Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights

by League of Women Voters

FEBRUARY 13, 2023, special meeting

Blighted property
Cedar-Lee-Meadowbrook
Two first readings
Committee of the whole

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Janine Boyd, Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., and Davida Russell. Also present were Addie Balester, clerk of council, and William Hanna, law director. The special meeting ran for eight minutes.

Blighted property

On first reading and on emergency, council declared the former Hillside Dairy/Police Annex at 1418 Warrensville Center Rd. a blighted property and approved an agreement with Partners Environmental Consulting, Inc. to prepare environmental assessments. The cost is not to exceed $67,405 and will be covered by Community Development Block Grant funds. Environmental conditions must be identified to demolish the building, redevelop the site, and apply for brownfield cleanup grants.

Cedar-Lee-Meadowbrook

On second reading and on emergency, council amended the development agreement with F&C Development, Inc. for the Cedar-Lee-Meadowbrook project. An added property provision of the development agreement required the developer to reimburse the city’s costs for acquiring additional properties, up to $725,000. This amendment increases the reimbursement amount to $816,000 and revises the payment schedule to require three payments: $150,000 at closing, $333,000 by January 2026 and $333,000 by January 2027.

Two first readings

Council heard first readings only for the issuance and sale of economic development tax increment financing (TIF) revenue bonds for the Cedar-Lee-Meadowbrook project, principal amount not to exceed $14.2 million, and a purchase agreement with John Megel Ford for four 2022 used hybrid police utility vehicles at a cost not to exceed $209,000.

Committee of the whole

Business Development Manager Brian Anderson and bond counsel Jeff Bomberger provided background information for the Cedar-Lee-Meadowbrook measures, including project funding sources, annual flow of TIF funding, and the city’s obligations, risks, and protections.

Planning and Development Director Eric Zamft provided background information related to demolition and redevelopment of the Hillside Dairy property and responses to the requests for proposals the city issued.

Mayor Seren and Finance Director Andrew Unetic described the operating cost savings and funding sources of the four hybrid police vehicles.

Council and mayor discussed the process for selecting charter review commission members.

LWV observer: Jill Tatem

Meeting packets, legislation, and other information can be found on the city website at: https://www.clevelandheights.com/1142/2021-Agendas-and-Minutes

Videos of council meetings can be viewed on the “City of Cleveland Heights, OH” YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/ClevelandHeightsOH