Strongsville council adopts stormwater rules, approves public-safety equipment contract and multiple street-maintenance bids

Strongsville City Council on Feb. 18 approved a package of ordinances and resolutions affecting stormwater rules, public-safety equipment procurement and routine street-maintenance contracts, and filed conditional objections to two pending liquor-permit applications. Council voted unanimously on each measure.

Council members suspended the rules and adopted two stormwater-related ordinances that amend the city code to update prohibitions on certain discharges and to revise stormwater management design criteria. Council also voted to place a separate planning-related ordinance (amending the composition of the Architectural Review Board) on third reading and set a public hearing for April 7.

In routine service-department business the council authorized the mayor to advertise for bids for ready-mixed concrete and to advertise for bids for paint striping and street-sweeping services for 2025–2026. Each of those resolutions was approved unanimously after motions to suspend the rules and adopt.

On public safety the council approved a contract with Utility Associates Inc. to replace obsolete body-worn cameras, in-car video systems and related software and equipment without public bidding under a state-term exception; the administration reported the cost at about $110,000 per year for five years. Council also approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to file an application for financial assistance through the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s EMS Priority 1 and supplemental grant program; the amount of any award was not specified in the meeting.

During the communications portion the council moved and approved conditional objections to two liquor-permit applications (BDB Other States LLC d/b/a Buka De Pepo at 16677 South Park Center and Ohio Springs Inc. d/b/a A Sheets convenience store at 9037 Pearl Road). Both conditional objections were based on the applicants’ lack of compliance with the city’s building, health and safety codes, with the clerk instructed to withdraw the objection if the building department later confirms compliance.

Why it matters: The stormwater code changes were presented as updates to keep the city in compliance with state requirements; the equipment contract replaces obsolete police recording systems and binds the city to a multiyear cost estimate; the concrete, striping and sweeping procurements set the city’s vendor process for routine infrastructure maintenance in 2025–26. The conditional objections mean the liquor-permit applications will be contested in Columbus unless the applicants resolve the cited code issues.

Votes at a glance (selected adopted measures): - Ordinance 2025015 — Amendments to stormwater prohibitions (suspend and adopt). Motion: moved by Councilman Carbone; seconded by Councilman Kaminski. Vote: unanimous (8–0). Outcome: approved. - Ordinance 2025016 — Stormwater management design criteria (suspend and adopt). Motion: moved by Councilman Carbone; seconded by Councilman Kaminski. Vote: unanimous (8–0). Outcome: approved. - Resolution 202517 — Advertise for bids for ready-mixed concrete (suspend and adopt). Motion: moved by Councilman Carbone; seconded by Councilman Kaminski. Vote: unanimous (8–0). Outcome: approved. - Resolution 202518 — Paint striping of streets and highways for 2025–2026 (suspend and adopt). Motion: moved by Councilman Carbone; seconded by Councilman Kaminski. Vote: unanimous (8–0). Outcome: approved. - Resolution 202519 — Street sweeping for 2025–2026 (suspend and adopt). Motion: moved by Councilman Carbone; seconded by Councilman Kaminski. Vote: unanimous (8–0). Outcome: approved. - Ordinance 2025020 — Contract with Utility Associates Inc. for body-worn cameras and in-car video equipment (suspend and adopt; procurement without public bidding). Motion: moved by Councilman Carbone; seconded by Councilman Kaminski. Vote: unanimous (8–0). Outcome: approved. Administration reported approximately $110,000 per year for five years (amount reported during committee remarks; award/contract documents not in the record). - Ordinance 2025021 — Authorize filing application for EMS Priority 1 and supplemental grant (suspend and adopt). Motion: moved by Councilman Carbone; seconded by Councilman Kaminski. Vote: unanimous (8–0). Outcome: approved. Award amount: not specified. - Ordinance 2025011 — Amendment to composition of the Architectural Review Board (placed on third reading; public hearing set for April 7, 2025). No final vote taken. - Conditional objection — BDB Other States LLC d/b/a Buka De Pepo (liquor-permit application). Motion: moved by Councilman Carbone; seconded by Councilman Kaminski. Vote: unanimous (8–0). Clerk instructed to withdraw the objection if building-department compliance is confirmed. - Conditional objection — Ohio Springs Inc. d/b/a A Sheets convenience store (liquor-permit application). Motion: moved by Councilman Carbone; seconded by Councilman Kaminski. Vote: unanimous (8–0). Clerk instructed to withdraw the objection if building-department compliance is confirmed.

Council attendance and process notes: Council members present for roll call and recorded votes included Council President Short, Councilmen Carbone, Kaminski, Clark, Spring and Councilwomen Kozak, Roff and Kosick. Finance Director Dean certified funds were available for items requiring certification; Law Director Jamieson said all ordinances and resolutions were in proper legal form. Several measures were adopted under motions to suspend the rules and declare an emergency, and roll-call tallies in the record show unanimous approval on each adopted measure.

What’s next: The Architectural Review Board amendment will have a public hearing April 7; permit objections will remain conditional until the building department reviews applicants’ compliance.