University Heights council adopts budget adjustments, emergency temporary appropriations, cybersecurity policy and multiple contracts; proclamations honor three

The University Heights City Council approved a package of year-end measures at its final meeting of 2025, including appropriation adjustments for 2025, a temporary budget for early 2026, adoption of a cybersecurity policy required under Ohio House Bill 96, and renewals or extensions of several city contracts.

Council moved to adopt Ordinance 25-53, finalizing appropriation adjustments for expenditures covering the 2025 period. The council then approved Ordinance 2025-55 on an emergency basis to authorize temporary appropriations for Jan. 1–March 31, 2026, a step the finance committee said was needed for timely county filings and which will return to the new finance chair for review in January.

The council approved renewal of the city’s engineering services agreement with Mannequin Smith Group Inc.; council members noted the contract includes a 2% rate increase tied to union adjustments. Council also approved a contract extension with Knowles Municipal Forestry for tree maintenance, authorizing a $5-per-hour increase to $75 per hour with a $20,000 annual cap and an optional extension through 2031.

On policy, the council adopted a city cybersecurity policy required by Ohio HB 96 and Ohio Revised Code section 9.64. The law director said the adopted document satisfies the year-end statutory requirement and that staff will develop a fuller implementation program and employee training in 2026.

Other measures approved or referred included: - A resolution authorizing the mayor to enter an MOU with the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District for stormwater management services; councilmembers referred the MOU to the Service & Utilities Committee for a staff presentation and agreed the cost cited (~$23,000) would be discussed in committee. - A resolution authorizing a 2026 transportation services contract with Senior Transportation Connection to provide rides for seniors and ADA-certified riders; members clarified per-trip and group-rate pricing in the contract language.

Votes at a glance (actions recorded at the meeting): - Minutes approval: adopted by roll call (ayes recorded). (See roll call entries in the record.) - Proclamations recognizing Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan, Councilperson Christopher Cooney and Vice Mayor Michelle Weiss: each adopted by roll call. - Motion reappointing law director (temporary): approved by roll call. - Ordinance 25-53 (appropriation adjustments): adopted (second reading) by roll call. - Ordinance 2025-55 (temporary appropriations Jan–Mar 2026): adopted on emergency by roll call. - Renewal of engineering services agreement: adopted (emergency suspension and passage on roll call). - Ordinance 2025-51 (fire-code third-party testing) and related items: discussed and approved (see separate coverage on testing costs and business concerns). - Cybersecurity policy (compliance with HB 96): adopted by roll call. - MOU with Cuyahoga Soil & Water: referred to Service & Utilities Committee for presentation. - Transportation services contract (Senior Transportation Connection): adopted by roll call. - Arborist contract extension (Knowles Municipal Forestry): adopted by roll call.

Council also adopted proclamations honoring outgoing officials. The proclamations, moved by Vice Mayor Weiser and seconded on the floor, recognized the service of the mayor and two council members and were entered into the record.

Next steps: budget-related items will be revisited by the new finance committee chair in January; the stormwater MOU will be scheduled for a Service & Utilities meeting and returned to council with committee recommendations.