Regular Council Meeting Minutes from December 19, 2017

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

MINUTES

TUESDAY

DECEMBER 19, 2017

7:00 P.M.

The Regular Meeting of the Eastlake City Council was held at Eastlake City Hall, 35150 Lakeshore Boulevard.  The Meeting was called to order by Council President Ms. DePledge at approximately 7:03 p.m.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

ATTENDEES

Members of Council in attendance were Mr. Zuren, Mr. Meyers, Mr. Kasunick, Mr. Spotton, Mr. Evers, Mr. Hoefle and Council President Ms. DePledge.  Also in attendance was Council Clerk Mrs. Simons.

Those attending from the Administration were Mayor Morley, Fire Chief Whittington, Police Chief Reik, CBO Menn, Service Director Rubertino City Engineer Gwydir, Finance Director Schindel and Law Director Klammer.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Regular Council Meeting –December 19, 2017.

MOTION:  Mr. Evers moved to approve the Amended Agenda for December 19, 2017.  Mr. Hoefle second.

Motion carried. Agenda approved.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Meetings Scheduled

Ms. DePledge: The next Council-as-a-Whole Committee Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. The Regular Council meeting will be convened immediately following the adjournment of the Council-as-a-Whole Committee meeting.  Tonight is my last night as the City Council President and there are several items that are still pending as Referrals.   As a matter of housekeeping I will be cleaning out those items.  The first item is from September 23, 2014 Sneakee Pete’s Bar & Grill d/b/a TS Macklin Event Center at 35700 Lakeland Blvd.  It has been pending for three years with no action, no comment and no work.  It is being removed.  The next item being removed is Video Traffic Enforcement and it has been pending since November 11, 2016 with no further action or information on that, so it will be removed.  The next two items were brought into the Ordinance Committee on May, 16, 2017 and they are Video Taping of City Meetings and Social Media Policy.  There has been nothing presented to Council, the Clerk or anything else to bring that to the fore front, or to schedule meetings on it, there has been no information received, so those are also being removed from the Referral List.  All items can be re-raised with the new Administration.  With that gentlemen and madam it’s been a pleasure to work with each of you and you are one of the finest Administrations that we have ever had.  It has been an honor to represent the City of Eastlake and to work on City Council with these people.   There will be an Organizational Meeting on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. to select a new President and to make assignments for our different Committees, ECDC, Port Authority, and the WPCC.  That concludes my report.

There were no questions for Ms. DePledge.

COMMUNICATIONS & PETITIONS

  1. A communication from Finance Director Schindel to reappropriate for the expenses beginning on January 1, 2017 and ending on December 31, 2017.

Ms. DePledge: This was discussed in Council-As-A-Whole and it is on this evening’s agenda.

  1. A communication from that Administration to enter into an agreement with the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 2860 for the contract period of 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Ms. DePledge: This was discussed in Council-As-A-Whole and it is on this evening’s agenda.

  1. A communication from that Administration to enter into an agreement with the Local 3058, Ohio Council 8 American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO for the contract period of 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Ms. DePledge: This was discussed in Council-As-A-Whole and it is on this evening’s agenda.

  1. A communication from Finance Director Schindel to amend Chapter 184 “Income Tax – 2016 Tax Year and Later.”

Ms. DePledge: This was discussed in Council-As-A-Whole and it is on this evening’s agenda.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Ms. DePledge: There were no Committee Meetings held since our last Regular Council Meeting.  Mr. Zuren?

