[0:03] Council work session, August 25th at 7:30. Mr.

[0:06] Goodwin, please lead us in the pledge.

[0:08] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

[0:14] United States of America and to the Republic

[0:14] for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible,

[0:18] with liberty and justice for all.

[0:21] Roll call.

[0:23] Mr. Goodwin.

[0:24] Here.

[0:24] Mr. Wolf.

[0:25] Here.

[0:26] Mr. Price.

[0:26] Here.

[0:27] Mr. Boldt.

[0:27] Here. Mr. Pavlica.

[0:29] Here.

[0:29] We recognize Mayor Alai, Mr. Ruffa, Ms.

[0:32] Hutchinson, Chief Hajek, Mr. Pak, Chief Pollock, Mr.

[0:36] Schroedel, and Mr. Neff.

[0:37] Mayor.

[0:40] Thank you, Mr. President. There's been, um, a little talk.

[0:44] Obviously Wallings Road Bridge is open, everything's working, running in traffic,

[0:50] everything seems to be very smooth,

[0:52] and we're real happy down there at that end of town.

[0:56] Talk about putting the name of Prairie View Heights or logo on a bridge.

[1:01] Many, many discussions with Ethan and ODOT.

[1:04] If we wanted to do something on that bridge or any bridge,

[1:08] because do you put something on Wallings Road Bridge facing southbound?

[1:13] You have Lacyland, then you have Harris Road.

[1:17] Right.

[1:17] Harris Road, you do one northbound, southbound, both.

[1:21] However, the issue we have, because ODOT, you know,

[1:24] they're not doing that as part of it, it's a separate contract you would have to do.

[1:29] You need $25,000 just to have an outside engineering firm to come in and look at

[1:34] this, because they have to do structural loads on the screws or the fence,

[1:38] because if a piece of something like this flies off and hits a car in a storm—

[1:43] Yeah.

[1:43] There's a lot of liability. So just having that alone is, is about a $25,000 bill.

[1:48] And then you're talking, because Broadview Heights is not a short name, uh,

[1:53] one side of the bridge, you're talking $95,000 on top of that just for one side.

[1:58] So we could be talking $150,000, close to $200,000 to put a name on the bridge.

[2:03] So I just wanted the council to know that it's not, uh, Yeah.

[2:07] an inexpensive endeavor.

[2:09] And, um, Ethan could give you a little more insight because he's talked to

[2:14] more insight because he's talked to engineer,

[2:14] uh, in Brecksville and he got some good feedback. Maybe you want to hear that.

[2:19] Yeah, so these, these costs have quadrupled over the past 6 years

[2:23] quadrupled over the past 6 years seemingly.

[2:24] It would be 100% city funding.

[2:26] Um, like the mayor said,

[2:27] we have to bring in a structural consultant to do some design, you know,

[2:32] on the brackets. Um, some CAD drawings and handle all the ODOT approvals.

[2:37] It has to be a specific structural design engineer.

[2:40] The sign then has to get custom pressed and built,

[2:43] and this is only for one side of the bridge.

[2:46] So if we wanted to do 2, then that costs, you know, doubles, obviously.

[2:51] Um, we still have, you know, 27 different sections of road that are rated poor.

[2:56] And a culvert that we're trying to replace next year.

[2:59] So I'd recommend, you know,

[3:01] just continuing to utilize our budget on some of these essential projects like

[3:06] roadways, culvert replacements, things like that.

[3:09] I think we can all agree it's a good idea, or a great idea,

[3:13] to put the name on the bridge, but it's just a really large cost to consider.

[3:18] Okay, council, any comments?

[3:26] That's too bad.

[3:28] Okay, one other thing on that.

[3:31] This is all 100% local, so we can't find— you know,

[3:34] there's no programs out there to help us pay for that or anything like that.

[3:39] So there's no grant money to put your name on a bridge, and if there is,

[3:44] we'll come back to council.

[3:46] But, you know, I'll speak for the administration and We think we're better

[3:51] administration and We think we're better off

[3:51] paving a road or two before we start really looking at having our name and

[3:56] really looking at having our name and lights

[3:57] out there. Thank you.

[3:58] Was there any thought about embedding it in the concrete before the

[4:04] forms, and then when you pour it, to be poured with the concrete?

[4:09] That was an ODOT thing that was part of it,

[4:12] would have been an upcharge on the bridge.

[4:15] And again, that was something that wasn't considered at that time because We,

[4:20] as you all know, original design was somewhere around $7 million or more,

[4:25] so we changed the scope so it would be less money.

[4:28] So again, having that name on there wasn't as much of a consideration as doing what

[4:34] we needed to do on the project. So that was not part of the scope.

[4:38] Maybe businesses want to get together and fundraise or something like that

[4:43] potentially, and they could potentially get a structural engineer to donate their

[4:49] services for this to happen. I think it'd be beneficial for them, certainly.

[4:54] You know, that might be another way for them to go.

[4:58] Thank you. I think you're going to have—

[5:01] you're going to have to have an engineer that ODOT is going to be wanting to work

[5:07] with. But you also got the long-term maintenance of it.

[5:11] And if it's attached to the fence and not embedded, as you discussed,

[5:16] you have the potential of Any fastener on a fence could be a source of vandalism,

[5:23] so I wouldn't encourage it.

[5:25] I, I don't think I would discourage it,

[5:28] but I'm not going to be waving the flag to do it.

