CITY OF ROCKY RIVER

FEBRUARY 6, 2006

The Committee-of-the-Whole was called to order by Mrs. Bobst, President of Council, at 8:00 p.m.

Council Members Present: Mr. Gollinger, Mr. Moran, Mr. Frost, Mr. Hurtuk,

Mrs. Bartolozzi, Mr. Hagan, Mrs. Bobst

Administration: Mayor Knoble, Mr. Linden, Mrs. Calladine

Law Director: Mr. Bemer

Press: Mrs. McKenzie

The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. Mrs. Bobst announced that the meeting was being recorded by a resident.

MAYOR'S REPORT:

Before beginning the Mayor's Report with a formal reading of a mayoral proclamation supporting the Community Coalition's Family Game Night, Mrs Mary Blank, Coalition Coordinator, was asked to come forward. She explained that the Coalition works in conjunction with Community Challenge to enhance the development of children and young adults through 40 positive developmental assets. The Coalition consists of different parts of the City represented by various City organizations committed to help youth and bring them closer to their families. In support of this goal, the Coalition invites all families to "unplug and connect"-unplug television, computers, video games, etc.) and reconnect with family members through a Family Game Night. Mrs. Blank commented that the Coalition was honored by the Mayor's support through the proclamation.

Mayor Knoble then read the proclamation supporting Family Game Night which will be Sunday, February 12, 2006, a part of Family Game Week, February 12-18, 2006.

The budget has been prepared, submitted and delivered, meeting the January 31 deadline.

The Mayor then spoke for a few minutes about the appointments he has made to various boards and commissions. He noted that he is very pleased with his appointees: Bobbie Van Atta and Dave DeCapua to the BZA, Anjanette Arabian, Bill Bishop, Trisha Brown and Charles Gustafson to the Planning Commission, Jill Brandt to the Design & Construction Board of Review, and Mark Bennett to the Civil Service Commission. He commented that all have contributed significantly to the community. Two further appointments have been made: John Selby, a local architect who has served on the Master Plan Advisory Committee has been appointed as an alternate to the Design & Construction Board and Dave Furry, past president of the Chamber of Commerce and local business owner, will be sworn in as an alternate to the Planning Commission.

Last Thursday, the Mayor, together with Law Director Bemer, Chief Flynn, Dr. Allen (Rocky River Schools) and Julie Johnson (Community Challenge) attended a meeting of the Fairview Hospital Community Advisory Board. There he learned of their redesigned website which has a great deal of information about the hospital and its doctors, but also can provide information about procedures and operations advised by those doctors.

Next Monday, Dr. Allen will give a State of the Schools address at noon. That evening, the Mayor will give a short State of the City address at a Kiwanis meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall.

The City will sponsor another community shredding event. It is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, April 22 following the deadline for tax returns. The Mayor indicated that the City would like to hold shredding events semi-annually, in April and again in October.

City Music Cleveland is an organization which provides free concerts for the community. Their concert, scheduled for Friday, February 24 has been rescheduled for Sunday, February 26. Concerts, supported by the City through advice and publicity, are held at Rocky River Presbyterian Church.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: NONE

MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS:

HELP Program: This program, at no cost to the City, provides low-cost loans for improvement of single and multi-family dwellings in Cuyahoga County. Any homeowner whose home has a market value of less than $250,000 is eligible, and there are no income requirements for the low-cost loans of up to $200,000 for the five and ten year periods. The City's role is to monitor the work and report to the county and the institutions that the work is done, that it is up to Code and that its value approximates the amount of the loan.

• •The Mayor has additional information. He noted that one resident is already working with Mr. Zell of the Building Department, and he feels that this program, along with the Heritage Home Loan Program and the Senior Maintenance Program, offer effective tools for the Building Department. The work may be interior or exterior and may include other parts of the site, such as driveway or garage.
  
