Meeting Notes January 8, 2019
Willoughby City Council Meeting Summary Notes
January 8th, 2019
Tonight’s Council Meeting was dominated by the time spent on a Service Committee Meeting. Chairman, Chris Woodin had the committee address the following topics:
• Block the Knock Program - NOPEC
• 2019 Road Program
• Traffic Calming
• Osborne Park Erosion
• Street Lights
There was also only ONE resolution addressed by the council, that dealing with the 2019 Pavement Repair Program for Willoughby.
All of these will be addressed in this summary for your review.
SPECIAL MEETING/EXECUTIVE SESSION*
• None
SERVICE COMMITTEE MEETING
The purpose of the Service Committee Meeting is to discuss:
• Block the Knock Program – NOPEC
NOPEC is a non-profit organization of local governments in Northeast Ohio working cooperatively to provide a competitive environment for energy cost savings for individuals and small businesses.
Their Mission
NOPEC has three components to its mission: we negotiate, educate and advocate for our member communities. As a not for profit organization, we negotiate for lower energy rates and better terms and conditions. We educate residents and customers in member communities on how they can conserve energy and save even more on their energy bills. And we advocate for consumer-friendly energy legislation at both the state and federal level.
• The Block the Knock Program is sponsored by NOPEC.
Tired of unwanted door-to-door solicitors?
Sign up for your community’s Do Not Knock Registry
We're different. At NOPEC we don't want to sell you something, we want to help save you money. Many door-to-door energy companies just want to get you to sign on the dotted line. NOPEC will never pressure you to sign up, and there's no sales pitch.
Your address will be added to a list of homes that for-profit solicitors are not allowed to knock at
You’ll receive a Do Not Knock window cling (by mail) to place near your front door
You'll receive an automatic reminder each year to renew your Do Not Knock Registry status
The City of Willoughby will decide if they want to be one of the cities that will participate in this program.
Currently, NOPEC's Do Not Knock Program is located in these communities:
• Alliance
• Brook Park
• Eastlake
• Highland Hills
• Mentor-on-the-Lake
• Newburgh Heights
• Parma
• Roaming Shores
• Tiffin
• Warren
• Wickliffe
• Willowick
More on this topic at a later date.
2019 Road Program
The city is starting the planning and approval of the 2019 Road Program earlier this year.
Information provided by Mr. Jim Sayles the City Engineer:
As you can see the recommended streets for 2019 are the Poplar/Parkway cross-over, Strawberry Lane, Sharpe Avenue, the north end of Gale Road, Biltmore Place, Ash Road, Airport Parkway, Tioga Trail between Wasatka and Mohawk and Summit Street. We skipped the dead end of St. Clair as well as the sections of Johnnycake Ridge Road, Ridge Road and Lakeshore Boulevard that will be part of the coming ODOT resurfacings that are highlighted in burnt orange. We will also include repairs to Lost Nation Road and mill and fill repairs to Lakeshore and Ridge as we do annually in anticipation of the coming resurfacings.
Including $90,000 for engineering and inspections the total budget is at $1,006,400, just over the annual target of $1,000,000. As always, if the bids come in significantly lower than our estimates, like last year, we can add streets. Of course, if the bids come in high we would cut streets.
Traffic Calming
Report from Lee Bock, Service Director:
What was presented to Council last night was that money has been added to the Traffic Department budget to purchase Traffic Calming devices. Mr. Bock recommends that we make the purchase from A & A Safety, a local firm that has provided these signs to other cities in the area including Mentor and gives us the ability to deal directly should there be any issues. The price difference is a matter of eighty dollars. Council can either approve the budget or remove the dollar amount from the budget and end the discussion at that time. In talks with the Chief of Police and the City Engineer, the preferred method is the permanent sign installation. This seems to have a longer lasting effect on drivers. The streets chosen for the initial placements are Adkins, Kirtland, Reeves, Stevens, and Hodgson. If one of the first three locations do not seem to benefit from the placement, we could remove them and advance to the next location. We do however need to give the signs time to work. Cost of each unit is 3,495.00 with us providing the pole and installation. These prices are subject to change and need to be updated as we get closer to purchase. This all remains as a recommendation and is totally dependent on passage of the Service Departments budget in March.
