The City Manager’s Office provides the executive leadership for the City, and policy guidance to the Mayor and Council. The City Manager is responsible for the overall management of the City’s departments, the support services necessary to maintain them, and the presentation of the City’s budget.
The Office is comprised of the City Manager, Assistant City Manager and Executive Secretary, as well as the following divisions:
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Community Affairs – oversees the City’s communications, marketing and community engagement programs (see the Connect section under Services)
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Human Resources – performs all personnel functions for the City (see Human Resources section)
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Economic Development – provides a wide range of services to attract new businesses and to help existing business stay and grow in UA (see Economic Development section)
6-11 pm, Thursday, June 8 Municipal Services Center, 3600 Tremont Road Join UA Parks & Rec as they launch their annual celebration of summer with the hottest music event in town. Party on the Plaza will feature live performances by…
7 pm, Wednesday, June 7 Jones Middle School The Upper Arlington Historical Society continues its “History Speaks” series, with a June 7 discussion on architecture of 50+ year-old homes. Join presenter Susan Keeny, Preservation Director at Columbus Landmarks, to learn…
June 1-July 7 3600 Tremont Road The City’s Concourse Gallery is hosting an informational exhibit developed by the YWCA of Columbus, that has been touring the region in recent months. Undesign the Redline portrays the history of structural racism caused…
UA Police is urging drivers to buckle up during the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) national Click It or Ticket high-visibility enforcement effort. The national seat belt campaign, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday,…
The 2023 Pool Season is upon us, and UA Parks & Rec are excited to welcome you to our three outdoor pools this coming weekend! Read on for details of the 2023 season, including a few changes that you should be aware of…
Like clockwork, a rainy spring followed by warm weather brings mosquitoes out just in time for summer. Mosquitoes are not only a nuisance, they are a potential health risk as transmitters of diseases such as West Nile, La Crosse Encephalitis…
The local news media landscape is not what it used to be, with fewer ways to stay current on what’s happening in your community. Recognizing this trend, the City has increased its efforts to share regular updates with residents. Below…
3 pm, Sunday, May 21 3600 Tremont Road The City of Upper Arlington and the Upper Arlington Historical Society invite the community to join us for the 2023 Wall of Honor Ceremony, beginning at 3 pm on Sunday, May 21…
After a long winter, warmer weather is finally here to stay. To celebrate, UAPark & Rec is hosting its annual Spring Fling family event on Saturday, May 20, from 11 am-2 pm at Sunny 95 Park, 4395 Carriage Hill Lane.…
The Upper Arlington Civic Association’s popular Memorial Day Run will soon be here, scheduled for the morning of Monday, May 29. Designed for both serious and casual runners, participants can choose to run a 5K course through the neighborhood to…
The Council/Manager form of government is a system of representative democracy that combines the strong political leadership of elected officials with the strong managerial experience of an appointed manager. In this form of government, citizens vote to elect a City Council and that Council then hires a professional City Manager to run the City’s day to day operations and implement any changes in policy that the Council passes. Elected officials and appointed managers must reach out to citizens via community surveys and interaction with residents across the community to ensure that all enacted policies represent the betterment of the community as a whole. Citizen involvement is often widespread in communities that have adopted this form of government through processes such as visioning and community-oriented local services.
City Council
- Functions as a parliamentary system whereby all power is concentrated within the elected Council with a principal elected official, usually the Mayor, assuming a symbolic, coordinating and activist leadership role.
- Members of City Council do not perform this function on a full time basis and typically receive little or no compensation for what is considered volunteer service to the community.
- The number of members on a City Council can range from six to 13 members, depending on the size of the community.
- Often, some or all members of City Council are elected to represent specific areas – known as wards or districts – within a community.
- The Mayor is still perceived as the most visible leader for a community under this form of government.
- The Mayor fulfills two vital functions: Consensus building among members of Council and their representatives, and in guiding the development and implementation of policies.
City Manager
- The appointed professional manager functions like a business organization’s chief executive – administering the daily operations for the City under the guidance of City Council.
- The City Manager has a professional staff that, under his/her guidance, provides the services and implements the policies adopted by the elected Council.
- This appointee is responsible for preparing the community’s budget, directing day-to-day operations, hiring and firing personnel, and provides complete and objective information to Council on issues as they arise.
- The City Manager is selected by the City Council based on his/her education, training and relevant managerial experience.
- City Managers serve at the pleasure of the City Council, must respond to citizens, and are dedicated to the highest ideals of honesty and integrity.
