Meeting Notes August 7, 2018
Willoughby City Council Meeting Summary
Notes: August 7, 2018
The August 7th Council Meeting started out with eleven (11) Legislative items on the Agenda. Significant conversations took place during the Committee of Full. All Council discussed plans to implement “new sidewalks” in specific locations in the City. These are locations where there are some sidewalks but gaps occur. More on this in the section labeled, Committee of the Full.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
· One committee meetings took place August 7th, 2018
o Environmental Planning Committee
o One EAS Plan was reviewed by the Committee, which is chaired by Councilman Ken Kary and assisted by Councilman Dan Anderson and Councilman Bob Harrold.
· The Environmental Planning Committee
o EAS #12-7-18
The proposed project is for the repurposing of an existing building located at 5880 SOM Center Rd consisting of 10,058 square feet. The interior of the building will be gutted including the second floor to make an open single story building. New storefronts on the east elevations will keep with the original building architecture and modernized with new awnings, canopy and contemporary cable guardrail system near the northeast end of the building. Starbucks is the only known tenant at this time on the south side of the building with a drive-thru lane that wraps around to the west side. The remaining space could be a retail business or possibly a small restaurant.
Based on all the Director EAS reports, there were no concerns for this development (Police, Fire, Engineering, etc.). The only point of interest is the Drive-thru, which must be reviewed by the Planning Commission.
The EAS was approved and sent on to Planning Commission for review.
COMMITTEE OF FULL
· The purpose of the Committee of Full meeting was to discuss the necessity of Sidewalk Installations on SR 91 (West Side of the street)
o The Committee of the Full addressed the subject of "SIDEWALKS." There was quite a bit of debate as to the actual "game plan" that is or should be in place regarding several aspects of Sidewalks new and old in the city. The discussion also centered around the billing of residents and businesses that would be required to install new sidewalks. Financing of the project was debated. The original plan was to enable property owners the opportunity to pay immediately or spread the payments out over three (3) years on their taxes. There was a discovery that allows the financing to be spread out as long as a ten (10) year period. There are advantages and disadvantages to both time periods. Costs for sidewalk installations that property owners will incur range from $4,696 to $20,240. It was pointed out to Council that many of the residents in our city do not have the funds or even the ability to finance such an expense.
o The primary sticking points are:
§ Do we need to step into this program at this time
§ Debate over the impact financially to residents and businesses
§ The location chosen to start such a plan
§ Should the city first take care of their “own house” (sidewalks)
§ Is there a safety issue or not without the sidewalks added
o NEXT COUNCIL MEETING (September) the decisions will be made as to the future of this endeavor
COMMITTEE REPORTS
· No significant reports
LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS
· The general purpose of the Legislative Caucus meeting is to review and discuss the legislation on the Regular Council.
PUBLIC PORTION
· During this session, a few residents took the opportunity to speak to Council.
o One resident spoke against the discussed "sidewalk program" sharing that he as a resident could not possibly afford the imposed sidewalks with a family and children attending college.
o This same resident expressed concern about the city not having any ordinances that address "a nuisance" relating to a property owner or renter. He cited a neighbor that has been, in his terms a nuisance and the police have had to be called multiple times for a variety of activities. He hopes that the Council will consider this as a possible ordinance.
SPECIAL ITEMS
Awards presented by Police Chief Beckwith
It was a pleasure to be part of the awards presentations for the City of Willoughby Police Department. Police Chief Beckwith took charge presenting awards in the following categories.
· New Officer “swearing in” Officer Kyle Dunphy
· Officer of the Year Detective Dave Burrington
· Special Officer of the Year (Jason Gresko Award) Officer Chuck Popik
· Civilian Employee of the Year Susan Dodali
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL
PUBLIC HEARING
There was a public hearing on Ordinance #2018-104 Amending Chapters 1103, 1135, 1155, and 1161 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Willoughby, Ohio, titled, “Definitions”, “Multi-Family Residential Districts”, “Conditional Use Regulations”, and “Off –Street Parking”, respectively. These changes deal primarily with Townhouse Building and enabling that concept to accept “fee simple” ownership. This provides flexibility to many areas such as Developers, Sales, and Financing.
There were no speakers either for or against this Ordinance Change.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
NONE
NEW BUSINESS
RESOLUTION NO. 2018-97
A resolution approving EAS#10-6-18 for the demolition of the existing structure and construction of four(4) townhomes located at 6 Public Square. This passed, for there were no “environmental concerns” with this development.
