City Council

MINUTES City of Geneva Council Meeting July 8, 2024 6:00 p.m. President John Barbo opened the Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. Roll Call – John Barbo, Robert Rosebrugh, Jeffrey Griffiths, James Baehr, William Baker, John Travis Absent: Dana Schenk Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was said and prayer was offered by Pastor David Yarbrough, New Life Assembly of God. Motion was made by Jeffrey Griffiths to approve the minutes of the June 10, 2024 regular council meeting, seconded by James Baehr. Roll call, 5 yeas, (Barbo, Griffiths, Baehr, Baker, Travis), 1 Abstention (Rosebrugh). Motion duly passed. Presentations – None. Citizens: Sylvia Obocsky 289 Ansel Road, Geneva, Ohio Deborah McDonald Ansel Road, Geneva, Ohio Ms. Obocsky’s backyard is under water. Ms. McDonald lives next door and her property is even worse. Neither Ms. Obocsky nor Ms. McDonald is able to get a contractor to agree to address the problem. Unless they can obtain a permit to do work on property she does not own, a contractor will not dig out the area behind the property. Ms. Obocsky believes the cause of the problem to be run off from the school; that the school did not put in proper drainage and retention basins. The School wants to build a new addition and develop more land which means more drainage problems. Ms. Obocsky stated that she cannot use her backyard at all. There are bugs everywhere including wolf spiders. Ohio Basement is coming back out again. Ohio Basement tells her they need to have it drained twice a year. They have never seen anything like this. The issue is not on her property. Finances are tight for residents and for the City but something needs to be done. The last two rains were unusual; however there was a river from the home next to Debbie McDonald’s home and onto Obocsky’s property. Ms. McDonald stated she had eighteen inches of water in the backyard, she measured it. The water is sitting, stagnant and smells. Ms. Obocsky stated that she had a beautiful backyard. Ms. Obocsky is looking to the City for direction. Her husband is 80 years old with cardiac myopathy among other conditions. 1 Ms. Obocsky has to weed wack the backyard, can’t use a mower, too wet. Debbie hired a contractor to do her lawn, the contractor did it once, would not come back stated that he can’t get equipment back there it is too wet. Mr. Varckette stated that he has been out to the area after a significant rain event. There has been three significant rain events in a 10 day period. The City has undertaken a storm water master plan. The base mapping of problem areas is complete. As a result of the three heavy rain events, the problem areas were reported back to our consultant. The second phase puts people out inspecting these areas to identify problems. The city is looking at development over the past fifteen years and what might have caused issues. Phase three involves identifying projects and priorities. Ansel is a priority area. Concept planning, cost estimating and ultimately financial planning to identify what the project is are a part of the plan. Once the City has a plan in place it will assist the City in bringing in additional funding to undertake identified projects to reduce problems. Ms. Obocsky stated that the storm sewer lines in the front of the homes during the recent events had water almost up to Nearing Circle. Mr. Varckette was in the area after the first event of the three as well as several other locations throughout the city. Ms. McDonald’s first notice the issues when her son graduated from high school. She could not put the garden in because it was too wet; that was twelve years ago. Ms. Obocsky stated it would dry out in the summer. It has not dried out a lot but it is better than it is now. Ms. McDonald stated that her backyard hasn’t dried out in three years. Ms. Obocsky’s daughter works for a contractor that does this for a living. They said the whole creek needs opened up all the way down. They opened it up down by the apartments. She tried to find out from the Township who did the work on that but they did not call her back. Ms. Obocsky and Ms. McDonald need to get the water off of their property. Mr. Varckette requested the residents stay in touch. The City will make the consultants aware. The City outlined the timelines presented by the consultant to achieve each phase. Mr. Barbo will stop by Ms. Obocsky’s. Mr. Barbo stated that after Ms. Obocsky had been to council the first time, he walked the area behind the school and was not sure where the water could be infiltrating from there. So many houses were built there as well as the school, the water has to filter down some way, it goes downhill and under the tracks, and back up. It comes back up Spencer Circle where they took out the trees, over in that corner or if go down South Nearing right at the curve that is where the water comes through. The gentleman on the corner stated he has been there for forty plus years, he hasn’t had a 2 problem until recently. She walked the property down towards 20, there is a natural roll to the land where the creek is. This year the water is up to Ms. McDonald’s house and Ms. Obocsky’s deck. Ms. Oboczky stated that the contractor that her daughter works for spoke to Mr. Pasky. Mr. Pasky told him that entire creek needs to be cleaned out. The curve of the stream is all wrong, there is a sharp curve, and it should be a gradual curve so that the water flows. He said the amount of retention for the school is no were near what it needs to be. Newell Creek in Mentor put in Hospital, houses, and buildings, they have huge retention basins that are deep. Ms. Oboczky has to use an industrial weed wacker to cut her grass. Mr. Griffiths noted that Susan Westlake at Ashtabula County Soil and Water is completing a Non- point Source Water Plan. Once completed it will allow municipalities to apply for funding through the State of Ohio. This could be another resource. City Manager Report: West Main Street Recent road closures were due to voids under the road. The road was closed for safety reasons. An updated construction schedule is on the website. Minutes from the last progress meeting were forwarded to council. The next progress meeting will be held July 24, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Stormwater Master Plan The earlier conversation will be forwarded to the City’s consultant. Mr. Varckette requested Ms. Oboczky and Ms. McDonald speak with the City’s consultants as well. The process is moving to Step 3. Having the plan will allow the City to prioritize projects. Smoke Testing Announcement Beginning tomorrow and on Wednesday the City will be smoke testing targeted areas. Door hangers were delivered to those affected. More information can be found on the City’s website. The City is getting an abundance of storm water in the sewer. OPWC Round 38 The City received three bids ranging between $131,000 and $147,700 with the low bidder being Koski. OPWC Round 39 The City adjusted its request and shifted $100,000 from grant to 0% loan for the OPWC pre- application for the Lawn Street Waterline Replacement project replacing the waterline from Lockwood to Swan Street, estimated at $670,000. 