Brooklyn City Council approves nuisance assessments, accepts $26,563 NOPEC grant and amends council rules; reappoints two members

On Jan. 27, 2025, the Brooklyn City Council voted to assess nuisance-abatement charges for two properties, accept a $26,563 Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC) Energized Community Grant for street lighting, adopt amendments to council rules and confirm two reappointments to the Community Reinvestment Area Housing Council.

The actions came during the council's regular meeting at Brooklyn City Hall and were approved by roll call votes, with all council members voting in favor of the items recorded on the agenda.

The most consequential single vote was adoption of Resolution 2024-24, which authorizes the city to assess costs for abating nuisance conditions pursuant to Chapters 531 and 1357 of the codified ordinances of the city of Brooklyn. The resolution places charges for two abatement actions on the tax duplicate so the city may be reimbursed: $221.51 for a "Memorial Heights Cleanup" at 8251 Memphis Avenue (permanent parcel number 430-224-20) and $20,600 for the demolition of a fire-damaged house at 7506 Aira (permanent parcel number 430-3650). The resolution passed by voice/roll-call with all members voting yes.

Council also voted to accept a NOPEC Energized Community Grant of $26,563 to support a street-lighting project already included in the city's 2025 capital program. The ordinance authorizing acceptance of the grant was presented on first reading with a request to suspend the rules; council suspended the rules and then adopted the ordinance by unanimous roll call.

Separately, council amended and adopted minor changes to its rules of procedure (amendments described in legislation amending Section 121.01 and related rules). The changes include adding a council representative to the Connecting and Belonging Commission, updating the Domestic Relations Commission's name, and allowing the administration to send public notices digitally or electronically in addition to existing notice methods. Council suspended the rules to enact that ordinance the same evening; the motion passed unanimously.

Council confirmed two reappointments to the Community Reinvestment Area Housing Council for two-year terms: Kelly Csupek (reappointment) and Alice Miller. Both confirmations passed by unanimous vote.

Council also advanced Ordinance 2020-417, amending the planning and zoning code to regulate certain medical-marijuana and adult-use cannabis facilities. That ordinance is on second reading; a public hearing is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 25, prior to the council meeting. During the committee-of-the-whole discussion council approved amendments to the separate ordinance creating an ad hoc Brooklyn Youth Engagement and Succession Committee to expand the eligible age range to residents aged 14 through 19 at the time of appointment and to add language requiring the committee to set goals at its first meeting. The amendments to sections labeled C and D in the draft were adopted on a unanimous vote; the ordinance remains on second reading.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution 2024-24 (assess costs of abating nuisance conditions pursuant to Chapters 531 and 1357): adopted; charges of $221.51 (8251 Memphis Ave., parcel 430-224-20) and $20,600 (7506 Aira, parcel 430-3650) placed on tax duplicate. Vote: 7–0 (all present voted yes). - Ordinance accepting NOPEC 2025 Energized Community Grant ($26,563) for street lighting: rules suspended and ordinance adopted. Vote: 7–0. - Ordinance amending council rules (Section 121.01 / rules of council): rules suspended and ordinance adopted. Vote: 7–0. - Confirmation: Kelly Csupek to Community Reinvestment Area Housing Council, two-year term: confirmed. Vote: 7–0. - Confirmation: Alice Miller to Community Reinvestment Area Housing Council, two-year term: confirmed. Vote: 7–0. - Ordinance 2020-417 (amend planning and zoning code for certain marijuana/cannabis facilities): on second reading; public hearing scheduled Feb. 25. No final vote recorded this meeting. - Ordinance establishing ad hoc Brooklyn Youth Engagement and Succession Committee (amendments to expand age range to 14–19 and require goal-setting at first meeting): amendments to sections C and D adopted. Vote: 7–0.

Council President called for the roll and recorded the yes votes individually during each roll-call; the transcript records affirmative votes from Sue Grodick, Kathy Pucci, Andy Sellhertz, Matt Mosley, Aaron Borowski, Kevin Tanski and the presiding council president (all recorded as yes on the listed actions).