

• Meeting Call to Order and Roll Call
  The meeting was called to order, roll call was conducted with Buxton, Fleck, Gray, and Wolfe present.
• Acceptance of Agenda
  A motion was made and seconded to accept the agenda. All present members voted yes.
• Correction and Acceptance of April 28th Council Meeting Minutes
  A correction was made regarding the stop sign location at Lilac and Holly (specifically Lilac). The amendment was accepted and the minutes were approved by all present members.
• Committee Reports
  No committee reports were presented.
• Mayor’s Communication
  The mayor had no communications at this time and deferred to ‘good of the order.’
• Audience Communication: Celina Dolphins Lease Agreement Issues
  Mr. Schmidt, representing the Celina Dolphins swim and dive team, raised multiple unresolved issues with the city’s new lease agreement: insurance and legal approval problems, lack of proof of city ownership of timing system and blocks, lack of set schedule and times, liability waiver concerns for 501c3 organizations, and administrative inconsistencies. He noted 60 kids are ready to sign up but cannot proceed without resolution. He compared the situation to another team (Larissa Albert’s) that signed the same contract, raising questions about fairness and process. He also expressed concern about potential legal liability and the need for clear, fair, and executable agreements.

Conclusion

1. Agenda accepted.
2. April 28th minutes approved with amendment.

2. Swim team contract negotiations, facility usage, and liability concerns between city, Dolphins, and other swim groups.

• Contract Signing and Terms
  Discussion about the reluctance to sign the new lease agreement due to lack of specified practice times, unclear ownership of equipment, and additional liabilities. The speaker emphasizes the need for concrete terms before committing.
• Sponsorship and Financial Concerns
  The Dolphins have 15 sponsors ready to provide funding, but funds are not accepted due to uncertainty about the season and inability to guarantee deliverables such as hiring coaches or scheduling meets.
• Lane Lines and Equipment Ownership
  Debate over the ownership and use of lane lines, blocks, and timing systems. Lane lines were purchased by Slanted Dolphins, blocks were installed when the pool was built, and timers were paid for with Bryson funds. There is a request for documentation to clarify ownership.
• Team Cooperation and Scheduling
  Emphasis on the need for the two swim groups to cooperate and set schedules without council intervention. There are ongoing hard feelings and lack of willingness to merge teams.
• Liability Insurance Requirements
  Discussion about liability insurance requirements. The Dolphins can provide $100,000 liability insurance, but have concerns about contract language. The city’s insurer has approved the agreements.
• City’s Legal Position and Fairness
  The law director and city insurer have approved both contracts and waivers, stating both groups are treated equally except for equipment clauses. The city aims to treat similarly situated parties similarly.
• Scheduling Flexibility and Process
  The contract does not specify times to allow flexibility depending on how many teams sign. The rec director will assign times based on recommendations and team sign-ups. There is concern about lack of concrete scheduling.
• Council’s Role in Decision-Making
  Discussion about whether council or the rec director should decide on scheduling and contract terms. The recommendation is for the rec director to handle such matters.
• Communication and Negotiation Efforts
  The Dolphins representative has made multiple attempts to communicate and negotiate with city officials and other teams to resolve issues and reach a fair agreement.

Conclusion

1. The contracts are legal and valid per the law director and insurer.
2. Council defers to the rec director and law director for contract and scheduling decisions.

3. City operations updates, staffing, infrastructure projects, and public facility maintenance

• Dolphins Contract and Pool Scheduling
  Discussion about the Dolphins swim team’s contract, concerns about non-concrete terms, billing for unused pool time, and coordination with lifeguards and other teams (Sharks).
• Elevator Repairs and Accessibility
  Heather Schmidt inquired about updates on the elevator repair at city hall, expressing inconvenience and ADA concerns. The elevator’s cylinder cracked and requires custom machining.
• Fire Department Staffing and EMS Levy
  Update on fire department staffing, including new hires and the impact of the EMS levy, which funded additional positions. Discussion on shift sizes and training progress.
• Police Officer Training and FTO Program
  Update on police officer training, field training officer (FTO) program timelines, and upcoming graduations. Discussion on the 12-week Ohio model for FTO.
• Public Works Building and Restroom Construction
  Status update on the Public Works Building and new restroom construction near the hot water hole.
• Bryson Pool Slide and Concrete Work
  Update on Bryson pool improvements, including state approval for foundation footer plans, concrete work, and installation of a new slide.
• Gas Line Replacement on Mill Street
  Information on the gas company replacing gas lines on Mill Street, including timeline and importance for street infrastructure.
• Park Maintenance and Bryson Funding
  Discussion on park maintenance, particularly cork turf and zip lines, and the role of Bryson funding for repairs and replacements.
• Water Intake Dredging
  Question about recent dredging in front of the water intake and its impact on water quality.
• Executive Session Motion
  Motion to enter executive session to discuss appointment, employment, compensation, promotion, or demotion of public employees or officials.

Conclusion

1. The Dolphins will take all morning times not wanted by Tammy LaRue, and will notify in advance if not swimming to avoid unnecessary lifeguard presence and billing.
2. Elevator repairs are estimated to take about 10 weeks. The tax office opened a downstairs office for accessibility. Repairs are mandated by ADA and are in progress.
3. With the EMS levy and county stipend of about $300,000, staffing is increasing from five to six per shift. One more hire is expected by the end of the month to reach full staffing.
4. Two officers are currently in FTO, with one more graduating in June and another in August. The standard FTO period is 12 weeks, with possible minor adjustments based on performance.
5. Contractor has moved in for the Public Works Building. The new restroom is expected to be completed before the end of June.
6. Concrete work is a $50,000–$52,000 job, reimbursed by Bryson. The new slide, costing around $415,000, will not be ready by Memorial Day. Bryson is funding both the concrete and slide.
7. Work is projected to take 60 to 90 days. The replacement is essential for street foundation integrity.
8. Maintenance is generally the city’s responsibility, but Bryson covers major items (e.g., diving boards, pool pumps). Warranty covered zip line replacements last year.
9. Dredging is routine; water intake is shut off during the process to prevent quality issues. Dredged material is taken to the DMRA site.
10. Motion passed by voice affirmation and roll call.

 Next Arrangements

•  If the Dolphins sign the contract, they will be given the specific days and times already agreed upon.
•  The rec director will assign times based on the number of teams that sign contracts.
•  The Dolphins representative will meet with parents on Thursday to update them for the fourth or fifth time.
•  Dolphins to notify in advance if not using scheduled pool time to avoid lifeguard billing.
•  Elevator repairs to be completed in approximately 10 weeks.
•  One more firefighter/EMT hire expected by end of month to reach six per shift.
•  Police FTO program continues with new officers graduating in June and August.
•  Public Works Building construction commencing; restroom to be completed by end of June.
•  Bryson pool concrete work and slide installation pending state approval and completion.
•  Gas line replacement on Mill Street to be completed in 60 to 90 days.
•  Routine park maintenance and major repairs to be coordinated with Bryson as needed.