Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 5-1-2017

MAY 1, 2017

  • Poet laureate program
  • Public comments
  • Liquor permit transfer requests
  • Heart monitor/defibrillator machines
  • Charter review
  • Proclamations
  • Rock salt
  • Equipment purchases
  • NatureWorks grant application
  • Zoning variance
  • Mayor’s comments

Seven council members were present: Cheryl L. Stephens, mayor; Jason S. Stein, vice mayor; Mary Dunbar; Carol Roe; Kahlil Seren; Michael N. Ungar; Melissa Yasinow. The meeting lasted from 7:52 to 8:34 pm.

Poet laureate program

Gail Bellamy, who was the Cleveland Heights poet laureate from 2009 to 2011, read a poem,“Arugula,” and Rachel Bernstein, director of Heights Arts, spoke about the history of the poet laureate program, which was established by Heights Arts with the support of the city in 2005, to celebrate poetry and bring it to the public life of the city and to all the community’s residents. Until recently, Cleveland Heights was the only Ohio city with such a program.

Public comments

Cleveland Heights as a bike-friendly community: Debra Frank told council that she and her husband, Gary, chose to move to Cleveland Heights for their retirement because they fell in love with the housing, the neighborhoods, and the support of bicycling here. Steve Reinhardt is the new president of Heights Bicycle Coalition. He thanked council for recognizing a number of bike-related events happening this month.

Liquor permit transfer requests

The Ohio Department of Liquor Control has received the following applications for permits:

  • Café Bon Appetite Inc., doing business as Café Bon Appetit Restaurant, 2767 Euclid Heights Blvd.
  • Moran Foods LLC, doing business as Save a Lot 618, 2227 Noble Road.

Heart monitor/defibrillator machines

Council authorized an agreement with Physio Control Inc. for the purchase of three heart monitor/defibrillator machines for the fire department. This purchase will be made through the Ohio Department of Administrative Services Cooperative Purchasing Program, at a cost not to exceed $84,346.60.

Charter review

Council heard the first reading of a resolution establishing a Charter Review Commission, prescribing the number of members and how they will be appointed, and defining the commission’s charge. Carol Roe noted that the Administrative Services Committee would be meeting on May 17, at 8 a.m., at city hall to discuss draft operating guidelines for the commission.

Proclamations

Council proclaimed the following for the city of Cleveland Heights:

  • May 2017, Bike Month
  • May 10, 2017, Bike to School Day
  • May 15–19, 2017, Bike to Work Week
  • May 20, 2017, Bike to Work Day
  • May 2017, National Preservation Month

Rock salt

Council authorized the city’s participation in the Ohio Department of Transportation Cooperative Purchasing Program for the purchase of 4,800 tons of rock salt for the 2017–18 winter season.

Equipment purchases

Council authorized purchases for the public works department: a tractor (not to exceed $126,000), and a cab and chassis (not to exceed $83,461), both from Rush Truck Centers; and a dump body/plow package (not to exceed $65,435) from Judco Truck Equipment. These purchases will be made through the Ohio Department of Transportation Cooperative Purchasing Program, and the costs [will be] paid with proceeds from the city’s issuance of tax-exempt notes or bonds.

NatureWorks grant application

Council approved the filing of a grant application to the NatureWorks program of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for financial assistance for the reconstruction of the south parking lot at Forest Hills Park. If awarded, the grant would reimburse up to 75 percent of the costs for engineering and design, as well as construction. The estimated total project cost is $92,372.60.

Zoning variance

With council members Ungar and Seren voting no, council approved the variance requested by Waldorf Partners Ltd. Partnership, 2300 Overlook Road, to permit alteration of 12 three-bedroom apartment units to create 36 studio apartments: 12 with 410 square feet, 12 with 400 square feet, and 12 with 350 square feet (the zoning code requires a minimum of 500 square feet per unit) and to provide no additional parking.

Mayor’s comments

Mayor Stephens noted with sadness the passing of Michael Montlack, brother of former council member Kenneth Montlack. She spoke of Michael Montlack’s dedication to community development.

 

LWV Observer: Katherine Solender.

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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.

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Volume 10, Issue 6, Posted 10:02 AM, 06.20.2017