Cleveland Heights

Editor’s note: This story as originally published contained some incorrect information. That information, and the story’s headline, have been corrected and updated.

At its July 31 special Council Committee of the Whole meeting, Cleveland Heights City Council discussed legislation to vote on that evening that would declare its intent to partner with FutureHeights as a community development corporation (CDC) and enable the city manager to form a working group to flush out the details.

Council members discussed in detail the various facets of CDCs and working groups on July 31, including what the working group would do and how many members it would have. Council also opined that it would not want FutureHeights to be completely controlled by the city, if it does partner with the nonprofit.

The city of Cleveland Heights has announced the date of a public meeting to update the community on the Top of the Hill development project. The meeting, planned for Sept. 19, 7 p.m., will take place at the Cleveland Heights Community Center.

According to a statment on the city's website, the purpose of the meeting is to answer questions and receive input from residents on the project.

The city executed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with developer Flaherty & Collins Properties on July 18, and next steps are the negotiation of a formal development agreement, which will establish the specific elements of the project as well as the process the development will follow as it moves toward final approval.

JULY 31, 2017

• Public comments
• Objection to liquor permits
• Public services plan for Coventry Village
• Commercial loan
• Lease change for Boss Dog Brewery Co.
• Community development corporation working group
• Zoning variances
• Planning commission meeting
  
  

Present were Mayor Cheryl Stephens, Mary Dunbar, Carol Roe, Kahil Seren and Melissa Yasinow. Vice Mayor Jason Stein and Michael N. Ungar were absent. The meeting lasted from 7:36 to 8:14 p.m.

JULY 17, 2017

• 2018 tax budget presentation
• Public comments
• ATM Ordinance
• Meadowbrook Boulevard waterline replacement bids
• Meadowbrook Boulevard reconstruction project funding
• Zoning variance request
• Medical marijuana ordinance
• Paris Climate Agreement resolution
• Access Cleveland Heights cell phone app
• 2018 Tax Budget approval
• Mayfield Road signalization project
• Charter commission applications
• Cain Park Arts Festival
• Recycling
• Lock your cars
  
  

All council members were present: Mayor Cheryl L. Stephens, Vice Mayor Jason Stein, Mary Dunbar, Kahlil Seren, Carol Roe, Michael N. Ungar and Melissa Yasinow. The hearing lasted from 7:17–7:48 p.m. The meeting lasted from 7:59–8:38 p.m.

At its July 31 meeting, Cleveland Heights City Council declared its intent to partner with FutureHeights as the city’s community development corporation (CDC) and authorized the city manager to form a working group to flesh out the details. The resolution passed 4-1, with Council Member Kahlil Seren casting the dissenting vote. Council Members Michael Ungar and Jason Stein were absent.

The legislation will take effect Sept. 4, when council returns from its summer recess. City Manager Tanisha Briley will create a nine-member working group that will have three city staff representatives, three FutureHeights representatives, and three members of the community at large. The group will discuss goals and priorities, governance, funding sources and other topics to help guide the CDC and determine the roles of the CDC and city staff.

On July 27, the city of Cleveland Heights held a public meeting on the potential sale and development of the Coventry School site, which includes Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Park and Playground. The forum brought together members of Cleveland Heights City Council, the city manager and the city’s economic development director, as well as residents who voiced their opinions about, and hopes for, the Coventry site.

Attendees wanted to discuss what types of development might occur, how development would impact quality of life, how much influence a developer would have, whom would benefit from the development, and consideration of any similar projects that nearby cities might have undertaken.

Tanisha Briley, city manager, assured residents that any developer with whom the city may partner will not be able to tell the city what to do with the Coventry site. Briley said that “the train has not left the station,” meaning that no official decisions on the site have been made, and noted that when they are, residents will be informed. She stated that the goal of the RFQ/RFP process was “to stimulate creativity from the development community,” and that the city had set no minimum economic impact to be generated by development.

