Minutes of the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission/Solid Waste Policy Committee
September 19, 2007
ATTENDANCE
Attachment A lists the attendance at this meeting, at which the following matters were discussed.
CALL TO ORDER
In the absence of Commissioner Dimora, Vice-Chair Longo called the meeting to order.
MINUTES
The minutes of the June 28, 2007 meeting were unanimously approved.
RESOLUTIONS
Personnel
On motion by Mayor Kelley, seconded by Mr. Smock, Resolution No.070919-A, a personnel action
was unanimously approved.
General
On a motion by Mr. Cantor, seconded by Mayor Kelley, Resolution No. 070919-B was unanimously
approved authorizing a contract in an amount not to exceed $4,800.00 for planning services with
the City of Euclid to update Euclid's Zoning Regulations pertaining to Used Car Lots, Signs,
Industrial District Uses and Landscaping.
On a motion by Mayor Kelley, seconded by Mr. Smock, Resolution No. 070919-C was unanimously approved authorizing a contract for Geographic Information Services (GIS) with the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services in an amount not to exceed $7,500.00 to provide standard and custom mapping services depicting data related to the Foster Care Program for a two year period.
On motion by Mayor Blomquist, seconded by Mayor Eileen Patton, Resolution No. 070919-D was unanimously approved authorizing a contract for planning services in an amount not to exceed $10,000.00 with the Cuyahoga River Community Planning Organization for preparation of the Big Creek Watershed Management Plan.
Olmsted Township
On motion by Mayor Blomquist, seconded by Mayor Kelley, Resolution No. 070919-E was
unanimously approved recommending approval by the Township of Olmsted of the rezoning of
Permanent Parcel No. 265-003 from R-40 (Single Family District) to Planned Residential
District (PRD).
On motion by Mayor Blomquist, seconded by Mayor Kelley, Resolution No. 070919-F was unanimously approved authorizing the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission to provide notice to the public of a public hearing set for Thursday, November 8, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. at the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission located at 323 Lakeside Avenue, West, Suite 400, Cleveland, Ohio 44113 on the Subdivision Platting Rules for the Unincorporated Areas of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, commonly known as the "Cuyahoga County Subdivision Regulations."
COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL ISSUES
Building Healthy and Competitive Communities
Mr. Alsenas briefly introduced the Community and Regional Issues topic Building Healthy and
Competitive Communities saying it is reflective of a national movement driven by number of
health crises that, however, were being addressed in very positive ways. He stated that in
Cuyahoga County, and much of Northeast Ohio there are a whole array of medical indices that
demonstrate that the Northeast Ohio's health is much poorer than the rest of the Nation's.
Mr. Alsenas indicated that there are a number of initiatives going on locally that are connecting
the dots of human health, economic competitiveness, public infrastructure, environmental natural
systems and other factors which create quality of place, healthy living and prosperity.
Mr. Alsenas reported that CPC staff member, Mr. Christopher Alvarado and staff members of the Steps to a Healthier Cleveland and the Slavic Village Neighborhood Development were here to discuss how they were working on building healthy and competitive communities.
Mr. Alvarado began by citing a recent Plain Dealer article about Dr. Alvin Johnson, Director of Ohio Department of Health which quoted him saying that "Ohio had not done enough to promote prevention and wellness."
Mr. Alvarado gave a brief introduction of the "Broadway: Community on the Move," as a national model that is taking place in Slavic Village as a result of a grant received from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The model is a demonstration of how to integrate active living and healthy eating with neighborhood design.
Mr. Alvarado then introduced Ms. Jennifer Scofield, Commissioner of the Health Division in the City of Cleveland, Mr. Martin Cader, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the City of Cleveland Planning Commission and Marie Kittredge, Executive Director of the Slavic Village Development Corporation.
Ms. Scofield provided an overview of the obesity trends across the Country. In 1990, most of the nation's states reported that less than 10% of their population was obese. Now however, many states, including Ohio, reported that 29% of their population is obese. A study of behavior risk factors indicates that 33% of Clevelanders are overweight; 28% do not engage in any physical activity; and 78% eat fewer than five fruits or vegetables of any kind per day. As a result, Ohio spends $3.3 billion dollars annually on health care which is above the national average.
Ms. Scofield indicated that the reasons for these disturbing trends range from sedentary lifestyles; a large consumption of fast food; the lack of local access to full service grocery stores in the inner-city; and the car dependent design and nature of our neighborhoods.
Mr. Cader then discussed the ways to create a transportation system for walking, biking and preserving green space throughout the County. Mr. Cader gave a historical overview from approximately 1948 to approximately 2002 highlighting the green and undeveloped areas of the County and noting that during this time period vehicular miles traveled increased 224% and waking trips decreased 71%. In 1969, 42% of kids walked or biked to school, today only 16% of kids walk or bike to school.
