I believe Cleveland Heights is the best positioned suburb of greater Cleveland, with vast potential for growth and prosperity. Cleveland Heights is one of the most urban and diverse communities in all of greater Cleveland with a healthy mix of low, middle and upper class incomes. Our community possesses some of the most educated citizens from the medical, legal, scientific and academic industries that are driving northeast Ohio’s economy.

 

Given the close proximity to the medical and university settings at University Circle, two of Cleveland’s most promising economic engines, Cleveland Heights should be a destination community for residents, businesses and commercial development. Cleveland Heights must be actively working towards this goal and planning for a sustainable future driven by renewable energy, green principles and competitive housing stock. Our local government should act as a catalyst for capitalizing on our unique strengths and opportunities. Under my leadership, this will happen.

 

My plan for Cleveland Heights focuses on a variety of initiatives that will help to position our community as the premier choice for business and residential growth over the next ten years. This plan is deliberate and methodical with a prescribed approach to help build on the aspects that make Cleveland Heights a desirable community while also realizing the potential for 21st century advancement.

As your next Cleveland Heights City Council member I will:

 

Develop a Comprehensive Master Plan & Economic Development Strategy, which includes:

• Commercial Corridor Plans
• Transportation Hub Strategy
• Home Rehab & Modernization Programs
• Economic Development Partnerships

 

Launch a new Green City Initiative to make Cleveland Heights the most energy efficient, sustainable, green-driven community in Ohio by 2015, which includes:

• Green Building Codes
• Homeowner Energy Reduction Loan Program
• Rain Barrel & Water Conservation Program
• Updated Recycling Program
• Green Business Incubator

 

Explore new strategies for Efficient & Effective Government, which includes:

• Reviewing Current & Potential City Revenue Sources
• Develop Partnerships with Surrounding Cities for Shared Government Services
• Evaluate Current City Expenditures & Opportunities for Cost Reductions

 

Develop a new Educational Partnership & Investment Initiative, which includes:

• City Investment in Marketing CH-UH Schools
• Joint Schools-City Family Education Program
• Real Estate Industry Training & Marketing

 

As your elected leader, I will also dedicate my time to developing and passing a balanced city budget and addressing our diverse community with a special focus on seniors and children. Finally, I will be committed to ensuring the most effective police, fire and emergency management protection for the citizens of Cleveland Heights.

 

Cleveland Heights’ most pressing issue is the lack of a comprehensive master plan and economic development strategy. Ten years ago our community went through the process of crafting a vision report that described what Cleveland Heights aspired to be in terms of quality of life aspects. This report does not include an implementation strategy and is not specific in terms of resource allocation, strategic development focus and project prioritization. In addition, the report does not provide for specific development plans for the most important economic areas of the community, namely the major commercial thoroughfares of Mayfield Road, Cedar Road and Taylor Road.

Cleveland Heights does have a zoning ordinance that designates the approved land uses in the community. A zoning ordinance, while very important, is not a master plan and does not provide direction in crafting the future of land development and economic prosperity in the community.

 

Cleveland Heights must establish a straightforward and comprehensive master plan and economic strategy that is implementation ready. This plan should encompass the various residential neighborhoods and commercial corridors and prescribe the vision for physical and economic development. Benchmarks should be established to measure the plans success on a yearly basis and resource allocation for economic development should be directly tied to the plan’s action items. The comprehensive master plan and economic strategy should include some of the following innovative and new components.

• Commercial Corridor Plans – The plan must focus on developing strong commercial and business connections with the thousands of people who travel the Mayfield, Cedar and Taylor Road corridors daily. Subsequent development plans for commercial areas should build off of and branch from the success of the city’s most vital corridors. The commercial corridor plans should include a high tech zone and a partnership with the University Circle research institutions to attract new business and spin off development from the Mayfield Road area. Old and outdated office buildings along Mayfield Road should be provided loans, grants and tax incentives for modernization and redevelopment for the establishment of business incubators and desirable office space. Cedar Road should be a special focus of the master plan and economic strategy to ensure that the city is maximizing opportunities for commercial development. Taylor Road should be revamped and a reinvestment in this vital part of the community should be conducted to encourage business and community improvements.

• Transportation Hub Strategy – The plan must include a major investment in a 21st century transportation connection for Cleveland Heights and the surrounding communities. The transportation hub component should include a trolley or light rail system along Mayfield road connecting Cleveland Heights with downtown and the eastern suburbs. With the increasing costs of fossil fuels and the growing demand for better public transportation, Cleveland Heights is poised to be the premier transportation connection in northeast Ohio.

• Home Rehab & Modernization Programs – To compete in today’s economy, the housing stock of Cleveland Heights must be more efficient and investment ready. This will require a major dedication by government to ensure that the housing stock is given the necessary attention to rehabilitation and modernization. Cleveland Heights housing is some of the most historic and visually stimulating in all of greater Cleveland. However, this housing is outdated, energy inefficient and lacks many of the modern amenities that newer suburban housing provides. Cleveland Heights master plan and economic strategy must include new programs that provide incentives for existing residents to rehabilitate and upgrade their homes while preserving our heritage. These should be in the form of tax rebates for qualified investments and resources for helping make Heights homes competitive.

