Council approves a slate of resolutions; Simmons Avenue improvement pushed to second reading after emergency clause fails

At the Feb. 12, 2024 regular meeting the Lincoln Heights Village Council considered and voted on multiple resolutions from the supplemental agenda.

Key outcomes:

- Resolution 2024‑R‑11 (appoint Charles Shockley to the Planning Commission) — passed after suspension of rules; roll‑call on passage recorded 5 ayes, 1 nay, 1 abstention.

- Resolution 2024‑R‑12 (appoint Michael Harris to the Planning Commission) — passed with suspension and emergency clause adopted; passage recorded with majority support.

- Resolution 2024‑R‑13 (participation in STAR Ohio) — council amended the reading date and adopted the resolution with unanimous support; emergency clause adopted 7–0.

- Resolution 2024‑R‑14 (accept Kleiner's proposal for Simmons Avenue improvements) — council read the resolution by title and suspended rules for consideration, but a procedural dispute and a change‑of‑vote attempt led to the emergency clause failing (the emergency clause required five affirmative votes and the motion ultimately failed with only four favorable votes and two abstentions). Solicitor Deepak Desai advised that the motion can be brought back for a formal second reading; staff said the resolution will return on Feb. 26. Interim Manager Michael Lemon warned that the OPWC, SORTA and a community impact grant together total roughly $698,150 and that construction must be underway by July 1 to avoid losing those funds.

- Resolution 2024‑R‑15 (Memorial Field concession design contracts) — adopted (see separate story); council adopted the emergency clause and authorized contracts with design and management firms.

- Resolution 2024‑R‑16 (engage Alloy Development for CRA services) — passed with suspension and adopted the emergency clause; passage recorded with one abstention and otherwise majority support.

- Resolution 2024‑R‑17 (supplemental appropriation to contractual services) — approved after suspension of rules; section authorizes an $8,000 transfer to Alloy for CRA work and passed with multiple abstentions recorded.

Several motions included abstentions from council members who said they needed more information; one attorney and staff email packet alerted council to a tight timeline for Simmons Avenue funds. The failed emergency clause on R‑14 means Simmons Avenue work will require a second reading and another vote before the grant‑driven schedule can proceed.