COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY MARCH 3, 2026
Willoughby City Council Meeting Summary
• March 3, 2026 •
Ken Kary • Councilman Ward 2
These notes “are not” the official minutes for Willoughby City Council.
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
https://willoughbyohio.com/city-council/
Committee Meetings:
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING:
Committee: Ken Kary, Dan Anderson, Dan Garry
The purpose of the Environmental Planning Committee meeting is to review: EAS #1-1-26- Proposed updating of the existing patio at Lakeshore Lounge.
FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING:
Committee: John Tomaselli, Dan Garry, Ken Kary
The purpose of the Finance and Audit Committee meeting is to discuss the 2026 Budget.
AGENDA
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 3, 2026
APPROVAL OF MINUTES-
Regular Council Meeting of February 17, 2026
STANDING AND REGULAR COMMITTEE REPORTS
Economic Development Committee, Mr. Anderson – Mr. Anderson reported that he attended the bar and restaurant management group meeting today where they were holding a meeting to prepare for the rib cook-off. Because the recent Channel 5 news story brought renewed attention to the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) topic, the group asked him to attend the meeting. He explained at the meeting that he’s still unsure whether a DORA is a good idea, and that, in his view, the bars and restaurants would need to be fully committed before the City would consider any next steps. He plans to speak with the merchants at their next meeting as well, and it is his intention to gather signatures so the City can clearly see how many people support the idea. He did tell them that he doesn’t expect anything to happen soon. Mr. Carr added that, at some point, the City needs to gather resident feedback. Mr. Anderson agreed, noting that the key stakeholders are the bars and restaurants, the merchants, the City, and the residents, and that all four groups must be involved before moving forward.
Environmental Planning Committee, Mr. Kary – Mr. Kary reported that EAS #1-1-26 was addressed this evening and the committee is recommending passage of that EAS to Council.
Finance and Audit Committee, Mr. Tomaselli – Mr. Tomaselli reported there was a committee meeting this evening to discuss the 2026 operating budget. There will be further discussion on March 17th.
WPCC Committee, Mr. Garry – Mr. Garry reported the annual joint meeting is scheduled for this Thursday, March 5th at 6:00 p.m. at Willoughby City Hall.
CORRESPONDENCE
Clerk Novak read a request from the Ohio Division of Liquor Control for a new D-3 license for The Septathalon LLC, Septathlon, 4041 Erie Street, Willoughby, Ohio 44094. There were no objections.
Mayor Fiala explained that the Vitalone’s own the building and they have a potential tenant interested in opening a pins mechanical type venue. Mr. Carr asked whether this was for the large building in the back. Mr. Tomaselli clarified it was the space between Erie and Vine. Mayor Fiala stated that the prospective tenant can obtain a D3 license but will also need a D5 for serving beer and wine, and that he is applying proactively while still early in discussions. Mr. Carr asked whether the administration supported the plan, and Mayor Fiala confirmed it aligns with recommendations to bring more experiential attractions to the area.
Mr. Tomaselli inquired whether the liquor permit would remain tied to the location if the tenant backed out months later. Mayor Fiala responded that the owner holds the permit and could sell it. He stated that the applicant is a young entrepreneur and is very eager to pursue the project.
PUBLIC PORTION
Jeffrey Malecki, 1249 South Beachview Road, Willoughby, Ohio – Mr. Malecki stated that although he had several concerns, including issues related to Two Town Creek, the main point he wished to address was the conduct at the Planning Commission meeting on Thursday. He noted he was fortunate to have left before witnessing what he described meeting began roughly, he emphasized that courtesy should be shown by both citizens and officials. He expressed embarrassment over how some residents treated the commission and the developer, who was attempting to invest in the community. Mr. Malecki voiced support for the proposed gas station project, stating the City needs the revenue and cannot always attract large businesses. He believes that most of the residents didn’t understand where in the process the project was. He thanked Council for their work.
NEW BUSINESS
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-18 Motion carried 7 to 0
A resolution approving EAS #1-1-26 for updating of the existing patio located at 38770 Lakeshore Blvd (Lakeshore Lounge).
This EAS was discussed earlier at the Environmental Planning Committee meeting.
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-19 Motion carried 7 to 0
A resolution accepting a donation of $2,000 from the Willoughby VFW Post 1500 to be used for the purchase of training equipment at the new Willoughby Police Department facility.
