Frankie Goldberg candidate for University Heights City Council

Biographical Information

What neighborhood or area of the city do you live in? 4325 Churchill Blvd.

How long have you lived in University Heights? What brought you here?

20 years. I grew up in University Heights and Beachwood, Ohio

Tell us about yourself

Married to David for 20 years, 4 children, attended Ohio State University, B.A.; Cleveland Marshall College of Law, J.D. Present Occupation: Director of Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children (Ohio ICAC), Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Cuyahoga County

If elected, how would you encourage citizens to participate in decision making?

Improve and expand communication with our residents. Initiate town hall meetings to discuss issues facing our city that would include safety and housing concerns. Extend City Hall hours of operation so that working families and seniors feel that services are “user friendly” after hours. Enhance the city’s website and make it more interactive and allow residents to pay “on line” for special garbage pick-up, recreational services, and other fees. Televise council meetings and create an email newsletter to inform residents of city issues in a timely fashion. Replace “trash” news (garbage gazette) with a quarterly newsletter to all city residents and always ask for community feedback on how to improve direct communication.

Describe one innovative idea that would transform the city?  

I have approached John Carroll University about providing a community “tuition break” for University Heights residents and their college age children. This would be mutually beneficial to both the City of University Heights and John Carroll and would be a good will gesture to the residents of this community. The community “tuition break” would address John Carroll’s challenge of maintaining a steady student enrollment every academic year and the City’s concerns with keeping and attracting residents for the “long haul.” The college graduates who would benefit from this “tuition break” might be more likely to stay in the City because they would become stakeholders in the community. The “tuition break” might also encourage people to move to UH and remain in the area. This idea could also help JCU with its campus housing crunch by potentially having UH students live at home. It would be a cost effective plan for UH families and provide their children with quality education. A community “tuition break” would strengthen the bonds between the City’s namesake and its residents.

Who are the community stakeholders in University Heights?  What ideas do you have for how these stakeholders can work together toward common goals? 

Every resident, business owner, employee, the school district, John Carroll University, non-profit social service institutions, and our neighboring communities are all stakeholders in University Heights. Each plays a pivotal role in the viability and visibility of the “City of Beautiful Homes.” Opportunities should be pursued to utilize school district and JCU facilities for educational, recreational and cultural programs to bring various groups together and gain an appreciation for the educational stakeholders. Local business owners along with JCU and UH residents need to work with elected officials to strategize a marketing plan to increase the tax base so that tax dollars are kept in the City. The message should encourage the community to shop and patronize local business’ in UH. All stakeholders have something of value to bring to the table and by working together-we can make the City even greater than it is.

What is your plan to develop the local economy?  

We need to be proactive and engage business owners within UH. Creating a local economic task force and/or a standing committee on council for Economic Development comprised of corporate executives, business owners, and John Carroll University professors/students from the Business School to increase our economic tax base and develop an economic master plan. Creation of a grant/capital development position to find new sources of revenue. We need to initiate a marketing campaign to attract business’ and their clientele to this 1.9 square mile city as well as promoting city shopping by our own residents. We need to market and be proud of the local business’ not only in UH, but in the surrounding communities that add value and keep UH viable and attractive to residents. Collaborating with neighboring communities to maximize our purchasing power in order to save tax dollars and provide quality services should be our mission for the 21st century.

What are the best qualities of University Heights and what would you do to sustain them?

The city celebrates its diverse population in this 1.9 square mile area and a sense of community where residents feel that they are part of a community, not just living in the community. The recreational activities that are offered during the summer months are exceptional. Purvis Park provides quality recreational opportunities at affordable family prices. Swimming and tennis lessons, arts and crafts, stories in the park and band concerts create a real sense of community for our residents. The City also has a wide range of housing stock, from apartment complexes, rental options, starter houses to new homes built from scratch. The key attraction to our community is affordable housing with an authentic neighborhood identity. The City needs to promote The Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland who recently received a grant for individuals to purchase an affordable home in UH and if they live in the home 10 years, then the down payment of $40,000 will be forgiven! We must invest in our housing stock and summer programs in order to maintain and enhance the viability of this community we call home. 

How do you view recent residential and commercial developments in terms of overall planning, architecture, functionality and sense of place?  What types of new development do you think are appropriate and realistic for University Heights? 

We must never lose our sense of community. Due to the high density of UH, we are literally and figuratively a “close knit” community. UH is landlocked so we are forced to be innovative. University Square never met its expectations, so we need to learn from those experiences. New development should include empty nester housing that is affordable and will attract new and existing residents to the community. We must be vigilant in maintaining the character of the community and be cognizant of planning that will have long term consequences for our city tax base.

Describe one way that you think the city could realistically work cooperatively with other local governments to reduce costs and/or improve services.  

As a City of 1.9 square miles and a population of 12,500 residents, we must explore regional collaboration/consolidation/privatization of services. UH currently works with the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Recreation Department where UH residents can register for SELREC’s classes, camps and programs at the South Euclid-Lyndhurst resident rate with UH reimbursing SELREC for the difference between the resident and non-resident fee. Sanitation would be an area that needs to be studied to see if there is a more efficient and cost effective way to pick up garbage and recycled items. We need to explore whether a cost saving measure could be developed with another city or if this service could be contracted out. Clearly, modifications would have to be made for seniors and disabled individuals in our community. Efficiency and cost savings without sacrificing service delivery will always be the number one priority.

