LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS / Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights
DECEMBER 2, 2024, regular meeting
- Public comment
- Mayor’s report
- 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 and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting ran for 25 minutes.
Public comment
Brehon Pittman from Rep. Shontel Brown’s office reported on the office’s activities supporting youth leadership training and small businesses.
A resident expressed concern about the risk of losing the $300,000 federal youth violence prevention grant. She also urged the mayor to delegate more and advised council members to think the best of each other rather than the worst.
Mayor’s report
Mayor Seren reported the selection of the Ronyak Paving’s bid of $490,208 for project 24-17 citywide catch basin repair project phase two. He announced the distribution of the winter issue of Focus magazine and described several articles, including the gift guide featuring Cleveland Heights small businesses, and urged residents to shop local.
Council actions
On first reading as an emergency measure, council authorized acceptance of Lead Safe Ohio grant funds for lead-based paint hazard remediation.
Also on first reading as an emergency measure, council authorized an agreement with R20 Consulting LLC for construction administration and resident observation services relating to the CH-36 (North Park and Coventry) and CH-37 (Fairfax at North Park) sanitary sewer overflow control and the North Park Blvd. sewer replacement project, not to exceed $241,328.
On second reading as an emergency measure, council declared improvements to 1794-1808 S. Taylor Road, Oak Tree Veterinary, to be a public purpose; exempted the improvements from ad valorem real property taxation for thirty years; required the owner of the improvements to make service payments in lieu of ad valorem property taxes; established a municipal public improvement tax increment equivalent fund for the deposit of those payments, and described the purposes for which those funds may be used.
On second reading as an emergency measure, council expanded the scope of work for the grant of up to $250,000 from ARPA funds to Heights Arts Collaborative, Inc. for arts programming and support.
Several items presented on first reading only, no vote, include:
- A resolution authorizing an agreement with American Builders and Applicators, LLC for the use of Lead Safe Ohio grant funds for abatement of lead-based paint hazards at 1580 Oakwood Drive at a cost not to exceed $71,250.
- An ordinance to increase the 2024 budget by $1,316,139.
- Authorization to purchase a Camel Max Series Sewer Cleaning Combo Truck from Mtech at a cost of $569,446.11 for the public works sewer division.
- Authorization to purchase five 2025 Ford Utility Hybrid Police Interceptors from Ken Ganley Ford, Inc., for the police department, at a cost of $47,540.88 each.
- Authorization to purchase and install upfitting equipment for five 2025 Ford Utility Hybrid Police Interceptors from Hall Public Safety Upfitters, for the police department, at a total cost of $81,505.
- A resolution (jointly with the cities of South Euclid and University Heights) to adopt the Heights Regional Active Transportation Plan (ATP). The ATP will serve as a guiding document for future decisions related to safety improvements for all modes of transportation and bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and programming.
- Authorization of two agreements with the Home Repair Resource Center 1) for program management services for the Cleveland Heights Down Payment Assistance Program, at a cost not to exceed $150,000 from ARPA funds, and 2) for program management services for the Home Maintenance, Repair, and Accessibility Program, at a cost not to exceed $250,000 from ARPA funds.
- An ordinance to appropriate expenditures from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, totaling $98,389,463.
Council member comments
Reporting for the Administrative Services Committee, Mr. Cobb announced a vacancy on the Citizens’ Advisory Committee and urged residents of the Caledonia neighborhood to apply. He also urged students to apply for the Parks and Recreation Youth Advisory Board.
Mr. Cuda reported that the process to adopt the 2025 budget is ongoing.
Reporting for the Housing and Building Committee, Mr. Petras said the committee has approved draft legislation for tenant-landlord rights and responsibilities to be considered by the Committee of the Whole, with first reading planned for the next council meeting. The legislation would require landlords to distribute information about tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities.
Ms. Russell briefly described the recent dog park public hearing and outlined next steps, including identifying what changes are necessary to existing ordinances.
Committee of the whole
During the legislative review, five pieces of legislation for which adoption was originally to be considered at tonight’s council meeting were changed to first reading only.
During discussion of the proposed 2025 budget, several members expressed concerns about missing information and seemingly contradictory figures in the proposed budget. Mayor Seren committed to providing answers to recently submitted questions by the end of the week. Members decided to schedule a Finance Committee meeting at the end of the week for further discussion of the proposed budget before the Dec. 9 special council meeting. Mr. Cuda reported on the status of the 2023 audit, as it was explained to him by staff in the State Auditor’s office. Mayor Seren provided additional status information.
Council met in executive session to consider the appointment of a public official, requests for economic development assistance, and the sale or lease of city-owned property.
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