Council authorizes federal lobbying push for manhole-separation funding and park restrooms

University Heights City Council voted April 7 to renew lobbying services with L&E Group to pursue federal funding for two capital priorities: the city’s manhole separation project and restroom and electrical upgrades at Walter Stinson Community Park.

City staff said the lobbying work would seek inclusion of the manhole-separation project and the park-restroom/electrical upgrade in the next federal appropriations cycle. Staff said the city previously worked with Representative Chantal Brown’s office on a potential congressionally directed spending request (CDS) and that deadlines for senator-level requests (Senator Marino and Senator Husted were cited) were imminent; staff recommended immediate retention of L&E to have the projects considered in upcoming budget submissions.

“L&E is willing to lobby for University Heights for the following, to go back to Representative Brown to, again, advance the manhole separation project,” a city representative said at the meeting, and added the firm would also pursue inclusion of the park-restroom work in federal requests.

Council discussed the Walter Stinson restrooms at length. Council Member Weiser said the project’s scope and cost had changed since 2023; what had been described initially as a roughly $90,000 project was now presented as approximately $305,000 because the current plan expands the number of restrooms and upgrades electrical service to the band-gazebo area so generators would not be required for events. Staff confirmed the current proposal would provide year-round restrooms and included electrical upgrades.

Council approved the L&E contract by roll call. Staff said there is modest budgeted funding for lobbying in the current fiscal year (just over $23,000) and that L&E would be asked to act quickly to meet submission deadlines for federal representatives.