MEETING NOTES NOVEMBER 2, 2021
Willoughby City Council Meeting Summary
• November 2, 2021 •
Ken Kary • Councilman Ward 2
NOTE
These notes “are not” the official minutes for Willoughby City Council.
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
https://willoughbyohio.com/city-council/
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING:
Committee: Ken Kary, Dan Anderson, Dan Garry (Absent)
The purpose of the Environmental Planning Committee Meeting is to discuss:
EAS #12-9-21
The proposed project is for the construction of a building located on Mentor Avenue (Signature Health). Mr. Kary asked Mr. Brooks to explain the project. Mr. Brooks explained that Signature Health would like to build a 45,000 sq. ft., 2 story building. Mr. Kary said this project was addressed and approved by the Planning commission last Thursday. Mr. Kary said the Fire Department has no issues with the project. Chief Ungar had asked Chief Building and Zoning Inspector Keller if Signature Health was planning on moving out of the two existing buildings and into this one or if this was in addition to those buildings. Mr. Brooks said he wasn't sure if they plan on moving out of the other buildings or not. There were no concerns from the Police Department or the Building Department. Mr. Kary said there were no traffic concerns. He said a study needs to be done to determine how the stormwater basin would be set up to serve the property. Mr. Lannon said that information would be submitted with the standard stormwater management report. Mr. Kary said that the WPCC had noted that a control manhole is required for the sanitary sewer discharge. The building owner is responsible for the multi-building discharge. Mr. Brooks said he talked to Polaris Engineering today and said that was pretty standard. Mr. Kary said the project would begin on April 1, 2022, and would take approximately a year. Mr. Brooks said trees need to come down before March 31st due to Indiana bats. He said wetlands information has been submitted to the Army Corps of Engineers; he wasn't sure if they would do a site visit or a desktop review. Heis hoping the information sent to them is enough and they conduct a desktop review. He said if wetlands are identified that could delay the project. Mr. Carr asked if there were plans for the back piece of property. Mr. Brooks said that has not been determined.
He said the challenge with the site is that the zoning in the front is commercial and the zoning in the back is residential. He said the goal right now is to get the Signature Health building approved. Mr. Kary said during the Planning Commission review, the applicant dropped the lot split approval; it is currently one parcel.
There were no other comments or concerns from the committee members or the directors. Mr. Kary said the committee is recommending the approval of EAS #12-9-21.
NOTE:
Regarding the other two EAS's to be reviewed this evening; Mr. Carr asked if the applicants needed to be present to review their EAS. Alisa Novak said a letter goes out to the applicants the Friday before the meeting stating a representative should be present to review the EAS. This gives the applicant an opportunity to answer questions about the project. Mr. Lucas said it's at the Council President's discretion if he feels attendance is required to answer questions. He said if the letter from the Council Clerk states the applicant should attend, then they should attend. Mr. Carr said he has some questions about the Shepard's Glen project that he would like answered. Mr. Kary said there was quite a bit of discussion regarding this project at the Planning Commission meeting.
**The Committee decided to table both EAS #6-7-21 and EAS #13-10-21 because a representative wasn't present.
Mr. Kary said he will inform applicants at the Planning Commission meeting they need to be present during the Environmental Planning Committee's review.
AGENDA
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
November 2, 2021
Absent: Councilman Garry
APPROVAL OF MINUTES-
Motion made and seconded to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of October 5, 2021, and October 19, 2021.
STANDING AND REGULAR COMMITTEE REPORTS
No significant reports
CORRESPONDENCE
No correspondence
PUBLIC PORTION
Debbie Andrews, 5366 Robinhood Drive, Willoughby - Ms. Andrews said she is concerned about the traffic on Robinhood because it is a cut-through street. She said speeding cars are a huge issue. Chief Schultz will meet with Ms. Andrews to address her concerns.
NEW BUSINESS
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-98 Motion carried 6 to 0
A resolution authorizing the Mayor to accept the proposal for medical insurance coverage for the eligible employees of the City of Willoughby and the Willoughby Municipal Court provided by OGBC Consortium and administered by Medical Mutual for health care and prescription coverage, effective December 1, 2021. 9.7% INCREASE IN HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS. We have had good years with little to no increases.
Finance Director Bosley said there was a Health Care Committee meeting where the proposal was discussed and the committee decided to accept the proposal for a 9.7% increase in health insurance premiums. She said the City had gone three years with no increase, then an increase of 2.74%, and then another year of no increase. She said the City had some large claims and it looked like the increase would be double digits. Other consortium members had larger increases.
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-99 Motion carried 6 to 0
A resolution amending Resolution No. 2021-53 authorizing an expenditure of $77,800 for the purchase of two (2) 2021 Ford F150 Police Responders from Classic Ford of Mentor for use by the Willoughby Police Department.
Chief Schultz sent out a memo explaining the vehicles will be 2022 model year instead of 2021 model year. Chief Schultz explained the City has been closed out of the 2021 Ford F150 model year creating a $1,000 increase for each vehicle. He said the order for the 2021 vehicles was placed the day after Resolution No. 2021-53 was passed. Mr. Carr asked if there was a guarantee that Ford won't come back and want additional money. Chief Schultz said the department has a good working relationship with Classic Ford in Mentor and the prices that were discussed with them haven't changed; the problem is getting canceled out of a model year because purchases can't be made until the end of the model year which is October. He said the department has had this happen before where they get closed out of a model year due to timing. Ms. McNeill said she was happy that the department is getting a new model for a$1,000 increase.