2023 State of the City
This year the State of the City is taking a different format. In an effort to meet you where you are, the presentation has shifted to an all-electronic format. Below you will find updates on all of our departments from the past year and a look forward to some of the exciting things 2023 holds.
Community Survey
Every few years, the City undertakes a broad-based resident survey, to obtain feedback that is statistically representative of the entire community, to check that our service delivery is on track and to help us determine how best to allocate public funds. This process can also identify any issues requiring attention that might not currently be on our radar. Our 2022 Community Survey was conducted over the summer of 2022. In true UA fashion, participation in the statistically valid survey process and a subsequent online survey open to all was high, resulting in a report rich with insight on community sentiment. Some key takeaways:
Our residents think Upper Arlington is a great place to live and raise a family, citing city, safety and recreation services as primary contributors to their satisfaction.
Parks & Rec
We are on the cusp of realizing a once-in-a-lifetime goal for many community members – a centrally located Community Center at Kingsdale that will meet the health, wellness, recreational and fitness needs of our community for decades to come. Early in 2021, the Community Center Feasibility Task Force ended its 18-month study process, concluding that a Community Center was feasible. City Council concurred with this finding, passing the necessary legislation to place a Community Center issue on the ballot and putting the necessary funding mechanisms in place if the ballot issue passed. On May 4, 2021, the Community Center ballot issue passed by approximately 80%. With this pledge of support from residents, the City transitioned to the next steps. Pizzuti Solutions was selected as the City’s Owner’s Representative, serving as our in-house expert to help develop details for the Community Center and monitor all other contractors’ work. In August, City Council authorized a contract with the architecture and design team of MSA Sport and Perkins & Will to lead a detailed design process that has included extensive opportunities for resident participation.
Details and updates on the Community Center can be found here.
Development
Progress was made on the following projects in 2022:
The Lane II project on Lane Avenue was completed, comprised of the Westmont on Lane apartments, townhomes, office and retail/restaurant space, and the community’s second hotel.
The Arlington Gateway project at the southeast corner of Lane Avenue and North Star Road has made significant progress. This project includes ground floor retail and restaurant uses, 225 apartments on five floors, an additional five floors with 139,000 square feet of office space, and structured parking. With a targeted completion toward the end of 2024, approximately 75% of the Class A office space has already been leased.
The exterior of the senior living building at the Kingsdale redevelopment project is almost complete, and work has begun on the seven-story building that will house 325 apartments, structured parking and townhouses fronting Northwest Boulevard.
A rezoning request for three residential properties at the northeast corner of Fishinger Road and Fairlington Drive made its way through the public review process, with ultimate approval for the Scioto Villas development of 15 condominiums.
To date for 2022, the combined review and inspection of commercial and residential construction projects has generated a construction value of $152 million, representing the third highest value in the City’s history. Included in this are 27 new homes, renovations for the Littleton’s Market at Tremont Center, and a Goldfish Swim School.
Police and Fire
In 2022, an assessment process was initiated for the Police Division. The resulting Police Operations and Data Analysis report highlighted the strengths of the division. When compared with other communities, the data shows that UA is very safe, with one of the lowest crime rates. The division’s community relations activities far exceed those offered by similar-sized agencies. Also of note, the division is ahead of many agencies in its commitment to regular data analysis that includes a review of bias-based policing patterns in support of the division’s commitment to accountability, fostering relationships and building trust with all the communities it serves. A notable theme to emerge from the study was the need for additional civilian positions to support the work of sworn officers, a challenge that has increasingly impacted operations over the years. For example, while the City’s partnership with Dublin’s Northwest Regional Emergency Communications Center for the provision of 911/dispatching services has been extremely successful, an unintended consequence has been the reallocation of various administrative responsibilities to sworn officers, taking time away from patrol.
A Fires Operations study also began in 2022. The rollout for the will come to City Council in the Spring of 2023.
Public Works and Engineering
In 2022, the City completed its ninth year of an expanded 10-year Capital Improvement Program. This included: full street reconstruction projects on sections of eight streets; the start of the first phase of improvements to Fishinger Road, to include new waterline, full street reconstruction, new sidewalks and a shared-use path; the final phase of work on McCoy Road; street maintenance work on sections of 17 streets; doubling our typical investment for year five of the Sustainable Sewer Solutions Program to ensure the City is keeping our sanitary sewer lines clear and well maintained; a new sidewalk on the west side of North Star Road between Zollinger and Fishinger roads; and traffic calming, parking and accessibility improvements in the neighborhood around the UA High School.
