Committee of the Whole [AFTERNOON SESSION]

Cleveland City Council
Development
Environment
Health
Housing
Labor
Libraries
Parks
Transportation
Criminal Justice
Utilities
Finance
Politics

Wednesday, July 10, 2024
1:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m. EDT

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601 Lakeside Ave Cleveland, OH 44114 (Directions)

Cleveland City Hall, Mercedes Cotner Room 217 (or watch on YouTube)

Cleveland City Council’s Committee of the Whole allows all 17 council members to meet and act as a committee. Essentially, it serves as an extra step in the process of vetting legislation before City Council officially votes on legislation.

NOTE for Documenters: This assignment is for the afternoon session of this Committee of the Whole meeting. Your coverage would begin when the committee returns from its lunch break and last until the meeting is over. We are not sure exactly when council will take a break from the morning session. The tentative start time for this afternoon session is 1 p.m., but we will keep you updated as soon as we learn when the afternoon session is set to begin. We are paying based on each session being a four-hour meeting (in this case from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., even if it runs shorter and even if council ends up not needing an afternoon session). If the session goes longer and you need to split, just let us know and note where you left off in your coverage.

This meeting comes ahead of council’s first summer meeting. Not everything on the agenda will be covered in this afternoon session and they may jump around out of order of the agenda. If council members discuss legislation that isn’t on the agenda, feel free to include that in your coverage.

Council members:

  • Joe Jones
  • Kevin Bishop
  • Kerry McCormack
  • Deborah Gray
  • Richard Starr
  • Blaine Griffin, council president
  • Stephanie Howse-Jones
  • Michael Polensek
  • Kevin Conwell
  • Anthony Hairston
  • Danny Kelly
  • Rebecca Maurer
  • Kris Harsh
  • Jasmin Santana
  • Jenny Spencer
  • Brian Kazy
  • Charles Slife

Watching remotely?

The meetings are streamed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ClevelandCityCouncil/streams

You can also catch livestreams on TV2O’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ClevelandTV20/live_videos

Also TV20’s website: http://www.tv20cleveland.com/watch-now/

Attending in person? We add two hours of pay ($36) to the assignment. Be sure to bring a photo ID.

Find past Documenters coverage of City Council meetings here: https://cleveland.documenters.org/reporting/?agency=181

For more information go to Cleveland City Council’s website: https://www.clevelandcitycouncil.org.

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Cleveland - OH Documenters Team

Note-taking by Tina Scott

City to use grants to improve safety on Lee Road, Lorain Ave., E. 93rd Street

Live reporting by Marvetta Rutherford

Council members approve funding for Human Resources training

Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise
#Cleveland @cledocumenters #cledocumenters @signalcleveland
Wednesday afternoon I am covering @CleCityCouncil Committee of the Whole the afternoon session!
See you soon!

