Published February 2017

David H. Roche, Mayor

INTRODUCTION

Richmond Heights is the “City with the Forward Look” that is always geared toward growth and greatness. Being forward-looking is about having goals, appreciating how we are changing and identifying how to celebrate our growing and evolving community. We accomplish many of our goals with a few primary emphases: Increased efficiency, a consistent focus on keeping expenditures lean and ensuring programming and services meet residents’ needs. 2017 marks 100 years of vibrant history in Richmond Heights and will be marked by a series of Centennial Celebrations. We have a lot to be proud of as we celebrate. Through quality leadership and community togetherness, the City has maintained a superb suburban lifestyle for all residents to enjoy; united, we enjoy top-notch safety and Fire/EMS services, family-friendly recreational programming and a community ideal for people from all walks of life.

ADMINISTRATION Valerie Stevenson, Special Assistant to the Mayor Kyla Presto, Special Projects Secretary

Modes of Communication Modes of communication Administration uses include the Information Line, Message Board at the intersection of Highland and Richmond, City Edition newsletter, Community Conversations, website, ReadyNotify, YouTube video feed of Council meetings and select special meetings (includes archive and live channel), City Hall lobby display board and kiosks, “Connect with City Hall” comment system on our website, and striving to answer phone calls within three rings. By launching an e-newsletter in the summer of 2016, we enhanced our communication system with residents. Sent twice monthly, the e-newsletter keeps subscribers abreast of City-related events, current news and other items of interest. As of winter 2016, we had more than 900 subscribers, and the list continually grows. We’ve also increased our utilization of technology; for example, we now maintain call logs to better assist residents and follow up on pending items.

Regional Collaboration As a small City, we outreach and engage in regional collaboration. Groups we belong to include the Heights-Hillcrest Regional Chamber of Commerce (HRCC), Hillcrest Council of Councils, Cuyahoga County Mayors and City Managers Association, Mayors and City Managers Association, Suburban Police Anti-Crime Network (SPAN), Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC), FirstEnergy Solutions Aggregation, Cuyahoga County Noise Abatement Council, Northeast Ohio City Council Association, Inc. (NOCCA), Watershed Council, Friends of Euclid Creek, Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), Hillcrest Meals on Wheels, Tree City USA, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD), Senior Transportation Connection (STC), among others.

Tree Commission The Tree Commission was established to act in an advisory capacity to the Mayor, City Council, employees and residents with respect to matters involving trees within the City. The Tree Commission was also designed to oversee the City’s annual Tree Program. We are planning to revive this commission in 2017.

Civil Service Commission The Civil Service Commission is active in the City and is designed to provide rules for the merit, fitness, appointment and promotion of classified employees of the City, provided that such rules are consistent with the Constitution of the State of Ohio.

2017 STATE OF THE CITY, PG. 2

Special Projects Role Special Projects Secretary Kyla Presto was hired in 2016 and provides a variety of support functions to the Mayor and City staff. Her primary responsibilities include updating the City website, crafting brochures and marketing materials, serving as chief correspondent for the City Edition and editor for the e-newsletter, aiding with event planning, answering incoming phone calls, and other varied roles.

LAW DEPARTMENT R. Todd Hunt, Director of Law Sara J. Fagnilli, Negotiations Michael E. Cicero, Prosecutor

Departmental Activities There were no significant lawsuits over the past year. The one that was filed in 2016 was resolved in the City’s favor. Mr. Hunt regularly provides legal advice and prepares legislation for the City, and we are thankful for his service.

Negotiations We have a new contract with Fire/EMS through the International Association of FireFighters (IAFF). We continue to negotiate with the other three unions related to police, dispatch and service.

Prosecutor Role Michael E. Cicero serves as the City’s prosecutor and has provided expanded support, performing the duties of prosecutor in the Lyndhurst Municipal Court. He was appointed by the Mayor with approval by Council in 2016. Lyndhurst Municipal Court effectively provides court services to the City under Judge Mary Kaye Bozza.

HUMAN RESOURCES Kathy Gamber, HR Manager

During 2016, Human Resources Manager Kathy Gamber worked rigorously to ensure the City remained compliant with all employment laws. She managed the recruitment and selection process and worked closely with the Mayor, Fire Chief, and department directors to identify, interview and successfully hire highly qualified individuals for open positions.

