Euclid City Council approves committee reassignments, union contract, vehicle purchase and 2025 pavement marking bid

The Euclid City Council on Tuesday approved several administrative and operational measures, adopting an amended ordinance that reassigns council committee seats and adds two council members to the Community Improvement Corporation; backing a state program designating Euclid an official "America 250 Ohio" semi‑quincentennial community; ratifying a collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local 436 for Parks and Recreation, Maintenance and Animal Control employees; authorizing purchase of six Dodge Durango police interceptor utility vehicles; and authorizing the city to advertise bids for the 2025 lane‑lining and pavement‑marking program.

The amended ordinance changing council committee assignments and adding two council members to the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) passed on a roll call vote. Law Director Cooney described the amendment as a reallocation of committee seats following the resignation of the former council president and said the measure also fills two CIC vacancies. Council members Greg Cosgrove and (Councilperson) Hanham volunteered to serve on the CIC and were added by amendment before the ordinance passed.

Council also unanimously approved Resolution 9‑25 to designate Euclid as an official America 250 Ohio community. The resolution authorizes the mayor or her designee to apply for the designation; Community Development Manager Ed Chenak was named as the city liaison for local planning tied to the statewide observance of the U.S. semi‑quincentennial in 2026.

On labor, the council approved Resolution 10‑25 ratifying an agreement with Teamsters Local 436 covering Parks and Recreation, maintenance, and animal control employees for Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2026. According to the staff summary read into the record, the contract provides a 4% wage increase in 2024 and 3% increases in both 2025 and 2026, adds Juneteenth and additional personal days as holidays, increases longevity/continuous service payments, and includes a 50¢‑per‑hour license premium for employees certified to operate the bucket truck.

The council authorized Ordinance 11‑25 to purchase six 2024 Dodge Durango police interceptor utility vehicles from Lancaster Acquisition LLC (Hugh White Chevrolet) in an amount not to exceed $293,550. Director of Public Service Knecht told the council the city has faced difficulty procuring police vehicles statewide and that the six Durangos were those the city was able to secure for frontline service this year.

The council also passed Emergency Ordinance 12‑25, authorizing the director of public service to advertise for bids and enter into a contract for labor and materials for the 2025 lane‑lining and pavement‑marking program. Director Knecht said the program covers most of the city’s annual pavement markings and that the specifications this year call for standard markings rather than a more reflective (and more expensive) paint product.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 8‑25 (amended): "An emergency ordinance amending ordinance number 1‑20‑24, establishing new council committees for the 01/01/2024 through 12/31/2025 term" — Motion to begin discussion by Councilman Tanner, seconded by Councilperson Hanham; amendment added Councilpersons Cosgrove and Hanham to the Community Improvement Corporation; final roll call recorded seven "Yes" votes; outcome: approved (amended). - Resolution 9‑25: "A resolution supporting the Ohio Commission for the United States Semi‑Quincentennial (America 250 Ohio) and authorizing the mayor to apply" — mover/second not specified in record; final roll call recorded seven "Yes" votes; outcome: approved. - Resolution 10‑25: "Authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with Teamsters Local 436 as exclusive bargaining agent for Parks and Recreation, Maintenance, and Animal Control employees (01/01/2024–12/31/2026)" — motion by (reported) Councilperson Hennam, second by Gresham; final roll call recorded seven "Yes" votes; outcome: approved. Key contract terms read into the record: 4% (2024), 3% (2025), 3% (2026) wage increases; added Juneteenth and personal days; 50¢/hour bucket‑truck license premium; increased longevity payments. - Ordinance 11‑25: "Authorize purchase of six 2024 Dodge Durango police interceptor utility vehicles from Lancaster Acquisition LLC (Hugh White Chevrolet) for an amount not to exceed $293,550" — motion by Tilton, seconded by Hanham; final roll call recorded seven "Yes" votes; outcome: approved. - Ordinance 12‑25 (Emergency): "Authorize advertisement for bids and award of contract for 2025 lane lining and pavement marking program" — motion by Tilton, seconded by Hanham; final roll call recorded seven "Yes" votes; outcome: approved.

Discussion vs. decisions - Discussion only: Council and staff discussed statewide shortages of police vehicle allocations and the relative cost and durability of higher‑reflectivity paint for pavement markings; these were presented as operational context and did not change the ordinances before the council. - Direction: The council named Community Development Manager Ed Chenak as the city liaison for the America 250 Ohio designation and indicated interest in a local steering group involving the Historical Society and former Mayor Paul Ohljasky to plan local commemoration events. - Formal action: All items listed above were enacted by the council as recorded.

Context and next steps Several items now move to implementation by city departments: the Public Service director will advertise and procure pavement marking work and proceed with the vehicle purchase; the mayor’s office will file the America 250 Ohio designation application; and personnel/payroll will implement the Teamsters contract provisions. The Indian Hills clinic project discussed during public comment was not on this agenda and is scheduled to appear on the Feb. 3 council agenda.

Ending The council completed its listed agenda and moved to member comments and community announcements after the votes.