February 13, 2009 City Manager's Update

Public Works/Planning and Development

Parks and Recreation Master Plan RFQ Set for Release: Attached is the final draft RFQ for the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.  Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions. 

City Manager’s Office 

New Monthly Report for City Council: Beginning with January 2009 data, the City Manager’s Office will distribute a month performance data report to help track the services, operation and performance of various departments.  The first such report is attached.  As this is a new report, we will examine how it can be improved over the course of the year; so new items may be added in the future.  Because some of the comparative data for last year is not readily available, that section will be developed over time.  In the future, the Monthly Report (along with this report) will be posted to the new website each month.  Any suggestions and comments are encouraged. 

Training Plans: During the next month, I will be participating in two training opportunities:

OCMA Winter Conference in Columbus:  The annual Ohio City/County Management Association Conference will be held February 24-26.  During the conference I will be participating on a panel titled “Sustainability Initiatives at Work.”  I will review Oberlin’s successful town-gown sustainability initiatives and other collaborative sustainability efforts.  Later that day, I have initiated a town-gown dinner meeting of City Managers and staff from communities that host colleges and universities. 

Pilot Leadership Development Training Seminar:  In January, the National League of Cities (NLC) and International City/County Management Association announced that they had received a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide in-depth training to prepare municipal leaders to handle natural and man-made disasters.  The training will cover the four phases of emergency and disaster management: prevention, protection, response and recovery.  NLC sought applications from leaders from across the country for the 40 seats available. I received word this week that I was selected for this seminar to be held on March 14 and 15.  Because of grant from DHS, there will be no cost to the City of Oberlin.  

February 6, 2009 City Manager's Update

Following are updates on various topics for your information.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thank you!

Police Department

Citizen Police Academy Scheduled – Chief Tom Miller has announced the dates for the new Oberlin Police Department Citizen Academy.  The academy will begin on March 12 and continue for 10 consecutive weeks.  Each session will last from 6:30 to 9 p.m.  Space is still available, so the Chief asks for your assistance in encouraging residents to apply so we have a good cross-section of Oberlinians participating in the academy. 

Promotional Exams Scheduled – Following approval of the change to the Classification Plan, the Police Chief has scheduled exams for the Lieutenant positions and for Sergeant over the month of March.  In addition to the written exam, we will use assessment centers as well for the first time in the Police Department.  The assessment center will gauge leadership skills and decision-making abilities.  (A similar assessment center was used by the Fire Department last summer.)

City Manager’s Office

Congresswoman Betty Sutton Briefs Lorain County Mayors/Managers – Earlier this week, Congresswoman Sutton held a conference call to provide a briefing on the stimulus bill working its way through Congress.  She reported on the specific programs that are expected to meet needs of Ohio and Lorain County.  She heard frustration from some of the Mayor about length of time it takes to distribute federal funds through the State (see below) and she urged us to take this issue up with the Governor.  Elyria Mayor Grace is the current chair of NOACA and plans to address our concerns with the State’s “infrastructure czar” when they meet next week. 

Underground Railroad Center Project Moves Ahead – Planning work is underway again on the Underground Railroad Center thanks to the involvement of Assistant City Manager/HRA Darlene Colaso and the Public Services Institute.  Darlene met with PSI in December.  Since then, the PSI team and Darlene have collaboratively been making community contacts and formulating discussion materials to begin the formal public engagement process.  A joint meeting with the Underground Rail Road Center Design Team and PSI has been scheduled for February 11th at 3 p.m. and meetings with other interest groups are being scheduled.  Attached you will find the draft materials this team has developed.  Please let Darlene or me know if you have any questions.

Economic Development and Housing

Team Lorain County Provides Economic Briefing – Earlier today, Team Lorain County (TLC) held its annual economic forecast breakfast.  Speakers included TLC Director Steve Morey, Matt McQuade of the Ohio Business Development Coalition, Robert Leggett of First Merit Bank, and Brad Whitehead with the Fund for Our Economic Future.  Mr. Leggett provided an overview of the economy and Mr. McQuade reported on efforts to market Ohio and Northeast Ohio for new business development.  He recommended reviewing the following websites:

www.OhioMeansBusiness.com

www.ClevelandPlusLiving.com

www.ClevelandPlusBusiness.com

McQuade believes we will feel optimistic about the future and a sense of pride as residents of the area after looking at the websites. 

City Prepares to Apply for Neighborhood Stabilization (NSP) Funds – Last December, staff attended training in Columbus to prepare for the release of applications for NSP funds.  As of this week, there are still no funding procedures or application forms to use to apply for NSP funds.  While we wait, staff has been identifying target areas in Oberlin to be considered with others in Lorain County and the Lorain County task force will begin to prioritize them. 

Foreclosure Clinic Held – The Oberlin Foreclosure Task Force, in cooperation with the Lorain County Task Force, coordinated a Foreclosure Prevention/Borrower’s Outreach Day Clinic on Saturday, January 24, 2009 which was held at the Lorain County Joint Vocational School.  This free public service was offered to all Lorain County residents who needed advice regarding their mortgage, especially if they were facing foreclosure. Residents were encouraged to drop by between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.  The goal was to target the Oberlin and surrounding communities who may not have had the opportunity to attend past clinics held at Lorain County Community College.  Twenty residents were assisted during this clinic by housing counselors, lenders and attorneys.  Participants were able to speak with an attorney for free, which normally would have cost them at least $150.   The event was coordinated by Angela Wu (Oberlin Street Law), Judy Wright (Zion Community Development Corporation), Barbara Mehwald (Human Relations Commission Chair), Kristin Braziunas (Oberlin resident/POWER Fund), Kathy Burns (Oberlin Community Services), and Sharon Pearson (City of Oberlin). 

2008 Foreclosure Data Received – Recently received data from the Lorain County Clerk of Courts reports 29 foreclosure filings in Oberlin during 2008; a slight decrease from 32 in 2007.