Other pertinent HR activities during 2016 included: Managed employee relations issues by meeting with Mayor/Directors on matters related to performance, facilitated meetings and ensured open lines of communication, provided guidance for successful resolutions, updated the Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) policy and processed leave requests, collaborated with the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and City of Richmond Heights Law Department regarding Workers’ Compensation claims, and developed job descriptions along with an attendance policy for the Service Department. Plans for 2017 include rolling out an employee handbook and developing a supervisor policy manual.

2017 STATE OF THE CITY, PG. 3

FINANCE James W. Teknipp, Director Tony Miceli, Tax Administrator Thomas DiLellio, Assistant Director of Finance

New Finance Director Thomas DiLellio recently resumed his role of Assistant Director of Finance upon the selection of James W. Teknipp, who now serves as Director of Finance. We thank Mr. DiLellio for acting as Interim Director of Finance while the selection process was underway and welcome Mr. Teknipp to our staff.

General Fund The General Fund beginning balance was $3,623,062.64 on January 1, 2016, and the unexpended General Fund balance was $4,399,936.75 on December 31, 2016. Total General Fund revenues received by the City during 2016 were $8,518,359.45, while expenses were $7,741,485.34. At the end of 2016, all of the City’s funds ended the year with positive balances.

RITA Collections and Impact of Credit Limit Charter Amendment RITA projects that the City of Richmond Heights 2017 Income Tax Collections will be approximately $6,000,000 to $6,200,000. This figure includes an average growth of 2% for 2017 and the loss of income tax withholdings from Associated Estates and Macy’s. RITA predicts that the first year impact from reducing the credit limit to 1.25% will be 20% ($200,000) for 2017, and $600,000 for 2018. The full impact of $996,000 will not occur until 2019.

Auditor of State Financial Audit The Auditor of State has recently completed the 2015 financial audit with good results. This was the first one year audit for the City of Richmond Heights. In the past, the City’s audit period was for two fiscal years. Through the hard work of the Finance Department, we reduced findings for noncompliance.

Investment Grade Credit Rating The City of Richmond Heights credit ratings from Standard & Poor’s (AA-) and Moody’s Investor Services (Baa1) are considered investment grade. Standard & Poor’s defines the outlook for the City as stable, and Moody’s has removed the negative outlook on the City.

Long-Term Debt Obligations During 2016, the City continued to reduce its long-term and short-term debt obligations. At the beginning of 2016, the City’s long-term liabilities totaled $20,070,920. The City’s long-term debt obligations continue to decrease per our debt schedules. During 2016, the City reduced its long-term debt principal by $1,612,688, ending the year with total governmental long-term liabilities of $18,458,262. The City plans to further reduce its long-term debt in 2017 by paying off the entire balance of the $1,190,000 Street Improvement Bond Anticipation Note. Additionally, the Ohio EPA and the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) implemented an interest rate buy-down program. This refinancing of eight loans under the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) will amount to interest savings of more than $95,000 over the life of the loans. Our savings in interest for 2016 was more than $22,000.

Establishment of Tax Subpoena Program and Income Tax Board of Review Tax Administrator Tony Miceli recently implemented a Tax Subpoena Program. The Tax Subpoena Program is for taxpayers who failed to file their City tax returns in the past. They are subpoenaed and are then are required to come to

2017 STATE OF THE CITY, PG. 4

City Hall to obtain assistance in getting their returns prepared. By statute, the Income Tax Board of Review was established. The Income Tax Board of Review is the final appeal process for a business or individual.

BUILDING Phil Seyboldt, Building Commissioner James Urankar, Assistant Building Commissioner

Richmond Town Square Conditional Uses Currently, we are working with the members of the Richmond Heights Planning Commission and other interested parties to discuss new conditional uses of the Richmond Town Square Mall. Richmond Town Square is interested in development of specialty destination shops. New conditional uses would expand usage possibilities. There are many possible uses found in other zoning districts around the City that may be compatible with a zone flanked on two sides by residential properties, and on the other two sides, by businesses. We want to evaluate alternate uses according to their activity, noise, traffic, or other factors that may render them poor neighbors for the surrounding properties. We also want to expand the possible uses beyond sales and retail, recognizing that big box stores are becoming less viable around the country and that businesses supporting service industries seem to be doing well.

