Upper Arlington’s City Council is comprised of seven citizens who are elected at-large by residents to serve a maximum of two, four-year terms. Council selects a President and Vice President from among its ranks. The President of Council presides over City Council meetings and serves as Mayor for ceremonial duties. The Vice President assumes the duties of the President in their absence.
Council’s responsibilities include establishing local laws, setting policy, approving programs and generally overseeing the operations of the City. Council appoints the City Manager, City Attorney and Clerk of Council.
BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
The City of Upper Arlington is fortunate to have many citizens willing to donate their time and expertise on various Boards & Commissions. In return, these individuals are afforded the opportunity to help to shape their community.
If you wish to apply to serve on a Board or Commission, please fill out an application.
Left to Right: Michaela Burriss, Jim Lynch, Brendan T. King (President), Kathy Adams, Brian C. Close (Vice President), John Kulewicz, Ukeme Awakessien Jeter
Brendan is serving his second term on Council, and serves as President/Mayor of Council. He served as Vice President/Vice Mayor of Council January 2018-December 2020.
He is an attorney in private practice in Upper Arlington, focusing on estate planning, probate, and real estate matters. Prior to serving on City Council, he served the community on various committees and boards.
Brendan is a graduate of Upper Arlington High School, the University of Kentucky and Capital University Law School. Brendan’s wife, Kelly (Harper) King, also a UAHS graduate, is a teacher at Upper Arlington High School. They have three children, William, Elizabeth and Anne, who are students in the Upper Arlington schools.
Community Involvement and Committees:
- Upper Arlington Community Improvement Corporation, 2015-2019
- Council Rules Committee, 2018
- Upper Arlington Leadership Program, 2006-2007
- Upper Arlington Charter Review Commission, 2008
- Upper Arlington Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, Member, 2008-2015, Chairperson, 2010-2015
- Upper Arlington Rotary Club, Member, 2011-Present
- Upper Arlington Rotary Club, Board of Directors, 2014-2016
- Upper Arlington Historical Society Board, Member, 2017-present, President, 2018-present
- Hilltop Preschool, Board of Directors, President, 2018-2019, Vice-President, 2014-2018
- Columbus Bar Association, Member
Current Appointment: Second Term, effective 1-13-2020 through 1-8-2024
Contact: c 614-571-8560 or [email protected]
Brian has spent his lifetime dedicated to leadership and service to others. After graduating with a degree in Economics and Management from DePauw University, where he was also an Academic All-American and captain of the football team, Brian spent a year building homes for the less privileged through Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps. After leaving Habitat, Brian continued his education at Capital University Law School, receiving a law degree (J.D) and master’s degree (LL.M) in taxation.
For the past 10 years, Brian has practiced as a business and tax attorney, helping family-owned, start-up and small businesses. Brian regularly negotiates complex business deals, finding ways to bring all sides together for a transaction. He is now a partner with the law firm Dinsmore & Shohl. Brian previously served as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Judge Peggy Bryant on the Tenth District Court of Appeals.
Brian has been an active member of our community, serving on several local boards, supporting the Upper Arlington City Schools, and volunteering his time to serve others.
Community Involvement and Committees:
- Upper Arlington Community Improvement Corporation
- Council Rules Committee, 2018
- Upper Arlington Rotary Club, Member
- Upper Arlington School Levy – Treasurer (2012-2016)
- Upper Arlington Board of Tax Review
- Grandview Heights Board of Tax Appeals
- Leadership UA Graduate
- Columbus Bar Association, Business Tax Committee – Chair (2010-2011), Vice Chair (2009-2010)
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus December Fundraiser – Host (2014-present)
- Upper Arlington Schools – Finance Advisor Group Member (2012-2015)
Current Appointment: Second Term, effective 1-10-2022 through 1-12-2026
Contact: w 614-227-4209 or [email protected]
Kathy Adams is an Upper Arlington graduate who returned to UA to raise her own children here. She has two children in UA Schools.
Kathy has a background in immigration law and labor law. In college, she worked in a refugee office and went to law school because she wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. Kathy has spent the last 15 years in public service with the State of Ohio, working for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, helping clients make the best use of state tax dollars. Kathy works as an attorney in the finance section of her office, working on a variety of transactional matters for her clients, including purchasing issues and large projects in IT and construction.
Kathy is a Girl Scouts troop leader at Windermere Elementary and a Boy Scouts mom for Troop 555. She serves as a mentor to younger attorneys, and she volunteers her time in the UA community.
