University Heights City Council meeting highlights 4-18-11

APRIL 18, 2011

  • Sunshine law training
  • Piggyback tax
  • McDonald’s traffic study.
  • Vital statistics for the city
  • Business revolving loan program
  • Rain garden
  • Bond notes
  • Funds to pension funds
  • Yard waste pickup
  • Housing inspections
  • “Make a Difference Day”
  • Reaching Heights concert

Councilman Phillip Ertel was excused.

Sunshine law training

Sunshine Law training will take place on May 4, from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Justice Center.

Piggyback tax

The Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA) informed the city that a suggestion was made during discussion of the state biennial budget that the state should collect municipal income tax through a piggyback tax on the State of Ohio tax return.

McDonald’s traffic study

URS engineers have completed the McDonald’s traffic study. Copies will be delivered to council and will also be available for public viewing. A work session to be held on Tuesday, April 26 will involve council, department directors, URS, city engineers and others.

Vital statistics for the city

Previously, the finance department provided the vital statistics function for the city. In the interest of regionalism, this function has been transferred to the City of Cleveland, which will lessen the burden on the finance department. Councilman Bullock asked if there were any fees attached to providing this function, and the finance director stated that there were none. Funeral directors need to be notified of this change since they often stop at the finance department for certification on their way to a funeral.

Business revolving loan program

Joe Jenkins of State Treasurer Mandel’s office indicated that the state is offering a revolving loan program for businesses called Grow Ohio and is similar to the home repair loan program. It can be found on the treasurer’s website.

Rain garden

The rain garden at 2603 Ashurst is functioning. Plants planted last fall have survived and the spice ash is starting to bloom. The garden has mitigated the flooding problem caused by the Doan and Dugway Brooks. More plants will be planted this spring.

Bond notes

Council passed an ordinance providing for the sale of notes in anticipation of the issuance of bonds, in the principal amount not to exceed $2,716,000, for various purposes. Finance Director Jennifer Esarey reported that the bond anticipation notes will close on May 3, 2011 and the pay-off will be on May 4, 2011. The city will make a $185,000 principal payment. The notes from 2010 will be rolled over into 2011 with the exception of the 2001 Motorized Equipment Notes which will be paid off in is entirety.

Funds to pension funds

Council authorized the transfer of funds to police and fire pension funds. Finance Director Esarey said these were routine transfers made to replenish specific funds. T. The transfers were accounted for in the 2011 budget

Yard waste pickup

Service Director Rob Jamieson reported that spring yard waste pickup was about halfway through the city and would continue through April.

Housing inspections

The city is inspecting houses on the west side of Warrensville Center Road.

“Make a Difference Day”

Governmental Affairs Chairman Sue Pardee reported that Oct. 22, 2011 will be “Make a Difference Day” when residents will have the opportunity to do service learning projects. The first meeting to discuss the project will be in late May.

Reaching Heights concert

Mayor Infeld reported that the Reaching Heights Concert at Severance was a wonderful event that highlighted the musical talents of the school district’s students.

LWV Observer: Lana Cowell.

These meeting summaries are abstracted from LWV observers’ written reports. The summaries have been edited and prepared by Anne McFarland, Charlene Morse and Maryann Barnes. To receive e-mail postings of full reports, send an e-mail to mbarnes9515@gmail.com or join through Google groups using “lwv-chuh observer reports” as a search phrase.

These reports contain member observation and selected highlights of public meetings and are not official statements of the Heights Chapter of the League of Women Voters Cuyahoga Area. This disclaimer must accompany any redistribution of these reports.

 

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Volume 4, Issue 6, Posted 9:35 AM, 05.16.2011