June 2022 | Issue 18
From My Desk to Your Inbox

June in the city means school is out, camps have started, and Dragga Pool has opened for its final season. These are sure signs of summer and all its anticipated annual events. June 24-26 is the Unity Days festival at City Park, with fireworks on Saturday night and the parade on Sunday afternoon. Unity Days is a family-fun event with great local food, music, and entertainment for all ages. Please read an important message below about Unity Days in the Parks & Recreation Department brief. Don't forget to stop by Pavilion B on Saturday night before the fireworks to pick up your free popcorn. 

If you have never been to the Building Department, you might not fully understand what they do. The new Director of Building, Braden Thomas, does an excellent job explaining the building Department's services for residents. Take the time to get to know the Building Department by reading Braden's article.
 
The drop-off recycling center on Marsol Road was removed last month to make way for the new Aquatic and Community Center. Attempts were made to relocate the drop-off recycling center. However, no site met the space size and the proximity requirements needed for proper upkeep. There are two good alternatives for drop-off recycling nearby. Read more about the options below.

Wishing you a great June!
Anthony DiCicco, Mayor/Safety Director
Here's What's Happening at City Hall
From the Mayor's Office
Diversity & Inclusion
Building collaborative intersections with academic resources, city operations, city businesses, and surrounding communities in recognizing, respecting, and valuing all shared contributions and experiences towards cultivating a cohesive and vibrant community.

Business Highlight
Meet Charley Shin, BIBIBOP Founder and CEO. “I grew up in the outskirts of Seoul, South Korea. I have a fond memory of a friend inviting me to breakfast, and I remember his mom serving me an egg over rice – a luxury at the time. His family had extended generosity beyond their means. They welcomed me into their home and served me the best food they had.
BIBIBOP grew out of a dream to serve others, serve our community and serve you. Our brand was founded on “strengthening our neighbor” – to me, that means giving guests our very best, just as my friend’s family served me. We can always offer a smile and a hot meal.”

BIBIBOP Asian Grille
1288 SOM Center Road
Economic Development
Economic Development Success is dependent upon a collaborative effort driven by quality public and private leadership.
Explore more about business in Ohio at jobsohio.com. Ohio is the birthplace of some of the world’s greatest inventions – the airplane, the lightbulb, the traffic light, and even Superman. Today, as the country rebounds from an unprecedented crisis, Ohio continues to benefit from that innovative spirit in addition to the decisive interventions that helped to mitigate the impact on our state’s businesses and the economy. Ohio offers a welcoming business climate that attracts global investment and fosters growth in businesses large and small. Ohio’s simplified tax structure, central location, and affordable cost of doing business are catalysts for economic diversification and prosperity.
 
Fast Facts About Ohio
  • With a Gross State Product (GSP) of $675 billion in 2020, Ohio is the 7th largest economy in the U.S., and ranks 3rd in manufacturing gross domestic product.
  • Ohio’s economy is ranked 21st worldwide
  • In 2020, 171,073 new businesses were created in Ohio, compared to just 80,273 in 2010
  • JobsOhio sector real GDP growth is 30.4 percent from 2010-2019, more than the Region (19.2 percent) and the country (28 percent)
  • The state’s Common Sense Initiative has created a jobs-friendly regulatory environment
  • Accelerated environmental permitting process takes 180 days or less
  • Ohio has enjoyed stable ratings from Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch of Aa1/AA+/AA+ for more than 20 years
  • Ohio ranks No. 10 in CNBC's 2021 America’s Top States for Business; No. 2 in cost of doing business, and No. 7 in access to capital
Shred & Recycle Day
This year's Shred and Recycle Day on Saturday, May 14tth, was a great success. Resident cars lined Marsol Road to get a chance to drop off old computers and shred personal documents on site. Ten thousand pounds of paper was shredded on site, and over 5,100 pounds of computer equipment was collected. Quantity numbers for both shredding and computer collection were up from last year. Thank you to Maribeth Iosue, Executive Secretary to the Mayor, for organizing the successful event and the Service Department for assisting residents in removing their shredding and computers from their vehicles.
From the Building Department
Greetings From the Building Director,

What does the building department do? It is a question that comes up a lot, so I would like to take a moment and highlight a few of the services we provide to the community. 

