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 (19)(Parks Rec)
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.
Senior center nominal-stakes card games ban
No city money is at stake — seniors propose volunteers handle all the pennies and payouts themselves.
Academy Park inclusive playground renovation
Cost of the agreement not stated in the record.
Friendship Park playground improvements
About $860K total, offset by roughly $135K in grants and donations, with contingency bringing it near $900K.
Grant funding for parkland acquisition and development
Up to $500K grant with a matching obligation of up to half the award if granted.
Johnstown Road trailhead parking lot condition
Pickleball court adequacy
Gahanna Swimming Pool site assessment
Not disclosed until a proposer is selected.
Ashburnham Park playground replacement
Replacements compete for limited capital improvement dollars across departments; recent projects range from ~$236K to $860K.
$100,000 arts council partnership
$100,000 from the general fund's unappropriated balance.
Forestry aerial lift purchase
$281,845 purchase, with over $50,000 spent this year on outsourced hazard removals.
Adopt-a-Park volunteer program
Volunteer help supplements staff work; no cost figure was stated.
Accessibility for mobility device users
Lustron House Preservation and Museum Proposal
Restoration would be fundraising-driven; two Jefferson Foundation grants are available with applications due by end of September 2026.
School fee waivers for park shelter and facility rentals
Could lower rental costs for qualifying community groups using new high school facilities.
Youth & Family camp and program growth
The city is investing in a new Behavior Specialist position and expanded programming, with camp fees generating revenue.
Senate Bill 361 — eminent domain for trails
Creekside Live reduced to three dates
Savings from fewer event dates are being reinvested in higher-profile performers.
Academy Park redevelopment
City-funded capital project; the exact cost wasn't stated at the meeting.
Decisions during term (0)
Recorded while Bowers was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
No decisions found matching Parks Rec.
Voting record (0)(Parks Rec)
No votes found matching Parks Rec.