MEETING NOTES DECEMBER 28,2021
Willoughby City Council Meeting Summary
• December 28, 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/
This was a difficult meeting to get in at the end of the year. Those who follow council closely saw the actual December 18th meeting gets canceled and rescheduled for December 28th. For myself and my wife, we experienced Covid. Both diagnosed and my attendance at Council was not possible.
Absent: Ken Kary, Chris Woodin
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING: TABLED TILL JAN. 4, 2022
Committee: Ken Kary (absent), Dan Anderson, Dan Garry
EAS #11-9-21
USA MANAGEMENT PROPERTIES
The proposed project is for demolition of the existing building and construction of a multi-tenant strip center located at36001 Euclid Avenue (USA Management Strip Center Development).
· Storm Water Management
· Traffic Impact
· Police and Fire Demands
· Noise, Water and Air Pollution
· The Demands of the School System
· Hazardous Waste and Materials Concerns
· Time Line of the Project
The Planning Commission approved EAS #11-9-21 with the following notations:
• Storm-water retention: No issues. Follow the redevelopment section of the stormwater management code that requires a 20% reduction in the impervious area or similar mitigation of run-off.
• Traffic: Traffic light w/turn arrow recommended by the Police Department, TO MIMIC EUCLID AND BEIDLER turning arrows
• NO NOISE, WATER, OR AIR ISSUES
• No hazardous waste or noise issues.
• NO IMPACT ON THE SCHOOLS
• Construction timeline: Start mid/late summer 2023, completion by end of 2023.
The Environmental Planning Committee will hear this EAS on January 4th, 2022
AGENDA
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
December 28, 2021
APPROVAL OF MINUTES-
Regular Council Meeting of December 7, 2021
STANDING AND REGULAR COMMITTEE REPORTS
No major reports
CORRESPONDENCE
No correspondence
PUBLIC PORTION
No one spoke
NEW BUSINESS
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-115 TABLED
A resolution approving EAS #11-9-21 for demolition of the existing building and construction of a multi-tenant strip center located at 36001 Euclid Avenue (USA Management Strip Center Development).
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-116 Motion carried 5 to 0
A resolution to accept the material terms of the One Ohio Subdivision Settlement pursuant to the One Ohio Memorandum of Understanding and consistent with the terms of July 21, 2021, National Opioid SettlementAgreement, and declaring an emergency.
Law DirectorLucas said this resolution deals with the third pharmaceutical company that was subject to the settlement agreement (Johnson and Johnson). He said they were not included in the resolution that was passed earlier this year involving two of the three pharmaceutical companies. Mr. Carr said the end result will be the receipt of money that can be used for treatment. Mr. Tomaselli asked if the City needs to apply for the money. Mr. Lucas said according to the terms of the settlement, there must be 95%participationfromvillages,townshipsandmunicipalitiesthroughoutthestatebyDecember31st
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-117 Motion carried 5 to 0
A resolution establishing a Special Revenue Fund titled Veterans Treatment Court Fund, Fund No.2108, and declaring an emergency.
Finance Director Bosley said this resolution covers a grant that the court has received from the Ohio Mental Health Addiction Services which can be used to reimburse wages and benefits of court employees involved in providing these services as well as supplies and other eligible costs under the program. They have received $75,000 and they anticipate they will receive more next summer.
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-118 Motion carried 5-0
A resolution authorizing the Director of Finance to transfer funds from the General Fund to various other funds, and declaring an emergency.
Ms. Bosley said this resolution is particular to transfer from the general fund up to $1,900,000 that will cover a Riverside Commons known liability for the consent decree for culvert work to be completed. That amount is $400,000. The remainder of the monies, potentially $1,000,000 could go to the capital and $500,000 would go to the future retirement funds as there are known retirements in 2022.
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-119 Motion carried 5-0
A resolution authorizing the Director of Finance to transfer funds from the Trust & Agency Fund to the SeniorCenter Capital Fund, and declaring an emergency.
Ms. Bosley said this fund is no longer used. Money collected from senior trips to cover the cost of transportation was put into this fund. According to a new GASB, the City should not put money into a liability account that's not truly a liability. This sum of money was too large to move out without the approval of the council. She said there is about $130,000 that will be put into the senior capital fund that will help to buy the next bus or any other vehicle that may be needed.
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-120 Motion carried 5-0
A resolution authorizing the Director of Finance to transfer funds from the Workers Comp Retro Rating Fund to the General Fund, and declaring an emergency.
Ms. Bosley said $370,000 will be returned to the general fund which is where it came from in the first place and the fund will be closed out. Mr. Carr asked if there were a lot of accounting changes this year. Ms. Bosleysaid it was GASB that caused the department to look at some items. She said some monies were going into liability accounts that followed an old way of accounting that is no longer acceptable; these funds are now going into the general fund
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-121 Motion carried 5-0
A resolution authorizing the Director of Finance to transfer funds from the FEMA Fund to the General Fund, and declaring an emergency.
Ms. Bosley said FEMA funds were required to go into a FEMA fund first. The City can reimburse the general fund that paid the wages of employees who assisted with the vaccination clinics. This fund will be closed out because there is no expectation of using it again.
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-122 Motion carried 5-0
A resolution authorizing the Director of Finance to advance an amount not to exceed $18,800 from the General Special Projects Fund to the Ohio Criminal Justice Service Grant Fund, and declaring an emergency.
