LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS / Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights

MARCH 3, 2025 regular meeting

• Public comment
• City administrator’s report
• Clerk of council’s report
• Dorian Pace
• Council actions
• 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 were Law Director William Hanna and City Administrator Daniel Horrigan. The meeting ran for one hour.

Public comment

Two residents urged council to pass a 12-month 2025 budget. One urged council to implement training on municipal finance and budgeting and to work with the mayor to develop a collaborative budgeting process for next year. One praised Ms. Larson’s Finance Committee leadership and city staff professionalism.

A resident requested that the city fly the transgender flag at City Hall on March 31, the Transgender Day of Visibility.

John Gall, owner of the house at the South Taylor-Fairmount intersection that has experienced repeated damage from car crashes, outlined events following removal of a guardrail and demanded replacement of the guardrail. Law Director Hanna described the steps the city has taken to address the problem.

A resident praised Dorian Pace, the school bus driver honored for his response to a school bus fire on Feb. 27.

City administrator’s report

Mr. Horrigan announced that the Lee Rd. parking garage has reopened. He summarized the status of repairs to garages and Cain Park improvement projects. He announced that funding has been secured to demolish the old dairy building on Warrensville Center Rd. near Mayfield Rd.

Clerk of council’s report

Ms. Larson, as temporary clerk of council, informed council that an application has been received from the Ohio Division of Liquor Control for the transfer of a D1/D2/D3 permit from Boiling Seafood LLC, 2201 Lee Rd., to Lee’s Seafood Boil Lee Road LLC at the same address.

Dorian Pace

Andy Wilson, director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, presented a Director’s Coin from the department and read a Cuyahoga County Council resolution, both honoring Dorian Pace for his heroism in safely removing fifteen students from the school bus that caught fire on Feb. 27. Council also adopted a resolution honoring Mr. Pace.

Council actions

On first reading and emergency, council authorized advancement of funds to the Coventry Village Special Improvement District (SID) in anticipation of assessment. Mr. Cuda recused himself because of his membership on the SID Board.

On first reading and emergency, council authorized an agreement with Security Automation Systems, Inc. to repair the security control and intercom systems of the Cleveland Heights City Jail, at a cost not to exceed $70,090.

On first reading and emergency, council declared the fire-damaged property at 3690 Grosvenor Rd. a nuisance and authorized demolition of the house and clean-up of the debris. 

On second reading, as an emergency measure, council authorized an agreement with Cuyahoga County where the county would reimburse up to $250,000 for resurfacing Euclid Heights Blvd. westbound from Cedar Rd. to Coventry Rd. The total anticipated construction cost is $839,300. 

The following items were presented with no vote, the first two on first reading, the third on second reading, and the fourth on third reading:

• A resolution adopting the City of Cleveland Heights Comprehensive & Equitable Safety Action Plan (CESAP). 
• A resolution authorizing city council to establish a high school internship program. The program would allow students over the age of 15 residing in Cleveland Heights to gain practical experience in local government, working five to 10 hours per month and compensated at $12 per hour. 
• An ordinance amending the zoning map to rezone the Park Synagogue property at 3300 Mayfield Rd. to S-2 Mixed-Use District. 
• An ordinance making appropriations of $105,078,576 for the current expenses and other expenditures of Cleveland Heights from Jan. 1, 2025 through Dec. 31, 2025, as an emergency measure.
  
  

Council member comments

Ms. Larson reported the information regarding the 2025 budget provided by the mayor at the Finance Committee’s Feb. 25 and March 3 meetings. The committee will meet again March 11.

Mr. Mattox praised the city’s Black History Month program.

Ms. Russell announced that that an estate planning workshop will be held March 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cleveland Heights-University Heights high school. She also announced that the Planning and Development committee will meet with Noble merchants on March 18 to discuss a merchants’ association or special improvement district (SID).

Other agenda items

As old business, Ms. Russell reported she has not yet received replies to her public records requests from the city administration. Mr. Mattox reported that his request for council to develop processes and training related to meeting transparency has not been addressed. Mr. Cuda responded that this will be on the next Committee of the Whole meeting agenda for scheduling as part of the “expectations” meeting proposed by Mr. Posch.

Committee of the Whole

The Committee of the Whole held a public hearing regarding the proposed rezoning of the Park Synagogue property at 3300 Mayfield Rd. to a S-2 Mixed-Use District. Representatives of the developer, Sustainable Community Associates (SCA), presented a summary of the planned development, including a description of current buildings, a timeline, a preliminary long-term plan, and the proposed phase one synagogue restoration and construction of 15 townhomes housing 30 apartments. Karen Knittel, assistant planning director, described the purposes of an S-2 Mixed-Use District, the planning process, timeline, and roles.

Three residents living near the property spoke in favor of the project, praising SCA’s engagement with and responsiveness to the neighbors, and described the project as a commendable balance of new housing, preservation of the synagogue and land, and sustainable development. One resident living near the property opposed the density permitted by an S-2 Mixed-Use District and urged that the planned townhomes be relocated to Mayfield Rd.

Mr. Cobb stated his support for the project but expressed concern at the limited public response. He asked that a vote be postponed until the next council meeting to allow more time for public reaction and inclusion of project information in the city’s email newsletter.

Following the public hearing, Mr. Cuda reported that approximately $10,000 would be needed for his proposed internship program. Mayor Seren reviewed the financial information related to the proposed 2025 budget, which is available on the city website, and characterized the documents as equivalent to the information provided to council in the 2024 budget book. Mr. Posch disagreed with the mayor’s assertion that council has received all needed information.

Planning and Development Director Eric Zamft offered a brief update of projects, including Accessory Dwelling Units, places of worship zoning, infill housing, Noble corridor planning, and inspection programs.

Mr. Cuda announced that the target date to complete review of Charter Review Commission recommendations remains the end of March.

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