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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
Cleveland Heights City Council Meeting Highlights
Monday, MAY 5, 2008 meeting

(All Council Members present)

First Suburbs supports county land bank

Council Member Ken Montlack reported that the First Suburbs Consortium Executive Committee supports County Treasurer Jim Rokakis’s county land bank proposal, but asserts that the land bank’s not-for-profit board needs to include representation from the First Suburbs Consortium. The committee also endorses the Governor’s Building Ohio Jobs Program even though it no longer includes a neighborhood or downtown revitalization piece.

Council raised fees for flushing private sewer lines from $50 to $100 for work performed during normal city business hours and from $75 to $200 outside those hours. For households with homestead exemptions, fees will increase from $25 to $50 during business hours and from $50 to $100 outside those hours. The fee for video inspection of sewers will be $100. The new fees are still lower than those of a private contractor.

Houses declared nuisances

Two foreclosed houses on Kildare Road (3376 and 3377 Kildare) were declared nuisances, authorizing the city to undertake repairs. Rehabilitation of 3376 will cost about $17,400; 3377, at least $15,500.

Wage freeze for public works employees

Council approved a labor agreement with the city’s public works employees allowing a three-year wage freeze. Council Member Mark Tumeo, vice chair of city council’s administrative services committee, thanked the union for sharing the burden of balancing the city’s budget.

Council raised yearly fees for community center field house passes, effective June 1, 2008:

· Young adults ages 18–24: $165

· Adults ages 25–59: $192

· Adults over age 60: $99

· Families (one adult plus spouse/partner and children under age 18): $312

No tax proposal for August ballot

Mayor Ed Kelley stated emphatically that no tax increase proposal would be on the August ballot.

LWV Observers: Katherine Solender and Blanche Valancy. Report summarized and edited by Maryann Barnes.

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Monday, May 19, 2008 Meeting

(Council Members Phyllis Evans, Mark Tumeo excused)

AT&T equipment at Turtle Park

AT&T planned to install new equipment, needed for its expansion into television, on its current easement at Turtle Park, which is at the corner of Euclid Heights Blvd. and Hampshire Rd. However, council members, frustrated by the unsightly utility boxes, recommended that new equipment be placed where there would be better screening from public view.

Council authorized continuation of the Gas Aggregation Program with Integrys Energy Services, Inc. for providing natural gas services to Cleveland Heights residents and businesses. The new price will likely be higher than the current rate of $9.92 per thousand cubic feet. This service is not mandatory.

Cedar Hill project update

The Cedar-Fairmount traffic study, which is related to the Top of the Hill project, is just beginning to collect stakeholder and public feedback. NOACA (Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency) is funding the study.

Parking fines raised.

Effective July 1, 2008, most parking fines will increase by $5.00. Illegal parking in handicap spaces will increase steeply to $100.

Council voted to require owners of “vicious dogs” [defined as all pit bulldogs and any other kind of dog on record for biting someone] to register the dogs annually with the animal warden and show proof of insurance. The code change also increased permit costs.

Council Member Nancy Dietrich assured citizens that phoning council members at home is appropriate and welcome.

Mayors and city managers from sixteen northeast Ohio counties met May 15 to consider regional planning and tax sharing. The phase one report “led to the discovery of what many have been preaching for many years; not only is tax sharing required, but real regional planning is a must. Directing resources to the urban core is essential.”Council Member Ken Montlack cautioned that obstacles remain, but the leadership and support of exurban mayors demonstrated real progress. Eventually the Ohio Assembly must act to mandate changes in regional governance but Montlack expressed optimism that state legislators are noticing how regional ills affect the entire state.

Mayor Ed Kelley made it clear that, despite speculation, council has neither plans nor money to authorize the city to purchase or tear down Coventry school.

LWV observers: Carol Gibson and Kay Heylman
Report summarized and edited by Maryann Barnes

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These summaries of LWV Cuyahoga Area-Heights Chapter reports of Cleveland Heights City Council meetings contain member observations and selected highlights. They are not official statements by the League of Women Voters. This disclaimer must accompany any redistribution of these reports.

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