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.
Public Hearings
B-10: An ordinance approving the renewal application of Daniel Michael Lynch, Trustee, as owner of certain real property located at 643/653 West Steels Corners Road, to place said property into an agricultural district pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 929.
Presented by Law Director Janet Ciotola, the measure will renew the above agricultural district for another five years. Lynch was present to answer any questions. Public Affairs Committee Chair Rachel Loza asked if anyone wished to speak for or against the measure. With no response, the public hearing was closed.
B-16: An ordinance creating a designated outdoor refreshment area known as the Downtown Cuyahoga Falls Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, enacting regulations.
**Public Hearing for B-16 to be held Monday, April 17 at 6:30 pm.
Standing Committees
Sustainability, Energy & Environment:
B-15: An ordinance amending Chapter 933 “Electricity” of Title 5 “Public Utilities” of Part 9 “Streets, Utilities and Public Services Code” of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio relating to electric rates to add section “933.21 City-Owned Electric Vehicle Charger Rates.” Finance Director Bryan Hoffman presented this ordinance which establishes rates for city-owned electric car chargers. The city currently owns one charger that is installed in the Front St parking lot of the Summit County Developmental Disabilities building. After surveying what other communities are charging and other commercial services rates, 38 cents /kilowatt hour was decided. This is the long-term plan to install more vehicle chargers around the community. Response from councilmembers was very positive and there was praise for forward thinking. The committee agreed to bring this out for a vote before full council next Monday, March 13.
Finance & Appropriations:
B-11: An ordinance authorizing the director of public service to enter into a contract or contracts, with Ingersoll Landscape Company for tree planting and mowing services. Rod Troxell showed this ordinance will provide for mowing at the city’s right of ways at a cost of $22k and planting approximately 100 trees (both new and replacement) at a cost of $38k. It was also mentioned that the city does offer residents, free of charge, a tree on their tree lawn with the stipulation that the resident waters it as needed and keeps it in good health. Contact your councilperson for details. The committee agreed to bring this out for a vote before full council next Monday.
B-12: An ordinance authorizing the director of public service to enter into a contract or contracts, according to law, for the replacement of the flat roof on the Municipal Building, located at 2310 Second Street. City Engineer Tony Demasi presented the project’s budget at $450k and 2 bids were received with the best and lowest bid awarded to AW Ferrell, who came in at $441k. Work will begin this summer and be completed by October. The committee agreed to bring this out for a vote before full council next on March 13.
Public & Industrial Improvements:
B-13: An ordinance authorizing the director of public service to enter into a contract or contracts, according to law, for the annual resurfacing and/or repair of various streets as described in Exhibit ‘A’ (as seen in last week’s council notes) in the City of Cuyahoga Falls and authorizing the director of public service to enter into a contract or contracts for pavement preservation on various streets within the city. Committee Chair Meika Penta thanked the engineering department for all of their work in putting this yearly list together, after which City Engineer Tony Demasi gave a brief overview of how the streets are rated by an outside firm, with his office putting together a profile to determine what gets done in the current calendar year. One of the bigger factors is if any of the utilities have planned work on any of the rated streets. An example was that Northmoreland Ave. is being paved this year, but had been held off in previous years waiting for Dominion to finish work on repairing gas lines. Demasi said it would make no sense to freshly pave a street in the spring only to dig it up for water lines three months later. Also of note is that as in past years all sidewalk handicap ramps will be replaced to meet current standards. The city will start receiving bids this month and award contracts at the beginning of April. This year’s street resurfacing budget will be $3 million. The committee agreed to bring this out for a vote before full council next Monday.
B-14: An ordinance authorizing the director of public service to enter into a contract or contracts with GPD Group. This legislation authorizes the city to enter into a contract to use GDP group to be the construction management team for the new electric services building slated to be built on Cochran Rd. This contract is for $618k. The committee agreed to bring this out for a vote before full council next Monday.
Community Development:
B-17: An ordinance approving and authorizing the mayor to execute and submit the amended Consolidated Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for program years 2019-2023.
B-18: An ordinance appropriating Community Development Block Grant carryover funds for calendar year 2023.
B-19: An ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute and submit the Annual Action Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for program year 2023.
The city’s CDBG Entitlement Administrator Peggy Szalay explained that the city will be eligible for approximately $645k in Community Block Development Funds in 2023 and those funds will be used for a range of things from helping citizens make home repairs, to helping local business. One of the highlights of this year’s plan was partnering with Cuyahoga Falls Library to create a literacy program to benefit our non-English speaking residents. After some discussion on the three pieces of legislation the committee agreed to bring them out for a vote before full council next Monday.
B-20: An ordinance approving and authorizing the mayor to execute Community Development Block Grant agreements with Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority for the installation of broadband internet and the purchase of WIFI-enabled devices. Community Development Director Diana Colavecchio gave a brief history of the partnership our city has joined into with the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority. The city plans to invest $49k in CBDG funds into infrastructure and $37k for Chromebooks and tablets to help bridge the digital divide in our city. From there Christina Hodgkinson from AMHA took over the presentation, providing specifics about the plan that will affect approximately 322 households. This joint partnership between the Woodridge School District, AMHA, and the city of Cuyahoga Falls will bring WIFI to Sutliff, Honey Locust and Lobello Lane. The city’s stake in this will be the infrastructure bringing the internet to these three complexes. Hodgkinson touted the three objectives of this initiative are internet connectivity, access to digital devices, and digital literacy, citing the digital literacy part of the initiative as being the most important of the three. She also reiterated that Woodridge School system is also a partner, having committed financial support for the 137 students who live at the Honey Locust complex. AMHA Executive Director Herman Hill was also present at the meeting and praised all of those involved for bringing this plan together. The committee agreed to bring this out for a vote before full council next Monday.
B-21: An ordinance approving and authorizing the purchase of various playground equipment and outdoor exercise equipment from GameTime.
B-22: An ordinance approving and authorizing the mayor to execute a Community Development Block Grant agreement with Site Technology, Inc. for the installation of pickleball courts.
B-23: An ordinance approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute a Community Development Block Grant agreement with Stanley Access Technologies and Thompson Electric, Inc. for an ADA accessible project at the Natatorium.
Community Development Director Diana Colavecchio outlined the relationship between her office and Parks and Recreation, then turned the presentation over to Park Director Sara Kline and Assistant Director Michael Fallis. The theme of their presentation on all three ordinances is that our parks are for everyone. $22,104 dollars will be spent at Harrington Park to make it more accessible, while the playground at the Quirk Cultural Center will receive accessibility improvements, including an indoor handicap restroom available after the main building is closed for the day. The Quirk improvements are estimated at $45k, which includes an audio story walk for the visually impaired. Kline also presented slides showing the types of playground equipment that would be added to the playgrounds at Quirk and Harrington, which include an accessible drum circle, tandem swings, and a new safer take on an old playground toy– the Merry Go All. As for the Natatorium, Kline said the building itself is accessible; however, once you get in the door you are on your own. Part of the changes listed to happen under the B-23 will include over 30 new interior button-operated doors including locker rooms and council chambers. This legislation will also provide an aquatic lift for those who are not able to enter or exit the pool, along with making the locker room sinks/vanities usable by all. Committee and council members all felt these were wonderful improvements and thanked Parks and Recreation staff for their hard work putting this plan together. After some discussion over the three pieces of legislation the committee agreed to bring them out for a vote before full council next Monday.
