CITY OF ROCKY RIVER
FEBRUARY 12, 2007
Regular meeting of Council was called to order by Mr. Hagan, President of Council, at 8:00 p.m.
in the David J. Cook Council Chambers.
Council Members Present: Mr. Gollinger, Mr. Hunt, Mr. Hurtuk, Mrs. Bartolozzi,
Mr. Long, Mr. Hagan
Absent: Mr. Moran
Administration: Mayor Bobst, Mr. Linden, Mr. Thomas
Law Director: Mr. Bemer
Press: Mrs. McKenzie, Mr. Saylor
The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
MOTIONS:
Moved by Mr. Hagan, seconded by Mr. Long, that the reading of the minutes of the Legislative
Meeting and Executive Session of January 22 be waived, and that the minutes be accepted as submitted.
Vote: Gollinger - aye Hunt - aye Hurtuk - aye
Bartolozzi - aye Long - aye Hagan - aye
6 ayes 0 nays PASSED
Moved by Mr. Hagan, seconded by Mr. Gollinger, that the reading of the minutes of the Public Meeting and the meeting of the Committee-of-the-Whole of February 5 be waived, and that the minutes be accepted as submitted.
Vote: Gollinger - aye Hunt - aye Hurtuk - abstain
Bartolozzi - aye Long - aye Hagan - aye
5 ayes 0 nays 1 abstention PASSED
MAYOR'S REPORT:
Mayor Bobst opened her report by commenting briefly on last week's presentation by the Cleveland Water Commissioner. She thanked Council members for the excellent questions asked at the session and observed that with the questions of several communities, the agreements are evolving and modifications are being made. She expects that very soon, the City will receive amended versions, and as soon as those are received, the Mayor will pass them on to Council. One fact not mentioned in the minutes concerns the tax sharing proposals. For companies with payrolls over $500,000, tax sharing would last for five years or until the jobs are backfilled with similar positions. That provision raises other questions she has regarding the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of such a program. These questions will be forwarded to the Cleveland Water Department and Mayor Jackson's office. The Mayor sees several opportunities and challenges with regard to oversight of these agreements and how they interface with one another.
The Beautification Committee will meet tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m. at the Civic Center to prioritize beautification goals.
Last Thursday an excellent meeting was held for Heritage House property owners and other involved parties. Throughout the meeting, individuals gave their thanks to the City, Council, Police, Fire, the Building Department, and particularly to Councilman Jim Moran who took on a fine leadership and most helpful role. The Administration is working on identifying several loan products; Huntington Bank was also present and will also work on developing loan products helpful to those residents. Director Calladine has put together information on a senior housing loan program with zero interest and no repayments until the properties are sold. The contractor is preparing a model unit which will replicate what insurance companies will underwrite. There will be some choices in cabinets, floor coverings, etc. and individuals will make appointments to make choices, discuss upgrades and work with individual companies. The Mayor feels that the worst may be over and that discussions are positive. She thanked members of Council and the Administration who have assisted in moving this process along.
Last week, the Mayor joined Director Carole Calladine at the Lynn Marcell Lending Library of the Moll Cancer Center to present them with a $1000 check. This amount was provided by Mass Mutual following a seminar during Women's Week at the Senior Center. The company asked that the Senior Center designate a recipient active in cancer education and prevention, and this library was selected and the check presented. The Mayor noted that no City funds were donated, but that the City made the designation for the donation.
The Senior Center will sponsor its annual volunteer luncheon on Friday. At that luncheon, 154 volunteers will be recognized for providing 11,676 hours to the City in services ranging from tax preparation to working on the deli lunch program to computer assistance. etc. She stated that the Administration very much appreciates these efforts which are meaningful to the City.
The Ohio Parks and Recreation Association, which recognized our Recreation Department a short time ago, has also recognized the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the Metroparks with a superior rating for their outstanding efforts in the recent search and rescue exercise. These two organizations collaborated with the police and fire divisions and many volunteers in the successful event.
A fire fighters' entrance examination will be held on March 5 from 7 to 9 p.m. Those interested may obtain an application at City Hall. Ninety-three individuals have already picked up their applications to take the test.
The Building Department has distributed a 2006 recap and the Mayor expressed gratitude for all the building and investment activity. For example, the following permits were issued: 11 single family, 128 additions or alterations, 21 new garages, 16 new accessory buildings, 8 multifamily units at Grandview and 4 at the Hamlets and 216 commercial upgrades. These totaled $245,000 in receipts to the department and the valuations represented by those upgrades is more than $29 million.
