Scene

This meeting of the Cleveland Metroparks Board of Park Commissioners was held on a different day of the week than usual — a Wednesday instead of a Thursday. But the time and place remained the same. Board members and attendees gathered at 8 a.m. in the Rzepka Board Room of the Cleveland Metroparks Administrative Offices. There are multiple entrances to the building, located at 4101 Fulton Parkway. The easiest access I found is via the door to the left of the big outdoor sign.

Inside, four rows of chairs sat facing a three-sided table for the board members. There was a large projector screen behind it and small TVs on either side. The people at the table were clearly identified with name plates.

Present:

• Yvette Ittu, board president
• Bruce Rinker, vice president
• Dan Moore, vice president
• Wade Steen, Metroparks chief financial officer
• Brian Zimmerman, chief executive officer
• Rosalina Fini, chief legal and ethics officer
• Karen Freedman, executive assistant to Zimmerman

The meeting started promptly at 8 a.m. There was a roll call, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the approval of minutes from the Sept. 18 meeting. 

The proceedings then followed the agenda in order, moving at a generally fast clip.

Financial report

Chief Financial Officer Wade Steen walked through some recent metrics with the help of a slide presentation and a green laser pointer.

He noted that the Metroparks Zoo and golf courses both had a good September in terms of revenue. However, the zoo’s year-to-date revenue is still down compared to 2024. Year-to-date revenue is also down for the Metroparks enterprise. That is mostly due to external factors, like bad weather. Also, the East 55th Street restaurant (called e55 on the lake) was closed for the season.

Join the movement for transparency

Civic power can start with you! We train and pay Documenters to take notes at local government meetings and share them here. Learn more about becoming a Documenter.

Looking toward funding the budget for next year, “ there are a number of positions that are not going to be funded as we try to shrink our staff budget down,” Steen said. Property tax revenues are decreasing, a trend they expect to continue. However, they will keep their eyes on developments in the first half of 2026, in hopes that Cuyahoga County will start to collect delinquent taxes and “do a better job of collecting current taxes.”

Board Vice President Bruce Rinker asked some follow-up questions about how the county is changing how it collects property taxes. Steen replied that  he hasn’t gotten an answer on that from them, and right now it seems they’re just trying to address the delinquencies that haven’t been collected.

Rinker also inquired whether the Metroparks team could be doing more to raise awareness that the state government in Columbus has been reducing the revenue distributed to local governments.

“ We are going to be sharing that information, because what they’re doing in Columbus is not helpful to local governments,” Steen said. “It’s not helpful to libraries, schools, park districts — those of us that rely on property taxes. It’s a challenge for us right now.”

[Editor’s note: Learn more: Ohio lawmakers want to immediately cut property taxes for many.]

Recognition of retirements

CEO Brian Zimmerman then acknowledged three employees who recently retired after long careers with the Metroparks. Valerie Eck (former administrative specialist) could not attend in person, but Chuck Engelhart (former Director of Parks — East) and Todd Zambetti (former police officer) were there to receive framed recognitions for their service.

Approval of action Items

Zimmerman, Steen and other Metroparks officials then provided overviews of each general action item up for approval, items (b) through (k) on the agenda. All items were approved unanimously, with the caveat that some projects cannot progress until the federal government returns from its current shutdown.

Some particularly interesting items to me:

• (g) Sagamore Connector Trail — Project Development Agreement — Bedford Reservation
  • Zimmerman said this project is one of the last missing pieces that would connect more than 51 miles of Metroparks trails from the Rocky River Reservation to the South Chagrin Reservation. This action item allows the CEO to enter into an agreement with Summit Metro Parks, Sagamore Hills Township, and the National Park Service for developing the trail.
• (j) 2025-2026 Property and Liability Insurance Coverages
  • Greg Headley, director of risk management, discussed this item with the board, noting that the market is very challenging right now. 
  • Some of their insurance premiums will be increasing — not because of claims the Metroparks made, but because of the property they own. Their buildings are worth more than $500 million in value, and many of them are wood-framed buildings or shelters. This action item accepts various insurance coverages for November 2025 through November 2026 at a total premium of $1.53 million. 
• (k) 2026 Cleveland Metroparks Employee Group Health Care Benefits
  • Matthew Hawes, director of human resources and employment counsel, discussed this item with the board.
  • Premiums for employee medical plans increased by 18% in 2025, and they will increase again by 7.5% in 2026.
  • Board Vice President Dan Moore asked if the age of employees is what is driving increased costs. Hawes said that Metroparks employees actually skew younger, though many also have spouses and children on their plans.
  • This action item approves the continuation of the self-insurance employee health benefits program.

The board then approved action items (ii) through (iv) as seen on the agenda, as well as the approval of vouchers and payroll and the approval of Arborwear Only.

Public comment

Olmsted Township resident Marty Lesher, a regular at these meetings, read some prepared comments. There are things the Metroparks could do to both cut costs and decrease pollution, she said. She seemed particularly concerned about chemical runoff from the Metroparks golf courses, which she said encourages the growth of damaging blue-green algae and could pose health concerns for golf course employees.

She also voiced objection to the proposed construction of new cell towers within the park. While acknowledging safety concerns, she said she is concerned that the towers would disrupt the local ecosystem, create a visual annoyance, and encourage visitors to spend more time on their phones rather than appreciate the nature around them.

Suggested Reading

It’s bitter cold in Cleveland. Here’s what to know about warming centers and shelters

by Signal Cleveland Staff January 30, 2026

After Lesher sat down, Moore agreed that the risks of chemical runoff and the toxicity of various herbicides is worth further investigation. He suggested to Zimmerman it would be worth ensuring Metroparks staff are well-informed on the products they’re using.

Information/briefing items/policy

Spotted Turtle Conservation

• Dr. Mike Selig, head of veterinary programs, and Nathan Byer, research and database manager, talked to the board about a recent repatriation project for spotted turtles — an uncommon and threatened species in the state of Ohio.
• A video was then played, explaining how this cohort of spotted turtles ended up at the zoo in 2019, the six-year process of genetic testing and disease screening, and the gradual steps taken to release 17 turtles back into the wild this spring and summer.
• The turtles have been adjusting well to their new habitat, for which the precise location is kept private. Selig explained that the turtles are currently moving towards hibernation. The team will continue to track them during this critical time.

Communications and connectivity

• Kyle Baker, director of real estate and senior legal counsel, and Alexis Triozzi, staff attorney, talked to the board about the current plans to construct two new cell towers in the Metroparks.
• Staff and visitors have reported a number of low signal areas, Triozzi said. Those raise safety issues and diminishes the guest experience.
• According to Triozzi, the benefits of new cell towers would be: improved public safety and emergency response; improved park operations for staff; enhanced visitor experience; and revenue generation.
  • She insisted that revenue generation is an added benefit, not the primary goal.
• The team is in the process of signing two cell tower leases right now:
  • One in Bentleyville, South Chagrin Reservation
  • And one in Gates Mills, North Chagrin Reservation
  • The leases reserve the Metroparks’ right to design control and allow it to insist on buried utility lines.
• For the next steps, the cell tower companies will begin a year-long testing period to gather relevant data. No physical towers will be constructed until the end of that testing period.

Zimmerman reminded the board of the next meeting on Nov. 20. Board President Yvette Ittu then adjourned the meeting at 9:25 a.m. 

These notes are by Documenter Stephanie Manning.

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalcleveland.org  with “Correction Request” in the subject line.