CITY OF HIGHLAND HEIGHTS
MINUTES OF A COUNCIL MEETING
HELD: OCTOBER 9, 2007
President of Council Murphy presiding.
PRESENT: Mayor Coleman, Councilmen Austin, Dolciato, Hargate, Legan, Mills, Murphy, Pilla; Clerk of Council Buchak; Police Chief Cook; Service Director Evans; Building Commissioner Stouffer; City Engineer Blackley; Finance Director Ianiro; Law Director Paluf.
ACTION ON MINUTES: The reading of the Minutes of a Council Meeting held September 25, 2007 was dispensed with. Mr. Legan moved to accept the Minutes as written; seconded by Mr. Pilla. Ayes all; motion carried.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
Fire Chief's Report: No report.
Police Chief's Report: Chief Cook reported for the month of September the Police Department responded to 1184 calls for service and handled 10 motor vehicle accidents of which 5 involved personal injuries. Also, they responded to 51 residential alarms and held 25 prisoners in their jail facility for approximately 1400 hours.
Service Director's Report: Service Director Evans reminded everyone that the leaf collection program will begin on Monday October 15th.
Building Commissioner's Report: Building Commissioner Stouffer reported the gate at Maypine Farms Subdivision has been installed; however, it is not operational as yet.
City Engineer's Report: City Engineer Blackley reported the application for State Issue I Funding for the Highland-Bishop Roads Intersection Improvement Project has been submitted. Also, on Thursday, October 11th, at the DOPWIC Board Meeting, they will receive an answer regarding the City's request for additional funding for the Highland-Bishop Intersection Project. He advised October 16th is exactly 60 days since the opening of the bids.
Mayor Coleman advised the DOPWIC Committee may grant the City somewhat of a different amount of money than requested. He suggested if Council meets on Tuesday, October 17th, in a Committee of the Whole Meeting that a special meeting be scheduled to consider the DOPWIC Committee decision and to review the bids. He also asked that the Legislative & Finance Committee meet to review this matter and to make a recommendation to Council.
At Law Director Paluf's suggestion, City Engineer Blackley advised he will ask the low bidder, TRI MOR Corp., to send a letter to the city stating they would honor the bid prices for an additional 30 days.
In response to Mr. Austin's inquiry regarding lights in the park, Mr. Blackley advised he has been in contact with The Illuminating Co; they will be working on that project this week. He also advised the park project is 95% complete.
Finance Director's Report: Finance Director reported the September monthly reports have been distributed. He advised: Third quarter revenues are at 75% of budget; General fund revenues are actually at 83%; Revenues this year to last year were up 34%; Income tax continues to be strong at 82%; almost 2 million dollars from last year. The income tax increase was estimated somewhere in the area of a 1 million dollar increase for this year; however, they have moved past the estimate so they are continuing to do very well in income tax collections. General Fund expenditures are at 74%. The transfers that Council approved at the last meeting have been made. The Finance Department will start putting together the appropriation adjustments ordinance and that will be on the agenda by the first meeting in November.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Legislative & Finance Committee: Mr. Legan advised he will schedule a meeting when a decision is received from the DOPWIC Committee regarding the city's request for additional loan money.
Drainage Committee: No report. Mr. Mills tentatively scheduled a meeting for Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
Law Director Paluf advised he and City Engineer Blackley are working on the easements for the Miner Road Drainage Project.
Planning and Zoning Commission: Mr. Pilla reported a meeting was held Monday, October 8, 2007.
· BP Products North America, Inc., 6267 Wilson Mills Road. Variances for Proposed Redevelopment of Gas Station
The Commission reviewed nine variances of which six were previously granted. One new variance was for the colors of the signs. Basically they allowed the six colors in their signs simple because the Marathon station was given the exact same thing. Mr. Pilla has the plans if anyone wished to look at them.
· Lester & Rae Miller, 621 Hanford Drive. Status of Variance Request to Fence Requirements. Applicant did not appear.
· Crostatas, 558 Bishop Road. Proposed Redevelopment of Restaurant
John Quagliata from Crostatas Restaurant introduced the project and provided plans. The Commission did express to him that he will need variances. The application will return at the next meeting with a completed request for variances form. At that time the Commission will review the variances.
· Stonewater Golf Club, One Club Drive, Aberdeen Development. Proposed Fencing in Aberdeen Areas “H”, “I”, & “J”.