[5:31] Anyone else? Okay, we'll take those

[5:37] suggestions, move on to Mr. Paff.

[5:48] First item is just the annual community diversion program that we run with the

[5:53] county. This is just a contract for that for next year.

[5:56] There's no cost to us as they reimburse us on a case-by-case basis for the youths

[6:02] that are in that program.

[6:03] Council, any questions on this? We'll put that on, Dave.

[6:09] Okay, next item is the assessment for the grass cutting delinquencies.

[6:13] These are the folks that we cut their grass, haven't been paid yet,

[6:17] so we'll certify those to go on their property tax bill.

[6:20] Council? We'll put that on.

[6:24] Next item is a bills resolution for an item that we didn't have a

[6:30] purchase order, and this was for fire extinguisher inspections.

[6:35] Cost was $4,502.

[6:41] No questions, so we'll put that on.

[6:43] And then the final item is the annual rates and levies from the county that

[6:47] rates and levies from the county that council

[6:48] approves on an annual basis.

[6:50] 2 things to note this year:

[6:51] the 3 mil general fund levy is not on there because it's up for a vote this

[6:56] there because it's up for a vote this year.

[6:56] If that passes, then they will send us an amended one that we'll have to pass

[7:01] sometime in late November, early December.

[7:04] The other thing to point out is the recreation bond levy that was passed,

[7:08] I think in 2015. It was at 1.42 mills.

[7:11] They are lowering that to 0.79 mills,

[7:13] which saves about $21.70 per $100,000 of value for the residents.

[7:17] The rationale behind that is though, when they set the original millage for that,

[7:22] it's based on the total debt service over the 20 years.

[7:26] We refunded that issue in 2021, which reduced that cost.

[7:29] At that time, I approached the county about lowering it, and they said, no,

[7:34] we're just going to track how much overall you need,

[7:37] and we'll stop the levy sooner than the 20 years that it was supposed to be on.

[7:42] There's been sort of a change in the budget commission over there,

[7:46] and now they're saying, no, you can only collect what is due each year.

[7:51] And so they're reducing it, which I'm fine with. That's all we need to cover.

[7:55] And probably at some point we'll even be able to still cut it off a little early

[8:00] because for the 5 years since we refunded that,

[8:03] they had been overpaying us what we needed each year.

[8:07] But I've been keeping that in the debt service fund segregated from everything

[8:12] service fund segregated from everything else.

[8:12] So how much is it per year prior to the change?

[8:17] Um, it's that we're saving 21-something. What was the full amount?

[8:25] I'm sorry, I have to do my math here. Probably around $38 or so.

[8:32] But how much did we bring in?

[8:34] Um, before that?

[8:41] Yeah.

[8:41] Um, that's what I thought, it was $400,000. And now we're going to go down

[8:46] $400,000. And now we're going to go down to what?

[8:47] Well, it was 1.42 mills.

[8:49] The 0.79 mills will generate about $775,000 a year.

[8:53] Okay, so we were generating over $1 million a year before that.

[8:57] Okay, that's what I was getting at, how much the new money was going to be per

[9:04] much the new money was going to be per year.

[9:05] Yeah.

[9:07] Okay, go ahead.

[9:08] Thank you. My apologies, Mr.

[9:10] President, for the other— uh, Dave, don't we need, uh, we had discussed,

[9:15] I heard you, I think right after, maybe you brought it up during finance, uh,

[9:21] to approve, uh, a purchase order for an environmental services company for work

[9:27] that's being—

[9:29] I don't think we've gotten the invoice for that yet, have we, Ethan?

[9:31] I've requested the invoice. We have not gotten it yet.

[9:35] They haven't prepared the final report or given us the invoice yet to date.

[9:41] Are there any other questions related to that?

[9:45] Because I did call everybody last we talked, um, likely around $30,000.

[9:57] Okay, that's the same quote you were giving us this summer, so nothing's

[10:01] giving us this summer, so nothing's changed.

[10:01] Yeah.

[10:01] And then there's other legal thing—

[10:04] legal avenues we're going to go with this.

[10:08] So this council should approve this, and then eventually, hopefully,

[10:13] we will get reimbursed for it, so we'll not Be any tax dollars, correct?

[10:19] That's the goal.

[10:21] That was the only reason I was questioning, in case we had to come

[10:26] questioning, in case we had to come forward with a,

[10:27] a purchase order or a, uh,

[10:29] an approval to spend in excess of $10,000 because of the emergencies, uh, that,

[10:35] that occurred.

[10:36] Yes, I just haven't received the invoice yet. So once I do, that's the final

[10:40] yet. So once I do, that's the final report.

[10:41] I'll attach them all, um, and then we'll submit them to council.

[10:45] That was the only reason I was asking.

[10:47] I wanted to make sure in case that was a consideration for next Monday.

[10:51] Yep. Thanks.

[10:59] Okay, Mr. Schroedel.

[11:01] Thank you, Mr. President. I have 2 items on tonight.

[11:05] Um, the first one is for the edges for our snowplow blades. For winter equipment.

[11:12] This is something we buy some of almost every year,

[11:16] so we have 4 or 5 ones that need to be replaced now and a couple for the shelf.

[11:22] Council? We'll put that on.

[11:27] Okay, second item is for a contract with Kay Company for a 3-year contract.

