City Council President Ukeme Awakessien Jeter shared her outlook on the past year and the road ahead for the local community, as she was re-elected for a second term alongside the addition of three new council members. Jeter highlighted various accomplishments from 2025, which included the adoption of 21 ordinances aimed at boosting capital investments, budget adjustments, and efforts to improve operations, as detailed in a report by the City Upper Arlington official website.
Beyond legislating, the council has also engaged in thorough discussions around complex issues, ranging from major development projects to governance responsibilities. Included among the council's 2025 accolades was the opening of the Bob Crane Community Center, conducting a Housing Study, selecting a Master Plan consultant, and furthering public safety and infrastructure planning. Planning to carry forward into 2026, the community will see progression in comprehensive code cleanup and the operational review of the newly opened community center, informed by the priorities set during the annual Council Retreat.
Reflecting on transitions within the council, Jeter told the City of Upper Arlington site, "Goodbyes are always bittersweet. The 2024–2026 Council worked well together because we invested time in building relationships and learning how to collaborate through both easy conversations and hard ones." She underscored the value of new ideas and perspectives that new members bring and pointed out the importance of the "forming" stage where council members get accustomed to their colleagues' styles and priorities.
The annual Council Retreat plays a crucial role in fostering team-building and setting priorities for the year. "Every issue is put on the table," Jeter said in a statement obtained by the City of Upper Arlington, emphasizing the need to debate ideas thoughtfully and weigh them through the lens of cost and impact. With a clear roadmap, the Council and staff remain proactive, making informed decisions to manage resources wisely on behalf of the residents they serve, leading with the residents' best interests, even as new issues surface along the way.
Regarding the Master Plan, Jeter highlighted its immense value, stating, "The Plan is incredibly valuable because it serves as a shared vision for the community," according to the City of Upper Arlington, having been advanced through a process involving extensive resident and stakeholder engagement. As the city gears up for a major update to the plan, the Council's first task will include appointing members to the Master Plan Taskforce. These plans become guideposts for evaluating priorities, directing growth, and providing a framework for current and future leaders as well as external partners to align with the City's vision.
With recent reforms in the selection and orientation process for the City’s Boards and Commissions, Jeter's future goals involve providing robust support to these entities, ensuring that members understand the significance of their contributions to the City's decision-making process. Jeter also expressed an interest in nurturing a culture of civic engagement, from early exposure for young people to actual board service.
