Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 10-15-2018
OCTOBER 15, 2018
- Public comments
- Project cost increases
- Minimum age for tobacco product purchases
- Traffic code clarification
- SERB’s fact-finding recommendations
- Council members’ comments
Mayor Carol Roe, Vice Mayor Melissa Yasinow, Mary Dunbar, Kahlil Saren, Jason Stein, Cheryl Stephens and Michael Ungar were present. The meeting began at 7:37 p.m. and adjourned at 8:07 p.m.
Public comments
Top of the Hill design: Cedar Road resident and designer Ann Ianarelli expressed concern that the design and scale of the proposed development at Cedar and Fairmount does not adequately “melt” with the neighborhood.
Smoking age: Terry Allen, Cuyahoga County commissioner of public health, spoke in support of the proposed legislation to increase to 21 the age for legal sale and purchase of tobacco products, and thanked council for its leadership.
Project cost increases
Suzanna Niermann-O’Neil, acting clerk of council, made a matter of record two change orders that increased the price of the pavement striping program by $16,726 and the North Park bike striping by $573.
Minimum age for tobacco product purchases
To promote public health, council passed legislation that increased the minimum age for legal purchase of tobacco products from 18 to 21. Councilman Ungar recused himself from the vote because of potential conflict of interest; his daughter serves as director of a nonprofit that works on this issue.
Traffic code clarification
Council amended the traffic code to clarify parking fines, violations affecting cars with expired license plates, and locations where parking is illegal.
SERB’s fact-finding recommendations
Council accepted the State Employment Relations Board’s (SERB) fact-finding recommendations, made on October 10, and authorized the city manager to extend the city’s collective bargaining agreement with police personnel to include the recommended terms. This resolves contract differences that had not previously been resolved through mediation.
Council members’ comments
Cheryl Stephens, citing disturbing practices to reduce voting rights, urged residents to vote and pay attention to which policymakers are responsible for moving voter rights backwards. Mayor Roe echoed the message and urged all registered voters to participate in the election by early voting or on November 6. Early voting has begun.
Mayor Roe also announced that the Safety and Municipal Services Committee will meet October 22 and will focus on trash collection options and municipal broadband.
LWV Observer: Susan 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.