COMMUNITY FORUM on Shared Services/Merger Draft Final Report: Monday, November 18, 7pm, Orange High School

Please visit the City website here or read the image below.

TONIGHT: Pepper Pike & Orange School District Candidates & Issues Night

The Pepper Pike Civic League Candidates & Issues night is tonight, Tuesday, September 17, at 7pm at Brady Middle School. There are six school board candidates between two races plus three county-wide levies. Lots to learn about - please share this information and attend.
 

Morgan Park Dedication Remarks, Clambake Save the Date & Lander Road Update

Lots of new news today on the City's website. Please be sure to check the site at least a few times a week to see what's going on and share the resource with neighbors and other interested folks.

Morgan Park Dedication Remarks by Mayor Bain and Photos of Event: includes fascinating historical information you probably didn't know about Pepper Pike and our area.

First Annual Pepper Pike Fall Harvest Festival & Clam Bake Save the date: Saturday, October 19th

Update on Lander Road reconstruction 

TODAY: Pepper Pike Ice Cream Social

Read more here. Basics: Starts at 1pm. The Pepper Pike Community Band will play from 2:30-3:30pm. The weather looks gorgeous. There will be pony rides and Jungle Bob, balloon benders, free ice cream of course and free kids' bike helmets to the first 200 children. This event is always a great time - hope to see you there. Pepper Pike Ice Cream Social - Sunday, August 25 1-2:30pm[/caption]

TONIGHT: Pepper Pike Community Band at 7:00pm

Greetings!

Just a few quick reminders:

1. Tonight (Monday, July 15) at 7pm please come out to the Pepper Pike Park behind City Hall on 28000 Shaker Boulevard for the wonderful music of the Pepper Pike Community Band. All the details are here.

2. If you're feeling particularly civic, you can join us after the concert for the re-scheduled monthly Planning & Zoning Commission meeting which will start at 7:30pm (this is a correction) tonight in the Council Chambers.

3. Applications are being accepted through tomorrow, Tuesday, July 16 at 12 NOON for the open Orange School Board seat. Please read here for all the details and consider applying or asking and encouraging anyone you know whom you believe would be a good candidate to please apply.

4. Have you asked anyone to run for Pepper Pike City Council yet? Have you thought about running? Petitions with the requisite number of signatures to get on the November 2013 ballot are due by 4pm on Wednesday, August 7. Please contact the county Board of Elections with any questions (check here for contact information).

5. Don't get purged! Please check here to make sure you are not on the list and if you are, follow up with the Board of Elections. Tomorrow, July 16, is the deadline.

Pepper Pike Civic Award 2013

Pepper Pike high school residents (or their parents): There are four (4) days left to check out and apply for the Civic Award 2013 - an opportunity for a $2000 scholarship toward college. Here's some information and the relevant links are here:

The Pepper Pike Civic League is offering a $2000 Civic Award to a high school senior who is a resident of Pepper Pike, attends a high school in the general vicinity of Pepper Pike and is planning to attend college in 2013. The Award’s purpose is to encourage students to become aware of, participate in, and support Pepper Pike and community governments, in general.

Applicants must currently be a senior high school student and a resident of Pepper Pike. The applicant must attend an accredited college in 2013 and furnish proof of enrollment in a college.

Applicants must submit a one (1) page essay describing what the student believes is the single most important issue currently facing Pepper Pike with recommendations about how that issue might be addressed.  Refer to the application for complete requirements.

The application form and instructions are available from the student’s guidance counselor as well as on this website below.  The completed application, along with the required essay, must be submitted by March 31 to: Pepper Pike Civic League , P.O. Box 24808, Pepper Pike, Ohio 44124. The Award will be presented to the winning applicant  at the Pepper Pike Civic League’s Town Hall meeting to be held in April, 2013.

The Town Hall meeting will be April 23 at 7pm at Brady Middle School. Thanks as always to the Civic League for offering this opportunity!

Public Meetings on Merger Study Scheduled for 2/7/13 & 2/8/13

From the inbox:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contacts:
John O’Brien: 216.698.2099 or jfobrien@cuyahogacounty.us
Nicole Dailey Jones: 216.263.4602, 216.338.0863 or ndjones@cuyahogacounty.us

MERGER STUDY KICK-OFF, COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION DESIRED

Cuyahoga County – The Shared Services/Merger Study for Moreland Hills, Orange, Pepper Pike, and Woodmere, Ohio is being launched through a series of public meetings on Thursday, February 7, and Friday, February 8, 2013.

