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.
At the October 24 city council meeting, minutes from the previous three meetings were approved and the clerk read into the record petitions, claims, communications, and reports of city officials. There was a notification from the Department of Liquor Control regarding a new permit for Scents By the Falls at 1749 Front St. Unit C, as well as a letter received October 22, 2022 concerning conduct unbecoming of an elected official, filed with the clerk.
The following legislation was read and assigned to the appropriate committees.
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. Assigned to the finance committee to discuss Monday, November 7.
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. Assigned to the finance committee to discuss November 7.
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. Assigned to the finance committee to discuss at the next meeting.
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. Assigned to the finance committee to discuss November 7.
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. Assigned to the finance committee to discuss Monday November 7.
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. Assigned to the public and industrial improvements committee to discuss November 7.
A-123: A resolution expressing support for and urging passage of Issue 4, the Cuyahoga Falls City School District levy, at the general election to be held on November 8, 2022. A special Public Affairs meeting was held Monday night and Mayor Walter and others urged support for the renewal levy on the November ballot.
Council then voted on items discussed in committee meetings last week.
Planning and Zoning Committee:
A-116: An ordinance accepting the planning commission’s recommendation for the approval of a conditional zoning certificate for a wireless communication facility on city property located at 4175 State Road. Passed 10-0.
Finance & Appropriations:
A-106: An ordinance authorizing the director of public service to enter into a contract or contracts with Independent Diesel Services to repair the CF1 #6 diesel generator located at 2550 Bailey Road. Passed 10-0.
A-108: An ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into a real estate purchase agreement for the sale of certain real property known as 1863 Second Street, 1869 Second Street, and 1877 Second Street. Passed 10-0.
A-109: An ordinance amending Ordinance 36-2022 to authorize the mayor to enter into a modification of Contract No. 8542 with Dant Clayton, making the necessary appropriations for the same. Passed 10-0.
Public Affairs Committee:
A-110: An ordinance amending Chapter 181, Contracts and Competitive Bidding, of the Codified Ordinances of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio to update the definition of lowest and best bid. Passed 10-0.
A-111: An ordinance amending the Traffic Control File by providing for installation of various traffic control devices. Passed 10-0.
Community Development Committee:
A-112: An ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Community Improvement Corporation of Cuyahoga Falls to administer a Brownfield Remediation Grant, appropriating the necessary funds to administer the grant. Passed 10-0.
A-113: An ordinance designating the Community Improvement Corporation of Cuyahoga Falls as an agency of the city under Ohio Revised Code Section 1724.10, authorizing the execution of an agreement and plan for industrial, commercial. Passed 10-0.
A-114: An ordinance authorizing a grant to the Community Improvement Corporation of Cuyahoga Falls and authorizing the execution of a grant agreement with the Community Improvement Corporation of Cuyahoga Falls. Passed 10-0.
Miscellaneous Business:
City resident Andrew Holland presented the city with a piece of artwork from the travel band Phish in thank you for Mayor Walters’ continuing support and for working with our city council and leaders of other communities in establishing the Gateway Communities to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. On behalf of the city, the mayor thanked both Holland and other residents of Sourek Trail for their efforts in making Cuyahoga Falls a better place to live, and that the artwork would be proudly displayed in the city building.
Community Development Director Diana Colavecchio went over her office’s third quarter report. She noted the continued upswing in new development, citing eight new projects that were not on the second quarter report. The report shows $16.6 million in completed projects in 2022 and 184 new jobs added. Colavecchio also highlighted some of the city’s community art projects, starting with Stacy Levy’s Topo Swail planted at Second St. and Falls Ave. This project will serve as a local art piece and help cleanse water runoff before it reaches the river. The project has been planted and will be dedicated in the spring. The Peter Jones Sculpture of a Native American in a canoe is being fabricated now and will be ready for installation in November. The Don Drumm sculpture in High Bridge Glens Park will also be installed on November 3 by Lucco and Sons and the dedication will be November 9 at 4pm. In other development news, the city has put out a request for bids on parcel 107, an empty lot on Front St. at Portage Trail, being for multi-story housing with retail at street level.
