CITY OF HIGHLAND HEIGHTS
MINUTES OF A COUNCIL MEETING
HELD: JUNE 12, 2007
President of Council Murphy presiding.
PRESENT: Mayor Coleman, Councilmen Austin, Dolciato, Hargate, Legan, Mills, Murphy; Clerk of Council Buchak; Fire Chief Bencin; Police Chief Cook; Service Director Evans; Building Commissioner Stouffer; City Engineer Blackley; Finance Director Ianiro; Law Director Paluf.
ABSENT: Councilman Pilla, excused.
ACTION ON MINUTES: The reading of the Minutes of a Council Meeting held May 22, 2007 was dispensed with. Mr. Austin moved to accept the Minutes as written; seconded by Mr. Dolciato. Ayes all; motion carried.
The reading of the Minutes of a Special Meeting held June 5, 2007 was dispensed with. Mr. Dolciato moved to accept the Minutes as written; seconded by Mr. Austin. Ayes all; motion carried.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
Fire Chief's Report: No report.
Police Chief's Report: Chief Cook reported as follows:
· For the month of May the Police Department received 938 calls for service; handled 18 property damage accidents, 2 of which involved personal injuries; responded to 51 residential alarms; and, held 33 prisoners for approximately 1100 hours.
· A meeting was held at the Police Department yesterday to discuss the Highland and Bishop Intersection. The decision was made to have a turn arrow there and it will be an 8 phase turn signal. The turning lanes will be increased from approximately 130 feet to approximately 350 feet. The bagged lights test was for 30 days as of yesterday. The bags will be removed tomorrow and the turn arrows will be functional as of tomorrow. Signal Service will perform that work.
· The Woodside Road gate will be open tomorrow from 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. A letter has been sent to the residents and signs will be posted. The department will be enforcing traffic regulations there very strictly.
· Chief Cook met with the Safety & Service Committee this evening. The Mayor has given approval to go forward with an animal control contract to again provide animal service to the community.
Mrs. Murphy advised as she reported to Council last week, she received a dozen phone calls regarding the left turn arrow at Bishop and Highland. By Sunday night she had a list of 61 residents who were and are opposed to removing the left turn arrow or any plan to remove the left turn arrow. The residents are also requesting that the left turn arrow be immediately un-bagged. The residents came from Canterbury, Williamsburg, Aberdeen, Aberdeen West and Glen Eden. Mrs. Murphy gave the list to the clerk and requested it be attached to the minutes.
In response to Mrs. Murphy's inquiry regarding the animal service to be provided, Chief Cook advised he is working on the contract now and when it is completed a copy will be forwarded to the Mayor and Council members.
Service Director's Report: Service Director Evans reported:
· The Brush Collection Program was technically complete last Friday, June 8th; however, they are still picking up piles this week. The program continues to be very popular. They exceeded 450 collections stops which is more than a 40% increase over last year.
· The playground lighting program that Council authorized recently is now complete. All security lighting is working and all ball diamond lighting is now repaired and functioning properly.
· There was a question recently regarding the Highland Road Pedestrian Pathway. The design consultant advised today that they will be submitting Stage 3 plans to ODOT hopefully for final review by next Friday, June 22nd. ODOT has to go through another review with our local ODOT District. Then those plans go to Columbus for a final review by ODOT central office.
· A resolution has been distributed this evening that is not on the agenda. This was discussed in the Committee of the Whole last week. The proposal is to purchase road salt thru the State of Ohio Purchasing Program. This resolution will bind the city to purchase a minimum of 50% of its estimated quantity of road salt from the contractor and no more than 150%. The city's average use of salt is estimated at 3600 tons. That will require the city to buy a minimum of 1900 and a maximum of 5700 tons. Council was requested to add the resolution to the agenda tonight and to suspend the rules so they can move forward with that.
Building Commissioner's Report: Building Commissioner Stouffer reported the activity that occurred last night at a Planning Commission Meeting: There were three items on the agenda.
· Aberdeen Commons Assisted Living Development, 399 Bishop Road. Request for Conditional Use Permit for Assisted Living Development. No action was taken. This was a preliminary meeting. A 68 unit two-story building, 48,000 SF is proposed to be located on Bishop Road, just north of Golf View lane.
· Philips Medical Systems, 603 Alpha Drive. Final Approval of Proposed Building. This is an 187,000 SF building. Final approval was given. Their permit fees totaled $72,000.