These meetings will provide the community with an opportunity to learn about the study process and to join the conversation around both merger and shared services for these communities. Each meeting will include an overview of the project, information about some of the key characteristics of the four communities, an interactive live survey and a roundtable discussion of challenges and opportunities. 

The meetings will be moderated by the project consultant, the Center for Governmental Research of Rochester, New York.

Each of the meetings will follow the same format so attendance is only necessary at one of the four options listed below:

Public Meeting Information

Thursday, February 7th

• 1:30 pm – Woodmere Village Hall at 27899 Chagrin Boulevard
• 4:00 pm – Orange Village Hall at 4600 Lander Road
• 7:00 pm – Moreland Hills Village Hall at 4350 SOM. Center Road  

Friday, February 8th

• 8:30 am – Pepper Pike City Hall at 28000 Shaker Boulevard

About the Center for Governmental Research:

CGR is a 98-year-old independent nonprofit strategic consulting and decision support organization with significant expertise conducting local government merger and shared service studies and developing implementation plans across New York and the Northeast. CGR is headquartered in Rochester, NY and was engaged by Cuyahoga County and the involved municipalities to serve as study consultant in December, 2012. 

‐30‐

Asking candidates about their commitment to public engagement

From my day job:

Many political candidates don't just have a fear of commitment. They have a fear of engagement. But with 2013 being a local government election year, voters should pull no punches in putting the question about committing to public engagement to the people who want their votes. Contrary to the immortal words of the ultimate Meatloaf song, we can't just sleep on it. We want to know: what's it gonna be, yes or no?

So often, we clamor to know how a candidate will vote on an issue he or she hasn't yet faced. We provide hypothetical circumstances that we want them to imagine are real. Sure, plenty of politicians pick and choose issues about which they will shake their fist and blurt out a reliable yes or no (consider how few elected folks waffled on the Affordable Care Act; most knew what they wanted, the issue was whether they'd vote for what came before them). But mostly, we've come to accept as routine a refusal to comply with such a demand. It's truly rare to see courage rear it's head and and expose itself through the voice of a political wannabe as he or she, instead, silently calculates the local vote count that can be earned by resisting commitment.

Now, with the fear of engagement, there is hope. At least, I have hope.

Read about why I have hope here and add you thoughts in the accompanying conversation.

Do you Pinterest? Should candidates or electeds?

The White House just started a Pinterest account which you can see here. (Here's a primer on Pinterest.) And more and more, public servants and government entities are using Pinterest.

I started a Pinterest for a day job project I ran for about 16 months and I started a personal one to catalogue bucket list items and presents I could show my husband for Chanukah (yes, really - probably TMI there).

I'm kind of an early adopter of sorts and don't mind failing if something just isn't doing it for me. What do you think?

Babcock Property purchased by and gifted to City of Pepper Pike by family of Stanley L. and Eloise M. Morgan

Greetings (and Merry Christmas to all who are celebrating!).

I received the press release (published in its entirety) from the Mayor this evening with the news about the disposition of what has often been referred to as the Babcock Property located on the eastern side of Lander Circle between Chagrin and Pinetree.  Please read the release for the details which the Mayor has shared. I was so excited by the news, I knew that there would be residents who would be equally interested and excited. I have no doubt that plenty of information will be forthcoming after the holidays pass but I do want to express gratitude to the family of Stanley L. and Eloise M. Morgan for this incredible act.

Please have a safe and joyous holiday season.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   December 24, 2012

CONTACT:  MAYOR RICHARD BAIN

CITY OF PEPPER PIKE

216 896-6126

Press Release:

The City of Pepper Pike is very happy to announce it is receiving a gift of land for use as a city park. The park has been purchased from Garfield Memorial Church and donated to the city in memory of their parents by the family of Stanley L. and Eloise M. Morgan.  Known by many in the community as the former Mary Babcock property, it is located adjacent to Lander Circle at the intersection of Chagrin Blvd, Pinetree Rd. and Lander Rd. It consists of approximately 1.6 acres, and includes a meandering creek, woodland trees, shed and a 2000 square foot house constructed in the early 1900s.   

Pepper Pike Mayor Richard Bain said, “This land sits at the southern gateway to Pepper Pike and is an important historic link to the past. This site was at the heart of the original Orange Township. The site has been in constant use since the early 19^th century and apparently functioned as part of a farm for which foundation stones still exist. In this immediate area stood the township’s first shops and church. The graves of its early settlers dating to the mid 19^th century still remain, and later the electric Interurban Railway ran through here. This very generous gift will allow us to preserve a green gateway to Pepper Pike and enhance the community. We have worked with the family and Garfield Memorial Church to assist in this transpiring and I sincerely thank them for their commitment to the city and salute the family for this wonderful tribute to their parents.”