Community Involvement:
- Graduate, Leadership UA
- Volunteer, UASO swim team
Current Appointment: First Term, effective 1-10-2022 through 1-12-2026
Contact: c 614-558-1820 or [email protected]
Ukeme is a partner in Taft’s Intellectual Property practice group, where she focuses on negotiating and structuring intellectual property licenses, options, and related agreements. She enjoys solving the emerging and complex challenges encountered when bringing revolutionary products and services to market and specializes in driving innovation. Prior to joining Taft, Ukeme was the primary patent counsel at Nationwide, charged with development of new pipelines for harvesting innovation.
Ukeme is the proud and doting mother of a daughter and a son. Together, they like to hike and bike, play an overly competitive style of charades, and perform songs from the Hamilton soundtrack.
Ukeme received a J.D from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, an MBA from the University of Massachusetts – Lowell and a B.S in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maine where she was a college athlete in track and field.
Community Involvement and Committees:
- Community Relations Committee – inaugural member of newly formed Committee – 2020-2021
- 2019 Citizen Financial Review Committee
- Leadership Upper Arlington – class of 2019
- Ohio Legal Help Board of Directors
- United Way of Central Ohio’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council
Current appointment: First Term, effective 1-10-2022 through 1-12-2026
Contact: p 614-285-7258 or [email protected]
An attorney, Michaela Burriss is the youngest woman ever elected to Upper Arlington City Council while being an active volunteer in the schools and local community organizations. She and her husband, Patrick, are proud to be homeowners along the UA Fourth of July Parade route, with their two dogs Bowser and Koopa.
Burriss has spent most of her career in the public sector, including the U.S. Senate, Ohio Senate, and Ohio House of Representatives. In these roles, she’s drafted policy and conducted constituent services to help residents navigate government bureaucracy and gain access to critical needs. She prides herself on her ability to be kind, listen, work with, and accomplish positive things for Ohioans no matter their political beliefs.
A small business owner herself, Burriss spent several years with Small Business Majority, a nonprofit organization advocating for public policy solutions to help small businesses. She traveled the state and country conducting research specific to municipalities and their economic needs. She also did nonpartisan education on issues ranging from access to capital, healthcare and retirement.
A lifelong Ohio resident and native of Northeast Ohio who studied at Ohio University and Capital University Law School, Burriss was raised in poverty by a single mother who immigrated from Germany. She understands the value of hard work, perspective, overcoming adversity and gratitude, always finding ways to give back and reach out.
Community Involvement and Committees
- Class Graduate and Board of Directors, Leadership UA
- Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
- Co-Area Director, Upper Arlington Bridges
- Speaker and Facilitator, UAHS Idea Day
- Member, Equal UA
- Member and “Evening of Sparkle and Fashion” volunteer, Upper Arlington Women’s Club
- Member and “The Walk” volunteer, Upper Arlington Civic Association
- Member and “Trolley Tour” check-In volunteer, Upper Arlington Historical Society
- Member, Friends of the Upper Arlington Public Library
- Member, Capital University Law School Alumni Board
- Member, Ohio Women in Government
Current Appointment: First Term, effective 1-13-2020 through 1-8-2024
Contact: c 440-281-2346 or [email protected]
John Kulewicz and his wife, Maryline, began their married life together in Upper Arlington 32 years ago. They proudly raised their two children—Adam and Abigail—in Upper Arlington and are grateful for the many opportunities afforded to them as residents over the years.
John is a graduate of The Ohio State University, where he majored in history, and Yale Law School, where he served as an Editor of the Yale Law Journal. After completing law school, John was a law clerk to Judge Gilbert S. Merritt of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He joined Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, LLP as an associate in 1981, and has been a partner at the firm since 1987. He specializes in litigation.
John is especially grateful to the people of Upper Arlington for the opportunities made available to him in swimming. What began as a struggle to complete a few laps during the Early Bird Swim at the Tremont Pool in the summer of 2001, led him to swims across the Strait of Gibraltar and the Bosphorus, English Channel relays, swim crossings in the Sea of Galilee, the Solomon Islands and elsewhere in the world. He knows it has been possible for him to undertake these challenges because our city has made facilities like our pools available and accessible to all those who want to maintain and improve their health and fitness.
