Meeting coverage by Cleveland Documenters | Compiled by Doug Breehl-Pitorak, Assignment Editor, Signal Cleveland
Here’s what happened last week in local public government meetings covered by Cleveland Documenters.
Cleveland Public Meetings Report – The week of October 24, 2022
Committees discuss expansion of co-responder program
Oct. 26 – Joint Committees: Safety / Health, Human Services and the Arts, Cleveland City Council
Covered by Documenter Najee Hall
Larry Heller, of the Northern Ohio Recovery Association, makes a public comment (screenshot from video on YouTube).
What happened: City Council’s Safety Committee and Health, Human Services and the Arts Committee held a joint meeting. They discussed and advanced legislation that aims to strengthen the city’s Crisis-Intervention Team (CIT) program. The program focuses on Public Safety’s response to people experiencing mental health issues. The police department currently has five co-responder teams. Each includes one CIT-certified police officer and one mental health professional. The department is requesting about $5 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for this program. With funding, the number of co-responder teams would increase to 10 to 12, said Chief of Police Dornat “Wayne” Drummond. That would allow crisis team response from 8 a.m. until midnight, when 81.67% of all crisis calls are made, according to the request submitted to the council.
Concerns about lost data: Ward 7 Council Member Stephanie Howse expressed concerns about patients’ health data. She said the various platforms that store data do not share information. Howse wondered what the city could do to ensure new hires to the city’s co-responder teams could access data. Director of Public Health Dr. David Margolius acknowledged that health systems don’t share a patient’s data easily. He said a memorandum of understanding (MOU) could resolve the issue.
Public comment: Three people made public comments. Piet van Lier, a Senior Researcher at Policy Matters Ohio, spoke first. He liked that officials are thinking about non-police care response. Larry Heller, of the Northern Ohio Recovery Association, spoke next. He said the legislation could be an important first step toward care response. Rosie Palfy, a Cleveland Documenter and member of the Mental Health Response Advisory Committee (MHRAC), also spoke. Palfy said the city should first find out what community members need and then develop a strategic plan.
Have something to say about Cleveland’s crisis-intervention efforts? Check out our guide to registering for public comment. The next opportunity to address the full council is at its 7 p.m. meeting on Nov. 7. Note: Parking is free on Mondays after 5 p.m. on the top deck of the Willard Garage.
Panel discusses lead-safe funds
Oct. 24 – Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Cleveland City Council
Covered by Documenter Anastazia Vanisko
What happened: The committee advanced legislation that re-allocates $17 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds for lead-safety initiatives. The full amount was previously allocated to the Mt. Sinai Health Foundation for use by the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition. Here is how the $17 million will now be distributed: $3 million will go to Community Development, $1 million will go to the Department of Law to increase prosecution against lead-hazard violations, and Mt. Sinai will get the remaining $13 million for the coalition. The Development, Planning, and Sustainability Committee contentiously debated the legislation on Oct. 8. Full council passed the legislation on Oct. 24.
Deepest end of the system: Director of Community Development Alyssa Hernandez said the department will use the $3 million for lead abatement at the “deepest end of the system.” “These are homes that have been identified as lead risks. These are where children are actively being poisoned in, had been poisoned in,” she said.
Are you a Cleveland landlord or tenant curious about lead safety? The Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition is hosting a virtual session for landlords on Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. It is also hosting a virtual session for tenants on Nov. 3 at 11 a.m.
Commission discusses city’s demolition strategy
Oct. 27 – Cleveland Landmarks Commission
Covered by Documenters Sarah Tan and Marvetta Rutherford
The commission reviews a home set for demolition in Ward 9 (screenshot from video on YouTube).
What happened: The commission approved the demolition of a Ward 9 home in the East Boulevard Historic District. City Planner Karl Brunjes said he didn’t think demolition was the answer for this property. He also said widespread demolition may not be helpful. “We cannot demolish our way to better neighborhoods; we need to conserve our way to them,” he said. Commission Member Jonathan Bonezzi said there is no other option for many homes in this condition. Commission Member Anthony Brancatelli said that Director of City Planning Joyce Pan Huang has discussed creating a committee to review alternatives to demolition projects.
Playhouse District Marquees: The commission approved a certificate of appropriateness for plans to renovate six theater marquees in the Playhouse Square Historic District. The renovations would help lower energy use, said Tom Einhouse, a project representative. They would also help control light pollution.