ORDINANCE NO. 2021-100 Motion carried 6 to 0
An ordinance declaring 100% of improvements to certain parcels of real property to be a public purpose, describing the public infrastructure improvements to be made to benefit those parcels, requiring the owners of the improvements thereon to make service payments in lieu of taxes, establishing a SOM Center II Municipal Public Improvement Tax Increment Equivalent Fund for the deposit of such service payments and related matters, as amended.
This ordinance refers to the Residential Improvement District (RID) similar to the one the City did for the townhomes on Rt. 91, but this RID is for the development on the former Millstein property. Law Director Lucas said this is known as "RID II". Legislation for this second RID hadn't been put
on the agenda earlier because the City was waiting to hear from the Lake County Commissioners who had 30 days to review and state if they had any objections.
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-101 Motion carried 6 to 0
A resolution approving Change Order No. 1 in the Storm Sewer Outfall Repairs Project with Nerone & Sons, Inc.
Mr. Lannon said there is a collapsed storm sewer manhole off of Union Street. The price is for time and materials. Mr. Woodin asked if the workers will access the site through Todd Field. Mr. Lannon said it could be accessed through Todd Field but more likely through a private driveway.
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-102
A resolution approving EAS #6-7-21 for construction of an addition to the existing building to include three restaurantsand a common dining area located at 36944 Vine Street (Vine Street Sunoco).
*This resolution will be tabled until a representative is present to discuss.
*Motion made and seconded to table Resolution No. 2021-102.
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-103 Motion carried 6 to 0
A resolution approving EAS #12-9-21 for construction of a building located on Mentor Avenue (Signature Health).
This EAS was recommended for approval.
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-104
A resolution approving EAS #13-10-21 for the construction of a subdivision consisting of Forty-Eight (48) Fee Simple Townhomes located on the south side of Euclid Avenue (Shepherds Glen).
*This resolution will be tabled until a representative is present to discuss.
*Motion made and seconded to table Resolution No. 2021-102.
NOTE:
For accuracy, this section has been copied from the council meeting minutes
MAYORS REPORT
No report. Congratulated Council on their reelection.
DIRECTOR’S REPORTS
Service Director Palmisano - Regarding the paving on Rt. 84, Mr. Palmisano reported there was a meeting this morning with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). He said ODOT has reached an agreement with the contractor. He said Chagrin Valley Paving repaired sections of the road that had failed inspection. He said they are scheduled to complete the rest of the road next week and anticipate it will be done by the end of month. He said if the work (lower catch basins, water boxes and monuments) is not completed due to weather or other circumstances, it will be completed in the spring. Mr. Tomaselli voiced concern about portions of the road that are just as high as themanhole covers. Mr. Palmisano said the contractor is aware of that and they will put a chip seal coat down before the final coat is put on to make sure it is sealed. Due to the process, the contractor will come back in 2023 and crack seal the entire road. Mr. Carr asked about the concrete curbs. Mr. Palmisano said the concrete curbing will be completedafter the final coat of asphalt is complete. Mr. Woodin asked about doing concrete curbing versus asphalt. Mr. Palmisano said asphalt was done in some places due to cost. Mr. Woodin asked if the paving was complete on Lakeshore Blvd. Mr. Palmisano said the contractor needed to finish the striping. Mr. Woodin asked for an update on the road program. Mr. Palmisano said the contractor just finished the final coat on Maplegrove and Pelton; the final coat for Union, Wood and Wright needs to be completed. City Engineer Lannon said a lot of communities are behind on their road programs and that the asphalt plants will remain open to accommodate the delays. Mr. Woodin voicedconcerns about the tall weeds on SR 2. Mr. Palmisano said he was not able to attend a recent meeting where thistopic was going to be addressed.
City Engineer Lannon - Mr. Lannon said he was happy with the job ODOT has done on Rt. 84 in keeping track of resident complaints. It was unfortunate the contractor disappeared. Regarding the curbing, he said there reallywasn't a lot of money for the curbing.
Mr. Carr asked if the water main project on Rt. 91 in Willoughby Hills is done. Mr. Lannon said there were someissues, but it is complete.
Police Chief Schultz - Chief Schultz thanked Council for the passage of Resolution 2021-99. Mr. Carr asked if things have quieted down regarding car thefts. Chief Schultz said the individuals who were responsible for the recentWilloughby car thefts and thefts in neighboring communities have been arrested. Mr. Anderson informed the Chief that he received an Amazon package at 4:30 a.m. by someone driving their own vehicle. He thought this was useful information for our patrol officers to be aware of. Chief Schultz suggested that residents have their packages deliveredto their office or a relative's house during the upcoming holiday season.
Parks & Recreation Director Banker - No report. Mr. Carr asked about the recent Pumpkin Chunkin. Ms. Banker said the weather was great; there were a total of 11 teams and the longest throw was 224 ft. (302 is the record).
COUNCIL REPORTS
No reports
ADJOURNMENT
COMMENTS BY COUNCILMAN KARY
I want to take the time to say “THANK YOU” to all those who have supported me as the Councilman for Ward 2. Not having competition for this position certainly made it a bit less stressful come November.
As I have stated in the past, my first obligation is to the residents of Ward 2 and their concerns. Second to the City as a whole. I believe we have a very committed team of Council Members working to keep WILLOUGHBY, the City we all know and love. And to provide for the proper growth to remain strong economically.
If I can assist you in any way, as your Councilman, do not hesitate to contact me
Thank You Again
Ken
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
https://willoughbyohio.com/city-council/