Community Involvement and Committees
- Former Board President of the Columbus Zoo
- Former Board President of Catholic Social Services
- Former President of the Federal Bar Association (Columbus chapter)
- Officer of the Ohio Historical Society Board
- Member of the Ohio Bicentennial Commission
- Volunteer for many other community organizations
- Member of St. Agatha Parish
Current Appointment: First Term, effective 1-13-2020 through 1-8-2024
Contact: h 614-364-5456 or [email protected]
Jim Lynch is a lifelong resident of Upper Arlington and an Upper Arlington High School graduate. He is a small business owner who runs a multi-service communications company that helps corporations, trade associations, and with their public relations, communications and reputation-management needs. Jim received his B.A. from Ohio University.
Jim and his wife, Kim, have two children who attend Jones Middle School.
Community Involvement and Committees:
- Council Financial Policies Committee, 2018
- Former Director, Upper Arlington Civic Association
- Co-Chair, UA Civic Pride Day
Current Appointment: Second Term, effective 1-10-2022 through 1-12-2026
Contact: c 614-832-7295 or [email protected]
City Council Meetings are held the first, second and third Mondays of each month (unless designated otherwise on the calendar). Meetings are held at the Municipal Services Center, 3600 Tremont Road, and typically begin at 7 pm.
All meetings of City Council are open to the public except for Executive Sessions during which Council members may discuss specific types of business as defined by the Ohio Revised Code. Executive Sessions are for discussion only, since all formal action must be taken at a regular or special meeting.
Addressing City Council at Meetings
Council desires to hear the viewpoints of citizens and considers the responsible presentation of these viewpoints vital to the efficient operation of the City:
Any individual desiring to address Council concerning legislative items appearing on the agenda must complete a speaker’s slip located at the table outside the Council Chamber or available from the City Clerk. Upon completing the speaker’s slip, it should be placed on the Speaker Slip table in the Council Chamber prior to City Council’s consideration of the agenda item to which it pertains.
If you are joining through Zoom, and you would like to address Council relative to any legislative items appearing on this agenda, please send a “speaker slip” by email to [email protected] two hours prior to the start of the meeting. Please include your name, address, email and the legislative item you wish to address.
Speakers are limited to three minutes each, with no right to yield to other speakers.
City Council Agenda Email Updates
Please email [email protected] if you are interested in receiving meeting Council agenda updates or complete the contact form below.
As a service to the community, City Council Meetings are video recorded and retained for a period of one year following each meeting.
Meetings are live-streamed here. To view a live meeting, just click on the “Live Meeting” link in the window below. If you experience technical difficulty, please email [email protected].
To view past meetings, click on links in the window below. If the window below is not visible, click here.
UPCOMING COUNCIL & BZAP AGENDAS & MEETING PACKETS
To access upcoming agendas & meeting packets for the City Council meetings and the Board of Zoning & Planning meetings, see below or please visit AgendaOnline.
Visit MuniDocs to search past Meeting Minutes and Legislation. Visit Archives Portal for Board of Zoning & Planning (BZAP) Meeting audio files.
Visit MuniDocs to search City Council Meeting Minutes and Legislation dating back to 1918. Many Board & Commission meeting minutes may also be accessed here.
The City of Upper Arlington is fortunate to have many citizens willing to donate their time and expertise on various Boards & Commissions formed to address specific community issues. In return, these individuals are afforded the opportunity to help shape their community.
Visit MuniDocs to access Board & Commission Meeting Minutes.
The following Boards & Commissions are currently in existence:
- APPLICATION to Boards & Commissions
- Board of Building Standards
- Board of Health
- Board of Tax Review
- Board of Zoning & Planning (BZAP)
- City Tree Commission
- Civil Service Commission
- Community Improvement Corporation
- Community Reinvestment Area Housing Council
- Community Relations Committee
- Cultural Arts Commission
- Library Board of Trustees
- Medical Advisory Board
- Parks & Recreation Advisory Board
- Records Commission
- Tax Incentive Review Council
(C.O. § 1306.01 – President of Council appoints, Council confirms 7 members to serve 4-year terms, which expire Feb. 1) The Upper Arlington Board of Building Standards is comprised of seven members who meet on call to review and make recommendations to City Council on amendments to the Residential Building Code and to hear appeals to both the Ohio Residential Code and the Upper Arlington Property Maintenance Code.
Members:
Conway, Brad
Ford, Mark, P.
Koch, Steven P.
Matustik, Louis
Nuber, Daniel
Stutz, Robert M.
Yeager, John A.
Eastep, Roger (UA Staff)
Serves: Building & Planning Divisions
(C.O. § 147.01 – President of Council appoints, Council confirms 5 members to serve 5-year terms from date of appointment. The President of Council serves as President of the Board) The Board of Health meets the second Wednesday of every other month to establish policy and direct the public health activities for the residents of Upper Arlington.