A Morgan family spokesman stated, “This parcel of land is given to the city of Pepper Pike in memory of Stanley L. and Eloise M. Morgan by their family.  The land is to be used as a park for all residents to enjoy.  Mr. and Mrs. Morgan moved to Pepper Pike in 1957 and resided there until their deaths.  They watched Pepper Pike grow and develop, and would have been pleased that the last green space on Lander Circle will remain that way.”

Mayor Bain further remarked, “We will also be using the park for educational purposes, and working with Chagrin River Watershed Partners to restore the creek and enhance the site. I would like to see in addition, that the park becomes an historic reminder of how the community originated. We will be investigating how best to utilize the park for that purpose. Any residents who have historic knowledge of the site, including records and photographs of the area, or wish to contribute ideas are invited to be in contact with me. A rejuvenated Pepper Pike Historic Society will be established to help with this project. ”

For additional information regarding this Press Release, please contact

Mayor Richard Bain at 216 896-6126

CHANGE IN TRICK OR TREATING in Pepper Pike and other communities

PLEASE NOTE: TRICK OR TREATING WILL BE HELD IN PEPPER PIKE ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2012 from 6:00PM to 8:00PM.

According to this online item from the Sun News, Moreland Hills, Orange Village and Bentleyville will have the same day and times as Pepper Pike.  Hunting Valley will not be changing their original hours, according to the same article.

I've been left notes on my Facebook page that Beachwood will be on Sunday also but from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.

Please everyone stay safe. I cancelled something for this evening that would have taken me to Broadview Heights just to be on the safe side, with all the wind.

MONDAY, 7/16/12: First Pepper Pike Band Concert of the Season

Please come join us (though some of us will be heading to a Planning & Zoning meeting at 7:30!). They're held in Pepper Pike Park unless weather is too extreme and then they're in the firehouse. You can read more about the band here and many thanks to former Councilman Cleve Svetlik for all he has done to bring and keep this wonderful community asset with us.

There are some picnic tables but many folks bring lawn chairs or blankets, pets, kids, food and so on. Bring umbrellas to keep away the rain.

UPCOMING! Health Fair in the Park, Community Meeting about New Library, Candidates & Issues Night

1. From the City's website:

You're Invited to the CITY OF PEPPER PIKE'S HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR - SATURDAY, JULY 21 - 9 AM - 1 PM

WHERE: Pepper Pike Park

WHAT: Join University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center for a fun day of activities to help the City of Pepper Pike become "the healthiest place to live". Featuring the official kick-off of Mayor Richard Bain's "Biggest Winner" health challenge, we'll celebrate a new era of health and wellness through out our community. Click "more..." to view the University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center and the City of Pepper Pike Health Fair flyer for more information!

You can find the flyer on this page of the City website.

2. From the Cuyahoga County Public Library (see full flyer here):

WHAT: Community Meeting
WHEN: Thursday, July 26, 2012, 6:00PM
WHERE: Pepper Pike Learning Center, 32000 Chagrin Boulevard, Pepper Pike 44124

We Want to Hear from You!   The public is invited to attend a community meeting regarding the new Orange Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library.  Library representatives will give a brief presentation,  followed by a Q&A.
EVENT HELD at ORANGE CITY SCHOOLS

3. From the Pepper Pike Civic League:

WHAT: Candidates & Issues Night

WHEN: Thursday, September 20, 2012, 7:00-9:00PM
WHERE: Brady Middle School, 32000 Chagrin Boulevard, Pepper Pike 44124

Listen: Economic Pressures on Local Governments

I know a few local folks who might have a few things to say about that topic, featured this morning on the Diane Rehm show. You can listen there once the podcast is up or now if it's not yet 11am on Tuesday morning.

And if they really want to get provocative, how about asking the guests how many local electeds will call the fines and fees they're imposing or increasing, whether the service is provided by a private contractor or not, a new tax, given the Supreme Court's health care act ruling last week. 

Here's the description:

Stockton, Calif., is the largest U.S. city to declare bankruptcy, and others could follow. A panel joins Diane to discuss economic pressures on local governments and the push for privatizing public services.

Guests

Michael Nadol, managing director, Public Financial Management, former deputy Mayor, Philadelphia, adjunct professor of competitive government, University of Pennsylvania Fels Institute of Government.

Kim Rueben, public finance economist, The Urban Institute, Washington, D.C.