[11:32] They're our current provider for our building automation system.

[11:37] They've done a nice job for us in the past.

[11:40] And we'd like to continue to utilize them.

[11:42] Seeing no questions, I'll put that on.

[11:48] Thank you.

[11:49] Ms. Hutchinson.

[11:53] Thank you, Mr. President.

[11:55] The first item is just the change in the TruGreen contract.

[12:00] We're asking for an additional service for tick prevention.

[12:05] We're having some issues with ticks on the main campus and at the field,

[12:11] so Pete wants to treat each this fall.

[12:14] That's okay, we'll put that on.

[12:18] Wonderful. And then the second is the Manta Fieldhouse agreement,

[12:21] which we've been doing the last few years.

[12:23] It's just rental of the facility for indoor soccer program this fall.

[12:27] Amanda, has the rates gone up at all?

[12:32] Yes, just $10 per hour. Yep, it does every year.

[12:36] Thank you.

[12:38] We'll put that on.

[12:39] Thank you very much.

[12:40] Chief.

[12:43] Uh, thank you.

[12:45] Just, just one item. We have a spatial needs study.

[12:48] This is a study that would be done to kind of determine the size of a new

[12:52] building that we could look at.

[12:54] Council.

[13:01] Chief, um, shortly before your appointment,

[13:04] probably 7 to 8 months before your appointment,

[13:07] we had Chief Rafin here and we were discussing the final details on, um,

[13:12] the fire department, on which direction, how large it was going to be,

[13:17] what we were going to spend.

[13:19] And so the question was asked of Chief Rafe, uh, will the police department be

[13:24] Rafe, uh, will the police department be next?

[13:25] Will the police department be wanting a new building?

[13:29] And so, uh, Chief Rafe was asked, how about that?

[13:32] And he stood over where he was sitting in that chair over there,

[13:37] and he stood and he said, no, we're good. We like it where we are.

[13:41] I don't see a need for a new police station in the near Foresee—

[13:46] the foreseeable future.

[13:47] We haven't even finished and finalized the fire department yet,

[13:52] and that's a concern of mine right now.

[13:54] Not that I don't love the police department, because I don't want to hear

[14:00] department, because I don't want to hear the,

[14:00] the rhetoric out there that we have anything or any animosity.

[14:04] And, and you can't go anywhere in this town without talking about how safe this

[14:10] community is, and, and we appreciate that and attribute it to the work that you've

[14:15] done and your department has done.

[14:18] But I think we need to set the fire station behind us.

[14:22] We need to see where we're at financially at the end of it.

[14:26] We need to then figure out whether it would have to go out to a levy or not.

[14:31] I don't think this is the time for that right now, and I can see us funding in

[14:37] right now, and I can see us funding in 2027,

[14:37] which we've already had those discussions here on council,

[14:41] the furniture and the assets and the equipment needed in the fire department.

[14:46] Thank you.

[14:49] And from that standpoint, um, number one, I,

[14:52] I think it's premature at this time based on what we were told just 2 years ago.

[14:57] And number two, I'm not sold on the company that did the last study because it

[15:03] seemed like more of a spattle want study than a need study.

[15:07] And, and I don't know why we're not using somebody locally in Ohio instead of going

[15:12] down to Orlando, Florida. So those are my concerns.

[15:16] Thank you.

[15:17] I don't know how council feels,

[15:19] but surely everybody was here when those comments were made by Chief Rake.

[15:23] Now, that's your predecessor, so I don't know what has suddenly prompted this, um,

[15:28] but that was one of the discussions that was bantering back and forth in regards to

[15:33] the fire station. For instance, we said,

[15:36] should we do a combined safety services building?

[15:39] And it was, it was said that, uh, that would not be a consideration.

[15:43] So Anyways, that's my opinion.

[15:45] I don't know whatever everybody else feels about that.

[15:48] Mr. Pavlica.

[15:50] Thank you, Mr. President.

[15:51] Chief, also, um, we need to take consideration we still have Fire Station 1

[15:57] consideration we still have Fire Station 1 that we

[15:57] have plans to refurbish to bring it up to code,

[16:01] and that as soon as Fire Station 2 is completed,

[16:04] and if there's any extras or additional costs that we may incur,

[16:09] we don't know yet I don't know how many things we could keep going at the same

[16:14] things we could keep going at the same time.

[16:15] I think we need to go in order.

[16:17] The thought was the new firehouse, number 2, refurbished, bring up to code,

[16:23] fire station 1. And then at the same time,

[16:26] maybe perhaps as we're reviewing fire station 1,

[16:29] we can start discussion of the police station. That's just my thought for that.

[16:35] Mr. Goodwin.

[16:37] I, I feel exactly the same way as both these, these my colleagues have brought

[16:41] these, these my colleagues have brought up.

[16:41] I—

[16:42] it, it's not the time or the place to do that right now.

[16:46] Um, I, I really truly admire the police.

[16:48] I've always had, uh,

[16:50] always appreciated the fact I think they are the most important people up here at

[16:56] City Hall, without a doubt.

[16:58] And, uh, I, I think that they need the best of things,

[17:01] but I don't think that that necessarily is going to give them the best of things.

[17:07] I, uh, I, I think that we have to be considerate of the taxpayers.

[17:12] And, uh, without knowing what it is, when it goes forward with a spatial study—

[17:17] but that's exactly how we ended up with the fire station.

