Northeast Ohio Regionalism Thread

[E Rocc]

From the Bedford Times Register

November 1, 2007
by Emily Canning-Dean
Reporter
If Walton Hills decides to accept fire service from Bedford and Maple Heights, the two cities are prepared.

At a special meeting Oct. 29, Bedford Council approved legislation to enter into a fire and rescue service agreement with Maple Heights.

Maple Heights Council approved the same legislation Oct. 17.

The first part of the legislation finalized the details of the two cities
splitting the responsibilities of fire and rescue service for Walton Hills in case the village decides to make the two cities its fire service provider.

Bedford Fire Chief Dave Nagy said Maple Heights would first be reimbursed by the village for dispatch
and fire inspector service. After that is paid, the cities would be paid equally for service.

Officials from Oakwood, which along with Maple Heights has provided
Walton Hills with fire service for the last decade, also submitted a proposal to Walton Hills.

But even if Walton Hills decides against Bedford and Maple Heights for fire service, the new agreement means the two communities will join forces in other ways.

Under the agreement the two communities
will not be permitted to enter into fire or EMS agreements with any other communities without the agreement of the other party. The two cities also will share fire dispatch
responsibilities.

And Nagy said that, for example, Maple Heights might be the first to respond to a fire that is in Bedford, but near the Maple Heights line.

"This might sound clich, but with a fire, seconds count," Nagy said. "In the past, Maple Heights would always come if we requested them, but now they would be automatically dispatched to a fire like that."

Maple Heights Fire Chief James Castelucci said, "We are entering into this agreement to improve the quality of service we provide our communities."

Under the agreement, Castelucci said the two communities also would look at purchasing equipment together
or sharing existing equipment.

[cd-cleveland]

I was scanning the voting results and saw that Middleburg Heights and Brook Park voters approved a tri-city recreation district with Berea.  The vote of Berea City Council, I guess, meant that the decision wasn't put on the ballot there. 

It's encouraging to see some of NEO's residents acknowledging the cost savings in combining services.

[8ShadesofGray]

^ Berea approved the ballot measure in a previous ballot issue, I believe. Now all three partners have a voter mandate to roll.

[musky]

pd:

Chris Warren urges regionalism to stem decline
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Joe Guillen
Plain Dealer Reporter

Northeast Ohio must further embrace regionalism to escape its economic doldrums, and there are many dangling opportunities on which to capitalize, said Cleveland's chief of regional development in a speech at the City Club on Tuesday.

The speaker, Chris Warren, identified specific goals, such as hammering out a regional revenue-sharing program by the end of next year, and laid out broad plans to unify the region.

More at cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com

[oengus1963]

.

[Vulpster03]

There was some kind of editorial in Crain's about regionalism. Could someone post it?

[KJP]

BTW, the dolts at Cleveland.com are already hating this, saying Cleveland's financial problems will spread to other suburbs. First, Cleveland doesn't have a monopoly on budgetary constraints in Northeast Ohio. In fact, their situation is better than many suburbs. And, if anything, this regional governance proposal will help reduce the outward spread of financial, safety, economic and social problems farther and farther out from Cleveland's core.

[KJP]

Hello?? Is this thing on?? I'm so disappointed in you people. This regional compact has to be one of the most important developments affecting Northeast Ohio in decades and not a single comment, either praise or critique.

Why?

[Evergrey]

KJP:  Do you think that 16 counties is perhaps over-reaching?  I am a huge proponent of regionalism... but I fear that this may be too broad in geographic scope.  Perhaps a 7 county Cleveland/Akron tax base / land use district would be more appropriate.  I fear that far-flung rural areas could have too much power.

[X]

I'll get excited about it when I see something specific come out of it.  The details is where this sort of thing will break down.

[E Rocc]

BTW, the dolts at Cleveland.com are already hating this, saying Cleveland's financial problems will spread to other suburbs. First, Cleveland doesn't have a monopoly on budgetary constraints in Northeast Ohio. In fact, their situation is better than many suburbs. And, if anything, this regional governance proposal will help reduce the outward spread of financial, safety, economic and social problems farther and farther out from Cleveland's core.

Certainly there are suburbs with worse problems than Cleveland....but I suspect they are all inner ring.  Absorbing those problems is indeed a real concern, and the naysayers have a point:  the people that elected the leaders who brought about those problems would likely have more votes than those currently in better run towns.