On another positive note, recently the City received a reimbursement check from Fairview Park for the Wooster Road project which it had received in reimbursement from the County. The amount of $304,000 made our City's expenditure for the Wooster Road project $640,000.
Finally, the Mayor requested an Executive Session to discuss two matters: the purchase of property for public purposes under Article X, Section 6, Subsection (2) and negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees under Article X, Section 6, Subsection (4).
MOTION:
Moved by Mr. Hagan, seconded by Mrs. Bartolozzi, that at the request of the Mayor, an Executive Session be held immediately following the Legislative Meeting under Article X,
Section 6, Subsection (2) of the Charter to consider the purchase of property for public purposes.
Vote: Unanimous by voice vote.
Moved by Mr. Hagan, seconded by Mr. Long, that, at the request of the Mayor, an Executive Session be held under Article X, Section 6, Subsection (4) of the Charter to discuss negotiations and bargaining sessions with public employees.
Vote: Unanimous by voice vote.
LAW DIRECTOR'S REPORT:
Last week, the potential right-of-way management legislation was discussed. Mr. Bemer has consulted with Mr. Mackay, the City's Consulting Engineer, who has received information that the City of Cleveland Heights, the longtime model in this legislation, has not yet passed its legislation, but is in the process of modifying its draft. The Law Director has requested an updated copy.
Mr. Bemer has also passed along to Council members a purely hypothetical rendering of a site plan for Rocky River if the commuter rail plan were to be approved. The plan, presented by Mr. Prendergast on behalf of All Aboard Ohio!, shows what could be possible with elimination through purchase of the Marion Ramp and that area reutilized for development.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: NONE
COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Mr. Hagan announced that Christy Bykowski, the Director of Public Affairs for Cox Communications, has requested a new date and will be Council's guest along with the Cox Marketing Director on February 26 prior to the Council meeting.
Community Challenge will sponsor its annual basketball games at the high school gymnasium on March 9 at 6:00 p.m. Recreation Director Patterson is recruiting tall members of Council to play on the Administration's team in an attempt to retain the trophy.
Mr. Hagan then expressed gratitude on behalf of all Council members to the City workers who have been transforming the Council Chambers. He said that the room looks much larger and brighter. The railing will be replaced out of safety concerns. The Mayor added that although it has been a lot of work, the staff has enjoyed working on the chamber on Council's behalf, and every day there is a new idea to improve the project.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: NONE
ORDINANCE NO. 5-07 BY BRIAN F. HAGAN
AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND THE SAFETY SERVICE DIRECTOR TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH FABRIZI TRUCKING & PAVING CO., INC. FOR THE EMERGENCY REPAIR OF STORM AND SANITARY SEWERS WITHIN THE CITY OF ROCKY RIVER FOR A PERIOD OF ONE (1) YEAR NOT TO EXCEED $75,000.00 PER YEAR
2ND READING
Moved by Mr. Hagan, seconded by Mrs. Bartolozzi, that the rule requiring that Ordinance No.
5-07 be read on three separate days be suspended, and that Ordinance No. 5-07 be placed upon its passage:
Discussion: Mr. Hagan noted that this amount has been appropriated in the budget for this year. As yet there has been no need for the emergency repairs authorized, but it is necessary in case of emergency.
Vote: Gollinger - aye Hunt - aye Hurtuk - aye
Bartolozzi - aye Long - aye Hagan - aye
6 ayes 0 nays PASSED
Moved by Mr. Hagan, seconded by Mrs. Bartolozzi and Mr. Gollinger, that Ordinance No. 5-07 be passed as read:
Discussion: Mr. Hagan turned to Director Linden who added that the City may have 1-3 emergency sewer repairs per year. He added that, as discussed last week, the bid which appeared to be lower was rejected because it contained open-ended items which could cost the City thousands of dollars.
Vote: Gollinger - aye Hunt - aye Hurtuk - aye
Bartolozzi - aye Long - aye Hagan - aye
6 ayes 0 nays PASSED
3
ORDINANCE NO. 6-07 BY FRANK B. GOLLINGER
AN ORDINANCE TO CHANGE THE DISTRICT CLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY KNOWN AS AUDITOR'S PERMANENT PARCEL NO. 304-07-073 FROM ITS PRESENT CLASSIFICATION OF SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL
(1F-R1) TO LOCAL BUSINESS (LB) IN ITS ENTIRETY AS FURTHER DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A"
2ND READING
Mr. Gollinger indicated that this ordinance will be discussed at the next meeting of the Planning Commission on Tuesday. A list of those to be notified has been provided to Council members. If applicable, both owner and occupant will be notified.
