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The Celina City Council met Monday night with a full agenda covering public safety, infrastructure, and community programs.

Council members heard updates on the city’s ongoing infrastructure and street improvement projects, including upcoming paving schedules and the progress on sidewalk repairs in residential neighborhoods.

Discussion also focused on public safety technology, with officials reviewing data from the city’s Flock license plate camera system. Police reported that the cameras continue to assist in criminal investigations and vehicle recovery efforts.

Community Cat Management and TNR Program

• Representatives from Celina Cares, a non-profit TNR group founded in November 2019, presented to the council to clarify their work and request support.

• The group was formed to address the local cat overpopulation problem and has grown to over 3,900 members on its Facebook page.

• Celina Cares operates a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program, where community cats are trapped, sterilized, and returned to their original location.

  • The group partners with Humane Ohio, paying $200 a month for a service that transports 36 cats monthly for spaying/neutering.

    • The cost to fix a community cat is $35, which includes a rabies shot, representing a savings of at least $115 per cat compared to local options.

    • Sterilized cats are ear-tipped (a quarter inch off the left ear) and receive a green belly tattoo for easy identification.

• The program relies on cooperation with residents who are already feeding community cats on their own property to effectively trap the animals.

• The group's policy is to return cats to their original location after they have been spayed or neutered. They do not relocate cats, as finding new homes for large numbers of feral cats is not feasible.

• The goal of the program is to stop the reproductive cycle. Over time, as the fixed cats live out their natural lives without producing more kittens, the local cat population decreases.

• In the last six years, Celina Cares has fixed over 2,000 cats and adopted out over 600 kittens.

• In the last year, the group fixed 249 community cats, separate from their foster pets.

• The organization is run entirely by volunteers and spends a minimum of $40,000 a year, funded through its own fundraising efforts.

• The costs for spaying and neutering vary significantly depending on the service used:

  • The group's primary transport service costs $35 per cat.

  • Services in Fort Wayne cost $55 per cat.

  • A service called Public Vet (formerly Neuter Scooter) charges $100 per cat.

  • Emergency procedures at a local vet can cost approximately $160 for a male and $200 for a female.

  • A trip to Michigan is planned where the cost is $10 per cat.

• TNR is presented as the only humane and effective solution for managing stray cat populations.

  • It stabilizes colonies, leading to no new kittens, less noise, less odor, and decreased fighting.

  • Simply removing cats creates a "vacuum effect," where new, unsterilized cats move in and restart the breeding cycle.

• Banning the feeding of community cats is counterproductive, as it causes them to seek food from sources like garbage and shelter in unwanted areas.

• Relocating cats is considered animal cruelty and is a felony in Ohio, as ruled by the Ohio Supreme Court.

• A veterinarian supporting the group noted that the reproductive potential of cats is often underestimated.

• An unspayed female cat and her offspring can produce up to 400,000 cats in their lifetime.

• Female cats can have three to five litters per year, with an average of four to six kittens per litter, and can become pregnant again while still nursing.

• In response to a question about humanely keeping cats off private property, suggestions included using commercial powders with spices or placing plastic spike mats in landscaping. Neutering also dramatically reduces roaming and territory-marking behaviors.

• A council member asked about identifying a neutered cat that is not ear-tipped. It was explained that it is difficult to visually confirm if a female has been spayed, which can lead to unnecessary exploratory surgery.

• When asked if cat population numbers are dropping, the presenter stated that it is effective within managed colonies but difficult to measure across the entire city. The group primarily works with community members who are already feeding and caring for cat colonies.

• The group uses several methods to trap skittish cats, including acclimating them to a covered trap over days or weeks, using bait like catnip or chicken, and covering the trap's trip plate.

• A new homeowner in Celina described a severe problem with cats from a neighboring property causing damage. The issues include cats fighting, spraying, and defecating on his roof.

• The resident has video evidence of nine unique cats on his property, which are being fed and sheltered by the neighbor right up to the property line.

• The core conflict is that the neighbor is uncooperative, and the homeowner is seeking a humane solution without pressing criminal charges or escalating the conflict.

• A representative from the TNR group offered to contact the neighbor directly, proposing that a new person focused on animal welfare might be more successful in gaining cooperation.

• It was suggested that the city publicize the TNR program's contact information in the city newsletter to raise awareness. Putting the information on the city website would first require confirmation from the law director.

