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.
Finance & Appropriations:
B-52: An ordinance authorizing the mayor to apply for, accept, and enter into agreement a cooperative with the Ohio Development Water Authority for the replacement of the 4” water mains in Brookpark Drive, from Northampton Road to Eleanorora Drive, Eleanorora Drive, from Brookpark Drive East to Brookpark Drive West, Hoffman Drive, from Eleanorora Drive to Woodbrook Road and Woodbrook Road, from Northampton Road to Hoffman Drive, with an 8” water main.
B-53: An ordinance authorizing the mayor to apply for, accept, and enter into a cooperative agreement with the Ohio Water Development Authority for the replacement of the 6” and 8” water mains on Oakwood Drive, from Monroe Avenue to Graham Road, with an 8” water main.
B-54: An ordinance authorizing the mayor to apply for, accept, and enter into a cooperative agreement with the Ohio Water Development Authority for the improvements to the Bailey Road and State Road booster pump stations. Finance director Bryan Hoffman presented B-52, B-53, B-54 to the committee. All three projects were approved by council in 2023 and currently all projects are underway and could be completed by year end with a price tag of $1.9 million for B-52, $750k for B-53, and $800k for B-54. The city has requested and received $990 in grants for these projects. Hoffman said in his comments that the Water Development Authority offers cities a very competitive rate and terms for these infrastructure improvements. All of these projects were included in the water rate study conducted a few years ago. The finance committee voted to bring these pieces of legislation out for a vote before council next Monday, July 28.
B-55: An ordinance authorizing the parks and recreation board to enter into a contract or contracts, without competitive bidding, with IM Company, LLC., for emergency repairs needed to the first-floor restroom of the downtown pavilion. This legislation was presented by deputy parks director Michael Fallis, who explained that on June 29 a juvenile started a fire in the family restroom of the Pavilion. Although our fire department arrived and began battling the blaze, bringing it under control within minutes, there was severe damage done to the lights, ceiling tiles, and the ventilation system in the form of water and smoke damage. The city is insured with a $25k deductible. Damages are estimated at $88k and the firm providing restoration work has a good track record with the city from other restoration projects in the past. The goal is to have the restrooms re-opened before the beginning of the school year. The finance committee voted to bring this legislation out for a vote before council next Monday, July 28.
B-56: An ordinance providing for the issuance and sale of notes in the maximum principal amount of $1,310,000 in anticipation of the issuance of bonds, for the purpose of paying the costs of acquiring, reconstructing, constructing, improving, equipping and installing 3,400 lineal feet of sanitary sewer lines, 3,550 feet of water main lines and 8,000 lineal feet of electrical conduit wiring, related storm sewer lines and retention, erosion control and landscaping along Princeton Place Boulevard, Nottingham Trail, Bainbridge Trail and Kensington Court, together with all related and necessary appurtenances thereto. This project went out for bonds with a one-year term while awaiting for the state to approve the TIFF that will be used to finance the project’s infrastructure and with the state approval it is now going out on another one-year term bond. While awaiting the collection of funds to begin the payback plan that the TIFF has created, once that kicks in the debt is reduced by those living in the area who will see their property taxes diverted to pay off the TIFF. The finance committee voted to bring this legislation out for a vote before council next Monday, July 28.
B-57: An ordinance providing for the issuance and sale of notes in the maximum principal amount of $730,000, in anticipation of the issuance of bonds, for the purpose of paying the costs of the construction, reconstruction, widening, improving, grading, draining and resurfacing of Wyoga Lake Road between Steels Corners Road and Seasons Road, together with all related and necessary appurtenances thereto. Hoffman said that like B-56 this legislation is also to go out for a one-year bond until funds from the TIFF start coming in and the project will be paid for by those within the area described under the TIFF. The finance committee voted to bring this legislation out for a vote before council next Monday, July 28.
