Minutes of the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission/Solid Waste Policy Committee
February 9, 2005
ATTENDANCE
Attachment A lists the attendance at this meeting, at which the following matters were discussed.
ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES
Election of Officers
On a motion by Commissioner Hagan, seconded by Mayor Blomquist, Commissioner Dimora was elected
chair and Mayor Longo was elected vice-chair for 2005. The motion was unanimously approved.
On a motion by Commissioner Hagan, seconded by Mr. Licate, the Solid Waste Policy Committee unanimously approved the election of Commissioner Dimora as chair and Mayor Longo as vice-chair.
MINUTES
On a motion by Commissioner Hagan, seconded by Mr. Shannon, the minutes of the December 8,
2004 meeting were approved with Mayor Blomquist abstaining.
Issues for the Year
Mr. Alsenas reviewed the CPC Work Program for 2005. Mr. Alsenas stated that the CPC should be
weighing in on the important issues facing the county and should determine how the CPC can
move these issues forward in the County.
Mr. Alsenas reviewed the five major issues:
- Solid Waste - the five-year plan now being developed is important considering that nearly 100% of the County's solid waste is now being exported.
- Senior Transportation - the Senior Transportation Organization will be up and running this year and the CPC members need to advocate for the program within the County.
- Innerbelt project - this will be largest public works project in the state's history and will have profound impact on the economic development of Cleveland and the County.
- Cuyahoga Valley Initiative - the Cuyahoga Valley is 75 square miles impacting fourteen communities. The CPC staff cannot tap all of the Valley's potential working part-time; therefore, the CPC should start considering the development of an organization or structure to work on the Initiative full-time.
- Port Study - the Board of County Commissioners has asked the CPC staff to manage a study of the port.
Commissioner Dimora asked the CPC members if changing the meeting date from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday at 2:00 p.m. would be appropriate. Commissioner Dimora stated that a Thursday meeting would work better for the Commissioners' schedule. There was no objection from the CPC members.
COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL ISSUES
Solid Waste Management Plan Update
Pat Holland reported on Governor Taft's budget, which includes a $2.75/ton disposal fee on
the disposal of solid waste. Mr. Holland reported that the $2.75 will be split with
$1.00 going to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and $1.75 going to the Ohio
Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA).
Mr. Holland stated that if solid waste was to become a source of tax revenue the state will keep raising the disposal fees. He stated that the State of Pennsylvania disposal tax has increased to $10/ton.
Mr. Holland stated that the $1.75 that would go to the OEPA would replace general funding that was used on air and water programs, it would not go to solid waste. The one dollar appropriated to ODNR will replace the Tier 1 and 2 components of the corporate franchise tax. Mr. Holland explained that the in the Ohio Revised code the tiers are called the "litter tax" and are used for recycling and litter prevention programs. He stated that certain companies are taxed $5,000 to pay for these programs and that by eliminating the franchise tax the state is pushing the cost onto the consumers.
Mr. Holland introduced Mr. Michael Greenberg of GT Environmental who provided a status report on the Solid Waste Management Plan.
Mr. Longo stated that this Plan is an unfunded mandate. He asked if there were going to be any incentives for municipalities and businesses to increase their recycling. Mr. Holland stated that there would be no incentives.
Commissioner Dimora requested that the staff put together a resolution about the mandatory recycling goals that must be met by communities with no monetary incentives provided.
Commissioner Hagan stated that this was the most opportune time to make solid waste a part of the public discussion because of the upcoming gubernatorial election.
RESOLUTIONS
On a motion by Mayor Longo, seconded by Commissioner Hagan, Resolution No. 050209-A, the
personnel actions, was unanimously approved.
On a motion by Mayor Longo, seconded by Commissioner Hagan, Resolution No. 050209-B, authorizing a contract with the Village of Glenwillow for planning services was unanimously approved.
On a motion by Mayor Longo, seconded by Commissioner Hagan, Resolution No. 050209-C, authorizing a contract for planning services with the Cuyahoga County Department of Development was unanimously approved.
On a motion by Mayor Longo, seconded by Commissioner Hagan, Resolution No. 050209-D, authorizing the Planning Commission to act as fiscal agent for the Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners for a 2005 Ohio Coordination Grant, was unanimously approved.
On a motion by Mayor Longo, seconded by Commissioner Hagan, Resolution No. 050209-E, authorizing a contract with Studio Graphique Inc., to prepare a website for the Senior Transportation Organization, was unanimously approved.
Mayor Longo, seconded by Commissioner Hagan, Resolution No. 050209-F, authorizing the submittal of a Transportation for Livable Communities grant application in partnership with the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, was unanimously approved.
Mayor Longo, seconded by Commissioner Hagan, Resolution No. 050209-G, conditionally approving the preliminary layout for the Willow Grove Subdivision proposed to be located in Olmsted Township, was unanimously approved.
OTHER BUSINESS
Commissioner Hagan discussed the Convention Facilities Authority.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Mr. Peter Greisinger, resident of Gates Mills, addressed the CPC about Whiskey Island,
urging the Commissioners to retain ownership of the Island and Marina. Mr. Ed Hauser also
addressed the CPC about Whiskey Island.
ADJOURNMENT
With agreement from the other members, Commissioner Dimora adjourned the meeting.
Attachment A
Cuyahoga County Planning Commission/Solid Waste Policy Committee
FEBRUARY 9, 2005 ATTENDANCE RECORD
| Member | Present |
|---|---|
| Ms. Virginia Aveni | Yes |
| Mayor Robert Blomquist | Yes |
| Commissioner Jimmy Dimora | Yes |
| Mayor Merle Gorden | No |
| Commissioner Tim Hagan | Yes |
| Mayor Jerry Hruby | No |
| Commissioner Peter Jones | Yes - represented by Hugh Shannon |
| Mr. Jack Licate | Yes |
| Mayor Thomas Longo | Yes |
| Mayor Eileen Patton | Yes |
| Mayor Kenneth Patton | No |
| Mayor Judith Rawson | No |
| Mr. Chris Ronayne for Mayor Campbell | No |
| Others: Paul Alsenas, John DeMuth, Michael Greenberg, Peter Greisinger, Ed Hauser, Patrick Holland, Marionette Richardson, Carol Thaler | |