On July 27, the city of Cleveland Heights will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. at the Cleveland Heights Community Center, to enable residents to voice their opinions and comments about the development of the former Coventry school site, including the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Park and Playground. 

In the days following the public meeting, the organizations that are housed in the Coventry school building will host Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Campus Community Weekend, a series of events at the site, including Coventry Village Special Improvement District’s showing of the family-friendly movie "Power Rangers" at 9 p.m. on July 27, a building open house on July 28, a playground cleanup and community picnic on July 29, and the Cleveland Foundation’s “Common Ground” discussion at Ensemble Theatre, focusing on the future of the arts in Cleveland Heights, on July 30.

The public meeting is in anticipation of the release of an RFQ/RFP (Request for Qualifications/Request for Proposal) that the city will issue regarding the site’s development. The city has agreed to take into account public input prior to its release. A copy of the current draft RFQ/RFP can be found here.

Cleveland Heights announced in a July 17 press release that Mary Trupo has been hired as its director of communications and community engagement.

Trupo comes to the city from Washington, D.C., where she most recently was senior advisor and director in the Office of Public Affairs for the International Trade Administration (ITA) in the U.S. Department of Commerce. She has previously worked in communications for the National Association of Realtors and the American Public Transportation Association.

The press release states that Trupo is skilled in the development of effective marketing, outreach and communication strategies. In her last position she oversaw the production, marketing and distribution of newsletters, Web content, talking points and speeches.

On July 2, a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the remodeling of Turtle Park.

Also known as the Euclid Tot Lot, Turtle Park sits on the corner of Euclid Heights Boulevard, Hampshire Road and Overlook Road. The park is designed primarily for children ages 2–5, and is known for its signature turtle structure, which sits in the middle of the park.

In March 2017, Cleveland Heights City Council approved a contract of just over $66,000 to completely remodel the park. The Cleveland Heights Parks and Recreation Department funded the work, which included installing entirely new seating, playground equipment and shading, while maintaining the park’s original layout.

Cleveland Heights residents, members of the city’s parks and recreation department, and other city staff attended the July 2 ceremony that introduced the newly remodeled Turtle Park.

JULY 3, 2017

• Public comments
• New and promoted police officers
• HOME agreement with HRCC
• Top of the Hill development
• Medical marijuana ordinance
• Charter Review Commission
• National Parks and Recreation Month
• Tax budget
• Bond anticipation notes renewal
  
  

Five council members were present: Vice Mayor Jason Stein, Kahlil Seren, Carol Roe, Michael N. Ungar and Melissa Yasinow. Mayor Cheryl Stephens and Council Member Mary Dunbar were absent. The meeting lasted from 7:46 p.m. to 8:14 p.m., with Vice Mayor Stein presiding.

JUNE 19, 2017

• Public comments
• Liquor Control permit transfer applications
• Coventry Village SID plan
• CDBG funding
• Sewer system consent decree and sewer rates
• Abatement of nuisance properties
• Charter Review Commission
• Guidelines for emergency legislation
• Mayor’s report
  
  

All council members were present: Mayor Cheryl L. Stephens, Vice Mayor Jason Stein, Mary Dunbar, Kahlil Seren, Carol Roe, Michael N. Ungar and Melissa Yasinow. The meeting lasted from 7:50 p.m. to 10:23 p.m.

Based upon the most recent reporting year for the Ohio Courts Statistical Report, there were 17,549 new filings, transfers and reactivations in the Cleveland Heights Municipal Court. In comparison, the municipal court in Shaker (which includes Beachwood, Hunting Valley, Pepper Pike, Shaker Heights and University Heights) had 14,320, Euclid had 10,430, South Euclid had 6,100, and East Cleveland had 5,081.

As our kids get ready to head back to school, maybe it is time for a refresher on our third branch of government, the judicial branch. For many, what goes on in our courts, and especially our local, municipal court, is unclear. At their core, our courts uphold the rule of law, resolving disputes and testing and interpreting our laws in a fair and rational matter.

