City Council

Council Minutes March 10, 2025 City Hall Council Chambers The City Council met in a work session at 6:01 p.m., Mayor David E. Weiss presiding. Council members present: Mrs. Kaus Mr. Malone Mrs. Moore Ms. Anne Williams Ms. Carmella Williams Ms. Bixenstine Mr. Claytor Council Members Absent: None * * * * Video of this meeting may be found here through March 10, 2028. * * * * At 6:02 p.m. it was moved by Mr. Claytor, and seconded by Ms. Carmella Williams that Council go into an executive session to discuss Personnel matters, including the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion or compensation of one or more public employees or officials. Roll Call: Ayes: Mrs. Kaus, Mr. Malone, Mrs. Moore, Ms. Anne Williams, Ms. Carmella Williams, Ms. Bixenstine, Mr. Claytor Nays: None Motion Carried * * * * At 7:02 p.m. Council returned to the work session. Law Director William Ondrey Gruber, Building and Housing Director Kyle Krewson, Public Works Director Ramona Lowery-Ferrell, Assistant Public Works Director Chuck Orlowski, Senior Planner Daniel Feinstein, and Grounds Superintendent Brian Talarczyk gave a presentation on a proposed Managed Landscape Policy. * * * * The Mayor invited members of the audience and those participating via Zoom the opportunity to “raise their hand” to provide public comment. Tim Kalan of 3714 Glencairn stated that he is thrilled Council is having this conversation. It is important to remember the purpose of doing ordinances to support natural landscapes is ecologically based. He is not saying that aesthetics should not be a factor, but cautions making an ordinance that contradicts the purpose of doing that. He cringed when he saw words like neat and tidy in the proposal. They have worked many years to get here and the do not plant list they have been compiling comes from a number of sources. Relying on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is insufficient because they are agriculturally based. While there is some synonymous aspects with their list, we need to also use the Invasive Plant Council and other places that document escaped plantings. Many of them are concerned with the Parklands and see an opportunity with Horseshoe Park and what happens with the do not plant list to connect what happens there with how people are landscaping their own property. He is intrigued by Council member Mrs. Kaus’ idea to have participants register and receive a sign to plant in their yard as evidence and education to others. A long term goal is to have a City program that can make people feel connected. Jim Neville of 16004 Chadbourne stated that he was unaware of many of the things mentioned by Council member Mrs. Moore. He is stunned. They have an example on Chadbourne. He believes one person who started this in their yard was well intentioned but maintaining a garden like this is a lot of work and it is extremely easy to overcommit to something they can’t possibly sustain. His opinion is biased by that. There are certainly some beautiful examples of things people have done in their tree lawns as smaller applications and he respects that. This is complicated and it will be very easy for people to bite off more than they can chew. He does not know how the City would regulate that and acknowledge that, but it will be very important as they move forward. They had photographs at the start of the presentation of all different kinds of examples, good and bad. He would love to see some examples of great gardens from people who have thought about and committed to manage it. With the types of gardens being proposed, the management context is extremely important. At first he thought they should have a permit, but he thinks there needs to be an acknowledgment of the commitment to manage the garden and not just plant it. Then it turns in to what he sees on the corner of his street. He appreciates the opportunity to work with other committees and having them involved in this process. This is the start of a road with a long way to go but he looks forward to the direction and will try to respect the opinions of all those involved Randy Metzger of 15811 Chadbourne stated that maintenance seems to be a big issue. Some people suggested a 50% restriction should be lifted. He understands not planting invasive species to keep them out, but to keep them from showing up in a large garden he can’t picture people going through their entire yard weeding out those plants in a natural setting. It seems to be the goal of sustainability welcoming insects and butterflies, but we already have that in our manicured gardens. Having natural gardens are not the only way to encourage those creatures and sustainability. If that is the goal, there are a wide variety of ways to do that, and he would like to hear those discussed as much as natural gardens. In terms of the detriment of green space, there are many properties that have a lot more green space than the average Chadbourne lot, including the Shaker Heights Country Club, which is probably the largest user of pesticides. He is not advocating getting rid of it, but there should be a balance. We cannot make everything a natural garden and at the same time we cannot make everything manicured like the Shaker Heights Country Club. Jason Cole of 17575 South Woodland stated that he is partly excited about Council’s awareness and partly concerned about government micromanaging, potentially