ECDC Report – Mr. Zuren – Chair

Mr. Zuren: Thank you Madam President. We did hold an ECDC today at City Hall and some of the items that we discussed were the recent Vine Street Corridor Business Meeting that was held at the Patrician Party Center.  Some of the main topics that were discussed were as city welcome package, branding the street with three cities that encompass Vine Street, and creating a welcome package for the actual street itself, with Willoughby, Eastlake and Willowick.   We also discussed cleaning up the street and making it more appealing and welcoming, coordinating events with businesses with the help of the city, creating a social media site for business owners to stay in contact with each other in the city.  We will be setting the next banquet, party center and congregation meeting and it will be in early January.  The next Vine Street Corridor Business Meeting will be in the middle of January and we are going to have a Welcome Package Meeting with some of the business owners and it will be held before the end of the year and I will email it out to everyone.  We also discussed the Best Christmas Event, which is set for Christmas morning at 8:30 a.m.  It is a military family that we will be taking Christmas too.  That is completely set and the only thing that needs to be done is to wrap the presents.  We will be doing that on Thursday to be prepared for that event on Christmas morning.  The last main item that we discussed was the Dog Show, which we have scheduled for February 11, 2018 at EPAL.  There is information when you walk in about the Dog Show if you would like to register and bring your dog.  With that I am open for questions.

There were no questions for Mr. Zuren.

RECOGNITION OF THE PUBLIC:  1/2 hour, 3-minutes per person

Ms. DePledge recognized the public input at this time; she reminded the speakers that there is a 3-minute limit for their comments; all comments are to be directed to the Chair and not include any personalities or individuals.

There was no one wishing to speak.

LEGISLATION PROPOSED: First number will be 2017-099

12-19-(01)                            ORDINANCE NO.: _______________

Requested by: Finance Director Schindel

Sponsored by: Finance Committee

An Ordinance to reappropriate for the expenses of the City of Eastlake, State of Ohio, for the period beginning January 1, 20­­17 and ending December 31, 2017, and declaring an emergency.

MOTION:  Mr. Evers moved to suspend the rules requiring separate readings and reading in full.  Mr. Hoefle second.

ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.

MOTION:  Mr. Hoefle moved to adopt.  Mr. Evers second.

ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.

Motion carried. Legislation is adopted as Resolution No.: 2017-099.

12-19-(02)                                       RESOLUTION NO.: ___________

Requested by: Administration

Sponsored by: Council

A Resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor and Director of Finance to enter into an Agreement with the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 2860, AFL-CIO, for the contract period of 2017. 2018 and 2019, and declaring an emergency.

MOTION:  Mr. Evers moved to suspend the rules requiring separate readings and reading in full.  Mr. Hoefle second.

ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.

MOTION:  Mr. Evers moved to adopt.  Mr. Hoefle second.

ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.

Motion carried. Legislation is adopted as Resolution No.: 2017-100.

12-19-(03)                                           RESOLUTION NO.: _____________

Requested by:  Administration

Sponsored by:  Council

A Resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor and Director of Finance to enter into an Agreement with Local 3058, Ohio Council 8 American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO, for the contract period of 2017, 2018, 2019, and declaring an emergency.

MOTION:  Mr. Meyers moved to suspend the rules requiring separate readings and reading in full.  Mr. Spotton second.

ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.

MOTION:  Mr. Meyers moved to adopt.  Mr. Spotton second.

ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.

Motion carried. Legislation is adopted as Resolution No.: 2017-101.

12-19-(04)                                     ORDINANCE NO.: ­­­_________

Requested by:  Administration

Sponsored by:  Finance Committee

An Ordinance amending Chapter 184 “Income Tax – 2016 Tax Year and Later” of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Eastlake, and declaring an emergency.

MOTION:  Mr. Zuren moved to suspend the rules requiring separate readings and reading in full.  Mr. Spotton second.

ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.

MOTION:  Mr. Zuren moved to adopt.  Mr. Spotton second.

ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.

Motion carried. Legislation is adopted as Resolution No.: 2017-102.

LEGISLATION PENDING: (These two items were not voted on to be adopted at the last Regular Council Meeting from December 12, 2017)

12-12-(01)                            Ordinance No.:___________

Requested by: Finance Director Schindel

Sponsored by: Finance Committee

An Ordinance to temporarily appropriate for the expenses of the City of Eastlake, State of Ohio, for the period beginning January 1, 20­­18 and ending December 31, 2018, and declaring an emergency.

Ms. DePledge: The Motion to suspend the rule requiring separate readings and reading in full was approved on December 12th.

MOTION:  Mr. Evers moved to adopt.  Mr. Hoefle second.

ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.

Motion carried. Legislation is adopted as Resolution No.: 2017-103.

