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.

I sent out this email on Thursday, June 6, 2013, after seeing the electronic billboard at our southern end of Lander Road (by the Chagrin and Pinetree circle). The City has also sent out the information and it's on the website.

Greetings!

Due to a desire to have more residents utilize the City-wide City-generated electronic communications, you've not received many emails from me personally recently. And hopefully by now you have visited and used the new website which launched at the very end of December 2012 (see here), and have signed up for the City communications (see here) and have had a chance to sign up for the Code Red alert system (see here about the program and here to sign up).

However, I also appreciate the comments I've received that have noted the decrease in frequency of these emails and this is a bit of an attempt to re-connect a little more often without duplicating what you receive from the City.  And with that in mind, please take note of this information regarding the road work that will start this Monday, June 10, 2013 on Lander Road in Pepper Pike. This information is directly from the website (see here):

Lander Road Reconstruction Project 2013 - 2014

June 4, 2013

Work Schedule for  the  Lander Road Reconstruction Project

2013

Phase I  -  Cedar Rd. to Fairmount Blvd.:  June 10th through July 26th
Phase II  -  Fairmount Blvd. to Shaker Blvd.:  July 29th through September 13th
Phase III  -  Shaker Blvd to South Woodland Rd.:  September 16th through November 15th

2014
Phase IV  -  South Woodland Rd. to Chagrin Blvd.( does not include Lander/Chagrin Circle):  April 1st through May 15th

These timelines are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, i.e. weather conditions.

I'd urge you to please contact City Hall if you have any questions (I called the engineer myself yesterday to get a refresher on exactly what the plan was/is).

Have a great June and be ready for the Community Band season:

Summer 2013 schedule of performances 

Pepper Pike Park - Monday, July 15 at 7:00pm

Pepper Pike Park - Monday, August 5 at 7:00pm

Pepper Pike Park - Sunday, August 25 - Part of the Ice Cream Social

Never hesitate to be in touch if you have questions, comments or concerns, would like to be removed from this email list or want to have someone added to it (please feel free to forward at will).

Very warm wishes on this drizzly, cool day!

Jill

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?

Live Chat Thursday with County Director of Regional Collaboration

Please come join the online live chat tomorrow (Thursday, November 15, 2012) with me and Cuyahoga County Director of Regional Collaboration, Ed Jerse. Many of you may recall that I love live chats, so I'm very excited to be doing this with the Civic Commons (my day job).

To add more fun, I've known Ed for many years and it is going to be an honor to moderate this conversation about the County's efforts in shared services, collaboration, consolidation and yes - I'll say it - merger. Please come lurk and engage from 11-12noon.

Can't be there? Leave a question or comment now and Ed will respond later.

You can watch the event unfold here.

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?

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?

Give input on Cuyahoga County Public Library & County Metroparks

A chunk of your property taxes goes to Cuyahoga County and two of the entities that receive a portion are the County Public Library and the Metroparks. (You can see more specific information here at the City's website or call the City and ask for the Finance Department.) Both those entities have opportunities for you to provide input:

Cuyahoga County Seeks Library Input provides details about where, when and the subject of the input they're collecting.  It does not appear that they'll be at the Orange branch but they will be at Solon & Mayfield.

Metroparks Seeks Public Input at South Chagrin indicates that there's a meeting this evening at North Chagrin Nature Center and one next Thursday evening at South Chagrin's Look About Lodge if you're interested. Both run from 5:30-7:30pm.

MEETING CHANGE; Mayor's Letter to Residents; Appointments & Elections

Just sent out:

Good afternoon and my apologies for another email this week, but it's focused!

1. There will be NO Road & Safety/Finance Planning Meeting on the second Wednesday of this month, a meeting that was scheduled for Wednesday, February 8 at 7:30pm. 

Instead, there will be a Council Work Session on Thursday, February 9 at 7:30pm, at City Hall, open to the public.  No agenda yet that I've seen and I'm not quite sure where on the website it will go, but it should be under "Government" and then "Meetings and Minutes" once it is available and posted.  Notice is also on the City website here.

2. I've attached to this email the Mayor's first letter to residents. You can also read it here.  If you have trouble opening it, I would suggest contacting the Clerk of Council or the Mayor's office (Sheila Brett-O'Connor at 216-896-6128 or Barb Hennen at 896-6125 ).

3. At last night's Special Organizational Meeting, the following appointments or elections were made:

Law Director: Stephen Byron, Ice Miller law firm
Treasurer: Tony Gentile
Clerk of Council: Sheila Brett-O'Connor
Council Member to City Planning Commission: Rick Taft
Road & Safety Committee Chair: Scott Newell
Finance Chair: Jim LeMay
Communications Chair: Jill Miller Zimon
City Beautification Chair: Gail Mayland
Elector to City Planning Commission: Bill Melsop

Chagrin Solon Sun editorial: "Disband Woodmere Police Department"

Please read it for yourself, but here's an excerpt:

As we see it, from a numbers standpoint, the decision is quite simple. Paying Orange $500,000 a year to provide police protection to the village is a much better alternative than paying the salaries and benefits of nine full-time officers as well as equipment, vehicles, uniforms and facility maintenance. This is a move that must be made, and soon.

...

We realize the police department is one of the few things Woodmere can boast as its own, and taking that away could open the door to the village eventually losing its identity altogether and being merged with Orange or Pepper Pike. Maintaining the stubborn stance of keeping the department for pride’s sake, however, will only hasten the demise of the village. As much as Woodmere residents may want the village to hold on to one of the few remaining things it can truly call its own, they also have to look at the big picture and realize that the village cannot afford to maintain the status quo.

