Gahanna's Vision is...
…to be an innovative model community that values its rich heritage, pursues high standards, and where citizens respect one another.
Gahanna's Mission is...
…to ensure an exceptional quality of life by providing comprehensive services, financial stability, and well-planned development which preserves the natural environment, so that city government will continue to be responsive, accessible, and accountable to our diverse and growing community of citizens.
Legislative Process & Codified Ordinances:
While legislation is pending before Council, a draft version is available for review by the public. To search for legislation or bill status please use the City Council’s Legislative Calendar.
Codification services for ordinances that become law are provided by the Walter Drane Company. The Codified Ordinances of Gahanna are available on the City Council page by clicking on City Code or at www.conwaygreene.com, and are complete to February 1, 2006.
Gahanna City Council Frequently Asked Questions
The City of Gahanna operates under a mayor-council form of government. The mayor-council form of government separates executive and legislative branches as equal branches of municipal government. The City Council is the legislative branch and sets the overall policy direction for Gahanna. This is accomplished by adopting ordinances that become City laws, adopting the annual budget which determines what services are to be provided and providing oversight of the executive branch. Council Members exercise their legislative powers when acting as a member of the City Council in Council meetings. The executive (or administrative) branch is comprised of the Mayor and the following departments: Development, Engineering, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Parks and Recreation, Police, and Public Service.
The Mayor, seven Council Members, and the City Attorney are elected. The Mayor is a full-time position, the City Attorney and Council Members are part-time elected officials. All elected officials in Gahanna serve nonpartisan posts.
The four Ward Council members are elected to two-year terms from individual geographic districts. These districts are reviewed approximately every 10 years and changes are made so that each district has approximately the same number of residents. The three At-Large Council members are elected to four-year terms from the entire City.
The Mayor and City Attorney also serve four year terms, and that election also runs citywide. All municipal elections in Ohio are held during odd-numbered years. In 2005, the four ward Council seats were up for election. In 2007 all elected positions in the City are up.
From left to right:
Top - Ward One - John McAlister, Ward Two -Shane Ewald, Ward Three - Thomas C. Evers, Ward Four - Beryl Anderson
Bottom - At Large Members: Thomas R. Kneeland, Dave Samuel, Nancy R. McGregor
Your Council district is determined by where you reside in Gahanna. General neighborhood boundaries are outlined on the Ward Map or more details can be obtained by calling the Council Office at 342-4090.
You can send an e-mail message from the link provided above, or write your Council members at Council Office, 200 S. Hamilton Road, Gahanna, OH 43230. You may call the Council Office at 342-4090, or fax comments to 342-4190.
The Council President for 2008 is Nancy McGregor. The Vice President is Thomas C. Evers. Members serve as President and Vice President for a one year term based on the calendar year. The Council Members elect a new President and Vice President on January 2 each year.
The Council meets on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month in a regular meeting. If a Monday is an observed holiday for the City, Council meetings are then held on Tuesday. Council usually holds a caucus beginning at 7:00 p.m. with the regular meeting starting at 7:30 p.m. Council meetings are conducted by the President.
The Council meets in informal Committee meetings at 7:00 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month (Tuesday if there is a holiday). These meetings allow Council Members to receive information and discuss pending issues. No formal action can be taken at a committee meeting.
For actual meeting dates, please use the Legislative Calendar to see the Council’s agendas or call the Council office at 342-4090.
All meetings are open to the public, except for any executive sessions, which are governed by specific rules of Council and Ohio Revised Code. Executive Sessions may only be held for specific reasons including personnel issues, land acquisition, to confer with the City Attorney on pending litigation, conduct or review bargaining sessions or negotiations with public employees, matters required to be kept confidential by federal law, and specialized details of security arrangements.
Council Members exercise their legislative powers in Council meetings by voting on ordinances, resolutions or motions and conducting public hearings. Committee meetings are designed to provide information to the Council Members on issues that may be presented at a future Council meeting; these meetings can be considered as “briefing” sessions. Council members may not enact legislation during Committee meetings
Yes. Audience members may make comments to the Council and Mayor during the Hearing of Visitors portion of the agenda or during Public Hearings by filling out a comment card provided by Council staff. Audience members will be called by name to the podium when it is their turn to speak. Comments are limited to three minutes. There is no comment period at Committee meetings, although the public is welcome to attend.
In accordance with Ohio’s Open Meetings Law, all Regular Council and Committee Meetings are posted in advance of the meeting. Agendas are usually posted to the web site on the Friday prior to a Monday or Tuesday meeting. Agendas are also available in the Council Office on the Friday afternoon prior to a meeting. Please use the Legislative Calendar to view Council agendas or call the Council office at 342-4090 for more information.
Department Staff
Isobel Sherwood
Clerk of Council
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Donna Jernigan
Senior Deputy Clerk
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Jayme Maxwell
Deputy Clerk
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Sharon Montgomery
Records Administrator |
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