I was disappointed to see my candidate for mayor defeated on Tuesday. In his defense, I think 42% of the electorate voting for change is an impressive first showing. I like and still support Jeff. His issues remain huge opportunities for the Village. I will partner with any on Council who are willing to work on them.
I have been asked to step down due to my support for Jeff's failed run. I disagree with the thought and will honor my commitment to the Village.
Finally, congratulations goes to Dan for running an effective campaign. I will continue to find common ground and work with the Mayor for the good of the Village.
Cortney
Monday, November 14, 2011
Council 10/24
I attended Council on 10/24 and here's what I saw.
Parking - we don't need to spend $200K+ on West Street parking when we can amplify what we ALREADY HAVE for hundreds (maybe few thousand) of dollars. We need wayfinding(physical and virtual signage), we need awareness, we need safe crosswalks. We don't need the nuclear option on West St.
Parking study data. We need to be very careful to not "throw the baby out with the bathwater". That study may have some bias (all studies do), but it's a solid, independent data point. If we go and try to "fix", we risk reducing the study to useless.
Agenda Packets. Denise brought up an important point - we do NOT see much of which comes across the Mayor's desk. I speak mainly to the opinions contrary to the Mayor's POV. This is unfortuante, and it shows serious bias. We need objective information in the packets, not a one-sided opinionated view.
New Dodge Charger. This choice is net neutral in terms of operating costs. I would like to see us choose efficiency as an important variable, instead of a secondary one. We can't keep the General Fund from imploding by not improving efficiencies, one of which is energy costs.
Rumpke 2% - this is better than the 3% we absorbed last year. This is meaningful savings vs 3% on such a large portion of our General Fund.
Bike Route in Lower 80. I look fwd to an update at the next Council meeting. This can be a nice add to the village, if someone (not the Village) maintains it.
I voted in the affirmative on all votes. All were procedural except for the Police Car (above) and the State regulating Wooster Pike signage. I have some reservations here, but I think standard signage is reasonable.
Cortney
ICRCTV.COM
Parking - we don't need to spend $200K+ on West Street parking when we can amplify what we ALREADY HAVE for hundreds (maybe few thousand) of dollars. We need wayfinding(physical and virtual signage), we need awareness, we need safe crosswalks. We don't need the nuclear option on West St.
Parking study data. We need to be very careful to not "throw the baby out with the bathwater". That study may have some bias (all studies do), but it's a solid, independent data point. If we go and try to "fix", we risk reducing the study to useless.
Agenda Packets. Denise brought up an important point - we do NOT see much of which comes across the Mayor's desk. I speak mainly to the opinions contrary to the Mayor's POV. This is unfortuante, and it shows serious bias. We need objective information in the packets, not a one-sided opinionated view.
New Dodge Charger. This choice is net neutral in terms of operating costs. I would like to see us choose efficiency as an important variable, instead of a secondary one. We can't keep the General Fund from imploding by not improving efficiencies, one of which is energy costs.
Rumpke 2% - this is better than the 3% we absorbed last year. This is meaningful savings vs 3% on such a large portion of our General Fund.
Bike Route in Lower 80. I look fwd to an update at the next Council meeting. This can be a nice add to the village, if someone (not the Village) maintains it.
I voted in the affirmative on all votes. All were procedural except for the Police Car (above) and the State regulating Wooster Pike signage. I have some reservations here, but I think standard signage is reasonable.
Cortney
ICRCTV.COM
Monday, October 24, 2011
Parking Study Draft - West St Project not needed
The parking study draft is very interesting. It says we have a couple pinch points during the day, but overall we aren't bursting at the seams. We have work to do for sure. Here are some thoughts on how to improve
-awareness campaign for parking south of the pike. Maybe some nice signage for wayfinding.
-great crosswalk upgrade maybe w led lighting (i know it's expensive)
-paint spots on M'ville (20+), E bound Wooster E of Square (10ish), squeeze additional spots near the fountain (5ish)
-look at parallel parking on West if we must put any there(10+)
(sum total is 50ish!)
-if we still need more, it's time to revisit a garage. With no geothermal at the Elem Parking lot, why not buy it and double its yield with a low, attractive garage?
