Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 6-18-2018

by League of Women Voters

JUNE 18, 2018

Public comments Fiscal officer’s certificate
Liquor license requests
Year 44 CDBG awards
Dugway East Culvert Emergency Rehabilitation project.
Change order for skating rink
Special Improvement District five-year plans
Community reinvestment area
Street resurfacing bonds
Mayor Roe’s report

Mayor Carol Roe, Vice Mayor Melissa Yasinow, Cheryl L. Stephens, Jason Stein and Kahlil Seren were present. Mary Dunbar’s was absent. The meeting was called to order at 7:45 p.m. and adjourned at 8:47 p.m.

Public comments

Immigration task force: Anne Hill of Yorkshire Road complimented Mayor Roe for creating the Immigration Task Force and urged the city to welcome immigrants, encourage more immigrants to move to Cleveland Heights, and adopt policies to protect them. She decried federal practice of separating children and the failure of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to free from the Geauga County Jail a Haitian who has won his asylum request but is stilled detained.

Meadowbrook and Lee Development Proposal - Gary Kantor of Cummings Road asked council to reject the development proposals for this site because they exaggerate the economic benefits.

Fiscal officer’s certificate

City Manager Tanisha Briley reported for the record that she has received the financial document that is required prior to the sale of bonds to fund upcoming street improvements.

Liquor license requests

Ms. Briley notified council that the Ohio Department of Liquor Control has received applications for liquor licenses for the Heights Music Shop at 2174 Lee Road, and for the transfer of a license for Noble Gas, at 2610 Noble Road. Council rejected the Noble Gas request, citing Police Chief Mecklenburg’s opposition. There are frequent complaints at that location.

Year 44 CDBG awards

Council approved resolutions to award Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to seven Cleveland Heights nonprofit organizations for programs. The majority of program beneficiaries must be low- to moderate-income residents.

$20,000 to Family Connections for the Family School Connection program
$7,000 to the Cleveland Tenants Organization to subgrant, with the Legal Aid Society, telephone information to tenants
$6,000 to Heights Community Congress for its diversity education programs
$172,705 to the Home Repair Resource Center for operations and special grant projects to help seniors and other income-eligible homeowners with home maintenance.
$35,000 to the Heights Youth Club for its education enhancement program.
$11,966 to Open Doors Academy for year-round enrichment for youth.
$12,128 to Lake Erie Ink for after school programs with youth at Noble and Coventry Libraries.

Dugway East Culvert Emergency Rehabilitation project

Council authorized the city manager to apply for participation in the Ohio Public Works Commission State Capital Improvement and/or Local Transportation program to fund the Dugway East Culvert Emergency Rehabilitation project.

Change order for skating rink

Council approved additional funds for repair work to increase energy efficiency of the south rink of the recreation center at a cost of $194,576.

Special Improvement District five-year plans

Council approved public services and improvement plans for the Cedar Lee and Cedar Fairmount Special Improvement Districts.

Community reinvestment area

Council approved the boundaries for a community reinvestment area within the city of Cleveland Heights.

Street resurfacing bonds

Council approved issuance and sale of $722,000 in bond notes for resurfacing and street improvements, and purchase of equipment.

Mayor Roe’s report

Mayor Roe reported on productive meetings with the mayors of South Euclid and Shaker Heights to explore common issues.

LWV Observer: Susie Kaeser.

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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 of Greater Cleveland. This disclaimer must accompany any redistribution of these reports.