Mr. Cader gave recent examples of how different modes of transportation can be integrated into the existing transportation system. The Detroit-Superior Bridge project was reconfigured to turn two lanes of traffic that were not needed, into a wider pedestrian facility and a bike lane. Mr. Cader stated that the Euclid Corridor Project is using the "complete streets" concept which is a street that is accessible by all modes of transportation, including walking, biking, cycling and private and transit vehicles.
Lastly, Mr. Cader briefly discussed the how the City of Cleveland Planning Commission used the CPC's Greenprint and Greenspace Plan in the development of the City of Cleveland's Bikeway Master Plan which will create a 180-mile network of connecting bike and pedestrian facilities including the GCRTA Transit System. The Bikeway will link to jobs, schools, parks, the lakefront and the Cuyahoga River.
Ms. Scofield introduced Terrance Allan, Commissioner for the Cuyahoga County Board of Health and member of the Steps to a Healthier Cleveland Leadership Team and Ms. Meghan Estes, Acting Director of Health Promotions and Program Manager of Steps to a Healthier Cleveland.
Ms. Scofield then discussed the Steps to a Healthier Cleveland program, a five-year partnership funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The key program elements include: the Healthy Cleveland Business Council which focuses on worksite wellness, illness prevention programs and employer healthcare costs; the Food Policy Coalition which looks at food security issues and the local food system; the Convenience Store Project which identifies stores interested in providing healthy food option and works on urban graffiti abatement; Asset Mapping which assist in locating healthy eating places and safe recreation activities within neighborhoods; and Healthcare Provider Education which is a resource component.
Next, Ms. Kittredge talked about the intersection of several policy initiatives including health, safety, lifestyle, amenities, land re-use and tax credits. She gave examples of ways to improve social service delivery and improve health such as senior and youth programming with safe routes to schools and walking clubs.
Mr. Alsenas thanked the presenters and summarized the conversation by discussing ways of helping to move these and other new collaboratives and initiatives forward and to sustain current efforts to build a healthier Northeast Ohio.
Mr. Alsenas also introduced Madeline Cain who is working for the County Commissioners on a new project called the Healthy Communities Initiative.
He noted that the Planning Commission's Work Plan also contains several of the components discussed in the various initiatives.
Mr. Alsenas opened the discussion for questions and comments.
There were several comments and questions including similarities in previous programs and links to the Towpath Trail.
Commissioner Jones indicated the role that the County could play in these initiatives, and asked about community gardens, small retail and neighborhood grocery store implementation and development efforts.
Ms. Cain noted that the County's initiative focuses on minority neighborhoods and communities with disproportional health impacts.
Commissioner Jones commented on personnel healthcare cost and discussed the County's Wellness Program.
SOLID WASTE DISTRICT REPORT
Mr. Holland began by noting the changes to the Solid Waste reporting format and yielded
for questions.
He was asked about changes in the Stark, Tuscarawas and Wayne Counties Joint County Solid Waste District Rules. Mr. Holland indicated that a rule related to Cuyahoga County adopted last November by the Joint District states that any waste generator outside the Joint District bringing waste into private landfills within the Joint District can only do so if they achieve the recycling rates the Joint District is currently achieving. If this Rule is upheld, Mr. Holland indicated that three operators would not be able to accept waste from Cuyahoga County into the Joint District area beginning January 1, 2008.
Mr. Holland stated that he did not think the Rule would be upheld, but indicated that it is a threat and discussed opposition to the Rule, the appeal process and the Rule's possible and significant impacts on the County.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Mr. Alsenas stated that the Project Highlights were included in the written material and then
announced that the Entrepreneurs for Sustainability had invited Janine Benyus, author of
Biomimicry- Innovation Inspired by Nature to speak at their National Speakers Event on
September 25 and to meet on September 26 with CPC, County, CVI and others to discuss how to
promote Biomimicry and sustainability in Northeast Ohio.
ADJOURNMENT
There was no old business, new business or comments from the public. Having no further
business, Mr. Smock adjourned the meeting.
Attachment A
Cuyahoga County Planning Commission/Solid Waste Policy Committee
| September 19, 2007 ATTENDANCE RECORD | |
|---|---|
| Member | Present |
| Mayor Robert Blomquist | Yes |
| Mr. Robert Brown for Mayor Jackson | Yes - represented by Mr. Cantor |
| Commissioner Jimmy Dimora | Yes - represented by Mr. Smock |
| Mayor Merle Gorden | No |
| Commissioner Timothy Hagan | Yes - represented by Ms. Forbes |
| Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones | Yes |
| Mayor Edward Kelley | Yes |
| Mayor Thomas Longo | Yes |
| 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, Claire Kilbane, Dan Meaney, and Carol Thaler. | |