Members:
Baird, Dr. J. Nick
Elliot, Mark
Giammar, Betty
Guglielmi, Christopher
King, Brendan (President)
Vesper, Dr. Richard
Smith, Deb (Franklin County Public Health–Staff)
Serves: Community of Upper Arlington
(C.O. §156.01, §203.21 – Council appoints 2 members to serve a 2-year term, the City Manager appoints 1 member) The Board of Tax Review meets on-call to review the City’s taxation policies and to hear appeals regarding tax claim issues. Council appointees may not be employees, elected officials, or contractors with the City at any time during their term or in the five years immediately preceding the date of appointment. There is no limit on the number of terms that a member may serve if the member is reappointed by the City Council. The City Manager appointee may be an employee of the City, but may not be the director of finance or equivalent officer, or the tax administrator or other similar official or an employee directly involved in municipal tax matters, or any direct subordinate thereof.
Members:
Drennen, Michael F.
Nunamaker, Kathy P.
Petrecca, Michael A.
Lewis, Brent (UA Staff)
Serves: Finance Department and City Attorney
(C.O. §157.02 – Mayor appoints, Council confirms 7 members to serve 3-year terms, which expire Feb. 28) The Board of Zoning and Planning (BZAP) meets the first (work session) and third (regular meeting) Wednesdays of each month to hear and decide on conditional uses, special exceptions and interpretation of the City’s zoning code. Additionally, BZAP grants conditional permits, non-conforming uses, temporary structures and uses, hears/decides appeals, and grants variances.
Members:
Barringer, Daniel
Carpenter, Kevin
Mitchell, Marianne
Osterhout, Donald
Tolliver, Shannon
Tullett, Robert W.
Westbrook, Bill
Gibson, Chad (UA Staff)
Milam, Justin (UA Staff)
Serves: Planning Division
Visit Archives Portal for Board of Zoning & Planning (BZAP) Meeting audio files.
(C.O. §158.03 — Mayor appoints, Council confirms 7 members to serve 3-year terms) The City Tree Commission meets the first Tuesday of every other month, to determine and make recommendations to City Council regarding the City’s tree care and tree planting program.
Members:
Fay, Laura
Gilliland, Nick
Landsbergen, Kim
Ratajczak, J.P.
Thompson, Craig
Zahreddine, Hala
Zanon, Scott A.
Simmons, Samantha (UA Staff)
Serves: Parks & Forestry Division
(C.O. §149.01 — Council appoints 3 members to serve 4-year terms, which expire Feb. 28) The Civil Service Commission meets the second Tuesday every other month, to prescribe, amend and enforce civil service rules for employees of the City of Upper Arlington. This Commission also hears appeals from employees within the classified service.
Members:
Ball, Steven L.
Boggs, Thad
Burleson, Lisa M.
Cochran, Abby (UA Staff)
Serves: Human Resources
The Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) was founded to aid the City in supporting economic development activities. The CIC is composed of both public and private board members who meet the third Thursday of every other month. With this diverse membership, the CIC is perfectly situated to help guide economic development activities in the City.
Members:
Bania, Bhatki
Close, Brian
Fix, Kevin
Hall, John
Hoffsis, Amanda
Hoyle, Michele
King, Brendan
McGovern, Chris
McKenzie, Scott
Pontius, Rich
Sloan, Todd
Beach, Suzanne (UA Staff)
Henderson, Joseph (UA Staff)
Schoeny, Steven (UA Staff)
Serves: Economic Development Division
(ORC § 3735.69 Mayor appoints 2 members, Council appoints 2 members, BZAP appoints 1 member, CRAHC appoints 2 members, for a total of 7 members who all serve 3-year terms) The Community Reinvestment Area Housing Council meets on call to make inspection of the properties within the community reinvestment area for which an exemption has been granted under section 3735.67 of the ORC. The council also hears appeals under section 3735.70 of the ORC.
Members:
Hoffsis, Amanda
Fix, Kevin
Pontius, Rich
Sloan, Todd
Bania, Bhatki
Hall, John
Henderson, Joseph (UA Staff)
Serves: Economic Development Division
(C.O. § 160.02 – President of Council appoints, Council confirms 9 members to serve 4-year terms which commence the first day of October and expire the last day of September) The purpose of the Community Relations Committee is to continue to support Upper Arlington as a welcoming community and to promote understanding, mutual respect and a sense of belonging among all residents to affirm the value of each individual and foster a continued culture of shared community.