Chief Schultz thanked Brent Woerner and everyone at VFW Post 1500 for their ongoing support of the City and its departments, noting that their contribution is greatly appreciated. Mr. Carr asked whether there was a specific intended use for the funds. Chief Schultz explained that the donation will help purchase training equipment for the department’s defensive tactics and de‑escalation rooms.
Mr. Tomaselli asked whether the department keeps a list of items to purchase if extra funds become available, or if contributions like this are treated as unexpected “found money.” Chief Schultz stated that a wish list exists for items that may not fit within the regular budget for the new facility, and emphasized how valuable the support of groups like the VFW and the Eagles have been in helping ensure the building becomes one of the best in Willoughby and Lake County.
The Legislative Caucus adjourned at 6:54 p.m.
NOTE:
For accuracy, this section has been copied from the council meeting minutes
MAYORS REPORT
Mayor Fiala explained that, following Jeff Malecki’s comments and acknowledging Terry Forman’s earlier suggestion, the City needs to develop an onboarding and training program for all boards. He referenced last Thursday’s meeting, noting that control of the meeting was lost and that better training, particularly for board and committee chairs would help prevent similar situations. He stated the goal is to gather all board and commission chairs to review appropriate conduct, Robert’s Rules of Order, and strategies for managing unruly crowds. He emphasized that the situation likely escalated because the acting chair was overwhelmed and that with proper training, such incidents could be avoided.
Mr. Tomaselli agreed that training is a good idea but clarified that the Planning Commission chair was not present at the meeting. He stated that the vice chair was placed in a difficult position and, although the situation could have been handled better, the vice chair does not regularly serve as acting chair. Mr. Tomaselli stated that attendance at committee meetings is important, especially when significant issues draw large crowds and require participation from all voting members.
DIRECTOR’S REPORTS
Service Director Knecht – Mr. Knecht reported that crews continue rotating between snow, ice, and pothole repair, and are also picking up litter when possible, focusing first on the worst areas. Mr. Carr asked when leaf collection would be added back into the schedule. Mr. Knecht stated that leaf pickup is still planned, but the timing depends on the weather; crews want to avoid scheduling it during snow events, so it will likely resume within the next few weeks.
City Engineer Lannon – Mr. Lannon thanked Council for signing the letter of support for funding applications for the Lost Nation corridor improvements.
Police Chief Schultz – Chief Schultz thanked Council for the passage of Resolution No. 2026-19. He thanked Brent Woerner and everyone at the VFW for their support and generous gift, which will be put to good use for the new facility. He stated that during last week’s stretch of good weather, construction crews were finally able to pour the floor of the jail portion of the new facility. The floor was covered through the weekend, and by Thursday or Friday crews should be able to begin building the remaining structure in that area.
Finance Director Hoffman – No report. Mr. Carr thanked Ms. Hoffman for her hard work on the budget as well as the directors.
COUNCIL REPORTS
No major reports
ADJOURNMENT
The Regular Council Meeting adjourned at 7:59 p.m.
COMMENTS BY COUNCILMAN KARY
Dear Residents,
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who has shared their feedback regarding the proposed gas station and convenience store at the corner of Lost Nation Road and Tamarac Blvd. Please be assured that your comments and suggestions have been thoroughly reviewed and heard.
The project has officially passed the Planning Commission’s review and is now before the City Council for consideration. During the initial review process, the Planning Commission secured several key concessions from the developer to ensure the project aligns with the community's needs. These include:
Operating Hours: Limited to 6:00 AM – 11:30 PM.
Enhanced Landscaping: Significant greenery improvements along both Lost Nation and Tamarac.
Environmental Controls: Strict "down-lighting" requirements to prevent light pollution and noise mitigation measures.
Signage & Advertising: A commitment to no e-cigarette advertising on exterior windows.
Tree Preservation: Maintaining all trees beyond 50 feet at the Crossbrook boundary.
Traffic Flow: Ingress and egress on Lost Nation Road will be restricted to "right-in, right-out" only.
Additionally, the Conditional Use Permits currently in place impose several neighborhood-friendly requirements on the owner-operator. I will continue to provide updates as this project moves through the final stages of the council review process.
NOTE
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
https://willoughbyohio.com/city-council/