LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS / Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights
NOVEMBER 4, 2024, regular meeting
- Public comment
- Mayor’s report
- City administrator’s report
- Life Saving Award
- Council action
- Council member comments
- Committee of the whole
Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren and Council Members Tony Cuda (council president), Davida Russell (vice president), Craig Cobb, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., Jim Petras, and Jim Posch. Also present were Clerk of Council Addie Balester, Law Director William Hanna, and City Administrator Danny Williams. The meeting ran for one and one/quarter hours.
Public comment
Three residents supported the resolution declaring Cleveland Heights a safe haven for gender-affirming health care.
Two residents thanked council for listening to the public comments at the Oct. 21 meeting about the shooting of Christian Thomas by Cleveland Heights police and requested an update on the investigation.
Brady Dindia, Coventry PEACE, Inc. board secretary, invited the community to attend Coventry PEACE’s Lantern Festival and Coventry School Alumni Reunion on Dec. 14. She said the building’s tenants have been directed to vacate the building by the end of January. They are searching for new homes, with help from the city’s planning staff.
A resident urged the city to remove deteriorated parking meters, describing them as parking meter blight.
A resident described vandalism of multiple vehicles in Lot 1 on Oct. 28, thanked the police for a quick response, and urged lighting, cameras, and better monitoring of the lot.
A resident urged the city to involve mental health professionals in responding to mental health crises, declaring that police are not trained to respond to such crises.
Mayor’s report
Mayor Seren reported that bids have been received for projects 2406, North Park Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) control, and 2405, Yellowstone sewer separation and water main replacement. Febrizi Trucking and Paving’s bids of $2,390,407 for project 2406 and $2,132,227.50 for project 2405 were selected. The mayor requested, and council granted, permission to seek bids for projects 2417, Cain Park Stramp installation and improvement, and 2418, Coventry garage improvement. He announced that the final report of the wage and salary study of non-bargaining unit city employees, along with an updated wage and salary schedule, would be released soon.
City administrator’s report
Mr. Williams announced that non-essential city workers will have the morning off to vote, and he urged everyone to vote.
Life Saving Award
Police Chief Britton presented a Life Saving Award to Investigator Justin Weir for performing life-saving CPR on a resident.
Council action
Council authorized an application to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Land and Water Conservation Fund for a grant to be used for the Attleboro-Shelburne trail, part of the Doan Brook Restoration Park Improvements project. The maximum grant award is $500,000.
Council authorized acquisition of snow and ice equipment for the streets division from Brine Worx at a cost not to exceed $70,488.63.
Council authorized an agreement with GPD Group for construction management services for the Clarendon and Edgerly waterline replacement project at a cost not to exceed $131,698.
Council authorized an agreement with Behnke Landscape Architecture for design services for public spaces and streetscape areas along Noble Road and North and South Taylor Roads at a cost not to exceed $130,000 from ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.
Council authorized an agreement with UBIZ Venture Capital for program management services for the Small Business Support Program at a cost not to exceed $60,000 from ARPA funds.
Council authorized a contract with OHM Advisors for traffic consulting services including preparation of the South Taylor Road TLCI Road Diet Project Traffic Study at a cost not to exceed $46,090 from ARPA funds. TLCI refers to NOACA’s Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative; a road diet would change the road configuration to slow traffic, e.g., reduce the number of lanes.
Council authorized installment payment contracts and related agreements to finance energy conservation improvements by Leopardo Energy. The legislation version in council’s meeting packet was amended to specify that a minimum of 20 percent of the contract amount would be paid within two years to conform with Ohio Revised Code.
Council amended the agreement with Bricker Graydon LLP for ARPA legal counsel services at a total cost not to exceed $150,000.
Council approved compensation rates and benefits proposed by tentative labor agreements with the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association beginning April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2027 and granted the mayor authority to sign the agreements.
The above legislative items were approved on first reading and as emergency measures. The following were approved on second reading.
Council authorized acquisition of two 2024 Ford F-350 one-ton regular cab trucks, at a cost of $98,496 from Classic Ford of Madison, and two 7.5 yard 50/50 split body easy dump – direct truck mounts, at a cost of $81,500 from MACQUEEN Equipment, LLC, for the public works department’s refuse and recycling division.
Council proclaimed Cleveland Heights a safe haven for gender-affirming health care.
Council member comments
Mr. Cobb said chairs of city boards and commissions attended the Oct. 28 Administrative Services Committee meeting for the committee to hear the needs of the boards and commissions and explore ways to improve their work. The hope is to meet with the chairs annually.
Mr. Cuda explained his intentions for the Oct. 8 combined city council and library board meeting regarding the Coventry PEACE building. His purpose was to find a long-term, fiscally responsible way to keep the tenants in place and allow for the growth needed to keep the building sustainable. He asked the board to describe what resources would be needed to achieve that goal. He criticized several comments made by library board members and expressed surprise that they brought no request for resources to the meeting. He praised the contributions the library system makes to the community and described financial support provided by the city to the library. He thanked the tenants for their contribution to the community and hoped they would remain in Cleveland Heights. He expressed a desire for public institutions to work together in good faith.
Ms. Larson said the Finance Committee is finalizing the scope of work for data analysis of banking and lending practices and is exploring programs to benefit minority residents seeking mortgage and home improvement loans.
Mr. Petras reported that the Housing and Building Committee completed its discussion of tenant-landlord rights and responsibilities and requested the law department to draft legislation regarding distribution of this information. The committee continued work on the Racial Justice Task Force housing recommendations. They also reviewed ordinances regarding parking commercial vehicles in residential driveways. Legislation regarding short-term rentals is ready for council review.
Ms. Russell announced that a public hearing regarding a proposed dog park would be held Nov. 6 at 6 pm.
Committee of the whole
Council met in executive session to review negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees.
Ms. Balester, Mr. Cuda, Ms. Larson, and Ms. Russell described the Ohio Municipal League Conference they recently attended.
Planning and Development Director Eric Zamft described the revised design for the Cain Park Stramp including changes necessitated by the topography.
At council’s Nov. 18 meeting, legislation will be presented to transfer $4.125million of ARPA funds to the general fund to replace revenue for eligible payroll expenses. This will free the general fund for programs extending beyond 2026, such as the lead-safe healthy homes, exterior home repair, business assistance, etc.
Mr. Cuda presented a slide and video show of the October Coventry PEACE Pops event.
LWV observer: Jill Tatem
Meeting packets, legislation, and other information can be found on the city website at: https://www.clevelandheights.gov/1625/City-Council-Agendas-and-Minutes
Videos of council meetings can be viewed on the “City of Cleveland Heights, OH” YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/ClevelandHeightsOH