Community Relations Committee Website
Members:
Abdelbaki, Hana
Akins, Floyd – Chair
Dorval, Jean-Philippe
El-Hennawy, Farida – Vice Chair
Heiser, Karen
Kase, Judy
Sayat, Jason
Warner, Howard
Schoeny, Steven (UA Staff)
Speight, Emma (UA Staff)
Serves: City Manager’s Office
(C.O. §152.02 – President of Council appoints, Council confirms 7 members who serve 3-year terms – Jun. 1-May 31) The Cultural Arts Commission meets the first Wednesday of each month to advise and support the Cultural Arts Division Staff in its mission to provide and promote a diverse, lively, accessible arts environment that advances the cultural assets and enriches the life of the community.
Members:
Baughman, Barry
Dial, Aparna
Hastrich, Kristan
Kemper, Rebecca
Morris, Kate
Spencer, Martin
Yesso, Judy
McLaughlin, Debbie (UA Staff)
Serves: Cultural Arts Division
(ORC 3375.121 – Council Appoints 7 members to serve 4-year terms) The Board of Library Trustees meets the third Tuesday of every month to oversee the management of the City’s public library system.
Members:
Fix, Kevin
Flynn, Stephen
Hahn, Peter
Hare, Kate
Heydlauff, Gloria
Shkurti, William
Yesso, John M.
Hatch, Beth (Director)
(C.O. § 154.01 — President of Council appoints, Council confirms 7 members to serve 4-year terms – Feb. 1-Jan. 31) The Medical Advisory Board meets as determined by the Board, to provide professional supervision, training and support of the City’s emergency para-medical program. All members must be residents of the City of Upper Arlington, at least two-thirds must be physicians licensed to practice in the State of Ohio; members who are not physicians should be qualified and active in areas directly related to the practice of medicine.
Members:
Dick, Dr. Michael
Drobny, Dr. Eric D.
Fontana, Dr. Mary E.
Lutmerding, Dr. Medard Richard
Raetzke, Dr. Bradley
Stanley, Dr. Rachel
Suh, Dr. Kwang
Nofziger, Lyn (UA Staff)
Serves: Fire Division
(C.O. § 151.02 — Mayor appoints, Council confirms 7 members to serve 4-year terms, which expire Sept. 30) The Parks & Recreation Advisory Board meets on the second Wednesday of even numbered months to review and make recommendations to City Council on the City’s parks, recreational programs and facilities in the community.
Members:
Christ, Lindsey
Duchi, Mary
Hare, Matt
Noble, Brian
O’Donnell, Caroline
Petersen, Matt
Thomas, Allison
McLaughlin, Debbie (UA Staff)
Serves: Parks & Recreation Department
(O.R.C. § 149.39 – Records Commission–Municipal Corporation) The Upper Arlington Records Commission meets twice annually to provide rules for retention and disposal of records of the municipal corporation, and to review applications for one-time disposal of obsolete records.
Members:
City Manager
Finance Director
City Attorney
Citizen Representative
Serves: City of Upper Arlington Municipal Offices
(O.R.C. § 149.39 – City Manager appoints 2 members, Council concurs) The Tax Incentive Review Council meets annually to review all agreements granting exemptions from property taxation and any performance or audit reports required to be submitted pursuant to those agreements. With respect to each agreement, the council shall determine whether the owner of the exempted property has complied with the agreement, and provide a written report to City Council.
Members:
Drennen, Michael
Szolosi, Michael
Serves: City of Upper Arlington Municipal Offices
Record Management Policy
The records maintained by the City, and the ability to access them, is a means to provide trust between our citizens and the City. In accordance with state law and the Upper Arlington Records Commission, the City follows Schedules of Records Retention that identify these records.
Records Request
The City Clerk’s Office is responsible for the timely filling of public records requests. Once we receive your request, it will be fulfilled in a reasonable amount of time.
City Council (4)
Call 614-583-5100, send a request using the Contact form below or submit an online form Records Request – City Administration from the City Council – City Clerk web page.
For all City of Upper Arlington public record requests for Police or Mayor’s Court records, please visit Records Request – Police & Mayor’s Court on City Council – City Clerk web page. For Franklin County record requests you may visit www.fcmcclerk.com or www.fccourts.org.
City Council typically on the first, second and third Monday of the month. Meetings usually begin at 7:30 pm