LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS / University Heights City Council meeting
MAY 6, 2024 regular meeting
- Public comments
- Mayor’s report
- Council actions
- Staff reports
- Committee reports
Present were Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan and council members Michele Weiss (vice mayor), Christopher Cooney, Brian J. King, Threse Marshall, Sheri Sax, and Win Weizer. John Rach was not present. Also present were Clerk of Council Kelly Thomas, Law Director Bradric T. Bryan, Finance Director Dennis Kennedy, and City Engineer Brenda Mockbee. The meeting ran two hours, 20 minutes
Public comment
A resident expressed concerns about dangerous traffic intersections, suggesting that eventually they be replaced with roundabouts. Another resident, affiliated with the initiative to recall Mayor Brennan, expressed her concerns about the use of social media to intimidate those signing the recall petition.
Mayor’s report
Mayor Brennan reported on the success of the city’s first sustainable home fair on April 21, with about 100 people attending. He mentioned the celebration of Arbor Day at Gesu school, in which students helped plant three Japanese lilacs on Glendon Road; the upcoming Bike with the Mayor event in Garfield Heights; the May 15 Ride of Silence event spanning numerous Greater Cleveland communities; and the May 16 presentation at University Heights Library on the history of University Heights and its transition from Idlewood Village to the City of Beautiful Homes.
Council actions
Council approved three planning commission recommendations regarding property at 2512 Claver Rd. allowing the owner to demolish the home in order to build a new one, permitting several variances for the new home, and approving a lot split between this property and one at 2450 Milton Rd.
Council amended the city code section related to the appointment of officers of the CIC (Community Investment Corporation). Spearheaded by Weizer and Rach, this amendment would ensure that all officers of the corporation be elected instead of having the mayor and vice mayor appoint the president and vice president. Noting the lack of a public discussion on this topic, Cooney proposed tabling the ordinance until it could be addressed in a Committee of the Whole meeting, but the motion was not seconded. Instead, council unanimously approved the amendment on first reading.
Council tabled two versions of an ordinance to establish a second Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) until after discussion at a Committee of the Whole meeting. The language of both versions was identical save for the new CIC board composition.
Council approved the advance of funds from the University Square TIFF Fund and Capital improvement Fund to the General Fund.
On second reading, council amended the city code to increase the threshold amounts for contracting procedures and professional contracts from $50,000 to $75,000.
Council approved a motion to seek bids for a new Kubota Refuse Collection vehicle and authorized the purchase of a $61,797 leaf vacuum.
Council extended the lease of an office space at 2245 Warrensville Center Road (also known as “The Annex”) for an additional year.
Council authorized seeking bids for Purvis Park Tennis and Pickleball Courts improvements.
Council approved payment of design and construction administration fees to WallacePancher Group for water main replacement on Silsby Road.
Council approved the Cuyahoga County 911 plan and the selection of Mayor Holzheimer-Gail of Euclid to serve as a member of the program’s review committee.
Council proclaimed May 2024 as Bike Month in the City of University Heights.
Council approved, on emergency, an agreement with Cleveland Heights, Richmond Heights, Shaker Heights, and South Euclid to establish a mental health crisis assistance program: Crisis Assistance and Local Linkage (CALL).
There were first readings (no vote) for:
- An ordinance to amend the tax code
- An ordinance to reestablish the position of Senior Services Coordinator and a pay range, with council requesting that the administration adjust their proposed description of the latter to reflect an hourly pay rate in keeping with other part-time city employees.
Staff reports
Finance Director Kennedy gave an update on April revenue collections, indicating that the city had collected a little over $1.84 million this year and noting that about $1.57million had been collected at this time in 2023. He expects an ongoing audit of 2023 financial statements to be completed by the end of the month.
Fire Chief Robert Perko reported a water main break on Fenwick Road earlier that day; Cleveland Water came out to shut off water and would return the next day to assess damage.
City Engineer Mockbee noted that a number of plans for city projects continue to move forward to review and that a survey pertaining to the former YABI property [now owned by the city] had been delivered to the city.
In the absence of Communications Director Mike Cook, Mayor Brennan relayed his report that the most recent issue of Mosaic was at the printers, and that the Spring publication would both address the headliner for the Juneteenth celebration and contain a QR code allowing residents to opt into the new recycling program.
Economic Development Director Susan Drucker reported that a zoning code meeting would be held later this week.
Committee reports
The Building/Housing Committee, Community Outreach Committee, Service and Utilities Committee, and Committee of the Whole reported upcoming meetings.
The Recreation Committee reported that pool passes for the 2024 season were now available.
LWV observer: Leah Davydov
Meeting packets, legislation, and other information can be found on the city website at: https://www.universityheights.com/council/
Videos of council meetings can be viewed on the “City of University Heights” YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA82j5L_CkQxK9cXP_qrXvw/videos