Minutes of the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission/Solid Waste Policy Committee
April 23, 2009
ATTENDANCE
Attachment A lists the attendance at this meeting, at which the following matters were discussed.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Thomas Longo, Vice President of the Planning Commission
and Solid Waste Policy Committee.
MINUTES
On motion by Mayor Kelley, seconded by Mayor Blomquist, the minutes of the February 19, 2009 Planning
Commission and Solid Waste Policy Committee meetings were approved.
RESOLUTIONS
General
On a motion by Mayor Kenneth Patton, seconded by Mayor Edward Kelley, Resolution No. 090423-A, approving
amendments to the County Planning Commission Table of Organization was unanimously approved.
On a motion by Mr. Smock, seconded by Mayor Kenneth Patton Resolution No. 090423-B, authorizing a contract for planning services with the Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners on behalf of the Cuyahoga County Department of Development, lead administrative entity for the Cuyahoga Housing Consortium was duly approved with City of Cleveland Heights Mayor Edward Kelley abstaining.
On a motion by Mayor Kelley, seconded by Mayor Kenneth Patton, Resolution No. 090423-C, approving amendments to a contract with ParkWorks, Inc. to develop a Master Plan for Wendy Park at Whiskey Island was unanimously approved.
On a motion by Mayor Blomquist, seconded by Mayor Kelley, Resolution No. 090423-D, approving a third one-year extension of the approval of the preliminary layout for Gates Village of Woodgate Farms Subdivision, proposed to be located in Olmsted Township was unanimously approved.
On a motion by Mayor Kenneth Patton, seconded by Mayor Kelley, Resolution No. 090423-E approval of a one-year extension of the approval of the preliminary layout for Grand Oaks Subdivision, proposed to be located in Olmsted Township was tabled at the request of the developer.
On a motion by Mayor Kelley, seconded by Mayor Kenneth Patton, Resolution No. 090423-F, issuing a resolution recognizing Mr. John R. DeMuth, Deputy Director of the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, for thirty-two years of service to the Planning Commission, Cuyahoga County and Northeast Ohio communities upon his retirement on May 1, 2009 was unanimously approved.
COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL ISSUES
Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Food Policy Coalition
Mr. Alsenas asked Claire Kilbane, the CPC staff member serving on the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Food
Policy Coalition, to introduce the Food Policy presenters and guests.
Ms. Kilbane stated that there has been much in the local and national news related to obtaining safe and nutritious food within a community. Food access involves land use, human health, job creation and community building. Ms. Kilbane indicated that several years ago some people got together to discuss these issues and it has now evolved into a formal collaboration called the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Food Policy Coalition.
The Food Policy Coalition is consists of forty-six (46) participating organizations, agencies and businesses and has an Advisory Board consisting of representatives from the GreenCityBlueLake Institute, Cleveland City Council, the Cleveland Department of Public Health, Cuyahoga County, the New Agrarian Center and the Cuyahoga County Office of Health & Human Services. Ms. Kilbane reported that the County representatives were herself and Ms. Sabrina Roberts, Health Policy Coordinator for the Board of Commissioners and Lauren Forbes, Executive Assistant to Commissioner Timothy Hagan.
Ms. Kilbane introduced the presenters, Matt Russell from Case Western Reserve University's Center for Health Promotion and Research and Morgan Taggart, Program Specialist in Horticulture at the Ohio State University (OSU) Extension Office in Cleveland, who co-chair the Food Policy Coalition.
Ms. Kilbane stated that the presentation today was to introduce the Food Policy Coalition and its work to the suburban communities as part of its outreach. In addition, the Coalition would be requesting representation from the Mayors and Managers Association.
Ms. Taggart provided a brief overview of the County's food system and how food policy decisions made by government agencies, businesses, and organizations impact on the food chain from how food is produced, processed, distributed, purchased and finally, consumed.
Ms. Taggart pointed out that that food policy has a great impact on the regional and local economy, and on public health. Ms. Taggart explained that the loss of major grocery stores in the City of Cleveland and some suburban communities creates what is known as a food dessert. A food dessert is defined as an area with relatively easier access to less nutritious food such as fast food and convenience stores and limited access to supermarkets leading to poor diets and ultimately to obesity and diet-related illnesses.
Using maps, prepared by the CPC, Ms. Taggart provided local demographic data showing on Cuyahoga County:
- Food stamp recipients doubled in County's suburban communities from 2002-2007.
- Fast food is 2.5 times more accessible than large scale grocery stores throughout Cleveland neighborhoods.
- 25% of households in the City of Cleveland do not own a vehicle.
Ms. Taggart explained that the Coalition's mission is "to promote a just, equitable, healthy, and sustainable food system in the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and Northeast Ohio."
The Coalition meets regularly, providing quarterly forums, technical assistance and project support. For example, the Coalition recently held a workshop, sponsored by the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, to provide Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Food Stamp training to Farm Market Managers to give food stamp recipients greater access to farmers markets.
