[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6173929,"mediaKeyId","5377211-1316f26c7828060b3beac73d48f3cb5b","parentId",5377211,"title","Committee discusses abatement and grass fines; majority favors keeping current approach","audioSeconds",444,"startMs",1891000,"endMs",2335000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5377211-1316f26c7828060b3beac73d48f3cb5b&start=1891&end=2335","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5377211-1316f26c7828060b3beac73d48f3cb5b/thumbnail_1891000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6173929/Ohio/Committee-discusses-abatement-and-grass-fines-majority-favors-keeping-current-approach","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6173929-829a3682152d182b02516908d9b8bef4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213672&Signature=WKt0zzBj5B9bQrSae9Uy40nayAzpL77m9dT8VGEngDfjRjRfSpVNU5Xi-5siZbpCGXZHKHiPXAxNlR-~6D4297KlzNoYyIzOn7AF5RO~rIZrzekI7K4qUfFHAcjd5ZEhr6DqDJtw3l80Lb7wL3LYGyKpUDb8rlk7gMFEgTtw2M16L6305UHCkHVEQcQhYA1SY4N7rU740etk8yyggGBVqbPzF7LOs60v1ZvVdN23s~bkjYUc-NyI44IvINFwWZheu3h6ij9KC0-Vf7xDHFvILI-3rghDCoKsTlqF3tSjfBhjmQFi0-HgyaDxXy3irh2YYS2F8JFXy0hIoSEnpz--Wg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of University Heights OH","date","2025-07-11T14:49:39Z","article","The finance committee reviewed a proposal discussed in building and housing to offer a limited discount to first-time property-abatement and grass-cutting violators to encourage payment and reduce assessments placed on property tax rolls. Committee members raised concerns about administrative burden, equity, and rising contractor costs for cutting overgrown lots; the committee took no action to change the ordinance.

Council member Ms. Weiser introduced the idea of offering a discount to first-time offenders to encourage payment before cases are certified as assessments. “Maybe we should start looking at considering coming up with a discount program that before we go to do the assessments we take all those 1-timers and send them a letter and say hey how about if we give you a 10% discount …” Ms. Weiser said, explaining the rationale to reduce assessments and clear small receivables.

Several council members and staff cautioned that the figures in the packet did not reflect current contractor costs and overtime. One council member said the city's current first-time fine structure already reduces the fine (a $100 fine for first-time offenders versus $200 for repeat offenders). Staff added that the city is currently using its own crews for abatement and that actual per-cut costs this year have ranged from about $62.68 to $187.60 depending on overtime and the time needed for overgrown lots. “I don't think we're really talking about a $140 fine at all this year. We're talking about a minimum of $62.68 to ... $187.60 per cut,” a staff member said.

Committee members also raised practical concerns: whether the discount would encourage deliberate nonpayment to wait for a discount; whether it would increase administrative workload in finance to track first-time status; and whether waivers for extenuating circumstances might invite claims of unfairness or discrimination without clear, objective criteria. The finance director noted the department can remove an assessment if the resident pays after certification, and staff said they would prepare data on the number of properties assessed in the prior year (one staff member said it appeared about 117 properties were assessed last year for nuisances).

The committee concluded with no change to the ordinance. Several members urged that, if changes are considered, the administration and staff provide updated cost calculations, a clear means to identify first-time offenders, and proposed objective criteria for any discretionary waivers. The item will be revisited only if committee members request it following review of updated data and proposed ordinance language.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Finance 070925 20250709 224535 Meeting Recording","oneSentenceSummary","Committee members reviewed a proposal to offer a one-time discount for first-time grass/abatement citations but did not adopt changes; several members preferred retaining the current fines structure or updating the ordinance instead.","taxTitle","University Heights City Council, University Heights, Cuyahoga County, Ohio","taxId",71902,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6173934,"Committee debates equipment fund, ambulance billing and how to pay for big vehicle replacements",1271,329000,1600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5377211-1316f26c7828060b3beac73d48f3cb5b&start=329&end=1600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5377211-1316f26c7828060b3beac73d48f3cb5b/thumbnail_329000.jpg","/articles/6173934/Ohio/Committee-debates-equipment-fund-ambulance-billing-and-how-to-pay-for-big-vehicle-replacements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6173934-56ba4448b3c98ac0b010fecaedb3ab76/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213672&Signature=bL51XVte1GxYm02nAZ2lnaBCeVqtFrQi3YfURWp4Ogvx1VwwnvJgOIVGNUpOEcDF1txrp~3IXX0kel30or5b7x-P8MxE~9Zmzs2hYeH8nFHXitMCCTm2ORkwEWqWkOfHpZfsbNSHxwNiawVBP~UOtIRQLR2IJhLS~RDIy71F1ROZy75BY2RH1kYEhTncWRwf19f5pQFAcmBIFGDvLqzByuSOYPKeGhJPiC9PibdAz2WuYLUyKbitXJ77S2YfMVOLjzV7h8Ggt5Ah5Jv1y0W-ncIGCzwnxAdZbdUzi1qoIP3aj7f34UBRHQoPsuJAgQjOXjur-efHZJhaEci3bqRa6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee members and city staff discussed whether to create a dedicated equipment fund to save for large purchases such as ladder trucks and fire engines, and whether ambulance billing rates and collection practices should be updated to increase revenue. The committee did not adopt a fund or change billing policy; members asked staff for further analysis and data for a future finance meeting.