Stonewater Golf Club representatives were present for a discussion about putting up the fences for Hole 13 through 18. They pretty much were demanding the commission to make a decision. After approximately 35 minutes, Mr. Pilla asked for time to review the law director's opinion which they received prior to the meeting so they didn't have a lot of time to look at what their stance would be on that. The Commission tabled this subject.
Council President Murphy noted that she, the Mayor and other council members were at the meeting and that there was only one resident from the Golf Course community in attendance. She suggested the residents be notified of future meetings. Mayor Coleman recommended that Council members be familiar with this situation. He explained StoneWater Golf Club wishes to put a chain link fence around certain areas of their property that are abutting some of the nicest homes in the city. The majority of residents probably don't know this is going on.
Mayor Coleman agreed and asked that Mr. Pilla contact the P&Z Chairman Bob Mastrangelo and arrange for notices through their Clerk, Susan Olson. He also suggested the meeting could be opened for comments from the residents.
Law Director Paluf will look at the requirements for notices.
Commission on Aging: Mrs. Murphy reported the Mobile Farmers Market will be held at the Community Center between 10 a.m. and 12 Noon on Friday, October 12th and again on Friday, October 26th. She encouraged all to attend.
Mayfield Area Recreation Council (MARC): Mr. Dolciato advised a meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 11th.
Safety & Service Committee: No report.
Park and Recreation Commission: Mr. Austin reported a meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 18th at 7:00 p.m. He also reported the Commission will host the Halloween Party on October 20th at 10:00 a.m. until 12 noon at the Community Center. He also noted, as the City Engineer stated, that the park project is 95% complete.
Law Director's Report: Law Director Paluf reported legislation on the agenda for purchase of property can receive first reading this evening.
MAYOR'S REPORT: Mayor Coleman reported he is the Hillcrest Area representative for NOACA. He advised of an issue before NOACA that might receive some attention; and, explained that in Avon Lake there is a proposed construction of an interchange, primarily for an expansion by Cleveland Clinic. This issue is getting some attention because there is concern by those in Cleveland and the County Commissioners that the project maybe shouldn't go through; yet to the Greater Cleveland area it is a very good project. The concern is that this might promote urban sprawl. One of the interesting things about this project is it is being funded 100% through monies outside the state, through federal dollars and dollars by the Clinic itself. It is hard to say no to projects like that. Mayor Coleman advised he is somewhat undecided on how he will vote. He is reading a lot of information on this so he will have an educated vote. The vote will be taken Friday.
ITEMS TO BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA: No items were added.
MEETING OPENED TO THE PUBLIC: No one spoke.
NEW BUSINESS:
MOTION AUTHORIZING CONTRACT WITH PARKHILL ROOFING CO. FOR POLICE/FIRE BUILDING ROOF REPAIR: A motion was made by Mr. Hargate authorizing a contract with Parkhill Roofing Co., in the amount of $9,670.00 for Police/Fire Building Roof repair; seconded by Mr. Austin. Chief Cook requested approval this evening. Ayes all; motion carried.
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 42-2007: Council listened to the First Reading in title only of Proposed Resolution 42-2007 which description is: "A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with the City of Bedford Heights for the confinement of disabled prisoners, or those prisoners with extended lengths of stay, at the Bedford Heights City Jail and declaring an emergency." Chief Cook recommended approval this evening. Mr. Pilla moved to suspend the Second and Third Readings; seconded by Mr. Austin. Ayes all; motion carried. Mr. Pilla moved to adopt; seconded by Mr. Mills. Ayes all; motion carried.
FIRST READING OF PROPOSED RESOLUTION 43-2007: Council listened to the First Reading in title only of Proposed Resolution 43-2007 which description is: "A Resolution authorizing the purchase of Permanent Parcel No. 821-24-004 from the Ohio District Lutheran Church for municipal center purposes, authorizing the Director of Law to prepare the necessary purchase agreement and to perform all other acts necessary to acquire good and sufficient title to said property, and declaring an emergency."
SECOND READING PROPOSED ORDINANCE 16-2007: Council listened to the Second Reading in title only of Proposed Ordinance 16-2007 which description is: "An Ordinance repealing previous Chapter 1315 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Highland Heights pertaining to garages and accessory buildings in its entirety, and enacting new Chapter 1315 pertaining to portable storage units."
ADJOURNMENT: A motion was made by Mr. Mills and seconded by Mr. Pilla to adjourn the meeting. Said meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
Clerk of Council
President of Council