Minutes of the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission/Solid Waste Policy Committee
June 28, 2007
ATTENDANCE
Attachment A lists the attendance at this meeting, at which the following matters were discussed.
CALL TO ORDER
MINUTES The minutes of the April 12, 2007 meeting were unanimously approved.
RESOLUTIONS
General
On a motion by Mayor Kelley, seconded by Mayor Gorden, Resolution No. 070628-A, approving a
contract for planning services with the Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation to
prepare a Master Plan for Wards 15 and 16, was unanimously approved.
On a motion by Mayor Gorden, seconded by Mayor Kelley, Resolution No. 070628-B, approving an amendment to the contract for planning services with the Cuyahoga County Department of Justice Affairs, was unanimously approved.
On a motion by Mayor Kelley, seconded by Mayor Eileen Patton, Resolution No. 070628-C, approving the Administrative Services Work Plan for the District One (Cuyahoga County) Public Works Integrating Committee for State Fiscal Year 2008, was unanimously approved.
On a motion by Mayor Kelley, seconded by Mayor Eileen Patton, Resolution No. 070628-D, approving a contract for planning services with the Cuyahoga River Planning Organization for the Inventory of Watershed Associated Regulations for the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern and Cuyahoga County, was unanimously approved.
On a motion by Mayor Procuk, seconded by Mayor Kelley, Resolution No. 070628-E, approving a Secondment Agreement with the Northeast Ohio Technology Coalition for the Cuyahoga Valley Initiative for $50,000.00 for the period of July 1, 2007- December 31, 2007, was unanimously approved.
On a motion by Mayor Gorden, seconded by Mayor Kelley, Resolution No. 070628-F, approving an amendment with the Cuyahoga River Community Planning Organization for consulting services for the High Performance Shoreline Project - Green Bulkheads) for $123,720.00 for the period April 12- November 8, 2007 and authorizing the CPC to undertake a Request for Qualifications process to procure Professional Design Services, was unanimously approved.
On a motion by Mayor Kelley, seconded by Mayor Procuk, Resolution No. 070628-G, adopting the personnel actions, was unanimously approved.
Olmsted Township
On a motion by Mayor Eileen Patton, seconded by Mayor Kelley, Resolution No. 070628-H,
adopting an amended Cuyahoga County Planning Thoroughfare Map for the Township of Olmsted, was
unanimously approved.
On a motion by Mayor Eileen Patton, seconded by Mayor Kelley, Resolution No. 070628-I, requesting the Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners approve and adopt the updated Subdivision Platting Rules for the Unincorporated Areas of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, commonly known as the "Cuyahoga County Subdivision Regulations," was unanimously approved.
On a motion by Mayor Eileen Patton, seconded by Mayor Kelley, Resolution No. 070628-J, requesting the Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners approve and adopt the Cuyahoga County Water Management and Sediment Control Regulations, was unanimously approved.
COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL ISSUES
Cuyahoga Valley Initiative: Recommendations for a Cuyahoga River Valley Organization
The main discussion about the Cuyahoga Valley Initiative (CVI) was presented by Mr. Paul
Alsenas. He indicated that the presentation was the culmination of a long process focusing
on the Cuyahoga Valley as a place of connections with a unifying identity that can emerge as
a catalyst for innovation and be a venue for choices and opportunities. Mr. Alsenas was
joined in the presentation by three members of the CVI Advisory Group, Ms. Sally Parker,
President and Founder of Currere, Inc; Mr. Thomas Tyrrell, formerly with American Steel &
Wire now Managing Director of Glengary, LLC; Ms. Patricia Stevens, Chief of Park Planning,
Cleveland Metroparks; and Mr. Chris Varley, Vice President of Nortech. Also present was
Cleveland Ward 15 Councilman Brian J. Cummins. Mr. Alsenas stated that the CVI Advisory
Group has been working for more than a year on a community-oriented, broad-based approach
to building the organizational capacity needed in the Cuyahoga River Valley to accomplish
its potential.
