University Heights celebrates sustainable initiatives and appoints new finance director

The University Heights City Council convened on May 5, 2025, to discuss various community initiatives and updates. The meeting began with attendance confirmations from council members, followed by a report from the mayor, who was attending a sustainable home fair in Montreal.

The mayor highlighted the success of the second annual Sustainable Home Fair held on April 27, which attracted hundreds of residents. The event focused on energy efficiency and reducing carbon footprints, with participants urging the city to continue this initiative in the future. The mayor expressed gratitude to various community organizations and city officials who contributed to the event's success.

In recognition of Arbor Day, the city planted a Japanese larch tree on East Scarborough Road, with participation from students at Canterbury Elementary School. The mayor acknowledged the involvement of school officials and city representatives in this initiative.

The council also discussed the upcoming co-hosting of three city awards in 2028 with John Carroll University, celebrating the city's designation as a Tree City. Additionally, the city launched a six-month drop-off composting program for residents, which began on May 1. The program aims to promote sustainable waste management, and early interest has already seen 264 households sign up.

The mayor announced a community bike ride scheduled for June 8, in collaboration with neighboring mayors, to promote the Heights Regional Active Transportation Plan. This event will highlight local parks and encourage community engagement in active transportation.

In terms of recycling efforts, the mayor reported a significant increase in recycling rates following the implementation of curbside automated recycling in April 2025, with residents recycling over 43 tons of materials, more than double the previous amount.

The meeting concluded with personnel updates, including the promotion of Chuck Steinle to assistant service director and the temporary rehiring of Dennis Kennedy as finance director during the transition to a new finance director.

Overall, the meeting underscored the city's commitment to sustainability, community engagement, and effective governance, with several initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of life for residents.