05/19/2009 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 5/19/2009 16) Hastings Drive was reopened yesterday. With regard to the Cook/Stearns project, major placement of concrete will follow this week between the overpass and I-480 heading down towards Cook. Traffic at Dorchester Road which leads into South Bretton Ridge will be maintained throughout the project. This week and next will have one-half of their intersection closed off as that part is paved with quick drying cement, and the other half will be done three days later. Once complete, they will have a very good access. Hopefully, very soon we will see north-south access for South Bretton Ridge, which we are working aggressively to promote. 17) The Service Director and leadership of the WWTP traveled to Peru, Indiana to observe technology that we anticipate using in our plant after improvements are complete. It was exceedingly impressive. It very much makes the case that we are operating in the stone age with the technology we have and that, when we complete the improvements at the WWTP, we will significantly reduce cost to our taxpayers. 18) Bids for Dover Road are due back to the city this Friday with a decision expected by the end of the month. 19) First round of the brush pick-up has been successful. Our trash contractor will pick up bundled brush at any time. The next city brush round-up will be held from September 14 through September 25. Law Director Dubelko: 1) At the request of Councilmen Orlowski, Kearney, and Gareau, the Law Dept. is reviewing Chapter 505 of the General Offenses Code dealing with animal control in the context that changes have been made in other communities as result of advocacy by animal interest groups. 2) The work-study program for law clerks from Cleveland State University, which the department has used for some time to hire law clerks at a good rate, has undergone some changes. The dollars are less, and the time period within which we can use those law clerks is being restricted. That is having an impact on the operations in the department and is a challenge as the dollars are not available to hire law clerks. 3) Regarding the first instance of application of the Criminal Nuisance Activities Code introduced by Councilman Orlowski passed by City Council, Councilman Orlowski has also advocated having a second code that would create nuisance activity provisions dealing with real property maintenance violations. This is something that has promise, and the department drafted legislation which was sent to the Safety Dept. for analysis. The Safety Director recently published a memo indicating some concerns that Safety/Building has with the proposed ordinance as written. He will review those concerns and then give the proposed sponsor of the legislation his thoughts with respect to legal issues. The policy issues are between Council and the administration. Finance Director Copfer: 1) On May 7, attended a Rocky River Municipal Court meeting of the finance directors. While the court is in a current year deficit through April, which is common for them as activity picks up dramatically in the summer, the court has in the past ended up in the black. They are watching their hours and utilizing part-time as much as possible. The judge reported her concern for our region that small claims cases in our court are up by over 100%. She stated that these are typically from places like payday loans. In 2007, we had 179 cases; in 2008, we had 429 cases; in 2009 to date through April, 820 cases have been filed. Also discussed was the pursuit of 3