It's an editorial that definitely acknowledges a number of problematic elements related to why this wasn't Mayor Smith's first choice even after the state audit indicated that he needed to downsize his Village's PD. But even so, just being empathetic, this cannot be easy - though I suspect once it's accomplished, many people may come to feel like they should have done it sooner.

Pepper Pike businessman in FLOTUS box tonight for SOTU

FLOTUS = First Lady of the United States
SOTU = State of the Union

For deciphering the rest, here's the Plain Dealer article reporting on our resident's upcoming evening. Safe travels and I'm sure we'll see a few flashes of him on the television.

Cleveland.com comment thread on Woodmere/Orange Village police arrangement

This article ("Woodmere may shut police department and hire Orange for protection") appeared in the Plain Dealer on Friday, 1/20/12 but the comment section is open for far longer than that. Read through - there are several mentions of Pepper Pike and other ideas related to whether communities should merge or not, and which ones, and why, and regarding which services.

Add to the debate there or here but do make sure you let your opinion be known by people in decision-making capacities.

Sterling Lakes, Old & New Brainard Roads, Traffic on Lander Road all subject to discussion

From the Chagrin Solon Sun:

Traffic safety concerns for drivers exiting Sterling Drive onto Brainard Road have ignited discussions about the possible reopening of Old Brainard Road as a north-south thoroughfare.

More than 15 residents from the Sterling Lake development showed up at a monthly road and safety meeting of City Council Jan. 11 to press the new city administration about what they consider an accident in waiting. They said poor sight lines at the intersection make them afraid to pull out of the development for fear of being struck by fast-approaching vehicles on Brainard.

Read the whole story and check out the minutes from the 1/11/12 meeting when they're posted.

What do you think about a light at New Brainard and the Sterling Lakes entrance across from the Pointe townhouses?  Should that gate be permanently closed and Old Brainard re-opened so that people can exit there?  If Old Brainard is being looked at for re-opening, should it be just the end at Chagrin, or also down by City Hall?

Or should everything stay as is?

I haven't said a word about where this fits in as a priority for the City or how any changes would be paid for, but obviously those questions and others will have to be calculated into the equation.

Or no?

Tonight's Pepper Pike City Council meeting & other updates

Sent this morning:

Good day.

A quick list of events and other information that may be of interest to you:

1. The regularly scheduled monthly City Council meeting will be this evening (Wednesday, 1/18/12) at 8pm in City Hall. The meeting is open to the public and you can find the agenda attached or here at the City website.

2. There is an opening on the Orange City Schools Board of Education should anyone be interested in applying or know someone you'd like to encourage to apply. The deadline is next Wednesday, January 25th, at noon. You can read more here.

3. At last week's Road & Safety meeting, Mayor Bain spoke about a few priorities of his. I do not want to mischaracterize anything he said and would urge residents to consult the meeting minutes on a regular basis (though be aware that they are often not posted for a couple of week, though you can listen to the tapes or request them from the Clerk of Council once completed and approved).  Very generally, he addressed:

-an information technology (IT) upgrade to bring the City into the 21st Century, if not the current decade
-making the City campus "greener" (as opposed to more green in color, though that could be accomplished too!)
-putting a hold on a traffic light at Pinetree and Pinebrook
-putting a hold on removing the blinking light at South Woodland and Old Brainard
-looking at traffic issues related to Windy Hill Road
-adopting an ethics policy

Again, do double-check me with the minutes and of course, with contacting any of us (information to do that is here).

County Executive Fitzgerald's statement on county-wide dispatch consolidation study

From the inbox (bolding & underlining not in original)

STUDY SUGGESTS CONSOLIDATING 9-1-1 SYSTEMS TO CUT COSTS
TO TAXPAYERS

CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald and the Cuyahoga County Department of Public Safety and Justice Services released this week their Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) Assessment which assessed the current status of the forty-seven Public Safety Answering Points, or Dispatch Centers, in Cuyahoga County. The assessment looked at all jurisdictions within Cuyahoga County to get the best understanding of the current PSAP system and recommends reducing the number of PSAPs and upgrading 9-1-1 hardware.

“The notion that there are 47 dispatch centers in Cuyahoga County alone is outdated and inefficient,” said FitzGerald.  “This county has the most number of PSAPs within one county in the entire State of Ohio, and this study has recommended ways for us to move forward in reducing the number of dispatch centers in an effort to provide more efficient services at a lower cost to our residents.”

The PSAP assessment made recommendations for technology improvements to the 9-1-1 infrastructure, organizational changes to the Cuyahoga Emergency Communications System and suggests methods for regional consolidation as a way to increase dispatching efficiency.  Throughout the 134 workstations in the County, there are 475 dispatchers and call takers.  The average cost to operate a PSAP is $509,498, excluding the city of Cleveland, where it costs $4,438,593 to operate their PSAP.
 
“This assessment is essential to moving forward in upgrading and enhancing Cuyahoga County’s 9-1-1 system,” said Deputy Chief of Staff Norberto Colón.  “It puts us in a position to upgrade existing technology and become a statewide model for dispatching. We are looking forward to working with all of the jurisdictions within the County to make the biggest impact on the safety of our citizens.”

The assessment can be found at: http://ja.cuyahogacounty.us/en-us/publications.aspx