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 council members 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:
A-115: An ordinance authorizing and approving the final subdivision plat for The Glens Townhome Development located on the west side of Front Street, north of Chestnut Boulevard. Community Development Director Diana Colavecchio and Planning Director Rob Kurtz made the presentation on this ordinance that goes with the planned Testa development on South Front Street. Colavecchio began with a check sheet her office is using to track milestones to complete the timeline for this massive project. Kurtz went over both the Planning Commission’s approval and their minor recommendations along with the small facade changes required to comply with the approval given by the Historic Design and Review Board. It was also noted that the demolition of 1734 Front St., the former Pro Mold, will take place in early December. The Committee voted to bring this out for a vote before all of city council next Monday November 14.
Finance & Appropriations:
A-117: An ordinance amending Ordinance 123-2021 authorizing the director of public service to enter into a contract or contracts, according to law, for the purchase of annual requirements of certain services, materials, and supplies for use by the garage division during 2022. City Garage Supervisor John Campbell cited rising gas and diesel costs as the reason for returning to council to increase this appropriation. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote before all of city council next Monday November 14.
A-118: An ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract or contracts with Medical Mutual Services, LLC for the administration of the city’s self-insured employee medical plans for a period not to exceed two years.
A-119: An ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract or contracts with Principal Life Insurance Company for the administration of the city’s fully-insured employee dental insurance plan, for a period not to exceed three years.
A-120: An ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract or contracts with TrueScripts for the administration of the city’s self-insured employee prescription drug plans for a period not to exceed three years.
A-124: An ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract or contracts with Medical Mutual of Ohio for the city’s group life insurance for employees and retirees for a period not to exceed three years.
Finance Director Bryan Hoffman presented all four of the above ordinances. He explained how his office and the newly formed Health Care Committee and the administration worked together to create a benefit package for current city employees and retired employees that included some increases but still remained fair to both the employees and the city. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote before all of city council on November 14.
A-121: An ordinance establishing annual appropriations of money for the current expenses, capital expenditures and other expenses of the City of Cuyahoga Falls for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. This is the yearly budget ordinance that funds all departments within the city as required by state law. As in past years this ordinance will be discussed by the finance committee at this meeting and at the next four finance committee meetings taking place on November 13, November 21, November 28, and December 5. These meetings will begin at 6:30pm and are open to the public and comments are encouraged. Mayor Walters began this discussion on this ordinance by thanking all of those who have worked so far to put this budget together and that since 2020 there has been $160 million in new investments, which he feels will continue to grow. Highlights in this year’s budget will include the same investment in paving our roads, both asphalt and concrete, along with rebuilding Cochran Rd and Portage Trail Extension, the intersection alignment of the State Rd. and Seasons Rd in Ward 8, the new Electric Services building and the process of replacing the wading pools at our neighborhood parks with splash pads. The November 7 meeting heard the budgeted items of city council and the mayor’s office along with cabinet offices. Spending in these city departments remained flat with approximately 3% cost of living adjustments in areas such as the law department, service director’s office, and the finance department. The engineering department is requesting that a new civil engineer be hired to make up for the loss of staff in 2022 through retirements. The budget ordinance will continue to be discussed over the next few weeks and then be brought out for a vote before all of city council in mid-December.
Public & Industrial Improvements:
A-122: An ordinance authorizing the director of public service to enter into a contract or contracts, without competitive bidding, with DLZ Ohio, Inc., for engineering services related to the preliminary evaluation of the main trunk sewer located within the Gorge Metro Park. Water Department Supervisor Russ Kring made the presentation on this ordinance, explaining this will help the city comply with EPA regulations and order to eliminate sanitary sewer overflow into the river by means of holding tanks and other measures. The plan is to have this work run concurrently with other activities taking place in the gorge over the next few years. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote before all of city council next Monday November 14.
