Here is a brief overview from last night’s Town Hall. First
let me say if I have any of this wrong, please correct me! It was a lot of info
and I took notes as best I could. Secondly and most importantly, your council WANTS
AND NEEDS your input. Please talk to them on these very important issues. They rely on you and sincerely want to
represent your ideas and needs as a community.
Soon after Council resumes in September they will begin to
look at the financial budget for 2015. Major
purchases this year, 2 new police vehicles and equipment. Equipment cost was $29,875. A grant of $3,700 was given to purchase 9
vests. The Cahoon House will be painted at the cost of $30,000. A new senior
van was purchased with a trade-in of $11,075: the cost of the van, $57,000.
The property tax rate increased to 2.7% this year. The main
reasons are the November passing of Issue 1 and Issue 80. The city % rate has
been the same since 1999. Our taxes rank 57th out of 80 county
cities with Fairview, Lakewood and N. Olmsted having higher taxes.
The income tax rate of 1.5% was set in 1983 and has not
changed.
On Oct 24 the fall leaf pick up program begins. Rake to the
tree lawn – not onto the street.
The Rec Dept. will send out a survey in the fall to see what
people want in rec services. Rec center ideas were discussed along with the financial
realities. The pool debt will be repaid
by 2022. The pool is operationally profitable but does not generate enough in
sales to cover the pool debt. Rec centers in other cities are generally not
profitable.
The walking trail at Cahoon is still looking to add 3 exercise
stations. The funds will be raised and donated at no expense to the city. The
plan is to add mid-level type of exercise stations; something between walking
and a highly physical activity such as tennis. Considerations are given to
maintaining the importance of the lake view. You can view the plans on a
previous thread on this page.
There is constant pressure to centralize activities in
Cahoon Memorial Park. Whereas some would
like to maintain those activities while increasing activities in Reese and
Bradley parks.
Eyesore as it is, Bradley Bay construction will continue for
appx. another year. Additionally there will be 9 new lots at Crestview.
Remember to support the fireworks fund.
The bicycle co-op is open. Information is available if you
are a concerned motorist or bicyclist. Stop in and pick up a pamphlet or talk to
a pro. It was suggested that the police ticket the cyclists that do not follow
the laws.
Attached resident housing is still to be reviewed. Residents must let Council know their
feelings on this. Those that are fine with it may want to consider a hypothetical
scenario: A developer comes in and buys a row of houses next to yours to allow
him the required acreage to build attached housing. You could end up with condos
or townhouses and a complex type of living next to you. You thought this type
of housing could only happen in Bay’s commercial district so you didn’t care
and welcomed the idea, you didn’t get involved. Now, you are not so sure. Please don’t consider this an issue that could
never affect you. It could still work out beautifully but I would think you
would want a say in what can happen in your back yard. No matter where you live,
you should participate in the review of Chapter 1158 of the city code. It is a
complex issue to be sure, which is why your input is valuable.
Dave Tadych will submit to Council to restore and rebuild
the stairs to Columbia Park.
Dimepiece Fitness is moving to the old Ace Hardware/Kronheims.
Concerns regarding trucks and speeding on Clague Rd. were
discussed.
Desire for Kiwanis to look at other contractors for the Bay
Day rides.
Concerns with landscapers parking on busy streets: Landscapers
have city permission to do this as long as they put cones up. If you have hire a landscape company encourage
them to come when traffic isn’t busy, or ask them to park in your drive. If
they are not using cones or causing a real problem, you can call City Hall, or the
non-emergency police dept. number.
The Do Not Knock registry is being worked on for clarifications
so as not to exclude our local groups, teams, boosters.
Deer culling in Avon Lake was covered. More on that later.