There's really nothing to discuss here except a proposal without specifics and the size, which seems too big.  It seems that so farregionalism works best when it remains small.  The various deals between the suburbs in the old Bedford Township come to mind.   

[MayDay]

Hello?? Is this thing on?? I'm so disappointed in you people. This regional compact has to be one of the most important developments affecting Northeast Ohio in decades and not a single comment, either praise or critique.

Why?

Just like when I post a thread of what I think are some kick-@ss photos and it sinks to the bottom, I just figure people looked at it; said "cool"; and moved on. 

[Oldmanladyluck]

This news is indeed huge.  I guess the professors at Levin weren't allowed to speak on it... but I would assume that Dr. Keating would have been an advisor, among the many other individuals there who are schooled in urban studies.  We'll know more in May, but I'm definitely excited that the advisers were looking at the Minneapolis-St. Paul model, which is a region that is both doing well and is viewed as progressive.  GREAT NEWS!!!

[3231]

Absorbing those problems is indeed a real concern, and the naysayers have a point:  the people that elected the leaders who brought about those problems would likely have more votes than those currently in better run towns.

You are greatly oversimplifying the source of the problems. The economic problems of some cities are results of decades of bad decisions, market changes, unions, etc. To imply that the last mayor of city X is responsible for its problems is a very weak argument. I think that you are trying to manipulate the facts so that regionalism looks like a poor strategy.

[tcj1985]

KJP:  Do you think that 16 counties is perhaps over-reaching?  I am a huge proponent of regionalism... but I fear that this may be too broad in geographic scope.  Perhaps a 7 county Cleveland/Akron tax base / land use district would be more appropriate.  I fear that far-flung rural areas could have too much power.

Any idea as to which 16 counties will be included?  Will it include the Youngstown, Sandusky, or Mansfield areas?

[blinker12]

This really is fantastic. It may be "just more talking" at the moment, but at least it's the right people talking. I am particularly excited to hear they are talking about more than just tax-sharing, but also *land-use planning*, which has been completely absent in this region to date (at least since the advent of the automobile).
And no, I don't think it's overreaching to include all 16 counties. There are historic and economic ties that link us to Akron, Canton, Youngstown, etc.

[E Rocc]

Absorbing those problems is indeed a real concern, and the naysayers have a point:  the people that elected the leaders who brought about those problems would likely have more votes than those currently in better run towns.

You are greatly oversimplifying the source of the problems. The economic problems of some cities are results of decades of bad decisions, market changes, unions, etc. To imply that the last mayor of city X is responsible for its problems is a very weak argument. I think that you are trying to manipulate the facts so that regionalism looks like a poor strategy.

"The people who elected the leaders" covers several generations of more than just mayors.  But when the governing philosophy has been consistent, then it's understandable that those who do not share said philosophies would be unenthusiastic about being governed by those who do.

If regionalism takes hold, it will start with associations of similar suburbs, such as the First Suburbs Coalition (sic?), etc.

[blinker12]

This hasn't been posted yet? I'm surprised.

Local leaders look to future as partners
Friday, May 16, 2008
Jim Nichols
Plain Dealer Reporter
Independence - Local-government leaders in unprecedented numbers came together Thursday to endorse plans to share their local tax dollars and surrender some autonomy for the region's greater good.

The leaders - from aging major cities, suburban boomtowns and rural hamlets across 16 counties - endorsed radical "regionalism" plans emerging from the Northeast Ohio Mayors and City Managers Association.

More at cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com

[cd-cleveland]

There's another article in the Sun News about how Parma, Parma Heights, Brooklyn, Olmstead Falls,  Middleburg Heights, and Berea (I think) are not moving forward with the consolidation of fire services.  If someone (hint hint) can post a more complete version that isn't so jacked up, it would be well appreciated.
---

Fire district idea cools here
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Brooklyn Sun Journal

By Joe Noga jnoga@sunnews.com

BROOKLYN - Elected officials here say they are skeptical of plans for a regional fire district after proponents of the project were unable to provide specific information about the proposal.

[buckeye1]

Post edited 9-5-09 to comply with terms of use.

[jpop]

(From the Canton Repository:)

Mayors OK tax-sharing strategy

Friday, May 16, 2008
BY ED BALINT
REPOSITORY STAFF WRITER

INDEPENDENCE A group of Northeast Ohio mayors voted overwhelmingly Thursday to move forward with a plan that would dramatically change the way the region approaches economic development.