10:44 AM Jul 8, 2024 CDT

Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 2/81
Greetings #Cleveland get your refreshments and join me at 1PM!
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 3/81
The morning session was late in ending... the afternoon starts at 2:10
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 4/81
Due to the morning session running over, I am covering the @CleCityCouncil from @TV20Cleveland as the people file in
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 5/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland The agenda sent was 11 pages long. We are not sure if it will be covered in its entirety... but I am always ready! #Cleveland
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 6/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Law department is first with direct awards for professional Services
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 7/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland The limit is 50k Director Jones said the vendors have been identified.. to which Council Jones questioned amounts...
Motion passed
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 8/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Human resources is next with 3 items for consideration
Emergency ordinance for consulting services for a HR university
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 9/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland HR topics are often done differently in the city. The goal is the implementation of 7 topics for the entire city
McCormack is in support
Jones asked about the situation at hand.
Standardization is the Intention
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 10/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Currently there's HR in the majority of departments the director said.
Jones asked why this is. This spider approach is what is present.. the amount of the request is 75k
Jones spoke to the unfilled positions in the city
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 11/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Jones asked about the current situation in the police department. The drop in the number concerns him. He supports the item.
Harsh asked about the situation in the department. Why is this even necessary?
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 12/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Further questions from Harsh about the current training or lack thereof.
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 13/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland After the director spoke. Harsh asked about the implementation of a ten million dollar previous project and the progress of it
Harsh said he saw no total cash funds noted
McCormack spoke to a limit of 75k Law department spoke to this..
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 14/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Duplicative is Harshs word for the day...
He spoke to the software purchased at the price of 10 million and the dysfunctions therein
Conwell spoke next on the ordinances
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 15/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Culture is the basis for the training the director said
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 16/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Conwell asked about Relationship Management...
A wide variety is the answer from the director
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 17/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Further questions from Conwell about how this is helping the employees..
Conwell said that some people leave due to not being trained
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 18/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Motion to amend by Harsh to 75k
Motion passed
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 19/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Emergency ordinance for salaries at Port Control
Secretary to the Director
Assistant Director
Both these are over 200k
The director made the justifications to the industry of airports
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 20/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland The representative from the Port authority said the secretary position would generally be like a chief of staff
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 21/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Polensek asked about being competitive but wants a explanation for the need for executive positions
This woman spoke about her time since 2010
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 22/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Fred Szabo was the last secretary for the department.
Polensek asked about the current vacancies to the Human resources..
Does the department look at other markets in the area
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 23/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Polensek said during the long time he has been in politics there was never an issue with getting personnel
He gets calls daily and the problem lies in not having people in the city government
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 24/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland McCormack echoed the sentiment... dinosaurs
Kazy asked about the number of open positions
The current staff members need classifications that go along with civil service
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 25/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Hairston asked about the number of locations that Port authority has
3 was the answer
Further questions on pay bands
And whether the personnel will be going for the higher paying positions
And the fact that the positions discussed far overshadow
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 26/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland People who are working with far more responsibilities doesn't seem fair, Hairston said
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 27/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Further discussion about other cities and the pay rates for the other departments in the city triple the salary for others.. Hairston said he has a problem with this
Jones echoed and continued to ask the people about this matter
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 28/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Further questions about the job descriptions for the items requested
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 29/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland This director has been observing over the past year
Job functions were formerly distributed in the senior management
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 30/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Jones asked further about the current situation with passengers in the airport. How it measures to the present
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 31/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland The director said that as of June the number increased to 5 million and should surpass the 2019 numbers
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 32/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Marketing and advertising is a part of the budget the director said..
Starr asked about ordinance 720 which adds a position and increases the pay bands
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 33/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland The director reiterated that the areas airports are paying higher wages
To which Starr asked if he could submit his resume? In jest but in sincerity
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 34/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Paybands are like guardrails was the answer from HR
Starr spoke about the current salary of Recreation Management
The director said the spectrum is widespread
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 35/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Starr doesn't agree with the current situation in equity and how these salaries are made
What was the last raise for the airport personnel?
A farther reaching effort will be done the director said.
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 36/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland The motion passed
Next up is Compensation for CPPA of which there are 3 current people
There is a increase in salary
Motion passed
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 37/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Public Health is next
Currier Services for air quality monitoring
Polensek asked about the locations
Motion passed
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 38/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Port Control Emergency ordinances 468
Gate billing software passenger processing is the issue
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 39/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland 1 year contract with 5 year renewable for the common gates
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 40/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Harsh asked how this works...
How does the airlines pay for this... the common use gates are used by various companies
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 41/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland This is only for software... and not out of the General Funds
