Worthington ohio

Doug Smith
 

Worthington City Council

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Accomplishments

Sustainability

Alternative Fuels Renewable Energy Aggregation

As the region becomes more savvy in finding ways to have In 2018, Doug led efforts to pass Issue 39, Worthington’s
less environmental impact, Worthington is trying to find ways electric aggregation program. The goals of this program were:
to use alternative fuels for residential cars and city fleets. save residents money on their electric bills and provide 100%
  renewable energy to participating residents.
Doug has led efforts to perform grant-funded feasibility  
studies to install electric charging stations (for electric cars) at The city launched the program in June 2019 and has seen 97%
city-owned properties and commercial buildings. resident participation.

Recycling Rain Barrells & Composting

As a result of Council and city staff action, Worthington now Doug is a supporter of using simple tools to improve the
offers recycling in the Old Worthington Business District. community. By collaborating with Franklin County Soil  and
Water Conversation District, residents are eligble to receive
Edible Plants on Public Land rebates for purchasing a rain barrell or composting bin.
 
A personal project of Doug's was to create a policy to allow To learn more, visit FSWCD.
edible plants, like herbs and produce, to be planted on public
land for all to cultivate and consume.
 
As a result of implementing this program through the Parks &
Rec Department, Worthington became the first city in the
country to promote "transitional gardens" through city policy.
 
Read the 2013 Dispatch article here.
View the edible plant map here.

City Services

Street Improvements Playground Replacement

One major function of city government is to maintain and Since his re-election in 2015, Doug has led efforts to give
proper attention to the city’s aging park system. The past four
repair city roads. Each year, city council members take a years, city staff has upgraded Perry Park’s ball fields,
constructed new Olentangy Parklands facilities, and replaced
driving tour to determine which streets need repaired or the playground equipment at Heischman Park.
 
repaved. Additionally, council has begun developing a final design for
the McCord Park renovation next to the Community Center.
  This includes a natural playground, ball fields, and facilities.
 
Since Doug was elected in 2011, the following streets (all or Since Doug was elected in 2011, Indianola Park playground 
Whitney playground and the Community Center playground
partial) have been improved: have been completely replaced.
 
  The Godown Dog Park was completed, and many other park
and playground improvements have been made.
 
Block Watch
  Farrington Northigh
Foster Olentangy Blvd Doug worked with multiple existing neighborhood networks
A  lrojo Granby Oxford and helped create new neighborhood networks to keep an
 Andover Greenglade Park Overlook
 Beechwood Hartford Pittsfield
Betsy Hickory Selby
Boyd Grove Sharon Springs
Cambridge Highland Simsbury
Clayton Hutchinson South
Clearview Lambourne Stafford
Colebrook Larrimer Stanton
Colonial Lincoln Stuart
Crandall Middlebury
Emerson
Evening

Evening Milton and helped create new neighborhood networks to keep an
  open line of communication between the neighborhoods and
the Worthington Police.
 
By hosting neighborhood meetings and obtaining face-to-face
feedback from neighbors, the police were able to strengthen
service and educate residents on creating safer
neighborhoods.

Financial Health

Economic Development Responsible Budget

Cities thrive or falter with their corporate economy. More than Each year, Worthington generates approximately $30 million
75% of city revenue generated each year comes from income dollars in revenue. Part of a council member's job is to help
taxes of people working in Worthington city limits. Only about allocate those funds by prioritizing city services, staff,
4% of each resident's property tax goes to the city. So, it is maintenance and all other operating.
important to make Worthington a job-friendly community  
while keeping it a resident-friendly community. Due to smart budgeting and leveraging resources, the city
  budget is in good shape with a healthy rollover ‘surplus’ of
Doug has helped retain large corporations and bring in new more than $14 million and a AAA Bond Rating from the State
businesses by empowering city staff to approach businesses Auditor.
that fit Worthington's culture.  
These positive results come from making responsible budget
Online Purchasing decisions year each year. Also, city services and capital
improvements have been positively impacted by these
The city spends hundreds of thousands of dollars annually on responsible financial decisions.
capital equipment purchases like police and fire vehicles,
computers, and more. ReCAP Program
 
Doug spearheaded a policy that will save the city thousands of As a board member of the Community Improvement
dollars by purchasing equipment online through a reserve Corporation (CIC), Doug helped lead an effort to revitalize the
bidding system that has a track record of saving Huntley Road and Schrock corridors by granting and loaning
municipalities more than 20% on equipment purchases. city money to businesses who planned to improve their
  commercial property frontage with attractive upgrades and
  curb appeal improvements. Applicants are required to match
50% of the grant and pay back 25% of the granted amount as
Bike/Pedestrian Priority a no-interest loan. The program proved success by increasing
the number of jobs in the corridor, increasing the number of
long-term committed tenants, and improving the corridor
aesthetics and ‘curb appeal.’
 
 
 

In recent years, the city council has made mobility and connectivity one of their top priorities. In early 2014, council
formed an advisory Bike/Pedestrian Committee to determine the needs of the city as it relates to multi-modal
transit.
 
As one of the council representatives to the advisory committee, Doug led the effort to create a standing city
committee to look at the ongoing needs of an increasing mode of transit and recreation in our community.

 
In 2018, the committee began a 12-month outreach process to identify connectivity needs base on resident input.
As a result, council approved the committee’s recommended master plan and has begun devoting more resources
to implement these important projects and programs.

Paid for by Citizens for Doug Smith

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