My takeaway before Council takes it up (I admit this is premature). From the data I've seen so far: We DON'T need to blow up West Street and spend $200K+ on this project. This study shows it's NOT NEEDED for a couple hours a day difficulty (which we absolutely must solve for). We need to invest in parking, yes. We don't need this radical solution.
Related, I think some of the Griewe condo spot estimates are incorrect. He needs 0 for Nolen, and only a handful for Emery (or vice versa). I'll follow up on this. We should make sure all the assumptions are correct, and we should NOT allow the "light day" comment to derail the DATABASED STUDY that we have paid for.
Cortney
-awareness campaign for parking south of the pike. Maybe some nice signage for wayfinding.
-great crosswalk upgrade maybe w led lighting (i know it's expensive)
-paint spots on M'ville (20+), E bound Wooster E of Square (10ish), squeeze additional spots near the fountain (5ish)
-look at parallel parking on West if we must put any there(10+)
(sum total is 50ish!)
-if we still need more, it's time to revisit a garage. With no geothermal at the Elem Parking lot, why not buy it and double its yield with a low, attractive garage?
My takeaway before Council takes it up (I admit this is premature). From the data I've seen so far: We DON'T need to blow up West Street and spend $200K+ on this project. This study shows it's NOT NEEDED for a couple hours a day difficulty (which we absolutely must solve for). We need to invest in parking, yes. We don't need this radical solution.
Related, I think some of the Griewe condo spot estimates are incorrect. He needs 0 for Nolen, and only a handful for Emery (or vice versa). I'll follow up on this. We should make sure all the assumptions are correct, and we should NOT allow the "light day" comment to derail the DATABASED STUDY that we have paid for.
Cortney
10/18 Pub Works
I attended the PW meeting and here's what I saw.
Rumpke is coming in at +2% for 2011. This is better thank I expected (+3%). However, I would like to see us hold that increase down even further considering the reduction in residential units (mainly MVille road) this year.
Compliance education is really important. Residents need to know the rules, so do the Trash guys. We can solve this (at least improve this) by working together.
Cortney
Rumpke is coming in at +2% for 2011. This is better thank I expected (+3%). However, I would like to see us hold that increase down even further considering the reduction in residential units (mainly MVille road) this year.
Compliance education is really important. Residents need to know the rules, so do the Trash guys. We can solve this (at least improve this) by working together.
Cortney
Health & Rec & Pub Works Comm Meeting 10/3
I attended both Committee Meetings and heres what I saw
Tennis Courts upgrade. I support repaving the practice court since it's an eyesore, and since the membership makes an attempt to pay for the upkeep. It's kind of an expectation in my opinion.
Renting facilities. I'd like us to reserve and charge for these facilities for non residents. I also would like to explore allowing open container in a safe, controlled way. We do it at the pool and it's been well received from what I can tell. A superbowl party, for instance, could happen in the village, keeping our residents here. If liability is in anyway unmanageable, then it would not make sense to proceed.
Trash. We need very consistent, deliberate standards for what's trash, what's yard waste, what's recycling, what's allowed vs not, etc. Inconsistent enforcement by the Rumpke guys is causing cost to the Village and frustration by residents. We should get really clear on what's allowed. I don't think this should be a point of contention for the Service renewal for 2012. But I do think it's an ongoing need for education and awareness on both sides....
Cortney
Tennis Courts upgrade. I support repaving the practice court since it's an eyesore, and since the membership makes an attempt to pay for the upkeep. It's kind of an expectation in my opinion.
Renting facilities. I'd like us to reserve and charge for these facilities for non residents. I also would like to explore allowing open container in a safe, controlled way. We do it at the pool and it's been well received from what I can tell. A superbowl party, for instance, could happen in the village, keeping our residents here. If liability is in anyway unmanageable, then it would not make sense to proceed.
Trash. We need very consistent, deliberate standards for what's trash, what's yard waste, what's recycling, what's allowed vs not, etc. Inconsistent enforcement by the Rumpke guys is causing cost to the Village and frustration by residents. We should get really clear on what's allowed. I don't think this should be a point of contention for the Service renewal for 2012. But I do think it's an ongoing need for education and awareness on both sides....