Number of Permits Issued in 2016 Residential Permits – 515 Commercial Permits – 152 Total Permits – 667

Approximately 1,150 inspections were performed for these permits, with another 650 inspections for rental and maintenance programs.

Total Construction Value for 2016 Residential - $7,692,726 Commercial - $2,957,383 Total Value of Construction - $10,650,109

Fire Inspector Activities The City’s Fire Inspector, Al Zwegat, has met with the management teams of our major apartment complexes numerous times recently to ensure that the fire safety features of the numerous buildings involved are up-to-date. He has also met with owners and operators of various businesses and day care operations to observe their buildings and operations and assess their compliance with applicable safety codes. Additionally, he improved documentation and procedures.

Business Activity Most of the construction activity this past year has been in upgrades to our major apartment complexes; Richmond Park Apartments, now called 444 Park Apartments, renovated their leasing offices and Community Hub and now offer meeting rooms, retail areas and workout/fitness facilities. In progress are renovations to swimming pools and upgrades to indoor parking. Loganberry Ridge Apartments, under new management this year, began upgrades to many buildings with a new fire alarm system in Building F, their main hub and leasing building. Dorchester Village Apartments, also under new management, redecorated many of their lobby and common space areas and continued their program of replacing defective and/or obsolete fire doors and exterior entrance doors. Also added during the past year were new tenants in many of our neighborhood business plazas, including a dance studio at 740 Richmond Road, relocation of Loving Cup Kids Academy (day care) to the former People’s Dollar Store at 213 Richmond Road, Angela’s Pizza at 728

2017 STATE OF THE CITY, PG. 5

Richmond Road, Schoolbelle’s Store at 468 Richmond Road, renovations to Hillcrest Animal Hospital (26800 Highland Road) and upgrades to the Firestone Tire Store at 700 Richmond Road. We look forward to another year of robust development in 2017.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Christel Best, Director

Grants In the area of efficiency, the City received a grant from LeanOhio to participate in their boot camp program. As a result, City departments such as our Service Department have implemented ways to get their work done more efficiently. The City applied to Cuyahoga County for a Community Development Block Grant and a Cuyahoga County Supplemental Grant to upgrade our Kiwanis Lodge and provide handicapped accessible bathrooms on the lower level of the structure. This upgrade will have a tremendous impact on the City by enabling the City to use the lower level of the Lodge for community events, exercise classes, and training programs. The City is awaiting the results of this CDBG grant application. The City also received aid from the Case Western Reserve University College of Law to launch our City's first Community Development Corporation.

Computer Science for All (CSforAll) Richmond Heights Local School District supports computer technology with a state-of-the-art computer science facility known as the technology hub, located at Richmond Heights High School. The technology hub is a major asset and community resource with which many residents of Richmond Heights are unfamiliar. The Computer Science for All (CSforAll) event is an opportunity for all community members in Richmond Heights to become familiar with The Hub. There are many topics being developed regarding technology usage for all ages and skill levels that will be meaningful to residents.

The City of Richmond Heights will support the CSforAll worldwide initiative locally as it partners with IndeedWeCode, the Richmond Heights Local School District, the Richmond Coders, several community organizations and IT professionals to co-sponsor a student-led community-wide Computer Science for All event for all citizens on April 27 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the hub. The CSforAll event coincides with the year-long celebration of the City of Richmond Heights’ 100th anniversary, in which all of its citizens will be encouraged to participate and take pride.

Encouraging a Positive Image In the autumn of 2016, Dr. Renee Willis of the Richmond Heights Local Schools hosted a meeting in cooperation with the Heights-Hillcrest Regional Chamber of Commerce and the superintendents from the other Hillcrest area school districts. The meeting was held in the Richmond Heights Schools' technology hub. During this meeting, participants discussed ways to correct misperceptions about the area school systems, which, in turn, negatively impact our housing stock, business prospects and community pride.

