Minutes Regular Council Meeting

Held on May 21, 2018, 2018 - Page 1

SUMMARY OF CAUCUS DISCUSSION AND MINUTES OF THE STRONGSVILLE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING HELD ON,MONDAYMAY 21, 2018.

The Council of the City of Strongsville met in the Caucus Room at the Mike Kalinich Sr. City Council Chamber, 18688 Royalton Road, on Monday, May 21, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.

Present: Council Members:Matthew A. Schonhut, Annmarie P. Roff, Michael J. Daymut, Joseph C. DeMio, James E. Carbone, Kelly A. Kosek and Gordon C. Short. Also Present: Clerk of Council Aimee Pientka. Administration:Mayor Thomas P. Perciak, Law Director Neal M. Jamison,Finance Director Joseph K. Dubovec, Service Director Joe Walker, Economic Development Director Brent Painter, Communications and Technology Director David Sems, Human Resource Director Steve Kilo, Building Commissioner Tony Biondillo, City Engineer Ken Mikula,Recreation and Senior Services Director Bryan Bogre, Public Safety Director Charles Goss, Police Chief Mark Fender and Fire Chief Jack Draves.

Council PresidentDeMiocalled the caucus to order at 7:30p.m.

The following Council Committees met to review legislation on the agenda:

Planning, Zoning and Engineering Committee: Chairman Schonhut advised Ordinance Nos. 2018-062 and 2018-063 pertain to the rezoning of property located at Royalton Road and Webster Road. Ordinance No. 2018-062 is to change certain parts of PPNs 398-28-007, 398-28-009 and 398-28-010 from R1-75 (One Family 75) classification to either PF (Public Facilities) classification or MS (Motorist Service) classification. This ordinance will be a ballot issue. Ordinance No. 2018-063 is to change all of PPN 398-28-002 and parts of PPNs 398-28-007, 398-28-009 and 398-28-010 from either LB (Local Business) classification to PF (Public Facilities) classification, or LB (Local Business) classification to MS (Motorist Service) classification. Planning Commission gave both ordinances a favorable recommendation. Both will be placed on second reading and set for a public hearing on July 2, 2018. Resolution No. 2018-073 is a resolution declaring the necessity to improve a portion of Howe Road by constructing sanitary sewers, catch basins and manholes, installing sanitary sewer service connections where they do not now exist; and replacing, where necessary, pavement, driveway aprons, storm sewers and culverts. This is the next sanitary sewer assessment project for the city. Mr. Schonhut advised this is part of the sewer improvement plan adopted in 2008. The recommendation was to place this on first reading to allow for any residents to reach out if they have any questions. Mr. Jamison advised that back in 2003 the city was mandated by the Ohio EPA to develop and submit a storm sewer program. It was developed and submitted in 2004. The permits run every five years and the last renewal was in 2014. There are six controlled measures mandated by the EPA. One deals with illicit discharge detection and elimination. In our plans, it is mandated that we provide the EPA with a list of all home sewage treatment systems, i.e. septic systems, with a map showing the location of the homes. Secondly, the city had to develop and implement a plan that requires the connection of those properties to a central sanitary sewer system. In 2007, the city developed a sewer capital improvement plan. The first area was Webster Road and Blazey Trail. The assessment project over there started in 2009. The proposed project tonight is stage six of the program. The city has correspondence from the Cuyahoga County Board of Health approving this project in this location. Within the last 3-4 years, there have been numerous complaints from several residents of failed systems and the odor from this causing a disturbance in the neighborhood. Mr. Jamison also advised that any failure to follow and implement this capital plan, with the EPA permit we are under, could result in the city being found not in compliance. Ultimately, the EPA could take the city to court where we could face penalties and have to move forward with the plan anyway. There is a statutory framework set by the Ohio Revised Code to notify the residents who are being assessed. This process has to be followed by law, and cannot be bypassed in order for the city to proceed with this project. Mr. Jamison advised this is a strict framework. Once council passes the resolution, the process of notifying the residents will start. Any objections will go before an Assessment Equalization Board which consists of three residents appointed by the mayor. Mr. Jamison will provide more information on the floor of council.

