Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights [7-18-11]
JULY 18, 2011
- Citizen comments about curfew law
- Taylor Road reconstruction
- Community Development Block Grant funding
- Issuance of bonds
- 2012 tax budget
- Tax Incentive Review Council
- Municipal Court technology upgrades
- Equipment purchases
- Public hearing for zoning code changes
- Fall/winter 2011-12 recreation regulations and rates
All council members were present.
Citizen comments about curfew law
Several citizens, including renters, homeowners, building owners, and representatives of Imperial Women, Youth of Coventry, and Youth Empowerment (a summer jobs program), spoke about the recently imposed youth curfew, including concerns about youth commuting home from work through the affected business districts. Other speakers thanked the police for their sensitive and appropriate interventions. The city will send a letter to all addresses in the city explaining the curfew and its exceptions. Council will be talking with the city’s representative on Cuyahoga County Council about a regional approach to the “flash mob” problem, which is not unique to Cleveland Heights.
Taylor Road reconstruction
A resident of Taylor Road complained about the planning process for the Taylor Road reconstruction that will begin in August. Council members responded that a public meeting on the project would be scheduled soon.
Community Development Block Grant funding
Council allocated Community Development Block Grant funding for the period beginning July 1, 2011 and ending June 30, 2012. Council Member Jason Stein abstained from voting on these allocations because he was a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee when it recommended these grants. These include the provision of:
- $27,000 for the Center for Families and Children’s Pinpoint Program at the RapArt Center—a program targeting middle school youth suspended from Cleveland Heights schools
- $14,000 to the Heights Community Congress for assistance with its programs to promote integration and fair housing
- $7,800 for operating expenses for the Heights Emergency Food Center, which serves Cleveland Heights, Lyndhurst, South Euclid, and University Heights and provides needy families with a three-day supply of food once a month
- $30,000 to the Heights Youth Club for its Project Learn: The Educational Enhancement Program, which will serve 439 youths with a minimum of 51% of the youth coming from low and moderate income households
- $6,000 to the forty-member Noble-Nela Merchants Association for assistance with the administrative costs of streetscape management and marketing of the district
Issuance of bonds
Council approved the issuance of notes in anticipation of the issuance of bonds in a principal amount now estimated not to exceed $1,353,000 for various purposes. A previous ordinance, passed on July 5, was repealed due to clerical errors. Council also approved the issuance of notes in anticipation of the issuance of bonds in a principal amount now estimated not to exceed $350,000 for the purpose of acquiring motorized equipment and accessories.
2012 tax budget
Council adopted the 2012 tax budget. Council Member Dennis Wilcox commented that this is the first shot at the 2012 budget, which is $800,000 less than the 2011 budget. Mr. Wilcox and Mayor Edward Kelley criticized the Republican-controlled state legislature for balancing the state budget on the backs of local governments, including cities, schools and libraries. Elimination of the estate tax will make matters worse for 2013.
Tax Incentive Review Council
Council approved the appointments of Council Members Cheryl L. Stephens and Dennis R. Wilcox to the Tax Incentive Review Council, which is set up by the county and reviews any exemptions from taxation. The council’s membership consists of three members appointed by the county administrator, one appointed by the board of education, and two by the chief executive officer of the city with the concurrence of council.
Municipal Court technology upgrades
Council authorized an agreement with Zenith Systems, LLC for equipment and labor for an audio-visual and security technology upgrade for the Cleveland Heights Municipal Court with a cost not to exceed $400,000.
Equipment purchases
Council authorized the purchase of equipment with funds raised by the bonds authorized earlier in the meeting. All equipment will be purchased through the Ohio Department of Administrative Services Cooperative Purchasing Program. The equipment includes:
- A semi truck cab and chassis and wet line for the refuse division of the public works department at a cost not to exceed $113,044
- A truck cab and chassis for the streets division of the public works department from Miami Valley International Trucks for a price not to exceed $79,571
- A snowplow and plow frame for a streets division dump truck from Newell Equipment, Inc., for a price not to exceed $14,033.
Public hearing for zoning code changes
Council Member Dennin Wilcox announced that public hearings about amendments to the zoning code will be held August 8 with city council and August 10 with the planning commission.
Fall/winter 2011-12 recreation regulations and rates
Vice Mayor Phyllis Evans introduced, for first reading, amended use regulations and rates for admission and other services for the Community Center and parks for the 2011-2012 fall/winter season. She noted there are minimal rate changes. Some are higher and some lower. The full schedule is available from City Hall.
LWV observer: Blanche Valancy.
These meeting summaries are abstracted from LWV observers’ written reports. The summaries have been edited and prepared by Anne McFarland, Charlene Morse, and Maryann Barnes. To receive email postings of full reports, send an email to mbarnes9515@gmail.com or join through Google groups using “lwv-chuh observer reports” as a search phrase.
These reports contain member observation and selected highlights of public meetings and are not official statements of the Heights Chapter of the League of Women Voters Cuyahoga Area. This disclaimer must accompany any redistribution of these reports.