Osborne Park Erosion
First and foremost the Fire Chief was thanked for helping to get the personnel to set up and execute the use of a drone to shoot photos of the Osborne Shoreline. The major areas have been identified. Some of the more serious erosion has taken place just recently since September. This current barrier system has been in place for the past 20+ years. Wave actions seem to be the primary cause of erosion. Any re-cabling done in September 2018 has already failed. There are multiple areas of concern.
Armour Stone is recommended to protect the shoreline.
Eastern End $150,000 Park Property and Private Property areas
Center Section $250,000 Park Property
We then need to evaluate EVERYTHING to come up with a master plan and a funding program.
Research is taking place to explore
Senate Bill 51, in Columbus, signed by the Governor March 20, 2019, passed allow a SID to be created along the shoreline
Special Improvement District- private property owners who agree to tax themselves to make the improvement. It is a long term low-cost funding program. We are looking at ways we can include the City and Private Property owners together to help fund a Master Plan.
We need to address this issue “immediately”, Osborne and Sunset Park. NO HESITATION!!!
Armour Stone NOW. A first step in stopping the Erosion!
This will all be addressed through the Parks and Recreation Committee.
Street Lights
This item was put off due to lack of time and will be addressed at the next Council Meeting.
LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS
• The general purpose of the Legislative Caucus meeting is to review and discuss the legislation on the Regular Council.
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 18, 2018
• ROLL CALL
• PRAYER AND PLEDGE
• ORGANIZATIONAL BUSINESS
• Election of President of Council
o Bob Carr elected
• Election of Vice President of Council
o Bob Harrold elected
• Board and Commission Appointments for the City of Willoughby
COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS (Board and Commission Members)
• Volunteer Firefighters' Dependents Fund Board • Bob Carr, Chris Woodin
• Volunteer Peace Officers Dependents Fund Board • Bob Harrold, John Tomaselli
MAYOR'S APPOINTMENTS (Confirmed by Council)
Board and Commission Members
Planning Commission……………
Jodi Mccue
Zoning Board of Appeals………...Joe Palmer (Reappointment)
......................................................Mike Ross
Design Review Board……………John Perkovich (Reappointment)
................... ....................... ..............Dan Volpe (Reappointment)
.......................................................Bill Henrich (Reappointment)
Sign Review Board ....................... Joe Koskovics (Reappointment)
Board of Building Code Appeals...Jay Bryam (Reappointment)
Shade Tree Commission…………Don Lewis (Reappointment)
• APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Regular Council Meeting of December 18, 2018
o Approved
STANDARD AND REGULAR COMMITTEE REPORTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Chris Woodin- Service Committee
Mr. Wooding reported on all the discussion that took place during the Service Committee Meeting prior to the Council Meeting. These items were covered during that meeting
• Block the Knock Program - NOPEC
• 2019 Road Program
• Traffic Calming
• Osborne Park Erosion
• Street Lights (postponed until the next Council Meeting where the Service Committee will reconvene and address the Street Lights in Willoughby.
CORRESPONDENCE
No correspondence for this evenings Council Meeting
PUBLIC HEARING
• Council and the Administration were addressed by one resident this evening.
o Once residents wished all a Happy New Year
o Compliments to the Service Department for the Leaf Pick-up program
o Compliments on the Art Banners in the Storefronts during the Holidays
o Citizens Bank will be moving
There is a lot of history with this building
A suggestion that the property and building be addressed appropriately and well thought out.
The property is on the radar screen (Mayor's comment)
o Electronic Signs- look at the Rally Sign on Vine Street it “looks like Las Vegas”
o Pole Signs need to be addressed
o Riverside Commons on Lost Nation Road???
Mike Lucas, the attorney stated that there are still some legal issues that need to be attended to until that property can be re-addressed. The city also has that property and its development on the radar.