[17:21] And a spatial study showed somehow that we needed a museum in the front of the fire

[17:27] station. I, I, you know, I, I think, I think the chief knows what he needs.

[17:33] He, he's a well-heeled, experienced, and he could tell us.

[17:37] But, but, uh, I, I don't want to start this ball right now.

[17:41] Myself personally, uh,

[17:42] would not be in favor of starting to study until we get through completely paying

[17:48] for all of these fire stations and, and we're done with that.

[17:53] I, I just Not the time for discussion about it, but that's my opinion. Thank

[17:58] about it, but that's my opinion. Thank you.

[17:58] Mr. Wolf, you want to bite on this?

[18:00] Yeah, I disagree. I mean, this is a spatial study. He's not building a

[18:04] spatial study. He's not building a building.

[18:05] He wants to know what he needs.

[18:07] So I think it's beneficial to know what in the future we need and approximately how

[18:12] much it costs. Do you want to do that right before you're going to build a

[18:16] right before you're going to build a building,

[18:17] or you want to do it now and plan and know what you're going to be bargaining for in

[18:22] a few years when— if decide to build something.

[18:25] So I think knowing what they need and what their deficiencies are is important.

[18:30] Okay, hold on one second. I'd like to weigh in on this.

[18:34] I can— I believe in the future we're going to need a police department.

[18:39] There's no doubt about that.

[18:41] Uh, what site, what size, I don't think we should jump into yet.

[18:45] I mean, we talk about the jail. Are we going to want a jail?

[18:50] We're going to house people. We don't do it now. Is it more affordable not to?

[18:55] But my biggest thing is the Chief Hajek and the mayor beat down that said both of

[19:01] these fire stations were not livable.

[19:04] I don't think I'm talking about a fire— a police station.

[19:08] We asked the chief at the time, it was 2 years ago, he said he was fine.

[19:13] That was his point to say, hey, I have issues. He did not say that.

[19:18] So I think we need to finish what the chief and the mayor want in both fire

[19:23] stations. And when that's done,

[19:25] or at least we're under construction of Fire Station 1,

[19:29] then I'll start talking about a study.

[19:32] Okay, but I believe, Chief, we need one down the road.

[19:36] But right now we need to finish what we're doing.

[19:39] Mayor.

[19:42] Thank you. So good comments and all,

[19:45] and we are not looking to build a new police station today, next year,

[19:49] nor the year after. We want to properly plan, as we have been,

[19:54] all of us together planning the future of the city, the future of this campus,

[19:59] and what we can do. This is part of that future.

[20:03] We would never— we've got enough going on, I think we all know that.

[20:07] Building a new fire station, getting roads fixed, getting this together.

[20:12] But we also can't just sit back and say, wow, we had a nice fire station up there.

[20:18] We need to look to the future.

[20:20] I want to put together a long-range plan for the safety of this city,

[20:25] and I think we all owe that to the citizens.

[20:28] This ain't about building a police station right now.

[20:32] This is only looking at what deficiencies we may have And knowing what we need to do

[20:38] if we look at a 5, 10-year plan down the road. That's all this is.

[20:42] This administration in this term will not be asking about a police station being

[20:48] built, but we will finish Wallings Road.

[20:51] We will do these things before we even dip our toe into what size a new police

[20:56] station is. But I think for the money It's pretty smart to go out there and do a

[21:02] spatial needs study just to figure it out so we know today what we may need in 4 to

[21:08] 6 or 8 years from now.

[21:09] That's all we're doing is planning for the future,

[21:13] not trying to build a fire or police station now,

[21:16] or certainly while we're doing Wallings Road,

[21:19] or while we're in the middle of construction of fire station.

[21:23] That's not what this is. This is planning for the future.

[21:27] Well, I thank you for clarifying that because I think that's the fear here is,

[21:33] you know, how many balls we're going to have up in the air at a certain time.

[21:38] So, um, did we go out for bid or we just pick this person again?

[21:42] So we picked this person again, the company.

[21:46] So we picked this company again.

[21:48] Yeah, there aren't a whole lot of companies out there that I could find,

[21:52] and I haven't been able to find one locally.

[21:54] We have worked with them before Or we had worked with them before with the fire

[21:59] station. Um, so there's not a whole lot out there to choose from.

[22:02] So for example, if Mr.

[22:04] Price knows of a local one, let me know who they are and maybe we can use them.

[22:08] Um, along the lines here, uh, I understand the whole idea of this, that, uh,

[22:13] Chief Rafe may have said whatever he said.

[22:15] Okay, he and I have differences of opinions on something.

[22:18] Yeah.

[22:21] The building that we're in, size— for the size and things like that,

[22:25] is probably adequate. We have a jail there, it's probably pretty adequate.

[22:29] The problem that I see though, that, uh, maybe he didn't see,

[22:32] or maybe everybody here doesn't see,

[22:34] is that we have an aging building that's going to need a lot of repairs put into

[22:38] going to need a lot of repairs put into it.

[22:38] So if we do put all those repairs in, then we're kind of stuck there.

[22:42] So I think it's money wasted and it's kind of a foolish idea.

[22:45] Some of those repairs have included over the past couple years.

[22:48] Pretty extensive repairs to the roof, the AC units, the HVAC units.

[22:52] We have a moisture problem in the basement because it's a gravel floor for most of

[22:56] it. So we have issues with pipes rusting down there.