Cortney
Council Meeting 10/10
I attended Council on 10/10 and here's what I saw
Police Cruiser. I think our severe deficits in the General Fund and continued surpluses in the Perm Improvement Fund mandate efficiency choices at every turn. Recall the device cost is Perm Improvement, the energy cost is General Fund. Rick pulled me aside after the meeting and shared the new Charger's improved efficiency due to disengaged cylinders. This is great news, however we're not really improving upon the inefficient Crown Vic (same is still better than worse though). I will support the Charger since it's not efficiency decretive, but I'd like other options too.
As an aside, I wish we would consider alternatives to big cars like the Charger/Crown Vic. This car makes/made sense in highway situations, but I think (no data) it's over engineered and unncessary for a 1 square mile village with a speed limit no greater than 35mph. Why couldn't we maintain a fleet of Ford Fusion Hybrids? Or maybe Hybrid Escapes? (this assumes safety is ensured, it assumes vehicles can do the job) A Hybrid would get amazing mileage, probably 2-3x vs today and would easily pay us back over its lifetime. What would meet our need?
IT Plan. I wish the Mayor had come to Council with his suggestion for Village webmaster sooner. The IT Plan is baked, we're PAYING an IT consulting firm. I love resident input and volunteering, but we'd have been better off designing around this talent/resource earlier. Communication continues to lack between the Mayor and Council.
Signage on Wooster Pike Ordinance. I'm concerned about this. In retrospect I really appreciate Rex Bevis' efforts to minimize signage. What are we approving? What will it look like? Where do we maintain/lose control here?
Voting: I voted in the affirmative on all. With the following exceptions, all were procedural in nature:
-bids for Street Repair. I voted yes since we need to continue to invest here
-Levy - I voted yes since we have no plan to retire them. On a personal note I will vote yes for this renewal. We need in the income now more than ever. I believe one of these could be reduced, though, if we make different choices and agree to a different level of service
Cortney
icrctv.com
Police Cruiser. I think our severe deficits in the General Fund and continued surpluses in the Perm Improvement Fund mandate efficiency choices at every turn. Recall the device cost is Perm Improvement, the energy cost is General Fund. Rick pulled me aside after the meeting and shared the new Charger's improved efficiency due to disengaged cylinders. This is great news, however we're not really improving upon the inefficient Crown Vic (same is still better than worse though). I will support the Charger since it's not efficiency decretive, but I'd like other options too.
As an aside, I wish we would consider alternatives to big cars like the Charger/Crown Vic. This car makes/made sense in highway situations, but I think (no data) it's over engineered and unncessary for a 1 square mile village with a speed limit no greater than 35mph. Why couldn't we maintain a fleet of Ford Fusion Hybrids? Or maybe Hybrid Escapes? (this assumes safety is ensured, it assumes vehicles can do the job) A Hybrid would get amazing mileage, probably 2-3x vs today and would easily pay us back over its lifetime. What would meet our need?
IT Plan. I wish the Mayor had come to Council with his suggestion for Village webmaster sooner. The IT Plan is baked, we're PAYING an IT consulting firm. I love resident input and volunteering, but we'd have been better off designing around this talent/resource earlier. Communication continues to lack between the Mayor and Council.
Signage on Wooster Pike Ordinance. I'm concerned about this. In retrospect I really appreciate Rex Bevis' efforts to minimize signage. What are we approving? What will it look like? Where do we maintain/lose control here?
Voting: I voted in the affirmative on all. With the following exceptions, all were procedural in nature:
-bids for Street Repair. I voted yes since we need to continue to invest here
-Levy - I voted yes since we have no plan to retire them. On a personal note I will vote yes for this renewal. We need in the income now more than ever. I believe one of these could be reduced, though, if we make different choices and agree to a different level of service
Cortney
icrctv.com
Monday, October 3, 2011
O-17-11 Clarification
I made a mistake on the 1st Sep Council meeting recap. O-17-11 is excluding Condo associations from the annual trash fee, as long as they follow a series of rules. I was mistaken on my recollection of this ordinance. I did vote in favor of this ordinance as it is reasonable to avoid paying 2x for service.
Cortney
Cortney
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