Cuyahoga Falls City Council meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month and council committee meetings are held on the first and third Monday to publicly discuss pending legislation that will be voted on by council as a whole during its regular scheduled meetings. The public is free to comment on pending legislation during the allowed time on the night of committee meetings.
On Monday December 28th, Cuyahoga Falls City Council President Brillhart called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance was led by a representative from Boy Scout Troop #273. New ordinances were assigned to the proper committees for discussion during committee meetings on January 4th at 6:30 pm.
B-136: Accepting the planning commission’s recommendation for approval of a conditional zoning certificate for a wireless communication facility on city property at Oak Park was assigned to the Planning and Zoning committee for discussion.
B-137: Authorizing the Mayor or his designee to enter into a contract without competitive bidding with Atlantic Emergency Solutions for various repairs and supplies for equipment used by the fire department will be discussed by the Finance committee.
B-138: Approving and authorizing the Mayor to submit the annual action plan to The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the program year 2022 will be discussed by the Community Development committee.
The following ordinances from the city council’s standing committees were passed before council:
Committee-of-the-Whole
B-117: Redistricting of the city’s wards based on the latest U.S. census.
Finance Committee
B-118: A resolution asking the county fiscal officer to give the city an advance on the money it collects on behalf of the city.
B-119: Allowing for supplemental and amended appropriations of money for current operating expenses.
B-120: This ordinance would amend the Codified Ordinances of the city concerning refuse collection and disposal and re-establish new rates and regulations. Before the vote Committee Chair Tim Gorbach wanted to comment on this piece of legislation, saying that any time council is faced with an ordinance that raises rates which directly impact the residents of our city, it is hard and it can be disconcerting for our residents and members of council. He went on to acknowledge that residents demand and deserve a very high level of service and the city does their best to provide them with that, but there also hasn’t been an increase since 2004; wage increases alone should have made this necessary many years ago. According to Gorbach, they have crafted this ordinance so that not all of the rates are going up the same amount, and there will be no increases on those involved in the senior program.
The following ordinances were also voted on and passed, allowing city departments to spend what each department has budgeted in 2022 for supplies and materials for the various departments:
B-121: materials and supplies for the sanitation department.
B-122: materials and supplies for the street department.
B-123: materials and supplies for the electric department
B-124: amends the 2021 ordinance (100-2020) for materials and supplies for the garage division.
B-125: materials and supplies for 2022 for the garage division.
B-126: the purchase or lease of various vehicles and related equipment.
B-127: materials and supplies for the water and sewer division
Public and Industrial Improvements
B-128: This ordinance will allow the city to levy special assessments to those who had sidewalks and/or drive approaches that were in the 2021 replace-and-repair district.
B-129: This will allow the city to enter into a contract(s) for replacement and repair of sidewalks and drive approaches in various locations in the city for 2022.
B-130: This resolution states the intent to create the sidewalk and drive approach district within the city limits and to replace or repair and bill the property owner via special assessments.
B-131: Allows the Director of Public Service to enter into a contract for the stabilization of the Cuyahoga riverbank behind Ledgewater Falls Condominiums.
Public Affairs
B-116 (substitute dated 12/6/21): B-116 authorizes the city to enter into an agreement to join a Council of Governments and establish a joint dispatch center.
Committee Chair Russ Balthis remarked before the vote that public safety is one of the most important things that is done on city council and he appreciates all of the work and research that was put into this measure. He stated he has a lot of comfort knowing our police and fire chiefs would not take this task lightly and have not only supported this, but have also encouraged council to move forward on this plan. Balthis went on to explain that this will provide our dispatchers with the best technology and training to be able to continue to do their jobs, and as we move forward we will continue to keep our public safety forces front and center, making sure they continue to have a voice in not only the process but also the timetable of this project. He feels very strongly that if we do not do this now, in five years we will all be standing back wishing we had.
B-133: Establishes the authorized staffing of the fire department and creates a Deputy Fire Chief position.
B-134: Establishes the authorized staffing for the police department.
B-135: Establishes compensation levels for non-bargaining employees of the city.
Miscellaneous Business
This night’s meeting was At-Large Councilman Jeff Iula’s last meeting, having not sought re-election. Iula spent a little time talking about some of the accomplishments he had seen in his 12 years on city council and even took some time to roast a few of his fellow council members. Many council members spoke out about Mr. Iula’s knowledge of local history and his dedication to the city. It was a fitting farewell and thank you to a man that has become known as “Mr. Cuyahoga Falls.”
