LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS / Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights
DECEMBER 9, 2024, special meeting
- Public comment
- Council actions
- Council member comments
- Other agenda items
- 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 was Law Director William Hanna. The meeting ran for 50 minutes.
Public comment
Two residents expressed concern about staff departures and urged steps to determine the causes. They expressed dissatisfaction about the budget process and the lack of information provided to council and urged council not to approve the proposed 2025 budget.
Council actions
Council authorized, on emergency, a contract with Spectrum to continue and upgrade internet service to city hall, at a cost not to exceed $65,940.
Council authorized, on emergency, an agreement with All City Management Services, Inc. for crossing guard services through Dec 31, 2025, at a cost not to exceed $133,456.95.
With one no vote, council authorized an increase to the 2024 budget of $1,316,139, as an emergency measure. Mr. Posch voted “no” saying the legislation combines many different types of budget adjustments.
Council authorized purchase of a Camel Max Series Sewer Cleaning Combo Truck from Mtech at a cost of $569,446.11 for the public works sewer division, as an emergency measure.
Council authorized two resolutions, on emergency, for police department equipment 1) purchase of five 2025 Ford Utility Hybrid Police Interceptors from Ken Ganley Ford, Inc., $47,540.88 each, and 2) purchase and installation of upfitting equipment for five 2025 Ford Utility Hybrid Police Interceptors from Hall Public Safety Upfitters for $81,505.
Council authorized adopting the Heights Regional Active Transportation Plan (ATP) jointly with the cities of South Euclid and University Heights. The ATP will serve as a guiding document for future decisions related to safety improvements for all modes of transportation, including bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and programming.
Council authorized two agreements, on emergency, with the Home Repair Resource Center for program management services for 1) the Cleveland Heights Down Payment Assistance Program, at a cost not to exceed $150,000; and 2) the Home Maintenance, Repair, and Accessibility Program, at a cost not to exceed $250,000—both using ARPA funds.
The first two actions above were approved on first reading as emergency measures, the remainder were approved on second reading.
Several pieces of legislation were presented on first reading only, no vote, including:
- Authorization of a contract with OHM Advisory to prepare a parks, recreation, and open space master plan, at an amount not to exceed $205,000.
- Authorization of an agreement with SCG Fields, LLC for the design, provision, installation, and related construction services for a new synthetic turf soccer field at Denison Park, at a cost of $1,114,450 from ARPA funds, as an emergency measure.
- Authorization of an agreement with Farnham Equipment Company for the provision, installation and related construction services for new seating for Cain Park’s Alma Theater and Evans Amphitheater, at an amount not to exceed $368,000 from ARPA funds, as an emergency measure.
- An ordinance enacting Section 1351.35 of the Cleveland Heights city code entitled, “Tenants’ Rights and Responsibilities.” The building commissioner will prepare a pamphlet containing a summary of applicable laws and regulations describing the rights, obligations, and remedies of tenants and landlords. Rental unit owners, operators, and agents will provide copies of the pamphlet to tenants.
- An ordinance amending the city zoning map to rezone the Park Synagogue property at 3300 Mayfield Road to S-2 Mixed-Use District. The proposed ordinance will be transmitted to the planning commission.
Two pieces of legislation were presented on second reading only, no vote, including:
- Authorization of an agreement with American Builders and Applicators, LLC to use Lead Safe Ohio grant funds to abate lead-based paint hazards at 1580 Oakwood Drive at a cost not to exceed $71,250, as an emergency measure.
- An ordinance to make appropriations for expenditures for the 2025 fiscal year, totaling $98,389,463, as an emergency measure.
Council member comments
Mr. Cuda said proposed 2025 budget lacked details, with answers to council’s questions missing or insufficient. He acknowledged the difficulties of providing the details that were part of the 2024 proposed budget given the departure of key staff. Council has asked the administration to prepare a temporary budget for the first quarter that would provide time to receive the following information: the amount of the 2024 unencumbered balance, the 2023 financial audit, a 2024 budget analysis, a 2025 capital budget, and a determination of the feasibility of adding fifteen new staff positions. He said a better budget process is needed and that budgetary oversight and checks and balances, while sometimes uncomfortable, are necessary.
Ms. Larson reported that, in January, the Municipal Services and Environmental Sustainability committee will discuss recycling by businesses.
Ms. Russell reported that the Planning and Development committee will discuss the proposed contract with OHM Advisory to prepare a parks, recreation, and open space master plan.
Other agenda items
Under new business, Mr. Posch proposed that council hire an accounting firm experienced with municipal governments to advise council on finances relevant to the 2025 budget. Mr. Posch was authorized to contact two firms to gather additional information about a scope of work and costs. The matter will be discussed at the Dec. 16 Committee of the Whole meeting. Mr. Posch also suggested raising the mayor’s salary from the current $115,000 to $135,000, with a step increase for a mayor with an MPA or MBA degree, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Law Director Hanna clarified that the legislation would not have to be adopted in 2024 to become effective in 2026. Ms. Larson recommended that the relevant data gathered by the Archer salary study be considered. Ms. Russell suggested that council’s salaries also be examined.
Committee of the whole
Council extensively discussed proposed 2024 budget adjustments. Mr. Posch objected to combining multiple types of adjustments into a single ordinance. He also expressed a preference for finding unused funds in the 2024 budget rather than eliminating budgeted 2024 expenditures or adding them to the 2025 budget, which would increase the deficit.[MB1]
After a lengthy discussion of the proposed 2025 budget, council, Mr. Mattox excepted, agreed to Mr. Posch’s suggestion to ask the administration to prepare a temporary, 90-day budget by the Dec. 16 council meeting.
An update on the status of ARPA funds identified the projects and funds allocated to each in five categories: completed projects totaling $7,708,066; encumbered projects totaling $16,324,223; contracts executed totaling $1,654,953; contracts pending totaling $5,389,838; and projects out to bid totaling $7,739,981.
In other business, Mr. Cuda wants the law department to draft an ordinance changing the budget deadline date. He asked the Safety Committee to gather crime data to determine the feasibility of a police mini-station in the Noble area. Ms. Russell suggested a community center instead that would assist residents with grant writing and other needs.
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