Master Plan Perhaps our biggest economic development achievement in 2016 was the work we began to revamp our City's Master Plan for the long-term good of our community. Beginning in June, we began working with Cuyahoga County's Master Planners to bring Richmond Heights forward so it can reach its full potential. These County planners are working with City staff, community stakeholders and local businesses to evaluate all aspects of our community. From retail shopping, to medical and health care facilities, to our schools, housing stock and convenient location near the Cuyahoga County Airport and Metroparks, we are analyzing every part of the City. The ultimate goal is to make the Richmond

2017 STATE OF THE CITY, PG. 6

Heights of tomorrow a thriving, growing, safe and prosperous community. This work is being performed by grant monies from the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission.

Housing Choices The City boasts an assortment of housing styles and price ranges. From the newly renovated apartments at 444 Richmond Park, to the senior housing options at the Waterford, and from beautiful ranches on park-like settings to modern luxury homes with high-end amenities, Richmond Heights has something for every budget and every lifestyle.

Cuyahoga County Airport Activities Many positive developments are taking place at the Cuyahoga County Airport, a national airport in the midst of a major renovation. Constant Aviation is in the process of an expansion. While they considered other locations, they determined our airport to be most ideal. Among other upgrades, they are considering implementing an aircraft paint facility. The airport now has a new manager, Monica Drake, who is working on other significant improvements—including tearing down and rebuilding a new airport restaurant. In addition, the Cleveland Jet Center (housed at the airport) continues to be a robust business. In the near future, it is our intent to meet with the CEO of the airport to discuss further opportunities.

POLICE Gene Rowe, Chief

Staffing One full-time patrolman and one part-time patrolman were hired in November 2016. To enhance service provided to residents, adding additional personnel to the force in 2017 will be discussed during 1st quarter budget discussions.

Jail Outsourcing Currently, the City is in discussion with the County to intake our prisoners at their Euclid Police Department facility. Relieving the patrol division from duties that are necessary when housing prisoners would potentially provide more time for patrolling activities and community policing. Discussions are ongoing to ensure an effective and efficient transition.

Regional Dispatch Police Chief Gene Rowe and Fire Chief Marc Neumann continue to explore dispatch regionalization possibilities with surrounding communities, which would equate to monetary savings for the City.

Grants The police department received a DARE grant for the 2015-2016 school year in the amount of $2,093. In addition, the department received a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice in the amount of $2,625. The County received a federal Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Grant and determined a portion will be used to purchase additional 700/800 frequency portable radios. We submitted a request for 40 radios (value, approximately $108,000) and are waiting for notification as to how many we will receive.

Calls for Service The total number of Part I Crimes were down by 5.8% in 2016 from 2015. Property crimes, including burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson, were down 12% from 2015. Crimes against persons—including murder, rape, robbery and assault—increased by 43% from 2015. We had 29,820 Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) entries in 2016 and approximately 13,000 calls for service.

2017 STATE OF THE CITY, PG. 7

National Night Out The City’s first annual “National Night Out” was held at Richmond Heights City Hall on August 2, 2016, at City Hall. This police-community partnership brought police and neighbors together in a family-friendly environment. Special highlights included a SWAT vehicle, EMS and police vehicle demonstrations, a food truck from La Taqueria of Richmond Heights, children’s activities, giveaways, music, free child identification cards and more. The mission of the National Night Out campaign is to make communities safer, more caring places to live. We plan to bring National Night Out back to Richmond Heights in 2017.

Auxiliary The Richmond Heights Police Auxiliary team is led by Mark Hoageson and consists of 11 members. There was no increase in the number of auxiliary officers in 2016. However, two new individuals were hired, replacing two who had resigned. We are initiating outreach activities to bring our auxiliary staff to 15 members.

FIRE/EMS Marc Neumann, Chief

Overview The Richmond Heights Division of Fire provides essential emergency services; fire protection, emergency medical assistance, rescue, and hazardous materials response. Housed in the fire station are one fire engine, one aerial ladder, two paramedic equipped rescue squads, and one command vehicle. These vehicles are in service every day to serve the citizens and visitors of our community.

