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.
Finance & Appropriations:
Temp. Ord. A-10: An ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract or contracts, without competitive bidding, with InVeris for Police Department virtual reality training devices. Chief Davis made the presentation on this legislation and stated that after a year’s worth of research by his training officers they chose this system to replace the aging system currently used by the police department. This is a virtual reality-based system that will allow our trainers to interact with the officer, but also use scenarios based on actual court cases as part of the training. The cost for this system will be $61,800. The long-term plan will be similar to the department’s indoor range, and the Chief hopes to be able to rent the system out to other departments for their training needs as well. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote by full council Monday, February 14th.
Temp. Ord. A-11: An ordinance authorizing the Parks and Recreation Board to enter into a contract or contracts for interior improvements to Northampton Town Hall to increase the functionality of the structure and make the building compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This includes the restrooms and entrances, as well as other improvements such as painting the interior wall and replacing ceilings. Prior to Covid, this building was rented 155 times in 2018 and 135 times in 2019. The improvements will make an already popular rental space more accessible to residents wishing to rent the facility. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote by full council Monday, February 14th.Temp. Ord. A-12: Declaring the improvement to certain parcels on an approximate 37.9-acre site west of Wyoga Lake Road and approximately 2,000 feet north of Steels Corners in the city to be a public purpose and exempt from taxation pursuant to ORC 5709.40(b); providing for the collection and deposit of service payments and specifying the purposes for which those service payments may be expended; authorizing school compensation payments.
Temp. Ord. A-13: An ordinance approving and authorizing the execution of a tax increment financing and infrastructure agreement between the city, Wyoga Lake Road Development, LLC, Princeton Place Development, LLC and Princeton Crossroads Investment, LLC to provide for the construction of certain public infrastructure improvements, the acceptance of declarations of covenants and imposition of a continuing priority lien relating to the imposition of minimum service payment obligations on Wyoga Lake Road Development, LLC and Princeton Place Development, LLC.
Both Ordinances A-12 and A-13 refer to the same development of 37.9 acres along Wyoga Lake Rd. According to Finance Committee Chair Mary Nichols Rhodes, A-12 covers the roads and infrastructure (streets and sidewalks) that will be constructed with the funds the TIF (Tax Increment Financing) generates and A-13 is the actual TIF agreement. This agreement does not include the school system, so the Woodridge School district would continue to receive property taxes throughout the life of the agreement. Council is familiar with this project, having approved the rezoning and site plan over the last year. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote by full council Monday February 14th.
Public & Industrial Improvements:
Temp. Ord. A-14: An ordinance authorizing the Director of Public Service to enter into a contract or contracts with GPD Associates for the architectural design services needed for the construction of the new Electrical Division building. This ordinance follows A-1, which approved the purchase of property on Cochran Rd. where the electric service center will be located. Anthony Zumbo made the presentation, showing some of the features of the 47,000 square foot (indoor) facility, along with 33,000 square feet of outdoor storage. The facility will feature secure storage, both inside and out, along with many green features such as energy saving lighting and solar panels. Zumbo also said that once electric service moves to this new location it will allow for more expansion of the departments that are currently housed at the Baily Rd. facility. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote by full council Monday, February 14th.
Public Affairs:
Temp. Ord. A-15: An ordinance amending Section 565.04 (a) (8) of the Codified Ordinances, relating to park rules and regulations. Law Director Janet Ciotola explained that this is a cleanup ordinance to remove prohibitions of dogs in the city’s parks that was put into place prior to the passage of a citywide ordinance requiring all dogs to be kept on a leash. The revision allows dogs to be permitted in all parks within the city provided they are on a leash or in the designated areas of the dog park. Councilwoman Mary Nichols Rhodes added that this change also cancels the total restriction of dogs in Oak Park, Valley Vista, and Linden Parks that had been in effect since 1965. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote by full council Monday, February 14th.
Community Development:
Temp. Ord. A-16: An ordinance authorizing the Director of Community Development to amend the Community Reinvestment Area Tax Exemption Agreement with Harbor Castings, Inc., to reflect the title of land transfer to CL Partners, LLC. Community Development Director Diana Colavecchio explained that the was just a housekeeping measure due to Harbor Castings changing the name on the title of their property on Bailey Rd. The amount and timeline of the agreement doesn’t change—only the name. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote by full council Monday February 14th.