12-12-(06)                            ORDINANCE NO.: _______________

Requested by: Finance Director Schindel

Sponsored by: Finance Committee

An Ordinance to reappropriate for the expenses of the City of Eastlake, State of Ohio, for the period beginning January 1, 20­­17 and ending December 31, 2017, and declaring an emergency.

Ms. DePledge: The Motion to suspend the rule requiring separate readings and reading in full was approved on December 12th.

MOTION:  Mr. Evers moved to adopt.  Mr. Hoefle second.

ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.

Motion carried. Legislation is adopted as Resolution No.: 2017-104.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

There was no Unfinished Business.

NEW BUSINESS

There was no New Business.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:

MAYOR/SAFETY DIRECTOR – Dennis Morley

Mayor Morley: Thank you Madam President and welcome everyone to this evenings meeting.  Thank you for passing the legislation for the agreements with the unions.  We worked hard to get settlements on both of those.  Ms. Schindel, Mr. Klammer, Mr. Rubertino and Fire Chief Whittington were involved and so far have the Police left.  I believe that we will start back up with them after the first of the year and thank you for that.  I did met with Commissioner Troy, Mayor elect Fiala from Willoughby, and Mayor Regovich from Willowick to talk about the Vine Street Corridor.  Commissioner Troy is going to try and get us a meeting with NOWACA to try to do a study to synchronize all of the lights on Vine Street, from the Willowick boarder all the way to Willoughby, so we are looking at that.  We have also sat down with both of those Mayor’s to try to look at our zoning and to possibly look at our street scape.  It will be a long process to try and improve Vine Street.  I am still working on the business for the Wal-Mart.  I had another conference call last week and we are getting close for that business to come in there.  I think that we said at the last meeting that Mold Masters brought in 170 employees and the other ones will be in, in April.  Forenza continues to move and I know that Mr. Menn gets calls every day with other businesses that are looking to come into the city.  I have some appointments tonight for the Planning Commission to re-appoint Ron Davis, 43 North Parkway Drive in Eastlake 44095 for the term expiring in 2022 and for Mary Samardzija at 1140 East 347th in Eastlake for the term also expiring in 2022.  Then for the BZA Kathy Barry at 35941 Wanaka Blvd. in Eastlake 44095 for 2022, and then for the Port Authority Tim Curby at 1488 Ford Rd. in Madison for 2021.  I ask for those appointments this evening from Council.

MOTION:  Mr. Evers moved to accept the Mayor’s appointments.  Mr. Hoefle second.

Motion carried. Appointments are approved.

Mayor Morley: With that my final adventure with Ms. DePledge…we started our journey many years back and one of the funnier ones that I recall was when we took a tour of the Waste Water Treatment Plant.  Ms. DePledge’s head was in my armpit most of the way because of the smell of the Waste Water Treatment Plant.  That was the day that I did wear deodorant.  We took the tour and obviously throughout the years we’ve had good years and we’ve had bad years with the city.  I have always respected Ms. DePledge for making the tough decisions throughout the years.  The decisions when we shut the pool down and when I took over as Mayor I got the pool back open.  We had to do a lot of decisions over the years and I think that in our realm we were part of laying off at least the 42 employees…again to try and keep the city running and we did that.  Ms. DePledge and I go back and I wish you the best of luck in everything that you do.  I do have one item for you.  With that anytime you need to get into the City of Eastlake here is a key to the city.  That concludes my report and I am open for questions.

There were no questions for Mayor Morley.

Mr. Hoefle: On behalf of Council we would also like to present you with this plaque.  In appreciation of your dedication to Eastlake City Council Laura A. DePledge Councilwoman Ward 1 in 2005 and Councilwoman-At-Large in January 1, 2010 thru December 31, 2017 and Council President from January 5, 2016 to December 31, 2017.

