COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY MARCH 18, 2025
Willoughby City Council Meeting Summary
• March 18, 2025 •
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:
FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING:
Committee: John Tomaselli, Dan Garry, Ken Kary
*The purpose of the Finance & Audit Committee meeting is to discuss the 2025 Operating Budget.
2025 OPERATING BUDGET
Chairman Tomaselli stated that tonight’s meeting is the continuation of the 2025 operating budget discussion with legislation for the budget on the agenda tonight. Regarding the budget for the Court, Mr. Tomaselli stated that the original budget submitted was about 20% higher than the 2024 budget. Councilman Carr reached out to Judge Cornachio to understand the increase and Cher Hoffman also met with a representativefrom the court to review some of the concerns regarding that increase. A revised budget from the court was submitted at 14% over 2024; the court was able to trim healthcare and overtime.
Finance Director Hoffman stated she met with Chris Simon from the court and discussed transparency and in the future being able to return the court to the City’s payroll and manning ordinance. If there is a need, thecourt can come back to Council for an increase in their budget. Mr. Tomaselli noted that the court’s budget is conservative. If the court returns under the City’s payroll and manning ordinance, raises would be within thepayroll ordinance. If the court wanted to hire someone outside the payroll and manning ordinance, legislation would need to come before Council for that to happen.
BUILDING DEPARTMENT
Chief Building and Zoning Inspector Keller stated the biggest increase in his budget was for payroll; there arenow two full time inspectors. The funding for the part time inspector position was eliminated because it’s notneeded. He stated there is a backup for any type of inspectors. He stated the state of Ohio will change how inspector certifications are obtained next year.
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
Finance Director Hoffman stated that the Finance Department services all the City's departments providing accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and computer support. The Finance Department’s total budget for 2025 is $ 2,153,044 which is only 1.4% above 2024's budget and 6% above 2024's actualexpenditures. The majority of the increase is the result of the health care premiums increase. Ms. Hoffman stated that after the March 4th Finance & Audit Committee meeting and initial draft, there have been a few minor adjustments. The court reduced their original overall budget by $131,053 for full time wages, part timewages, overtime, healthcare, life insurance and communications. Parks & Recreation had changes to parttime wages and benefits for the increase in seasonal rates of $36,997. Service Departments in the Generalfund increased $17,617 for seasonal while Street Fund increased $28,188. The net effect of these changeson the total operating budget was a reduction of $48,251. She stated that the total operating budget for 2025 is $40,291,647.
Regarding Special Revenue Funds, Ms. Hoffman stated that the Road & Bridge Fund, in anticipation of the River Street Slope Stabilization and the Rt. 84 Slope Stabilization, the road program was not budgeted for 2025. In cooperation with Lake County, the City contracted with Fabrizi to complete the River StreetWaterline and Slope Stabilization for nearly $2.2 million. With the aid of grant money and reimbursement for the county's share, the City will likely resume the road program in 2026.
With the support of Willoughby residents, the Safety Tax Levy Fund saw proceeds of
$1,894,505 in 2024. The City made its first Police Station bond payment with the majority of these funds while the remainder was used to encumber funds for police equipment related to the newly renovated Police Station. For 2025, Ms. Hoffman stated she has budgeted the City’s continued debt payment, the first lease payment for the ladder truck with a hopeful delivery date in December of this year and capital funds for both Police and Fire to purchase necessary items.
Mr. Carr asked what the debt payment amount was for the new Police Station. Ms. Hoffman stated it is $1.1 million. She stated the lease payment for the ladder truck will come out of the Safety Levy Fund raising it to about $1.25 million.
Mr. Tomaselli asked if the City can anticipate losing road program money in 2026 for the slope stabilizationon Rt. 84. Mr. Lannon stated that project has a $600,000 grant and $1 million local share. He stated next year the City will resurface River Street between Rt. 84 and downtown, which is 80% federally funded but the Citywill need to contribute local funds for that work. Mr. Lannon stated the City was lucky to get $2 million from Ohio Emergency Management Agency for River Street, which covers 80% of the project. Mr. Carr stated with the possibility of losing money again next year for the road program, he stated the City will need to find funding for the road program.
Finance and Audit Committee meeting adjourned at 6:52 p.m.