with permitting. The thought of having to tell Council Meeting March 10, 2025 Page 42 the City he is planting echinacea’s doesn’t seem right. He hopes this is the beginning of this discussion and that he did not walk in after it has been going on for a while. He just heard about this meeting two days ago. There are places that have a home grown national park. There are national services that allow people to register that the City may be able to access. He agrees with what was said about the tree lawns. He is from Atlanta but Shaker Heights is pristine in so many ways. A part of him wants to control when he sees something that looks disheveled. For that reason he chose to keep his front yard manicured and inside they are growing native trees. He asked Council to exercise caution and to invite residents to a town hall meeting since they all own a piece of land in the City. This policy won’t only apply to the few there tonight but to everybody. He challenged the City to clear out areas where there are harmful invasive species and find other native trees that might be planted in place of those. There are also grasses that could be planted which only grow six inches high. It would look nice under a canopy of trees and also keep out invasive species from coming back. Nicole McCall of 3140 Warrington stated that she recently moved here from Maryland. At her prior home over time she thoughtfully added native plants and some were taller than 24 inches. It is all about maintenance. As Shaker considers this policy there is a difference between native landscapes and neglected landscapes. That needs to be explored more to identify how we can properly articulate that. The limitation on height should be more nuanced and apply to cases where plants may limit visibility, impact safety or conflict with City services. She also asked Council to keep in mind as they fill in spaces with plants there are other benefits beyond ecological. She is a transportation planner and one of the recommendations related to traffic calming relates to increasing landscaping next to roads. It is necessary to add a definition of invasive. The Ohio Department of Agriculture maintains a list of noxious weeds but she would request Council’s support with the Tree Advisory Board’s effort to develop a do not plant list. She also requested that in addition to the Sustainability Committee this be reviewed by the Tree Advisory Board. The proposed policy says it does not include yards left to natural succession. Succession could be a gardening strategy and can enable homeowners to add a natural landscape over time. She also wants them to think about the notion of property that is next to parklands and Doan Brook becoming wooded again. Nick Fletcher of 3111 Ludlow thanked everyone for having this discussion. This involves everybody. Butterfly populations have declined 22% in the U.S. over the last 20 years. All plants are not the same so some of the plants that you can purchase at a local store by and large are not recognized or useful to native insects. Many of the plants that bloom early and remain green are invasive species. He invited Council to check out westbound on Shaker from Sulgrave to Warrensville Center where there is invasive honeysuckle, and buckthorn. In terms of visibility there are other invasive plants along the rapid line. Some of the plants used as hedges are horribly invasive and have harmful impacts beyond their invasive nature. Barberry is a tick magnet and produce berries that are toxic to humans and dogs. English Ivy harbors rodents. Many people are not aware of many invasive species or use them intentionally to block the view of neighbors. Invasives are a huge issue for manicured sites, City owned sites, and business owners. It affects all of us. The sooner we can get rid of invasives the better. Frank Goforth stated that he is glad that English Ivy was mentioned and Rose of Sharon is also very invasive. It becomes an issue with point of sale inspections and that has not been discussed enough. A lot of people with these invasives will be trying to sell their properties. Reid Coffman of 2681 Wadsworth stated that it is wonderful for the City to discuss this initiative. It is a difficult task to take on the management which is a key issue. He is hopeful that the language Council member Mrs. Moore commented on would find its way into the policy. The intent is to diverge from Council Meeting March 10, 2025 Page 43 traditional management practices and move forward in order to have managed landscapes that are natural. There are some evolutionary practices where the plants recede and strengthen the soil and help keep out weeds. Tim Kalan wanted to leave everyone with the thought of the map hanging in Council Chambers where the land was at one time all forest. Every City in the County was the same way. When he thinks of evolution, there is a life cycle and interdependence of species that allows it to happen. It is easy in the modern world to ignore it. We depend on the organisms that live in the soil. He hopes that part of this process will include an education effort. There being no further business before Council, the Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:57 p.m. _________________________________________ DAVID E. WEISS, Mayor _________________________________________ JERI E. CHAIKIN, Clerk of Council Council Meeting March 10, 2025 Page 44