Cleveland Water has announced plans to replace all water meters in Cleveland Heights with new “state-of-the-art” automated meter reading (AMR) technology. The utility expects its Clear Reads project to be completed by the end of 2017, and stated that the new meters and their installation will not result in any additional costs to customers.

Every new meter is connected to an “endpoint,” a small battery-powered device that will read each water meter multiple times each day, then send the meter readings via radio signals to a “collector,” which then will transmit that data to Cleveland Water.

The six-acre Arco Recycling dump, located at the corner of Noble Road and Euclid Avenue in East Cleveland, is packed with large amounts of construction debris. Concrete, wood, plaster, metal and brick from building demolitions throughout Northeast Ohio have been piling up since the dump opened in 2015.

The dump sits directly in the backyards of East Cleveland residents’ homes on Noble Road. They have complained about the dump site, not only because it is an eyesore, but because they are concerned that it could be hazardous to their health.

In response to requests from Coventry Building tenants and residents, Cleveland Heights City Council decided to delay the issuance of a Request for Qualifications/Request for Proposal (RFQ/RFP) for the Coventry School site until a public hearing is held. At its Council Committee of the Whole meeting held immediately prior to the June 19 City Council meeting, CH City Council decided to remove from that evening's council meeting agenda a request from the city manager to receive proposals for the redevelopment of the Coventry School site.

At the June 5 CH City Council meeting, attorney Lee Chilcote, speaking on behalf of the Coventry tenants, stated that there was “a disconnect” between what the RFQ/RFP draft called for and what citizens had called for in 2008, when they recommended to the school board that the Coventry Building become an arts center. One of three requests that Chilcote made of council was that a public process be conducted prior to the issuance of the RFQ/RFP.

JUNE 5, 2017

• New director of finance/clerk of council
• Public comments
• Coventry Village SID renewal
• Civil Service Commission appointment
• Energy conservation bonds
• LGBT Pride Month
• CDBG Fund agreements
• Water and sewer rates and regulations
• Sanitary sewer system consent decree
• Sewer rates increase
• Sale of Coventry School
• BottleHouse outdoor dining
• Zoning variances
• Nuisance property abatements
• Sale of K-9 officer to his handler
• Mayor’s report
  
  

Council members present were Cheryl L. Stephens (mayor), Mary Dunbar, Kahlil Seren, Michael N. Ungar and Melissa Yasinow. Jason Stein (vice mayor) and Carol Roe were absent. The meeting lasted from 7:50 to 9:28 p.m.

MAY 15, 2017

• Public comments
• New firefighter
• Friends of Cain Park raffle
• New finance director/clerk of council
• Charter review commission legislation
• Replacement pages for city code
• Energy conservation bonds
• HHCC employees’ income tax allocation
• Congestion mitigation and air-quality funding
• National Merit Scholarship winners
• MetroHealth “micro-hospital” at Severance
• Top of the Hill memorandum
• Peddlers and solicitors fees raised
• National Gun Violence Awareness Day
• Events announced by council members
  
  

All council members were present: Cheryl L. Stephens (mayor), Jason Stein (vice mayor), Mary Dunbar, Carol Roe, Kahlil Seren, Michael N. Ungar and Melissa Yasinow. The meeting lasted from 7:30 to 8:40 p.m.

The City of Cleveland Heights and Fairmount Properties — the private company that had been selected to develop the "Top of the Hill" site — announced on May 11 they had discontinued negotiations on the project. It was originally hoped construction of the multi-use project, located on the vacant lot at the intersection of Cedar Road and Euclid Heights Blvd., would begin in 2018.

But with this news, City Hall is back at square one, seeking a developer for the site.

Construction supplies currently located on the site are for an unrelated gas-line replacement project taking place this summer in the Cedar-Fairmount district.

