LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS / Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024, special meeting
- Council action
- Budget discussion
Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Tony Cuda, and members Craig Cobb, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., Jim Petras, and Jim Posch. Vice President Davida Russell was excused. Also present were Clerk of Council Addie Balester and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting ran about one half hour.
Council action
On first reading and on emergency, council approved the report of the Assessment Equalization Board appointed to hear objections to estimated assessments for the public services plan for the Cedar Lee Special Improvement District, Inc. One property owner who objected did not appear and thus forfeited the right to object.
On first reading and on emergency, council enabled implementation of the Cedar Lee SID public services plan and the levying of assessments for that purpose.
On first reading and on emergency, council authorized application to request $50,000 under the Cuyahoga County Department of Development’s Community Development Supplemental Grant program to install ADA compliant benches in public parks, streetscapes, and spaces throughout the city.
On second reading and on emergency, council amended Section 111.23, “Publication of Ordinances and Resolutions,” of the city code to provide for online publication of legislation in order to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
Budget discussion
Because council must submit a Draft Expense Budget to Interim Finance Director Tara Schuster today, they discussed changes to last year’s budget. The 2024 council budget was $252,386, of which council spent $130,361.60. They proposed keeping the 2025 Budget close to last year’s, adding expenditures for possible part-time staff, communications, events, and legal expenses. They determined that the legal expenses amount of $20,000 which was not touched in 2024 be carried over to 2025 for a total of $40,000. The final vote on the budget will be in December.
LWV observer: Blanche Valancy
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