Brecksville City Council Committee Meetings and Regular Council Meeting – October 21, 2025

On October 21, 2025, the City of Brecksville held its committee meetings and regular council meeting in Ralph W. Biggs City Council Chambers. Committees considered purchases, appropriations, contracting, grants, and construction change orders before the full council convened for public hearings, second readings of six TIF ordinances, and new business. The agenda and minutes list the committee meeting start at 7:00 PM, while the transcript records the first committee called to order at 7:01 PM; the regular meeting adjourned at 8:50 PM.

Consent Calendar

• All seven committee meeting minutes from October 7, 2025 (Buildings & Grounds, Finance, Legislation, Safety-Service, Streets & Sidewalks, Utilities, Committee of the Whole) were approved unanimously by the members present.
• Buildings & Grounds recommended approval of a $7,934.51 purchase requisition for Johnson Controls for annual fire and smoke damper inspections and testing.

Public Comments & Testimony

• At the public hearing on the 2026 Community Development Supplemental Grant, city officials said Brecksville plans to apply for the maximum grant of $50,000 through Cuyahoga County toward rehabilitation of the tennis courts at City Hall. No public comment was offered.
• At the public hearing on the proposed TIF districts, John Slater, legal counsel for Snowville Land Corp LLC (owned by Kirk Dascassil, approximately 46 acres on Snowville Road, parcel 6051801), stated his client intends to develop the property residentially and wants to live in Brecksville. He said his client does not object to the Snowville North TIF, but requested confirmation that revenues from that district will fund the Snowville Road infrastructure improvements listed in the economic development plan, including reconstruction and widening, lowering at Dewey, culvert replacement, connectivity, and Dewey/Brecksville/Miller Road improvements. He said if the funds were used elsewhere and Snowville Road was not fixed, his client would object.
• Eva Sumerley (9233 Province Lane, Brecksville) asked for confirmation that the TIF ordinances would still receive two more public readings despite the emergency declarations in each ordinance. Council President Caruso confirmed there would be two more public readings before a vote.
• A city law representative stated that adoption of a TIF does not by itself obligate the city to spend the funds, but Ohio law requires any improvements made to have a nexus to the parcels subject to the TIF.
• Dr. Richard Rawlett, clinical director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, gave an informational report: it is the 20th anniversary of the county's 3.9-mill continuous levy passed in 2005; the Board served 99 Brecksville residents and approximately 15,000 people countywide last year, a 20% increase since 2005; and since 2021 it has granted nearly $1 million to community accessibility projects, including $180,000 in 2025.

Discussion Items

Buildings & Grounds Committee

• Recreation Director Engle said funds had become available to replace two expired treadmills and the 23-year-old multi-purpose station at the Community Center. The committee recommended a $25,600.82 purchase requisition for G&G Fitness Equipment.

Finance Committee

• Finance Director Starosta reviewed the appropriations ordinance: move $901,102 between General Government–Economic Development and Income Tax–Refunds/Reimbursements to allow an economic incentive payment to be made as a credit against net-profit taxes; add $25,000 for legal professional services related to proposed TIF districts; restore $75,000 in leaf-program payroll lines she had mistakenly removed; add $200,000 to the State Highway Improvement Fund for Phase III engineering of the Brecksville Road resurfacing, with construction expected in 2027; realign Community Center Fund budget for fitness equipment; reconcile the General Municipal Improvement Fund; and update VA Phase I and Phase III TIF funds after receiving second-half property tax collections.
• The Finance Committee recommended approval of a new retainer and rate schedule for Donald G. Bohning and Associates. Committee members described the fee increases as moderate.
• Finance Director Starosta said the amended Applied Medical Technology agreement does not change any incentive terms. It adds a company that is now under a different holding company and adds language allowing the incentive payment to be made from non-tax revenues or as a credit against net-profit taxes for tracking and compliance purposes.

Safety-Service Committee

• Service Director Kickel said the 2026 Community Recycling Awareness Grant funds the city's shred days and includes an education component. Last year's grant paid for 'oops' reminder cards about recycling contamination; options being explored this year include stickers for recycling cans.

