Council passes ordinance to document city events, costs

Members of Broadview Heights City Council passed an ordinance that will require the city administration to present a list of events to be held on city grounds in 2025, along with their associated costs.

That list is due to councilmembers by Dec. 16.

An ordinance, which was proposed by Ward 3 council representative Brian Dunlap during a Sept. 23 council work session, would prohibit the use of city facilities by private organizations and also prohibit the city from sponsoring such events as discussed during an Oct. 7 meeting of the Rules, Ordinances and Franchises Committee.

That proposal has not been presented to city council for a vote.

During a Sept. 23 council work session, a resident asked whether the city could provide information regarding costs associated with city-sponsored events.

“We had our discussion about city events, and now that we’re going to have, I think, the transparency that the residents asked us to get, that segment is over and done with. I’m glad council unanimously passed that,” said Councilperson Glenn Goodwin, who serves as chairperson for the Rules, Ordinances and Franchises Committee. “The only other thing is that we had briefly just touched on Ordinance 820, and rules that are applied to that, and we didn’t really come to any resolution yet. So, that’s going to be in a future discussion. I look forward to any ideas that could be put forward to adopting that.”

Section 820 of the city’s codified ordinances governs the process by which organizations can seek a special permits for use of city-owned facilities for an event not receiving city sponsorship. Dunlap suggested during past meetings that council review and update the procedures regarding Section 820.

“I agree with Mr. Goodwin,” Dunlap said. “To piggyback on what he said, we kind of answered a lot of questions for our residents. It was a huge, huge first step that took a lot of months. “I too applaud the rest of council for voting favorably and unanimously for that.

“There seems to be this mysterious application for Section 820 – does it even exist?” Dunlap continued. “It’s an ordinance that has been out there since 1971. I think it will be a lengthy conversation, and with the administration, I think we can put our heads together and come up with something that’s beneficial to the residents of the city.”

Members of BBH Pride, along with a handful of residents, questioned whether Dunlap’s proposals were in regard to Pride Fest, which was held for the first time at the city amphitheater on June 8. In following established procedures, the event was approved by Mayor Sam Alai without input from councilmembers or residents. The scheduling of the event, of which the city was a co-sponsor, drew strong views from residents last spring both in support of and in opposition to the city’s decision to host the event.

“This ordinance is kind of groundbreaking, because now we have to be given a list of who is going to be using city property and what the associated cost is for using the property. It’s something we’ve never had before,” Dunlap said. “It wasn’t really any one organization that drew the limelight to this. It just happened and it’s been going on for some time. Transparency is what people want today on a local level and at the national level.”

“The question that a lot of people still have is whether these events are costing us money, and how much,” Dunlap continued. “The question is, can we continue to let people use city property at no cost? What if more and more come, and sooner or later you have to put stipulations on renting a venue. I see a change coming with that, where some of these venues will have to cost some money.”

Dunlap said he would like to see discussions among city councilmembers regarding Section 820.

“Right now, the administration can make a venue available without utilizing 820, to sidestep it without an applicant having to jump through a bunch of hoops,” said Dunlap. “And I don’t think 820 was intended for the mayor to do that. The question that will come up is why someone didn’t use 820, and those are the kinds of questions that are going to come up with the legislation we passed tonight. Something has to change. We can’t continue down this same road. We’re going to be in the poorhouse if we allow people to keep using our facilities for free.”

In other business, council approved:

• An agreement with Pro-Tech Sales for police equipment at a total cost of $36,660.
• An agreement with Bus Services, Inc. for the purchase of a light transit vehicle to be utilized by the Human Services Department. A grant received from NOACA will cover 80% of the vehicle purchase cost.
• An agreement with Donald Bohning & Associates at a cost of $76,650 for design services for the 2025 Avery Road Improvement Project, which will include installation of a new storm sewer and roadway between West Royalton and Oakes roads.
• An agreement with Fire Force Inc. for firefighter turnout gear at a cost of $23,402.
• A resolution terminating the moratorium on accepting for filing, and consideration, review and approval of all new applications for projects in the C-1 zoning district south of Edgerton Road.
• An ordinance amending chapter 1276 of the city’s codified ordinances, which will prohibit future establishment of vape shops and massage parlors in the city. ∞