Council members will host their biweekly work session in their Chambers at 2 p.m., followed by a voting session at 4 p.m.
Both meetings are open to the public and each has agenda opportunities for audience input.
The work session will feature an update on prior discussions of combining the Cleveland Municipal Planning Commission with the Bradley County Regional Planning Commission. In a recent work session, the Bradley County Commission didn’t show an interest in merging the two planning operations, but pointed to the advantages of moving the groups into one location.
This one-stop-shop type of arrangement would be beneficial to Cleveland and Bradley County residents and contractors in obtaining permits. Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland touched on the arrangement as recently as election night Thursday when he suggested merging the two planning departments is a legitimate goal.
The planning department update is scheduled to be delivered by Tom Cate.
Information packets for Monday’s meetings also include a variety of staff project updates such as a parking issue along Robin Hood Drive and complaints of speeding motorists on Shenandoah Drive. The packaged reports also indicate city staff has sent accident data to the Tennessee Department of Transportation regarding downtown hazards at the Ocoee, Broad and 8th street junction, which includes a treacherous crossover for 8th Street motorists.
Two weeks ago, City Councilman George Poe — in a written letter to the mayor because he was unable to attend the Monday meetings — went on record recommending the 8th Street crossover be shut down. Now that city accident data has been forwarded to TDOT, staff and state traffic engineers will work together to a possible solution.
The downtown issue arose more than a month ago when an Ocoee Street resident asked city leaders to address safety hazards which he blamed for vehicular accidents and near-misses.
Included in the city’s informational package which could potentially be addressed by Council members is an update from Greg Thomas, community development director, regarding the status of a Tree & Beautification Survey currently being coordinated through the city. The survey, which has already received 270 responses, can be taken through the following link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/clevelandbeautification.
At the late-afternoon voting session, City Council will hold a public hearing for public comments regarding a request by Dale Hughes to abandon a portion of public right-of-way on Paul Huff Parkway NW at Frontage Road.
The Council will also consider resolutions for changing the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) benefits for participating councils, commissioners and school board members. The Tennessee General Assembly recently enacted an optional minimum benefit increase that local governments may authorize at their discretion.
Other resolutions to be considered include amending a contract with CTI for engineering services for the East Street detention ponds and amending the lease with the Cleveland Emergency Shelter for property on Wildwood Avenue.
A change order request will be reviewed for continuing renovation and expansion work on the Northeast Recreation Center.
Several appointments and reappointments for municipal boards will also be considered, among them the Parks Advisory, Greenway and Airport Authority boards.