  
  
  

Heritage Home Loan Program: This program of the Cleveland Restoration Society in cooperation with the County Treasurer's office provides low-cost loans for home that are more than 50 years old and whose owners wish to historically restore their properties. The City has been notified of an error in the original letter: the cost of the program to the City will be $5400, not the $8,250 originally stated, a figure more in keeping with past charges. In addition to loans, many services are provided to residents, including technical advice and contractor referrals. Mrs. Bobst noted that each dollar that Rocky River has expended has resulted in $11.65 in community reinvestment, and she commented that this is a positive program for the City and a good tool for residents. As suggestions for further publicity, the Rocky River Historical Society, the newsletter and the website are good vehicles. As there was a consensus, the Administration was directed to draft an appropriate ordinance and forward a check for the administration fee.

SBC Project Lightspeed Update: Mayor Knoble stated that boxes had been installed at Detroit and Linda, on Westway, and on Center Ridge. At present, requests for five permits have been received by the City. Reading from the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Commission of December 20, 2005, the Mayor confirmed that the Planning Commission had passed a motion which approved the seven locations presented at the meeting and, in concept, to all of the others similar to the seven that come up in the time period as described that night. The Mayor added that with the blanket approval was the condition that each individual site be reviewed by the Administration. The Mayor will discuss the issues of right of way, easements, etc. later in the week with the Law Director. The Administration has requested a map from SBC which shows the 50 proposed locations, but as yet, nothing has been received.

• •Mrs. Bobst asked if several of the 50 locations will be in residential areas. The Mayor replied in the affirmative, noting that they will be duplicating-not replacing-existing boxes and placing the duplicate next to the original. This is part of a fiber-optic system. Once established, multiple services can be provided to a home on one line (telephone, long distance, high speed internet, video).
  
  
• •Mrs. Bobst also expressed concern because the size of the installations could create safety issues as well as issues of placement in residential areas. She indicated that residents may not want to see these large installations She expressed a desire to see where the cabinets would be placed so that the information could be shared with residents.
  
  
• •Mr. Hagan asked if two boxes will be located on Linden, and whether the boxes would be approved location by location. The Mayor said that they were not required to do so because they had a blanket approval. One problem is that there is not only the new box but an electric meter next to it on the concrete pad.
  
  
• •Mr. Gollinger suggested a moratorium on the issuance of further permits until Council can see where they will be placed. Even though they are in the right of way, there are many interpretations of safety and Council has a responsibility to the community in terms of health, safety and welfare.
  
  
  
  

• •Law Director Bemer commented that the Planning Commission has already given blanket approval, subject to review for safety and esthetic considerations. He agreed with Mr. Gollinger that locations should be obtained so that dialogue with SBC can be opened to assure safety and esthetics. At this point, however, a moratorium is beyond the purview of Council.
  
  
• •Mr. Gollinger asserted that he would like to see a map of the locations. He further stated that if the Planning Commission can issue blanket approval, then residents should be informed so that they can attend Commission meetings to voice their opinions. The installations are unsightly, and residents will have opinions.
  
  
• •Mr. Moran asked if red flags are being used to indicate box locations. He noted that there are flags at the corner of Sunnyhill and Beverly Hills which would be a poor location for a cabinet. The Mayor will check. He noted, however, that some boxes are located on private property which has been leased by the utility, such as that which is next to Panera Bread. The remainder are in the right of way, and under state statute, there are things which can and cannot be done.
  
  
• •Mr. Gollinger asked if, on private property, the utility is under any special exceptions to permitted uses. Mr. Bemer responded that the City has the right to regulate utility structures, but cannot prohibit them; its authority is limited to compliance with the zoning code. Mr. Gollinger expressed his concern for residents because there are already so many structures in the right-of-way.
  
  
  
  
  
  

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Finance Committee: Mr. Hurtuk thanked the Administration for its preliminary draft of the budget. He asked Mayor Knoble for comments.

The Mayor explained that his instructions to directors this year were to eliminate expenses that were not necessary to continue the present level of services. The challenge is to continue the level of services to which the residents have become accustomed with rising labor costs and level income.

• •It was helpful that the City did not spend all of the Capital Improvement Fund last year.

• •He also noted a change for this year: based upon the auditor's recommendation, the Estate Tax receipts, balance and future receipts have been moved from the Permanent Improvement Fund into the General Fund. They can then be dispersed as City Council deems necessary.
  
