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The Cleveland Observer is dedicated to keeping residents informed about legislative activities under review. By reporting on ordinances and resolutions during their initial stages, the Observer enables community members to engage with their Council members, providing feedback or expressing support before final decisions are made.
How Your Tax Dollars are Being Spent
Cleveland City Council introduced a series of ordinances and resolutions during its meetings the last four weeks.These measures address a range of issues, including infrastructure improvements, public safety, community development, and economic growth. After their first readings, the legislation was referred to the appropriate city departments and committees for further scrutiny before advancing toward final passage.
The legislative process involves multiple steps to ensure transparency and accountability. Following the first reading, each ordinance or resolution undergoes detailed review by city departments and committees. This is followed by a second reading and additional discussion during the Council of the Whole meeting, where members debate and refine the proposals before a final vote.
First Reading
January 10, 2025
Ordinance No. 19-2025
Summary: Authorizes the Director of Finance, on behalf of the Cleveland Municipal Court, to apply for and accept a grant from the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County for the Addiction Treatment Program – Admin Fee SFY 25 Program.
Sponsors: Council Member Griffin (by departmental request).
Funding: Not applicable.
Ordinance No. 20-2025
Summary: Authorizes the Director of Finance to enter into an agreement with Holland & Knight LLP for federal lobbying services for the City of Cleveland for one year, with an option to renew for an additional year.
Sponsors: Council Member Griffin (by departmental request).
Funding: $180,000 annually from Fund No. 01-9998-6320.
Ordinance No. 21-2025
Summary: Authorizes the Director of Public Works to employ one or more professional consultants to provide education and training for employees and to enter into a contract with the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) for one year, with a one-year option to renew.
Sponsors: Council Members Bishop and Griffin (by departmental request).
Funding: Payable from Fund No. 01-7013-6224.
Ordinance No. 22-2025
Summary: Authorizes the Directors of Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and/or Finance to employ professional consultants to assess, recommend, and procure property insurance for Huntington Bank Field at 100 Alfred Lerner Way, for one year.
Sponsors: Council Members Bishop and Griffin (by departmental request).
Funding: Paid from Fund No. 11 SF 600 and other funds approved by the Director of Finance.
Ordinance No. 40-2025
Summary: Authorizes the Directors of Public Works and Economic Development to enter into a ground lease with Rust Belt Riders Composting, LLC, for the use and occupancy of property at 3270 East 79th Street to consolidate its composting facility operations and to install a retail operation, for a period of ten years with two ten-year renewal options.
Sponsors: Council Members Starr, Bishop, Hairston, and Griffin (by departmental request).
Funding: Annual rental rate based on a fair market value appraisal.
Ordinance No. 42-2025
Summary: Authorizes the Director of Public Health to transfer the property at 4242 Lorain Avenue to the Department of Community Development or Economic Development for redevelopment by Pennrose Holdings LLC, including a sale or ground lease of the property.
Sponsors: Council Members McCormack, Conwell, Hairston, and Griffin (by departmental request).
Funding: Not applicable.
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Ordinance No. 44-2025
Summary: Authorizes the revocation of the Encroachment Permit granted to the Tamir Rice Foundation under Ordinance No. 883-2020, passed December 9, 2020, for certain streetscape and landscape improvements on the old West Boulevard alignment between Detroit Avenue and Madison Avenue. Authorizes the conveyance of new permanent and utility easements to the Foundation to improve and maintain the Tamir Rice Memorial at Cudell Commons.
Sponsors: Council Members Bishop, Hairston, and Griffin (by departmental request).
Funding: Not applicable.
Ordinance No. 45-2025
Summary: Supplements Ordinance No. 746-2024, passed August 7, 2024, by adding provisions related to tax increment financing (TIF) agreements and construction-management contracts for public infrastructure improvements in the redevelopment of the Cuyahoga Riverfront area. Repeals Section 9 and amends Section 10 of Ordinance No. 746-2024 to include new terms for public improvement projects.
Sponsors: Council Members Bishop, Hairston, and Griffin (by departmental request).
Funding: TIF funding through District Service Payments and Extension Period Service Payments, not exceeding specified limits.
January 17,2025
Ordinance No. 95-2025
Summary: Authorizes the Director of Economic Development to execute documents for the acquisition and conveyance of properties related to TDG Franklin North LLC for development purposes, with specified easements and compliance with Section 5709.41 of the Revised Code.
Sponsors: Council Members McCormack, Hairston, and Griffin (by departmental request).
Funding: Title-related costs covered by TDG Franklin North
Ordinance No. 96-2025
Summary: Authorizes the Mayor and the Commissioner of Purchases and Supplies to acquire and reconvey properties located at 3105 Franklin Boulevard for inclusion in the chain-of-title prior to tax increment financing legislation for the Franklin Yards South Project.
Sponsors: Council Members McCormack, Hairston, and Griffin (by departmental request).
Funding: Nominal consideration of $1 and other fair market considerations.
Ordinance No. 99-2025
Summary: Reallocates $3,096,087.79 previously designated for capital improvements to the West Side Market to support enhancements authorized under Ordinance Nos. 532-2023 and 543-2024, including reconfiguration, HVAC installation, and structural upgrades.
Sponsors: Council Members McCormack, Bishop, and Griffin (by departmental request).
Funding: Reallocation of previously authorized funds.
Standing Committees of the Council (2022-2025)
Monday (Alternating)
9:30 a.m. – Health, Human Services and the Arts Committee
Chair: Conwell
Vice-Chair: Maurer
Members: Gray, Harsh, Howse-Jones, Slife, Starr
9:30 a.m. – Municipal Services and Properties Committee
Chair: Bishop
Vice-Chair: Starr
Members: Hairston, Jones, Kazy, Kelly, Maurer
Monday
2:00 p.m. – Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
Chair: Griffin
Vice-Chair: McCormack
Members: Bishop, Conwell, Hairston, Kazy, Polensek, Santana, Spencer
Tuesday
1:30 p.m. – Workforce, Education, Training and Youth Development Committee
Chair: Santana
Vice-Chair: Howse-Jones
Members: Gray, Jones, Slife, Spencer, Starr
Tuesday (Alternating)
9:30 a.m. – Development, Planning and Sustainability Committee
Chair: Hairston
Vice-Chair: Santana
Members: Harsh, Howse-Jones, Jones, McCormack, Spencer
Wednesday (Alternating)
10:00 a.m. – Safety Committee
Chair: Polensek
Vice-Chair: Jones
Members: Gray, Howse-Jones, Kelly, Slife, Starr
10:00 a.m. – Transportation and Mobility Committee
Chair: McCormack
Vice-Chair: Slife
Members: Bishop, Gray, Kazy, Maurer, Santana
Thursday
10:00 a.m. – Utilities Committee
Chair: Kazy
Vice-Chair: Spencer
Members: Bishop, Gray, Harsh, Kelly, Polensek
