Minutes of the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission/Solid Waste Policy Committee
February 19, 2009
ATTENDANCE
Attachment A lists the attendance at this meeting, at which the following matters were discussed.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Thomas Longo, Vice President of the Planning
Commission and Solid Waste Policy Committee.
MINUTES
On motion by Mr. Shannon, seconded by Mayor Kelley, the minutes of the October 16, 2008
Planning Commission and Solid Waste Policy Committee meeting were approved.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
Mr. Paul Alsenas announced that the Board of Cuyahoga County Commissioners reappointed
Mayors Thomas Longo and Edward Kelley to the Planning Commission. In addition, Mr. Alsenas
announced that the Board of Commissioners appointed Mayor Georgine Welo to replace Mayor Merle
Gordon of Beachwood whose term expired and who did not seek reappointment; and appointed Mr.
Martin McGann to replace Dr. Jack Licate whose term on the Solid Waste Policy Committee had
expired.
Mr. Alsenas indicated that pursuant to the Planning Commission Bylaws the organizational meeting and election of officers for the Planning Commission and Solid Waste Policy Committee are conducted annually in February.
Commissioner Dimora, President of the Planning Commission and the Solid Waste Policy Committee, proceeded to open the floor for the nomination of officers.
Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones moved to nominate Commissioner Jimmy Dimora as President of the Planning Commission for 2009. The motion was seconded by Mayor Kelley and unanimously approved.
Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones moved to nominate Mayor Thomas Longo as Vice President of the Planning Commission for 2009. The motion was seconded by Mayor Kelley and unanimously approved.
Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones moved to nominate Commissioner Jimmy Dimora as Chairman and Mayor Thomas Longo as Vice Chairman of the Solid Waste Policy Committee for the year 2009. The motion was seconded by Mayor Blomquist and unanimously approved.
RESOLUTIONS
General
On a motion by Mayor Longo, seconded by Mayor Blomquist, Resolution No. 090219-A, approving
personnel actions was unanimously approved.
On a motion by Mayor Longo, seconded by Mayor Blomquist Resolution No. 090219-B, authorizing a contract for planning services with the Cuyahoga County Department of Development was unanimously approved.
On a motion by Mayor Longo, seconded by Mayor Kelley, Resolution No. 090219-C, approving a contract with ParkWorks for a Master Plan for Whiskey Island was unanimously approved.
COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL ISSUES
Cuyahoga County's Federal Stimulus Priorities and Actions
Mr. Alsenas introduced the County Administrator James McCafferty who was present to discuss
the County's priorities related to the new Federal Stimulus Bill.
Mr. McCafferty acknowledged the role of Hugh Shannon and Jim Corrigan in coordinating the County's priorities. He indicated that the County worked to tailor its project requests to meet the Stimulus Act's two primary objectives, proposing shovel ready projects and job creation.
Mr. McCafferty stated that the County's projects meet these objectives and also include a green component such as the use of alternative energy and creation of supply chains. Mr. McCafferty illustrated this point using the proposed Medical Mart project. He explained that by manufacturing medical equipment in Northeast Ohio rather than having it manufactured somewhere else men and women would have job opportunities to construct the project and to obtain local jobs in the medical technology field.
Mr. McCafferty stated that the County's first priority is to invest in a clean economy which includes making the County's buildings more energy efficient, and the Wind Energy Project. The Wind Energy Project seeks not only to place wind turbines in Lake Erie, but to also to encourage the building of turbine component parts and other needed equipment in Northeast Ohio.
The next priority is to advance medical innovations and technology with the cornerstone being the proposed Medical Mart Convention Center. This priority addresses the infrastructure that would be needed for the Convention Center such as the opening of underground tunnels to downtown hotels, as well as attracting companies to Ohio by providing them with a ready-made environment to permanently display their medical and medical related products at conventions and trade shows.
The third priority stated by the County was to create livable and healthy communities. This broad-based priority includes development along the waterfront such as the Lakefront West Shoreway project, the creation of Green Bulkheads along the Cuyahoga River, the relocation of the Port Authority and the redevelopment of the Port's current property, and the completion of the Towpath Trail to Lake Erie. This priority also includes a human service component that involves the protection of children by expanding the County's eight neighborhood collaboratives located in the City of Cleveland and six first ring suburbs.
Mr. McCafferty stated that the fourth priority is neighborhood development and community enhancements which will focus on building stronger neighborhoods from a health and jobs perspective. An example of this type of project would be rebuilding neighborhood stores to give residents walkable access to fresh food.
Mr. McCafferty concluded by stating that local representatives visited with the Ohio Congressional Delegation in Washington and were well received. He stated further that discussions are ongoing locally and at the state level regarding local priorities, and that all of the County's priority projects have local community and financial support that will be enhanced by the federal stimulus funds.
Commissioner Dimora asked if there were any questions regarding the County's priorities for federal stimulus funds. Mayor Eileen Patton asked if there was any indication on how the submitted projects for stimulus funding would be scored. Mr. Shannon indicated that the State of Ohio website is acting as a repository to receive requests and that the state's list of priorities would be selected from the projects submitted. Mr. Shannon stated that the majority of the federal funds will be distributed to the states with the remaining funds being allocated to various federal departments. Mr. McCafferty added that indications from Washington are that approximately ninety percent (90%) of the stimulus funding would be distributed to the States and ten percent (10%) to various federal departments and agencies.