[22:58] That's the main electrical line there.

[23:00] We have a generator that's 25 years old,

[23:03] which is not a generator like you see at your house. This is like a $100,000 item.

[23:07] These are very, very expensive things.

[23:09] We have a basement that leaks when it rains that just literally pours through

[23:13] rains that just literally pours through like a

[23:13] garden hose.

[23:14] Okay.

[23:15] So we can put it off and wait a couple years and do these things,

[23:18] but if the basement caves in, you're going to be building a new building anyway,

[23:23] right? And that's beyond my control or anybody's control, right?

[23:27] And Chief, I wish you were here then.

[23:30] I wish I was here too.

[23:31] I am not questioning Chief Raymond. I would never do that.

[23:34] I think what he was doing was what was the biggest need at the time,

[23:39] but I think what council is saying is At one point we were thinking maybe we would

[23:44] have a joint building.

[23:46] That way you could have the training shared between the two,

[23:50] some of the facilities you could share between the two.

[23:54] And that's why the questions were asked,

[23:56] because we know that the police station was not built as a police station.

[24:01] It was modified, correct?

[24:03] Yes.

[24:04] So we knew that. So that's We were thinking 5, 10 years out, and I get it,

[24:09] thinking 5, 10 years out, and I get it, you know,

[24:10] decisions were made. I'm not going backwards, there's no way.

[24:14] But, um, we'll entertain— I'll,

[24:16] I'll bring this back to council next week because there's 2 other people that are

[24:22] not here— or not next week, I'm sorry, the next work session—

[24:27] and we can discuss it then if anybody has ideas as far as other Um, experts, uh,

[24:32] we can look at that and we'll have another discussion in 2 weeks.

[24:37] But, um, I think we all agree up here there needs to be a fire station.

[24:42] There's— I mean, a police station. There's no doubt of that.

[24:47] It's just we want to make sure we finish both fire stations before we even start

[24:53] talking about a police station,

[24:55] because we tried to do this 2 years ago Decisions were made that we were only

[25:00] Decisions were made that we were only going

[25:01] to do the one with the chief's approval, and that's what we went by.

[25:06] But I agree with the mayor, you're going to need one, 5, 10, whatever.

[25:11] And to your point, something can happen tomorrow to speed up that process.

[25:16] So I would entertain going out for a study, but I just want everybody to know,

[25:22] you know, we talked about the living conditions of the firemen.

[25:26] Talked about it for weeks.

[25:28] I'm going to make sure that gets done before we do the police station.

[25:33] Chief, I agree with everything, um, Council President Boldt said.

[25:38] Um, I don't want— this by no means was on you.

[25:42] I don't want you to feel that, you know, um,

[25:45] we have anything other than your best interest involved with this.

[25:50] But, um, one of the things in the ad hoc committee that was created afterwards,

[25:55] there was a statement made by an architect that there are firms here locally that do

[26:01] that, architectural firms that will perform this type of work for us.

[26:06] Because the question was asked, why did we select someone out of Orlando, Florida.

[26:12] And I felt that's exactly how I felt. So it was like affirmation.

[26:17] Um, that's why I'm not excited about this. So I said there's 2 things.

[26:22] Number one, I think it's too soon.

[26:25] And number two, uh, you know, I'd like to have some other considerations.

[26:30] So take that back to your rank and file. We appreciate them. We love you guys.

[26:36] And, um, don't take this as a negative because we're on the same page.

[26:41] There is a need there.

[26:42] It was, it was discussed a couple years ago,

[26:46] but we were waiting for a little bit more time. That's all I have.

[26:50] Can I bring up one other thing?

[26:52] Yes.

[26:53] Um, and it pains me to say anything negative.

[26:55] All my elected time since '99,

[26:57] I've never said anything negative ever about the police force.

[27:00] Nothing but the greatest.

[27:02] And I think we have the greatest police force that's out there.

[27:05] Absolutely.

[27:05] As a safest city, we should have a great police force.

[27:08] And, and, and, uh, so it pains me to say that,

[27:11] but what Concerns me anyway by doing this, and I—

[27:14] and it's great that we're thinking of the future because we always got to be ahead

[27:20] of the game, being proactive.

[27:21] But these needs change from time to time, as you've seen probably in,

[27:26] in with even in within your, your time there, certainly, Chief.

[27:30] And, and, uh, for instance, we used to have a jail and now we don't have a jail.

[27:35] The one nice thing that we do have right now We have the facilities in case

[27:40] something were to happen with North Royalton or something would happen to

[27:44] Royalton or something would happen to North

[27:45] Royalton, they have a fire there or something, where would we house those

[27:49] something, where would we house those people?

[27:50] We could make do, couldn't we potentially make do with the jail?

[27:54] No, we couldn't.

[27:55] We still have those— we got rid of the 10 jail cells?

[27:58] No, they're there, but they haven't been kept up.

[28:00] No, they would— it would be a quick renovation.

[28:02] No, it wouldn't be a quick renovation because we have a roof that's been leaking

[28:06] that's destroyed things prior to me taking over.

[28:09] So there are more problems than you can imagine.

[28:11] And one thing I would like to say is everyone is invited to come and see the

[28:15] building for yourself.

[28:16] If you have any doubts or any questions about what we have,

[28:19] come over and take a look at it. I'll give you the tour.