2019 will be the YEAR for that to move forward
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
• None
NEW BUSINESS
RESOLUTION NO. 2019-1
A resolution authorizing the City Engineer to prepare plans and specifications and to advertise for bids for the 2019 Pavement Repair Program.
Expenditures are to be made from the Road and Bridge Fund.
Councilman Chris Woodin asked the Service Director
Are the roads listed in the 2019 Pavement Repair Program the only roads that will be on the bid?
The city engineer replied that:
Other roads may be swapped into the job list as long as it is done early in the process.
The Resolution passed
REPORTS FROM THE DIRECTORS, MAYOR, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
• MAYOR
o Video of the Mayor addressing the City of Willoughby on FaceBook was complimented and received well by all.
o Complimented Diane Bosley, finance Director for helping us to end the year with a comfortable reserve of funds.
o There is a possibility of consolidating some of our Boards
Planning, Sign Review, etc
• LEE BOCK, SERVICE DIRECTOR
o The Westminster light was brought up by Council at Large, Katie McNeill. The timing on the light is so long sitting on Westminster. City Engineer will address the timing on this light.
He will also look at altering timing based on the time of day.
o Leaves blocking Storm Drains, they will be addressed as long as we do not get pounded with snow.
o South Beachview storm drain blocked needs to be looked at
o Garden Road, southeast corner. Busses cutting through properties.
o Street lights at Lost Nation Road
Poles missing by car accidents
Poles should be replaced to eliminate Dark Zones
Work will begin with CEI, the Airport and the City
• The airport has funds to cover some of the replacements
• JIM SAYLES, CITY ENGINEER
o Overflow WPCC at the River
Contractor met with and will work to unplug the line that runs under the river. First, find the plugged area then make repairs.
The WE-WPCC services the cities of Willoughby and Eastlake, the Village of Timberlake, Lakeline and a portion of Willoughby Hills, Mentor, Willowick, and Kirtland. Collection system facilities include 25 sewage lift stations and five (5) sewage flow equalization basins located throughout the service area.
This is a main line that runs under the Chagrin River and needs repairs. Complex repairs
• TODD UNGAR, FIRE CHIEF
o Grant received from FireHouse Subs and will be used for AED Defibrillators ($12,000)
• Staff vehicles will be outfitted
o 2019, 125th Anniversary of the City of Willoughby Fire Department
• JACK BECKWITH, POLICE CHIEF
o Traffic Calming comments
Those sites chosen to place Traffic Calming devices were determined a great deal on “incidents”. Traffic Calming devices do get drivers to slow down and it is because the device advertises the speed of the cars. Police Chief also advocates a permanent device, since portable devices are removed periodically, the cars then speed up in the absence of the signage.
• DARRYL KELLER, BUILDING INSPECTOR
o Changes on Courthouse Square
Structural changes to take place
• Basically, cost-saving changes that will not affect the appearance of the building
• Concerns for the construction fence expressed by Councilman John Tomaselli. The construction fence is not in good shape with major holes in it.
• JUDEAN BANKER, PARKS & RECREATION DIRECTOR
o The Senior Center is moving along quickly in its construction.
o YMCA is waiting for their roof to be put on, as well as the School
• DIANE BOSLEY, FINANCE DIRECTOR
o $4,240,000.00 Carryover to 2019
o $3,240,000.00 Fund Balance after the one known liability for the City
o Councilman Bob Carr asked to look at tax rates to get a good grounding on what other cities are doing facing the same situations.
o Councilwoman at Large Katie McNeill asked a question to clarify that we actually grew in our Reserve Funds. Diane Bosley agreed. The only issue is that the city had two liabilities to address that caused the city to have a reduction in funds in our Reserve or we would have ended the year better than 2017.
QUESTIONS & COMMENTS BY COUNCILMAN KARY
For the record, I was not in attendance at this meeting due to illness. I did create these notes from the recording of the Council Meeting.
NOTE
The views I express in these Council Meeting Summaries are my own and do not reflect any official view or position of the City of Willoughby. The “official” Council Minutes are posted on the City of Willoughby Website http://willoughbyohio.com/government/city-council/.