In 2022, the city also expanded the food waste diversion program to include a pilot for curbside collection. The program was made possible through a United States Department of Agriculture grant and operated by the city’s partner, GoZERO Services.
Finance
As we navigate a series of economic challenges, including inflationary market conditions, supply chain delays and other lasting impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, the City’s fiscal position remains strong. The City is mindful of the current environment’s challenges and the unknowns that may lie ahead. Five-year projections indicate we will continue to have the capacity for producing structurally sound budgets while keeping our 10-year Capital Improvement Program updated and financed. The City’s income tax continues to trend upward, serving as a positive source of support for many major operations and projects, changing our landscape and infrastructure for the better. Thanks to resident support of the .5% income tax increase, which took effect in 2015, combined with many new economic development investments, the City has realized approximately $43.1 million in income tax dollars that have been invested directly back into the community. Improvements to our infrastructure – whether it’s a reconstructed street, a new sidewalk or a new playground – benefit us in the short term and strengthen the community’s foundation for prosperous future generations. Meanwhile, our General Fund reserves continue to grow and are projected to become approximately 61% in 2023, well above the policy requiring a 30% minimum.
Despite continuing challenges, the City continues on a positive trajectory. Our community partners and residents alike have a keen eye to the future, and a shared belief that Upper Arlington will continue to go from strength to strength, and they are committed to doing their part to help move us forward.
2022 Community Awards Program
Nomination Deadline: Friday, January 20, 2023
Printable Nomination Form | Fillable Nomination Form
Each year, the City seeks nominations of the many worthy individuals and groups that have helped make our community better in some way, through our annual Community Awards Program. We have mixed things up a little for the 2022 awards, adding a Community Relations award in place of Safety, and incorporating a new diversity element to our Business Award.
Now is the time to submit your nominations for the following categories:
- Business
- Community Enrichment
- Community Relations
- Senior
- Youth
2022 Community Award Winners
See below for information on our 2022 Community Award recipients. Details of past-year State of the City Addresses can be found through our Archives Portal – State of the City search.
Emily Mertens’ Ballroom Dance Experience has been a UA-based business for several years, teaching Ballroom Dance to students of all ages and skill levels. Emily brings a contagious passion to her business and spreads her love of dance to her students. Emily has worked to bring dance and teach much needed social skills to young adults in school settings and has used her knowledge of movement and touch to develop programs for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients.
The Upper Arlington Optimist Club has served youth in UA since 1953. Examples include the UA Optimist Basketball program that serves more than 1,000 UA students, a series of scholarship programs that include a communication contest for the deaf and hearing impaired and an Exemplary Character Scholarship that recognizes students that have overcome significant struggles such as homelessness, refugee camps and relocation to the region from African nations, as well as partnerships with UA’s first responders through its Respect for Law program.
Reita has continually supported efforts to honor the history of the land we call Upper Arlington, particularly the Native American and African American communities who lived here before the City was established. She was an integral participant in the Pleasant Litchford Taskforce, which brought together educators and representatives from the UA Schools, the City, the UA Historical Society, Equal UA, and Second Baptist Church to develop a timeline with verified primary and secondary sources to better share the story of Pleasant Litchford with the community and with students.
Bob has been an avid volunteer for the City since the day of his 21st birthday, when he began volunteering as an auxiliary firefighter/medic for the Fire Division, a position he continued in for over 20 years. Bob was named to the City’s Board of Zoning and Planning in 1987 for a “three-year term,” which extended to 35 years, and included several years serving as Board Chair. Bob has also been very active with school volunteering, leading an effort to build the Big Toy playground at Windermere in the early 1980s, and serving as construction manager for a Habitat for Humanity home built by students, staff and parents of the High School in the 1990s.
This group of students was formed two years ago to initiate a positive response to instances of racism targeting Asian populations. Together they have established and nurtured a safe space for their fellow students and helping previously reserved and quiet members emerge as confident leaders. The group has successfully run fundraisers for the Asian American Community Services, whose office is located in UA, as well as organizing events and programs that help inform students and community members about Asian culture.
Steven R. Schoeny joined the City of Upper Arlington as City Manager on September 30, 2019.
A 13-year resident of Upper Arlington, Steve previously served as the Director of the City of Columbus’ Department of Development since the summer of 2013. During his tenure, the department implemented new planning principles that provide a consistent framework throughout the city, in collaboration with neighborhood leaders. He has spearheaded numerous economic development efforts that resulted in a net gain of more than one million square feet of Class A office space in Columbus. He led Columbus’ participation in the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission’s (MORPC) Corridor Concepts project, collaborating with eight regional municipalities around a shared vision of mobility. Steve also oversaw the creation of a proactive code enforcement system for the department, as well as a restructuring of various housing incentive programs to encourage mixed-income neighborhoods.
