Gahanna charter-review panel refines amendments, shifts ward-equalization basis to resident population and pencils June 8 vote

The City of Gahanna Charter Review Commission on June 4 continued a line-by-line review of proposed charter amendments and advanced wording clarifications that would change how ward boundaries are equalized, consolidate some quasi-judicial functions, and revise nondiscrimination language.

City Attorney Tim O'Larson reviewed a packet of redlines and recommended several edits. On ward composition, O'Larson summarized the working change as a shift from a registered-voter basis to a resident-population basis and recommended language referencing decennial census data. "The purpose of the change is to inform ward boundary equalization by resident population basis rather than registered voter basis," O'Larson told the commission, and commissioners agreed to use "10-year census data" for clarity.

Why it matters: switching to total resident population would rely on federal census counts rather than local voter rolls to trigger boundary adjustments, which commissioners said is more consistent with how many jurisdictions approach representation and avoids the ambiguity of dual triggers. Commissioners discussed whether to mention "registered voters" alongside population and concluded that adding voter-based language would create unnecessary confusion.

The panel also considered a proposal to repeal the Board of Zoning and Building Appeals and transfer its powers and duties to the Planning Commission, with appeals remaining available through the Planning Commission or the courts "as provided by Ohio law," O'Larson said. Commissioners cited reduced administrative cost and consolidation of related land-use review functions as rationale for the change, and asked staff to ensure the amendment makes explicit that authorities are being transferred rather than eliminated.

On nondiscrimination language, the commission debated consolidating two related paragraphs into a single, clearer prohibition. Members worked through sentence placement and punctuation so the charter will read, in substance, that "in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, in the discharge of their official duties, no appointed or elected official nor any classified or unclassified employee of the City of Gahanna shall discriminate against any person" and that the city may not use protected status to limit access to public resources.

The city-attorney section prompted discussion about whether the charter should require a council resolution or ordinance to authorize the city attorney to defend individual employees. O'Larson said practice varies by jurisdiction and recommended striking the language that would require a separate resolution; he added he would continue to represent city employees "arising out of or in the course of their employment" unless an ethical conflict requires different counsel. "It needs affirmative majority vote" was noted as the threshold when commissioners asked about passage requirements for future votes.

The commission did not take final votes on the amendments on June 4. Members penciled in a special meeting for Monday, June 8 to consider up-or-down votes on the remaining items and discussed presenting the commission's recommendations to council at the committee meeting in early July. Chair Barnhart urged commissioners to reflect on whether each amendment "improves the charter enough to justify asking the voters" to decide.

What comes next: the city attorney will circulate cleaned redlines and a short explanatory memo; commissioners plan to reconvene June 8 for votes. If commissioners approve language, city council must vote on whether to place the amendments on the ballot in accordance with the city's process.

The commission adjourned after confirming the schedule.