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-108: An ordinance accepting the recommendation of the planning commission for the construction of a 13,900 sq. ft. office/industrial building and three (3) self-storage buildings located at 4204 Wyoga Lake Road. Planning Director Rob Kurtz stated that the project has the approval of the planning commission and comprises of a flex type office/industrial building that can lease space as required by tenants along with 3 self-storage units for use by tenants as well. The self storage units are not typical residential storage; they will be either 18’x50’ or 36’x50’. The Planning commission did request additional trees for screening and storm water detention be added to the site. Developer Theo Stathopoulos was present for any questions. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote before council next Monday.
Finance & Appropriations:
B-111: An ordinance authorizing the director of finance to enter into a contract or contracts, with Wichert Insurance services, inc. for the professional services necessary to manage the city’s risk management and insurance program and for the purchase of public entity insurance coverage. A special meeting of council was held Monday night to read this legislation and assign it to the finance committee. During the finance committee meeting Finance Director Bryan Hoffman made a short presentation where he said the renewal rate would be almost flat compared to what the city paid for last year’s insurance and that Wichert is an expert in the municipal market and also located in the city. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote later in the evening and it passed 11-0.
B-104: An ordinance authorizing the procurement of Pro-Construction & Renovation, LLC to provide housing rehabilitation services. Community Development Director Dianna Colavecchio explained to the committee that the city has a program where qualified households can use CBDG grant monies for housing rehabilitation. In this case the lowest bidder was unable to complete the task and the contract was awarded to the second lowest bidder and this legislation awards to contract (at a slightly elevated price) to that builder. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote next Monday.
B-105: An ordinance authorizing the director of public service to enter into a contract or contracts with Bell Equipment for the purchase of a Leaf Vacuum Truck for use in the street division. Street Commissioner Charles Novak told the committee that the city has an opportunity to purchase another one-man leaf vacuum from the supplier that provides the city with their current fleet. The vacuum is available for immediate delivery and can be paid for using balances in other funds where savings has happened during the year. Cost of the new piece of equipment will be $264k and will arrive in time for the 2023 leaf pickup. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote next Monday.
B-106: An ordinance authorizing the mayor to apply for, accept, and enter into a Water Supply Revolving Loan Account Agreement with the Ohio EPA on behalf of the City for planning, designing, and constructing water facilities, designating a repayment source for the loan. Presented by Finance Director Bryan Hoffman, this measure will secure funding for the filter media used by our water department. At a cost of over one million dollars, Hoffman explained that this expenditure typically goes out for bonds that can be financed through the EPA at a much lower interest rate for the city. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote next Monday.
B-107: An ordinance authorizing all actions necessary to accept the Ohio Emergency Management Agency’s ARPA First Responder Retention Incentives Grant, making necessary appropriations, therefore. Hoffman explained that through a grant made possible by the Ohio Emergency Management Agency several Fire Department staff and Dispatchers applied for and received grants totaling $302,184. The per-employee share will be approximately $4,000 each and this legislation allows the city to administer these funds to the eligible employees. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote next Monday.
Public Affairs:
B-109: A resolution supporting Issue 17, the Summit County Developmental Disabilities Replacement Levy. Summit County DD Executive Director Lisa Kamolowsky gave a run-down of the benefits that Summit County DD provides to residents and broke down the cost of this replacement levy at $3.58 per month for every $100k value of the average homeowner. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote next Monday.
Community Development:
B-110: An ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into a Community Reinvestment Area Agreement with 4204 Wyoga Lake, LLC. Presented by Community Development Director Dianna Colavecchio. This CRA goes with the project already discussed with the legislation discussed with the planning and zoning committee earlier in the evening. Under the agreement the developer, Theo Stathopoulos, would receive a 50% abatement in taxes for a ten-year period for his $3.8 million dollar investment and agree to maintain 10 full-time employees and provide a $1,000 scholarship to the Woodridge School system per year for the length of the agreement. Representatives of the Woodridge school district were in favor of this agreement. The committee voted to bring this out for a vote next Monday.
