Richmond Heights hears Starbridge recreation budget; council presses on restroom, vehicles and EV planning

At the Richmond Heights City Council committee of the whole on Oct. 28, 2025, Starbridge recreation director Cameron Campbell presented the department’s budget for 2026 and responded to council questions about capital projects, vehicle purchases and a potential transition to electric vehicles.

Councilmembers pressed Campbell for clarity on which items were included in the 2026 budget and which were future or “ask” items. A permanent outdoor restroom was discussed as a facility idea not included in the 2026 budget; speakers referenced a planning-level figure of about $100,000 for such a facility. Councilmembers said they wanted a clear notation in budget materials when items are requests rather than funded line items.

The council also questioned a listed $65,000 figure for a recreation pickup truck and asked staff to provide price comparisons between internal-combustion and electric vehicle models. Members discussed the possibility of installing EV chargers in city locations and asked which department would be responsible for charger ownership and maintenance. No decision or action on vehicle procurement or charger installation was recorded in the transcript excerpt.

Councilmembers asked for a consolidated budget document that shows departmental requests and the line items in one place to improve transparency; they asked whether the building maintenance fund would be treated as a recurring line item and how requests from different departments would be reflected in a single package. Police vehicle requests were mentioned as another item councilmembers wanted clarified.

The discussion was procedural and informational: staff were asked for further cost details, comparative vehicle pricing (gas vs. EV), and clearer labeling of request items versus budgeted items. No formal motions or votes on the recreation budget or the EV-related proposals were recorded in the provided transcript excerpt.

Ending: Council scheduled follow-up questions and requested additional materials for future meetings to resolve outstanding cost and responsibility questions for capital projects and fleet modernization.