Mr. Alsenas gave a foundational and chronological overview of the Cuyahoga River Valley as a central regional asset beginning with the river burning in 1969 and continuing through the 1990s citing pivotal events including the creation of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the Canalway Reservation and the National Heritage Corridor. Next, Mr. Alsenas briefly highlighted the central components of the Framework for Action and Learning as a series of ideas and a spatial structure aimed at understanding the complexity and diversity of the Valley.
Mr. Alsenas stated that the main purpose of this presentation was to show organizational ideas that could be implemented in order to find a new organizational approach different from what has traditionally been done in the community to leverage the potential of the Cuyahoga River Valley. Mr. Alsenas then introduced Ms. Parker indicating her major role in the CVI Project and noting that she had just returned from presenting the CVI concepts to a conference held at the University of Southern California Marshall School Of Business.
Ms. Parker stated that she had received positive feedback from the conference and that the CVI Project, as the first of its kind introduced at the conference, had set a very high bar for those following.
Ms. Parker discussed the process that has been used to develop the organizational recommendations for the Cuyahoga Valley Initiative. She explained that prior to the formal design process there was a process of "deep listening" to the community and learning form the work already in existence in the Valley by approximately 80 individuals and organizations. She stated that the goal was to: get a sense of how these individuals and organizations see the Valley; determine what they were aware of in terms of the CVI; and asked the question - If an organization were to come into being, whose charge was the mission of the Cuyahoga Valley Initiative, what focus and what role should the organization have and play.
Ms. Parker indicated that the results of these initial conversations and interviews were instrumental in determining and developing the framework for the Organizational Design Collaborative. Essentially, the lessons learned were that the capacity of any new organization in the Valley would have to be able to serve the needs of the Valley. The new organization would have to be an innovative and inspiring network that could embrace the complexity and decentralized nature of the Valley.
She noted that the Organization Design Collaborative Team consists of members from the business community; the government sector; mission driven organizations; and regional, social and economic development organizations, and paused to invite Organization Design Collaborative members, Thomas Tyrrell, Patricia Stevens and Chris Varley to share brief comments about their experience as members of the organizational design process.
Mr. Tyrrell stated that he has an extensive background in the steel industry, and has also worked extensively in environmental education, business and economic development. He indicated that his involvement in CVI is primarily because of its diverse components, and the fact that he considers CVI the most significant opportunity for economic development in the State of Ohio.
Ms. Stevens, Chief of Planning at the Cleveland Metroparks, stated that for her the participants in the process all had a common experience with the geography of the Valley. She stated that the organizational design process was authentic and provided an opportunity to think about revitalizing the Valley in a systemic way.
Mr. Varley used the analogy of a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot defining his airplane as four million parts flying in close formation. He in turn described the nature of Cuyahoga Valley Initiative as transformative and the organizational design process as a way for government, foundations and the business community to work together with a common framework, common language and a common set of goals.
Ms. Parker explained that the new Valley Organization can leverage its capacity to manage relationships and create a strategic purpose and direction allowing the organization and its network to become a force for action within the Valley and to ensure the Cuyahoga River Valley is understood as an economic force, environmental treasure and unifying element within the region. The specific objectives of the Valley organization would be to: provide strategic thought leadership and direction; set a course for action; invite and engage the many individuals and organizations that affect the CVI mission; and identify, facilitate and launch initiatives and ventures within the Valley.
Ms. Parker concluded that the core strategies would include integrating and assembling people, land, resources and shared experiences to build a robust "action" network to achieve positive impacts at scale within the Cuyahoga River Valley. Ms. Parker indicated that these strategies would be supported by strategies that ignite passion for action; equip, organize, coordinate and align for implementation and provide a frame and context for the entire Valley.
Mr. Alsenas completed the presentation by outlining and illustrating the Green Bulkheads and Whiskey Island project as examples of how the Valley's approach is different than traditional approaches to public/private partnerships. Traditionally businesses drive development processes but the Valley approach looks at new forms of collaborations and adds the nonprofits sector and the natural systems to the process. Rather than focus on traditional individual deal making, the Valley approach concentrates on moving markets.
