CITY OF ROCKY RIVER

SEPTEMBER 18, 2006

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

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

Mrs. Bartolozzi, Mr. Long, Mr. Hagan

Administration: Mayor Bobst, Mr. Linden, Mr. Mackay

Law Director: Mr. Bemer

Press: Mrs. McKenzie, Ms. Mitchell

The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.

MAYOR'S REPORT:

A meeting has been scheduled for area mayors and council representatives with Airport Director Ricky Smith this Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. at the airport. Topics to be discussed include air traffic, height, and related noise. The Mayor is looking forward to having additional information for Council following this meeting. She noted that complaints have been received from residents of Ward 4 regarding noise.

The Tree Planting program has begun earlier this year. In former years, residents were polled in February, but many on vacation were missed. With this earlier start date, the planting will be ready to begin in the spring, and the Mayor anticipates a high level of participation. Under this program, residents on the primary streets selected by the Beautification Committee each year may each receive one free tree on their tree lawns. Additional trees may be purchased by the homeowner. This year's primary streets are:

Ward 1 Avalon Ward 3 Riverview

Ward 2 Wynwood Ward 4 Carmen

If further funds are available, secondary streets may be surveyed for free tree lawn trees:

Ward 1 Parklawn/Aberdeen Ward 3 High Parkway

Ward 2 Hilliard (west of Wagar) Ward 4 Gasser

Mayor Bobst thanked Director Linden, Mrs. Costello and the members of the Beautification Committee for their work on this project.

This week, Council members have received details regarding additional portions of the streetscaping project which are on the agenda and will be discussed under New Business.

The newsletter will be produced in the next couple of weeks. The Mayor thanked those who participated by contributing information or articles. One important article emphasizes the City's communication with residents. To make information more immediately available, the City will ask residents to supply their e-mail addresses to receive e-updates. In this way, important matters such as boil alerts or information specific to certain wards can be forwarded in a short message, referring residents to additional information on the City's website. The Mayor has been working with Jim Umerley and Ron Gottschalk to be certain that the e-mail addresses can be safeguarded. She added that the program will be evaluated frequently, but one concern that would be addressed by this plan is the timeliness of information disseminated to residents. With the newsletter, many issues are no longer of concern by the time the article is written, printed and disseminated. If enough residents can be contacted with e-updates, the need for the conventional newsletter may be lessened. For those without internet access, other City publications like the Quill, the recreation bulletin, safety-service information and other individual publications can help fill the gap.

Mayor Bobst is making an effort to bring together a federation of local civic organizations to share information, opportunities for collaboration and to seek solutions for common problems. She has asked representatives to reconvene on Tuesday, October 17 at 8:30 a.m. So far, there has been a positive response.

Mr. Linden has been working on the snow removal program for seniors which has been offered for some time, but which, last year under Mayor Knoble, saw an overwhelming increase in resident participation. This response requires more resources to plow all the aprons requested, so Mr. Linden is seeking alternatives. Some different approaches are being investigated, and inquiries should be routed to the Senior Center or to Mrs. Burt in the Mayor's office.

The Mayor's assistant, Mrs. Burt, will be retiring as of the end of October. She has served the community in many fine ways, and she will be missed. The Mayor is working with the Director of Human Resources to find a replacement so that there will be a smooth transition.

Discussion: Mr. Gollinger asked about the tree program. He wondered if residents can pay for a tree if they wish. Mr. Linden said that they may, but this program is one of free trees for specific streets.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: NONE

MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS:

Railroad Quiet Zone: Mayor Bobst indicated that Council members had received a copy of the Quiet Zone Evaluation from Railroad Controls Limited (RCL). This report includes all available alternatives, including the most cost effective. Four crossings were evaluated: Elmwood Road, Wagar Road, Morewood Parkway and Linda Street, and the evaluations were based on criteria for the establishment of quiet zones as outlined in the Final Rule on Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings published by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The focus of this report was to determine which supplemental safety measures (SSM) could be used. Those measures considered were listed in the report:

• •Temporary closure used with a nighttime-only zone
• •Four quadrant gates with or without vehicle detection
• •Median/Channelization arrangements at least 60/100 ft in length on each side
• •One-way street with a gate or gates across the roadway
• •Permanent crossing closure
• •Automated wayside horns

The most cost effective method, installing raised medians 60' to 100' on each approach and upgrading power-out indicators, would cost $345,000, including additional upgrades required for Linda St. and Elmwood Road. The medians could not be less than 6" in height and the length would depend on the intersection which abuts the crossing. Residents with driveways within this area, however, would not have free access to their driveways. More expensive solutions could range up to $1.4 million. The appendix section of the report enumerates the actual process for each crossing.

Discussion: Mr. Gollinger indicated that in prior discussions, it was brought out that the railroad would have to make electrical upgrades to the right-of-way to facilitate the Quiet Zone and he asked if this is still an issue. Mr. Mackay, the City's consulting engineer, responded that these upgrades are part of the project as outlined by RCL, and that the cost is the responsibility of the municipality.