Following is the full text of a letter announcing the decision. It was released jointly by ...

At its May 15 meeting, Cleveland Heights City Council voted to authorize City Manager Tanisha Briley to negotiate a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Indianapolis-based developer Flaherty & Collins Properties to move forward with the “Top of the Hill” project.

The Top of the Hill project refers to the approximately four acres of city-owned property at the corner of Cedar Road and Euclid Heights Boulevard at the top of Cedar Hill. As a highly visible property at the gateway between the Heights and University Circle, developing this property has been a long-time goal of the city.

Once the city of Cleveland Heights institutes phase one of a sanitary sewer remediation plan, prompted by a proposed federal Consent Decree, CH residents’ sewer bills will increase. The federal government is enforcing the Clean Water Act of 1972, which requires municipal sanitary collection systems to operate without overflows during wet weather.

Springtime in Cleveland Heights. We can finally get out of our homes and see the early blooms of the daffodils and tulips. Taking a closer look, we may note that it is time to get that porch painted, or maybe the chimney needs tuckpointing.  That may, in turn, lead us to wonder if our neighbor down the street is going to be getting their driveway redone. Or maybe it is not a neighbor down the street, but instead some unknown entity that owns the home, and already the grass needs cut, the broken window replaced, and the fallen gutter repaired.

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

APRIL 17, 2017

• Public comments
• Decision regarding votes on legislation
• Zoning variance
• Fence permit fees
• Outdoor dining
• Certificates of occupancy
• Police vehicles
• Charter Review Commission
• Issuance and sale of bonds
• Professional energy service agreement
• Reaching Heights Spelling Bee team
• Boston Marathon
• Gun violence
• Mayor’s State of the City report

In a May 19 news release, the city of Cleveland Heights announced that it was launching a food truck pilot program in which the use of food trucks is now allowed on private property as part of an outdoor dining conditional use permit. Approval for the operation of a food truck at a business with an outdoor dining permit must be approved through the city's planning department.

Following its announcement on May 11 that it had mutally terminated an agreement with Fairmount Properties to develop the Top of the Hill site in the Cedar Fairmount Business District, the city announced on May 12 that it was moving forward with its second choice developer, Flaherty & Collins Properties of Indianapolis.

The following is text from that announcement. Information about the Top of the Hill project is available on the city's website, under the planning and development section, studies and plans, here.

APRIL 3, 2017

• Public comments
• Bid received
• Liquor permit transfer requests
• Energy services
• Zoning variances
• Certificate of occupancy change
• City charter review
• Proclamations
• Issuance and sale of bonds
  
  

Present were Mayor Cheryl L. Stephens, Vice Mayor Jason Stein, and council members Mary Dunbar, Carol Roe, Kahlil Seren, Michael N. Ungar and Melissa Yasinow. The meeting lasted from 7:56 to 8:49 p.m.

MARCH 20, 2017

• University Hospitals presentation
• Public comments
• Bid for pavement striping
• Zoning code update
• Master Plan adoption
• Deadline extension for property tax exemptions
• Term extension for HOME funds
• CHPD Bicycle Auction
• Non-bank ATM regulations
• City employee compensation and benefits
• CAC appointment
• Charter review
• Withdrawal of proposed mutual aid agreement
• Playground upgrade
• Active citizenry
  
  

Present were Mayor Cheryl L. Stephens, Vice Mayor Jason Stein, and council members Mary Dunbar, Carol Roe, Kahlil Seren and Melissa Yasinow. Michael N. Ungar was absent. The meeting lasted from 7:42 to 8:59 p.m.

Cleveland Heights City Council voted unanimously on March 20 to adopt a new Master Plan as a long-term guide for the community’s development and revitalization.

The 250-page plan was prepared by the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission during a 16-month period that included three community meetings attended by about 230 people. At its March 20 meeting, CH City Council committed to begin implementing the plan immediately.

