Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 3-16-2015
MARCH 16, 2015
- Public comments
- Retiree Patti Wilhelm
- Liquor permit applications
- Steering committee for master plan
- Nuisance properties
- Rising home values
- Donating usable stuff
- Compensation for city employees
- CDBG funds
- Lee Road streetscape contract
- Street resurfacing contract
- Winter potholes
Council Member Jeff Coryell was absent.
Public comments
Resident Ditte Wolin, representing the Northeast Ohio Fair Trade Network, thanked council for considering the designation of Cleveland Heights as a Fair Trade Town. She introduced other members of the network who were present, and noted that World Fair Trade Day is May 9, and that a Fair Trade Expo will be held at John Carroll University on Oct. 10. Lisa Dunn, owner of Revive, a fair trade store on Lee Road, also thanked council. Later in the meeting, council approved the ordinance designating Cleveland Heights as a Fair Trade Town, which will prioritize purchase of fair trade-certified products, when available.
Retiree Patti Wilhelm
City Manager Talisa Briley expressed appreciation for the dedicated service of Patti Wilhelm, who is retiring after more than 30 years as the city’s payroll coordinator.
Liquor permit applications
The Ohio Department of Liquor Control has received two permit applications. One is from Dream Spa Inc. (2200 S. Taylor Road) and the other is from Nicks Bar and Grill LLC, doing business as Double R Bar and Grill (1940 S. Taylor Road, first floor). Council voted to object to the application from Nicks Bar. A letter from the police chief described multiple problems associated with this establishment, including the killing of a 25-year-old innocent bystander on Sept. 20, 2014. Before the vote, Mayor Dennis Wilcox noted that council has previously objected to this application and is doing so again because the request was amended to allow an even later closing time than was defined in the original application.
Steering committee for master plan
Council specified the membership of a council-appointed steering committee for the city’s new master plan, which will lead to an overall vision for the city going forward. Undertaken with financial assistance from the County Planning Commission, the planning process will include review of land use and policy, economic development, housing and neighborhoods, parks and recreation, and transportation and public infrastructure. The committee will have 11 members comprising three city residents-at-large, one planning commission member, one transportation advisory committee member, one citizens advisory committee member, one recreation advisory board member, one member of the commission on aging, one FutureHeights board member, one person to represent the interests of the educational community within the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District, and one person to represent the general interests of the Cleveland Heights business community. An application form will be posted on the city’s website.
Nuisance properties
Council declared two residential properties to be nuisances and authorized abatement by demolition. The properties are at 1000 Woodview Road and 1083 Pembrook Road.
Rising home values
Citing the March 15 Plain Dealer article on rising home prices in most of Cuyahoga County, Council Member Mary Dunbar noted that realtors have been reporting that sales are going well in Cleveland Heights. The article indicates a 16 percent increase in the value of houses being sold.
Donating usable stuff
Dunbar also drew attention to a publication from the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste Management District called Pass It On: A Resource-Full Guide to Donating Usable Stuff. Information about downloading or obtaining a hard copy can be found online at http://cuyahogaswd.org/en-US/pass-it-on.aspx.
Compensation for city employees
Council approved legislation, effective April 1, to establish wage and salary rates and ranges, position classifications, sick and vacation pay (with a new limit on the accrual and carryover of sick and vacation days from year to year, and also a tiered structure for payouts to employees for accumulated benefits when they leave city jobs), and other compensation for city officers and employees.
CDBG funds
Council authorized the reprogramming and reallocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to benefit the Home Repair Resource Center and the Cedar Lee streetscape project.
Lee Road streetscape contract
Council approved an agreement with GPD Group for construction administration and resident inspection services for the Lee Road Streetscape Project, which will begin this summer. Compensation for these services will not exceed $285,601.
Street resurfacing contract
Council approved an agreement with CT Consultants Inc. for engineering and support services related to the city’s 2015 street resurfacing program. Compensation for these services will not exceed $118,900. A list of streets scheduled for resurfacing this year will be posted on the city’s website.
Winter potholes
Noting the emergence of litter and potholes left over from the winter, Mayor Wilcox asked for patience as the city gears up to make repairs. He urged residents to report problems, but also observed that asphalt plants do not open until the middle of April, so patches being done now would be temporary. Real road repair and construction begins in about 30 days.
LWV Observer: Katherine Solender.
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 of Greater Cleveland. This disclaimer must accompany any redistribution of these reports.