Permitting: The Building Department plays a role in all residential and commercial construction-related projects. Individuals are required to pull permits for projects ranging from fences to new commercial buildings and additions. There are many reasons for the permitting process, which I will get into more detail later; however, the main reason is safety. 

Rental Licenses: The rental licensing program ensures that non-owner-occupied units are safe and that owners are held accountable for required repairs.

Property Maintenance: Our property maintenance program is the front line of defense for maintaining property values. If you have any concerns about a potential property maintenance issue, please contact the Building Department for assistance.
 
Point-of-Sale Inspections: The point-of-sale inspection program is designed to identify exterior violations before a title transfer and establish an escrow amount for repairs. The escrow funds are held with the title agency until the violations are corrected and the escrow release is issued.

Contractor Registration: The Building Department does not issue permits to just anyone. We only issue permits to registered contractors. Before registering a contractor, we verify that they have the proper insurance and all state licenses required to perform the work. Contract registration offers a layer of protection to the residents. If a contractor has pulled the proper permits, they have met the minimum requirements to perform the service they are providing.

Building Plan Reviews: Any request for permitting starts with an application. The application is submitted to the Building Department with construction documents that clearly detail and describe the proposed work. The plans are then reviewed according to the Ohio Building Codes and are stamped approved if determined to comply. The stamped approved plans are issued with a building permit. The construction plans and the building permit are kept at the construction site and used for reference. Scheduled building inspections can determine that the project complies with the approved plans.

Building Inspections: All permits issued require inspections at some point during the building process. Inspections areas may include building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, fire, and life safety. In addition, the inspector looks at safety standards during construction to ensure the standards are following the approved construction documents.

If you have any questions for the Building Department, please do not hesitate to call us. We are here to serve you.

Braden Thomas
Director of Building
From the Fire Department
The Fire Department will begin our annual fire hydrant flushing program on June 15, 2022. This program is very important to assure fire hydrants in our city are in working order and to identify problems prior to an emergency. Fire hydrant flushing signs will be posted on the street generally three days prior to flushing. It is normal to have some water discoloration during this time. If discoloration is noticed, run the COLD water tap until it is clear.  
Welcome Dave Lawrence, Fire Safety Inspector
David Lawrence has been in the Fire Service for over 26 years with the last 8 years working for the State of Ohio Fire Marshal’s Office, Division of Code Enforcement. David’s focus as the Fire Safety Inspector for the city is to annually inspect all commercial businesses and apartments, concentrating on fire code violations and hazards. His core objective is to create a fire-safe environment for residents, visitors, and employees within the City of Mayfield Heights through code enforcement and public education. David is a lifelong resident of Northeast Ohio and is married with two sons. 
From the Parks & Recreation Department
Unity Days Announcement
On May 20th, we were informed by our carnival company, Great Lakes Amusements, that they were unable to provide their services for Unity Days due to staffing issues. After contacting several other ride companies and finding none available for our event, we decided to bring in Cincinnati Circus to provide inflatables and other entertainment pieces for the Unity Days weekend, June 24-26. Cincinnati Circus will be bringing a bounce house, obstacle course, large slide, a giant maze, a rock wall, mechanical racing rockets, and other fun things for all to enjoy. Although the event might not look the same as in years gone by, there will still be great bands, good food, and other entertainment you are used to seeing every year at our Unity Days celebration. Click here for a complete list of scheduled events for the festival. Hope to see you there!