Further discussion ensued regarding the vast amount of information being disseminated about the federal stimulus package. Mayor Patton reiterated that a lot of information is coming out quickly and communities need to be updated. Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones suggested that the County or the Planning Commission host weekly telephone calls or meetings to keep communities informed of changes to the federal stimulus package. Mr. McCafferty stated the Office of Government Service Coordination could put together a biweekly conference call. Mr. Shannon stated that updates will also be added to the County's federal stimulus webpage. In addition, Commissioner Jones suggested that perhaps a regional approach to seeking federal stimulus funding could strengthen the County's project requests.
Mr. Alsenas indicated that the purpose for presenting the County's federal stimulus priorities to the Planning Commission was to inform the members of the County's priorities and to address the information, advocacy and outreach needs of communities related to accessing the federal stimulus funds perhaps by using NOACA as a clearinghouse. Mr. Alsenas also provided a geographical overview of the locations of the County's priority projects using aerial maps.
Mayor Longo asked about the long-term effects of current recessionary trends with the downsizing of companies and the housing and foreclosure crisis, and whether the Planning Commission is working on projects to address these issues.
In response, Mr. Alsenas stated that Cuyahoga County has two fundamental assets, land and people and the first thing is to find out how to leverage land to use it more effectively. Secondly, that the county's demographics have changed with more than half of the households being single head of household family units and that more than 42,000 homes have been foreclosed upon within the last three years.
He stated that there are bits and pieces of programs that address these issues, but there is no comprehensive strategy and that the Planning Commission should position itself to fundamentally reengineer a new approach to land use. Mr. Alsenas illustrated this point using the example that; a land banked foreclosed property could be partnered with a major storm water utility to provide the land to create a natural system solution to storm water problems.
Tools for County/Municipal Development - Launching the CPC's New Community Planning
Mapping System (GIS)
Mr. Alsenas announced that in March 2009, the Planning Commission would be launching its
dramatically improved GIS community mapping system which was done in collaboration with the
Offices of the County Auditor and County Engineer.
Mayor Eileen Patton asked if a cost was associated with the new tool. Mr. Alsenas indicated that there is no cost.
Mr. Alsenas introduced Ms. Emilie Zickel, Executive Fellow with the Cleveland Leadership Center who would be working with the Planning Commission for ten weeks on the Cuyahoga Valley Initiative.
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT REPORT
Dr. Jack Licate was presented with a resolution from the Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners
and other mementos to acknowledge his twelve years of service as a member of the Solid Waste
Policy Committee.
Mr. Holland updated the Planning Commission and Solid Waste Policy Committee on the Stark/Tuscarawas/Wayne Joint District Rulemaking making issue. He stated that Cuyahoga County has been given permission to use the Stark/Tuscarawas/Wayne landfill during 2009.
However, Mr. Holland stated that the District, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, representatives from Summit County and the Waste Industry will be recommending to the Governor's Office that Ohio Revised Code Section 343 be amended to limit the authority of a solid waste management district which has excess disposal capacity from denying access of this excess capacity to other waste generators within the State of Ohio. Mr. Holland stated that the Stark/Tuscarawas/Wayne County Joint District should not be allowed to deny this capacity to Ohio waste generators while allowing out-of-state generators use of the landfill.
Next, Mr. Holland reported that the District had recommended to the Board of Cuyahoga County Commissioners that it not move forward with the proposed site for the Special Waste Convenience Center because the Ohio Department of Development has such stringent requirements that it would raise both the risk and double the cost of the project. Mr. Holland said that the District would look at other methods to acquire a portion of the site and would begin looking at other properties along the I-77/I-480 corridor.
Mr. Holland reported that the District had received a letter from Farris Processing and Trading, one of two automotive shredding companies operating in Cuyahoga County, seeking an exemption from the District's waste generation fee. Mr. Holland stated that although there is a provision in a state statue that allows the Policy Committee to exempt producers of auto fluff, the nonmetallic portions of the automobile, from the waste generation fee he recommended that the subcommittee be formed to examine this request in light of the County and District's current economic conditions.
For Project Highlights Mr. Alsenas referred the Planning Commission members to the written report.
Commissioner Dimora requested that any old business, new business or public comments be brought before the Commission, hearing none, Commissioner Dimora adjourned the meeting.
Cuyahoga County Planning Commission/Solid Waste Policy Committee
| February 19, 2009 Attendance Record | |
|---|---|
| Member | Present |
| Mayor Robert Blomquist | Yes |
| Mr. Robert Brown for Mayor Jackson | No |
| Commissioner Jimmy Dimora | Yes |
| Commissioner Timothy Hagan | Yes, 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 |
| Mayor Georgine Welo | No |
| SOLID WASTE POLICY COMMITTEE | |
| Ms. Virginia Aveni | Yes |
| Mr. Martin McGann | Yes |
| Others: Paul Alsenas, John DeMuth, Mr. Robert Klaiber, Dr. Jack Licate, James McCafferty, Marionette Richardson-Scott, Carol Thaler and Hugh Shannon. | |