Public Safety and Health Committee: Chairman Short advised Ordinance No. 2018-067 is a contract for the purchase of nine 2018 Ford utility interceptor vehicles and one 2018 Ford interceptor K9 vehicle for use by the police department. It was placed on first reading at the last meeting due to some questions about vehicle use. Mr. Short provided councilmembers a document from Chief Fender showing a breakdown of the vehicles being replaced as well as the miles and idle time on those vehicles. Mr. Short advised this order has to go in by May 25th or they will lose the contract and not be able to get vehicles this year. Mr. Schonhut advised he had some questions and spoke to Chief Fender directly. Mr. Carbone advised he was not at the last meeting. Mr. Carbone spoke to Chief Fender and advised while he does agree with the police department needing safe vehicles for city use, he does not agree with them being used for take home as well. Mr. Carbone advised there is a cost associated with taking these vehicles home and requests that at a future finance meeting, if there is going to be any appropriations for vehicles, there be a separation for vehicles strictly being used during city time and those being used for both city use and take home. Mr. Dubovec advised these vehicles are paid out of a separate fund and must be spent on emergency vehicles. Ms. Roff stated it appeared we were going to go over the budgeted dollar amount set for the purchase of the vehicles. Mr. Dubovec advised there was $450,000.00 appropriated for vehicle purchases. This contract is well below that. Mr. Carbone asked if all the maintenance and fuel costs also come out of that fund. Mr. Dubovec advised just for the fire vehicles. Suspension and adoption was recommended for Ordinance No. 2018-074. This is to enter into an agreement to provide public safety dispatch services to the City of Brook Park. Mr. Schonhut asked if all the other contracts for dispatching services would have to be amended because of this. Mr. Jamison advised this is just to add another community and will not change the existing partners that we have in the dispatch center. As our center dispatches for more municipalities, those municipalities receive more of a cost savings. Mr. DeMio asked if the building currently being used can maintain more additional municipalities coming in. Mayor Perciak advised we are okay now. The building is expandable if in the future there is need. Mr. Short asked if additional staff would be needed. Mr. Jamison advised there will be 4 more people added to the center. Mr. Goss advised this is a 14 month agreement. Mr. Goss advised that the key to obtaining grant money for these services is to regionalize and receive portions of the 911 cell phone fee the State receives and distributes back to regionalized centers.

Public Service and Conservation Committee: Chairwoman Roff recommended suspension and adoption for Ordinance No. 2018-075; an ordinance to purchase ready mix concrete during the first part of 2018. The contract is with Medina Supply, a division of The Shelly Company in an amount of $18,558.13. Ms. Kosek advised that she will be abstaining from voting on this tonight. This ordinance is without public bidding, but Mr. Jamison advised he has found case law where as long as the councilperson is present, it is okay to abstain from voting where all seven votes are needed to pass legislation. Suspension and adoption was also recommended for Ordinance No. 2018-076. This is an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 2017-222 to increase the contract amount with Nerone & Sons, Inc. for additional work items needed to repair parts at the city’s wastewater treatment plant “C”. The increase in the contract amount is $76,903.66. This also is without public bidding. Ms. Kosek advised she would be abstaining from voting on this legislation as well. Mr. Jamison advised the case law he spoke of previously applies to this as well. Ordinance Nos. 2018-077, 2018-078 and 2018-079 all apply to either the disposal or sale of vehicles or property no longer needed by the service department. Suspension and adoption was recommended for all three ordinances.

