Dublin City Council Experience

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I’m in my fourth year serving as your Ward 1 representative with an amazing group of elected officials. Serving on council means attending a lot of meetings. City council has twenty-two regular meetings each year. In addition, council has about ten to twelve work sessions a year. There are also monthly committee meetings, monthly liaison meetings, and yearly strategic retreats. Continue reading to learn what I, and my fellow council members, accomplish through all these meetings. 

Every August, council begins reviewing the city’s capital improvements program (CIP) for the subsequent five-years. The CIP is a long-term financial plan which establishes priorities, identifies project costs and phasing, and outlines funding sources. Staff brings to council requests for improvements in transportation, parks, utilities, and facilities. In no fewer than four work sessions, council critically reviews the requests and by the end of November adopts the approximately $325 million dollar CIP budget.  To learn more about the CIP process and budget,  CLICK HERE.

Every August, in conjunction with the Capital Improvements Program, council begins reviewing the city’s operating budget for subsequent years. For reference, the 2025 operating budget totaled $114.9 million in expenditures. Reviewing and approving the operating budget goes beyond examining employee salaries and benefits; council must consider on-going expenses to operate city services and amenities such as the recreation center, recycling services, Dublin Connector, city events, and much more. To learn about the city’s operating budget, CLICK HERE.

Every year council has a two-day retreat where we define strategic goals for the upcoming year. These goals guide initiatives, define projects, and prioritize spending. In 2025, council focused on becoming the most connected community in the US, creating a premier athletic complex, revitalizing Metro Center, accelerating economic development in the West Innovation District, and reimagining and launching Dublin’s community events program. For more on the 2024-2025 goals,  CLICK HERE.

Dublin is always planning. Every year, city staff is developing and council is reviewing no fewer than half a dozen planning studies. To list a few, in 2024 council adopted Envision Dublin, the city’s latest Community Plan. Also in 2024, council adopted the Community Health Needs Assessment, the Parks & Recreation Master Plan, and the Metro Center Revitalization Plan.   

Council continually works with staff to evaluate and revise existing legislation and policies. In addition, council continually assesses the needs for new legislation and policies. For example, in 2024, council approved new Historic District Guidelines.  And in 2023, council approved updates to the Historic District Code  and solar energy regulations. Council is currently reviewing updates to the West Innovation District code. 

Council has four standing committees that meet monthly as needed. Council committee meetings allow small-group discussions on select topics outside of the regularly scheduled council meetings. I chair the Public Services Committee which reviews matters related to police, fire, traffic, public health, utilities, energy, telecommunications, public art, parks, and recreation. I also service on the Administrative Committee which reviews matters related to city personnel policies, compensation, benefits, strategic planning, policy, process, marketing, council goal setting, infrastructure technology (IT), boards, and commissions.  

Select council members serve as liaisons to various city boards and community partners. I serve as the council liaison to the city’s Architectural Review Board. Attending the monthly agenda meetings, I support the board and ensure that board members understand council’s strategic goals. I also serve as the council liaison to Washington Township. In this role, I generally attend one of the two regularly scheduled Washington Township Trustee meetings each month to stay abreast of matters concerning the township and its ability to provide fire and emergency medical services (EMS) to all Dublin residents.