Unity Days Volunteers Needed!
We need volunteers for the weekend. Please contact the Parks & Recreation Department if you are interested in volunteering at 440.442.2627.
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From the Service Department
Spring Clean-up and Beautification Projects
Spring is one of the busiest times of year for the Service Department. Clean-up and beautification projects begin on City-owned property sites, including the City Hall Complex, City Park, and Oakville Park. Service Department crews planted hundreds of flowers and scattered sixty yards of mulch in May. Seventy hanging flower baskets were installed in various areas in the city, including on Mayfield Road and Chelmsford along the City Hall Complex. Additionally, hanging baskets that once adorned the bridges over I-271 were taken down because of safety concerns during daily watering and relocated on Oakville Road in front of the park and at the Gates Mills Blvd. and Cedar Road and Lander Road intersections. Projects were completed in time for the unofficial kick-off of summer, Memorial Day weekend. We continue to look at the Mayfield Road median at I-271 for solutions to beautify the area and, at the same time, keep our crews safe when working on the median without obstructing traffic in that heavily used area of Mayfield Road. We hope to have a solution soon and report on it in the Community Connection newsletter.

Getting Dragga Pool Ready for the Season
One of the main focuses for the department this time of year is getting Dragga Pool ready for the season. Many repairs are made to get the pool up and running for residents to enjoy each year. The Service Department is responsible for most of the repairs and works on pool systems, drainage problems, and other yearly maintenance issues. The Service Department is also assisting with preparations for the new aquatic and community center on Marsol Road. We have removed debris and helped level the area after the community center building was raised. We look forward to seeing what the new aquatic and community center will bring to that area and are ready to help support the project in any way we can.

Contact Us
Lastly, it is our great pleasure to serve the resident of Mayfield Heights. The Service Department takes complaints seriously, and we appreciate your input and suggestions. Do not hesitate to contact the Service Department at 440.442.2629 for any questions or concerns.
From the Police Department
The Police Department completed the annual C.A.T.S. Academy (Citizens Academy for Teenage Students) on May 22nd. This year, 13 Mayfield School students attended the classes where they learned about Police Department operations, S.W.A.T., Bomb Squad, and Hostage Negotiators. Students also had an opportunity to use the radar and laser equipment and learned how to lift fingerprints. The C.A.T.S Academy provides an excellent opportunity for local teens to engage and build relationships with police officers. 

Unity Days
From June 24th-June 26th, the Police Department will be at the Unity Days festival and the parade engaging with the public and ensuring the safety of all guests in attendance. As part of the safety plan for the festival, a large number of cameras will be placed throughout the park during the event that will provide live feeds to our communications center. Many additional officers will be detailed at the park along with fire department personnel. Please note that on Saturday during fireworks, Marsol Road will be closed between Woodrow and Chelmsford. 
Safety Town
The Police Department will be assisting the Parks & Recreation Department with Safety Town this year. The first session begins on June 13th, and children will learn a variety of topics, including how to safely cross a street and how to deal with strangers. For more information on Safety Town, see the Parks & Recreation brief above.

Summer Speeding
With children being home from school and the good weather, it is important to remember to SLOW DOWN in residential areas. The Police Department will be increasing residential speed enforcement this month. There will also be additional police conducting O.V.I enforcement this month on behalf of a grant obtained through the county. Drive Safely!

Theft from Autos
The warm months may contribute to an increased number of theft from auto reports. Do your part to prevent yourself from becoming a crime victim. Lock your doors at night! Do not leave valuables inside of your vehicle, including keys. Do not hesitate to report suspicious activity to the police. The Police Department takes pride in serving our community. 
From Community Partnership on Aging
For more information on CPA programs, please visit their website or call 216-291-3902.
Vision Fair for Seniors
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Cafe Services
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Volunteer Opportunities
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Summer Concert Series
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TANF Meal Kits
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Community Market
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From the Finance Department
Council Summer Schedule
According to City Ordinances, City Council is scheduled to recess in the months of July and August. If a meeting is needed, it will be posted on the city’s website and City Hall front sign board, so please continue to check for updates.

R.I.T.A.
The Regional Income Tax Agency administers and collects municipal income tax for Mayfield Heights and over 300 other communities in Ohio. Although the tax filing date is now past, it is a good time to determine if changes need to be made to your estimated payments to avoid penalties next year. Representatives are available to assist at www.ritaohio.com or 800-860-7482.

Enjoy June
June starts with National Go Barefoot Day (June 1) and ends with National Sunglasses Day (June 27).In the middle, we have the longest day of the year (June 21). Here’s hoping we can all enjoy the warmth and sunshine of summer this month!
Please Note