Recreation and Community Services Committee: Chairman Roff recommended suspension and adoption for Ordinance No. 2018-080. This is to purchase playground equipment for use by the recreation department at Surrarrer Park. Ms. Roff thanked Mr. Bogre for obtaining the grants for this. Suspension and adoption was also recommended for Ordinance No. 2018-081. This is to enter into a contract for emergency replacement of two water heaters for the recreation and senior center. The contract is with Schaefer Plumbing; DBA: CY Schaefer, Inc. in a contract amount not to exceed $100,975.00. This is without public bidding so all 7 votes of council are needed for this to pass. Mr. Schonhut asked why the city was not bidding this out. Mr. Bogre advised one the heaters is completely not working so this needs to be handled quickly. Resolution No. 2018-082 is to advertise for bids for the 2018 roof replacement project at the recreation and the senior center. This is to replace the remainder of the roof that was damaged due to last year’s storm. Suspension and adoption was recommended for this legislation. Mr. Short asked if this is covered by insurance. Mayor Perciak advised part of it is. The remainder will be covered from a NOPEC grant and money in the Capital Improvement Fund. Mr. Biondillo advised this will complete the all of the roof replacement.

Finance Committee:

Motion made by Mr. Carbone, seconded by Mr. Schonhut, to approve the Finance Committee meeting minutes of May 1, 2018. All members present voted aye and the motion carried.

Mr. Carbone discussed his concern about the parking situation right outside the council chamber. Council voted against placing additional parking on the common grounds. He is requesting meeting with Chief Fender to look at the area and put up additional signage to direct where people are to park for mayor’s court. Mr. Schonhut asked either Safety Director Goss or Chief Fender check and make sure we have adequate lighting out there in the parking lot to keep pedestrians safe. Mr. Jamison advised mayor’s court is tryingto stagger hearings so as to avoid an influx of parking at one time.

Mr. DeMio advised there will be a conditional objection to the Wine and Canvas liquor permit.

MINUTES OF THESTRONGSVILLECITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING HELD ONMONDAY,May 21, 2018IN THE MIKE KALINICH SR. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

CALL TO ORDER:

Council President DeMiocalled the meeting to order at 8:03 p.m. All joined in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

CERTIFICATION OF POSTING:

TheClerk of Councilcertified that the meeting had been posted in accordance with Ordinance No. 2004-273.

ROLL CALL:

Present: Council Members: Matthew A. Schonhut, Annmarie P. Roff, Michael J. Daymut, Joseph C. DeMio, Gordon C. Short, Kelly A. Kosek, and James E. Carbone. Also Present: Clerk of Council Aimee Pientka. Administration:Mayor Thomas P. Perciak, Law Director Neal M. Jamison, Finance Director Joseph K. Dubovec, Service Director Joe Walker, Economic Development Director Brent Painter, Communications and Technology Director David Sems, Human Resource Director Steve Kilo, Building Commissioner Tony Biondillo, City Engineer Ken Mikula, Recreation and Senior Services Director Bryan Bogre, Safety Director Charles Goss, Police Chief Mark Fender and Fire Chief Jack Draves.

COMMENTS ON MINUTES:

The Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held on May 7, 2018were approved as submitted.

APPOINTMENTS, CONFIRMATIONS, AWARDS AND RECOGNITION:

(None)

REPORTS OF COUNCIL COMMITTEES:

