SIDNEY — March 2019 is officially American Red Cross Month in the city of Sidney.

Mayor Mike Barhorst presented the proclamation to Dave Proffitt, a board member of the Northern Miami Valley Ohio Chapter of the American Red Cross, during Sidney City Council’s Monday evening workshop session.

The American Red Cross, Barhorst said, is a charitable organization that is part of the world’s largest volunteer network in the United States and 186 foreign countries. He noted that the Red Cross depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American people to help its mission of preventing and alleviating human suffering in emergency situations.

Every eight minutes, the Red Cross brings help to people in need and now supplies more than 40 percent of the blood and associated blood products used in the U.S. Barhorst said, on average, 91 cents of every dollar contributed is invested in humanitarian services and programming.

He urged Sidney citizens to support the American Red Cross with “generous contributions of time, talent, treasure, and blood.” He also encouraged citizens to learn more about the Red Cross’s history to become inspired and be more involved.

In other business, City Council received a Sidney Alive update from Executive Director Amy Breinich on completed activities, events and upcoming plans for 2019.

Breinich said last year Sidney Alive developed a strategic plan and revised its vision and mission statements to better align with its future plans and the city’s comprehensive plan for downtown.

She outlined the organization’s core strengths that she said includes an entrepreneurial spirit, integrity, leadership, volunteerism, being community-centered and collaborative.

Sidney Alive’s strategic goals Breinich said, is to continue working with its partners in 2019 on infrastructure, financial stability and growth and programming.

She noted Sidney Alive and the city of Sidney worked together to develop the city’s downtown revitalization district. Sidney has one business thus far, and possible a second and third, she said, utilizing the liquor license permissible under the new revitalization district guidelines.

In 2019, she said, their advocacy committee is going to review some potential city code updates in the downtown to better serve the growing area’s needs. Sidney Alive is also working to bring a designated outdoor refreshment area downtown, Breinich said.

She also outlined several areas residents can become involved, such as joining one of their five committees: advocacy, events, finance, marketing or resources development. She invited people to attend or volunteer for one of Sidney Alive’s events, or provide support as a private donor, corporate sponsor or to become a community event partner.

Breinich informed council Sheila Keykens will be joining Sidney Alive as its new event coordinator in the near future. She reminded members Kristin Arnett was hired last year as the organization’s administrative assistant.

Council member Ed Hamaker thanked Breinich and Sidney Alive’s volunteers for their good work.

Near the end of the meeting a review was given of the agenda for the upcoming Planning Commission meeting set for Monday, March 18, 2019. The Zoning Board of Appeals’s agenda was also reviewed; the meeting date was changed to be held on Monday, March 25, 2019, at 4:30 p.m. City Manager Mark Cundiff also gave a review of council’s agendas for the next 30 days.

Council went into an executive session to consider the disposition of public property and the purchase of property for public purposes.

When council members returned to the open session, according the city clerk, Barhorst shared he had been approached by members of the Link family wishing to secure naming rights to the third fire station. A brief discussion then ensued on the topic. The consensus of council was that because the request included no financial compensation to the city for the right, naming rights would not be extended to the family.

Vice Mayor Mardie Milligan was excused from the remainder of the planned executive session due to a conflict of interest. No further action was taken when members emerged from the session.