Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee: General Fund Budget Hearing Day 2, Afternoon Session

The @CleCityCouncil budget hearings are live-streamed on TV 20 & YouTube. The afternoon hearing started about 20 minutes ago. I’m behind because council members broke for lunch early. https://www.youtube.com/live/tr8tjxxebeA?feature=share #CLEDocumenters #CLECityCouncil #CLEBudgetHearings

Get live updates from @AbbeyMarshall about the 2023 Cleveland budget hearings at @signalcleveland

Wednesday, Feb.15 (live updates)
https://signalcleveland.org/2023-cleveland-budget-hearings-wednesday-feb-15-live-updates/

Here’s some background about the General Fund Budget. @signalcleveland & @cledocumenters created a handy explainer. Cleveland Budget 2023: Terms to Know
http://signalcleveland.org/cleveland-budg… #CLEbudget👇

This is a link to live-tweets from this morning’s public safety hearing. My Cleveland Documenters colleague @GenniferwithaG_ covered the hearing.👇 https://twitter.com/genniferwithag_/status/1625856912540700673

First on the agenda is the Division of Animal Control. Their 2022 annual report was released earlier this week. https://www.clevelandohio.gov/sites/default/files/forms_publications/ACC%202022%20ANNUAL%20REPORT.pdf https://t.co/bXrj42dd4p

My WiFi connection is a little shaky due to high winds. Ward 8 Cleveland City Councilmember Mike Polensek is running the hearing. He chairs @CleCityCouncil’s safety committee. Members just returned from lunch. Polensek says he hopes they brought their sleeping bags with them.

This is a link to the 2023 Mayor’s Estimate. They’re on pages 271-275. https://www.clevelandohio.gov/sites/default/files/forms_publications/2023MayorsEstimate.pdf

Safety Director Karrie Howard is at the table with Chief Animal Control Officer John Baird to his right. Cory Keller is the Manager of the Division of Animal Care & Control. But I don’t see him at the table. https://t.co/1koKEukHYG

Karrie Howard touts the division’s success in 2022. He attributes it to the hard work of employees & the city’s partnership with Critter Control. https://t.co/YRjZXSJ5DH

There’s been an increase at @CityDogsCLE kennel, but they had a 96% “live release rate” in 2022. Adoptions are up 30% from last year. https://t.co/61sRBwP3LW

This is the proposed budget for the @CityofCleveland Division of Animal Care & Control. https://t.co/UvFmMY2fzV

Chief Animal Control Officer John Baird now has the floor. He says Cory Keller, Manager of the Division of Animal Care & Control, cannot be there due to illness. Baird reads off the stats on this slide. https://t.co/jMMPBZLM16

Baird says the division also rescued lizards, alligators, hawks & other livestock. 200 volunteers donated more than 25,000 hours of their time.

Baird highlights the division’s diversity & hiring of new staff. https://t.co/sldxMo1PDQ

Baird says the division had a more intensive & demanding year. The numbers… https://t.co/jJT2d1Fhxv

Baird says last year was more intensive & demanding. Here are the numbers.👇 https://t.co/tR47ztOJI9

The outcome list does not include wildlife trapping numbers. It was “important” to keep them separate. By partnering with Critter Control, the division was able to remove 2,133 “nuisance wildlife.” That was 236 more than the previous year. https://t.co/KaSocMsO1i

Baird talks about the importance of attending events & educating pet owners through outreach. This is where the division is going. https://t.co/aJq1Y6hpoI

Now it’s time for questions. Ward 8 Councilman Mike Polensek says he’s a long-time dog owner. He got Lady Girl from @CityDogsCLE. He says she’s “a pound puppy” who looks like “an overweight coyote.” https://t.co/Y23mrfABZ9

Polensek calls attention to page 274 of the budget. Council members receive daily calls about issues with dogs. Today he received a call about an abandoned dog that died in a house. He expresses his concerns about animal cruelty. https://t.co/lj2v27L7FI

Council members also receive calls about skunks, raccoons & possums. Ground hogs have “infiltrated the city,” says Polensek. Deer are also a problem & they cause accidents. https://t.co/iOmgzptjAv

Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin tells Baird that council made a “strong commitment” with last year’s budget to reduce nuisance wildlife. @Griff4CLE6 says he does not see where or how that has been implemented.