[28:21] Yeah, because this is the first we hear about that, because I'm sure—

[28:26] I don't know any elected person that would go against fixing a roof.

[28:30] I mean, anywhere, you know,

[28:32] as far as any leaking roof We would certainly find that money somewhere,

[28:37] without a doubt, you know, to fix that. So please let us know.

[28:41] I mean, I would like to see these and see these incidents because that's taxpayers'

[28:46] facilities. I mean, they're paying for it,

[28:49] and I want to make sure they're protected.

[28:52] But the needs change from time to time,

[28:54] and maybe in the next 10 years those needs may change.

[28:58] You may need more, you may need less.

[29:00] The spatial study A spattle study would potentially be money spent that may go

[29:05] potentially be money spent that may go out.

[29:06] We, we don't have a site, you know, uh,

[29:08] we could buy too small of a site if we bought some additional land, you know.

[29:13] Uh, it's just, it's a tough issue, to be honest with you, you know.

[29:18] But like I say, it's tough for me because I would not have one of my children if it

[29:23] hadn't been And I'll repeat this one more time, I've repeated it before,

[29:28] that if there hadn't been a patrol officer who ended up becoming chief later on,

[29:33] hadn't walked in the door at 3 o'clock in the morning and got my child breathing

[29:38] again. So to me, there's nobody more important in this city than the police

[29:43] department.

[29:44] Absolutely.

[29:45] So it, you know, it kind of sickens me that I have to say this, but I, I, I just—

[29:51] the one thing that I've ever gone And I think that it just— the timing is not

[29:56] think that it just— the timing is not good.

[29:56] And I think that it's good to think about it, that we know that now,

[30:01] that we have a different change of thought, and we'll look forward, you know,

[30:06] to the future with that in mind, certainly.

[30:08] Just to add one thing with respect to the jail, so everyone's aware,

[30:13] we can't just open the jail up again.

[30:16] We have to go through this whole certification process with the state,

[30:21] which is a very lengthy process and it's, it's not easy.

[30:25] So I don't want anyone to think we can bail out of a contract with North Royalton

[30:30] and—

[30:31] No, and I realize that,

[30:32] especially a facility that hasn't been used in a while and the requirements have

[30:37] changed probably and things like that, certainly.

[30:40] But it's something that would be done much quicker than building something from the

[30:45] ground up, and the fact that those are very expensive.

[30:49] And inspect— very expensive endeavors to build jail cells, you know,

[30:53] obviously with the requirements.

[30:55] So, and to hire all the people there, to add to Mr. Ruffa's comments.

[30:58] Yeah, but it's something that could be done in an emergency situation.

[31:03] Mr. Price.

[31:04] Thank you, Chief. Just a closing comment.

[31:07] Uh, the spatal need study for the fire department was done in 2021. It's now

[31:12] department was done in 2021. It's now 2026.

[31:13] We're building a fire department. I don't want you to wait for the repairs.

[31:18] Whatever repairs need to be done, bring them to us and we're going to fix it,

[31:23] because I, I don't want you to sit in that building for 5 years.

[31:27] Even if we only get minimum use out of it,

[31:30] that's no excuse for us not performing repairs, uh,

[31:34] the city performing repairs on the building.

[31:37] So please do not hesitate to bring needed repairs to us. Agreed.

[31:41] Safety is number one. Mr. Pavlica.

[31:44] Thanks, Mr. President.

[31:45] Chief, um, do you have any idea of what kind of repairs or how many repairs need

[31:51] kind of repairs or how many repairs need to

[31:51] be done within the next 2 to 3 years to keep it afloat, or—

[31:55] Not really.

[31:56] You have no idea?

[31:57] So I have some idea.

[31:58] I mean, the, you know, smaller things here and there are getting fixed,

[32:01] the day-to-day, you know, sinks, countertops leaking, stuff like that.

[32:05] Bathrooms that don't work, those are all getting repaired. That's minimal money.

[32:09] Right.

[32:10] The thing that concerns me is putting the deeper thing—

[32:13] it's the bigger things that have been a problem since we've been there.

[32:17] Windows that leak, that have leaked for however long,

[32:19] that they can't seem to be repaired.

[32:21] A lot of that stuff is the bulletproof glass,

[32:24] so it becomes difficult with keeping them weatherproof.

[32:27] Frosting on the windows, which ruins drywall, things like that.

[32:30] Those are smaller items.

[32:31] The roof is a big issue because, like we were talking about the jail,

[32:35] repairing those areas are different.

[32:37] That's not the same as repairing It's not repairing an area in a regular building.

[32:41] It's not regular drywall. It's not regular construction.

[32:44] It has— every fastener is tamper-resistant.

[32:47] It's very different and very much more expensive than repairing a simple area.

[32:51] The biggest concern I have is the corrosion in the basement of the

[32:54] corrosion in the basement of the electrical pipes

[32:55] and the dampness that's down there.

[32:57] That can be a big problem when that does come, not to mention a leaking wall.

[33:01] Leaking wall, to correct that would be Excavation around the entire building.

[33:05] So that's a big thing, but probably doesn't have to be done today.

[33:09] So if we could stretch that out, at least in my mind, for a year, 2, 3, whatever,

[33:13] to get into a new building,

[33:14] then the foundation can cave in because we're not going to use the building

[33:18] we're not going to use the building anymore.

