Parma Heights Council approves emergency measures to pursue CDBG funds, resurfacing, park repairs and a police dog

Parma Heights City Council unanimously approved a slate of emergency resolutions and ordinances at a special meeting on July 8, 2025, authorizing grant applications and procurement steps for road, park and public-safety projects.

Council President Tom Rounds opened the meeting at 5:15 p.m., and Clerk Barbara Allen called the roll. None of the measures drew substantive debate; councilmembers used procedural motions to suspend the rules and moved each item to an immediate final vote, with all members voting aye on each roll call.

Why it matters: the measures begin administrative steps that would bring outside grant money and contractor work to Parma Heights. Applications to the Cuyahoga County Department of Housing and Community Development could provide Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for local projects; authorizations to prepare plans and advertise for bids allow the city to move into the procurement phase for street resurfacing and park improvements.

Votes at a glance: - RESOLUTION NO. 2025-49 — Authorizes the administration to submit an application for the Cuyahoga County Department of Housing and Community Development 2026 Community Development Block Grant program. Moved by Councilman Kolezynski; seconded by Councilwoman DeSouza. Vote: Aye — Maruschak, Vanek, Palmisano, DeSouza, Kolezynski, Durichko, Rounds. Outcome: approved under emergency. - RESOLUTION NO. 2025-50 — Authorizes Bowen + Associates, Inc., municipal engineer, to prepare plans, specifications and cost estimates for the Mandalay Drive resurfacing project. Moved by Councilwoman DeSouza; seconded by Councilwoman Maruschak. Vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved under emergency. - ORDINANCE NO. 2025-51 — Authorizes expenditure and directs the Director of Public Service to advertise for competitive bids for the Mandalay Drive resurfacing project and authorizes entering a contract with the lowest and best bidder. Moved by Councilman Vanek; seconded by Councilwoman DeSouza. Vote: unanimous. Outcome: adopted under emergency. - RESOLUTION NO. 2025-52 — Authorizes the administration to submit an application for the Cuyahoga County 2026 Community Development Supplemental Grant program. Moved by Councilwoman Palmisano; seconded by Councilwoman DeSouza. Vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved under emergency. - RESOLUTION NO. 2025-53 — Authorizes Bowen + Associates, Inc., to prepare plans, specifications and cost estimates for the Greenbrier Commons pickleball court replacement project. Moved by Councilwoman Maruschak; seconded by Councilwoman DeSouza. Vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved under emergency. - ORDINANCE NO. 2025-54 — Authorizes expenditure and directs advertising for competitive bids for the Greenbrier Commons pickleball court replacement project, and to enter a contract with the lowest and best bidder. Moved by Councilwoman Durichko; seconded by Councilwoman DeSouza. Vote: unanimous. Outcome: adopted under emergency. - ORDINANCE NO. 2025-55 — Authorizes the administration to enter into a contract for sale and purchase of a police dog. Moved by Councilman Vanek; seconded by Councilwoman Maruschak. Vote: unanimous. Outcome: adopted under emergency. (Purchase price and vendor details: not specified in the minutes.) - RESOLUTION NO. 2025-56 — Authorizes the administration to expend funds to Wichert Insurance to secure coverage for the City of Parma Heights from Selective Insurance Companies, CNA Insurance Group, Hanover Insurance Group and Lloyds. Moved by Councilman Kolezynski; seconded by Councilwoman DeSouza. Vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved under emergency. (Dollar amounts not specified.)

Procedural note: every ordinance and resolution on the agenda was introduced as a first reading and then acted on immediately under an emergency declaration after motions to suspend the rules; the council took no recorded substantive debate on the items. The meeting adjourned at 5:24 p.m.

What comes next: the administration may submit the listed grant applications to Cuyahoga County and proceed with engineering, plan development and advertising for bids on the Mandalay Drive and Greenbrier Commons projects. Any awarded contracts or grant awards will return to council or city administration according to the city’s procurement and grant-acceptance procedures.