What would you tell a current resident of University Heights who was thinking of leaving town? 

First and foremost, I would listen. I would find out the reasons they are thinking about leaving UH. I would listen to their concerns and see If UH can reasonably meet those needs.  If the reason for leaving can be addressed, we need to confront it. Even if this resident leaves, we can still learn from it. The City should always learn from its residents – and seek out the positive and the negative feedback in order to provide services that are valuable to the community.

How would you market the City of University Heights to a prospective resident? 

This City has been described as a “jewel in a suburban setting.” There is a sense of community in our 1.9 square miles and 12,500 population. This community is intelligent, warm and diverse. There is a small town feel, friendliness, among young families and senior citizens. There are housing possibilities for every stage of life and one can grow within the City. There is proximity to shopping, health care facilities, University Circle, Metroparks and a 20 minute drive to downtown Cleveland. There is access to public transportation as well as availability for Senior Transportation services. We have a public library that provides special programming. We are proud of our low crime rate and our short EMS response time. We are home to John Carroll University where their recreational opportunities are open to residents during winter and summer breaks. There are many religious and educational institutions that make their home in our City. This is a wonderful community to raise a family because quality of life issues are second to none.

Please give one concrete example of how you propose to address one of the following real or perceived quality of life issues:  foreclosures/vacant houses. 

The City’s Building Department needs to have consistent contact with the County and various agencies in order to be apprised of the programs available to residents. The City should meet on a regular basis with housing officials from neighboring communities to discuss comprehensive, collaborative, regional solutions to housing challenges that include financial assistance, federal, state and local grant funds, and educational programs. The City needs to educate its residents about the financial and educational resources that are available. For example, the Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland is administering an innovative program funded by Cuyahoga County that will loan up to $40,000 to homebuyers for down payment assistance and for correcting home violations. The potential buyers must purchase bank-owned homes that are vacant or foreclosed. This forgivable down payment assistance loan will not have to be paid back if the individual lives in the home for 10 years. This down-payment loan program will solidify and stabilize home ownership and bring foreclosed and vacant homes up to neighborhood standards. This program will also attract new residents as well as helping renters become homeowners. Before obtaining money, a point of sale inspection and home ownership education class are required. This loan program could have a positive impact on UH.

How would you work together with the CH-UH City School District to address the issue you identified above?  Please restate the issue you are addressing. 

University Heights and its neighboring communities, as well as the Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Cleveland and the Foreclosure Prevention Program of Cuyahoga County could develop an educational program for CH-UH High School students that focuses on the responsibilities of home ownership that would include: Pre-purchase homebuyer education, home maintenance training, and general financing options. After completion of the program, High School students could apply for internships in the UH Building Department to inform residents about resources that assist with combating foreclosures/vacant homes.

How would you work together with John Carroll University to balance its needs with those of residents?  

(1) Create a community relations standing committee comprised of JCU, City officials, and residents that is not issue based. This would lead to on-going, permanent communication between the stakeholders, rather than a reactive dialogue that is on an ad hoc basis. This would build trust and long term planning to find solutions regarding zoning issues; (2) JCU provides a community “tuition break” for UH residents and their college age children.  This would be mutually beneficial to both the City and JCU and would be a good will gesture to the residents. The community “tuition break” would also address JCU’s challenge of maintaining a steady student enrollment and the City’s concerns with keeping and attracting residents for the “long haul”; (3) Recreational Facilities- the City has already partnered with JCU to make its recreational facilities available to residents during winter/summer breaks. Focus on making this program more affordable for residents and available during the entire year; and (4) City-Campus partnership -create JCU internships with UH City Hall to provide practical experience in different facets of government (finance, building, service). City obtains free labor and students gain practical experience and opportunities in public service.

Do you support the proposed changes to the University Heights Charter as approved by University Heights City Council?  Please explain your position. 

I supported creating the CRC to examine and make recommendations because the charter had not been reviewed in 30 years. It was long overdue to review the charter and I appreciate and commend the 1000+ volunteer hours of the CRC. I can appreciate their efforts to  balance the need for change with the difficulties  of a radical overhaul, thereby creating a “hybrid” set of recommendations. The recommendation of an administrator could help create a more efficient government. But, putting the recommendations on the November ballot, which if passed, would take effect in January, 2010, will create voter confusion. The residents are asked to vote for Mayor without knowing what the powers will be and the candidates are asked to run without the knowledge of what the job description will be. I agree with the principles of the recommendations, but the timing of these substantive changes creates voter confusion. In addition, an administrator can be established by ordinance. If it is beneficial to the city, it could be added to the charter at a more opportune time. Regardless of the outcome, I will continue to work for the residents and fight for efficient government and first rate service delivery. 

To learn more about this candidate, visit http://frankie4uh.com

League of Women Voters Guide 
Read More on University Heights
Volume 2, Issue 10, Posted 12:38 PM, 09.23.2009