Left wondering: Documenter Sarah Tan asked, “What are other cities doing to prevent the decline of their historic districts?”
Director of City Planning Joyce Pan Huang discussed her vision for the department at a June 28 City Club forum on Public Square. Check out this Twitter thread by Signal Cleveland’s Paul Rochford for a recap of the conversation.
Council rejects contract sought by Municipal Court
Oct. 24 – Cleveland City Council
Covered by Documenters Kellie Morris and Chau Tang
What happened: Council voted down legislation that would have allowed the city to contract with NashWest LLC. The contract would have secured a project manager to oversee the continued implementation of the Municipal Court’s case-management system. The estimated cost was $234,000 for one year. The Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee advanced the legislation earlier that day.
Council rarely votes down legislation at its regular Monday night meeting. From January 2020 through May 2021, the council passed 96% of ordinances and emergency ordinances without a single nay vote against them. Learn more about the council’s voting patterns from The Pace of Passage, reporting from Cleveland Documenters.
Bibb outlines focus areas for improving CMSD
Oct. 24 – Board of Directors, Cleveland Transformation Alliance
Covered by Documenters Breana Smith and Nicholas Ventura
What happened: Mayor Justin Bibb highlighted three focus areas for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD): making up for learning lost during the pandemic, connecting families to their public school options, and establishing programs focused on students’ mental health and well-being.
Audit performed: The board reviewed and approved an audit of its finances. The Cleveland Transformation Alliance (CTA) had $448,924 in cash heading into 2022.
And also: CTA is working to finalize the draft of its annual Cleveland Plan report by early November.
The CTA resulted from an effort to “reinvent public education in Cleveland.” Former Mayor Frank Jackson began the initiative in 2011. Learn more on the CTA website.
Theater in Ohio City adding a bar
Oct. 24 – Cleveland Board of Zoning Appeals
Covered by Documenters Nina Awal and Marvetta Rutherford
What happened: The Imposters Theater is adding a bar. The Ward 3 improv comedy club received zoning variances related to use and parking. Leon Sampat, the project’s architect, said the theater has a parking agreement with a neighboring school.
Mixed-use campus postponed: The board postponed a case regarding a mixed-use campus. The Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center for Economic Development wants to create a space for a variety of activities in Ward 14. It envisions using the property for a grocery store, bar, restaurant, offices, and more.
And also: The board welcomed new member Priscila Rocha, who is also an attorney for Cleveland Metroparks.
Want to learn more about zoning? Check out this introduction to Cleveland zoning by City Planner Matt Moss.
City to update system that allows access to City Hall
Oct. 26 – Cleveland Board of Control
Covered by Documenters Gennifer Harding-Gosnell and Karima McCree-Wilson
What happened: The board met for about five minutes. It adjusted a contract with Paladin Protective Systems, Inc. It added additional professional services to the contract. The vendor is working on modernizing the systems that allow employees to access City Hall, an official said. Eventually, officials will have the option to enter the building using their city-issued cell phones. The total cost of the contract is now not to exceed $584,792.45.
Left wondering: The board rejected bids for plumbing services and a large-valve renewal program. Documenter Karima McCree-Wilson asked, “What resources are available to potential contractors seeking to do business with the city to assist them with ensuring that their bids meet the requirements set forth by the Purchasing Department?”
The Cleveland Board of Control consists of members of the mayor’s cabinet and leaders of city departments. City Council passes some legislation that authorizes the city to enter contracts for various services. In some cases, the council leaves vendor selection or compensation to be set by the Board of Control. The board makes those decisions in this meeting. It also votes on the sale and purchase of land parcels.
Civic Term of the Week:
Curious about more local-government lingo? Check out this glossary of terms from Signal Cleveland’s Paul Rochford.
What’s ahead?
A look at the meetings Documenters are set to cover the week of Oct. 31.
Oct. 31
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2 p.m. – Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, City Council (livestream)
Nov. 1
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9 a.m. – Standing Committees, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (livestream)
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1:30 p.m. – Workforce, Education, Training and Youth Development Committee, City Council (livestream)
Nov. 2
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10 a.m. – Transportation and Mobility Committee, City Council (livestream)
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3 p.m. – Cleveland Board of Control (livestream)
Nov. 3
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9:30 a.m. – Board meeting, Cuyahoga County Board of Elections (livestream)
Nov. 4
- 9 a.m. – City Planning Commission (livestream)