[33:19] But it doesn't make sense to me to invest money in these repairs if we're not going

[33:23] to stay there. And that was my concern with going forward into these bigger

[33:27] with going forward into these bigger repairs,

[33:28] is doing all these things then we're going to sink a bunch of money into a building

[33:32] and we're going to be stuck there,

[33:34] which was never really designed to be a police department to begin with.

[33:38] So, a lot of things have changed since we've moved in there with our

[33:41] we've moved in there with our communication

[33:42] system, with our server requirements, with our radio requirements,

[33:46] with our body cam, all the data we have to save for not only body cam but tasers.

[33:50] We have car cams now. It all adds to the staff.

[33:52] There's a lot more technology the guys are carrying around.

[33:56] So there's a lot more that needs to go into a building. It needs to be

[33:59] into a building. It needs to be modernized.

[34:00] And when that building was redesigned, probably, I don't know, '97,

[34:03] '98 is somewhere, somewhere around they started, got things going.

[34:07] The general fund was probably a tenth of what it is now.

[34:10] This is the money we had there. That's the best they could do at the time.

[34:14] It was a great building compared to the old building we were in.

[34:17] If If you've ever seen that one up on Broadview Road.

[34:20] Yeah.

[34:21] That was different. That was, that was the old building.

[34:24] We had 4 jail cells with the old iron bars and the big skeleton key that you would

[34:28] go in and out of. It's not like that anymore. It's electronic locks.

[34:32] It's all this just different security and stuff like that.

[34:35] Things grow, things have to modernize, and we're stuck with a building that, uh,

[34:39] it needs a lot. So I think the time's right to move forward with this and get it

[34:44] going.

[34:44] Well, I think I would like to come by, take a look at it sometime.

[34:48] Yeah, I would too.

[34:49] If any other council people would like to go.

[34:51] If we could, with some thought here, because I, I don't think any—

[34:55] I hear anybody saying we don't ever need one in the future, um, start some sort of,

[35:00] you know, money to be put aside for the future,

[35:03] whether it's a small amount or whatever.

[35:05] We know we're going to need something in the future.

[35:09] If we could start saving that money now, it certainly save us, you know,

[35:13] some interest. You know, who knows when we go out to bond,

[35:17] if we would go out to bond something like that in the future,

[35:21] what those rates may be.

[35:22] If we have the money to do it, maybe we should be setting some money aside.

[35:27] Don't look at me, Mayor,

[35:29] because I think what he's going to say is you're talking a lot of money here.

[35:35] So the thing is, is first of all,

[35:37] we weren't even going to get a study off the ground 10 minutes ago.

[35:43] Chief, try to bring another expert. That's all I'm saying.

[35:48] Trying to get this off the ground to get it done.

[35:51] I think you're going to have some pushback on your expert from Florida.

[35:57] I'm just saying that. So see if you can get another one. We'll compare the 2.

[36:03] We'll talk about it next week. When Miss Monick is back and Mr.

[36:08] Dunlap, we'll have a more in-depth conversation on it, maybe timing also.

[36:14] I think those are the 2 critical things you need to get this over.

[36:19] Yeah, let's do that. I agree that we're here, but I just want a last word.

[36:25] We're not looking to build a new police station.

[36:28] We're in the middle of a couple other major projects. That's not the intent.

[36:34] It's future planning. That's all this is. Thank you.

[36:37] Mr. President, I would also add that to know what the, the years—

[36:42] are we looking at 10 years out or 15 years?

[36:46] I mean, what, what the span is for 5 years or whatever it is, 2 years?

[36:51] No, I think, I think the mayor would like this in 5 years.

[36:57] Well, I'm talking about the study and the needs, not, not like when we would build,

[37:02] but what would your needs be 10 years down the road or whatever?

[37:07] Yeah, just so if the planning is there for future expansion or whatever.

[37:12] I believe any expert will give that to you.

[37:14] Mr. President, but I believe that changes, Mr. Wolf. We saw it from 2021 to 2024.

[37:21] We saw a change because we didn't have— we,

[37:24] we had a 2021 study that went into a 2022 request for a levy.

[37:29] It was short-term and pricing and everything was all over the place.

[37:34] I, I think there's a better approach to it. I just don't think it's now.

[37:40] Okay.

[37:44] And the chief is saying he needs a new building, so now, now you're—

[37:47] and I appreciate you actually saying that.

[37:50] I do.

[37:50] So that, you know, gives us a greater urgency. I don't know, 5 years is the

[37:54] urgency. I don't know, 5 years is the number.

[37:56] Exactly.

[37:56] So, okay, anybody else? One more time around.

[38:02] Anybody? I've been there, I've seen it.

[38:04] I didn't get the grand tour, but what I saw myself was, yeah, this—

[38:07] and this was years ago— it definitely needs to be replaced.

[38:11] Mr. Wolf, I've never seen a jail.

[38:12] I didn't see it in that respect.

[38:16] Just, uh, just want to say that publicly.

[38:19] I did bring them donuts when I went, so.

[38:21] Okay, uh, next, Chief.

[38:24] Hi, we're looking to purchase a Stryker—

[38:31] a refurbished Stryker power load cot for

[38:38] the backup squad. Council, any questions?

[38:44] We'll put it on.

[38:47] Thank you.

[38:51] Mr. Neff.

[38:52] Thank you, Mr. President.

