Happy New Year!
Here is a brief update on some issues from 2012, and a look ahead to things I hope to work on for 2013.
Green infrastructure: As you might recall from the Feb, 17, 2012 post, the City of Euclid is under an EPA Consent Decree to improve our Waste Water Treatment System. I believe that green infrastructure can help reduce the total costs of the improvements. These costs are estimated at about 150 million dollars. Last year City Council passed a series of rate increases to fund the improvements. Strand and Associates have begun the system evaluation for possible green infrastructure applications that can possibly save the rate payers millions of dollars.
Tax Review Committee: From that 3/26/2011 post, I believe that a thorough review of our tax structure is badly needed. I am happy to say that the Resolution sponsored by myself, Council President Gail and the Mayor, to establish a review committee should be implemented this coming spring.
Old Highland Neighborhood Connector: I love hiking in the Euclid Creek Reservation. As mentioned in "Euclid Watershed Update, Spring 2012, one day, I hiked up Old Highland Road and,thought "fixed up and made safer, this would make a great park connector for the folks in the Georgetown Neigbhorhood. Working with Ward 1 Councilperson Caviness, our goal is to secure Metro Park/State funding for this project
Shore/City LED Lighting Initiative: Last spring, I set up a tour for Administration members of Nela Park, the home of GE Lighting. I wanted the Administration to see the improvements in LED technology and, how that can be applied to City building and lighting. This past December, the GE Team came out for a tour of Shore. The result is a proposal for LED lighting upgrades to the exterior and auditorium lights. Payback for the investment in the Shore LED lighting proposal is about 2-4 years. I had the pleasure of discussing the GE proposal to the Shore Board, and, they are excited about the opportunity. This certainly can be a part of Shore's capital plan. I am working with Service Director Bock to evaluate other City buildings.
Marina Project/I-90 Project: The marina is critical to Euclid's Future. Breakwalls are expensive to build. Reducing the costs of the breakwall can save significant money. Breakwalls are basically stone pyramids designed to block wave action. Waves are bad for boats docked in marinas. In my discussions with marine engineers over many years, they suggested that concrete rubble from road reconstruction projects could be used for our breakwall. Back in 2008, Council passed a resolution asking ODOT to support the donation of concrete rubble to help build the breakwater. The City missed out on the demolition of the old Chase Brass plant, and, the old Cleveland Convention Center
Ward 5 Councilman Pat McLaughlin is attempting to secure the concrete bridge deck of the 50 year old I-90 innerbelt bridge. This is a wonderful and complicated initiative that if successful will bring the marina one step closer. I wholeheartedly support Pat's initiative with advise, support and advocacy with our County and Port Authority officials.
Euclid Hens: My guess is that this will draw the most comment! Urban agriculture is a growing trend throughout the country. This also includes the raising of livestock and chickens. I have discussed this concept with the City Law Department for the past several years now. Communities like Beachwood, Cleveland, Cleveland Hts, Richmond Hts. allows the practice. Councilman O'Hare and McLaughlin also are interested in this trend. We had legislation drafted to allow the practice. The main points of the legislation was to set the number of hens by home lot size, control the size of the coops, and, address concerns about noise and smell.
But, after a committee meeting, clearly the idea of allowing the raising of hens (no roosters) in the City is a passionate one. I suggested that instead of simply passing the proposed legislation, the the City first embark on a pilot project: allow 4-5 residents to raise hens based on the proposed law to see exactly what the impact might be. This is under review as we speak.
Urban Forestry: Over the years, I have had the honer of working on the Euclid Shade Tree Commsion. It has been a personal goal to make Euclid a greener City. Many years ago now, with the help of former State Representative Kenny Yuko, we ended mowing in the I90/Euclid Spur area.
Eventualy, an urban forest will replace what was simply mowed grass. I also convinced the City Administration to end mowing along the Marginal, from 260th to Babbit. This spring, I will be planting a mixture of maple, beach and oak trees in this area to speed along the reforestation. If they "take" I will continue the initiative in the Spur area.
Old Highland Neighborhood Connector: I love hiking in the Euclid Creek Reservation. As mentioned in "Euclid Watershed Update, Spring 2012, one day, I hiked up Old Highland Road and,thought "fixed up and made safer, this would make a great park connector for the folks in the Georgetown Neigbhorhood. Working with Ward 1 Councilperson Caviness, our goal is to secure Metro Park/State funding for this project
Shore/City LED Lighting Initiative: Last spring, I set up a tour for Administration members of Nela Park, the home of GE Lighting. I wanted the Administration to see the improvements in LED technology and, how that can be applied to City building and lighting. This past December, the GE Team came out for a tour of Shore. The result is a proposal for LED lighting upgrades to the exterior and auditorium lights. Payback for the investment in the Shore LED lighting proposal is about 2-4 years. I had the pleasure of discussing the GE proposal to the Shore Board, and, they are excited about the opportunity. This certainly can be a part of Shore's capital plan. I am working with Service Director Bock to evaluate other City buildings.
Marina Project/I-90 Project: The marina is critical to Euclid's Future. Breakwalls are expensive to build. Reducing the costs of the breakwall can save significant money. Breakwalls are basically stone pyramids designed to block wave action. Waves are bad for boats docked in marinas. In my discussions with marine engineers over many years, they suggested that concrete rubble from road reconstruction projects could be used for our breakwall. Back in 2008, Council passed a resolution asking ODOT to support the donation of concrete rubble to help build the breakwater. The City missed out on the demolition of the old Chase Brass plant, and, the old Cleveland Convention Center
Ward 5 Councilman Pat McLaughlin is attempting to secure the concrete bridge deck of the 50 year old I-90 innerbelt bridge. This is a wonderful and complicated initiative that if successful will bring the marina one step closer. I wholeheartedly support Pat's initiative with advise, support and advocacy with our County and Port Authority officials.
Euclid Hens: My guess is that this will draw the most comment! Urban agriculture is a growing trend throughout the country. This also includes the raising of livestock and chickens. I have discussed this concept with the City Law Department for the past several years now. Communities like Beachwood, Cleveland, Cleveland Hts, Richmond Hts. allows the practice. Councilman O'Hare and McLaughlin also are interested in this trend. We had legislation drafted to allow the practice. The main points of the legislation was to set the number of hens by home lot size, control the size of the coops, and, address concerns about noise and smell.
But, after a committee meeting, clearly the idea of allowing the raising of hens (no roosters) in the City is a passionate one. I suggested that instead of simply passing the proposed legislation, the the City first embark on a pilot project: allow 4-5 residents to raise hens based on the proposed law to see exactly what the impact might be. This is under review as we speak.
Urban Forestry: Over the years, I have had the honer of working on the Euclid Shade Tree Commsion. It has been a personal goal to make Euclid a greener City. Many years ago now, with the help of former State Representative Kenny Yuko, we ended mowing in the I90/Euclid Spur area.
Eventualy, an urban forest will replace what was simply mowed grass. I also convinced the City Administration to end mowing along the Marginal, from 260th to Babbit. This spring, I will be planting a mixture of maple, beach and oak trees in this area to speed along the reforestation. If they "take" I will continue the initiative in the Spur area.
Of course there are always neighborhood issues that are just as important that require attention. So, let me know what you are seeing in your neighborhood!
And, let me know what you think.
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