SCHOOL BOARD – Mr. Carbone: Yes, at the last school board meeting, the board had approved $530,000.00 in asphalt parking lots; they also approved PSI-the nursing and health services for the district from 2018 all the way through 2021. Then Cameron gave a recommendation, the superintendent, to the board; and that was about the district’s future financial situation. Cameron, before he gave the recommendation, talked about the impact of state and local funding and reductions. Those reductions in 2007 was the elimination of the tangible personal property tax; a reduction of $8.6 million annually. Also, from 2018 to present, the Cleveland Clinic was awarded tax exempt status on their building and land in our town. That was a reduction of $400,000.00 per year. Also, the district has to come up with $2,000,000.00 to pay back the Cleveland Clinic by September of 2018. Mr. Ryba talked about options to enhance the district’s financial future and things that they have done. There was a reduction of 199 positions. There was the elimination of six buildings and repurposing one building. They saved $4.6 million due to switching to a self-insured health care plan. The creation of the Strongsville Academy, which saved $200,000.00 annually. There were new investment strategies, increasing interest earnings by $100,000.00. Then, the implementation of student fee collection pretty much became a little bit more efficient with that. They reduced the outstanding balance by 40%. The options that Mr. Ryba gave were to reduce expenses by implementing additional cost-cutting measures-one thing that could happen is a negative impact on student opportunity; or increase revenue by going to the community and voters for a general operating levy. The operating levy, the last two, were in August, 2002. It was a five year limited which generated $7.9 million, which was 6 mills. In November of 2007, which was the last new money, it was continuing-it keeps going on. In the 2002 one we just did the renewal levy and the community passed that. In November of 2007, they did a continuing levy which generates $9.2 million annually which was 6.5 mills. Some of the questions, and Mr. Ryba suggested, that the board consider going for a levy this November. Some of the questions they answered were would this levy be limited or continuous? The suggestion was to be continuous. What millage? The recommendation was 7.9 mills which would generate $11.3 million, and they feel that the financial stability would be through 2026. The monthly cost to a homeowner, if they did more forward on the 7.9 mills, would be $23/month per $100,000.00. He also had the rational for the millage and the recommendation for that. Basically, when you look at the elimination of $8.6 million, and the reduction from the Cleveland Clinic, it’s almost the same as what we passed in 2007; so Mr. Ryba was saying they’re basically running the district on the monies from 2002. This is something that the board is going to look at. They’re going to have the first vote on this which will be June 7th. Something to look out for, and the district was very confident that they’ve exhausted all their measures as far as cost savings for the residents to be able to operate the district. I know that was long-winded. I just wanted to share that, and I think each councilperson received an email or copy of that.

Mr. DeMio – In their packet, yes.

Mr. Carbone – And that concludes my report.

Mr. DeMio – Would you update us if you find out there’s an organizational meeting? That would be great.

REPORTS OF COUNCIL COMMITTEES (cont’d):

SCHOOL BOARD – Mr. Carbone (cont’d):

Mr. Carbone - Yes, absolutely. They were talking about coming to our council meeting to update on the finances and moving forward, what that would look like.

Mr. Jamison – Mr. President, if I may, just to follow up on what Mr. Carbone brought up as it relates to the Cleveland Clinic building up there on Route 82. The City of Strongsville, the mayor and council through the law department, filed an appeal with the tax board of appeals last week as it relates to the $2 million tax reduction that had been granted to the Cleveland Clinic. We did file last week, on behalf of the city, objections to that. Those will preserve our rights and interests in that matter and we will pursue that with all due course. I just wanted to make council and the audience aware of that; that on behalf of the city, we are going to file; from my understanding, the school is going to do so as well. Just to make that clear that we are filing the appropriate objection to that reduction and the taxes for that Cleveland Clinic Building on Route 82, thank you.

SOUTHWEST GENERAL HEALTH SYSTEM – Mr. Short: Thank you Mr. DeMio, there was no meeting since our last council meeting. The next meeting is this Wednesday, so I will have a full report at our next council meeting. Thank you, that concludes my report.

BUILDING AND UTILITIES – Mr. Daymut: Thank you Mr. DeMio, we have no ordinances or resolutions on this evening’s agenda. I would be happy to take any questions.

COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY – Ms. Kosek: We also have no ordinances or resolutions on tonight’s agenda. That completes my report. I do want to take a moment to thank the recreation center and Bryan for putting on a wonderful program for the mother and son fun night on, I think it was May 11th, it was the Friday before Mother’s Day. That kicked off a really fun evening. I had the opportunity to take my son and there were little boys everywhere. I know all the moms had a wonderful time. I think that’s the third time that you have done that and I wanted to just applaud you for a fabulous event. Thank you, that will close my report.