Committee Meeting 9/9/14 Curbside Textile Recycling

Many topics were discussed last night at the Committee Meeting but none handled with the same clarity and fairness as Tasha Sherman made her points regarding the City plans to recycle textiles. Tasha works in the industry and has discussed this issue here and on other Facebook pages.

Fearing misinformation was spreading; she wanted to set the record straight and gave an excellent explanation on what happens when textiles are recycled. She also encouraged the City to look at other resources when the 3 year contract is up because we can do better than a penny a pound. Still, it is a start and many are thrilled the City is moving in this direction.

During Q & A it was asked if the company was thoroughly vetted and if it went before Council. It was answered that matters that do not cost us do not have to be presented to Council. The Mayor was then asked if the City was having charity bins around town removed. The Mayor answered no. When it was pointed out which ones were gone, it was stated these were all on private property (i.e. the bin by Walgreen’s, two on Clague by the strip center). Though the answer was no, and the implication was that the shopping center owners decided to remove them, some found this too much of a coincidence to be true. It was stressed that you can, of course, still give to your favorite charitable organization.

Thanks to Tasha the City will paint a clear and honest description regarding our new curbside textile recycling plan which begins Oct. 7.

Until details appear in a newsletter or on the City website you can read the discussions here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/538603919551392/

And a basic overview here:

http://www.cleveland.com/bayvillage/index.ssf/2014/08/bay_village_to_offer_curbside.html

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Cleveland Metroparks Explains the Deer Issues

http://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/Main/CurrentIssues.aspx#DeerManagement

Deer Culling

Let's talk deer culling. Culling and killing - a fine line. First it is my opinion that the bow hunting legislation recently passed in Avon Lake could never be an issue in Bay Village. Our lots do not have the acreage or farm land present as in Avon Lake.  Our Mayor says we do not meet the ODNR standards to implement culling measures. But one must wonder - what if we did meet the standards? We might someday if the population of white-tail deer continues to increase as it clearly is. Why can't we start a sterilization program now to head this off at the pass?

As for today, citizens of Bay are concerned for two reasons. Our city borders Avon Lake and our shared Walker Road Park where culling will be allowed. Tom Henderson Ward 4 Council has stated that he will work to assure that deer stands in Walker Road Park are positioned so they are facing west as opposed to any arrows being shot to the east potentially into the yards of those bordering the park. The second concern comes from animal lovers.

Avon Lake has determined that due to the negative impact the white-tail deer has on public safety issues; vehicular accidents, destruction of habitats, carrying disease and parasites, and damage to public and private property, that culling of the white-tail deer by bow hunting is a necessity. Helicopter surveys where deer were counted show apx. 220 deer in Avon Lake. Fifty would be the norm for a city that size.

In July Dave Tadych and Tom Henderson attended a 3 hour Council meeting in Avon Lake when this hot button legislation was approved. By all accounts, this was a much debated issue with passion siding against the legislation. The City of Avon Lake believes all concerns are outweighed by the need to do something.

Points of the new ordinance:

1.Individual must have an Ohio Hunting License.

2. Must apply for a permit to bow hunt in Avon Lake. Once the permit application is received, neighbors will be notified. The police dept. will visit properties and decide on a case-by-case basis if destruction warrants a permit.

3. Must have a deer stand (an elevation 10 feet off the ground).

4. The individual must have Ohio Hunter Education Course credentials.

5. Hunting could occur outside of the hunting season if the owner obtains a deer damage control permit through the Ohio Division of Wildlife and a municipal deer control permit thorough the city.

6. Hunting is not allowed with firearms or other weaponry.

7. Processes are in place for removal of the carcass.

However, from what I have read, it sounds like any of these amendments are at the discretion of the Police Chief.

Although some have stated speed is the problem with the deer car accidents, one can hit a deer going 25 mph and it can total a car.

At our Town Hall meeting concern was raised that deer may not fall immediately but run injured and die somewhere else. Avon Lake addresses this with the knowledge that this could happen and they will have to handle each scenario as it arises.

Last week an Avon Lake Council Member suggested that smaller lots need an effective way to minimize deer traffic and that paintballs may be the answer. Read the article re: "polka dot deer" http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2014/08/29/oh-deer%E2%80%88scare-paintballs/

Bay animal lovers have offered to council alternative measures to cull the deer. They do not want to see deer killed by what could be painful ugly deaths. http://www.wildliferescueinc.org/

Some people still believe Lyme disease is not in Ohio, but it is and is increasing and deer carry that tick.       http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/stay-informed/news-announcements/post/new-information-available-about-the-emergence-of-lyme-disease-in-ohio

I was searching for the meeting minutes of the July meeting Tom and Dave attended. They are not up yet on Avon Lake's City site. What I did learn though is that Avon Lake videos meetings. A meeting from June 30th is available to watch. It does address the deer culling. http://avonlake.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=fbd31b64d9c634811ff2f5fb3c70aced

I look forward to a recording or at least the transcript for the July meeting from Avon Lake soon. I also look forward to the day when we can watch Bay Village meetings online! Every other city is moving in that direction! Let's do this Bay!

Town Hall Meeting 8/26/2014

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 57^th 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. 

Sewer Rates: Flat Fee vs. Actual Usage

It is no longer in question that the sewer rates are going up. Single family homes will now pay $335 a year. This does not mean that the residents need to let the issue go. Tonight at the Council meeting, a question that has come up before was raised again. Why do we have a flat fee instead of a user based system given the gas, electric and water bills are user based? Who benefits from the flat fee system?

Mayor Sutherland responded that with a flat fee, there is equal interest in assuring a system that works correctly. I believe with any fee there is absolute interest that the system and this one in particular, work correctly. She further stated, to switch the system to user based will take months to gather data and evaluate. She cautioned that the City of Cleveland would have to bill us if our bills were based on usage and would pass that expense on to us. It did sound like she would look into it but why would we increase fees first, and evaluate later?

Talking with the audience after the meeting, there is a belief that Cleveland does not need to handle the billing. The belief is that Cleveland supply the information by individual address to Bay and Bay in turn would bill us accordingly, by usage. One little old lady in a 1,200 square foot bungalow would be paying equal to a family of four or more in a mansion on the lake complete with, well, you get the point. Without question, the owners of the largest homes in town benefit.

The City did drop the ball when there was an issue with a broken meter and the push to remedy this was not hard enough to be heard. We will not know for sure how this contributed to the increase. Speaking of the increase, the budget was tight in the audit of the RR WWTP. One has to wonder how long during the election the Mayor knew an increase would be in order. It all just seems convenient, again.

Sewer Rates

Bay Village sewer rates will go up a proposed $25 per quarter.  The subject has been discussed at several Council meetings.  It was clear there were problems missed by Bay Village.  I believe Bay will be diligent going forward with our flow issues.  Below is the flow study link.  Please attend the meeting on March 31 at the Dwyer Center with your questions and concerns.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/23673878/RRWWTP%20Flow%20Study.pdf

Regionalization

A meeting will be held this morning at 11 in Westlake Mayor Clough’s office to discuss a  grant the four Westshore cities received to study a regional fire department.

The State of Ohio Local Government Innovation Fund (LGIF) rejected the first grant application in December 2012.  In June 2013, they approved a second request for $100,000 that was based on revised cost/benefit figures.

In November 2012 Bay Village voters rejected Charter amendments to make way for regional civil service. Mayor Clough and Mayor Sutherland have both stated it is possible to move forward without amending city charters.