Among the plan’s more noteworthy recommendations are the following:

Mayfield Corridor Innovation District. As part of a strategy to increase jobs and tax revenues, the plan proposes targeting the Mayfield Road corridor as an “innovation district,” building off of its connection to University Circle and re-using some of the corridor’s currently under-utilized buildings.

While the number of property crimes in Cleveland Heights continued a four-year downward trend in 2016, the overall number of violent crimes increased last year for the first time since 2012.

Three murders were committed in the city last year, the same as in 2015. Nine rapes were reported, compared to eight the previous year. But there were 83 robberies, up from 53 in 2015; and 55 aggravated assaults compared to 33 the year before.

Police Chief Annette Mecklenburg said citizens shouldn't be alarmed by the increase. "We'd love the rates to keep going down until we're at zero crime, but it doesn't work that way," she said, emphasizing that it doesn't mean the city’s streets are less safe.

After a year’s delay, the Cedar Fairmount Streetscape and Cedar Road Resurfacing project is set to begin in April. The city awarded a $3.99 million contract to Perk Company Inc. in January.

According to Joseph Kickel, assistant to the director of public works for Cleveland Heights, the project was designed as two separate projects with multiple funding sources for each, but was combined into one in order to reduce costs and construction time. Of the total project cost, the resurfacing portion will be $2.95 million and the streetscape $1.04 million.

MARCH 6, 2017

• New safety personnel sworn in
• Public comments
• Bids for street work
• Securing power supply rate
• Liquor control notices
• Zoning appeals
• Energy conservation project
• Non-bank ATM regulations
• Employee compensation, benefits
• City manager and design academy
• Public meetings
• State budget impact on local government
  
  

All council members were present: Mayor Cheryl L. Stephens, Vice Mayor Jason Stein,  Mary Dunbar, Carol Roe, Kahlil Seren, Michael N. Ungar and Melissa Yasinow.

FEBRUARY 21, 2017

• Liquor permit
• Fire department 2016 report
• Police department 2016 report
• Loan approval
• Mutual aid agreements
• Sanctuary city, rental issues
• Mayor’s comments
  
  

Mayor Cheryl L. Stephens, Vice Mayor Jason Stein, and Council members Mary Dunbar, Carol Roe, Kahlil Seren and Melissa Yasinow were present. Michael N. Ungar was absent.

The meeting lasted from 7:36 to 8:38 pm.

Noble Road will be resurfaced from where it begins at Mayfield Road to Cleveland Heights’ northern border with East Cleveland. Cuyahoga County is overseeing the $2.947 project, which is completely funded by the county, including engineering, administration and construction costs.

C. A. Agresta Construction Co. won the contract, and will begin work in April. Construction is expected to be completed by October.

According to Mike Tworzydlo, area construction manager for Cuyahoga County, the road resurfacing will include repairing the underlying structure and replacing curb ramps so that they are ADA compliant. Any broken curbs will be repaired. Although there was some initial discussion about adding bike lanes to Noble Road, this is not part of the project. The road will be re-striped to match what is currently there.

A special Economic Development Advisory Committee appointed by Cleveland Heights City Council delivered its recommendations to the council’s Committee of the Whole on Feb. 13. Its top recommendation is the creation of a Community Development Corporation (CDC) in Cleveland Heights that will partner with the city and other organizations to promote the city's economic development.

The CDC would focus on revitalizing mixed-use business districts, coordinating Special Improvement Districts (SIDs), and work with the city and civic organizations to create visions and plans for neighborhoods and business districts throughout the city. The CDC would also focus on enhancing the identity of the city and its unique neighborhoods and business districts, and marketing the city throughout the region.

At its Feb. 6 meeting, Cleveland Heights City Council declared the city to be a “Welcoming City” by a 6-1 vote on Resolution 15-2017.

Council members considered whether to declare Cleveland Heights a “Sanctuary City” but decided, instead, to declare it a Welcoming City.

