Food Trucks by the Falls

The Jaycees plan to return to Triangle Park and North Franklin Street for Food Trucks by the Falls on September 28 from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. For the last few years this event has been held on the day of the Community Yard Sale, and the Parks Commission voted to recommend it again to Council which I will do on September 9th.

Strategic Plan Updates

Council’s Facilities & Services Committee is requesting money in the 2025 budget to hire a firm and conduct a community survey. Unlike in past years – when the budget is not prepared until after the new year – the administration has been asked to present the budget to council for approval before the holidays, so it can be approved and in effect on January first. I’m hoping that happens, so the process to select the firm that will conduct the survey can start early in the year and we have the results sooner.

We looked at an extension to the village contract with Kimble Recycling & Waste Disposal, a contract amendment to address cost increases to the Police and Fire Renovation project, and discussed plans to conduct a community-wide survey in 2025.

Short-Term Rentals

Council passed Ordinance 2024-38 by a vote of 6-1. This ordinance creates a requirement for anyone renting a room or entire home for less than 30 days to register annually with the village, and meet safety standards.

I didn’t vote for it because – as written – the process is opaque and complaint-driven. Registered Short-term Rental properties won’t be listed on the village website, so there will be no easy way for neighbors to know which properties are legal. Registrations are not required to be displayed on short-term rental platform listings, so renters will have no easy way of determining which properties are legal. I preferred an alternate version that includes additional Hosting Platform Accountability measures.

Park Events

The commission voted to recommend the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival request to use Triangle Park as in past years.

Geese in Riverside Park

…are still a problem. Rob says the village is looking into services to deal with them.

Ohio Historical Marker

We discussed again the possibility of a second Ohio Historical Marker (like the one by the popcorn shop) to be placed near the entrance to Riverside Park along the hardware store side. The topic would be New Deal projects in Chagrin Falls, like the wall on Grove Hill and the old Post Office. Anne will follow up with John at the Chagrin History Center to fill him in.

Architectural Board of Review Member Appointment

Ordinance 2024-32 was left on readings. This ordinance updates the code to reflect changes that were approved by voters in the March 2024 Primary Election. The change adds two additional voting members chosen by Council. Five people have applied, and applications are being accepted until July 31.

Short Term Rental Regulations

Ordinance 2024-38 was left on readings. This ordinance adds a new chapter to the code for the purpose of regulating short-term rentals by requiring registration with the village. I don’t think the rules are enforceable in their current form. I’ve asked the law director add Platform Accountability measures to ensure compliance and give the administration a way to de-list illegal short-term rentals.

Although I was the only member present I was joined by Council members Angie DeBernardo, Don Gutierrez, and Andrew Rockey, CAO Rob Jamieson, Chief of Police Amber Dacek, and Paul Ciupa and Aleksa Cyvas from CT Consultants (the village engineering firm).

I called this meeting to continue the work that we started at the end of 2023, when council submitted a list of Requests for CT Consultants. We asked for guidance regarding a variety of changes we could implement to make our downtown a safer and more welcoming place for pedestrians.