Streets & Sidewalks Committee

• Engineer Wise explained Change Order #3 from Ronyak Paving Inc. for $43,785 on the SR 21 repaving project (CUY SR 021-2.93–5.18). It includes a zero-dollar ADA ramp settlement, covers Phase 2 night work, and extends the schedule into 2026. Phase 2 is expected to start around July 1, 2026, and finish by August 30, 2026, with milling, full and partial depth repairs, and pavement layers done at night to reduce traffic impacts downtown and at the SR 82 intersection.
• Engineer Wise requested a $20,000 increase to the purchase order for Donald G. Bohning & Associates because concrete work on the project required far more on-site engineering time than anticipated.
• Service Director Kickel reported Sentinel Drive paving should be completed in about two weeks. Engineer Wise said the SR 21 South Phase 1 final walk identified minor crack and caulking fixes before project closeout.

Utilities Committee

• Engineer Wise said Cuyahoga County's Oakes Road storm sewer repair continues: main line repairs are done, three of six crossovers remain, and a sewer lining operation under the sidewalk is still to come.

Committee of the Whole

• The committee recommended approval of the Masu VA LLC liquor permit and waiver of an Ohio Department of Liquor Control hearing.

Regular Council – TIF and New Business

• President Caruso noted one public reading had already occurred. Six TIF ordinances received a second reading and were moved to third reading: Ord. 5808 (Woodlands .40C), 5809 (Highland Park .40C), 5810 (Edgerton Road .40C), 5811 (Snowville South .40C), 5812 (Downtown .40B), and 5813 (Snowville North .40C).
• New business items were presented and approved: Ord. 5815 (engineering rate schedule), Ord. 5816 (Applied Medical Technology agreement amendment), Res. 5719 (2026 Community Recycling Awareness Grant), and Ord. 5817 (appropriation amendments, added to the agenda by motion).

Key Outcomes

• All committee recommendations were forwarded, and the full council approved every new business item on the agenda.
• Six TIF ordinances moved to third reading. Votes were 6-0 for Ord. 5808 (Bender excused) and 7-0 for Ord. 5809, 5810, 5811, 5812, and 5813.
• Ord. 5815, Ord. 5816, Res. 5719, and Ord. 5817 all passed 7-0 after suspension and passage votes.
• Council voted 4-0 to file no objection to the Masu VA LLC liquor permit and to waive the hearing; Councilmembers Bender, Ganim, and Caruso recused themselves.
• Planning recommendations approved: Post restaurant canopy sign at 5710 Independence Drive (25.33 sq ft sign with two deviations), passed 5-0; Valor Acres Phase One Building C amendment / AC Hotel Brecksville FDP at 2800 Freedom Drive, passed 5-0; Masu restaurant wall sign at 5720 Independence Drive (7.3 sq ft halo-lit sign with internal illumination deviation), approved; Mill Road solar panel installation at 6916 Mill Road (deviation to allow side-yard roof panels), passed 7-0; and a lot split creating two parcels for an affiliate company and Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, passed 7-0. The planning motion listed the lot as 6869 Mill Road while later references and the BZA item used 6896 Miller Road; the transcript contains both.
• Zoning appeals recommended by the Board of Zoning Appeals and approved by council: Appeal 2025-55 (shed at 6633 Westview Road) passed 6-1 with Stucky dissenting; Appeal 2025-56 (12115 Chippewa Road) passed 7-0; Appeal 2025-57 (7500 Bristol Lane) passed 7-0; Appeal 2025-58 (11700 Parkview Drive) passed 7-0; and Appeal 2025-59 (lot split at 6896 Miller Road) passed 7-0.
• The CDBG grant public hearing closed with no public comment; the city will seek up to $50,000 for tennis court rehabilitation.
• Next Board of Zoning Appeals: November 10, 2025, at 7:30 PM. Next Planning Commission: November 6, 2025, at 7:00 PM.

Reports and Announcements

• Recreation Commission: Kids' Quarters ribbon cutting is Sunday at 11:30 AM; Booville is Sunday 1-4 PM with pre-registration; 'Grease' kids performances are Friday, two Saturday shows, and one Sunday; next meeting is Monday at 7:30 PM.
• Human Services: chili cook-off Thursday, October 30, 5-7 PM at 2 Community Drive, tickets $12; next advisory board meeting November 11 at 3 PM.
• Police Chief: DEA drug take-back event Saturday, October 25, 10 AM-2 PM at the Horticulture Building.
• Mayor Kingston: trick-or-trot Saturday 8-10 AM; trick-or-treating Friday, October 31, 6-8 PM; thanked the students attending the meeting.