Council Talks About The Coast

Council President and Ward IV Councilwoman Mary Louise Madigan called the November 17, 2014 meeting to order at 7:40 P.M.

Councilwoman Madigan started off new business by introducing an ordinance in response to the Civil Service Commission's report the Council received in July. The report called for an increase in Council and Mayoral salaries and was covered in detail in the August 21 issue of this column. In her report Madigan explains that the City Charter requires the commission to create a report with recommendations and therefore she is introducing an ordinance that follows their recommendation of raising Council salaries to $13,000 a year, which would not take effect until after the next election for each council seat. Council's current salary is $7,000 dollars a year. A rate at which has remained unchanged for almost 30 years.

Council referred the ordinance to the Committee of the Whole for discussion.

Next Law Director Kevin Butler asked Council to pass a resolution approving the City entering into an agreement with the County to continue providing public health services in Lakewood for 2015. The total cost to Lakewood for the services is $204,053.

Council referred the ordinance to the Health and Human Services Committee for consideration.

Director Butler then asked Council to consider another resolution, this on granting a submerged land lease to a property owner. By state law, any lakefront landowner wishing to make changes around their property that encroach on the water need to seek a submerged land lease from the owning municipality, in this case, Lakewood. A property owner on Edgewater Drive wishes to build a revetment and pier in Lake Erie, north of their property, to protect it from erosion. The Division of Engineering has already reviewed the plans and have no objections.

Council referred the resolution to the Public Works Committee.

Director Butler then asked Council to consider yet another matter. He presented a resolution which would move some minor traffic violations into the 'civil disposition of parking violations' part of the code. This would result in the City prosecuting fewer misdemeanors for minor parking violations, which is the precise reason the civil parking violations part of the code was created in 2010.

Council referred the resolution to the Rules and Ordinances Committee.

Finance Director Jennifer Pae then asked Council to review the several ordinances that make up the 2015 budget and to pass them by December 31.

Council referred all 17 items to the Finance Committee.

Director of Public Works, Joe Beno, then asked Council to pass a resolution that would allow the City to apply for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Coastal Management Assistance Grant. The grant would help the City assess rates of erosion in various areas of the Lakewood coastline along Lake Erie to determine optimal methods and design of protection.

Councilwoman Madigan asked Director Beno if the City would be required to expend any funds if awarded the grant. Director Beno said that he believed it was a 50/50 grant, where the City would be responsible for half of the cost. However, he clarified, the grant is only for a survey of the condition of the land and remediation ideas; it does not include any construction or remediation itself.

Councilwoman Madigan followed up her question, asking if the study included the whole coastline. Director Beno said that it includes the entire Lake Erie coastline, but none along the river.

Councilman Ryan Nowlin (At-Large) asked if Director Beno knew what the estimated cost for the City would be. Beno said he believed that the estimated cost for the total project was about $100,000 which would make the City's portion about $50,000.

Councilwoman Madigan then asked if this is something the City evaluates regularly. Director Beno said it is not. He said this is the third grant they have applied for, for this purpose and they have been unsuccessful thus far.

Councilman David Anderson (Ward I) asked if there was anything that prompted the City to pursue grants for this evaluation. Director Beno said that they had done so in part because grants had come up to help pay for it and because it has been some time since any evaluation has been done. In addition, Mayor Summers said that 90% of the coast is privately owned and they regularly have conversations with property owners over their concerns about erosion. It is in the City's interest to keep tabs on the state of its coastline.

Due to the emergency nature of the resolution, since the application was due in four days, Director Beno asked Council to pass the resolution on its first reading. Council proceeded to pass the resolution.

Coming to the end of the agenda items, and with no one from the public to speak, Council President Madigan opened the floor to announcements from members of Council and the Administration. Mayor Summers wanted to clarify a few points about the budget that Council just received. He said that due to the nature of the calendar and the accounting of the bi-weekly pay, this year the City will have to pay out about an extra million dollars in payroll. It appears that every 11 years in a bi-weekly pay cycle there are 27 rather than 26 pays, and 2015 is that 11th year for the City. Thankfully the City knew of this anomaly ahead of time and was able to save up the additional funds needed.

With no other news, Council President Madigan adjourned the meeting at 8:22 P.M.