COUNCIL MEETING NOTES APRIL 2, 2024
Willoughby City Council Meeting Summary
• April 2, 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:
SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING:
Committee: John Tomaselli, Ken Kary, Dan Anders
*The Safety Committee meeting aims to discuss the Citizens Police Academy.
The Willoughby Citizens Police Academy offers information and training for our residents and provides a new perspective on our department and the law enforcement professions. The academy offers WPD the opportunity to increase police-community relations and cultivate stronger Police-Citizen Partnerships.
Sessions are held on Tuesdays, July 2nd – 30th from 6pm to 8pm at the Willoughby Police Department (36700 Euclid Ave).
Topics include:
K9
Defensive Tactics
Traffic Stops
Investigations
Less lethal systems
Raider / CQT
De-escalation
Use of force
Police Cadets
Interested in learning more about the WPD? Register for the Citizens Police Academy today!
AGENDA
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
April 2, 2024
APPROVAL OF MINUTES-
Regular Council Meeting of March 19, 2024
STANDING AND REGULAR COMMITTEE REPORTS
NO MAJOR REPORTS
CORRESPONDENCE
No correspondence
PUBLIC PORTION
No one spoke
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
ORDINANCE NO. 2023-146 - Tabled
An ordinance agreeing to change portions of the boundary of the City of Willoughby with the Village of Waite Hill and superseding Ordinance No. 2023-6.
Law Director Lucas stated this Ordinance should remain tabled. There will be a meeting with the various law directors to deal with a parcel of property that’s under Willoughby Township.
ORDINANCE NO. 2024-41 - Second Reading
An ordinance amending Chapters 1103, 1141, and 1155 of the Codified Ordinances of the city of Willoughby, Ohio, titled "Definitions", "Business Districts", and "Use Specific Regulations"” respectively.
Mr. Carr stated this Ordinance deals with Kava and Kratom products and the next one deals with vaping products. Mr. Carr stated there weren’t a lot of questions or discussions regarding this Ordinance and Ordinance No. 2024-42 and asked Mr. Lucas if he thinks it should go to a third reading for passage. LawDirector Lucas suggested having it on three readings so that the residents can provide input and make sure Council is comfortable with the changes.
ORDINANCE NO. 2024-42 - Second Reading
An ordinance amending Chapters 1103, 1141, and 1155 of the Codified Ordinances of the city of Willoughby, Ohio, titled "Definitions", "Business Districts", and "Use Specific Regulations", respectively.
Mr. Carr stated that this ordinance covers e-cigarettes and vaping products. Mr. Anderson stated he had run across vaping product machines similar to the old cigarette machines and asked if those machines were affected by this Ordinance. Mr. Lucas stated he believes in the modifications set by the Ordinance; the City has prohibited the products from being sold in vending machines. He stated he is 99% sure that it is in the legislation as a prohibition.
NEW BUSINESS
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-48 Motion carried 7 to 0
A resolution congratulating Krys Gorski of Andrews Osborne Academy on winning the 2024 OHSAA Division II Swimming State Championship in the 100-yard Backstroke.
Mayor Fiala will read this Resolution.
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-49 Motion carried 7 to 0
A resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a lease agreement with Lake BusinessProducts to provide desktop printers and copiers for 60 months for use by various City Departments, and declaring an emergency.
IT Manager DiCioccio noticed disjointedness throughout departments, and he was tasked with getting everyone on the same page, with copiers being one of those items. He spoke to five leasing companies, and he felt Lake Business was the best option. This will save the City $1,000 a month. Mayor Fiala stated that many desktop printers will be eliminated.
The Legislative Caucus adjourned at 6:54 p.m.
NOTE:
For accuracy, this section has been copied from the council meeting minutes
MAYORS REPORT
Mayor Fiala asked Krys Gorski from Andrews Osborne Academy if he wanted to share a few words. Krys Gorski thanked Council for the recognition. He stated it means a lot to him to be recognized at this level. He said it’s been a lot of hard work to get to this point.