Vice Mayor Ms. Weiser and others warned that creating department-specific, restricted funds reduces budget flexibility. “When you start tagging certain revenues ... you begin to break down the idea of a unified budget,” Ms. Weiser said, adding that separate funds can create “little fiefdoms.”

Chief Perko (referred to in the meeting as the chief) described the origin of the idea: after discussion around the purchase of a ladder truck, staff explored options to build reserves for future large purchases by placing portions of ambulance billing revenue into a fund. “This discussion started ... when we were discussing the purchase of a new ladder truck,” Chief Perko said, summarizing an analysis of replacement cycles and projected ambulance revenues and arguing that cost increases and supply-chain issues could make future engines cost as much as the recently purchased ladder truck.

Committee members also questioned whether the city can raise ambulance billing amounts. Staff and a council member explained that insurer reimbursement rules and contract terms influence what the city can collect. A staff member said the city currently soft-bills rather than sending patients to collections and that reimbursement rates from government programs and insurers determine revenue. “We bill insurance. So insurance is what dictates the rates. We can't raise rates,” one council member said. Javier noted that CitizenServe training is available for the staff who would manage billing and that the department does not generally expect new hires to have prior experience with the software.

Members requested a set of materials before making policy choices: comparative reimbursement and billing practices, recent receivables and collections trends, examples of county or regional recommended rates, and a five-year capital projection showing anticipated equipment replacement needs. The vice mayor asked staff to prepare the analysis for the committee's next quarterly finance meeting; staff agreed to provide more detailed spreadsheets and to see whether a representative from the billing contractor could attend to explain contract terms.

No motion was made to create a dedicated equipment fund during the meeting. Committee members voiced differing preferences: some supported a single, non-dedicated sinking fund to encourage discipline while maintaining flexibility; others expressed caution about dedicating ambulance or citation revenues exclusively to equipment. The committee agreed to continue the discussion at a future finance meeting after staff provides the requested financial detail.

","University Heights finance committee discussed creating a dedicated equipment fund and updating ambulance billing practices; no formal action was taken and members requested more data for future meetings.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6173940,"Finance Committee refers housing and community development coordinator salary range to council",263,47000,310000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5377211-1316f26c7828060b3beac73d48f3cb5b&start=47&end=310","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5377211-1316f26c7828060b3beac73d48f3cb5b/thumbnail_47000.jpg","/articles/6173940/Ohio/Finance-Committee-refers-housing-and-community-development-coordinator-salary-range-to-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6173940-229e62a6955cc146b66f62a980db83c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213672&Signature=kykowO1KATWAskxzpJ5tpkzGSwnDpN8Y0psseCMO0sGnjuQ~5ZZdSxL4Fu600eJ~YD865KBvbP0xxhOO1gd7-9YrZlefOlu~u8zmQ1QaBH4exRCYqIEFTENUarbA3AoFdPIFxOD1dCjkubupAPfCrgQhewssjDCkCzkCj85jhtWf8fW01V9m0IBsAgmOGyYBte5L82zhaTzLLV6AQI6iMdMb9F4k107aSi0oCPu0~xg-g06yokCrO0swb9KVDuQJbTVb2kDvYPJK~chjFAJbuL3gQ8LaserfdYsJ64ddkblNloj4c4ciLAUmOll3XrZWSh3xpyk18DTDdELzsvlPoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The University Heights Finance Committee voted to refer a proposed salary range and job description for a Housing and Community Development Coordinator to the full council for consideration. Committee members moved and seconded referral of the packet that included a memo and job description from Finance Director Phil McFarren.

Committee members said the position and the salary band matter for staffing and for moving stalled initiatives in building and housing. “...what, about 75 to about 96,000 for the position,” Ms. Weiser said during discussion, referring to the salary-plus-benefits band included in the memo. Ms. Weiser added that she believed hiring the position would help resolve staffing shortages raised in the building and housing committee and allow several dormant initiatives to move forward.

The referral will send the job description and the salary recommendation prepared by McFarren to the next council meeting. Committee members asked whether the committee needed to return the salary matter to council with a specific range; the motion as recorded forwarded the memo from Mr. McFarren to council. The committee took a recorded voice vote on the referral motion; those present said “Aye.”

Committee members also asked operational questions about the software CitizenServe that the new hire would use. Javier, a staff member in attendance, said training is available from CitizenServe and that the department does not expect the successful applicant necessarily to already have experience with the program. “There is training offered with CitizenServe … it is not anticipated that the person we would hire would necessarily already have experience with the program,” Javier said.

Discussion-only items during the same agenda included clarifying whether the finance committee action alone would be sufficient or whether council approval was required for salary arrangements. A committee member summarized: “It wouldn't have to go back” to council for the salary arrangement, prompting the motion to formally refer the packet for council action.

Next steps: the referral sends the memo and job description to the full council for final consideration and possible adoption of the proposed salary band and job description. The committee did not set a recruitment timeline on the record at the meeting.

","The University Heights Finance Committee voted to refer a proposed salary range and job description for a Housing and Community Development Coordinator to the full city council for final action.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee discusses abatement and grass fines; majority favors keeping current approach

Committee debates equipment fund, ambulance billing and how to pay for big vehicle replacements

Finance Committee refers housing and community development coordinator salary range to council