Bay Village mayor delivers state-of-the-city speech – cleveland.com

BAY VILLAGE, Ohio -- Mayor Paul Koomar addressed residents in his 2020 State of the City speech at the Dwyer Senior Center Feb. 26. He introduced his message by citing city visions from the master plan:

Keeping a commitment to space

Continuing dedication to quality parks, recreation and Lake Erie

Diversifying housing options

Establishing a pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly community

Creating a more vibrant village center

Maintaining and greening city Infrastructure

Building community

The elements of the vision statement from the master plan are echoed in most aspects by the public hearings currently being held to solicit resident opinions on the overlay zoning effort to establish more businesses and housing options in the city.

The citys annual operating budget, Koomar said, is $33 million for all funds, with a general operating fund of $13.2 million. He noted that the city has secured more than $560,000 in external funding through grants.

Employee numbers total 108 full-time staff, 63 part-time workers and 193 seasonal employees.

Here are reports from various city departments:

Finance Department

The finance department reports excellent financial conditions that include:

Property tax collection up 16 percent due to re-evaluations

Total revenue increase of 10 percent

Expenses increase of 6 percent

Bond rating of Aa1

The Finance Department has received the Ohio Auditor of State Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the past six years.

Human Resources Department

The human resources department has hired a Building Department inspector and two assistants to the director; a community services manager and over-60 coordinator; a police officer, two dispatchers and two school crossing guards; four new hires for the Service Department, as well as several promotions; a receptionist for the Finance Department; and a registered dietitian to work with the nurse practitioner in the Wellness Incentive Program.

Workers Compensation Department

The department noted that only one day of work was missed in 2019 due to an on-the-job injury.

Community Services Department

A total of 686 individuals participated in various Community Services programs, which is a 27 percent increase. There were 8,836 visits -- a 10 percent increase.

In 2019, 19 tons of produce was distributed to 1,700 people -- a 22 percent increase. About 150 seniors receive fresh monthly produce at no cost.

Meals on Wheels are now supplied through the Meals on Wheels program.

The BV60+ program had the highest number attending events, averaging 25 to 30.

Senior Center

New activities introduced in 2019 at the senior center include Music Box CLE interesting speakers, a progressive dinner at area restaurants, Yappy Hour with dogs, evening cruises and kayaking.

A new initiative -- Aging in Place -- focuses on housing options and services that help senior residents stay in their homes. Committees have been formed on housing, transportation, home repair/handyman services, snow removal/lawn care and senior companions.

Police Department

The Police Department now has 24 officers, four dispatchers, two clerks, one animal control officer, two jailers, one maintenance worker, 221 auxiliary officers and 14 school guards. A full-time School Resource Officer will be financed jointly by the schools and the city.

Officers completed 4,010 hours of combined training in 2019, service calls totaled 14,463 and crisis response and safety training was completed for all employees.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture culled 25 whitetail deer on public property.

Fire Department

The Fire Department has 24 firefighters/paramedics who responded to 1,565 calls -- 21 of them structure fire calls -- representing a 5 percent increase in call volume over the departments 10-year average.

A demo model ladder truck at $200,000 replaced the 1996 model, providing the city with a 30 percent savings.

Service Department

The Service Department (sewers, streets, parks, city vehicles, plowing, bridges, culverts, parks, cemetery and more) has a staff of 40 full-time, three part-time and five to 12 seasonal employees. The departments annual budget is $8.4 million.

Building Department

The Building Department completed permits, construction and inspections totaling almost $28 million.

Heritage Home and H.E.L.P. Loans were made available for technical assistance for improvements for homeowners totaling over $3 million; more than $696,000 was invested through the program.

Recreation Department

The Recreation Department had six new programs, with registrations of all programs totaling more than 2,000. More than 2,400 pool memberships were sold for the aquatic center, which averaged 800 visits a day.

2020 City initiatives will include:

Cahoon basin trail construction

Master plan for development of the lakefront in Cahoon Park

New library construction

Sunset area improvements -- infrastructure and roads

New accounting software system

Playground equipment in Bradley Road Park -- Phase 2

Note: The yearly information session for residents loans within the Heritage Home and H.E.L.P. Loans will be held at 6:30 p.m., Monday, April 6, in city council chambers at City Hall, 350 Dover Center Road. For more information, call 440-871-2200.

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Bay Village mayor delivers state-of-the-city speech - cleveland.com