Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 4-1-2019
APRIL 1, 2019
- Police Department promotion ceremony
- Public comments
- Street repairs and improvements
- 2020 Safe Routes to Schools
- Other announcements from the city manager
- Road salt purchase
- Charter Review Commission Final Report receipt
- April proclamations
- Mayor’s report
- Council vacancy filled
Council members present were Mayor Carol Roe, Vice Mayor Melissa Yasinow, Mary Dunbar, Kahlil Seren and Jason Stein. Michael N. Ungar participated by telephone but did not vote. The seventh seat is unoccupied. The meeting lasted from 7:34-8:32 p.m.
Police department promotion ceremony
Prior to the city council meeting, the Cleveland Heights Police Department held their Police Officer Promotion and Swearing In Ceremony at 6:45 p.m. in council chambers. The following individuals were recognized: Sergeant Matthew Lasker; Detective William Robinson; Investigators Thomas Harris, Brian Ondercin, Thomas Rini and Lewis Alvis; and Police Officers Jermaine Smith, Sean Riley, Tyler Freeman and James McManus.
Public comments
At council’s request, Nancy Peppler, supervisor of community and school partnerships for Cleveland Heights-University Heights Schools, spoke about a new partnership between Cleveland Heights High School and MetroHealth Medical Center. They have agreed to open a clinic at the high school, two days a month, to support the health needs of our students. The clinic will focus on physical and mental health concerns in an effort to decrease absences. This spring, there will be both focus groups and family surveys to gather additional input. The clinic space was planned as part of the high school renovations and will be staffed by nurse practitioners and MDs. It will not replace school nurses at CHHS. This pilot is intended to begin next fall and will hopefully expand in the years to come to other schools.
During questions from council, Ms. Peppler explained how this program will complement any child’s primary care service provider as an onsite service for issues such as asthma attacks, sports physicals, and immunizations. While this mimics the Cleveland Municipal School District’s clinic, our suburban student population’s needs are different. This pilot will offer the opportunity to explore those differences. Other questions included issues of electronic record keeping of MetroHealth versus the paper-based system at CHHS, how health insurance will be handled, the possible career exploration connection regarding health careers, and career tech opportunities.
Ms. Peppler noted there will be no access to health records without permission given by parents for their children. While health insurance issues differ greatly between the CMSD and CH-UH school districts, MetroHealth will address the needs of the students. Concerning expanded access, currently the Cleveland Clinic partners with three of our elementary schools with mobile clinics, of which Cleveland Heights is very grateful. It was agreed that this initial pilot was merely step one in the process. There was consensus regarding the excitement and celebration for this effort. It was also noted that MetroHealth is not paying the school district, nor is the district paying MetroHealth for these services.
Street repairs and improvements
Council authorized the city manager to accept the lowest and best bid for pavement striping. The $458,459.14 contract will go to J.D. Striping & Services, Inc. of Ravenna. While three packets of information were taken during the inquiry process, only one bid was submitted.
Council also authorized the city manager to accept the lowest and best bid for street resurfacing and ADA curb ramp replacement. The $556,075.39 contract will go to Ronyak Paving, Inc. of Burton. There were six bidders in this process.
2020 Safe Routes to Schools project
Council voted to give permission to issue a Request for Qualifications for engineering & design services as it related to the 2020 Safe Routes to Schools, ODOT Project.
Other announcements from the city manager
Vice Manager Susanna Niermann O'Neil offered additional issues of note:
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Notification has begun to those who overpaid on parking tickets since 2013. The city is currently processing the $5 per ticket owed.
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The culvert rehabilitation project, located behind the community center is in its final phase.
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Heights Arts’ proposed public art on the Cedar Lee Theater building was accepted. Artwork will be added below their storefront windows. Murals will be on the blank wall facing the mini-park subject to ABR approval of the art once it is created.
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The Opportunity Zone will now have a page on the city website to help better direct individuals. The webpage can be viewed here.
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The Spring Egg Hunt will take place Saturday, April 13, 10 a.m. at Forest Hill Park.
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In recognition of the collaboration between our Cleveland Clinic partners and the Cleveland Fire Department regarding training to better recognize the signs of human trafficking, all crew members are authorized to wear the CHFD Human Trafficking Awareness shirt during the month of April.
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Dog Walkers Watch Training will occur Thursday, April 4, 6-8 p.m., at the Police Academy (located at 2595 Noble Road, corner of Monticello Blvd.) to train neighborhood dog walkers on how to report issues of concern within the neighborhoods.
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Additional information will be posted on the city’s website concerning the Refuse and Recycling Task Force. Due to council member confusion regarding the sanitary sewer survey, space will be provided in the next Committee of the Whole meeting to review and discuss.
Road salt purchase
Council authorized participation in the Ohio Department of Transportation Cooperative Purchasing Program for road salt for the 2019-20 winter season. Vice Mayor Yasinow added her hope that everyone enjoys their early spring.
Charter Review Commission final report receipt
Council passed a resolution acknowledging receipt of the Charter Review Commission’s proposed Amended Charter of the City of Cleveland Heights, final report, and recommendations. The resolution expressed gratitude and appreciation for the service of the Charter Review Commission members and Dr. Lawrence Keller, the facilitator.
April proclamations
April was proclaimed as Fair Housing Month reaffirming the City of Cleveland Heights’ commitment to open housing by unanimous vote of Council.
April 22-26 was proclaimed National Community Development Week by four members in favor and Jason Stein opposing. Based on the emergency clause, it will be accepted in thirty days’ time. Member Stein voted against this proclamation because he felt that there are too many proclamations, which dilutes the importance of proclamations.
By unanimous vote, council proclaimed April as Autism Awareness Month and National Poetry Month, April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day, and April 7-13 as National Library Week.
Council member comments
Members Dunbar and Stein attended the Housing Council, where projects that benefited from the community-wide Community Reinvestment Area were presented. Ms. Dunbar mentioned the Dog Walking Watchers Training; the upcoming Bicycle Coalition program; the transportation advisory committee, which focuses on reducing all accidents to zero; and the upcoming FutureHeights meeting on April 10 at the High School in which job and career focused tables will highlight opportunities.
Mayor’s report
Mayor Roe announced the Noble Road Corridor meeting at McGregor Home, Thursday, April 4 at 7 pm. She noted that the Mayfield Signalization Project is continuing to make slow and steady progress evidenced by the new street signals going up.
Council vacancy filled
Craig Cobb was selected to fill the vacant council seat and will be sworn in at the April 15 meeting.
LWV Observers: Jeannine Gury and Blanche Valancy.
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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.