Motion passed
625 is also Port control
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 42/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Fuel storage systems at Hopkins airport
Southfield farm is the location
This will primarily service United airlines
The company has been working this is just to renew..
Motion passed
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 43/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland The next item will be a lease with a firm already at Burke Lakefront Airport. Its a renewal
For an architectural firm
Motion passed
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 44/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Next up is for the baggage claim system for the outgoing luggage
The director said
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 45/81
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 46/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Planning is next with 1 item
Motion passed
Public Works is next this is the director who was spoken of as being underpaid.. he is working on his daughters 12th birthday..
This is for a RFP for a teller machine..
Kazy asked about the situation
And questioned
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 47/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Kazy continues to ask
Motion held
Next up Parks and Recreation
Creation and the division of the Public Works department
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 48/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Municipal Services committee supports chaired by Bishop in Ward 2
Polensek spoke to Back to the Future motion that dissolved the total Public Works department
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 49/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Polensek asked about vacant lots and cautions about the monumental task
Equipment etc and manpower is essential
No changes to the vacant lots
Millions of dollars are spent in cutting grass
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 50/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Polensek wants assurances that the chief understands the importance and the chief said she does
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 51/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Jones spoke about his agreement on separation of duties preformed within the directors department.
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 52/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Further questions on the true needs of the city and the vacant lots
Jones said he has been cutting lots for 20 years
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 53/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Kazy asked when the split is
Next year was the answer
There is enough money in the budget he asked?
He further questions the legislation and the fact that the position has not been created yet
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 54/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Starr asked once established will it be additional information added to the budget .
The Chief said that the budget could be increased and there are a lot of variables
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 55/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Spencer spoke about an amendment about Urban Forestry division
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 56/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland She spoke to additional federal funding just announced today
Amendment was seconded by Slife
The amendment is lengthy
He is inundated with calls about tree issues
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 57/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Starr asked about the existing ordinance
Maurer spoke to the issues
Harsh also has given support to
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 58/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Conwell spoke to the lack of trees he used the term #Redline
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 59/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland More discussion about the trees
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 60/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Conwell spoke about taking separation of Building and housing and how it didn't improve its efficiency..
Spencer said we will have better foresight to be successful
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 61/81
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 62/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Starr said in the past that the city was known as #ForestCity
However the sidewalk is being damaged by the tree roots
100 years from now what will be the maintenance plan
He is having trouble right now with trees
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 63/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Resurfaced streets are in line for tree issues Spencer said
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 64/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Different types of remedies are being discussed by Slife and Spencer
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 65/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Starr supports this but the incoming Commissioner will be hearing from him on behalf of his residents
Motion passed
Last up is Capital Project
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 66/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland The first ordinance 584 is regarding utilities installed in a new construction of a home
Sewers etc
Kazy wants confirmation of who is paying for this
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 67/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland I'm sorry 582 passed
Next up a grant for safe streets on both sides of town.
However, the party involved is not in the room
Next 584 discussed is 3.7 million dollars permits and inspections
Motion passed
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 68/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland 612 is next permanent easement
And temporary easements
On Belvior Blvd on behalf of the Sewer district
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 69/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland No cost for the debris rack
Motion passed
Next public improvements on the West Park Cemetery Gatehouse 641 ordinance to which the director asked to go in order
Euclid Beach area is proposed
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 70/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland 619 is the ordinance for discussion
New infrastructure is being installed
Polensek supports
Motion made and passed
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 71/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Safe streets and roads is next on both sides of the city
This gentleman explains the ordinance
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 72/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland This is a federal grant and the motion passed
Next up the Capital Improvements 641 etc
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 73/81
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 74/81
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 75/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland All wards get funding
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 76/81
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 77/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland Capital improvements are anything that is expected to last longer than 10 years according to the director
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 78/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland More discussion about the current budget
McCormack asked the director to go through the ordinances
Separately
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 79/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland McCormack reads each one
General obligation bonds of over 11 million dollars for various areas in the city
More ordinances are read
With many structures in place to be repaired
Bishop asked about line items
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 80/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland More ordinances are discussed. And more questions from Bishop
644 passed
And 645 is last
This is about gas line replacement program
This has been done over the past 15 years
Denise A@cleDocumenter @CleDocuDenise 81/81
@CleCityCouncil @TV20Cleveland A question about an ordinance was answered..
And the Meeting is adjourned!
Listen I may be back to make corrections but I have enjoyed the Meeting and I hope you do too!

Agency Information

Cleveland City Council

Cleveland City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Cleveland in Ohio. There are 17 elected Cleveland City Council members representing the 17 wards of the City of Cleveland. Each ward has approximately 25,000 residents. Council Members are elected to serve a four-year term. Council members serve two roles in their duties: to draft and enact legislation for the city of Cleveland and act as ombudsmen for their constituents.

Find meetings streamed at: *online on TV20 at: http://www.tv20cleveland.com/watch-now/

*The meetings are also streamed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ClevelandCityCouncil/

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