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.

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

Election Day and Charter Amendment Ballot Issue for Pepper Pike

Text of an email I sent out this evening.

Greetings.

I do believe that, as residents of Ohio in this election year, it is in fact impossible to not know that Tuesday, November 6 (tomorrow or today, depending on when you read this) is election day. And perhaps, like me, you've voted already (I'm lucky to be in Washington, DC for election night coverage from a social media warroom at the NPR headquarters - you can read more about that here if you're interested). If you have voted, thank you. If not, I hope that you plan to.


Becaue I've received multiple inquiries about the ballot issue that Pepper Pike voters will vote on, I wanted to share with you what I've shared with those who've contacted me individually. I've been told it's helpful, but just in case, I've also attached the Mayor's 10/15/12 letter to residents that includes an FAQ about the ballot issue. [Please let me know if you would like it emailed to you - it's not attached here and is in pdf form so I'm unable to upload it to this blog]


The ballot issue is for voters to approve or reject a charter amendment. As background, the charter for the city sets up the basic structure of the city's government. Then, there is the code for the city, also sometimes called the ordinances. These are the laws that govern the city. Both are legally binding sections of law.

The zoning laws are often referred to as the zoning code and are part of the ordinances (or code). The charter, as it is currently written, says that Council is unable to change anything whatsoever in the zoning laws - no matter how big (map changes - like changing a residential area to a commercial area) or how small (change a setback requirement) unless Council places it on the ballot for all voters to vote on - every single time, no matter the change.

The mayor proposed the charter amendment on the ballot this year so that the Council can take up text changes (but not map changes) to the zoning code and begin to update the entire zoning code. Residents will retain the right of referendum (i.e., putting an issue on the ballot that they believe all residents should vote on) on such legislation, but the referendum would have to be pursued after Council has gone through its process for giving public notice of the legislation, having council sessions during which the legislation would be discussed and then having a public vote on the legislation. The charter amendment you are being asked to vote on includes provisions that Council wanted in there in order to protect residents. These include, among others:

1. Residents can sign up to receive notice from the city when such legislation is coming up for public meetings

2. Any such proposed legislation cannot be voted on as an emergency declaration (which would remove the right to referendum)

3. All such proposed legislation must pass with a vote of at least 5 council members in favor (most legislation requires only a quorum which is 4).

Ultimately, I would like to see our city pursue a comprehensive zoning overhaul process through which resident input is obtained, public sessions are held and we then work with a planner to inform the zoning law changes. However, this ballot change to the charter will assist in addressing outmoded provisions now while we do, hopefully, press for a more comprehensive, needed review and overhaul of the entire zoning code.


Stay safe, please vote and have a great week.

Thank you as always,
Jill

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?

CANCELED: This evening's Planning & Zoning Meeting

Just wanted to be sure people were aware the the meeting was canceled for May.  See here for the official cancellation notice.

CANCELLED: November Planning & Zoning

I received and posted the Agenda today. You can see it here or below. It indicates that the Monday, November 1, 2010 P&Z meeting is cancelled and the next P&Z meeting will be Monday, December 6, 2010.  I do not know the reason for the cancellation but you should feel free to contact City Hall if you would like to know. My assumption is either scheduling issues with those who need to attend, nothing submitted for consideration or the fact that it is the night before an election day. However, as I say, I've not inquired.

November 2010 Planning & Zoning Meeting (cancellation notice)

Upcoming Meetings: P&Z (8/30); Special Council Session (8/31)

Two meetings coming up this week:

1. A Special Council Meeting has been scheduled for this coming Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 7:30 PM at the Pepper Pike City Hall Chambers.  The meeting is public and the sole agenda item will be a discussion on the reinstatement of one police officer.

2. Also, the agenda for Monday night's Planning & Zoning Commission meeting is now posted to the website and you can find it here (pdf).

Please feel free to contact me (or any members of Council or the mayor or City government from here) if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

Have a very nice weekend - it looks like it's going to be beautiful.

Meeting Reminders and Website Updates

This text reflects information I shared in an email I sent out today.  The information under the third item is in this blog post already.

Good day to everyone.

The disclaimer per usual re: being on this list: If you would like to be removed from my distribution list, please let me know. I understand and respect people's desire to receive less email. Please know that I do not share your emails with anyone, this is my personal list and those are two reasons why I keep your email addresses in the "blind copy" recipient section.

1. Meeting Reminders

• Monday, August 30, 2010, 7:30 pm, Planning & Zoning Commission meeting, City Hall, open to the public (as always).  This meeting is the September P&Z meeting which, if normally scheduled, falls on Labor Day (Monday, September 6, 2010).
• Tuesday, September 7, 2010, 7:30pm, Road & Safety/Planning & Zoning meeting, City Hall, open to the public (as always).  This meeting, if normally scheduled, falls on the evening that the Jewish New Year begins (Wednesday night, Sept. 8) and therefore was moved to 9/7/10.
• NOT YET SCHEDULED but mentioned at last week's City Council meeting: Wednesday, September 1, 2010, a special Council session to discuss the topic of re-hiring a police officer.  This meeting, to the best of my knowledge, has NOT BEEN SCHEDULED but this date was mentioned at the 8/18/10 Council meeting last week.

2. City Website Updates

City & City Government Events This Week

I sent out this communication this evening. If you would like to receive these emails, please send me your email address and I will add you to the list. Thank you.


Good evening (or morning as the case may be).

As always, let me know if you want to stop receiving these emails. No problem to remove anyone.  Also, if you know of others who might like to receive this information (which is from me and not an official city communication), feel free to pass that information on to me as well.

1. Pepper Pike Community Band concert tomorrow, Monday, July 12, Pepper Pike Park, 7:30pm.
You can read more about it here, including a list of music scheduled to be performed.  The band, upon request, agree to performing pro bono this year, except for the purchase of its sheet music which the City did pay (something under $600, closer to $400 I believe, this discussion is in the Council meetings but the band director had bought the sheet music prior to the decision that events such as the ice cream social, the concert and communications like the Pepper Pike Post were being suspended this year).

2. The monthly Finance Oversight Subcommittee meeting will be this Tuesday, July 13, Pepper Pike City Hall Chambers, 7:30pm.  This meeting is open to the public. Council members on the committee are Gail Mayland, Scott Newell and Jill Miller Zimon.  Residents on the committee are Don Jacobson, Kevin McGinty, Enid Rosenberg and Michael Shore.  The City's Finance Director, Prashant Shah, is also on the committee which is a subcommittee of the Finance & Planning committee.  This committee was created earlier this year and will be a permanent committee that will watch and follow the month to month and year over year revenues and expenditures.  It will report back to the full Council regularly.

AGENDA: City Council Meeting, 4/21/10

For tomorrow night's meeting:
Agenda: Pepper Pike City Council Meeting, 4/21/10

(updated) AGENDA: Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting, 2/1/10

Update: This meeting apparently was cancelled not long before it was to begin. When more information is made available, I will update further.

Pepper Pike Planning & Zoning Commission Agenda, 2/1/10