10/21/2025 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. Magel: Good evening. My name is Lori Magel. I live at 23138 Stony Brook Drive here in North Olmsted. I am also the Director of Early Intervention and Therapy Services for the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Last year, I was here and attended a City Council meeting to reintroduce you to Cuyahoga DD, and to give you an overview of the work that we do. This year, I'd like to start by recognizing an important milestone for our organization, the 20th anniversary of our last levy. Two-thirds of Cuyahoga DD's $150 million budget comes from a 3.9 mil continuous levy that was last passed by Cuyahoga County voters in 2005. From birth through adulthood, we support people with developmental disabilities to live their best lives. Our mission is to support and empower people with developmental disabilities to live, learn, work, and play in the community. Last year, we served approximately 336 people with developmental disabilities living right here in North Olmsted, and we serve approximately 15,000 people across the county each year. This is a 20% increase in people served compared to our numbers in 2005. Over the last 20 years, this levy approved by Cuyahoga County voters has supported people with developmental disabilities through things like early intervention services, therapies like occupational, physical, and speech -language pathology, consultative services to support students in schools, transition services for young adults, housing and employment supports, and assistive technology services. Levy funding also allows Cuyahoga DD to make strategic investments in the community. Since 2021, we have granted nearly $1 million to support over 50 community libraries, arts and culture, and recreation and leisure organizations in making their programs and physical spaces more accessible to people of all abilities. We awarded $180,000 in community grants this year. Last year, North Olmsted received $10,000 in a community grant for a universal adult changing table, which I believe is in the rec center. In addition to our work in supporting people with developmental disabilities in Cuyahoga County, we strive to be a resource for communities, and we would welcome the opportunity to talk more about how we can best support the residents of North Olmsted. Thank you for your time. Council President Pro Tempore Scarl: Thank you. Mr. Sapienza: Hello, my name is Tony Sapienza. I live at 25760 Butternut Ridge Road, North Olmsted, three houses to the east. Council President Pro Tempore Scarl: Excuse me, sir, could you spell your last name, please, for the clerk? Mr. Sapienza: S-A-P-I-E-N-Z-A. And I live three houses to the east on the same side of the Biddulph House, and I oppose this project strongly. We have... I can't even believe we're even considering the destruction of our historical district. One development at a time, one streetlight at a time. It's a cancer in our historical district. We all live there in single-family homes, and all of a sudden, we 1.0.21. 25 Council Meeting Minutes Page 8