New parks committee seeks role in planning as mayor clarifies no park-planner hire

The Parks & Beautification Committee held its first meeting and reported plans for resident applications, priorities for park projects and a recommendation to budget for a park planner; committee members said they want to be involved in any consultant work on Pepper Pike Park.

Emy, who chaired the committee’s initial meeting, told council the group discussed candidate applications, the committee’s purpose, potential green initiatives and a recommendation to budget for a parks planner. Committee members said it was news to them that discussions with an outside consultant had begun and asked for greater inclusion during consultant selection and during the planning process.

Mayor Bane responded directly to the committee’s concern: "There has been no Parks planner hired," he said, adding the administration looks forward to working collaboratively with the committee. The mayor said the city had sought a proposal from a consultant (identified in meeting discussion as MKS) to present options for the Gates Mills Boulevard park work, but no final hiring decision had been made and no work was excluded from committee input.

Councilors agreed to "reset" and improve communications so the committee can be involved in review of consultant proposals and planning work. A separate councilor asked whether committee meetings could be livestreamed or recorded for residents; staff indicated the city currently lacks that technical capacity but said recorded audio or other accommodations could be explored.

The committee plans to publicize an application for up to two resident members and to work with staff on a scope of work for park planning and community programming. The administration said it will coordinate presentation timing so committee members can participate in consultant briefings and recommendations to council.