· Cuyahoga County Airport Hangar Facility, Curtiss Wright Parkway. Preliminary Site Plan Approval. That was presented for information. This project is not far enough along for approvals. This project straddles Highland Heights and Richmond Heights.
In response to Mr. Dolciato's inquiry regarding portable storage units, Mr. Stouffer reported he did some research and could not find anything that would prohibit them. Mr. Dolciato suggested regulations are needed on how long the units can sit in someone's driveway. He advised in Ward 2 there are five or six.
Council President Murphy set this subject for discussion in a committee of the whole meeting next week. She asked Mr. Stouffer to gather information for Council to consider.
City Engineer's Report: City Engineer Blackley reported as follows:
· The Park Safety Improvement Project is on or ahead of schedule. They will be pouring concrete curbs for the parking lot tomorrow and will be putting stone down probably some time early next week. Hopefully it will be paved by the end of the month.
· The Colony Eastlawn Drive Sanitary Relief Sewer Project is off Wilson Mills Road and is moving up Colony. That project is on schedule.
Finance Director's Report: Finance Director Ianiro reported final touches were completed on the GAAP Report, the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles report and it was filed with the State on May 31st. They are making copies to be distributed to Council over the weekend with the monthly reconciliation.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Legislative & Finance Committee: Mr. Legan advised L&F will meet on June 19th at 6:45 p.m. and on June 26th at 7:15 p.m. in anticipation of having a couple items referred to the committee this evening.
Drainage Committee: Mr. Mills reported the committee had a field trip last Tuesday to look at a couple properties. He scheduled a meeting for June 26th.
Mayfield Area Recreation Council (MARC): No report.
Planning and Zoning Commission: See the Building Commissioner's report for action taken in the P&Z meeting held June 11th
Safety & Service Committee: Mr. Hargate reported a meeting was held this evening with the Service Director and the Police Chief. They discussed two items with the Service Director, both involving purchase of lawn mowers. One is a XMARK 60 inch riding mower. The vendor is Marshall Equipment and the cost with a $1,000 trade in would be $6,039.29. The Committee recommended proceeding with that purchase. The other is an XMARK walk behind mower also from Marshall Equipment. Price with trade-in of $400 would be $5063.86. Both items are in the budget and the prices are under the projection. Safety & Service recommended proceeding with both items and recommended legislation be prepared if necessary.
Law Director Paluf stated inasmuch as the request is for two separate pieces of equipment, approval could be considered by two separate motions.
Park and Recreation Commission: Mr. Austin reported a meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 21st. He advised Woodside Road will be opened; the lighting has been completed and everything is moving along nicely in the park. The next big event is the Movie in the Park, July 1st.
Law Director's Report: Law Director Paluf suggested with regard to Item 6 on the agenda for second reading that Council suspend the third reading, consider a motion to amend pursuant to a document dated 6/12/07 and then consider approval.
Mr. Dolciato advised he toured the Team Energetics Conditioning Systems facility at 750 Alpha Drive. He asked if someone could hold a private party at this facility. Law Director Paluf advised yes a private party could be held at this facility and at this point and time they do not have to hire a police officer.
MAYOR'S REPORT: Mayor Coleman reported as follows:
· He thanked Mark Kotash from Monte Construction and Steven Parker an orthodontist in the area. They donated money to allow the purchase of an announcement board at the park.
· Mayor Coleman has had conversations with the government relations person from Philips. They have two programs under way. The first has to do with a recycling program that has been very successful and actually has been very helpful with their ISO rating. They would like to reach out to other businesses in the community to offer kind of a blue print of what they do to the other businesses that want to take advantage of it. They will be sending a letter to all the businesses. Mayor Coleman is sending a letter to endorse this program.
· Phillips has another program that has to do with recycling of office supplies. They have a central point where they take all the unneeded office supplies. Their workers come and take what they need and the rest they ship off to inner city schools that they just give away. They will be sharing this idea with the neighboring businesses and also offering their business as a collection point. They are doing some innovative things and the city is fortunate to have them as a business resident.
· Mayor Coleman will be out of town on June 25th and 26th so he will be absent from the next Council Meeting.
ITEMS TO BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA:
Proposed Resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a participation agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for the purchase of sodium chloride (rock salt) for the Municipality and declaring an emergency.