RESOLUTION NO. 2018-98
A resolution approving EAS #11-6-18 for construction of an addition to the existing building located at 4500 Hamann Parkway (Paulo Products Company). This resolution passed after assessing all the EAS reports from the City Directors.
ORDINANCE NO. 2018-99
An ordinance levying assessments for the improvement of all streets within the City of Willoughby, Ohio, by supplying said streets with electric street lighting. This is a bookkeeping task for council annually.
RESOLUTION NO. 2018-100
A resolution amending Resolution No. 2018-74 to more fully define the City Fund serving as the expenditure source for the Stevens BoulevardStorm SewerProject. This is a continuation of the several Stormwater Management projects planned for the city of Willoughby. This is all to alleviate flooding. Funding comes from tax dollars collected by the county to aid in the program.
RESOLUTION NO. 2018-101
A resolution authorizing a total expenditure in the amount of $67,805.23 for the purchase of one (1) 2019 Ford F-550 Cab and Chassis from Classic Ford and the attendant outfitting of the truck by Best Truck Equipment, Inc. for use by the Street Department.
ORDINANCE NO. 2018-102
An ordinance amending Chapter 129 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Willoughby, Ohio, titled, "Division of Police"; specifically, Section 129.10 titled, "Original Appointments." This is a bookkeeping change to provide more detail to the language in place.
ORDINANCE NO. 2018-103
An ordinance amending Chapter 131 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Willoughby, Ohio, titled, "Division of Fire"; specifically, Section 131.07 titled, "Original Appointments." This is a bookkeeping change to provide more detail to the language in place.
ORDINANCE NO. 2018-104
An ordinance amending Chapters 1103, 1135, 1155 and 1161 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Willoughby, Ohio, titled, “Definitions”, “Multi-Family Residential Districts”, “Conditional Use Regulations”, and “Off-Street Parking”, respectively. Language changes made to provide for more flexibility for developers to fund and improve sales of Townhomes. This would allow for these units to be single-family homes that are fee simple.
RESOLUTION NO. 2018-105
A resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Board of Lake County Commissioners necessary to establish funding and reimbursement procedures for the Two Town DitchandLakeShore Boulevard Culvert Improvement Project. This is a financial plan with the County to borrow funds so critical Stormwater projects can be addressed now. The plan sets up the loan of monies we will be receiving now so we can tackle the projects sooner. Then over the next several years, we can pay back the loan with the funds we collect over that time period. No additional tax burden on Willoughby.
RESOLUTION NO. 2018-106
A resolution authorizing an item of expenditure in an amount not to exceed $321,000 for engineering costs for the WPCC Capacity Enhancement Project. These are EPA mandates the city needs to do in order to reduce overflow to Lake Erie.
RESOLUTION NO. 2018-107
A resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a Municipal Tax Incentive Agreement with Aligned Chiropractic and Physical Rehabilitation.
R.C. Chapter 718. This is a municipal income tax program where the city has the ability to draw in business by offering income tax reductions. This will be an income tax reduction of 30% for a seven (7) year period for this company.
Reports from the Directors, Mayor and Council Members
o MAYOR
The Mayor reported that the development @ Courthouse Square has their financing approved and work will begin “very soon” in that location.
He also reported on Senate Bill 51 that when signed can provide much-needed help to residents and cities fighting problems with erosion on the banks of Lake Erie.
o SERVICE DIRECTOR, LEE BOCK
Mr. Bock reported that the erosion barriers at Osborne Park will soon be addressed. Bids have gone out to make the necessary repairs.
Deer Crossing Signs will soon be added to Lost Nation Road as well as LakeShore Boulevard.
The city Road Work program will be starting next week.
o CITY ENGINEER, JIM SAYLES
The Road Program starting next week is just starting later than in the past.
Work will soon be seen on LakeShore Blvd where the culvert draining “Two Town Ditch exits into Lake Erie. This culvert will be dramatically increased in size.
o RECREATION DEPARTMENT, JUDEAN BANKER
Thank you for those who attended the City Picnic @ Osborne Park (July 24th) where residents had a chance to mingle and see some of the new improvements at the Park.
The views I express in these Council Meeting Summaries are my own and do not reflect any official view or position of the City of Willoughby. The “official” Council Minutes are posted on the City of Willoughby Website http://willoughbyohio.com/government/city-council/.