AGENDA
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
March 18, 2025
APPROVAL OF MINUTES-
Regular Council Meeting of March 4, 2025
STANDING AND REGULAR COMMITTEE REPORTS
Committee of Full, Mr. Carr – Mr. Carr stated there will be a committee meeting prior to the next Council meeting to discuss the salaries for the Mayor and Council
Finance and Audit Committee, Mr. Tomaselli – The committee met this evening to discuss the 2025 operating budget with the recommendation to Council to pass the budget.
CORRESPONDENCE
No correspondence
PUBLIC PORTION
Richard Zurga, 36930 Stevens Boulevard, Willoughby – Mr. Zurga stated he was walking his dog recently at the F. Alex Nason Park and ran into a surveyor who told him that a road was going to beinstalled on the south side of the basin so that the City has access to the corner of the basin. He questionedwhy the City would waste money on this when there are two gates with access from Harvard Road. Hestated there are bald eagles, coyotes, wild turkeys, hawks and deer in the park area and they will bedisturbed with the road going in. He stated there are two large piles of dirt when the road was built causing water flow in his back yard when the snow melts. City Engineer Lannon stated he was not aware of thewater issue but would check into it. He stated that the road being built is for a storm sewer project that will begin soon.
Erin Logan via Zoom (Councilman Carr’s daughter) – Ms. Logan wanted to say hello to her Dad and stated he was doing a great job. Go Wildcats.
NEW BUSINESS
ORDINANCE NO. 2025-28 Motion carried 7-0
An ordinance granting an easement for an underground electric utility line to Willoughby Union Realty LLC on a portion of Permanent Parcel No. 027-A-029-0- 00-003-0, and declaring an emergency.
City Engineer Lannon stated this ordinance is in reference to an underground electric connection to the newapartment building. There is currently an electrical connection that goes through Wes Point Park but it wasnever documented. The apartment building is on it’s own parcel and the connection goes across a City owned parcel so an easement needs to be done.
ORDINANCE NO. 2025-29 Motion carried 7-0
An ordinance accepting Amendment No. 2 to Ordinance No. 2024-38, the Manning & Payroll Ordinance, relative to the Parks and Recreation Department, hourly personnel, part-time (seasonal), and declaring an emergency.
Mr. Carr stated the proposed changes were discussed at the last Finance & Audit Committee meeting.
AMENDED 3/18/2025 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-30
On Tuesday, Council needs to pass a motion amending this above referenced resolution.
“I move to amend Resolution No. 2025-30 on Page 8, Fund 6040, East Island Equalization, striking the amount $11,500.00 replacing with $11,500,000.00. . . “
Then, motion to pass
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-30 Motion carried 7-0
A RESOLUTION TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR CURRENT EXPENSES AND OTHER EXPENDITURES OF THE CITY OF WILLOUGHBY, OHIO, DURING THE PERIOD ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2025, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
Mr. Carr stated the budget has been discussed over the last two Finance & Audit committee meetings.
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-31 Motion carried 7-0
A resolution authorizing the Mayor to accept the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Grant to provide financial assistance for the design and construction of the ChagrinFloodplain Restoration and Public Access Project, and declaring an emergency.
Mayor Fiala stated he received an e-mail earlier today confirming the award and this resolution will start the process to receive the funds. Mr. Tomaselli asked how the City can be sure the money isn’t revokable. Ms. Hoffman stated this is a reimbursable grant. An expense report is submitted and then funds are received.
NOTE:
For accuracy, this section has been copied from the council meeting minutes
MAYORS REPORT
Mayor Fiala thanked Council for the passage of Resolution No. 2025-
31. Regarding the Osborne Park grants, he stated the City is watching the $3 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife carefully. He stated the City is in the cycle for 2025 federal earmarks. A year ago, the Cityapply for a $2.8 million grant but it didn’t make the list for Dave Joyce or Sherrod Brown, however, Dave Joyce voted for it so it is on the list to be funded. All earmarks were struck from the federal budget. He believes that the 2025 earmark will be honored so the City will likely shift the focus of the 2026 earmark to the roundabout at Lost Nation Road and Hodgson. The roundabout project will be in collaboration with theLake County Executive Airport, which will give the project a bit more visibility. The City could ask for dollars through the Greats Lakes Restoration Initiative.
DIRECTOR’S REPORTS
Law Director Lucas – Mr. Lucas stated that there is a state house bill that will take effect in April that will permit virtual attendance at public meetings. Regarding the marijuana moratorium, Mr. Lucas stated that theproposed ordinance changes will need to go the Planning Commission first then to Council. Mr. Carr asked ifhe followed up on the commercial sidewalks on Rt. 91. Mr. Lucas stated he will have legislation before Council; there needs to be a resolution of necessity.
