TWINSBURG – After a public hearing March 14, City Council amended chapters of the codified ordinances dealing with the colors of vinyl fencing and the length of time temporary signs can be displayed.
Chapter 1164 will now read that all vinyl-clad chain-link and other vinyl fencing must be white, black, dark brown or dark green, while wood fences and/or simulated wood fencing must be white, natural or earth tones.
It also will read that permanent fences enclosing a swimming pool must be at least 48 inches high.
Other stipulations are that fencing must have openings to allow for the movement of light and air between boards, and a combination split-rail and mesh fence is permitted only in rear yards. The mesh on the latter must be vinyl-clad 9-gauge wire with 2- to 4-inch openings.
It was noted the change will clarify the intent to prohibit white chain-link fences and allow for white vinyl picket, shadow box and other fence types normally manufactured white in color.
Meanwhile, Chapter 1173 now will allow temporary signs in residential, mixed use and PUD zoning districts to be displayed up to 40 days without a permit. That length was changed from the previous 60 days.
Amendments to Chapters 125 and 925 regarding parks and recreation regulations/fees also were adopted. One change is that all use charges made by the parks/rec department for the fitness center and water park must first be adopted by council.
Other changes will give the parks/rec director the authority to waive requirements for building and facility uses by nonprofit organizations, and to charge private and closed membership groups at comparable commercial rates.
Council approved the 2023 permanent appropriations, which total $48.74 million ($30.12 million in the general fund). Compared to the 2023 temporary appropriations approved in December, those figures are up from $45.98 million in all funds and $28.86 million in the general fund.
The city must turn the budget in to the Summit County fiscal office by March 31.
Also approved are amendments to the salary ordinance. They would allow part-time seasonal employees to work up to 125 hours per month, change titles of some positions and establish new pay ranges for some employees.
Authorization was given for the city to join the Community University Education Purchasing Council of Governments, which is a reorganization of the former Community University Education Purchasing Cooperative. Its purpose is to lower costs by joining other governmental entities through pooled purchasing and competitive bidding.
Council appointed or reappointed a number of residents to various boards and commissions. The list is as follows:
Architectural review board – Valerie Wales, Gurismran Khatra and David Marcovitz; board of zoning appeals – Shannan Leonard and Ed Kancler; capital improvements – Shelley Shipley, John Blust, Sharyn Price, Maureen Stauffer and Chiren Patel; environmental – Susan Metzel, Jonah Pichette, Virginia Schmidt and Michael Walton.
Planning commission – Ed Hoegler, Marc Cohen and Steve Shebeck; Parks and recreation – Tom Weirich, Deb Petze and Charles Adya; and charter review – Tom Barni, Angelo Carciopollo, Shaun Castillo, Chris Feldman, Adam Gockowski, Mark Little, Courtney Ross, Dwayne Smith and Sheila Williams.
Legislation advancing to the March 28 meeting would require a 3% convenience fee to be charged when paying city fees by credit card, accept a 2023 Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council energized community grant of $29,085 and amend chapters of the codified ordinances regarding trees and driveway construction standards.
The section regarding trees eliminates language pertaining to duties of the tree board, which was disbanded several years ago, and designates the city administration as the authority to update and present the master tree plan to council for approval.
The section devoted to driveway construction establishes new widths for residential access drives and aprons.
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