MEETING NOTES FEBRUARY 20, 2024
Willoughby City Council Meeting Summary
• February 20, 2024 •
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/
Committee Meetings:
None
AGENDA
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
February 20, 2024
APPROVAL OF MINUTES-
Regular Council Meeting of February 6, 2024
STANDING AND REGULAR COMMITTEE REPORTS
Finance and Audit Committee, Mr. Tomaselli – Mr. Tomaselli stated 2024 budgets will be distributed prior to a committee meeting on March 5th to discuss the 2024 operating budget.
CORRESPONDENCE
No correspondence
PUBLIC PORTION
Neil Sharpe, 39425 King Edward Court, Willoughby – Mr. Sharpe stated he and other King EdwardCourt residents have requested that a snow fence be put up at the curve between King Edward Court and Polo Park Drive. He realizes it has been a mild winter but one car has already slid off the road; a few horizontal fences on the north side doesn’t stop the drifting.
Mr. Sharpe stated he knows a lot of people who are concerned that the City is a sanctuary city. He stated there is a lot of confusion and people have a lot of concerns regarding the southern border and illegal immigration. He suggested that the City share with the residents a recent letter from Lake County Sheriff Frank Leonbruno regarding immigration.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
ORDINANCE NO. 2023-146 -Tabled
An ordinance agreeing to change portions of the boundary of the City of Willoughby with theVillage of Waite Hill, and superseding Ordinance No. 2023-6.
This ordinance will remain tabled. Law Director Lucas stated a meeting will take place next week with the engineers and legal counsel.
NEW BUSINESS
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-26 MOTION CARRIED 7 to 0
A resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a five (5) year lease agreement with Club Car, LLC for options "1", "4", and "5" of the bid form to lease golf carts, special events carts, and utility carts for the Lost Nation Municipal Golf Course, and declaring an emergency.
Law Director Lucas stated the bid received from Club Car was the lowest and best bid. One other bid was received but this was significantly less; the golf course is happy with Club Car. This is a five year contract expiring in 2029.
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-27 MOTION CARRIED 7 to 0
A resolution authorizing a temporary moratorium on the issuance and processing of permits allowing retail dispensaries, cultivators, or processors of adult use marijuana within the City of Willoughby, Ohio, for a period of one year from the effective date of this resolution, and declaring an emergency.
Law Director Lucas stated that State Issue 2 went into effect on December 7, 2023 and as aresult, a committee from the Ohio General Assembly was formed and will review the bill and to some extent, tweak it. In response to that, some communities have banned it in the interim andother communities have issued moratoriums. He felt that a moratorium was a more appropriate way to go because the City will receive information from the Division of Cannabis this summerand proceed from there. Ms. Sievers asked if this was different than the moratorium that was passed last spring. Mr. Lucas stated the moratorium that was previously passed wascompletely exclusive of marijuana; the previous moratorium was for Kava, THC, etc. He stated that the City will want to put measures in place through the zoning code. Mr. Tomaselliconfirmed that the state would have to issue a license to an organization prior to the City issuing a occupancy permit. Mr. Lucas stated that’s already been done; the house bill was anexpansion for the current licensing (for medical marijuana). Mr. Tomaselli said there will be different licenses for medical marijuana versus recreational. Mr. Merhar stated that he read where if you currently sell medical marijuana you can sell the recreational marijuana. Mr. Lucasstated he believes that is true. Mayor Fiala stated that the Governor is against some of the state legislature and it could be a long road before guidelines are received. Mr. Lucas stated that the City would issue a Conditional Use Permit versus a permitted use and be consistent with the state structure.
NOTE:
For accuracy, this section has been copied from the council meeting minutes
MAYORS REPORT
Mayor Fiala reported that a memo will go to Council and the Boards and Commissions regarding theagenda for the March 7th meeting; matters concerning Kava and a letter from a resident will be addressed.
DIRECTOR’S REPORTS
Law Director Lucas – Law Director Lucas reported there are text changes going through the Planning Commission regarding conditional use restrictions as to location and conditions for use regarding Kavaand related substances and one regarding vaping at the Mayor’s request. These text changes will go to the Planning Commission first and then before Council.
Service Director Palmisano – No report. Mr. Carr thanked Mr. Palmisano for quickly addressingcomplaints of speeding on Halle Drive. Regarding garbage in the area, Mr. Puskas stated a letter is going out tomorrow.
