Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 5-7-12
MAY 7, 2012
- Oakwood, abandoned properties, safety concerns
- Contract awards for roads and sewers
- Vice manager appointment
- Zoning variances
- Loan to Burgers-N-Beer
- 863 Nelaview Road
- Nuisance properties
- Cedar-Lee camera surveillance
- Denison Pool
- Monticello pavement
All council members were present.
Oakwood, abandoned properties, safety concerns
Several residents expressed concerns to council. Gary Cantor spoke about the Oakwood property rezoning and his hope that Cleveland Heights will approach the issue thoughtfully and carefully. Nick Wilkinson expressed concerns about abandoned properties, the city’s ban on dogs in public parks, and animal control training for city police officers. Mani Ayodele spoke about pedestrian safety at the intersection of Mayfield and Coventry roads.
Contract awards for roads and sewers
Two contracts were awarded: one to Specialized Construction for 2012 road resurfacing ($971,895), and the second to AAA Flexible Pipe Cleaning for televising storm and sanitary sewers ($20,475).
Vice manager appointment
Susanna Niermann O’Neil, acting city manager, announced the appointment of John Gibbon as vice city manager.
Zoning variances
Council granted three zoning variances to:
- New Kenilworth Partners, owner of unsold and undeveloped parcels of property in Kenilworth Mews, for two 19-foot-long entry walls/piers on either side of the entry to the Kenilworth Mews development.
- Dino Pappas, 2845 Mayfield Road, for demolition of an existing two-car garage at a six-unit apartment building and replacement with a five-space surface parking lot.
- Mountview Investments LLC, 3265 Berkeley Avenue, for a one-car garage.
Loan to Burgers-N-Beer
Council authorized a loan contract with BNB CF, LLC under the city’s commercial revolving loan program to assist with the establishment of a Burgers-N-Beer restaurant at 1854 Coventry Road. The $60,000 will be made at an interest rate of three percent, with a seven-year repayment schedule after a one-year deferral. The restaurant is expected to create 11 new full-time jobs and 10 part-time jobs. Because the loan is to be made with Community Development Block Grant funds, there is a requirement that at least 51 percent of the jobs (full-time equivalent) be dedicated for low-to-moderate income persons.
863 Nelaview Road
Council authorized the sale of the city-owned property at 863 Nelaview Road, which was rehabilitated with federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds. The property will be sold for $56,000 with $5,000 in down payment assistance to the buyer. The city received $2 million through NSP. Local governments can use NSP funds to buy abandoned, vacant and foreclosed homes, repair them, and then sell them. This is the 11th of 12 houses the city is renovating through NSP.
Nuisance properties
Council declared two abandoned properties, at 3817 Delmore Road and 921 Woodview Road, to be nuisances and authorized abatement.
Cedar-Lee camera surveillance
Council approved legislation enabling the installation of surveillance cameras in the Cedar Lee business district for crime deterrence and safety purposes. A license agreement with The Illuminating Company for the use of the company’s utility poles for attachments such as video cameras or other items includes a fee of $35.85 per pole, per year, increasing four percent annually. If it becomes necessary for The Illuminating Company to relocate any of its wires or equipment to accommodate the city’s camera installation, the city will reimburse the company for those costs. The cost of a contract with ESI Companies Inc. for the purchase and installation of a SkyCop surveillance camera system with remote video monitoring and recording systems is not to exceed $76,000.
Denison Pool
The demolition of Denison Pool will soon be complete and the city will move forward with its plans for the site.
Monticello pavement
Council authorized an agreement with CT Consultants Inc. for engineering and support services for the final phase of the Monticello Boulevard Pavement Improvement project. The fees to the company will be 9.2 percent of the first $750,000 of actual construction costs, plus 6.4 percent of the next $250,000, plus 5.5 percent of construction costs over $1,000,000. Additional services, if requested by the city, will not exceed $7,500.
LWV Observer: Katherine Solender.
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 e-mail postings of full reports, send an e-mail 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.