Staffing The Division of Fire is a “combination” fire department; our staffing model consists of well-trained, dedicated career and part-time firefighters. The Division staffing consists of 18 full-time staff and 5 part time staff. Firefighters are tasked with daily workload operations and maintenance tasks and are the immediate first responders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In 2017, the Division of Fire will begin the process of increasing our part-time staffing levels from 5 members to 15. Our part-time firefighters provide the additional staffing to the full-time firefighters and are a vital part of our program. This model is a balanced approach to meeting requirements for today’s fire service. The process of hiring, training, and equipping our part-time firefighters is expected to take 18 months. The Division continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of our citizens.

Regionalism The Richmond Heights Division of Fire belongs to the Hillcrest Technical Rescue Team (HTRT), a group of highly trained rescue technicians that are in the process of consolidating with the Heights Area Special Rescue Team (HASRT). In December 2016, City Council passed legislation approving the consolidation of the teams. Benefits of consolidation include lower vehicle and equipment costs, a more even distribution of resources, reduced operating costs, greater opportunities for outside funding and better implementation of standard procedures. City Councils from each member municipality must approve the merger to bring the two teams together, and approval is pending in several other communities. However, it is expected that the merger will be completed by March 2017. The new team would be called the Heights-Hillcrest Technical Rescue Team, or HHTRT.

University Hospitals Richmond Medical Center Collaboration In an ongoing effort to make Richmond Heights a “heart safe” community, the Division of Fire collaborates with University Hospitals Richmond Medical Center to offer bi-monthly CPR classes to residents of Richmond Heights.

2017 STATE OF THE CITY, PG. 8

In addition, University Hospitals has provided Richmond Heights paramedics with use of new groundbreaking tools and technologies to better serve our community, such as an infrascanner, Lucas tool and ELSA translator.

Grants Richmond Heights Division of Fire is part of a Regional Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS). The $169,710 Operations and Safety Grant funds incident command training and fire officer training for firefighters throughout the Hillcrest region. With this training, firefighters obtain the practical experience necessary to safely and effectively manage emergency scenes. All Richmond Heights Firefighters are receiving this valuable training.

The Division of Fire has also been awarded a $6,800 Safety Intervention Grant from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC). The grant funds will be used toward the purchase of a Power-LOAD stretcher system for one of the Rescue Squads. The new system will mechanically lift and lower the stretcher into and out of the ambulance. The new system will reduce the risk of back injuries which are often caused by manually lifting and lowering the stretcher.

For 2017, the Division of Fire was awarded an Ohio EMS grant in the amount of $2,750 toward the purchase of life saving medical supplies. The Division of Fire has applied for an $80,000 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If awarded, the grant will provide 95% funding ($76,000) toward the purchase of an exhaust system in the fire station apparatus bays.

Additionally, the Division of Fire has partnered with neighboring communities to apply for a $7,400 Regional Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If awarded, the grant will provide 90% funding ($6,750) toward the purchase of a replacement fire hose for the City’s ladder truck.

ENGINEERING Lee Courtney, City Engineer

Stormwater Regulations and Management Stormwater regulations and management require a major engineering effort each year. In 2016, along with the completion of the 2015 Annual Report to the EPA, lengthy legislation was introduced to overhaul the two chapters of the Codified Ordinances dealing with Stormwater Control during construction and post-construction practices. That legislation was subsequently passed on January 17, 2017, and forwarded to the EPA. Multiple Memorandums of Understanding related to stormwater issues have been discussed and are at various stages of completion. These involve Richmond Heights, neighboring communities, the Euclid Creek Watershed Council, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and the Cuyahoga County Soil & Water Conservation.

Utility Construction Utility construction completed in 2016 included the replacement of gas lines in Richmond Road (Lyndhurst to Monticello) and Wilson Mills (Richmond to Highland Heights.) Additional work may follow in 2017. Overhead fiber optics cables were also installed in Brush Road (Euclid to Chardon), Loganberry Drive (east of Brush), Chardon Road (Brush to City of Euclid), and Richmond Road (south of Chardon.) Plans were approved for the replacement of two large valves on Cleveland’s 54” water main in Highland Road, but construction was rescheduled to January 2017.

