City Council Approves CEDs and Energy Contracts. Liquor Ballot Issues Approved.
Genoa Fire Levy Passes
Westerville City Council approved four major ordinances during Tuesday night’s meeting, addressing the city’s long-term energy strategy and creating new zones to encourage business development.
New Entertainment Districts Established
To support economic development, the Council approved two new Community Entertainment Districts (CED)—one in Uptown and another in the Westar/East of Africa area.
The council’s approval of two new CEDs will open the door to new restaurants and entertainment venues by expanding access to liquor permits.
A Community Entertainment District is an Ohio development tool that allows cities to support mixed-use areas by creating access to up to 15 additional D-5j liquor permits per district. These permits allow restaurants and venues to serve beer, wine, and spirits for on-site consumption, independent of the city’s population-based cap.
This move comes as Westerville has already used all of its standard D-5 liquor permits, which are issued by the state based on population. No new permits could be issued locally without the CED designation unless one became available through transfer or surrender.
CEDs don’t automatically grant licenses; businesses still need to apply and qualify. But the designation creates a path forward for opening more dining and entertainment options in targeted areas.
Unlike Westerville’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA), which allows open container alcohol in specific public zones during set hours, CEDs are focused on expanding the number of licensed indoor establishments as part of long-term development planning.
Westerville is nicknamed "Dry Capital of the World" because it was the headquarters and printing center for the Anti-Saloon League, a key organization that advocated for Prohibition. The League's American Issue Publishing Company printing plant produced vast quantities of anti-alcohol materials, making Westerville the smallest town with a first-class post office. The city's strong "dry" tradition dates back to its founding in 1858, when selling alcohol was prohibited.
City Secures More Energy Capacity
The Council approved Westerville's assumption of portions of existing power contracts at the AMP Fremont Energy Center, a natural gas facility. This transfer of shares from six other municipal partners will enhance the city's supply capacity.
Additionally, the Council approved new solar agreements with Clean Energy Ventures. These contracts will support solar projects within Westerville and expand the city's renewable energy sources.
The first project will be the installation of solar panels on the community center to supply energy to the facility.
Block and Index Explained
Westerville obtains its electricity through a "block and index" strategy, which combines two methods for procurement. First, the city acquires a "block" of its projected power requirements by purchasing a specific amount of electricity at a stable, predetermined price for a set period. This fixed-price portion serves as a hedge against potential spikes in the wholesale energy market, offering a level of budget certainty for that segment of their power supply.
At the same time, Westerville purchases electricity at fluctuating wholesale market rates, referred to as the "index." This means that the price for this portion of their power will change based on real-time or day-ahead market conditions, which are influenced by factors such as supply and demand, fuel costs, and weather. By incorporating an indexed component, Westerville can take advantage of lower energy costs when market prices are favorable.
The ratio of "blocked" power to "indexed" power can be modified based on Westerville's risk tolerance, market outlook, and energy consumption forecasts. This blended strategy seeks to balance the security of a fixed price for a portion of its power with the potential cost savings available from the dynamic wholesale market.
Long-Term Energy Procurement Extended
Council also passed an ordinance extending the City Manager’s authority to competitively procure future power contracts using the current “block and index” approach. This strategy, previously approved through 2030, will now cover the 2031–2035 period.
Staff reported that early market research shows potential for favorable pricing beyond 2030. The extension will allow the Westerville Electric Division to act quickly if conditions improve. While the City Manager can initiate the procurement process, each final contract would still require a separate Council vote.
All five measures passed unanimously with Council Chair Mike Heyeck absent.
Voters Approve Liquor Sales for Cardinal Pizza and “No Soliciting” Club
Voters in two Westerville precincts approved liquor options on the May 6 primary ballot, clearing the way for weekday and Sunday alcohol sales at both Cardinal Pizza and the No Soliciting private club.
In Westerville 1-A, where Cardinal Pizza is located, voters overwhelmingly supported the measures. Weekday sales received 87% approval (87 votes for, 13 against), while Sunday sales received 81% approval (83 votes for, 19 against).
Cardinal Pizza, located at 12 E Main St., has expanded into the adjacent storefront and required voter approval to extend its existing alcohol permit into the new space. The restaurant plans to expand its kitchen and reconfigure the bar area, incorporating it into the new floor space.
In Westerville 3-A, voters approved alcohol sales for No Soliciting, a private club at 769 S State St. Because the city's full allotment of standard 5D permits is already in use, the club was required to obtain a TREX permit—a special Ohio Liquor Control license that allows a business to transfer a liquor permit from another jurisdiction into Westerville. Voter approval is a final requirement before the TREX permit can be used. Weekday sales passed with 62% approval (58–35), and Sunday sales received 60% support (56–38).
Blendon Township Police Levy Narrowly Fails
Voters in Blendon Township narrowly failed to approve a 4.48-mill police levy with the measure failing by a 51% to 49% margin.
The levy would have cost property owners $157 annually for every $100,000 appraised value.
Police Chief John Belford warned that failure of the levy could force the township to cut up to 40% of its police staff. The department currently has 14 full-time officers, one part-time officer, and one unpaid reserve officer.
Genoa Township Voters Approve Fire Levy Renewal and Increase
Genoa Township voters approved a fire levy renewal and increase during the May 6 primary election, according to unofficial results from the Delaware County Board of Elections.
The 7.7-mill levy, which will fund fire services for five years beginning in 2025, passed with 57.43% of the vote. 2,678 residents voted in favor of the measure, while 1,985 voted against it.
The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication led by a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.
Explore more hyper-local reporting by subscribing to The Hilliard Beacon.