3 CDBG Senior Center ADA Improvement Project The project will be advertised on July 12 and July 19. The bid opening is scheduled for July 26 th at noon. The City expects to make a bid recommendation at the August 12th council meeting. Request for Proposal – Grant Writers The city has successfully acquired a good bid. The City will keep council informed. Union Negotiations for Contract Years 2005 – 2007 Negotiations with all four bargaining units will begin soon. The City is in receipt of the first two Notices to negotiate for both the Patrolmen & Sergeants and Dispatchers. The City anticipates receiving two others, the IAFF #3695and Laborers International Union of N.A.- Local 860. -- With regard to the new Event Coordinator, the City is in the process of bringing new technology on board that will allow communication with existing staff. The Arborist will be on board for the next year for a fee of $30,000 for services provided to Geneva, Geneva-on-the-Lake and Geneva Township. The three entities will discuss allocation of the arborist’s time and the financial allocation of tree planting and removal. The grant also includes developing an education plan, tree care, tree risk assessment, zones, a plan for trees at risk and a planting plan to be used to identify what trees are the best option for the particular location. Also included is a review of our ordinances and recommendations if needed. Street paving priority list was distributed; however, line striping was not included as the City is waiting on cost estimates. Items for Consideration of Council Ordinance 3354 – Second Reading. An Ordinance Authorizing the Transfer of the Residual Balance of Several Funds. Resolution 3603. A Resolution Adopting the Tax Budget of the City of Geneva for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2025 and Submitting the Same to the County Auditor, and declaring an emergency. Motion by James Baehr, seconded by Jeffrey Griffiths that the rule of law requiring certain ordinances be read at three separate meetings be waived and suspended and Resolution No. 3603 be placed on final roll for passage. Roll call, 6 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baehr, Barbo, Travis). Motion by James Baehr to declare and pass Resolution No. 3603 as an emergency measure, seconded by William Baker. Roll call, 6 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baehr, Baker, Travis). Roll call on passage, 6 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Baehr, Baker, Griffiths, Travis) Resolution No. 3603 duly passed. Resolution 3604. A Resolution Declaring it Necessary to Improve the Streets in the City of Geneva by Supplying Electric Lighting, and declaring an emergency. 4 Ms. Welch is reviewing the rate increase recently received. First Energy originally wanted the City to pay the entire $194,000. The City requested the cost be broken down in phases. There are 800 units to be replaced. The project was broken down into 60 units per phase. The City has submitted payment for the first phase. First Energy has not completed that work as of yet. Gardner estimated that the City would save $750,000. The largest part of the savings was to come from the street light replacement portion of the project. 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 Resolution No. 3604 be placed on final roll for passage. Roll call, 6 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baehr, Barbo, Travis). Motion by Jeffrey Griffiths to declare and pass Resolution No. 3604 as an emergency measure, seconded by William Baker. Roll call, 6 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baehr, Baker, Travis). Roll call on passage, 6 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Baehr, Baker, Griffiths, Travis) Resolution No. 3604 duly passed. Resolution 3605. A Resolution Authorizing the Acceptance of the Bid of Koski Construction Co. of Ashtabula for the Austin Road Pavement Improvements, 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 Resolution No. 3605 be placed on final roll for passage. Roll call, 6 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baehr, Barbo, Travis). Motion by James Baehr to declare and pass Resolution No. 3605 as an emergency measure, seconded by Jeffrey Griffiths. Roll call, 6 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baehr, Baker, Travis). Roll call on passage, 6 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Baehr, Baker, Griffiths, Travis) Resolution No. 3605 duly passed. Unfinished Business – None. New Business: John Travis made a motion to waive the public hearing for the liquor permit change of LLC Membership for Geneva Clark. William Baker seconded. Roll call on passage, 6 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baehr, Baker, Travis). Motion duly passed. The Fall Sports Rally is scheduled for Tuesday, August 20, 2024. Payment of Bills: Mr. Rosebrugh inquired as to why the City would pay for new house water service line on West Street of $1,320. Ms. Welch will check into it. Committee Reports: Ms. Baker reported on the Streets Committee Meeting regarding short term parking in the downtown. Items noted during the meeting included employees parking in the front of the business and the food 5 truck taking up more than two spaces with ancillary trucks. Downtown businesses were invited to the meeting and did not attend. Short term parking in the downtown was tabled. A request will be made that the food truck be limited, ancillary vehicles should be parked in Depot Lot. Citizen – None. Jeffrey Griffiths made a motion to adjourn. John Travis seconded the motion. Council meeting adjourned at 6:57 p.m. Recorded by: Phyllis Dunlap Clerk of Council _______________________________ President of Council __________________________________ Clerk of Council 6