At-Large Council Member· 2024-01-02–2028-01-01 (Charter §4.02: terms commence January 2 and terminate January 1; elected Nov 2023 per Franklin County BOE official canvass)
Merisa Bowers
Gahanna
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 33
- Total speaking time
- 3:16:13
- Avg per meeting
- 5:57
- Segments
- 2314
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Top issues during term (20)
2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan
The plan shapes how capital dollars are spent over five years, including possible future funding for the action sports park.
Mayor's veto of salary ordinance
About $90,000 a year combined once fully phased in — roughly 0.2% of the city's $41 million general fund.
FY 2027 City Budget
The 2027 budget will direct funding toward the adopted priorities; sustainability plan development would require a budget allocation.
Action Sports Park restored to Capital Improvement Plan
A rough pump-track maintenance estimate cited at about $3,000 a year; no 2027 funding assigned yet, and reinstating it shouldn't affect the 2027 capital budget.
Creekside flood mitigation and plaza improvements
Part of the city's $85-106 million large-capital project slate; full budget depends on refined estimates.
Senior center nominal-stakes card games ban
No city money is at stake — seniors propose volunteers handle all the pennies and payouts themselves.
Eastgate Flex tax incentive and school-funding tension
The abatement gives up future property tax revenue in exchange for a project projected to create 15 jobs at about $50,000 average salary.
Ten charter amendments on the November ballot
Skipping a mayoral primary when only two candidates run could save taxpayers over $300,000 in a single election cycle.
Federal transit grant application for senior and disability mobility
The grant would offset the city's cost of running the shuttle, which the budget proposal fully funds either way.
Annexation of 0.4 acres at 4710 Johnstown Road
Brings the parcel onto city tax rolls and under city services.
Academy Park inclusive playground renovation
Cost of the agreement not stated in the record.
Hamilton Road streetlight outages
Estimated ~$100 million excluding land; no funding mechanism identified.
Carpenter Road lot split and neighborhood density
Neighbors argued a second house would lower surrounding property values; no city cost involved.
New residential waste collection contract (Rumpke, 2027-2031)
About $3.68 more per household per month ($44.16/year) starting January 2027, roughly $400,000 less over five years than the next bidder.
Stygler Road, Agler Road, US-62 improvements funding
Outside construction funding could save the city significant local dollars on the intersection project.
Our Gahanna Strategic Plan transparency dashboard
The Logistics Center site remains vacant after Council declined incentives, affecting the city's tax base potential.
City Hall Relocation to 825 Tech Center Drive
The electrical rework cost the city nothing, and delays carried no budget impact since the city pays no rent at its current buildings.
Supplemental appropriations
Appropriation amount not stated at the meeting; it covers bond interest on the Civic Center project.
Fraudulent emails and phone scams impersonating the city
You could lose hundreds or thousands of dollars to fraudsters if you pay one of these fake invoices.
Flock Safety camera surveillance
Taxpayers are funding the purchase and installation of these new tracking cameras.
Decisions during term (244)
Recorded while Bowers was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Adoption of Consent Agenda (D.1-D.3)
Amendment of ORD-0038-2026 with Second Substitute Exhibit A
Adoption of ORD-0038-2026 — 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan
Motion to Enter Executive Session (Section 5.05(C))
Minutes - To Approve: 2026-0214 Council Special Minutes 2026-10-19; 2026-0215 Council Regular Minutes 2026-10-19; 2026-0216 Committee of the Whole Minutes 2026-10-26
ORD-0039-2026 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE TRAFFIC CODE OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA; TO PROVIDE FOR PENALTIES; TO PROVIDE FOR CODIFICATION; TO PROVIDE FOR SEVERABILITY; TO REPEAL CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; AND TO ESTABLISH…
ORD-0040-2026 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE GENERAL OFFENSES CODE OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA; TO PROVIDE FOR PENALTIES; TO PROVIDE FOR CODIFICATION; TO PROVIDE FOR SEVERABILITY; TO REPEAL CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; AND TO…
ORD-0042-2026 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS – General Fund, Police Fund, and Parks & Recreation Fund for Anticipated Year-End Expenditures
Consent Agenda (minutes, MT-0014-2026, RES-0050-2026, RES-0051-2026)
RES-0049-2026 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant application
MT-0013-2026 Council Rules of Procedure amendment — postponed
ORD-0033-2026 Mayor's salary ordinance
ORD-0034-2026 City Attorney's salary ordinance
ORD-0035-2026 Council salary ordinance
ORD-0038-2026 Capital Improvement Plan — amendment adopted, ordinance postponed
ORD-0041-2026 CK Construction Group — Creekside flood mitigation agreement
Minutes - To Approve: 2026-0208 Council Regular Minutes 2026-10-05 2026-0209 Committee of the Whole Minutes 2026-10-12
Approval of September 9, 2026 meeting minutes
V-0018-2026 — Home bakery employee variance, 789 Ridenour Road
CU-0002-2026 — Accessory dwelling unit conditional use, 680 Havens Corners Road
Voting record (164)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
Adoption of Consent Agenda (D.1-D.3)
Amendment of ORD-0038-2026 with Second Substitute Exhibit A
Adoption of ORD-0038-2026 — 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan
Motion to Enter Executive Session (Section 5.05(C))
that the Ordinance be Adopted as Amended
Pass the Consent Agenda
that the Resolution be Adopted
that the Motion be Postponed to a Date Certain of November 16, 2026 and return to Committee of the Whole on November 9, 2026
that the Ordinance be Adopted
that the Ordinance be Adopted
that the Ordinance be Amended by Substitution for the effective date of January 2, 2030 for both ward and at-large members
that the Ordinance be Amended by Substitution of EXHIBIT A
that the Ordinance be Postponed to Date Certain of November 2, 2026, and return to Committee of the Whole October 26, 2026 for further discussion
that the Ordinance be Waived for Second Reading
that the Ordinance be Adopted as an Emergency
ORD-0033-2026 Mayor's salary ordinance
ORD-0034-2026 City Attorney's salary ordinance
ORD-0035-2026 Council salary ordinance
Pass the Consent Agenda
that the Ordinance be Adopted
to enter Executive Session under authority of Section 5.05(A) of the Council Rules of Procedure to consider the appointment of public employees or officials
that the Ordinance be Postponed to Date Certain of 10/19/2026. Returns to Committee of the Whole 10/12/2026 for further discussion
that the Ordinance be Postponed to Date Certain of 10/19/2026. Returns to Committee of the Whole 10/12/2026 for further discussion
that the Ordinance be Postponed to Date Certain of 10/19/2026. Returns to Committee of the Whole 10/12/2026 for further discussion
Consent Agenda (Minutes, RES-0048-2026, ORD-0036-2026)
ORD-0033-2026 — Mayor's Salary Ordinance postponed
ORD-0034-2026 — City Attorney's Salary Ordinance postponed
ORD-0035-2026 — Council Salary Ordinance postponed
ORD-0037-2026 — Eastgate Flex LLC Community Reinvestment Area Agreement adopted
Concerned the abatement creates only 15 jobs at ~$50,000 and shifts school-funding costs to residents under an unconstitutional funding structure.
Motion to enter Executive Session
to enter Executive Session under authority of Section 5.05(C) of the Council Rules of Procedure to confer with the City Attorney for the public body concerning disputes involving the public body that
Motion to enter Executive Session
Consent Agenda (minutes, RES-0045-2026, RES-0046-2026, ORD-0031-2026, ORD-0032-2026)
RES-0047-2026 — Annexation services resolution, 4710 Johnstown Road
Ongoing conflict through her full-time employer's affiliation with the developer