  
• •Police and fire salary costs have yet to be resolved, but negotiations continue to progress, per a report from Mr. Matty.
  
  

• •The Finance Director has eliminated many non-essentials, but this budget is not cast in stone, and the Mayor added that Council should review it and make changes it deems necessary.
  
  

Mr. Hurtuk asked if any labor increases had been included pending negotiations. The Mayor responded that a 3% raise for police and fire divisions, as recommended by the Fire Division Fact-Finder, had been included.

Mr. Hurtuk then indicated that, as in past years, a daytime meeting of the Finance Committee will be held for presentations from each department. This informative session, with 15-20 minute slots for each department, is more important than ever because the City's income level has remained constant, but its expenses are increasing. Possible dates were explored, and it was decided that the meeting will be Thursday, February 16 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. For this meeting, he requested that various Council members lead in their areas of expertise.

Environmental Committee: Mr. Frost has received a fact sheet from the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District entitled "Beyond the Curb". Details on the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste Management Plan Update will become available, as cities will vote to ratify this plan in the spring. (Exhibit "A")

NEW BUSINESS:

Resolution No. 8-06: Director Calladine came forward to explain that the Senior Center has been awarded a second annual caregivers' grant under the Older Americans Act. This $3600 grant will allow the Senior Center to continue its programs to help caregivers in the community who are caring for parents or other loved ones. She outlined services provided and plans for more assistance that can be implemented. (Consent Agenda)

Ordinances 9-06, 10-06 and 11-06: Mr. Hurtuk explained that these ordinances are the result of changes necessitated because of the recently completed negotiations with the Service Department employees. Ordinances No. 9-06 outlines changes in health care for employees of non-bargaining units; Ordinance No. 10-06, for changes in health care for Service Department employees, and Ordinance No. 11-06 changes in the uniform allowance for some Service Department employees. (Consent Agenda)

Ordinance No. 12-06: This is the new budget and will be read for the first time next week.

Ordinance No. 13-06: This salary ordinance contains some changes as outlined by the Mayor:

• •Salary increases for non-union employees
• •A part-time secretary added to the Law Department
• •Human Resources removed from the Finance Department and made a separate department.
• •A part-time clerk added to the Finance Department
• •The salary classification for the former director, Joyce Umerley, eliminated
• •Human Resources made a separate department with a salary increase for the director. The Mayor noted that the City now has 200+ full time and almost 400 part-time employees. With the increasing complexity of health care issues, this department has taken on more importance.
  
  
  
  

Ordinance No. 14-06: This ordinance will authorize the execution of the HELP Program. Mr. Gollinger noted that although he will not place this ordinance on the Consent Agenda, he plans to call for a vote on Monday.

Ordinance No. 15-06: This housekeeping ordinance provides for emergency storm and sanitary sewer repairs. The contract was awarded to the low bidder who has done a good job for the City in past years. (Consent Agenda)

Ordinance No. 16-06: This ordinance provides for general maintenance and emergency repair of heating and cooling systems owned by the City. Mr. Linden noted that the provider was at the lowest cost with overtime at the same rate.

• •Mr. Bemer stated for the record that the provider, Conserve Air, is a client of his law firm.

(Consent Agenda)

COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Mrs. Bobst has received a letter announcing that taxpayers can receive help with the preparation of city tax forms through a program sponsored by the CCA. Dates are as follows:

Saturdays, 4/1 and 4/8 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and Thursdays, 4/6 and 4/13 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

A recap of activities of the Building Department shows that they have been extremely busy. A significant number of permits and licenses have been issued resulting in more than $33 million in additional valuations. Mrs. Bobst expressed her thanks to the Building Department.

The latest issue of OPRA, a publication of the Ohio Parks & Recreation Association, announces that the Recreation Department's Dodgeball League has won the top "Superior" award in Category 12 of the annual program. An article by Nancy Buettner was featured in the magazine.

Mrs. Bobst again reminded everyone of Family Game Night on Sunday, February 12.

As there was no further business by members of Council, the meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

_____________________________ _____________________________

Pamela E. Bobst Misao Kurokawa

President of Council Clerk of Council