LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS / University Heights City Council meeting highlights
SEPTEMBER 3, 2024, regular meeting
- Public comment
- City council committee reports
- Council action
- Staff reports
Present were Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan and council members Michele Weiss (vice mayor), Christopher Cooney, Brian J. King, John P. Rach, Sheri Sax, and Win Weizer. Threse Marshall was excused. 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 for three hours and 20 minutes.
Public comment
Marilyn Singer spoke regarding a forum on “Disinformation, AI, and Elections” sponsored by the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Chapter of the League of Women Voters in partnership with Heights Libraries on Sept. 12 at the Cleveland Heights Community Center
City council committee reports
The Planning Committee will meet Sept. 5 to discuss the Aldi project, the demolition of the Boston Market Building, and the rebuilding of three homes.
The Building and Housing Committee will meet Sept. 16 and discuss permits for dumpsters, vicious dog ordinances, rental permits for houses, and permit renewal for apartments.
The Committee of the Whole will meet Sept. 19 to discuss an emergency management plan.
Council actions
Council met in executive session for about two hours to discuss legal and real estate matters related to University Square. Following the session, council approved, without discussion and on emergency, 11 legislative items related to development of University Square and the parking garage, including approvals of Mayor Brennan’s appointee, Micah Maliskas, and the Vice-Mayor Weiss’s appointment of Finance Committee Member Rick Brenner to the University Heights Parking Garage Community Improvement Corporation Board of Directors
Council tabled legislation to pursue grant funding from Cuyahoga County for a Wrenford Way Project to connect Wrenford Road with Purvis Park for use by pedestrians and bike riders. Council members agree that the proposal had too many questions to answer before the March 2025 grant deadline.
Council overrode Mayor Brennan’s veto of legislation relating to the composition and method of the appointment of officers to City Beautiful Corporation. Councilperson King voted nay.
Council unanimously overrode Mayor Brennan’s line item veto of appropriations to CIC (Community Investment Corporation) Fund 800.
Council confirmed appointments of Micah Maliskas and Rick Brenner to the University Heights Parking Garage CIC Board of Directors.
An ordinance to substitute contractor names due to the purchase of Wallace & Pancher by Mannick & Smith Group, was presented on first reading with no vote.
Council authorized an agreement with Geauga Highway Company for road repair. This was the lowest of four bids. Engineer Mockbee checked references, did a background check, and recommended acceptance for work that can begin Sept. 16.
Council authorized Engineer Mockbee to advertise for bids for the Silsby water main replacement after a break. Emergency funds are available from the Cleveland Water Department; this is projected to be a 45 day project.
Council passed, on emergency, annual assessments for sewer funds, street lighting, and shade trees. There is no change from last year.
Council approved a special assessment on nuisance conditions. Ms. Weizer recommended reviewing the program in 2025 and updating the fine and cost for one time violations.
Council amended several ordinances to authorize appropriation adjustments for current and other expenditures for the calendar year 2024.
Council accepted a $5,000 grant from the Ohio Arts Council for the 2025 Juneteenth Celebration. These monies will be considered part of the budget and not additional funds.
Council approved a change order in the amount of $1,036 as additional cost for assembly and delivery of an additional 185 recycling bins.
Council approved the purchase of one Kubota Utility Refuse Collection Vehicle at a cost of $21,920.
Council tabled legislation for amendments of city code chapters on weeds and trees, hedges and shrubbery. These were brought to the mayor by a group of residents and were referred to service and utilities and buildings for review to ensure there is no conflict with work already being done and appropriate implementation.
Council authorized agreements with Kimble Co. for solid waste and recycling management.
No motion was made so no vote was held on a resolution for the city to support the cigarette tax for arts and culture.
Council approved expenses for traffic and in-car cameras, which had been reviewed by the Safety Committee.
Staff reports
Ms. Saks asked Law Director Bryan to clarify the procedure for engaging a citizens advisory committee for her Services and Utilities Committee, specifically regarding First Energy and LED streetlights.
Fire Chief Robert Perko reported that hydrant flushing will begin Sept. 16
The service department reports that storm clean-up is ongoing on most Saturdays. Delivery of the new recycling carts will begin Sept. 16. Ms. Weizer asked about the absence of a pup pool day at Purvis Park. The mayor said there was no need to cancel as it was not on the schedule for this year. Ms. Weizer requested that the community be affirmatively notified when such an event will not be held.
Bill Barkley from SAFEbuilt was introduced as the new building commissioner.
City Engineer Mockbee reported the pavement marking project was completed underbudget, so she is considering using the remaining budgeted funds for pavement marking at the Walter Stinson Park parking lot. The pickleball asphalt has been laid and the 30-day curing period has begun.
Ms. Weizer asked Communications Director Mike Cook about the status of meetings livestreaming. Mr. Cook will consult with Starfish about the possibility of hardwiring a system that would be more efficient than the current wireless system. He said the next issue of Mosaic will be out in the next couple of weeks.
Economic Development Director Susan Drucker said Aldi has requested to present information to the Planning Commission on Sept. 15 regarding a possible store and the current Waterstone Medical Building site. New businesses have opened. Chicken Ranch is open despite the damage to its front window. Vacancies in the city have decreased from 4.62 percent to 4.29 percent since the July report.
LWV observers: Marilyn Singer, Tanis Swan
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