University Heights City Council meeting highlights [5-2-11]

MAY 2, 2011

  • Pool passes
  • Cedar/Taylor merchants
  • Business Expo 2011
  • Police retirees honored
  • McDonald’s development plans
  • Votes delayed due to lack of quorum
  • Resurfacing program
  • Emergency operations plan
  • Pumper truck
  • Yard waste
  • Increase in fees
  • Pool and slide
  • Intersections narrowed

Vice Mayor Frankie Goldberg and Council Members Susan Pardee and Steven Sims were excused.

Pool passes

Mayor Infeld reminded residents that they can now purchase pool passes on line or buy them at city hall beginning one week before the pool opens.

Cedar/Taylor merchants

Cedar/Taylor merchants are meeting with the goal of devising ways to distinctively brand the shopping district.

Business Expo 2011

The Heights-Hillcrest Chamber of Commerce will hold Business Expo 2011 on May 12 [from 3 to 7 pm at the Beta Conference Center in Mayfield Village. Participants will include University Heights, Cleveland Heights, Lyndhurst, Richmond Heights, Shaker Heights, and South Euclid.]

Police retirees honored

Police Chief Gary Stehlik was honored upon his retirement after thirty-seven years of service to the city, the last fourteen years of which was as police chief. Deputy Police Chief James Rohal was also honored for his forty-one years of service to the city. Both were made honorary citizens of the city and each received personalized plaques.

McDonald’s development plans

The planning commission recommended that council approve the final proposed development plans from McDonald’s Corporation for 2216-2234 Warrensville Center Road. A special meeting was held on May 9 in council chambers. The proposal is on the city’s website, www.universityheights.com.

Votes delayed due to lack of quorum

Several ordinances were either tabled or switched from “emergency” to “first reading” status due to the lack of a quorum: an amendment agreement with the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority and the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District, relating to a cooperative agreement, a tax increment financing (TIF) agreement, and a memorandum of understanding related to the University Square parking garage; two changes in the city code dealing with fireworks; and a bid award (jointly with the cities of Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights) to Karvo Paving Company for the 2011 Street Resurfacing Program.

Resurfacing program

The first reading of an ordinance to award the 2011 Street Resurfacing Program to Karvo Paving Company jointly with Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights was presented. City Engineer Joseph Ciuni said four bids were received and Karvo came in under budget at $97,600. Theirs was the lowest and best bid, and Karvo had previously successfully completed projects for the city.

Emergency operations plan

The first reading of the Cuyahoga County Emergency Operations Plan was presented.

Pumper truck

Fire Chief Pitchler reported that the pumper truck would be in service by mid-May and that the old truck must be retired and needs a new home.

Yard waste

Public Service Director Rob Jamieson informed city residents that all yard waste must now be bagged or tied into manageable bundles for pickup. 

Increase in fees

Councilman Murphy reported that the city might need to increase recreation fees next year in order to resurface the tennis courts and buy new umbrellas.

Pool and slide

Mayor Infeld stated that due to all the wet weather the pool would not be painted until fall, but they hope to paint the water slide before summer use.

Intersections narrowed

Councilman Steven Bullock reported that the intersection of Belvoir and Washington boulevards would be narrowed to enhance pedestrian safety and that the intersection at Miramar and Washington are in the funding queue for the same treatment, but would not take place this year.

LWV Observers: Carol Gibson and Pat Solomon.

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.

Read More on University Heights
Volume 4, Issue 6, Posted 1:02 PM, 06.02.2011