Residents speak about homelessness, participatory budgeting; committee OKs police-related grants

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 Nov. 28, 2022

Committee approves six mayoral nominees for Community Police Commission

Dec. 1 – Mayor’s Appointments Committee, Cleveland City Council
Covered by Documenter Najee Hall

Alana Garrett-Ferguson, a mayoral nominee to the Community Police Commission, answers questions from the committee. (Credit: Cleveland City Council YouTube / Org: Cleveland City Council).

What happened: The committee interviewed and approved six of Mayor Justin Bibb’s 10 nominees for the new Community Police Commission (CPC). The nominees approved Thursday were James Chura, Charles Donaldson, Kyle Earley, Alana Garrett-Ferguson, Cait Kennedy and Piet Van Lier. The committee interviewed the remaining mayoral nominees on Dec. 2. All 13 nominees – including three selected by council – were set for final approval at council’s Dec. 5 meeting.

Background: The passage of ballot initiative Issue 24 in November 2021 changed the city charter with the aim of strengthening civilian oversight of police. The CPC now has final say over police discipline for officers. Previously, the city’s chief of police and director of public safety held final say over discipline.

Questions posed: Committee members asked each nominee several questions. Topics ranged from nominees’ experiences with law enforcement, to their views on defunding the police, to their social media activity. Though the committee approved the six nominees, Council Member Kris Harsh raised a concern. He said the nominees fill four of five categories listed in the Issue 24 charter amendments. While the city believes the charter requires only that nominees fill at least one of those categories, Harsh believes it requires all to be met. Some activists who helped lead Issue 24 agree.

Curious about the commission and the nominee-selection process? Signal Cleveland’s Stephanie Casanova sets the stage.

Residents comment on homelessness and participatory budgeting

Nov. 28 – Cleveland City Council
Covered by Documenters Karima McCree-Wilson, Daniel McLaughlin and Dorothy Ajamu

Josiah Quarles from the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless speaks about rental assistance. (Credit: Cleveland City Council YouTube / Org: Cleveland City Council).

What happened: Eight community members made public comments. Topics included renovations at public transit stations, participatory budgeting and resources for people experiencing homelessness. Josiah Quarles from the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) spoke about emergency rental assistance. The program, funded by the federal government, stopped accepting new applications on Dec. 2. He said losing the program would destabilize people’s housing. “It’s like if you have a table and you kick one of the legs out from under it, it’s very easy for that table to be upturned,” Quarles said.

Lead-pipe removal progresses: Council passed legislation related to the city’s effort to replace lead pipes. The law allows the city to hire consultants to manage the program.

And also: Council introduced legislation concerning $7.5 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The money would support affordable housing and property renovations. The legislation is set for administrative and committee review.

Watch the full public comments or read transcripts edited by Documenter Carolyn Cooper on Public Comment CLE (website created by Ohio City resident Angelo Trivisonno).

Committee OKs several police-related grants

Nov. 30 – Safety Committee, Cleveland City Council
Covered by Documenter Gennifer Harding-Gosnell

Ward 5 Council Member Richard Starr asks questions at the Safety Committee meeting. (Credit: Cleveland City Council YouTube / Org: Cleveland City Council).

What happened: The committee advanced legislation that would renew a lease for one year for Cleveland’s police headquarters. The city leases space from Cuyahoga County at the Justice Center downtown. The city previously owned the space and sold it to the county for $9.25 million in 2018. Signal Cleveland’s Paul Rochford reported earlier this year that the city was on track to pay more in rent than it sold the space for, particularly if it renewed the lease. The city announced Nov. 29 that it has selected 2530 Superior Ave. for the new police headquarters. But in this meeting, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Capital Projects James DeRosa said the move would not happen until 2025.

Homicide review team: The committee also advanced legislation that would accept a grant for $17,500. The Department of Public Safety would use the grant to fund a homicide review commission. Members of the Cleveland Division of Police and the Cuyahoga County prosecutor’s office meet monthly to review homicide cases, according to Cleveland’s Assistant Director of Public Safety George Coulter. Council Member Mike Polensek said $17,000 is not enough. Officials discussed support for crime victims and witnesses. Council Member Richard Starr mentioned the work done at Brenda Glass Trauma Center. A majority of the funding would be put toward witness-relocation efforts, according to the grant.

And also: Four other grants for Public Safety received committee approval. One for $1.7 million would focus on violent-crime reduction.

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

Clark-Fulton addiction-treatment facility clears zoning hurdle

Nov. 28 – Cleveland Board of Zoning Appeals
Covered by Documenters Kaitlin Bender-Thomas and Giorgiana Lascu

Rafie Sturgis from the Hispanic Urban Minority Alcoholism Drug Abuse Outreach Program discusses plans for a drug and alcohol treatment facility. (Credit: Cleveland Board of Zoning Appeals YouTube / Org: Cleveland Board of Zoning Appeals).

What happened: The board approved plans for an addiction-treatment facility in a two-family residential district. Bay Presbyterian Church owns property in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood. The Hispanic Urban Minority Alcoholism Drug Abuse Outreach Program (UMADAOP) wants to establish a residential drug and alcohol treatment facility there. Rafie Sturgis from UMADAOP presented. He addressed concerns from community members about the facility being near a school. “We, in fact, had a previous facility offering the same services on the same campus there,” Sturgis said. “And we were there for over 15 years and never had any incident.” People could stay at the facility for up to 30 days and receive 24-hour-a-day treatment. There are 12 beds. City Planning and Ward 14 Council Member Jasmin Santana supported the project.

Tattoo studio approved: The board approved variances from the zoning code to allow a tattoo studio in Slavic Village. Services will be available by appointment only from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

And also: The owner of a convenience store in the West Boulevard area can keep a drive-thru window. Owner Jatin Popat installed the window before getting approval from the board. Ward 11 Council Member Brian Mooney said he and Popat agreed on some compromises to give drivers a clearer view of the street. The store will close at 10 p.m. The board approved the drive-thru with those conditions.

Want to learn more about zoning? Check out this introduction to Cleveland zoning by City Planner Matt Moss.

Recount of county judicial race set to begin Dec. 5

Nov. 29 – Cuyahoga County Board of Elections
Covered by Documenter Giorgiana Lascu

Board Member Inajo Davis Chappell (left), Board Director Anthony Perlatti (top right), and Deputy Director Anthony Kaloger discuss an election for a South Euclid judge. (Credit: CCBOE YouTube / Org: CCBOE).

What happened: The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections discussed a recount of a county judicial race from the Nov. 8 election. The margin of votes separating candidate Brian Mooney, a Cleveland City Council member, and incumbent Joan Synenberg requires a recount. It was set to begin Dec. 5 and is expected to take about three weeks, an election official said.

Uncertain certification: The board certified election results for a South Euclid judge despite legal counsel’s advice to do otherwise. Candidate Timothy Sterkel ran unopposed, but there was uncertainty about whether the election should have taken place. Board Members Inajo Davis Chappell and Lisa Stickan said they didn’t feel comfortable overruling 4,000-plus voters. Board Chair Jeff Hastings said the secretary of state or governor could intervene in the situation.

And also: The board certified all other Nov. 8 election results.

Curious about board members and how they’re appointed? Check out this Twitter thread from Signal Cleveland’s Paul Rochford for the answers.

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 Dec. 5.

Dec. 5