In a press release, the city stated, “There had been some discussion regarding the concept of Sanctuary City. After further research, it was determined that Sanctuary City does not have set definitions and has no official government designation. Recent announcements that federal funds could possibly be withheld from these cities made Council look for other alternatives. The goal was to affirm a designation that would uphold the spirit of Cleveland Heights without jeopardizing in any way the financial strength of the City.”

JANUARY 17, 2017

• Public comments
• Citizen appointment
• Liquor permits
• Recognition for Tom Raguz
• Recreation regulations for 2017
• County sewer maintenance services for 2017
• Energy conservation project
• Mayor’s comments
• Next meeting

FEBRUARY 6, 2017

• Public comments
• Council reaction and welcoming city resolution
• Other public comments
• Interim finance director/clerk of council
• 2017 street repair bids, software proposals
• Zoning variance
• Recreation rates and programs
• National African American History Month and American Heart Month
• Support of public education
• Signatories for financial accounts
• Boss Dog Brewing Company
• Zoning code amendments

Gas stations, car washes, auto sales and auto repair businesses could no longer be built along some segments of Taylor, Cedar, Mayfield, Lee, and Noble roads and Euclid Heights Boulevard under one of a series of proposed zoning code amendments being considered in Cleveland Heights.

Specifically, these auto-oriented businesses would no longer be permitted uses in the city’s C-2 Local Retail Business Districts and S-2 Mixed-Use Districts. The businesses would still be permitted uses, with conditions, in the city’s other main commercial district, the C-3 General Commercial District.

JANUARY 3, 2017

• Road resurfacing bids
• Liquor permits
• Nuisance abatement update
• Amendment to wage and salary ordinance
• Amendment to public hearing ordinance
  
  

Council members Cheryl L. Stephens (mayor), Jason Stein (vice mayor), Mary Dunbar, Carol Roe, Kahlil Seren and Melissa Yasinow were present. Council Member Michael N. Ungar was absent.

The meeting was held from 7:37 to 8:21 p.m.

The building for which the Center Mayfield Business District in Cleveland Heights is named will soon be demolished. On Jan. 9, residents noted that construction fencing and heavy machinery had been put in place. That evening, Allan Butler, housing programs director for the city of Cleveland Heights, confirmed that a demolition permit had been issued to Independence Excavating on Dec. 14, 2016.

In the city of Cleveland Heights, if the owner of a commercial property wants to demolish a structure, he must file for a demolition permit and pay a permit fee of $100, plus $5 per $1,000 value of the property. No city board or commission must review the request before the permit is issued. Independence Excavating paid a permit fee of $128.75.

The Center Mayfield Building, 3907–3927 Mayfield Road, is the most prominent building located in the "Triangle”—the district bounded by Mayfield, Noble and Warrensville Center roads.

DECEMBER 5, 2016

• Presentation by Happy 5K
• Presentation from the family of Sunny Ravi Patel
• 2017 operating and capital budget
• Zoning variances
• Liquor permit transfer
• Down-payment assistance program extended
• On-street overnight parking
• Protected liability self-insurance
• Reappointments to boards and commissions
• Items to be discussed at Dec. 12 work session
  
  

All council members were present: Cheryl L. Stephens, mayor; Jason Stein, vice mayor; Mary Dunbar, Carol Roe, Kahlil Seren, Michael N. Ungar, and Melissa Yasinow.

The meeting lasted from 7:42–8:41 p.m.

NOVEMBER 21, 2016

• Ceremony for fire cadets
• Voting results for Ballot Issues 51 and 52
• Liquor permit transfer
• Budget ordinances
• Community development grant
• Commercial loan
• Nuisance bar on Mayfield
• Wage and salary ordinance
  
  

All council members were present: Cheryl L. Stephens, mayor; Jason Stein, vice mayor; Mary Dunbar; Carol Roe; Kahlil Seren; Michael N. Ungar; and Melissa Yasinow.