Service Director Palmisano – No report. Mr. Carr stated he had a few calls from residents on Colonial Road regarding the condition of the road; he drove through and stated the road is in bad shape particularlythe concrete section. He asked if our Service Department could do any of the patch work. Mr. Palmisanostated the City has done that kind of work with success (grind the concrete joints and cover with asphalt) in the past and he will have it looked at. Mr. Carr stated that residents brought to his attention the garbage in the Laketran bus shelters. He thought that Laketran would provide garbage cans but would not empty them. He suggested reaching out to the businesses near the shelters i.e., Walgreens and see if they would bewilling to empty the trash. Mr. Palmisano stated he would reach out to Laketran.
City Engineer Lannon – Mr. Lannon stated that he did a study regarding the road levy income that has been flat for several years versus the cost of asphalt. The buying power has been reduced by about twothirds. Regarding the roundabout at Lost Nation Road and Hodgson, he stated the estimate is about $5million. He will be applying this week for a federal grant that he hopes will cover about 80% of the project. Bids were received for the Nason Basin to Grove Avenue Phase I project which is the large storm sewer that runs from Nason Basin to the railroad underpass on Vine Street. The estimate was $6.25 million and the low bid was $5.7 million from Trax Construction. He will have legislation before Council to award the project at the next meeting. For this project, the City received $5 million from Ohio Department of Development and $1 million from Ohio Public Works Commission.
Fire Chief Ungar – No report. Mr. Carr asked about the refitting of the ambulance. Chief Ungar stated thework will begin in April. No update on the ladder truck. Chief Ungar stated that having purchased an ambulance during COVID that was fully outfitted has put the department in a good place so the department doesn’t run short.
Police Chief Schultz – Chief Schultz reported there was a busy, but safe St. Patrick’s Day.
Chief Building and Zoning Inspector Keller – No report.
Parks & Recreation Director Keller – Ms. Keller thanked Council for the passage of Ordinance No. 2025-29 and Resolution No. 2025-31. Work is progressing at Osborne Park; the City is waiting for the final permit and can’t start in the water until June 19th due to the protection of a fish species in the lake. Mr. Carr statedhe learned that the concrete in the water currently will be crushed, the rebar removed and will be used as underlayment.
Finance Director Hoffman – Ms. Hoffman thanked Council for the passage of Resolution No. 2025-29 and Ordinance No. 2025-30.
COUNCIL REPORTS
Mr. Kary – Mr. Kary thanked Mayor Fiala and Tim Lannon for the efforts regarding the roundabout at Lost Nation Road and Hodgson. He offered his assistance with the project.
ADJOURNMENT
COMMENTS BY COUNCILMAN KARY
I want to share a few comments regarding my activities on behalf of YOU, the residents of Ward 2 and Willoughby. I have been and will continue to stay vigilant with any plans before me on the Planning Commission regarding Lost Nation Road. We all know some properties vary in size and location, but several lend themselves to business purposes in a “busy” area. I have done all I can to bring that SMALL GROCERY STORE TO THE AREA. Two of the property owners have met with me recently, and they are still exploring that option. I promise to keep you all updated on any movement, and as always, I appreciate your input.
Another topic to share is the Lake County Executive Airport. As you know, they have been approved to construct a “new terminal.” I have posted pictures of the proposed building on Facebook. This will certainly be an “asset” not only for the Airport but also for the community.
Some other exciting news is that the “NEW” hangar you are seeing on Lost Nation Road (the JTV—Legends Hangar) is applying to the Planning Commission for a Restaurant with an Outdoor Patio.
Finally, I would like to share that I, the City Council, and the Administration are actively pursuing funding to mitigate the TRAFFIC AND SPEEDING PROBLEM on Lost Nation Road between Adkins and Lakeshore Boulevard.
This will take some time, but I wanted you to see that WE are doing all we can to solve the issues you shared with me over the past few years.
TUESDAY, April 1, 2025, City Council Voted “UNANIMOUSLY” to support the pursuit of funding for the Lost Nation Road Safety and Traffic Improvements. This is a strong positive to move forward with the pursuit of the most successful and productive solutions to the problems this stretch of highway faces.
Again, I will do all that I can to keep you informed.
Sincerely,
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/