Prior to his role at Columbus, Steve led the economic development consulting practice for Ice Miller Whiteboard, providing strategic planning services to various municipalities and performing site selection, incentives negotiation and analysis for projects that included corporate headquarters, manufacturing sites and data centers. He also served as Director for the State of Ohio’s Strategic Business Investment Division, overseeing statewide economic development efforts including project and incentive negotiations, monitoring agreement compliance and business retention.
Steve has a Master of Public Management from the University of Maryland, School of Public Affairs, and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Economics from Ohio University. He is an Ohio University Voinovich School Distinguished Alumni recipient, a Columbus Business First Power 100 recipient, and a Rose Fellow from the National League of Cities/Urban Land Institute Daniel Rose Center. His community involvement includes: Board Member and Treasurer for CelebrateOne, Board Member for the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation, and Board Member for Partners Achieving Community Transformation. He is actively involved in various Upper Arlington youth sports programs, including the Golden Bear Basketball Club, Kiwanis Soccer and Bear Cub Baseball.
In an effort to protect the health and safety of residents and the representatives going door-to-door, all entities that seek a Solicitation Permit from the City are being notified that their representatives are required by the executive order to wear face masks and to follow appropriate social distancing measures.
The City has guidelines and requirements for groups or individuals wishing to go door-to-door in the community for the purposes of selling items or services, or canvassing residents. This includes securing a peddling/solicitation permit (canvassers do not require a permit).
Residents are advised to ask to see a copy of the Peddling/Solicitation Permit from the City or can check the list of current permit holders below. If proof cannot be provided and you don’t see them on the list, please contact the Police Division to report this activity, at 614-459-2800 so that an officer can be dispatched to the area.
CURRENT PERMIT HOLDERS
| Permit Holder | Valid Until | Type / Description |
|---|---|---|
| Networth Realty of Columbus | June 23, 2023 | Real estate |
| Back in Black Sealcoating | June 30, 2023 | Blacktop sealcoating services |
| UAHS Wrestling Team | July 3, 2023 | Painted yard stars for July 4th |
| Last Updated | May 31, 2023 |
PERMIT PROCESS
- Is a Peddling/Solicitation Permit required?
- Any organization that is going door-to-door at private residences within the City of Upper Arlington in order to sell a good or service or solicit donations of any kind or size is required to obtain a Peddling/Solicitation Permit. Only one Permit is required per organization.
- Canvassers who are going door-to-door with the sole purpose of distributing information are not required to obtain a Peddling/Solicitation Permit. If an organization does not obtain a Permit they are not allowed to solicit for donations at any time.
- The permit does not provide permission to solicit where notice of No Solicitation or No Trespass has been provided by the property owner. This also applies to canvassing organizations not required to receive a permit.
- Application fee
- There is a $50.00 application fee for a Peddling/Solicitation Permit. This must only be paid once per organization.
- The application fee is waived for charitable, non-profit, or religious solicitation, with proof of non-profit status pursuant to Internal Revenue Code §501(C)(3).
- If you are completing the application online via Viewpoint Cloud, this fee must be submitted in person at the time of the background check.
- Background check fees
- Background checks are required for any organization selling goods or services or soliciting donations of any kind.
- Every individual who will be going door-to-door must complete a background check.
- There is a background check fee for each individual who needs a background check. This fee is not waived for charitable, non-profit, or religious organizations that are soliciting donations or money for membership. This fee will need to be paid in person at the time of the background check. Amount of fee is dependent on residency.
- Documentation required
- Proof of non-profit status for fee waiver, if applicable.
- Copy of current, valid driver’s license and other current, valid, government-issued identification that includes your picture.
- Completed Application for Peddling/Solicitation Permit with accurate information and signature.
- Application procedures
- Submit an application online
- Attach proof of non-profit status, if applicable. $50 fee must be paid at time of application.
- All individuals who will be going door-to-door must come in person to complete a background check. Each will be required to pay a background check fee with the submission of a background check application.
- Application must be submitted no later than 30 days prior to the commencement of business.
- Permit expires 60 days after date of issuance.
- Submit an application online
- Municipal Code Sections
- Other Requirements
- August 2020: Per the City Manager’s COVID-19 Executive Order, all representatives going door-to-door are required to wear face masks and to observe appropriate social distancing requirement.