2017 STATE OF THE CITY, PG. 9

Road Construction The 2016 Road Program resulted in over $300,000.00 of construction, including:

 Resurfacing of the southern portion of the City Park road  Resurfacing of portions of Karl and Jeanette Drives  Crack sealing  Road striping  White Road repairs at Richmond  Additional repairs to Richmond Road, which is scheduled for resurfacing between July 2018 and June 2019  Concrete replacement on Hillary Lane

The repair of sharrows (shared-lane markings for bicyclists and motorists) on Highland Road was part of the County’s 2014 resurfacing contract.

Grants Cuyahoga County Department of Public Works has an annual program where municipalities can apply for grant dollars for reimbursement of material costs related to maintenance of County roads. Grant dollars, awarded, can be used for material costs related to Crack Sealing, Mill/Fill Patching, Surface Treatments, catch basin repair, and any other life- extending activity. We have been successful in obtaining funding under this program for two consecutive years:

2016 Highland Road, Monticello Boulevard, Trebisky Road, and Wilson Mills Road. Total grant awarded: $39,000. Actual expenditure for 2016 was about 50 percent of the $39,000 maximum.

2017 Brush Road and Curtiss Wright Industrial Parkway. Total grant awarded: $28,000.

SERVICE Don Kerniskey, Director

Equipment Upgrades Our Service Director, Don Kerniskey, has facilitated equipment upgrades and increased Service capabilities. We have purchased the following new equipment: Rascal MVP Field Conditioner, MATCO 7.5HP 80 Gallon Air Compressor, MATCO Heavy Duty Code Reader for Cars and Trucks, MATCO Plasma Cutter, F-250 Pickup Truck, F-350 Dump Truck, 2- 2500 4x4 Pickup Trucks and a Kubota 65 HP Skidsteer. In addition, we upgraded our diesel and unleaded gas pumps.

Increased Energy Efficiency In 2016, Service worked to increase lighting efficiency in the Service Garage. We had Electolite change all garage lights to LED lights, which equates to lower lighting costs. Four 125,000 BTU radiant heaters were purchased for the Service Garage and installed by Service Department personnel, which equates to better energy savings. In addition, we captured savings by performing the installation internally.

Removal of Ash Trees Due to the Emerald Ash Borer bug, removal of selected Emerald Ash trees became necessary. In 2016, a total of 83 trees were removed on Steven and Audrey combined. We still have approximately 100 additional trees to remove as a result

2017 STATE OF THE CITY, PG. 10 of the Emerald Ash Borer. In the future, we plan to replant a different species of tree for those residents who experienced a loss in their tree lawn.

Maintenance of Streets and Parks Our Service Department spends considerable time maintaining our City’s streets, ensuring the safety of motorists who pass through the City. In addition, the Service Department dedicates time to beautifying our parks, keeping them clean for residents’ enjoyment.

Improved Services: Recycling and Leaf Pickup During leaf pickup season, our Service Department published a daily leaf pickup log to communicate to residents daily routes. Also, we created an enhanced our trash calendar by converting it to a trash and recycling calendar. 2016 also marked the launch of the City’s partnership with Simple Recycling, a program offered at no cost to the City or its residents. This recycling program enables residents to donate unwanted clothing and housewares with the convenience of curbside pickup.

RECREATION Kenneth Stray, Director

Increasing Oversight of Pool Management/YMCA During the summer months of 2016, the City of Richmond Heights once again partnered with the Hillcrest YMCA to staff the outdoor community pool and spray ground. The Recreation Director worked closely with the pool manager to ensure the facility was being maintained and operated appropriately. 2016 showed a 50% increase in pool usage compared to 2015.

Programming Expansion In June 2016, we kicked off our co-ed bocce league, which furnished participants of all abilities with an opportunity to engage in an entertaining, strategic sport. Residents also had the opportunity to enjoy R&B line dancing with Tina Swift—which is an ongoing class held each Wednesday at the Kiwanis Lodge. Thanks to grant funding, we hosted two very well-attended community shred days, helping residents discard of unneeded papers. The inaugural season of Pickleball Richmond Heights began in the summer and moved indoors to continue through the winter months. One of the fastest growing sports in America, this senior-friendly program combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis. Some other examples of programs are: Our second annual Residential Real Estate Showcase, a Memorial Day Ceremony and Breakfast with Santa. Many of our events are made possible thanks to helping hands from volunteers. To date, we have more than 100 people who are actively involved with volunteering for City events. In addition, much of our programming is made possible by businesses donating their time, money and goods.

