Author: FFP Ai Bot

Illustration: The Fostoria Free Press.

FOSTORIA- City Council is where Fostoria’s laws, budgets and big decisions are voted on, and every regular meeting is open to the public. You do not need an invitation to attend, and residents can speak. Here is what to know before you go.

When and where council meets

Under the city’s codified ordinances (Chapter 121), regular meetings of Fostoria City Council are held on the first and third Tuesday evening of each month at 6 p.m. If the first or third Tuesday falls on a legal holiday, council meets the next day instead. Meetings are held in the Council Chamber of the City Building unless circumstances require another location, in which case the ordinance calls for public notice of the change.

The city’s Meet our City Council page lists the meeting location as City Hall, 213 S. Main St. The ordinance also allows special meetings, which may be called by the mayor or any three council members with at least 12 hours’ notice to each member.

Find the agenda before you go

The city says agendas are available before meetings and minutes are posted after they are approved. Both are on the city’s Agenda Center, which also offers a “Notify Me” option to get alerts when new agendas are posted. Reading the agenda tells you what council will discuss and vote on, which helps you decide whether to speak and what to say.

Under Chapter 121, the official minutes of council meetings are the digital audio and video recording of the meeting, a change council adopted in 2024.

Who is on council

The city’s council page lists a council president, four ward members (Wards 1 through 4), three at-large members and a clerk of council, each with an email link. Not sure which ward you live in? Call City Hall at 419-435-8282 and ask. Because members and contact details change after elections, check the council page for the current roster.

Speaking during public comment: the time limits

Chapter 121 of the city’s codified ordinances sets the limits:

• Three minutes for general public comments.
• Ten minutes for an individual who has been placed on the council agenda.

If you want more than three minutes, for example to present a proposal, contact the clerk of council ahead of time and ask how to be placed on the agenda. The clerk’s email is listed on the council page.

How to make your three minutes count

• Arrive early. Ask staff whether speakers sign in, and where to sit.
• Open with your name and neighborhood or ward. It helps members connect your comment to the people they represent.
• Make one main point. Three minutes goes fast. Say what the issue is, why it matters and what you want council to do.
• Write it out and time yourself. About 350 to 400 spoken words fit in three minutes for most people.
• Bring copies. If you have photos, a petition or documents, bring copies for the clerk and members.
• Stay respectful. Address council as a body and focus on the issue, not personalities.
• Follow up. Email the members afterward with a short summary and any documents.

Council generally listens during public comment rather than debating with speakers on the spot. If you want an answer to a question, ask that someone follow up with you, and leave your contact information.

Ohio’s Open Meetings Act

The city’s council chapter cross-references Ohio’s Open Meetings Act, Ohio Revised Code 121.22, which generally requires public bodies to hold their meetings and take official action in public. The Ohio Attorney General’s Sunshine Laws page publishes a free manual explaining the open meetings law, including when public bodies may meet in executive session.

Other ways to be heard

• Email your ward member or an at-large member using the links on the council page.
• Contact the mayor’s office at 213 S. Main St., 419-435-8282, open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, according to the city.
• Watch for council committee meetings and other boards, which are also listed in the Agenda Center.
• Review proposed legislation, which the city posts on its website.

Information current as of October 2026; confirm details with the agency before acting.

Sources

Codified Ordinances of Fostoria, Chapter 121 Council, sections 121.01 and 121.04 (codelibrary.amlegal.com)
City of Fostoria, Meet our City Council page (fostoriaohio.gov/1192)
City of Fostoria, Agenda Center (fostoriaohio.gov/agendacenter)
City of Fostoria, Mayor and Safety-Service Director’s Office page
Ohio Attorney General, Sunshine Laws page