Ms. Taggart explained that the Coalition is divided into six (6) working groups focusing on: Health & Nutrition; Land Use; Rural/Urban Interface; Food Waste Recovery; Food Assessment; and Local Purchasing. She stated that the Coalition will shortly begin a work on a Food Assessment to collect data in order to better understand the food security issues faced by Cuyahoga County residents. A Cleveland Executive Fellow will conduct focus groups and community conversations on the subject of food access. The goal of this work is to open up the food conversation and broaden the snapshot of demographics in northeast Ohio.
Furthermore, the Food Policy Coalition is also examining regional land use and zoning issues as they relate to food production. For example, developing a feasibility study for an urban agriculture incubator, or looking at ways to provide land access for urban farmers and tenures for community gardens.
Matt Russell discussed the topic Food Waste Recovery, illustrating how food waste reduction can be accomplished through organic waste stream reduction and recycling programs such as commercial and business waste audits and the development of pilot programs such as the composting pilot program being conducted at the West Side Market.
Mr. Russell also discussed promoting regional economic development through local purchasing initiatives, such as the City of Cleveland's "Buy Local" legislation and developing and implementing "farm to school" programs in Cuyahoga County schools.
Mr. Russell ended the presentation by asking Planning Commission members to support the efforts of the Food Policy Coalition and sign the Coalition's Food Charter.
A brief discussion ensued. Planning Commission members highlighted various community agricultural and garden projects within their communities. Commissioner Jones stated that a group of about twenty people convened a few months ago to tackle the issue of utilizing foreclosed and vacant property for urban agriculture and gardening. In addition, the County Department of Development has agreed to take some leadership in this respect. Therefore, Commissioner Jones encouraged the Planning Commission members to collaborate with the County Department of Development. Commissioner Jones also asked if Blue Pike Farms had been engaged. Ms. Taggart indicated that Blue Pike Farms is an active participant. Mayor Longo stated that there is a need to incorporate rain gardens and storm water management concepts into the gardening programs perhaps through the school programs. Ms. Aveni added that career path education programs engaging children at a young age are an important component for the health of the food system and farming industries.
New County/Municipal Development Community Planning GIS
Mr. Alsenas stated that as of the meeting date, April 23, 2009, the CPC has launched an incredibly
powerful new internet tool to give municipalities, private sector businesses, citizens and students
access to spatial data. Mr. Alsenas introduced Dan Meaney, GIS Manager, who gave a brief overview and
presentation of the new tool.
Mr. Meaney stated that, generally, the new tool is a mix of mapping and data base capability. He cited the CPC's long tradition in mapping and map production in hard copy form and its transition over the last ten years to more electronic interactive mapping capabilities.
Mr. Meaney gave a brief history of the new tool indicating that this more robust tool replaces the CPC's "Brownfield GIS", which was developed in 1997 as a desktop application to support brownfields redevelopment. At that time, the application incorporated a number of layers including: basic parcel, aerial photos, and land use and brownfield indicators from the USEPA.
Funding for the new Community Planning GIS was obtained from the County Commissioners, The Gund Foundation and the Cuyahoga County Engineer's Office. The CPC's work with the County Engineer's Office lead to the resources which initiated development and launching of the CPC's new Community Planning GIS and its integration with the new countywide platform.
Mr. Meaney explained that the new tool is constructed on the Cuyahoga Enterprise GIS (CEGIS) platform, a countywide set of GIS databases recently developed and funded by the Cuyahoga County Engineer, together with the Cuyahoga County Auditor.
The new Community Planning GIS targets the CPC's transitional users, but provides more powerful search tools, data layers, and reporting capabilities focusing on the County and its natural systems, social and economic characteristics, environmental indicators and infrastructure. The data sets include land parcels, property information including streets, aerial photography, demographics, public services, recreational facilities, transportation and many other features. There is also a reporting capability. For example, one might take the results from a query and populate a spreadsheet.
Mr. Meaney explained that to access the new spatial data tool, which is accessible to the public, the County Engineer developed "MyCuyahoga", a web-based GIS portal.
Mr. Meaney stated that future plans for the new Community Planning GIS tool include the application's continued development as a foundation for the County's Greenprint by adding dimensional characteristics, as well as adding new data layers.
Mr. Alsenas stated that the new tool compresses complex tedious data from multiple sources adding real value to the pace and quality of decision making within the community based on land features.
Mr. Meaney gave a brief demonstration of the application, and thereafter a brief discussion ensued regarding historical aerial photography, demographic and social data. Mayor Eileen Patton asked whether the zoning classifications were specific or general. Mr. Meaney indicated that the classifications shown were general. Mayor Longo asked who can access the new tool. Mr. Meaney indicated that the new Community Planning GIS tool was available to the public.