Police Chief Schultz – Chief Schultz stated last week Lake County Sheriff Frank Leonbruno posted a press release regarding a summary of his views on the national immigration crises and the growing threat of terrorism in our communities. He stated his department is prepared for anything that couldhappen. He stated the Lake County Chief’s of Police meets every month and this topic has been discussed for the last several years. Sheriff Leonbruno expressed his concern when he visited the borderlast year noting that it’s a national crises and affects every community. The rise in heroin, fentanyl,methamphetamines, human trafficking and many other crimes are directly related to the migrant crises and domestic terrorism. Chief Schultz stated that the Willoughby Police Department and their partners in Lake County have built strong relationships and they have been preparing long before this current crises has materialized. He stated every day his department works on defensive tactics, firearms training, use offorce, de-escalation, crises intervention, crime prevention, mental health and other trainings. The continual training will give the department the best opportunity to make the best decisions when the timecomes. The Flock Safety cameras and live action cameras downtown have created a blanket of securityfor the community. Being involved with the U.S. Marshalls Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force and the Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force has provided a huge resource in order to combat a lot of problems. He stated that Operation Safe Stay was started a few years ago making the hotels andmotels a safer place to stay. He gave other examples of how the department is working with othernortheast Ohio agencies to make Willoughby a safer community. He stated he is very proud of his officers, dispatchers and support staff and he will continue to do better tomorrow than he did today.
Parks & Recreation Director Keller – Absent. Mr. Carr asked about the outcome of a meeting last week regarding the Chagrin River Park. Mayor Fiala stated the team walked the site and then had a planning meeting; it was really a meeting where the City provided the team information. The intent is to have the team come back and do a presentation during a public meeting.
COUNCIL REPORTS
No reports
ADJOURNMENT
COMMENTS BY COUNCILMAN KARY
I did not share the notes from the Environmental Planning Committee Meeting I conducted on February 6, 2024. The meeting was with the developer Joseph Conti who asked for a re-zone of the Airport Property on Hodgson Road where the Stone Family lived.
Here are the minutes from that meeting.
MINUTES
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
6:16 p.m. February 6, 2024
Pursuant to Codified Ordinance Chapter 107 and ORC Section 121.22, notice of the following meeting was given on February 2, 2024.
Committee Members Present: Chairman Kary, Councilmen Anderson and Garry
Others Present: Councilmen Carr, Merhar and Tomaselli, Councilwoman Sievers, Law Director Lucas, Fire Chief Ungar, Police Chief Schultz, Chief Building & Zoning Inspector Puskas, Finance Director Hoffman, Clerk Novak, Michael Ross/Agent for Joseph Conti
EAS #15-10-23(a)
Rezoning of 7.72 acres of real property located at 38751 Hodgson Road and further identified as Permanent Parcel No. 27B0520000040 from Airport District (A) to Residential One-Family 80 (R80).
Mr. Ross stated the request is for a rezoning from Airport to R80 for 12 homesites along Hodgson Road.Mr. Kary noted that the Planning Commission approved EAS #15-10-23(a) with notations in which Mr. Conti agreed to at the Planning Commission meeting. Regarding storm water, Mr. Kary stated that any development on this property must meet the City’s code; the current system was designed to never havehomes be built there. High wall plumbing with grinder pumps for basements or slab construction should be used. There is a need to extend the existing sewer to the new site. Mr. Ross stated they are willing to workwith the City to figure out an economically feasible way and appropriate way to deal with the storm water. Mr. Conti has previously stated he was willing to work with the golf course because there is a holding arearight behind this site; possibly incorporating storm water retention/detention to feed into the golf course’s watering system. Regarding wetlands, a walk through and wetlands study will need to be completed prior to any homebuilding. Mr. Ross stated a wetlands study has been ordered but not completed yet. Regarding a traffic study, City Engineer Lannon stated that a traffic study would not be required because the traffic for this development would be marginal; no new knowledge would be gained from a study (an in depth study was done recently). Mr. Kary stated Mr. Conti agreed to contribute money to a fund that would go towards the expense of future traffic mitigation. Mr. Ross stated that was correct; that a fair percentagewould be set aside for that. Mr. Kary stated Mr. Conti agreed sidewalks would be installed on Hodgson Road and interior sidewalks if appropriate. The Fire Department noted they didn’t want to see people backing out on Hodgson Road; the homes would need to have driveway turnarounds or rear loadinggarages. There were no noise, water or air pollution concerns and no hazardous waste concerns. There is no impact on the schools. Mr. Kary stressed that no construction vehicles can park on the private roads across the street. Mr. Ross stated the contractors will be informed not to park there, but he would like the help of the City to enforce it. Regarding fencing, Mr. Conti agreed to keep the homeowners and the golfers safe. Mr. Ross stated they are open to fencing. Mr. Kary stated Mr. Conti agreed that the homeownerswould hold the golf course harmless with regard to golf balls coming onto their property. Mr. Ross stated verbiage to that effect will be included in the sales contracts with the homeowners. The timeline for theproject would be about 2 years
February 6, 2024 Environmental Planning Committee Page 2
beginning in the spring of 2024. Mr. Kary asked if Mr. Conti would be the builder. Mr. Ross stated that was undecided, but stated it would be a reputable builder that he works with. (in my most recent conversations with Mr. Conti, he stated, he would be the builder)
There were no other comments or concerns. Mr. Kary stated the committee is recommending to Council the passage of EAS #15-10-23(a).
The Environmental Planning Committee adjourned at 6:29 p.m.
Date approved
Ken Kary, Chairman Clerk of Council
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/