Ms. DePledge: Thank you everyone and whenever I…I have been an attorney for 20 years and I have had the honor practicing in front of numerous judges and one of my favorite judges to practice in front of was Judge Metrovich.  One time I had to give a presentation and I got very emotional during this one point, so I had to think of a reason not to cry.  And I thought of Judge Metrovich, because there is just something about being in front of that man that just brings me to the core of my being and lets me know that I am just not going to cry.  So I had an opportunity to have dinner with him a few months back and I told him the story.  And I said that it is gold for me…I think of you and I don’t cry and I don’t know why.  But at any rate I am using that tonight to the…degree as much as I can.  I thank you very, very much for everything.

FIRE CHIEF – Ted Whittington

Chief Whittington: Thank you Madam President. On behalf of myself and the Eastlake Fire Department we want to thank you for all of your years of effort as Council.  My prospective on it is it is a thankless job for all of you and I know that like the Mayor said there was a lot of tough times and a lot of tough decisions.  I know that all of us wish you nothing but luck and nothing but the best as you move onto the next part of your life.  We will miss you…think that all of understand that sometimes it is time to just move on.  So we respect that and we wish you luck.  If there is anything that we can do just let us know. 

There were no questions for Chief Whittington.

POLICE CHIEF – Larry Reik   

Chief Reik: Our department also wishes you the best and we will keep your name on the building.  Unfortunately you had some easy shoes to fill after the last two Council Presidents the next one will… a little bit tougher coming in after you.  We do appreciate the support and everything that went along with that.  Anyone who has been on the department…25 years ago when I started was look for the white Lincoln and when he waves you better wave back, which was her dad, the family that was integrated with the city for 50 or 60 years.  On a department note Ms. Schindel did mention the $10,000.00 that was transferred is going to be part of Officer Ward wanted permission to look into getting a K-9.  As long as we get it financed…with pretty much with outside funds he has sought out a couple of businesses.  He has raised around $10,000.00 on his own.  The Mayor and I spoke about providing some of a city commitment to that as well.  So that we can tell businesses that it is not all on your back.  It was some money that we didn’t spend in some other funds, so we are looking forward to pushing that out.  He has some pretty good ideas to try and get some additional money.  When we get our bigger donations we will try and make those public to give those people the recognition that they deserve.  With that I wish you luck and I am open for questions.

There were no questions for Chief Reik.

CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL – David Menn

 Mr. Menn: The Building Department and I wish you good luck and I am sure that we will run into you somewhere.  I wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

There were no questions for Mr. Menn.

SERVICE DIRECTOR – Nick Rubertino

Mr. Rubertino: Madam President on behalf of the Service Department we wish you the best as well.  You have been very kind to me and I appreciate everything that you have done for me.  I wish you the best and I am open for questions.

There were no questions for Mr. Rubertino.

CITY ENGINEER – Tom Gwydir

 Mr. Gwydir: Madam President it has been my pleasure to serve with you and I wish you the best of luck and with that I am open for questions.

There were no questions for Mr. Gwydir.

FINANCE DIRECTOR – Carol-Ann Schindel

 Ms. Schindel: Madam President I wish you the best of luck and it’s been an honor to serve for you.

 There were no questions for Ms. Schindel.

LAW DIRECTOR – Randy Klammer

Mr. Klammer: Thank you Madam President, Members of Council and Mayor.  I am glad to be able to give the last report.  I am sure that everybody knows that Ms. DePledge and I have been friends for a long time.  It really just meant the world to me for us to both have a bit of a heritage in the city.  Yours is obviously your father’s much more significant than my father’s.  It was wonderful to just…precious to me for you and me to be working together.  I love the idea that I was working for you.  It really meant the word to me.  You know that hold you in the highest regard and I remember this last campaign, that whenever somebody would ask me about Ms. DePledge I said “look all I can tell you is that I have been there for ten years and she was the one when everybody was arguing she would say boys, boys, boys”…and she managed to bring a sense…you know that.  You always managed to bring a sense of reason and foresight to everything on Council.  I hold you in the highest regard personally…I always have and professionally like you could ever imagine.  So all the best my friend.

There were no questions for Mr. Klammer.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:27 p.m.

___________________________________

JOHN MEYERS, COUNCIL PRESIDENT

APPROVED: ______________________

ATTEST: _____________________________________

TRACY M. SIMONS, CLERK OF COUNCIL

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