Council adopts comprehensive plan and approves application for NOACA TLCI planning funding

Monroe on the Lake City Council on Sept. 23 adopted the city’s 2025 comprehensive plan (Resolution 2025-R-35) and separately authorized the mayor and administrative director to apply to the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) for Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative (TLCI) planning funds (Resolution 2025-R-34).

Council members praised the comprehensive plan as a multi-year effort with extensive public engagement that will help guide grant applications and project prioritization. Councilmember(s) and staff said the plan increases the city’s competitiveness for grants by articulating priorities and project goals.

Councilwoman Wong asked that the plan receive a second reading so the public would have another formal opportunity to comment; other council members said adopting the plan now would strengthen a pending TLCI planning application with a fast-approaching Oct. 10 deadline. After debate, the council voted to suspend the rules and pass both resolutions during the Sept. 23 meeting.

On the TLCI application, staff described the program as a planning grant designed to coordinate crosswalks, bike lanes and other multimodal connections; the council noted that NOACA grants are competitive and that Lake County entities received only two of 49 recent awards. The administration said the TLCI planning grants commonly require a 25% local match and that the application would be for planning rather than implementation. Council members said they would reference the adopted comprehensive plan in the application to strengthen the city’s submission.

Both resolutions passed by roll call. The records show council votes in favor after suspension of the rules; the clerk’s minutes will provide the official certified roll-call record and the adopted plan will be posted on the city website.