Harris Kenny, policy analyst, Reason Foundation

Kerry Korpi, director of research and collective bargaining, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

New 15,000 sq foot Orange Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library coming to Pepper Pike

Read all about it here - it will be next to the Orange Senior Center. What do you think? What do you want? What don't you want? How should the old space be utilized - or not?

Collabbing - It's What's Up in Government Provision of Services

From my day job, something that has a lot to do with what's swirling around Pepper Pike and the communities adjacent to ours.  Read the whole thing here, but here's a teaser:

Over the weekend, I came home from a few hours out with a friend to find my middle-school son transferring files and installing programs from his fairly puny and old laptop to my college-bound son's more powerful and newer one. Curious as to how the former presumably conned the latter into this arrangement, I asked. And the response warmed my kumbaya-loving heart.

"We collabbed." Pronounced like, "co-labbed" like the nickname for laboratory, lab, and short for collaboration.

Now where on Earth did a 12 year old get such language to even describe what he'd done!?

For those committed to regionalism & government collaboration

This Friday will be a watershed in Ohio: Word came down today that the Ohio Department of Development office in charge of the Local Government Innovation Fund grants and loans will gather at 1pm on Friday to announce awards:

The Local Government Innovation Fund Council will hold a public meeting on Friday June 1, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at the Vern Riffe Center, 77 South High Street, 19th Floor Room 1960, Columbus, Ohio 43215.

The Council’s agenda includes reviewing Round 1 Loan and Grant applications for approval and award.

If you haven't been keeping up on just how much activity has increased in the area of shared services, across the country and literally the globe, then I highly recommend you subscribe to the EfficientGovNetwork news feed - it's part of my day job and I update it at least a couple of times a week, though I shoot for everyday. And there are more than enough news stories about efforts large and small to post multiple stories each day.

If you want to see that it's really happening and who is actually doing this work, check out the mash up here. And if you want to look more deeply at how it's done, check out the Wiki playbook (beta version). We'll be filling that up over time.

How will NE Ohio do? We don't know yet - but we'll know soon! (The study part of the four community merger was submitted by the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission - that's the only one I'm aware of for sure that Pepper Pike was involved in.)

Chagrin Solon Sun on New Pepper Pike City Council Member

You can read the full piece here. Council approved this appointment at its May 23, 2012 meeting. Thanks to everyone who indicated interest in the position. I hope those folks and more will consider running for office next year when four seats will be at stake.

On Roads, Infrastructure and Safety

The Pepper Pike Road, Infrastructure and Safety Committee is a new committee. Its first meeting was on 4/4/12 and its next is Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at 7:30pm.  This column from Bloomberg News encompasses a whole lot of thoughts, in general and specifically, that I have had on the far-reaching subjects with which this committee is expected to deal. 

At the first meeting, Councilman Tony Gentile (the council rep on the committee, serving with three residents) asked that Council consider, in regard to weighing what work if any should be done to Lander Road, "What do we want Lander Road to be?" 

When I first heard the question (I was in the audience), I smiled, thinking, "What an existential question!" But in the Bloomberg piece, the authors concludes his discussion of problems and solutions with, "Beyond all these things, rising standards would help. We should expect our streets to shine, and if they don’t, we should hold the politicians responsible."

My first instinct is always to go to the taxpayers - what do you want Lander or any other road in the City "to be?" And do they need to "shine" - or something more? Something less?

Councilwoman Steps Down, Residents May Submit Letter of Interest, Qualifications

Last night, long-time City Councilwoman Paulette "Cookie" Morganstern submitted a letter of resignation.  The Chagrin Solon Sun just published the news here.

Morganstern has served on council for more than 26 years. She cited as the reason for her resignation her intention to spend more time in Arizona, where she and her husband, Stanley, own a home. Stanley Morganstern resigned from the Orange Board of Education in January, stating his Ohio-based law practice was winding down.

I value and valued Paulette as someone with immense, invaluable institutional knowledge about Pepper Pike.  Her departure will leave a vacuum of practical, direct experience from years with the city government during which no one else left on Council served (Rick Taft being the next most senior council member with about 13-14 years of experience).  I wish her the absolute best of good times ahead wherever her choices take her.

For those residents who are interested, or if you would like to please pass this information along:

Paulette Morganstern's current term expires at the end of 2013. Council is authorized by the city charter to appoint a replacement within 45 days to complete her term.

Residents who wish to be considered for the position are asked to submit a letter explaining their interest and qualifications by May 10 to Mayor Richard Bain at City Hall, 28000 Shaker Blvd., Pepper Pike, OH 44124.

Thank you again to Paulette for all these years of public service and if you have any questions, comments or concerns, as always, don't hesitate to be in touch.