• The council discussed exploring what other communities have done, such as sending out informational brochures about their own TNR programs.

• To address the capacity limit of 36 cats per month, ideas were raised to either bring back the high-volume "Neuter Scooter" service or have the city hire vets to increase local spay/neuter availability.

In other business, council approved several routine financial measures and maintenance expenditures and received department reports from the Safety Service Director and City Auditor.

Ordinance Enforcement and Citizen Complaints

• A resident from West Anthony Street raised concerns about a property at 325 Brandon Street being used as a scrapyard, which he believes is negatively affecting his property value.

• Another resident expressed frustration over recurring trash and blight at a neighboring scrapyard property.

• The resident expressed frustration with the city's enforcement process for junk ordinances.

  • He described a "cat and mouse game" where the offending property owner complies within the 10-day notice period, only to restart the violation shortly after, leading to an endless cycle of complaints and temporary cleanups.

• The council advised that the proper procedure for blight is to file a complaint with the engineering department, which initiates a 10-day cleanup notice for the property owner.

• The city's legal obligations regarding enforcement were explained.

  • The process is complaint-driven and must adhere to constitutional due process, which requires providing a 10-day notice for the property owner to comply.

  • Failure to comply can result in the city removing the junk at a cost of $500 per hour and can escalate to a misdemeanor of the third degree for repeat offenses.

• It was noted that repeated complaints for non-compliance can lead to elevated punishments, such as fines or jail time.

• The resident was advised to continue reporting new trash accumulations as soon as they appear to maintain pressure on the property owner.

• The council discussed the lengthy but legally required "due process" for enforcing property maintenance codes, which can be a source of frustration.

• Specific timelines mandated by law were explained:

  • A new 10-day notice is required for each instance of overgrown grass, as every occurrence is considered a separate offense.

  • For an unsafe structure, a minimum 60-day notice is required. The city can only proceed if the property owner makes no attempt to secure the structure within that period.

• While the process is slow, it was confirmed that the city has successfully taken enforcement action, including taking residents to court and jail for junk violations.

• Residents were encouraged to report violations such as junk, unlicensed vehicles, and unhooked trailers, as some issues can be cited more quickly than others.

• A council member encouraged open communication between the city, residents, and neighbors to resolve property issues.

• It was advised that all parties should document their actions and ensure they are following the law.

• The resident also reported receiving a citation for his dogs being on his own sidewalk, which he believes was retaliatory for his complaints.

  • He noted a separate legal issue where he has a pretrial hearing but has not received evidence he requested through a motion for discovery. The council stated this was a court matter outside their legislative authority.

• A citizen raised a concern about not receiving discovery evidence for their trial, which was scheduled for the following morning.

• They expressed frustration with being directed to different departments without receiving a clear answer or the necessary materials.

• The roles of the three branches of government were explained to clarify responsibilities regarding laws and legal proceedings.

  • Legislative Branch: This branch, such as a council or Congress, is responsible for making laws.

  • Executive Branch: This branch, which includes the mayor and law enforcement, is responsible for enforcing the laws.

  • Judicial Branch: This branch, the court system, rules on individual cases, determines if laws are constitutional, and manages legal procedures like discovery.

• It was clarified that discovery materials are provided by the judicial branch (the court), not the executive branch (the police department).

• The Law Director stated that it is not uncommon for discovery to be unavailable by the first pretrial hearing.

• The process is that the information is sent out as soon as it is received from the officer involved in the case.

• It was determined that the issue raised by the citizen is a legal matter to be handled by the courts.

Bryson Park Lease Agreement

• The council reviewed an ordinance authorizing a lease agreement with James Hiles for a one-day Christian rock concert at the Bryson Park District amphitheater.

• The event, featuring the band "7th Day Slumber," will include merchandise sales and food trucks, which necessitates the formal lease agreement.

• The lease is set at $1 per annum plus the standard rental fee for the amphitheater and shelter house.

• The organizer hopes to establish an annual Christian music event, and this first event is supported by several local churches.

• The council voted 7-0 to suspend the three-reading rule and approve the ordinance to allow the event, scheduled for October 16, 2025, to proceed.

The next regular Celina City Council meeting is scheduled for October 27th at 7 p.m. at the Celina City Administration Building.