Mr. Alsenas opened up the discussion to questions.
Mayor Gorden indicated the importance of the CVI Project and related his experience working with GCRTA and Patricia Stevens and how the acquisition and revitalization of small piece of vacant land in Beachwood has enhanced the community, and also how acquisition and revitalization of other vacant lands is doing the same in other surrounding communities.
Virginia Aveni asked whether a name for the new organization had been agreed upon, receiving a collective response from Mr. Alsenas and Ms. Parker that the name of the new organization is still open for discussion. Mr. Alsenas further indicated that all aspects of the organizational design were still open for discussion and that appropriate marketing and branding work will take place eventually.
Mayor Procuk indicated his support for the new organization and stated that he was ready to enhance the 200 acres in Brooklyn Heights with proximity to the river and Towpath Trail.
Mr. Alsenas noted the attractiveness of the organization and its ability to garner governmental as well as philanthropic support. He cited support received from the Joyce Foundation of Chicago and the Rocky Mountain Land Institute.
Commission Dimora recognized the opportunities and potential that exists for future development around the Project.
SOLID WASTE DISTRICT REPORT
Mr. Holland reported that the District's annual district report had been mailed out as required
by state statute. The report states that 38 of the County's 59 communities are now exceeding
the 25% recycling goal which is about 64% of the total county.
Mr. Holland reported on the District's major initiative - the formation of consortiums amongst communities for the collection and/or disposal of solid waste and collection and processing of recycled materials. Mr. Holland reported that seven communities on the east side of the county (Beachwood, Lyndhurst, Moreland Hills, Pepper Pike, University Heights, Warrensville Heights and Woodmere) have formed a consortium and that the District had issued bid specifications on their behalf with bids to be opened on July 31, 2007. Mr. Holland noted that the total disposal tonnage of these seven communities is in excess of 32,000 tons making this disposal contract the third largest public contract in Cuyahoga County.
Mr. Holland reported that last week, the District staff had meet with eleven communities on the west side to contract for the collection and disposal of their waste and the District will begin the bid process.
Mayor Gorden asked what kind of savings will the consortium communities receive. Mr. Holland responded that he was not exactly sure but a contract for disposing 32,000 tons of waste will be attractive to many potential bidders and that bundling and increasing volume is a way to counteract the recent disposal price increases.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Commissioner Dimora opened the floor to public comment indicating the new rules that limit
public comment to three minutes and to items presented on the Agenda.
Mr. Edward Hauser made a statement proposing a Cuyahoga County Whiskey Island Bicentennial Project. He indicated that a bicentennial project would highlight Whiskey Island and increase interest in the Park.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business Commissioner Dimora adjourned the meeting.
Attachment A
Cuyahoga County Planning Commission/Solid Waste Policy Committee
| June 28, 2007 ATTENDANCE RECORD | |
|---|---|
| Member | Present |
| Mayor Robert Blomquist | Yes |
| Mr. Robert Brown for Mayor Jackson | Yes |
| Commissioner Jimmy Dimora | Yes |
| Mayor Merle Gorden | Yes |
| Commissioner Timothy Hagan | Yes - represented by Ms. Forbes |
| Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones | Yes - represented by Mr. Hugh Shannon |
| Mayor Edward Kelley | Yes |
| Mayor Thomas Longo | Yes - represented by Mayor Mulcahy |
| Mayor Eileen Patton | Yes |
| Mayor Kenneth Patton | No |
| Mayor Michael Procuk | Yes |
| SOLID WASTE POLICY COMMITTEE | |
| Ms. Virginia Aveni | Yes |
| Mr. Jack Licate | Yes |
| Others: Paul Alsenas, Christopher Alvarado, John DeMuth, Patrick Holland, Kristin Hopkins, Carol Thaler, Sally Parker, Patrick Smock, Thomas Tyrell | |
