Cuyahoga Falls City Council holds regular meetings on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. Council committee meetings are held on the first and third Mondays in order to allow councilmembers to publicly discuss pending legislation that will be voted on at regular meetings. The public is free to comment on pending legislation during the allowed time set aside as part of committee meetings.
Planning & Zoning:
B-115: An ordinance approving a zoning map amendment for parcels 02- 13736 and 02-17196 located on 6th Street from R-4 Urban Density Residential to MU-4 Sub-Urban Corridor, as more fully described herein.
A public hearing was held because this legislation is requesting a change of zoning. Planning Director Rod Kurtz explained the change would facilitate the 900 square foot expansion of the dental practice at the corner of 6th and Portage trail. The matter was discussed in the public hearing and the owner of the property, Dr. Glick, was present to answer questions. The file passed the planning commission on October 17 and during that meeting neighbors were satisfied with the amount of buffering and fencing. The planning and zoning committee voted to bring this out for a vote before full council next Monday.
Finance & Appropriations:
B-116: An ordinance establishing annual appropriations of money for the current expenses, capitalexpenditures, and other expenses of the City of Cuyahoga Falls for the Fiscal Year ending
December 31, 2024. This was the final committee meeting concerning the city’s 2024 budget and committee chair Mary Nicolas Rhodes thanks the finance department for all their work in preparation that made this a very smooth process. Other committee members agreed and voted to bring this out for a vote before all of council next Monday.
B-130: An ordinance amending sections 923.01 and 923.02 of Part Five of Title Nine of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Cuyahoga Falls, establishing water rates.
B-131: An ordinance amending Section 925.02 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Cuyahoga Falls.
Both B-130 and B-131 were discussed together in the same presentation by Consultant Bob McNutt from CT Consultants, who the city hired to review our water and sewer system and develop a long-term plan to keep our infrastructure functioning and in compliance with EPA rules to keep our drinking water safe. As McNutt went through slides, he pointed out that in the 90s many communities—Cuyahoga Falls included— chose to work within a pattern of “differed maintenance.” While it may have saved some money then it is now time to pay for some of those decisions. What his team has put together is a 5-year plan to replace and repair much of our 80-year-old water and sewer system. In our water system there are 174 miles of water mains ranging in size from 4” to 16” that service 19,540 connections throughout the city. Copies of the presentation were distributed to council, which included a rate sheet showing what the average resident will be paying in 2024 as compared to other communities in the area. McNutt explained that even at the end of five years, Cuyahoga Falls residents will still be paying far less than the other communities listed. Finance Director Bryan Hoffman told the committee that these expenses do not have any grants attached to them at this point and his office is remaining diligent in finding funding to help the city with these expenses. Mayor Walters also commented that these are not the most glamorous improvements, but they are improvements that need done. As Finance Committee Chair Mary Nichols Rhodes said, “water is life and is the most important service the city provides.” The committee voted to bring this out for a vote before full council next Monday.
Public & Industrial Improvements:
B-132: An ordinance authorizing the director of public service to enter into a contract or contracts for the demolition of a structure located at 357 Steels Corners Road, and removal of demolition debris, and certifying the cost thereof to the county fiscal officer for collection in the manner provided by law. City Engineer Tony Demasi presented the information on this legislation, stating that nine years after the building department placed orders on the garage on this property in March of 2023 the county condemned the structure last March. The property owner did take out a building permit to begin the required repairs; however, to date no work has been done so the city moved for the demolition. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote before council next Monday.
B-133: An ordinance authorizing the director of public service to enter into a contract or contracts, according to law, for the demolition of structures located at 600 Sill Avenue, and removal of demolition debris, and certifying the cost thereof to the county fiscal officer for collection in the manner provided by law. Since February of 2023 building inspectors have been working with the property owner to remedy the code violations on his garage that has had orders placed on it since 2012. There has been no progress, so the matter was turned over to the county and the structure was condemned in March of this year, nine years after the initial complaint. The property owner was present and requested another extension, but the committee voted to bring this out for a vote before full council next Monday.
