Council keeps first reading for joint St. Michael’s–city downtown parking lot project after debate on cost sharing and agreements

The Independence City Council on Oct. 14, 2025 accepted the title and left on first reading an ordinance to authorize a joint parking‑lot improvement project west of Brecksville Road for the city and St. Michael’s Church.

Don, a city staff presenter, said the project was bid after designing a combined city/church scope to clean up and regrade a tired municipal parking area and adjacent church property. He told council the engineer’s planning estimate had been $600,000 and the low bid from Protecta Co., Inc. was $617,199. The design includes demolition, earthwork, new paving, and landscaping to improve parking, stacking for funeral processions and school pickup, and “streetscape” appearance.

Jessica from economic development said the city views the project as a “stepping stone” to make the site shovel‑ready for potential redevelopment. She described the current lot as weathered and uneven and said leveling, drainage and resurfacing could attract developer interest.

Council members pressed staff for a clearer repayment and maintenance plan with the Cleveland Catholic Diocese, which owns a portion of the affected parcels. One council member proposed language requiring the diocese to commit to no less than one‑third of the total project cost on a repayment schedule; staff and other council members stressed the diocese’s internal review processes could be slow and that a legally binding agreement might take time to finalize. Several council members said they would be more comfortable moving forward only after a written reciprocal‑parking easement, a defined cost split and a maintenance and shared‑use agreement were drafted.

Don and other staff said the project was accelerated to meet late‑season paving windows; staff asked for the ability to award quickly if the legal agreements and cost allocations could be finalized. Father Matt of St. Michael’s attended and, through council discussion, indicated the church has been cooperative in the past but that diocesan approvals can be slow.

Councilman Day sought documentation before final approval, including percentage cost splits and an easement; other members asked staff to prepare a draft agreement and a clearer estimate of the city’s proportional cost (staff suggested site grading and demolition may lie disproportionately on certain parcels). The ordinance remained on first reading; council agreed to ask staff and the city law director to produce proposed easement and repayment language and to attempt to meet quickly if those documents could be prepared.

Key figures and points raised during the discussion: the low bid was $617,199 (Protecta Co., Inc.); the planning estimate was $600,000; the church had removed a building earlier and requested quick action for the paving season; staff estimated the site work was complicated by elevation changes and removal/disposal of material; council requested a maintenance agreement and a written reciprocal parking easement before final award.

The council did not vote to adopt the ordinance on Oct. 14; it remains on first reading pending follow‑up on agreements and cost allocation.