Facilitating Centennial Celebration The Centennial Celebration is being planned by a committee that consists of members of the City’s Recreation Department, City Council, City of Richmond Heights residents, the Mayor, City staff, Superintendent Renee Willis of the Richmond Heights Local Schools, and other community stakeholders. Recreation Director Kenneth Stray and Assistant Recreation Director Anthony Gimellia are members of the committee. By contributing meaningful ideas, recreational programming expertise, and serving on committees, Anthony and Ken are aiding with the Centennial Celebration preparations, helping ensure programming is enjoyable for residents from all walks of life. Please be sure to check our website often for upcoming Centennial Celebration activities, which will occur throughout 2017.

2017 STATE OF THE CITY, PG. 11

Collaborations with Richmond Heights Local Schools It is with sincere thanks that we recognize the Richmond Heights Local Schools for allowing us to utilize their gymnasium facility for our City basketball program. While the schools and City are separate entities, we understand the importance of working together. That is why we advertise select school events in our City Edition newsletter, and thanks to our sound working relationship, the district allows the City to send home flyers with students for certain special events. Mayor Roche has participated in the Strategic Planning Steering Committee and has joined the Circle of Believers, which was created recently by the Richmond Heights Local Schools.

Increased Activities from Recreation Board The Recreation Board was reconvened in 2016 and is becoming increasingly active. Current members include Charlotte Camp, Angela Jordan, Tamitra Peavy, Patricia Thompson and Zachary Tomsick. The members are ambitiously looking toward the future of the Recreation Department and exploring opportunities for additional programming and enhanced events.

Greenwood Farm Movie Filming and Programming Greenwood Farm, which recently became a nationally recognized historic site, is quickly becoming an arts, culture, and event beacon for Richmond Heights. Two full-length movies have been filmed at Greenwood Farm, including The Bye Bye Man and Little Evil. Greenwood Farm is popular for film production because the century-old farm house, barn, and 17-acre farm lend themselves to filmmakers who are telling stories of intrigue, mystery, and haunting occurrences. Not only is the location artistically ideal, but the logistics of filming in Richmond Heights are also inviting. We are close to the freeway, affordable accommodations and the Greenwood Farm grounds are easily accessed off Richmond Road. Add the convenient parking for cast and crew right on the farm itself, and you have a perfect Hollywood set without all the Hollywood drama.

Greenwood Farm is also the site of many citywide events, including the annual Family Fall Fun Fest at the Farm—which in 2016 offered music from multiple bands, free hayrides, a Kids' Zone with inflatables, corn hole, and food from multiple vendors. Additional programming being held at the farm includes the annual “Junk in the Trunk” community garage sale and Paranormal Adventures Ghost Hunts. This year, we are partnering with Richmond Town Square to host our annual Easter Egg Hunt at the mall.

Beautification Program The Beautification Program enables individuals and businesses to contribute to Richmond Heights’ beautification. We are planning to revive this program in 2017 and encourage residents to call City Hall at (216) 486-2474 to participate. Your contribution will aid in making our City more vibrant, while also furnishing you with the opportunity to make a dedication to a lost friend or family member.

Senior Transportation Connection The Senior Transportation Connection of Cuyahoga County is committed to providing “comprehensive, efficient, and affordable transportation services for older adults.” By contracting with STC, the City of Richmond Heights helps to ensure older residents have curb-to-curb transportation access for medical appointments, social gatherings and more.

2017 STATE OF THE CITY, PG. 12

CONCLUSION

I extend a special thank you to the City’s staff, residents, Council, volunteers, businesses and all of our community stakeholders. It is because of the combined efforts of many that we remain and will continue to be a safe, strong and thriving City with numerous activities and promise. As we look to the future with a mindset of continuous improvement, we will execute and effectively provide quality services to our businesses and residents, improving the quality of life for all of our community.

Respectfully Submitted,

David H. Roche, Mayor

2017 STATE OF THE CITY, PG. 13