Tips for Residents
- If someone comes to your home and attempts to sell a good or service, or to solicit donations, you can ask to see a copy of their Solicitation Permit from the City. If proof cannot be provided and you don’t see them on the above list of Current Permit Holders, please report this activity to our Police Division non-emergency number, at 614-459-2800.
- If you have a “No Solicitors/Peddlers” sticker on your door and an individual or group ignores it, please call our Police Division non-emergency number, at 614-459-2800.
No Solicitation Stickers
The City has made available free-of-charge two versions of a decal for use by residents. One states “No Solicitors/Peddlers” and is designed to dissuade individuals or entities wishing to sell a product or service. The second states “No Canvassers/Trespassers/Solicitors/Peddlers” and is designed to dissuade all such door-to-door activities. The decals can be obtained from the City Manager’s Office or the Police Division.
Demonstrations at the Municipal Services Center
The City encourages community gatherings, demonstrations and discussions. We also recognize that the plaza at the Municipal Services Center (MSC) is a prominent, centrally located public facility that is well suited to such gatherings.
We welcome these activities at our facility. We have developed some best practices for groups wishing to gather so that we can provide a safe environment and allow the regular services and operations housed at the MSC – including important safety services – to continue without interruption.
- Although not required, we ask that you notify the City at least 24 hours in advance of a planned assembly:
- Contact us at: Phone: 614-459-2800 | Email: [email protected]
- Provide some details about the activities planned and how many people are expected to participate.
To assist us in ensuring a safe gathering, we encourage you to share the following information with attendees in advance:
- Building entrances and parking lots must be accessible for other visitors and our staff at all times.
- Follow regular parking regulations both on and off City property.
- Do not mark any surfaces.
- Please do not litter. Trash and recycling receptacles are available or take items with you when you leave.
- Once your gathering ends, take all signs and items with you. If you do not, be advised that they will be removed and destroyed within 24 hours.
Based on information provided in advance about your gathering, be advised that our Public Service Department may assign staff to provide traffic control equipment, and our Police Division may choose to assign one or more officers to assist with traffic and other relevant safety issues. In either case, a City representative will notify the organizers of any plans.
Once your activity has concluded, if you have any comments or suggestions for us or you wish to schedule a follow up discussion, please contact us at [email protected]. We appreciate your understanding and thank you in advance for working with us.
Activity/Event permits can be obtained in the City Manager’s Office. This permit is used for hosting a race/run on the streets of Upper Arlington. Contact the City Manager’s Office to confirm race date is available using the form below. Please apply at least 90 days prior to the event. There is a $100 application fee.
Special Event Applications/Permits
The City has an application and permitting process in place for special events that require the use of City property and/or City logistical and planning support (please note, this permit does not apply for facility rentals that are contained to a specific rented location, such as a Municipal Services Center meeting room, or a park shelter). This includes quarterly submission deadlines in advance of a planned event so that Staff have ample time to review all requests and manage its finite supply of equipment and staffing while balancing its support of longstanding community events with new and unique event proposals.
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2023 Event Planning Schedule |
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| For Events Held: | Application Deadline |
Meeting Review Date |
| January 1 – March 31 | October 17, 2022 | November 2, 2022 |
| April 1 – June 30 | January 17, 2023 | February 3, 2023 |
| July 1 – September 30 | April 17, 2023 | May 3, 2023 |
| October 1 – December 31 | July 17, 2023 | August 2, 2023 |
| January 1 – March 31, 2024 | October 17, 2023 | November 1, 2023 |
A Block Party Application & Petition Form may be filed for any day of the year. It should be filed with the City at least one week prior to the date of the block party. A $50.00 non-refundable fee is required for the issuance of a Block Party Permit, to cover the costs of application processing and advance drop-off and pick-up of the necessary barricades. And a Block Petition Signature form is required prior to soliciting concurrence from the appropriate residents on the street in question.
Street Solicitation permits can be obtained in the City Manager’s Office. C.O. 771 states that NOT LESS THAN 80 PERCENT OF THE FUNDS RAISED AS A RESULT OF THIS SOLICITATION WILL BE USED FOR THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE REPRESENTED. For more information, permit application and a listing of permitted intersections approved to solicit, please use the Contact Form below. No fee for this permit.
The City of Upper Arlington has five meeting spaces available for rental at the Municipal Services Center, 3600 Tremont Road, subject to availability. Reservations may be made up to 18 months in advance, with additional policies and regulations outlined on our Facility Rental Page. Reservation fees are non-refundable (unless your reservation is cancelled by the City) and City events take priority.
Contact the City Manager’s Office for availability using the form below.