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Pepper Pike approves anti-poaching protocol
(by Sali McSherry - September 28, 2011)
Pepper Pike approves anti-poaching protocol
By SALI McSHERRY
Pepper Pike City Council approved last week an anti-poaching protocol recommended to communities by Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald. All five council members present at the meeting agreed.
Part of Mr. FitzGerald's promotion of collaboration, the protocol is designed to stop competition among communities, Mayor Bruce H. Akers said.
"Cuyahoga County's economy will be stronger if communities work together, rather than against each other," according to the proposed protocol. While some businesses will choose to relocate within the county, the focus of economic development efforts should not be on encouraging companies to move from one municipality to another by offering incentives, according to the county.
The protocol applies to businesses with 25 or more full-time employees.
It stops short of committing to revenue sharing, "noting that some signatories do not favor revenue sharing, we will agree to have a discussion about the possibility of a revenue-sharing agreement" with officials of the affected home community, if asked by them, according to Mr. FitzGerald.
Pepper Pike, along with other communities signing the document, agree to not publicly propose or offer other incentives to the business considering relocating until the business has notified its home community of the possibility.
Communities also agree they won't pursue businesses that have not indicated they are relocating, to move to their municipalities.
The agreement is in effect until Dec. 31, 2014, and the county reserves the right to consider those participating in the agreement in evaluating applications under the county's proposed $100 million economic development fund or other programs, according to Mr. Fitzgerald.
Pepper Pike receives about $4.1 million annually in income tax revenue, according to city Finance Director Loren Sengstock.
Mr. Akers has called Pepper Pike the financial center of the east side of Greater Cleveland. There are regional headquarters, branches and offices, including Huntington Bank, Charter One, Key Bank, Citi Smith Barney, JP Morgan Bank, Bank of America, and PNC Bank. Real estate companies Howard Hanna Real Estate Services and Re-Max Premiere Properties have a presence in the city. There are several office buildings on Chagrin Boulevard within the city's boundaries, along with developers such as Visconsi Co. and Zeisler Morgan Properties Ltd. And Landerwood Plaza features a variety of retailers along with Heinen's Fine Foods grocery store.
There are 59 communities in Cuyahoga County. Cleveland already has an anti-poaching agreement.
"It adds to the overall picture of regionalism," Councilwoman Paulette Morganstern said.
Councilwoman Jill Miller Zimon said the legislation is "very significant in a positive way." But, since two council members, Gail Mayland and Scott Newell, were not present at the meeting, she said council should wait until they had a chance to sign off on it.
The city can withdraw at any time, Mr. Akers said. The county has asked for action by municipalities in September, he said.
The mayor said he had asked Mr. Newell and Mrs. Mayland to call him if they had issues with the anti-poaching protocol. He said he had not heard from them.
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