NOVEMBER 7, 2016

• Body cameras for the Police Department
• Liquor permit transfers
• Finance and payroll software
• Computer network infrastructure
• ODOT bridge inspection program
• Zoning variance
• CDBG application
• Cranksgiving
• Public health services
• Nuisance property
• Election Day and support for Issue 109

Council members Carol Roe and Michael N. Ungar were absent.

OCTOBER 17, 2016

• Public comments
• Banks designated for city’s active deposits
• Cain Park concessions proposals for 2017
• Liquor permit application
• Sanitary sewer engineering
• CDBG entitlement process
• Top of the Hill development
• Trick-or-treating events and other announcements
• Nuisance property
• Recent robbery and murder

Cleveland Heights residents will be asked to vote on two proposed amendments to the Cleveland Heights City Charter when they go to the polls on Nov. 8.

Ballot language for the proposed amendments, Issues 51 and 52, is as follows:

• Issue 51: Shall Article VII, Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Charter of the City of Cleveland Heights be amended to change the candidate petition filing deadline from 60 to 90 days prior to the election, and change the period in which electors may sign candidate petitions from between 60 and 90 days to between 90 and 180 days prior to the election; and change the filing deadline for write-in candidates from 40 to 72 days prior to the election, and the deadline to file an acceptance of their nomination to office from 55 to 85 days prior to the election?
  
  
• Issue 52: Shall Article VIII, Sections 3 and 4 of the Charter of the City of Cleveland Heights be amended to change the filing deadline from 40 to 90 days for candidates seeking to succeed those members of Council whose removal is sought in the event that a recall election is to be held for more than three members of council; and to change the time frame from 40 to 90 days to 60 to 120 days for which a recall election, or a question as a result of initiative or referendum petitions shall be submitted for a vote of the electors of the city whenever it becomes the duty of the Council to call such an election?

The third public meeting for the Cleveland Heights Master Plan will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m., in the Cleveland Heights Community Center, at 1 Monticello Blvd.

The meeting will include a short presentation, a brief question-and-answer period, and an opportunity for attendees to review proposed actions, provide feedback, and set priorities for policies and action steps.

Following the public meeting, [Cuyahoga] County Planning will host an online survey that will mirror the information available at the public meeting.

The City of Cleveland Heights' Top of the Hill Project is taking the next step in the development process at [its Oct. 17] meeting. City Council is expected to consider legislation to authorize the City to negotiate a non-binding letter of intent with Fairmount Properties. [See editor's note.]

"We were very pleased with the results of our Request for Qualifications process. Several excellent development teams were interested in partnering with us to bring a spectacular development to the Top of the Hill," said City Manager Tanisha Briley. "We believe that says a lot about the interest and excitement surrounding this site and in new development in Cleveland Heights."

The Top of the Hill Project refers to the approximately four acres of City-owned property at the corner of Cedar Road and Euclid Heights Boulevard at the top of Cedar Hill. As a highly visible property at the gateway between the Heights and University Circle, developing this property has been a long-time goal of the City.

OCTOBER 5, 2016

• Public comments
• County demolition program
• Wage and salary ordinance
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• Domestic Violence Awareness Month
• Auditing services

SEPTEMBER 19, 2016

• Public comments
• Zoning variance
• Nuisance properties
• Fact-finding reports
• Meeting date change

Crime rates in Cleveland Heights for the first six months of 2016 have remained steady compared to the same period in recent years.

The data in the charts represents the period January through June 2016; data from previous years represents January through July. The difference in reporting periods results from changes in the communication routine between the Observer and CHPD following personnel changes in the police department earlier this year. The discrepancy will be fixed by the time year-end data is published.

The information is compiled by the CHPD according to federal standards defined by the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting system, and is also published on the Cleveland Heights city website.

