Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron discusses changes to downtown parking policy during a Rules Committee meeting earlier this year. (File Photo)

WHEELING — Members of Wheeling City Council are set to tackle an array of legislation tonight during their first regular meeting for the month of April.

Several public hearings are scheduled to take place at the beginning of the meeting for a variety of issues set for final readings tonight. Public hearing topics include the city’s new downtown parking rules and a proposed amendment to the city code to prohibit the feeding of stray cats.

Among new pieces of legislation expected to be introduced during tonight’s meeting is an ordinance authorizing the acquisition and construction of certain extensions, additions and improvements to the sewerage portion of the existing combined public waterworks and sewer systems in the city. The ordinance aims to finance these Water Pollution Control Division improvements through the issuance of bonds in an amount up to $3 million.

Another piece of legislation for the Water Pollution Control Division will authorize the expenditure of $18,385 with Grade 8 Solutions LLC of Warren, Ohio for the purchase of replacement pumps for the Royal Oaks lift station.

An ordinance is also being introduced authorizing City Manager Robert Herron to spend $62,000 with M&G Architects and Engineers of Wheeling to perform engineering service for the demolition of the former Clay School.

The cost of the service is to be charged to the city’s regular Restricted Capital Improvement Program fund.

Using funds generated by the City Service Fee, another expenditure in the amount of $64,583 with Sensible Products Inc. of Richfield, Ohio is up for a first reading tonight for outfitting of equipment for fire rescue trucks.

Council is expected to vote on a new resolution for an agreement to spend funds awarded to the Wheeling Police Department from the West Virginia First Foundation to sub-recipients. Funds in the amount of $10,000 are slated to be forwarded to First Choice Services for CIT Summit and media campaign services; $13,200 to West Virginia Hope in Action for project management and inter-regional coordination, travel and online subscriptions; and $44,139 to Marshall University for a data coordinator’s salary and related personnel training.

A resolution for the approval of a Section 108 Loan Guarantee Application through the U.S. Department of Urban Development for Standard Cigar Works LLC is also being introduced.

At the beginning of tonight’s meeting, council is scheduled to hold three separate public hearings on legislation slated for action during the meeting. One public hearing will be for an ordinance amending city codes regarding dogs and cats with new language designed to prohibit feeding feral cats. Another public hearing will be in regard to amendments to traffic codes to establish rules for the city’s new meter-free parking zones downtown. A third public hearing will pertain to new resolutions set for votes tonight regarding lease agreements at Centre Market for Wood N’ Stitches, decreasing the monthly rent rate to $248.33, and for American Pies & Pastries, increasing the monthly rent rate to $490.16.

Tonight’s meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. on city council chambers on the first floor of the City-County Building on Chapline Street downtown.