Brecksville City Council Regular Meeting - October 20, 2026

The Brecksville City Council held its regular meeting in the Ralph W. Biggs City Council Chambers on October 20, 2026, beginning at 8:00 PM. All six present council members participated in most votes: Bender, Caruso, Ganim, Jantzen, Kepke, and Stuckey; Vice President Savage was excused. Council heard public comment, received reports from committees and the Mayor, acted on zoning variances and Valor Acres sign packages, and passed all legislative items after suspending the rules and declaring emergencies. The council also amended the agenda to add Ordinance 5896 and Resolution 5912.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Lena Workman, an employee of the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities and an advocate for her sister, who has received Cuyahoga DD services for over 40 years, expressed support for the Cuyahoga DD 2.2-mill levy on the November 3 ballot. She initially identified it as ballot issue 3, then corrected it to Issue 10. She said Cuyahoga DD serves over 15,000 people, about 100 of whom live in Brecksville, and is primarily supported by a county levy first passed in 2005. She described services including early intervention, occupational and physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and housing and employment supports, and said the levy is necessary to continue funding those services. She also noted that since 2021 Cuyahoga DD has granted over $1 million to more than 50 Cuyahoga County libraries, arts and culture, and recreational and leisure organizations to make programs and spaces more accessible.

Discussion Items

• Natatorium pool pack and lighting engineering: Service Director Joe Kickle explained that a pool pack is a large space-conditioning unit for indoor pools that dehumidifies and heats the air and also sends recovered heat to the pool. The current natatorium unit is at least 20 years old and past its expected service life, largely because of the corrosive chlorine environment. The Buildings and Grounds Committee recommended accepting GPD Group's proposal for engineering services at $56,650 for the pool pack and $9,250 for lighting.
• Service garage fire restoration: Following the April 7, 2026 fire at 4400 Oaks Road, the city has continued insurance-funded cleaning and restoration work. The committee recommended a purchase order increase of $184,503.45 for cleaning and restoration, and a separate then-and-now certificate for $334,600.65 to Restoration Resources Inc. for cleaning services already provided. The Finance Director explained that insurance proceeds advanced to the city would cover the payments.
• ODNR grant for the Community Center Improvement Project: The Finance Committee reviewed a $758,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources through Senate Bill 450 state capital grant funds for replacement of the natatorium dehumidification/pool pack unit. Officials noted the grant does not cover the full project cost; the total project was previously estimated at about $1 million, and the city would be responsible for the balance.
• Central School brick donation: Council considered donating 100 bricks from the demolished Central School, valued at $1.50 per brick for a total value of $150, to the Brecksville Broadview Heights Alumni Association. It was expected the alumni association would use the bricks for fundraising.
• Recreation rate changes: Recreation Director Engle presented proposed 2027 rate changes, with committee motions transcribed as changes to the 2026 program rates. Highlights included $5 increases for most athletic sports because of referee and uniform costs, additional field preparation costs for C-VYO and fall ball, summer guest-pass changes from June 2 to August 14, and the first field house rate increases since 2022. She corrected the proposed Natatorium indoor pool rates to $90 for resident nonprofit organizations and $102 for non-resident member/profit groups. The Recreation Commission representative said the commission viewed the increases as nominal and needed for sustainable programming.
• Lexipol and Chagrin Valley Dispatch contracts: The Safety and Services Committee reviewed the annual Lexipol law enforcement policy manual and training bulletin subscription for 30 officers at $14,990.79 for October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, plus a then-and-now certificate because the renewal began October 1. It also reviewed Chagrin Valley Dispatch contracts for police and fire radio maintenance at $9,846, dispatch services at $335,000, and First Due reporting software for the fire department at $7,900, all for January 1 through December 31, 2027. The dispatch services amount reflected a 5.1% increase from the current rate.