Initiated by the Northeast Ohio Mayors & City Managers Association, the effort promotes the sharing of new tax revenue on economic development throughout the region and better land-use planning. Creating jobs, growing the region's declining economy and reducing urban sprawl are among the goals of the Regional Economic Revenue Study, which includes 16 counties.

More at http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=412513

[audidave]

Akron and Summit County to get sleeker...

http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/28438709.html

Akron moves to transfer building unit

Council gets measure to merge it with Summit County agency

By Carl Chancellor
Beacon Journal staff writer

Published on Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008

Akron took the first official steps Monday to shut down its building department.  Rick Merolla, the Akron service director, presented legislation at a committee meeting before Monday night's City Council session that would allow the city to transfer its building inspection, plan review, permit issuance and code enforcement operations to Summit County.
CHOPPED

[jpop]

Economic Support Group Offers Collaboration Cash
Posted Thursday, February 19, 2009
http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/25073/

A regional economic booster has unveiled a program offering money to local governments that come up with innovative ways to collaborate with each other. As ideastream's Rick Jackson reports - getting the cash is going to take some work.

Three grants totaling 300 thousand dollars will be awarded from the Fund For Our Economic Future’s “Efficient Gov Now” program, created to promote greater efficiency in government operations and city services.

To qualify for the cash, elected boards or councils must devise a specific program demonstrating an innovative new adaptation of governmental collaboration - one that could potentially be adopted by other cities, counties, or schools.

Judges from the Fund, which is supported by a coalition of area foundations, will choose finalists from among the applicants by May.

Those proposals will be presented to members of the public for a vote this summer on which actually deserve the money they could receive.

The Fund’s Chris Thompson was in Thursday’s meeting which introduced the concept to leadership groups.

He says there was a definite excitement about the proposition.

CHRIS THOMPSON:  “Elected officials are looking for ways to collaborate with each other, to change the way services are delivered - to make them more efficient. They like the fact that someone’s willing to put some money on the line; they are intrigued by the public having a say in the decision-making process.”

Kent State University’s Center for Public Administration will provide assistance to government leaders in developing their proposals. Other area schools will also participate.

Additional Information

http://www.futurefundneo.org/
http://www.kent.edu/cpapp/

[jpop]

Is ‘Consolidation’ a Dirty Word?
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Topics: Economy, Politics
Download MP3

A Cleveland Heights councilman's recent suggestion that his municipality consider merging with a neighboring burg met with raised eyebrows and some downright snarls. Lots of local leaders agree that merging municipalities is a non-starter...too many turf and jobs issues. But given the budgetary challenges facing our cities, should we re-think the unthinkable?

Additional Information
Beryl Rothschild Mayor, University Heights
Mark Rosentraub Professor, Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University
Chris Thompson Director of Marketing, Communications and Civic Outreach, Fund for Our Economic Future
Mark Tumeo Cleveland Heights Councilman

[327]

Would Cleveland Heights merge with University Heights?  Seems most logical since the schools are already together.  But in many ways Shaker is a better match.  An even better match would be Cleveland itself.

[jpop]

The mayor of University Heights sounds like an old coot.

[327]

The mayor of University Heights sounds like an old coot.

Can you elaborate on that?  It's hilarious as is, but I'd like to know more.

[jpop]

The mayor of University Heights sounds like an old coot.

Can you elaborate on that?  It's hilarious as is, but I'd like to know more.

LOL.

Maybe I just want regionalism to happen so badly that I'm having a hard time seeing her side of things. I mean, she does have good points, and she did say that she's open to collaboration, and possibly even merging together with another suburb other than Cleveland Heights. But, I dunno .. there was just something about her tone that sounded very stuck to an old way of doing things, instead of really being open to a real conversation. Maybe she is. Honestly, I don't know much about her, so it's unfair for me to say.

[327]

I can't listen to the mp3 till this evening.  What is her problem with Cleveland Heights?

[jpop]

Basically, she says that Cleveland Heights has essentially ignored them until now, and she's accusing them of wanting to merger to get enough people to be eligible for a CDC block grant. She also brought up concerns that they would lose their identity as a community because of this. There's more, but I can't remember. Honestly, it just all sounded like the storied "this is my land, and no one's gonna take it from my grubby fingers!" instead of seeing the greater good of the region. Clearly, not everyone sees regionalism as a good thing, and it's a very sticky situation.

But like I said, maybe that's just me .. so don't necessarily read too much into that last part.