Ms. Bosley said the court was awarded a grant in late 2020 or early 2021. They purchased the equipment for just under $18,800. The current clerk has not been able to receive the grant funds promised. She said until the City is sure the court is going to receive the money, money will be moved to that fund so it's not showing a negative. If grant monies are received that advance will be repaid to the court.
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-123 Motion carried 5-0
A resolution accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the Budget Commission, authorizing the necessary tax levies, certifying same to the Lake County Auditor, and declaring an emergency.
This resolution is being passed due to an adjustment since the last meeting.
ORDINANCE NO. 2021-124 Motion carried 5-0
An ordinance amending Chapter 111 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Willoughby, Ohio titled, “Council”; specifically, replacing Section 111.05, titled, “Procedure for Sale of Surplus City Real Estate”.
Law Director Lucas said there was a provision in the codified ordinances regarding surplus sales that referenced the Ohio Revised Code which was inconsistent with the home rule power and the City charter. This change will allow Council to follow that procedure but can operate under the home rule power. This change will apply to property that Council discussed recently.
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-125 Motion carried 5-0
A resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ohio Patrolmen’sBenevolent Association, Communications Clerks, Communications Operators, and Police Records/Communications Supervisor, necessary to establish modifications to the work week and communications schedule requirements of Articles 21, 24, 25, 26, and 27 of the agreement between the City of Willoughby, Ohio and the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, and declaring an emergency.
Mr. Lucas said this resolution will allow a workweek (for dispatchers) to be defined as two 12 hour shifts and two 8 hour shifts with the understanding that based on research this would eliminate some overtime. This change required modification of the bargaining agreement which will end on March 31, 2022. Chief Schultz said this will give more flexibility in scheduling dispatchers and reduce overtime. He said it will hopefully help in the hiring of new dispatchers.
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-126 Motion carried 5-0
A resolution authorizing the Mayor to review and accept the best pricing and time period proposed by a retail electric supplier for the subsequent inclusion within an agreement for the purchase of electricity for the City of Willoughby’s street lighting, within such time period parameters from twelve (12) to thirty-six (36) months, commencing June 30, 2022.
Mr. Carr said this gives the City leeway to shop for the best pricing on electricity rates.
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-127 Motion carried 5-0
A resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a Letter of Engagement with Thompson Hine LLP, for legal representation on behalf of the City, with an effective date of December 7, 2021, relative to the City of Willoughby’s obligations under the Partial Consent Decree in the case of U.S.A. vs. Richard M. Osborne, Sr., et al., and declaring an emergency.
Mr. Lucas said the attorney who has been retained is a specialized environmental attorney who has had a lot of dealings with both the federal and state EPA.
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-128 Motion carried 5-0
A resolution amending Resolution No. 2021-21 to provide for current expenses and other expenditures for the city of Willoughby, Ohio, during the period ending December 31, 2021, and declaring an emergency.
Ms. Bosley said this resolution covers final appropriations; there are only a few changes mainly adding transfers.
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-129 Motion carried 5-0
A resolution authorizing temporary appropriations totaling $18,101,544.00 for current expenses and other expenditures of the City of Willoughby, Ohio during the period ending March 31, 2022, and declaring an emergency.
Ms. Bosley said in most cases, this represents about 25% to 30% (of expenses). She said the court likes to have access to all of their funds for the year.
NOTE:
For accuracy, this section has been copied from the council meeting minutes
MAYORS REPORT
There was a discussion regarding the swearing-in of the Council and the Mayor at the January 4th meeting. Mr. Anderson asked if the Mayor was getting any complaints about the demolition of the former YMCA (dust). Mayor Fiala said he had not. Mr. Anderson said there wasn't a fence around the YMCA when it was demolished and suggested it be discussed when Council reviews Environmental Assessment Statements. Mayor Fiala said the next demolition will be the medical building on Euclid Avenue and suggested it be fenced off.
DIRECTOR’S REPORTS
Fire Chief Ungar - Chief Ungar updated Council on some issues the Fire Department is having with rescue squads and COVID patients. He said they are currently transporting multiple positive COVID patients with varying symptoms to the emergency room. He said hospitals are understaffed and can't handle the patient volume. He said it's not uncommon for rescue squads to wait for one to two hours at the emergency room before being placed back in service. A lot of times, the squad will report they are waiting behind six or seven other squads. As part of an agreement amongst medical directors in the area, the department is avoiding transporting patients outside of our base hospitals. He said another issue is that hospitals are closing for long periods of time. He said sometimes the department is dropping off patients in the waiting room. He said at Lake West Hospital, the department will leave one paramedic with the patient and the rescue squad will return with the other two paramedics.
He said he will send out an e-mail with this information to Council in case they receive calls and or complaints.
Mr. Carr asked if the high levels of COVID transmission have affected the Fire Department. Chief Ungar said as of this morning, he had 12 staff members out. Chief Ungar explained that the Lake County Fire Chief's Association has a contingency plan in place in case there were staffing issues across the county.
Police Chief Schultz - Chief Schultz said he has two to four staff members out each week due to COVID. He thanked Council for the passage of Resolution No. 2021-125.
COUNCIL REPORTS
No major reports
ADJOURNMENT
COMMENTS BY COUNCILMAN KARY
I would like to wish everyone in Ward 2 and Willoughby the
BEST for 2022!
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/