A motion was made by Mr. Legan to add the above item to the agenda; seconded by Mr. Hargate. Ayes all; motion carried.
MEETING OPENED TO THE PUBLIC: No one spoke.
NEW BUSINESS:
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 28-2007: Council listened to the First Reading in title only of Proposed Resolution 28-2007 which description is: "A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a participation agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for the purchase of sodium chloride (rock salt) to the Municipality and declaring an emergency." Mr. Mills moved to suspend the Second and Third Readings; seconded by Mr. Austin. Ayes all; motion carried. Mr. Mills moved to adopt; seconded by Mr. Legan. Ayes all; motion carried.
FIRST READING PROPOSED ORDINANCE 6-2007: Council listened to the First Reading in title only of Proposed Ordinance 6-2007 which description is: "An Ordinance authorizing transfers and declaring an emergency." Council President Murphy referred Proposed Ordinance 6-2007 to the Legislative & Finance Committee for review.
FIRST READING PROPOSED ORDINANCE 7-2007: Council listened to the First Reading in title only of Proposed Ordinance 7-2007 which description is: "An Ordinance adopting a Tax Budget for the City of Highland Heights for the Year 2008 and declaring an emergency." Council President Murphy referred Proposed Ordinance 7-2007 to the Legislative & Finance Committee for review.
FIRST READING PROPOSED ORDINANCE 8-2007: Council listened to the First Reading in title only of Proposed Ordinance 8-2007 which description is: "An Ordinance authorizing participation in the Ohio Association of Public Treasurer's (OAPT) Workers Compensation Group Rating Program and declaring an emergency." Council President Murphy referred Proposed Ordinance 8-2007 to the Legislative & Finance Committee for review.
FIRST READING PROPOSED ORDINANCE 9-2007: Council listened to the First Reading in title only of Proposed Ordinance 9-2007 which description is: "An Ordinance amending Section 111.1302 and enacting Section 111.13021 of Chapter 111 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Highland Heights pertaining to the imposition of the Municipal Income Tax, repealing all legislation inconsistent herewith, and declaring an emergency." Council President Murphy referred Proposed Ordinance 9-2007 to the Legislative & Finance Committee for review.
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 21-2007: Council listened to the Second Reading in title only of Proposed Resolution 21-2007 which description is: "A Resolution declaring the necessity of providing for the payment of street lighting and the improvement or installation of additional street lighting by special assessments of all parcels benefited, and declaring an emergency." Mr. Hargate moved to suspend the Third Reading; seconded by Mr. Austin. Ayes all; motion carried. Mr. Austin moved to adopt; seconded by Mr. Dolciato. Ayes all; motion carried.
ENACTMENT OF ORDINANCE 4-2007: Council listened to the Second Reading in title only of Proposed Ordinance 4-2007 which description is: "An Ordinance amending Ordinance 3, 2006, establishing compensation for certain employees of the City of Highland Heights, Ohio, commencing January 1, 2007, repealing all Ordinances inconsistent therewith and declaring an emergency." Mr. Austin moved to suspend the Third Reading; seconded by Mr. Hargate. Ayes all; motion carried. Mr. Austin moved to amend consistent with a document dated 6/12/07; seconded by Mr. Hargate. Ayes all; motion carried. Mr. Austin moved to enact; seconded by Mr. Dolciato. Ayes all; motion carried.
ENACTMENT OF ORDINANCE 5-2007: Council listened to the Second Reading in title only of Proposed Ordinance 5-2007 which description is: "An Ordinance amending Chapter 151 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Highland Heights, Ohio, amending Chapter 151 pertaining to employment provisions, repealing such other ordinances as are inconsistent herewith and declaring an emergency." Mr. Hargate moved to suspend the Third Reading; seconded by Mr. Austin. Ayes all; motion carried. Mr. Legan moved to enact; seconded by Mr. Austin. Ayes all; motion carried.
SPECIAL MEETING JUNE 19, 2007: Mayor Coleman will request a Special Meeting to be held June 19, 2007 to adjourn into executive session to discuss employee wages and property issues. Mr. Hargate requested that the two purchases discussed in Safety & Service Committee this evening be considered on the agenda for the Special Meeting.
ADJOURNMENT: A motion was made by Mr. Mills and seconded by Mr. Legan to adjourn the meeting. Said meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
Clerk of Council
President of Council