City Council

MINUTES City of Geneva Council Meeting March 25, 2024 6:00 p.m. Vice-President Robert Rosebrugh opened the Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. Roll Call – Robert Rosebrugh, James Baehr, William Baker, Dana Schenk, John Travis Absent – John Barbo Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was said and prayer was offered by Pastor Randy May, Geneva United Methodist Church. Motion was made by William Baker to approve the minutes of the March 11, 2024 regular council meeting, seconded by Dana Schenk. Roll call, 4 yeas, (Rosebrugh, Baker, Schenk, Travis), 1 abstention (Baehr). Motion duly passed. Presentation – Street Department, Superintendent Tim Bittner Presenting  The City has used 225 tons of the 800 tons of salt ordered. Superintendent Bittner is checking to see if the City can pay extra to store the salt.  Council had requested a list of roads for chip, fog, seal paving. The freezing and thawing of the roads will change the list if done too soon. The Street Department does have a partial list.  A lot of bad trees were removed prior to the heavy snowfall that damage some trees in the City. The $16,000 shown in payment of bills was for tree removal.  The Department is working on getting the equipment ready to move into spring.  The City would like to get a new salt bin. The issue is funding. The Township recently built a salt bin at a cost of $165,000.  The City is currently concentrating on the West Main Street construction project.  Austin Road to the Township limit will be paved.  The Street Department plans to talk to residents who have tree limbs on the curb due to storm damage. The City no longer picks up storm debris. The contract with Brobst does not include storm debris. The City may put a flyer in the doors explaining.  Yard waste pick-up begins May 14th. Presentation – Joseph Pavlick, CT Consultants, Inc. – Stormwater Management Plan Update The Stormwater Management Plan begins with base mapping identified problems areas, followed by an inventory of streams and physical assets and a condition assessment in order to identify projects and prioritize those projects. The assessment will include a look at all the streams that come through the city and running cameras through the storm sewers. 1 CT began with gathering applicable data from various sources. A meeting was held with staff familiar with storm water issues in the city to further identify problem areas. Mr. Griffiths arrived at 6:15 p.m. Eighty-five percent (85%) of the watershed is upstream of the city. Mr. Pavlick showed a base map indicating streams, land coverage and topography and a map showing the problems area identified so far including Depot Street by the courthouse, Ansel Road north of the High School and Ruth Ave. Utilizing this information CT will finalize the base mapping. Mr. Griffiths noted that Suzanne Westlake, Ashtabula County Soil & Water, is currently preparing Non-point Source Watershed Mapping. Mr. Griffiths will provide contact information. Discussion regarding items that may need to be looked at once the base mapping is completed. The third step in the process is to identify projects, make policy recommendations, maintenance recommendations. Mr. Varckette noted that this is not just a plan it is a process. Mr. Griffiths noted that Ms. Bruster, Chagrin River Watershed Partners has walked the streams and may be able to provide information. The city is looking for public input on areas of concern, reports of flooding that are observed, pictures, individuals should provide that information to the City Manager. Citizens: Charlotte Lakota 7 Meadowridge Drive, Geneva, Ohio Ms. Lakota, a senior citizen, understood an ordinance had been passed regarding when garbage is to be out at the curb; before 6:30 p.m. the day before pick-up and put away before 6:30 p.m. the day of pick-up. Ms. Lakota puts her trash out at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, she has an obligation at church in the evening and does not get home until after 7:00 p.m. when it is dark during parts of the year. This would be a hardship for her other seniors. The discussion regarding the restricting of hours for garbage receptacles to be on the curb was previously tabled. City Manager Report: On the agenda is an ordinance to authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the Auditor of State for the audit. The City requests that Council pass the ordinance by emergency as the Auditors would like to be on site this week. Also on the agenda is a Resolution to adopt the Solid Waste Management Plan. The summary was provided. Mr. Varckette talked with the District Manager, the changes made to the plan are procedural. The deadline to submit the Resolution is May 15, 2024. A Public Hearing to discuss the proposed DORA is scheduled for April 1, 2024 at 5:15 p.m. 2 A Public Meeting to review the West Main Street project is scheduled for April 1, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. The target start date for the construction is April 9, 2024. Funds have been released and the City is authorized to begin the Senior Center back entryway ADA improvement project. Construction will begin in the summer of 2024. The project is estimated at $137,000. The Geneva Township fire levy failed. The levy is used to pay their portion of the City/Township fire agreement. This does not affect 2024. The City has renewed the Yard Waste Agreement with Brobst. The cost increased $300.00 from the previous year to $4,500. Yard waste pick-up begins in May and runs through October. Mr. Griffiths noted that this cost does not include staff time, truck use, gas, etc… Mr. Baker noted that citizens can also take yard waste out to Brobst at a cost of $15 per truckload or $1 per bag. Ashtabula County Tire Amnesty Day is scheduled for May 11, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Ashtabula County Fairgrounds. The cost to drop off tires is $1 per tire for the first 4 tires. Spring clean-up is scheduled for May 4, 2024. Items for Consideration of Council: Ordinance No. 3351. An Ordinance Authorizing the City Manager to enter into an Agreement with the Ohio Auditor of State for Services Associated with the City of Geneva Fiscal Year 2023 Audit, and declaring an emergency. Motion by Jeffrey Griffiths, seconded by James Baehr that the rule of law requiring certain ordinances be read at three separate meetings be waived and suspended and Ordinance No. 3351 be placed on final roll for passage. Roll call, 6 yeas (Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baker, Baehr, Schenk, Travis). Motion by William Baker to declare and pass Ordinance No. 3351 as an emergency measure, seconded by Jeffrey Griffiths. Roll call, 6 yeas (Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baker, Baehr, Schenk, Travis). Roll call on passage, 6 yeas (Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baker, Baehr, Schenk, Travis) Ordinance No. 3351 duly passed. Resolution No. 3599 – First Reading. A Resolution in the Matter of the Approval of the Solid Waste Management Plan for the Ashtabula County Solid Waste Management District, and declaring an emergency. Unfinished Business – None. New Business: The digital speed sign is in use. Payment of Bills – None. Committee Reports: Sustainability / Shade Tree Commission – New member Myke Dowd working with multiple partners including ATEC students on the design and building of unique bike racks for the city. The Committee hopes to do a native plant sale downtown in the summer. 3 Citizen: Pastor Randy May Geneva United Methodist Church Late last year, Pastor May had requested a one-way sign be installed coming out of the church parking lot. Since the installation of the sign Pastor May has not noticed as many cars going the wrong way. James Baehr made a motion to adjourn Jeffrey Griffiths seconded. Council meeting adjourned at 6:57 p.m. Recorded by: Phyllis Dunlap Clerk of Council _______________________________ President of Council __________________________________ Clerk of Council 4