• Economic Development Partnerships – Cleveland Heights is poised to be a leader in a new-economy economic development model by creating a substantive and legal partnership with the surrounding communities that encourages economic growth and cooperation within all communities. This should include joint development districts with Shaker Heights, University Heights, East Cleveland and University Circle. These districts should reduce repetitive and duplicative services and lead to the establishment of a joint economic development initiative for supporting economic development throughout the first suburbs communities.

 

 

Cleveland Heights’ unique position in northeast Ohio provides for unmatched opportunity for green-principled development, sustainable investment and a major investment in renewable energy. Under my leadership, I will launch the Cleveland Heights Green City Initiative to make our community the most energy-efficient, sustainable, green-driven community in Ohio by 2015. This includes working towards the goal of converting all city owned facilities to renewable, off the grid, energy sources. By achieving these goals, Cleveland Heights can position itself as a competitive, energy-efficient, sustainable community for economic development, real estate and community growth. My vision for a green city initiative includes:

• Green Building Codes – Cleveland Heights should develop a complete Green Building Code for new structures and the retrofitting of current buildings to encourage alternative and renewable energy, sustainable building products and environmental conservation capabilities.

• Homeowner Energy Reduction Loan Program – A Cleveland Heights Homeowner Energy Reduction Loan Program should be created using state and federal resources, as well as partnering financial institutions, to provide loans to homeowners to reduce their home energy costs. The program would permit homeowners to install renewable energy generation systems such as geothermal, wind and solar products to reduce and/or eliminate fossil fuel home energy usage.

• Rain Barrel & Water Conservation Program –Cleveland Heights should establish a rain barrel and water conservation program for residential and business application. By implementing these efforts, Cleveland Heights can reduce wastewater runoff, decrease water homeowner water consumption and begin to minimize the environmental footprint of the community.

• Updated Recycling Program – Cleveland Heights has a proud history of supporting recycling efforts. However, many citizens and a large number of businesses do not recycle and Cleveland Heights’ program is due for a renewed approach. My goal is to build an effective and efficient community-wide recycling program that makes it easier for citizens and businesses to recycle.

• Green Business Incubator – Cleveland Heights should work with the surrounding green industries of northeast Ohio to develop the first Green Business Incubator to encourage new green-principled business development. This incubator will be a regional green business development center working with business in this industry to spin off commercial, industrial and other potential new technologies that address sustainable development.

 

Cleveland Heights is a financially conservative community with a sound budgeting philosophy. Given the changing economic climate and the need for Cleveland Heights to revitalize and invest in a modern economic development model, the city’s budgeting outlays should be examined to match priorities and social development with the financial abilities of the community. Under my leadership this effort will include:

• Reviewing Current & Potential City Revenue Sources – To ensure maximum effectiveness, Cleveland Heights must review the existing and potential revenue sources supporting city operations. This includes exploring opportunities for new revenues and adjusting current levels if necessary to maximize effectiveness and equitableness.

• Develop Partnerships with Surrounding Cities for Shared Government Services – I will push for Cleveland Heights to explore efficiencies in government such as partnering with surrounding communities on joint services such as economic development, fire, rescue, purchasing and planning.

• Evaluate Current City Expenditures & Opportunities for Cost Reductions – It is imperative that we evaluate the financial expenditures of Cleveland Heights government to determine alignment with priorities and appropriateness for the citizens of the community. This includes an examination of areas for potential cost reductions and management efficiencies.

 

 

Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools provide a quality educational experience for the young people of Cleveland Heights. CH-UH schools also face a variety of institutional, economic and social challenges that city government is poised to assist in addressing. My plan for Cleveland Heights includes the development of a new educational partnership and major investment in helping CH-UH schools meet their full potential while growing the educational attainment of our citizens. Under my leadership this effort will include:

• City Investment in Marketing CH-UH Schools – Cleveland Heights should provide funds on an annual basis to support marketing the effectiveness and strengths of the school system including specific marketing efforts to address the varying stages of education.

• Joint Schools-City Family Education Program – Cleveland Heights should support programs that educate existing families about the strengths of CH-UH schools and encourage more people to enroll their children in the public school system.

• Real Estate Industry Training & Marketing – Cleveland Heights should conduct workshops and educational events to update realtors on the strengths of CH-UH schools and provide marketing materials to real estate agencies for prospective and new homebuyers

Cleveland Heights is served by some of the most dedicated and committed police, fire and emergency management professionals in Northeast Ohio. Our community’s low crime rate and efficient fire service response system are indicators of this quality service. Under my leadership I will be dedicated to ensuring a continued high level of service for all of the citizens of Cleveland Heights. I will also work to increase these critical services and explore opportunities for expanded partnerships and capacity building in the area of police, fire and emergency management services.

 

 

A balanced budget will be one of my top priorities as an elected city council member. Cleveland Heights operates an efficient and effective unit of government and I will be dedicated to ensuring the development and passage of a balanced, fair, equitable and priority driven budget for all of the citizens of Cleveland Heights.