Those parking in three Cleveland Heights parking garages—in Cedar Fairmount, Cedar Lee and Coventry Village—can now use a mobile Passport Parking app that they can download to iPhone and Android smart phones.

The City of Cleveland Heights made the announcement on Sept. 23 and has posted information about how to download and use the app at www.clevelandheights.com/parkingapp. The information is also accessible via a Passport Parking icon on the website’s home page.

The parking rate for those using the app is the same 50 cents per hour as for those using quarters, which meters will continue to accept. Parking app users are charged a 35-cent convenience fee per transaction.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump held a “town hall meeting to discuss issues confronting urban America” at New Spirit Revival Center, 3130 Mayfield Road, in Cleveland Heights on Sept. 21.

Fox News Channel convened the meeting, which was taped live beginning at 9:30 a.m. for broadcast that evening. Republican Nominee Donald Trump was the special guest of Pastor Darrell Scott, who has received national attention for his support of Trump.

While Trump spoke inside the church, a counter-event was held across the street in front of the Heights Rockefeller Building. Protesters began lining Mayfield Road when the event began. Immediately after, several elected officials held a press conference at which Cuyahoga County Councilmember Anthony Hairston, Cleveland Heights Mayor Cheryl Stephens, State Senator Sandra Williams and State Representative Janine Boyd spoke.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

• Public comments
• Liquor application
• Stormwater management
• Traffic signal project
• Coventry Road paving
• Zoning appeals
• Top of the Hill
• Dept. of Homeland Security SAFER grant
• Overnight parking permits
• Assessment board reports
• Assessment rates
• Tax collection
• Mayor’s report

Council Member Melissa Yasinow was absent.

Tim Boland and Brian Anderson have both joined the staff of the City of Cleveland Heights to help with economic development. Boland is the city’s economic development director. He replaces Greg Zucca, who left in the spring of 2015. Anderson has been named the city’s business development manager, a newly created position. Both started working for the city on Aug. 8.

“Economic development is a top priority for our city,” said City Manager Tanisha Briley. “For a community like ours, maintaining our excellent services means expanding our economic base through community, housing and business development and redevelopment opportunities.”

AUGUST 1, 2016

• Public comments
• Bid for Cedar Road resurfacing/streetscape
• Liquor license application
• Assessment boards
• County agreement amendment
• Zoning variances
• Storefront renovation
• Objection to liquor licenses
• Charter amendments regarding elections

All council members were present.

JULY 18, 2016

• Public Hearing on FY 2017 tax budget
• Regular Meeting

Council members Mary Dunbar and Michael N. Ungar were absent.

The City of Cleveland Heights issued the following news release on Aug. 10 regarding the previous night's storm:

Cleveland Heights Fire, Police and Public Works Departments have been out all night due to the storm damage. Today, Public Works is going through the City taking care of downed trees. Residents, who are able, are asked to put tree limbs on the tree lawns. Public Works will continue to go through the whole city and pick up limbs. The City is in contact with First Energy regarding power outages.

The Cleveland Heights Police Department invites Cleveland Heights residents to participate in the upcoming session of its Citizens Police Academy, set to begin on Aug. 9.

An application can be found on the City of Cleveland Heights’s website (click on City Hall – Police Department – Community – Citizens Police Academy). The application must be submitted before Aug. 1.

According to Cleveland Heights Chief of Police Annette Mecklenburg, “The goal is for police department employees to interact with and educate a group of well-informed citizens regarding Cleveland Heights police procedures, investigations and operations—and to foster a deeper understanding between police officers and members of the community.”

JULY 5, 2016

• Public comments
• Bonds issued
• Cedar Road paving and streetscape project

Council Members Mary Dunbar and Michael N. Ungar were absent.

JUNE 20, 2016

• Public comments
• Ambulance service paperwork
• Independents Week
• Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
• Zoning variances
• Loan agreement
• Mayor’s comments

All council members were present.