• Riverview Road culvert replacement: Utilities Committee discussed the Riverview Road Culvert C-14 replacement project, which is expected to begin soon. Because culvert delivery was delayed, paving may run past the asphalt season. City Engineer Wise negotiated a contingency change order for $8,600.62: if asphalt cannot be placed before plants close, the contractor would install a 7-inch base, depress it two inches, and use cold patch as a winter wearing surface, with paving to follow in spring. If paving is completed, the change order would not be spent. At the council floor report, the amount was transcribed as $8,662 rather than $8,600.62.
• Traffic studies: Mr. Wise reported that TMS Engineering, retained by the city, reviewed the developer's Valor Acres traffic studies and found the traffic-volume forecasting methodology appropriate and appropriately applied. The studies did not warrant a signal at Parkview and Brecksville Road or at Miller and Brecksville Road, primarily because of insufficient cross traffic. The Miller Road double-left center lane near Valor Acres and FirstEnergy should be monitored as nearby development fills in. Signal equipment upgrades at Miller and Brecksville Road remain on the city's radar. The studies were also intended to document why signals would not be warranted at smaller nearby intersections.
• Executive session: The Committee of the Whole moved into executive session to discuss imminent litigation and later returned to open session without taking public action on that topic.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the October 6, 2026 City Council minutes by a 6-0 vote.
• Amended the agenda by a 6-0 vote to add Ordinance 5896 and Resolution 5912.
• Passed, with emergency declarations and suspension of rules:
  • RES 5909: Accepted GPD Group's proposal for natatorium HVAC and lighting engineering, including $56,650 for the pool pack and $9,250 for lighting, 6-0.
  • RES 5910: Authorized then-and-now certificate and payment of $334,600.65 for service garage cleaning, 6-0.
  • RES 5911: Renewed the Lexipol subscription for 30 officers at $14,990.79 for October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, 6-0.
  • RES 5912: Authorized then-and-now certificate for the Lexipol subscription, 6-0.
  • ORD 5893: Authorized the Mayor to enter the ODNR pass-through grant agreement for $758,000 for the Brecksville Community Center Improvement Project, 6-0.
  • ORD 5894: Authorized donation of 100 Central School bricks valued at $150 to the Brecksville Broadview Heights Alumni Association, 6-0.
  • ORD 5895: Made FY 2026 appropriations and revenue adjustments, 6-0.
• Approved committee recommendations approved by council floor votes:
  • Chagrin Valley Dispatch radio maintenance purchase requisition for $9,846, 6-0.
  • Chagrin Valley Dispatch services purchase requisition for $335,000, 6-0.
  • First Due reporting software purchase requisition for $7,900, 6-0.
  • Riverview Road Culvert C-14 change order authorization for $8,600.62, transcribed at council floor as $8,662, 6-0.
  • Service garage restoration purchase order increase of $184,503.45, 6-0.
  • Recreation program rate changes, 4-0 with Caruso and Kepke recused.
  • Ordinance 5896, changing section 136.07 registration fee and use-of-funds rules and updating formatting, 4-0 with Caruso and Kepke recused.
• Approved Board of Zoning Appeals variances:
  • 9281 Lawn Park Drive: variance to allow a 6-foot fence instead of the maximum 4 feet, 6-0.
  • 6590 Summer Wind Drive: variance for approximately 295 linear feet of 6-foot black aluminum fence, 6-0.
  • 9332 Oxford Trail: variance from the minimum 10-foot house separation to allow 0 feet for a carport, 5-1 with Stuckey opposed.
  • 9511 River Birch Road: variances allowing 29.9% roof area above 30 feet and a maximum house height of 30.75 feet, 6-0.
  • 7014 Arlington Street: variance from the 50-foot rear yard setback to allow 20 feet for a raised patio, 6-0.
  • 8308 Fitzwater Road: three variances for a sauna, a 5-foot fence, and a solid cedar board fence, each 6-0.
• Approved Valor Acres sign packages:
  • Club Valor, Building G, 4550 Ruby Street: sign package for a double-sided projection sign, window signs, and door signs, with three requested deviations, 4-0 with Ganim and Bender recused.
  • Highland insurance, Building H, 5430 Independence Drive: 42.75-square-foot halo illuminated wall sign and a deviation increasing total allowable signage to 240.96 square feet, 4-0 with Ganim and Bender recused.

Reports

• The Planning Commission's next meeting will be Thursday, October 22, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers.
• The Human Services Advisory Board will meet November 10 at 3:00 PM in the Human Services building.
• Mayor's report: 23 candidates took and passed the entry-level patrolman exam; the Civil Service Commission will certify the list on Thursday. Trick-or-treat hours are October 31 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. The Trick-or-Trot will be October 24 from 8:00 to 10:00 AM at Blossom. Election Day is November 3, with polls open 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM at the usual locations. A Veterans Day event will be held at Human Services on November 9 at 11:00 AM. Several department directors reported no formal items; the Police and Fire Chiefs were out on a call.