Mr. Gollinger then pointed out an error on page 3 of the report which states that there are approximately 22 trains per day. The Mayor noted that this is information that Norfolk-Southern and the FRA have in their data base. Mr. Gollinger indicated that he had requested that the information be updated.

• •Mr. Mackay responded that he did raise the issue with RCL which indicated that the information would be updated as part of the process, but they did not feel that changing it now would make any significant differences in the analysis. He also spoke to the PUCO as requested, and there is a formal procedure which he has not yet pursued, but that he will, once the City has decided that it wishes to proceed. It did not, however, have a significant impact on the advice given. Mayor Bobst pointed out that the final procedure is outlined on pages 15-16 of the report. At this point, with the information gathered, the City has several options on how to treat crossings, given the criteria outlined. It could

consider channelization, but it must also take into consideration what that will mean to residents whose driveways are restricted.

Mr. Gollinger asked if we know of any other cities which have gone through the process and established a Quiet Zone.

• •Mr. Mackay noted that Middleburg Hts. had the demonstration of wayside horns at the same time as Rocky River, but he said that it has not proceeded further than that. There was also discussion in Bay Village, but they, too, have not moved forward.

Mr. Long asked about the decibel level of wayside horns. The Mayor indicated that it would be approximately 90 db. The Mayor further indicated that she had asked if it was possible to use one SSM on one side and another on the other side. This might be desirable for Linda St, for example, which is residential to the north and commercial to the south. This is not permitted, however.

Mrs. Bartolozzi asked if the SSM could vary from gate to gate, and whether the measures could be done over a two-year period. The answer to both questions was yes, but the Mayor noted that until the Quiet Zone is established, commuter rail traffic cannot be considered in light of the cities' agreement with Norfolk-Southern. Many issues remain to be discussed and addressed. If not done all at once, the Quiet Zone would be established when all the crossings conform to federal standards.

Mr. Hurtuk asked if the City is mandated to establish a Quiet Zone for the 4.5 trains daily. The answer was no; it could continue as it is now.

Mr. Hunt asked about wayside horn technology, and whether it will stop after a 15-second sounding as the train is passing. Mr. Mackay said that he is not certain, but he would assume so, since it is controlled by constant warning time circuitry, and not by the engineer in the locomotive.

Mr. Hurtuk pointed out that there is a cost associated with any Quiet Zone action.

Mr. Hagan thanked the Administration for the time and effort it has expended on this subject. Council will review the documents and discuss it again in the near future.

The Mayor noted that any additional questions should be forwarded to her office.

Lakewood Dog Park: Mr. Hagan turned to Mr. Gollinger who requested that this issue appear on the agenda for discussion. Mr. Gollinger stated that he requested the discussion because a resolution on this issue is necessary. He has been informed, however, that a meeting has been scheduled in two weeks between the mayors and law directors of the two cities, and he does not wish to create a situation. Hopefully, this can be resolved at that meeting. He requested, however, that any solution which seems to reduce the noise be thoroughly investigated since he would hate to see either city spend money on ineffective measures. He has asked for minutes of the Lakewood Planning Commission, to see if there is a discussion of a strong sentiment to place the park elsewhere.

Mayor Bobst explained that Mayor George of Lakewood was willing to sit down and discuss the dog park, which he feels is a common issue. A number of issues such as noise ordinances, signs, buffering, hours and education through their website remain to be discussed.

Mr. Hurtuk suggested asking Lakewood to close the dog park. If they wish, they can sell the land to our City, and we can, in turn, sell it to the MetroParks to use as park land. He asserted that the Metroparks do not wish to be in the dog park business. He offered to broker an agreement, if necessary.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Finance Committee: Mr. Hurtuk noted that when the budget was passed back in March, he had requested that the Administration obtain independent verification of a compensation issue. He was pleased to hear that the Administration has forwarded paperwork to State Auditor Betty Montgomery for verification and a ruling.

Parks and Recreation Commission: Mrs. Bartolozzi mentioned that the commission will meet on Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. to discuss raising fees for basketball and dodgeball leagues.

Planning, Zoning and Economic Development Committee: Mr. Gollinger indicated that he had attended the meeting of the BZA with 10 items heard on Thursday, but that there was nothing of significance. The Planning Commission will meet tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. To discuss preliminary ideas for cluster housing for the land behind City Hall. He suggested that Council members may be interested in plans for that parcel.

NEW BUSINESS:

Ordinance No. 111-06: This ordinance authorizes Phase 2 of the streetscaping project as discussed last week by Economic and Community Development Director Koran. A map of the affected area was distributed to Council members. The area is the south marginal of Lake Road next to the railroad tracks. The project will consist of cleaning up, removing debris and unwanted plants and making new plantings, placing benches, trash receptacles, etc. As much of the stone wall as possible will be reclaimed. Some additional funds may allow for additional benches.

Mr. Gollinger questioned the fund from which payment would be made. That will be investigated. (Consent Agenda)

Ordinance No. 112-06: This ordinance approves necessary fund transfers from the General Fund. Mr. Hurtuk indicated that it will be placed on a first read until he has an opportunity to speak to the Finance Director.

As there was no further business by members of Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

________________________________ ______________________________

Brian F. Hagan Misao Kurokawa

President of Council Clerk of Council