August 23, 2006

To: Honorable Board of County Commissioners Jimmy Dimora, Tim Hagan, and Peter Lawson Jones 1219 Ontario Street Cleveland, Ohio 44113

From: Ed Hauser 11125 Lake Avenue #402 Cleveland, Ohio 44102

cc: Interested Citizens, Public Officials, Organizations, Stakeholders, and the Media

Subject: Formal Request for the Board of County Commissioners to proceed with Cuyahoga County's "Cleveland Lakefront / Cuyahoga River Maritime Facilities Study"

Dear Honorable Board of County Commissioners:

On July 27 and August 10, 2006, I testified in front of the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) making an urgent request for the county to proceed with its Cleveland Lakefront / Cuyahoga River Maritime Facilities Study for $200,000. On July 21, the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority (Port Authority) approved a Port Relocation Feasibility Study for $900,000. The urgency of my request is because of a statement made in a Plain Dealer article, "The county, which set aside money for its own independent study last year, will now drop those plans and work with the port." The county administrator confirmed that to be true, at this time.

Therefore, I am resubmitting my request in writing and ask the BOCC reconsider my formal request for the county to proceed with its Cleveland Lakefront / Cuyahoga River Maritime Facilities Study. I will briefly explain the logic behind my request and that the taxpayers must finally get the information we need to make logical decisions regarding Port Authority, private maritime operators and the Cleveland waterfront.

I am attaching a "Detailed Timeline" and "Brief Timeline" of waterfront planning efforts in Cleveland during the last decade. The Timelines demonstrate the dysfunctional planning efforts for our waterfront and the need for valid studies and assessments regarding our waterways. For example, over a nine (9) year period, the plans for Cuyahoga County's Whiskey Island Parkland (now Wendy Park) have changed nine (9) times. This type of dysfunctional planning can no longer be tolerated. The people of Northeast Ohio deserve a "comprehensive" assessment of the current and future maritime needs for the public and private operations along the lakefront and riverfront.

In the very near future, I will submit extensive public record requests to the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, Cuyahoga County, and the city of Cleveland. For over eight (8) years, I have participated in the public processes for waterfront development and will continue to investigate how our governments operate and spend our tax dollars. I will also suggest the "Next Steps" that need to taken to restore the public's trust and confidence in planning for Cleveland's waterways.

The Cuyahoga County Planning Commission and Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority are taking two very different approaches to its studies and assessments. The county will do a comprehensive study of the current and future needs of the maritime operations along the lakefront and riverfront. The Port Authority is narrowly focused on relocating its east side operations and building a new gravel dock.

Next Steps to Restore the Public's Trust and Confidence in Planning for Our Waterways

1) Proceed with the County's Cleveland Lakefront / Cuyahoga River Maritime Facilities Study (Project completion within ten months after Project Award date) Quoted from the County's Maritime Study - Problem Statement: As a major partner in the Northeast Ohio economy, the BOCC [Board of County Commissioners] believes that the Cleveland Harbor lacks a comprehensive strategy for what its maritime and public role will be in the future and the markets it will serve. This lack of strategy affects the Harbor's long-term viability and capability, the maritime operators that utilize Port facilities, the industries that depend on the maritime shipping and the public that seeks increasing access to Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River.

Therefore, the BOCC has decided to undertake a study of the maritime facilities of the Cleveland Lakefront and the Cuyahoga River to obtain the necessary information and analysis to assist them and their partners in making key decisions in regards to:

1) Role of the Cleveland Harbor;

2) Location, extent, and type of maritime shipping operations needed at the Port of Cleveland, the Cuyahoga River navigation channel (including the Old River Channel that forms the southern boundary of Whiskey Island) to serve the Northeast Ohio economy into the 21st century; and

3) How to best leverage the Lake Erie and Cuyahoga River waterfronts for a wide variety of activities.

2) Cancel the contract between the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority and URS for the Port Relocation Feasibility Study - The contract includes a 60-day cancellation option by either party (Project completed within six months) The Port Authority's relocation study is a waste of taxpayer money because:
2a) Results of the US Army Corps of Engineer's federal mandated Dredged Material Management Plan (DMMP) and the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will not be available until January 2008.

• Results may determine that a new Confined Disposal Facility (CDF) will be built on a site other than the Cleveland Harbor West Breakwall.
• Results may also determine that the new CDF is will be used for purposes other than the relocation of a 100-acre Port Facility.
• Port Facility relocation to the West Breakwall has many negative impacts associated with it, including but not limited to: Environmental (aquatic habitats, water and air pollution…); Aesthetics (ugly views of warehouses, cranes, trucks… on our beautiful Great Lake); Rebuilding Existing Transportation Infrastructure (maritime, highway, and rail); and of course the Tremendous Costs to the Taxpayers.

2b) Building a new Gravel Dock for Oglebay Norton on the County's Whiskey Island Marina property has nothing to do with relocating the Port Authority's East Side Operations to the West Breakwall.

This Gravel Dock Project will cost the county taxpayers over $30 million with a Return on Investment (ROI) of over 150 years. Costs = $33.5 Million = Construction ($20.5 M) + Land Acquisition ($6 M) + Boater Long Term Leases ($2 M) + Access Road ($3 M) + Bridge ($2 M). The Port leases 10 acres for bulk storage on Dock 20 for about $200K/year. ROI=167.5 years=$33.5M/$200K=Unacceptable

3) After the results and findings of the County's Cleveland Lakefront / Cuyahoga River Maritime Facilities Study; and the USACE Dredged Material Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement:

• Revisit the feasibility of the Port Authority's Port Relocation Feasibility Study.
• Revisit the feasibility of the City of Cleveland's Waterfront District Plan.
• Implement a valid planning process for our waterways that truly involves the community.
• Implement a valid plan for our waterways that will make the community thrive and be proud of!