B-58: An ordinance providing for the issuance and sale of notes in the maximum principal amount of $4,615,000, in anticipation of the issuance of bonds, for the purpose of paying the costs of the design and engineering, construction, reconstruction, widening, improving, grading, draining and resurfacing of, and installation of traffic controls along, and the intersections of State Road, Seasons Road and Wyoga Lake Road, and a traffic study of those roads and related areas, including but not limited to the extension, opening, improving, curbing or changing of the lines and traffic patterns of roads, highways, intersections, streets, bridges (both roadway and pedestrian), sidewalks, bikeways, medians and viaducts, providing signage, lighting systems, signalization, and installation of stormwater and flood remediation facilities, together with all related and necessary appurtenances thereto. Finance Director Bryan Hoffman presented this legislation to the committee and like B-56 and B-57 this will also be a short-term bond. Although this project is currently under construction it will be paid for in the same manner as the other pieces of legislation. A member of council asked Hoffman if he could briefly explain how a TIFF works, which he explained that the state of Ohio’s website gives the definition:
In Ohio, Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is an economic development tool used by local governments to finance public infrastructure improvements. It works by capturing the increased property tax revenue generated from new development (the “tax increment”) to pay for eligible public infrastructure projects within a designated TIF district. This allows communities to incentivize development without directly raising taxes or using general fund revenues.
The finance committee voted to bring this legislation out for a vote before council next Monday, July 28.
Public & Industrial Improvements:
Temp. Ord. B-59: An ordinance authorizing the director of public service to enter into a contract or contracts, according to law, for the demolition of the Oak Park water tank, located within Oak Park near the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Thirteenth Street. This legislation was presented by City Engineer Tony Demasi who started off by telling the committee that the water tower was built in 1927 and de-commissioned in 2019 from the water department; however, it still had communications antennas on it leasing space from the city. After working with the communications providers and the EPA the city is finally at the point to move forward on the demolition. There were five bidders and the lowest and best bidder it will take approximately two months to complete with the cost of $250k. The public and industrial improvements committee voted to bring this legislation out for a vote before council next Monday, July 28.
B-60: An ordinance authorizing the director of public service to enter into a contract or contracts, according to law, for replacement of the 6” water main in Cedar Hill Road, West Portage Trail to Cedar Hill Circle, and Cedar Hill Circle, with an 8” water main. This legislation was also presented by city engineer Tony Demasi and he began by saying that the waterline was installed in 1957 and by current standards would be considered undersized. The new 8” line will be a welcome improvement to the area where breaks have been taking place over the last few years. There were seven bids on the project with H M Miller the lowest and best bidder at $845k. The public and industrial improvements committee voted to bring this legislation out for a vote before council next Monday, July 28.
B-62: An ordinance authorizing the appropriation of certain interests in real property necessary for the improvement of Wyoga Lake Road between Seasons Road and E. Steels Corners Road. Demasi stated that as of a few weeks ago agreements were slowly coming in, There is a combination of commercial and residential properties involved and with the commercial properties his office is awaiting the paperwork to move up and down the management chain; other property owners have given verbal commitment and in one case the land is going through probate court. As of today, Demasi stated that they have signed agreements from 42% of the property owners affected. The public and industrial improvements committee voted to bring this legislation out for a vote before council next Monday, July 28.
Community Development:
B-63: An ordinance approving and authorizing the mayor to execute and submit the annual action plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for program year 2025. This legislation was presented by Community Block Development Grant Administrator Peggy Szalay who distributed a handout to members of the committee and Council itemizing how this year’s allocation would be distributed within the city. Some of the highlights include $130k to our housing program. The program includes rehabilitation work on owner-occupied homes of income-qualified individuals. Funding availability each year determines whether we provide this form of assistance in either a grant or a 0% interest loan that is deferred until the home is sold or the unit is no longer owner-occupied. All assistance for Program Year 2025 will be provided in the form of a grant to the homeowner. We perform an annual audit each year to make sure the owner is still occupying the home and current on his/her property taxes. The current capacity for minor housing rehabilitation is 3-6 homes per year, depending on the amount of work involved in each project. In 2024, CDBG funds were used to rehabilitate four homes. Other points in the handout included $150k for economic development and $210k in public facilities and improvements. A public meeting regarding the 2025 CDBG Annual Action Plan will be held in the Cuyahoga Room at the Natatorium on July 23, 2025 at 2pm. The community development committee voted to bring this legislation out for a vote before council next Monday, July 28.
