League of Women Voters of Shaker Heights

Cuyahoga County Commissioners Meeting

Dec. 10, 2009

Observer: Lesley Hahn

This report contains member observations and selected highlights of a meeting of the Cuyahoga County Commissioners and is not an official statement by any League of Women Voters in the county. For the official disposition of all agenda items, consult the Cuyahoga County website at www.cuyahogacounty.us.This disclaimer must accompany any redistribution of this report.

Introduction:

The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Hagan at 10:15 with Commissioner Dimora present; Commissioner Jones appeared at 10:25 a.m. There were 23 items on the agenda, all of which were unanimously approved, and 47 items on the Agreements/Contracts/Amendments List. The meeting began with Commissioner Hagan’s announcement of the death of his mother on her 90th birthday. The other commissioners expressed condolences. Throughout the meeting, accolades were given to various employees (e.g., Sandy Turk, long-time Director of Budget & Management), who have accepted early retirement and are leaving their jobs.

Business Transacted:

Office of Budget & Management submitted the 2010 Annual Appropriation Measure that is balanced at current service levels and which has been affirmed by all three national bond ratings services. Our county’s rating is one of the highest in the country and our millage level is second lowest in Ohio (only Franklin County has a lower level). Cuyahoga County has 22% fewer employees and $1 million less revenue than it had in 2001.

The Director of Development introduced an attorney from Squire, Sanders & Dempsey and requested a public hearing on the issuance of self-supporting revenue bonds for the Euclid Avenue Student Housing and Parking Projects. Although the bonds will be issued in an amount not to exceed $60 million, no one stepped forward to comment. Commissioner Jones stated that he had toured the site and noted that out of 67 workers, only seven were minorities and none were female. It was reported that the prime contractor, Cleveland State University, will comply with a county resolution that 12% of subcontracts be awarded to Small Business Enterprises and 16% of the workforce be minorities and 5% female.

The grant agreement with The Cleveland Foundation for program and staff support for an offshore wind research project will be decreased by $40,000.

The City of Beachwood was awarded $150,000 to expand its seminal project for innovative development of the International Technology Business Attraction Zone Project.

The County Planning Commission recommended support to various nonprofit organizations for the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund Program, including Cuyahoga American Heritage River Habitat Restoration Project in the Ohio Canal Corridor, a Conservation Linkages Project for the West Creek Greenway, and Western Reserve Land Conservancy for the Chagrin Valley Greenway Connector Project.

County Treasurer Jim Rokakis submitted a grant agreement with HUD in the amount of $142,000 for acquisition and demolition of vacant properties in the Slavic Village area. The property will be redeveloped as housing and a park through the County land bank.

County workers’ mandatory furloughs for January through June 2010 were reported with only one union dissenting; the County judges and their staff will also participate.

A change order was approved in connection with the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Justice Center Project, in the amount of almost $2 million, to include the courts tower into the safety management system.

All proposals received for a real property tax system from 5/1/09 to 4/20/14 for use by the County Auditor and County Treasurer were rejected because of the effect of passage of Issue 6 on these county officials; however, the County Sheriff received approval of nearly $500,000 for laboratory testing and radiology services.

Awards were approved for 15 providers – all neighborhood collaboratives – for the Family Neighborhood System of Care for a two-year period. Each agency’s grant may not exceed $320,464.

Commissioner Jones commented on one of the catch-all items, an agreement with the University of Cincinnati for a study of racial bias in all phases of the county criminal justice system. Commissioner Jones stated that he looks forward to implementation of the study results.

Commissioner Hagan adjourned the meeting at 11 a.m.