[38:54] The finance department notified me that Ordinance 2026-38 needs to be modified

[39:00] because the total amount didn't include the alternate amount of approximately

[39:06] $38,000.

[39:10] Council, any discussion on this? Okay, we'll put it on.

[39:15] Thank you.

[39:19] Uh, discussion on farmers market, that was Miss Monix,

[39:23] so we'll push this off to the next work session unless, Mayor,

[39:27] you have any comments on it.

[39:29] Um, just quickly, um, thank you.

[39:31] Sorry, I believe there's an exchange with Miss Monix.

[39:34] She had mentioned at Home Days about doing like, uh,

[39:37] bringing the service organizations together to have like a rally day or

[39:41] together to have like a rally day or something.

[39:42] It's just her spitballing as we were sitting in booths next to each other and

[39:46] sitting in booths next to each other and things

[39:47] like that. And, you know, bringing other groups in and doing some something,

[39:51] maybe doing a farmer's market that day.

[39:54] And she wanted to know if we could do it like on September 5th.

[39:57] I'm like, we're in the middle of Home Days.

[40:00] Yeah.

[40:00] And it was a great conversation.

[40:02] I said, well, Figure out what you want, what groups you can get.

[40:07] She's talked about the— maybe the Strongsville Lions as well, and talked

[40:11] Strongsville Lions as well, and talked about it.

[40:12] And then she emailed me after, and then I said,

[40:15] because council wants events given to them before the end of the year, I don't know,

[40:21] I'm not going to dip my toe in that pond and, you know, say, here,

[40:25] I want to do this event here without You know, the acquiescence of council.

[40:30] And to be quite honest with you, this is something that we would do for—

[40:35] like we did India Independence Day a couple of Sundays ago.

[40:39] It's—

[40:39] we just give them the area where we're— the city's not going to put this on.

[40:43] It sounded like it was Jennifer's idea for that,

[40:46] so I wanted council to be aware that one of the council members asked for this and

[40:50] asked me about what I thought And that's why I brought it to you.

[40:54] So that's all I could tell you. That was her request and that was our conversation.

[40:58] The email I received, I thought she wanted this a city event.

[41:04] Well, I—

[41:05] yeah, and that was my concern is I said you need to talk to the mayor.

[41:09] I can't follow—

[41:10] We're not prepared to do a city event like that in the, the time span she asked.

[41:15] Okay.

[41:15] And that's why then she said maybe doing something up in the corner and Again,

[41:19] maybe we need Miss Monick here,

[41:21] but I just wanted to throw it out there so you kind of knew what,

[41:24] what the gist of the, yeah, the discussion would be.

[41:27] She'll be back.

[41:28] Thank you.

[41:28] We'll discuss it then. Council's open to the residents.

[41:35] Seeing none, Mayor, any discussion? Council? Mr. Goodwin?

[41:41] Yeah, the Board of Zoning Appeals will be meeting On September

[41:46] 2nd at 6:30 PM in this room, council chambers. That's all.

[41:51] Thanks.

[41:52] Mr. Wolf.

[41:53] Um, I was just wondering if we would consider, um,

[41:56] some recognition for the Broadview Heights Lions Club being 50 years this year.

[42:01] And also, it may seem kind of weird,

[42:03] but the Brecksville Kiwanis are 80 years this year,

[42:06] and they do a lot with both cities. They give out scholarships.

[42:10] So It would be nice to give them some recognition for their 80 years of being—

[42:15] giving service to the cities.

[42:17] Okay, that's all. Mr. Price.

[42:21] Uh, thank you, Mr. President.

[42:23] I wanted to thank the service department for their, um,

[42:26] outstanding storm response when the storm blew through here a couple weeks ago.

[42:31] Um, the, the storm hit fast, and I had a chance to walk as it, as it passed over,

[42:37] and there was a lot of damage out there.

[42:39] And before I even made it over to Ledgemont,

[42:42] the service department was down there clearing trees, clearing sidewalks.

[42:47] And then I had a, you know, back and forth brief text conversation with Mr.

[42:52] Schroedel. They got out there and cleaned up a lot of the debris that was on the

[42:57] tree lawns and then made additional passes through to help the residents out.

[43:02] So thank you, Mr. Schroedel, for your guys.

[43:05] Let them No, what a, what a, you know, great job.

[43:08] And it was good to see them out there so soon.

[43:11] I mean, literally within 20 minutes after the storm blew through.

[43:15] So my story on it is I was over there about 10 to 9,

[43:20] and one of the trees went down and it went in—

[43:24] it was down right in the driveway of the service department.

[43:28] And as I wheeled around it,

[43:31] because I had to use the service driveway to get around it,

[43:36] There was a van or a pickup truck ready to get rid of it.

[43:40] That's how fast it was, like 3 minutes.

[43:44] So they did a fantastic job, to your point. So, Mr. Pavlica.

[43:48] Thank you, Mr. President.

[43:50] Yes, as they've talked about, Dave, the service department,

[43:53] your team did a great job during that severe storm that came through.

[43:57] I know a lot of residents for some reason want to not For some reason,

[44:01] they did lose trees in our backyards and some damages,

[44:04] but the service department did move quick,

[44:07] sent out the chipper afterwards to chip up some of the branches that fell.

[44:11] And that was— it was a great job by your team.

[44:14] Thank you. With that, we are adjourned.

Work Session

Transcript