ORDINANCE NO. 8-07 BY JAMES W. MORAN
AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SAFETY-SERVICE DIRECTOR TO PURCHASE ONE (1) 2007 CHEVY IMPALA FOR THE FIRE DIVISION UNDER THE STATE COOPERATIVE PURCHASING ACT FROM TAYLOR CHEVROLET AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $18,747.50
1ST READING
Moved by Mr. Hagan, seconded by Mr. Long, that the rule requiring that Ordinance No. 8-07 be read on three separate days be suspended, and that Ordinance No. 8-07 be placed upon its passage:
Discussion: Mr. Linden explained that the suspension of rules is very important because there is a limited supply of these cars under the State Cooperative Purchasing Act. He said that last year, when the budget was passed in March, he was fortunate, and thought he got the last one. He requested passage because the vehicles are quickly sold so that there would be less chance of losing the vehicle.
Vote: Gollinger - aye Hunt - aye Hurtuk - aye
Bartolozzi - aye Long - aye Hagan - aye
6 ayes 0 nays PASSED
Moved by Mr. Hagan, seconded by Mrs. Bartolozzi, that Ordinance No. 8-07 be passed as read:
Discussion: Mr. Hagan noted that this has been appropriated in the budget, and is part of the 10-year calendar of replacement of vehicles. Mr. Gollinger noted that the City has almost always purchased Ford vehicles and wondered if it would make sense to limit purchases to one brand for service and parts replacement. Mr. Linden said that it does; the Senior Center has one, and this is the only car available to us with a V6 engine which is more economical to run than the Ford, which has a V8.
Vote: Gollinger - aye Hunt - aye Hurtuk - aye
Bartolozzi - aye Long - aye Hagan - aye
6 ayes 0 nays PASSED
ORDINANCE NO. 9-07 BY THOMAS T. LONG
AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SAFETY-SERVICE DIRECTOR TO PURCHASE THREE (3) 2007 FORD FOCUS VEHICLES FOR THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT UNDER THE STATE COOPERATIVE PURCHASING ACT FROM 32 FORD MERCURY, INC. AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $38,133.50
1ST READING
Moved by Mr. Long, seconded by Mrs. Bartolozzi, that the rule requiring that Ordinance No. 9-07 be read on three separate days be suspended, and that Ordinance No. 9-07 be placed upon its passage:
Discussion: Mr. Long explained that these vehicles will replace two cars in the Building Department that date from 1995 and 1997. Both vehicles are deteriorating, showing salt damage and corrosion on their undercarriages. The goal is to replace one per year when the purchases have caught up to current needs.
Vote: Gollinger - aye Hunt - aye Hurtuk - aye
Bartolozzi - aye Long - aye Hagan - aye
6 ayes 0 nays PASSED
Moved by Mr. Long, seconded by Mrs. Bartolozzi, that Ordinance No. 9-07 be passed as read:
Discussion: This purchase will be made under the State Cooperative Purchasing Act and has been approved in the budget for this year.
Vote: Gollinger - aye Hunt - aye Hurtuk - aye
Bartolozzi - aye Long - aye Hagan - aye
6 ayes 0 nays PASSED
RESOLUTION NO. 10-07 BY FRANK B. GOLLINGER
AN EMERGENCY RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF FEDERAL FUNDING FOR A WEST SHORE CORRIDOR ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS
1ST READING
Mr. Gollinger indicated that Council members have had an opportunity to review this resolution, and that it will be discussed next week at the Committee-of-the-Whole.
The Mayor noted that information put together by Ed Favor of Lakewood has been distributed to Council members to provide interesting background information on rail traffic and commuter rail traffic.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS: NONE
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION:
Fred I. Sokol, 20021 Parkview Avenue, stated that West Shore Corridor rail service is a great issue which he supports 100% and that he would love to see in Rocky River because it would be great for the City.
Mr. Sokol also addressed the agreements with Cleveland Water Department, saying that last week's meeting was very informative. He said that a great deal of money had been expended on the City-owned water mains, both to install and to maintain. He suggested that if Cleveland would like ownership of these mains, it should offer to pay for them.
As there was no further business by members of Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
_____________________________ _______________________________
Brian F. Hagan Misao Kurokawa
President of Council Clerk of Council