City Taps CSU For ShotSpotter Analysis; Resident Talks About Cleveland’s Lead Crisis

 

Cleveland lead crisis, flavored tobacco ban addressed in public comments

April 3 – Cleveland City Council

Ward 3 resident Mario Pollard talks to council members about Cleveland’s lead-poisoning crisis. (Credit: Cleveland City Council YouTube)

What happened: Community members made public comments on topics including support for veterans and the city’s lead-poisoning crisis. “I have spoken here before on this issue as part of a larger organization,” began Ward 3 resident Mario Pollard. “However, tonight I’m here as a private, angry citizen.” Pollard pressed city officials on the city’s efforts to address the lead-poisoning crisis, noting that a majority of rental properties are not certified as lead-safe. “I can’t think of any topic on any agenda for any city that’s more prioritized than ensuring the children who live in our city have safe homes to grow up in.”

Minority Men’s Health Fair: Before urging the council to pass a proposed ban on the sale of flavored tobacco, Dr. Charles Modlin announced the upcoming Minority Men’s Health Fair at MetroHealth. Three locations will offer more than 30 free preventive health screenings on April 27. Here’s how to register for the event.

And also: Council approved two contracts related to MomsFirst, a city program that aims to improve birth outcomes in Cleveland. One contract pays Case Western Reserve University to evaluate the program. The other weaves fatherhood services and resources into the program.

City Council passed a law in 2019 that requires landlords to certify that their homes are free from lead hazards. Signal Cleveland’s Candice Wilder reports that the city has met only 25% of its goal.

Cleveland State will conduct ShotSpotter analysis

April 5 – Cleveland Board of Control

What happened: The board approved a contract with Cleveland State University (CSU) to evaluate ShotSpotter in Cleveland. City Council greenlit a roughly $2.75 million expansion of the gunshot-detection technology last October. Council members added a provision to the legislation requiring an independent evaluation and paying up to $150,000. That followed weeks of discussion among advocates, residents, company reps, and city officials about the technology’s effectiveness in reducing violent crime.

$21.2 million for new water lines: The city’s efforts to replace lead and galvanized water service lines took a step forward. The board approved contracts totaling about $21.2 million. The city could ask the state for more money in May, according to Director of Public Utilities Martin Keane.

April 6 – Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services

What happened: Jacqueline Fletcher, director of the Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS), updated board members about kids in the county’s care. There are about 2,300 children currently in county care, down from 2,400 in April 2022.

Placement remains a struggle: Children continue to stay at the Jane Edna Hunter Building, which houses the division’s offices while waiting for a placement. Cleveland.com reported that DCFS places 90% of children in a residence within 24 hours, and the goal is for kids to spend no more than 48 hours in the office building. Still, Fletcher acknowledged challenges, saying the 70 providers for short-term emergency childcare are at capacity.

New staff members: DCFS is set to train 32 new staff members in child protection positions beginning this week, Fletcher said. She added that it was the highest number of new employees in a long time. The board discussed staffing levels at its December meeting, with Board Member David Crampton highlighting 133 vacant caseworker positions at that time. Documenter Dan McLaughlin had more on that meeting.

Did you know the county offers weekly data reports about kids in its care? Visit the county website to find those reports.

April 3 – Municipal Services and Properties Committee, Cleveland City Council

Covered by Documenter Tina Scott

What happened: Cleveland City Hall is set to get renovations worth at least $14 million. Repairing and restoring the exterior and interior facades—including the doors, windows, and light wells—will cost $10 million, according to James DeRosa, director of the Mayor’s Office of Capital Projects. Repairing and replacing mechanical systems—mainly piping—will cost another $4 million.

ADA standards: Council Member Brian Kazy asked if bringing City Hall in line with federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards was within the scope of the renovations. Carter Edman, who manages architecture and site development at the city, said the plans could include an ADA review. Kazy said it’s difficult for people with wheelchairs, strollers, and crutches to enter City Hall via the front steps. He proposed an amendment to include ADA considerations in the project. The committee advanced the legislation as amended, and the full council passed it later that evening.

New soccer fields: Lonnie Burten Park in Ward 5 and Halloran Park in Ward 11 are getting new mini-pitch soccer fields through a donation from the U.S. Soccer Foundation. The mini-pitches will have hard surfaces instead of turf. Parks and Recreation Planning Manager Jay Rauschenbach said the city will control the fields’ lighting, and it will be able to lock and secure the fields. The full council also passed this legislation later that night.

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On deck
Check out what local government meetings Documenters are set to cover this week.