Categories: Documenters

Residents discuss conditions at Slavic Village home, rec center; officials review new police HQ proposal

Meeting coverage by Cleveland Documenters | Compiled by Signal Cleveland’s Doug Breehl-Pitorak

Here’s what happened last week in local public government meetings covered by Cleveland Documenters.

Cleveland Public Meetings Report – The week of Feb. 6

Public commenters focus on poor conditions at Slavic Village house, rec center

Feb. 6 – Cleveland City Council

Covered by Documenters Charlestine Pride and Preeya Shankar

Sonya Sanders speaks to the council about conditions at Slavic Village’s Stella Walsh Recreation Center (Credit: Cleveland City Council YouTube).

What happened: Public commenters discussed several quality-of-life issues, including bad conditions and squatters in a Slavic Village home, the negative health effects of vacant homes and lots, and violence prevention strategies. One commenter, Sonya Sanders, discussed the state of the Stella Walsh Recreation Center, also in Slavic Village. “The ceiling is caving; they not looking up to this,” Sanders said, gesturing to the ceilings in council chambers. “They looking up to paint falling on them while they are basketball playing.”

Peacemakers get a new contract: The Peacemakers Alliance, a group that sends outreach workers known as “violence interrupters” to assist families and communities after shootings, has received a new, hurried contract after an administrative error left the group continuing its work without guaranteed pay. Council approved $300,000 to keep the program going. Read more on the contract from Signal Cleveland’s Nick Castele.

Support for flavored tobacco ban: Some public commenters also spoke in favor of a citywide ban on flavored tobacco products. City Council introduced legislation that would do exactly that. It would also require tobacco sellers to obtain a special retail license. The commenters said they believe companies use flavored tobacco to market to youth. Signal Cleveland’s Candice Wilder has more.

Watch the full public comments or read transcripts edited by Gennifer Harding-Gosnell on Public Comment CLE (website created by Ohio City resident Angelo Trivisonno).

Panel looks at cost of new police HQ, plans for Highland Park Golf Course

Feb. 6 – Municipal Services and Properties Committee, Cleveland City Council

Covered by Documenters Marvetta Rutherford and Giorgiana Lascu

Officials discuss the proposal for the new police headquarters at the ArtCraft Building, 2530 Superior Ave. (Credit: Cleveland City Council YouTube).

What happened: The committee moved along legislation that would allow the city to purchase the ArtCraft building for the new police headquarters. The total cost of the project is about $90 million, officials said. They estimate it to be about $71 million cheaper than the long-planned site along the Opportunity Corridor. Ward 5 Council Member Richard Starr asked about plans for relocating the building’s current tenants, many of whom are artists. Jon Pinney of TurnDev, a project partner, said the building was 80 percent vacant. He said they offered up to six months of free rent to relocate tenants and forgave 100 percent of past-due rent. Signal Cleveland’s Olivera Perkins spoke to some tenants about the plans in December.

Highland Park Golf Course: The committee discussed legislation that would allow the city to pay the Highland Park Golf Foundation to manage the course for up to 30 years. Annual management fees would be about $250,000, officials said. The course, located in the suburban village of Highland Hills, is owned by Cleveland. Historically, the course has been a preferred destination for many Black golfers. Committee Chair Kevin Bishop said that he supports the initiative but that he and other council members want more information. Council Member Mike Polensek said he would like to see the city consider a proposal from the Cleveland Metroparks to manage the course.

Insuring Browns Stadium: The committee advanced legislation allowing the city to pay about $510,000 annually for insurance for Cleveland Browns Stadium. The stadium is worth about $700 million, according to John Laird, assistant director of Public Works. City Council passed the legislation at its meeting that night.

Curious about how the council moves legislation? Check out our one-page guide to the council’s legislative process.

Hopkins getting new floors, firefighters getting new boots

Feb. 8 – Cleveland Board of Control

Covered by Documenters Daniel McLaughlin and Mildred Seward

Members of the Cleveland Board of Control meet in the Red Room at City Hall on Feb. 8. (Credit: Cleveland Board of Control YouTube).

What happened: The board approved contracts with insurance companies to provide health benefits to city employees. The contracts could cost up to the following amounts per year:

Anthem Blue Cross: $45 million
Medical Mutual of Ohio: $80 million
Delta Dental: $5 million
EyeMed: $600,000
Symetra Life Insurance: $300,000

An official said the city’s 2020 healthcare costs were about $110 million. This resolution was not on the meeting agenda.

Third time’s the charm, sort of: Fixes are coming to flooring at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The city received bids for this work three times, and, each time, vendors failed to meet Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) goals, according to Interim Director of Port Control Dennis Kramer. But, this being the third round of bids, the department recommended going forward with Architectural Floors of Cleveland, Inc., a plan the board approved. An official said the approved vendor was only off from OEO goals by a small margin. The contract covers any flooring that needs repair, including within restrooms.

And also: The board approved the purchase of new safety boots for the Cleveland Division of Fire for $219,937.

What is the Cleveland Board of Control? What power does it have? Signal Cleveland’s Service Journalism Reporter Abbey Marshall answered those questions and more in this Board of Control explainer.

Schools seeking money for health clinics; ‘Comebackers’ group wants people to finish college

Feb. 6 – Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council

Covered by Documenter Carolyn Cooper

Council Members Jasmin Santana, Kerry McCormack, and Brian Kazy (left to right) discuss legislation during a committee meeting on Feb. 6. (Credit: Cleveland City Council YouTube).

What happened: Finance Committee members approved spending $300,000 to help reach residents who attended but did not complete college. Chief Education Officer Holly Trifiro said that includes as many as 60,000 Clevelanders, some of whom have debt getting in the way of their return to a college classroom. The money would be spent to promote the “Comebacker Campaign” designed to help people finish degrees and access millions in student-debt forgiveness assistance. Council voted to approve the legislation at its meeting that night.

And also: The committee approved dropping the city fine for fare evasion—not paying a bus or train fare—from a potential $250 and 30 days in jail to $25 and encouraging the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) to cite people under the city law instead of the state law. A $25 fine would be closer to the cost of a parking ticket. Council later approved the legislation at its regular meeting, though the transit authority didn’t commit to using the new law.

Catch up on the background on fare evasion with the primer by Signal’s Doug Breehl-Pitorak.

What’s ahead?

It’s budget season! Documenters are set to cover these budget hearings the week of Feb. 13, along with the Monday night council meeting. Brush up on the budget process with our guide.

Feb. 13