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT REPORT
Diane Bickett, Director of the Solid Waste Management District (SWMD), reported on several items in the
Solid Waste Management District's written report.
Ms. Bickett reported that a legislative amendment to Ohio Revised Code 343.01 which would prevent SWMD's from restricting the amount of waste disposed of within their district has been drafted. Ms. Bickett indicated that if this amendment is success put into the budget bill it will prevent the attempt of the Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne SWMD from prohibiting waste from coming into their from other counties. Ms. Bickett requested the Solid Waste Policy Committee members support and asked them to contact legislators to express their support.
Ms. Bickett also reported that the District had received a request from the Ottawa, Sandusky, and Seneca Joint Solid Waste District (OSSJSWD) to enter into a Joint Use Agreement whereby the OSSJWD would lower its Tier 2 fee to the Tier 1 level for any waste from Cuyahoga County disposed of at the Port Clinton landfill. Ms. Bickett explained that Joint Use Agreements are usually beneficial to both districts; however, this agreement would negatively affect the Lorain County SWMD, which gets its revenue from waste disposed at the Lorain County landfill.
Both the Lorain and Port Clinton landfills are both owned by Republic Waste and Republic Waste is attempting to get the Lorain County Board of Commissioners to reduce their Tier 2 fee from $4 a ton to $2 a ton. Republic has threatened that if this reduction is not approved, Cuyahoga County waste will be diverted from the Lorain landfill to the Port Clinton landfill. Ms. Bickett stated that the Cuyahoga SWMD will not enter into any Joint Use Agreement with OSSJSWD until the Lorain County Commissioners make a decision.
Ms. Bickett highlighted several other items from her written report including the completion of the 2008 Waste Flow Analysis which will be presented at the June meeting; the Recycle Your Computer Month held April 1-30, 2009; and the Household Hazardous Waste Round-Up, May 7-9, 2009.
For Project Highlights Mr. Alsenas referred the Planning Commission members to the written report in the meeting binder.
OLD BUSINESS
Mr. Alsenas announced that on May 2, 2009, the roadway from Edgewater Park to Wendy Park would
be dedicated as "Ed Hauser Way," in memory of Ed who passed away, and that on May 16, 2009, the
traditional River Day event would take place.
Mayor Patton asked about the County's process for disseminating information regarding Stimulus programs and funding, and about the progress being made on suggestions from the last meeting proposed by Commissioner Lawson Jones who had suggested that the County, possibly the Planning Commission, could have weekly telephone calls or meetings with communities to keep them apprised of federal stimulus projects and programs and to work on regional approaches to stimulus fund requests. Mayor Patton stated that County Administrator Jim McCafferty had indicated that the Office of Government Service Coordination could do the biweekly conference call.
Mr. Alsenas indicated that the State of Ohio website is changing on a daily basis that timely coordination by the County was not feasible. In addition Mr. Alsenas indicated that municipalities have direct access to the state website.
Mayor Patton also asked Ms. Bickett about the auto fluff situation reported at the last meeting. He specifically noted that the District had reported that it had received letter from Farris Processing and Trading, one of two automotive shredding companies operating in Cuyahoga County, seeking an exemption from the District's waste generation fee. Ms. Bickett responded that although there is a provision in the law that allows the SWMD to exempt producers of auto fluff, the nonmetallic portions of the automobile, from the waste generation fee, it was recommended that a subcommittee be formed to examine the request in light of the County and District's current economic conditions.
Ms. Bickett also noted that she has not heard back from Farris Processing and Trading since its initial request and no action had been taken.
Mr. Smock asked if there was any old business, new business or public comments that needed to be addressed, hearing none, he adjourned the meeting.
Cuyahoga County Planning Commission/Solid Waste Policy Committee
| April 23, 2009 Attendance Record | |
|---|---|
| Member | Present |
| Mayor Robert Blomquist | Yes |
| Mr. James Danek for Mr. Robert Brown | Yes |
| Commissioner Jimmy Dimora | Yes, by Mr. Smock |
| Commissioner Timothy Hagan | Yes, by Ms. Forbes |
| Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones | Yes, by Mr. Shannon |
| Mayor Edward Kelley | Yes |
| Mayor Thomas Longo | Yes |
| Mayor Eileen Patton | Yes |
| Mayor Kenneth Patton | Yes |
| Mayor Michael Procuk | Yes |
| Mayor Georgine Welo | Yes |
| SOLID WASTE POLICY COMMITTEE | |
| Ms. Virginia Aveni | Yes |
| Mr. Martin McGann | Yes |
| Others: Paul Alsenas, Pat Carey, Regional Solutions, John DeMuth, Bob Dyes, Asset Advantage, Robert Klaiber, County Engineer, Kristin Hopkins, Claire Kilbane, Dan Meaney, Mark Rablein, USGBC, Marionette Richardson-Scott and Carol Thaler | |
