Ward 5 Council Member· January 2024 – December 2027 (month-level start: January 2024 per kentohio.gov council page; month-level end: December 2027 per kentohio.gov council page)
Heidi Shaffer Bish
Kent
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 13
- Total speaking time
- 35:29
- Avg per meeting
- 2:44
- Segments
- 580
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Top issues during term (20)
Deer Management in Kent
Unknown until the ordinance is drafted.
2025 Charter Review Commission Council action
None — it's a governance change.
Rescission of Klaben CRA tax-incentive agreements
The school district gains 100% of property taxes on roughly $5 million in new valuation instead of 25%, and the city avoids sharing income tax revenue.
Sustainable Kent Award Program
Gas-powered leaf blowers
A rebate program like Akron Regional Air Quality Office's could partially offset costs for residents and landscapers switching to electric equipment.
Cemetery worker pay raises
Higher cemetery payroll costs are shared through the city and township cemetery budgets funded by the .60-mill levy.
Noise ordinance amendment
Sound panels or acoustic consultants could cost money, potentially split between the city and the business — no figure given.
2027-31 Capital Improvement Plan
The plan guides multi-year municipal spending on capital projects; specific totals not provided in the excerpt.
Towing and storage fee review request
Higher towing rates would cost drivers more when their vehicles are towed, while raising revenue for the towing operators.
Corporate money in politics and Citizens United
No direct city financial impact — this is a state of democracy discussion, though speakers argued unregulated political spending drives policy that costs taxpayers.
Rural EMS and dispatch modernization grant
Grant-funded if awarded, with matching appropriations only upon acceptance of the grant.
FirstEnergy Easement at Columbus Street Parking Lot
Not specified in the agenda materials; easement terms may carry compensation or cost implications.
Feral Cat Feeding Ordinance
Minimal direct cost, though any future TNR program could carry city expenses.
Feeding Wild Animals and Fowl Ordinance Amendment
Utility Rates for the 2031 Sewer Relocation Project
Potential future rate changes for water and sewer customers, amount not yet determined.
JEDD Board Appointments and Contract Review
JEDD withholding receipts have declined sharply, from about $1.65 million in 2025 to about $485,000 through mid-2026, affecting shared city revenue.
North Mantua Street improvement project
Up to $500,000 in state grant funds could offset local costs for the North Mantua Street project.
Kolb Acres agricultural district rejection
The designation would have exempted the property from certain assessments and limited residents' nuisance remedies; denial preserves neighbors' legal rights.
School Resource Officer in Kent City Schools
Not specified in the record.
Ohio Public Works grant applications (WRF SCADA and SR 59)
$2 million more for the project with no change in cost to the city.
Decisions during term (191)
Recorded while Bish was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Adoption of Draft Ordinance 2026-99 (position allocation and compensation plan)
Rescind CRA agreement — Klaben 'New Dealership' at 1238 West Main St. (Ord. 2024-106)
Rescind CRA agreement — Klaben 'Service Center' renovation at 1250 West Main St. (Ord. 2024-107)
Approval of July 2026 minutes
Exemption from testing for Chief Operator, Water Reclamation Plant
Excusal of Board Member Michelle Sahr
BZ26-007 — Benjamin Fregoso, 323 N. Lincoln Street (bump-out variance)
BZ26-009 — Bernie Noble / Kara Bloom, 251 Dodge Street (shed setback variance)
August 17, 2026 meeting minutes
Approval of July Special meeting minutes
Approval of August Regular meeting minutes
Approval of September Committee meeting minutes
Consent agenda including Ordinances 2026-81 through 2026-88
Executive session on property disposition
City Manager’s Report
DRAFT 2026-81 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, UPON THE ISSUANCE OF A CERTIFICATE OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS, TO PAY CERTAIN PURCHASE ORDERS MADE THAT EXCEED $3000.00; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
DRAFT 2026-82 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO REAPPOINT ERIC HELMSTEDTER TO SERVE AS THE CITY’S REPRESENTATIVE ON THE DESTINATION KENT CONVENTION & VISITOR BUREAU (DKCVB) AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
DRAFT 2026-83 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER BE PERMANENTLY DESIGNATED AS “SUSTAINABILITY MONTH” IN THE CITY OF KENT, OHIO AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
DRAFT 2026-84 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2025-111, THE CURRENT APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE, PASSED DECEMBER 17, 2025; SO AS TO ADJUST APPROPRIATIONS, TRANSFERS AND ADVANCES FROM THE VARIOUS FUNDS OF THE CITY OF KENT TO INDIVIDUAL…
DRAFT 2026-85 A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE AMOUNTS AND RATES AS DETERMINED BY THE BUDGET COMMISSION AND AUTHORIZING THE NECESSARY TAX LEVIES AND CERTIFYING THEM TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR
Voting record (29)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
Adoption of Draft Ordinance 2026-99 (position allocation and compensation plan)
Consent agenda including Ordinances 2026-81 through 2026-88
Executive session on property disposition
Motion to suspend three readings of the consent agenda
Consent agenda — Ordinances 2026-73 through 2026-80
Motion to move nonpartisan elections to committee
Found it too soon after the recent charter review to revisit the question.
Motion to suspend 3 readings of the consent agenda
Motion to approve consent agenda (Drafts 2026-61 through 2026-71)
Motion to suspend 3 readings of Draft 2026-72
Motion to approve Draft 2026-72 — appointing Ash D'Angelo to the Sustainability Commission
Consent agenda (Drafts 2026-61 through 2026-71) on first reading
Draft 2026-72 — Resolution appointing Ash D'Angelo (first reading)
Executive session
Adoption of Consent Agenda (Items 4.1–4.11)
Executive Session Motion
Consent Agenda (Ordinances 2026-42 through 2026-51 and May committee minutes)
Approval of April Regular Council Meeting minutes
APPROVE DRAFT 2026-41 GRANTING COST OF LIVING INCREASES TO SALARY AND HOURLY WAGE RATES
APPROVE DRAFT 2026-40 APPOINTING FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE GLENN RUSSELL TO SERVE ON STANDING ROCK CEMETERY BOARD FOR TERM 1/1/27 TO 12/31/29
APPROVE DRAFT 2026-39 SETTING TAX RATE AT .60 MILS FOR SUPPORT OF STANDING ROCK CEMETERY
Set tax rate for Standing Rock Cemetery (Draft 2026-39)
Appoint Glenn Russell to Standing Rock Cemetery Board (Draft 2026-40)
Cost of living increases for cemetery personnel (Draft 2026-41)
Consent agenda — Drafts 2026-29 through 2026-37
Suspension of three readings, Drafts 2026-11 through 2026-16
Consent agenda approved (Drafts 2026-11 through 2026-16 and January minutes)
Draft 2026-17 adopted — rejection of Kolb Acres agricultural district application
Denial of Kolb Acres Agricultural District Application
Seconded the motion to deny; noted there was insufficient information to reliably modify the application.