Mayor Fiala reported that work continues on the new police station. The architect would like to present at the June Council meeting, where they will present graphics and budget numbers. To date, $2,709,719 has been spent: $2.5 million was spent on the acquisition of the property, $153,000 on architectural services, and $14,000 on survey work.
DIRECTOR’S REPORTS
Law Director Lucas – No report. Mr. Carr stated that the camping prohibition legislation was passed at the last council meeting when Mr. Lucas was absent, but there was talk at that meeting that the city needed to designate an area where people could camp. He asked if the City needed to do that. Mr. Lucas statedthat it isn’t necessary to provide an area, however, he is aware that the Service Department is looking for such an area. Mr. Carr expressed that if it isn’t necessary, he is not in favor of creating such a spot unless it becomes a legal issue. Mr. Lucas stated that another community in northeast Ohio did designate a spot within their legislation. He stated that the three conditions within the legislation afford some protection for the homeless.
Service Director Palmisano – No report. Mr. Anderson asked about the requirements for purchasing more road salt. Mr. Palmisano stated there is little room left; they have to purchase 2,600 more tons. When capital budgets are discussed, he plans a cheaper area for salt storage. He is looking at astorage unit that would be $25,000. The current storage unit holds between 2,000 and 2,500 tons but they squeeze more in.
Fire Chief Ungar—No report. Regarding Riverwalk III apartments, Mr. Tomaselli asked if Chief Ungar was aware if they were doing anything different for the building since the fire destroyed it last year. Chief Ungar stated that due to the timing, they will be hanging drywall at a time they won’t need portable heaters; framing will be done, and sprinklers will be active by the time the weather changes.
Police Chief Schultz – Chief Schultz thanked Council for allowing Community Involvement Officer Shirey to speak at tonight’s meeting. Regarding April 8th, he stated all public safety organizations havebeen meeting and preparing for the event (eclipse) for close to a year and he feels prepared for theevent. Regarding the event at Osborne Park, Chief Schultz stated there will be one Patrol Officer dedicated to that event; he’s trying to get another one. There will be another Patrol Officer at the airport.
Parks & Recreation Director Keller – Ms. Keller stated the event on Monday (eclipse at Osborne Park) is from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
COUNCIL REPORTS
Mr. Kary – Mr. Kary discussed the new terminal that will be built at the airport.
ADJOURNMENT
COMMENTS BY COUNCILMAN KARY
GOOD NEWS FOR WILLOUGHBY AND WARD 2
As a result of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Airport Terminal Program (ATP), the Lake County Executive Airport was able to secure $2.6 million to construct a new terminal building on Lost Nation Road. The law requires the U.S. Government, acting through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to award $5 Billion over a 5-year time period to improve and upgrade terminal buildings at airports in the U.S. Of that $5 Billion, $1 Billion is awarded annually, of which 10% or $100 million annually is required by law to be granted to General Aviation Airports.
The BIL ATP is a once-in-a-generation funding opportunity and a much-needed funding source to replace the 37-year-old facility at the Lake County Executive Airport. In 1991, when the sponsor of the then Willoughby Lost Nation Municipal Airport was the City of Willoughby, both a tower and terminal building existed on the southwest corner of the airport property. The FAA determined that those facilities were located in the Runway Protection Zone (RPZ) of runway 5/23 and both required removal. The tower was not replaced. However, a temporary, used, single-wide trailer was put in place on the airport's north side as a temporary facility for the terminal building. That building has long outlived its useful life.
The Lake Development Authority completed a terminal study, co-sponsor of the airport, to determine the need, location, and size of a new terminal building. The other co-sponsor of the airport, the Lake County Board of Commissioners, funded the architectural/engineering of a preliminary design of that facility. We are grateful for the continued support of the Lake County Board Commissioners and this project would not be possible without their leadership.
The next steps will be the final FAA approval of the design, local permitting, a public bid for the facility's construction, bid acceptance, and project award to a contractor.
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