Recreation legislation expected in May
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published April 30, 2008

City officials expect to have more answers for residents and themselves in May on a proposed new $18 million recreation center for the city.

Mayor Thomas O’Grady last Thursday told another large audience at a council recreation, buildings and facilities committee meeting discussing the administration’s proposed recreation master plan for North Olmsted that he will be presenting council with legislation for the proposal in May. The plans were among many items discussed as many city residents in the crowd of more than 100 people again showed their displeasure with the current proposal. Much of the anger again focused on having the YMCA run the proposed new center and deleting an ice rink from the proposal.

O’Grady said later he realized the time frame is tight if the city wants to get a proposal on the November ballot for a one-eighth percent income tax to fund the city portion of the new facility. He said he expects to have negotiations concluded with the YMCA for running the facility as well as providing its $5 million portion of the facility. He also said work should be concluded with Fairview Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic for being partners in the agreement.

“We know that we have to keep it moving,” O’Grady said. “We will have legislation ready for council to consider in May. This would allow three readings in council without suspension in time for it to be submitted for the ballot.”

To go on the November ballot, any legislation must be given to and approved by the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections by August. Council usually takes a month off in the summer either in July or August, meaning it may have to schedule a special meeting to consider any legislation which needed to be passed.

Council officials also are aware of the time frame for considering the plan.

“It’s tight, we know that,” said Council Finance Committee Chairman Michael Gareau later. “We don’t want to negotiate the contract; that’s the administration’s job. But we would like to have the information in place and a good dialogue with those involved to properly consider this and make a decision.”

Council officials said they will be ready for the legislation.

“We won’t have another meeting until May, when the administration has legislation ready for us to consider,” said Mark Mahoney, chairman of the panel. As in the first meeting earlier this month, Mahoney limited remarks to about three minutes each for audience members in order to allow as many people to speak as possible.

“We know it’s a major issue for many people,” Mahoney said. “That’s why we’re keeping the meetings flowing as much as possible.”

Mahoney also limited or stopped O’Grady from responding to a few remarks in order to let other residents speak. This prompted the mayor to quip a few times, wondering if he could speak then.

Among residents, several questioned having the YMCA run the facility, while others and council members asked why it is only giving a smaller portion of the money, adding that it is likely to see most or all of the benefits even though the city is footing most of the cost. Others said cutting out the ice rink is cutting out something many city residents still want and that provides revenue by bringing people into the city to use the rink as well as use city businesses and restaurants. Others said that even though they don’t use the rink, it’s still important to them and the city and that the mayor should not characterize the opposition to the plan as being solely from rink proponents.

O’Grady and the administration again said that rink usage is still down and that North Olmsted, like many other cities, can’t afford to run one any more.

“It’s not a good municipal business anymore,” O’Grady said. “I understand the frustration, but we can’t operate the city that way anymore. I do not want to be a mayor who is laying off people because we can’t pay for all that we try to do.”

He reiterated that the city would work with any private enterprise that wants to establish and run a rink in the city.

Ward 2 Councilman Paul Barker again expressed strong reservations about the plan as well as asking YMCA and hospital officials to attend a meeting and take part in discussions.

“This is what I’m hearing from a lot of residents,” Barker said. “They want more information; they don’t feel the administration is listening to some of their concerns and and they’d like to hear from the other parties involved. This is a major decision for the city and they want to be heard.”

Other residents and Ward 3 Councilwoman Nicole Dailey Jones again asked about potential costs for residents, expressing concern that the YMCA fees could price some residents out of being able to use the facility.

Councilman-at-large Kevin Kearney asked if the facility would be called a city recreation center or YMCA, with O’Grady indicating it likely would be called a YMCA.

O’Grady said he’s aware of the concerns but has come up with the best possible decision.

“This is all part of the process and council also should be aware of that, particularly with ongoing negotiations,” he said. “We thought that the YMCA and Clinic should not be a part of this until the final contract is ready for presentation. We will come up with the best way to provide benefits for most of our residents.”