How will this budget reflect a “comprehensive plan” to address these issues? Council president Griffin says nuisance wildlife problems are “beyond laughable now.” They’re causing “irreparable” damage & harm. “This is not a laughing matter,” he says. It’s dangerous & serious.

On a side note, @Griff4CLE6 says last year Councilman @KrisHarsh gave him some tips that worked. Karrie Howard responds. He talks about how outreach educates residents about how to create an environment that does not attract nuisance wildlife. https://t.co/iQWOpC74yW

Council president Griffin says “our elderly residents are under siege.” He agrees advocacy is important. What are other cities doing? @Griff4CLE6 asks how can we “beef up” the budget to have a dedicated resource in the budget to deal with this? He adds, “This is a crisis.”

Council President Griffin wants to keep this as “a reconciliation conversation.” Ward 1 Councilman Joe Jones is up next for Q&A. He asks for trapping numbers again. I included them earlier in this thread. Residents with problems can call animal control at 216-664-3069. https://t.co/tp38JdUqKN

Councilman Jones says residents are “terrified” of pit bulls who are untethered & asks about regulations. Baird says dogs need to be under the control of their owners at all times. Jones says he doesn’t want to “throw anyone under the bus” but most issues are coming from renters.

Next up is Ward 7 Council member Stephanie Howse. She asks if there’s been a study on migration patterns. Karrie Howard says no. @stephaniehowse says you cannot solve a problem that you do not fully understand. She asks for a plan to address groundhogs. https://t.co/j3bRd82oYI

Karrie Howard says they can explore migration trends. Council member Howse says it will probably take 2 years to get this done. There will probably be millions of dollars in damages by then. Howard says it will be addressed & everyone who asked for a trap got one.

Ward 14 council member Jasmin Santana asks for data about stray cats. Baird says they don’t “handle” stray cats. Ward 15 council member @jennyspencercle asks where the division’s facilities are located. Baird says they work out of 1 facility.

Ward 9 council member Conwell says groundhogs are driving him “crazy.” He wants info to include in his ward newsletter. He says these animals are “extremely bright.” Karrie Howard says they will start trapping a month early. It will start in April instead of May. https://t.co/752RvCOMM0

For those tuning in, I’m way behind due to WiFi & tech issues caused by today’s high winds. I will be continue live-tweeting until this meeting ends. Please bare with me. Thank you for your patience!

The @CityofCleveland Division of Emergency Medical Services is up next on the agenda. @ClevelandEMS released their 2022 annual report earlier this week. https://www.clevelandohio.gov/sites/default/files/forms_publications/2022%20EMS%20Annual%20Report.pdf https://t.co/BEQi1tGzrF

@ClevelandEMS Interim Commissioner Orlando Wheeler is at the table for the 1st time in his new capacity. https://t.co/9hGsDrjPuR

There are questions about EMS revenue. Nobody has the numbers. Those figures will be presented during another hearing next week. Interim EMS Commissioner Wheeler reads a statement. He says the division will receive new ambulances🚑 to provide for the modernization of their fleet. https://t.co/ONVOhXbQtq

Clarification: the questions are about accounts receivable. The EMS interim deputy commissioner Christopher Chapin gives a slide presentation called “Taking Strides for the Future. He says they’re adding diversity to an already diverse workforce. https://t.co/edyzTatNyr

EMS Interim Deputy Commissioner Chapin says 4 new ambulances🚑 were “deployed” last year. They have all been equipped with the new PowerLOAD system, which allow crews to load patients into the vehicle with the “touch of a button.” @ClevelandEMS crews call it “a game changer.” https://t.co/bIIiiHTVmx

#ARPA funding allowed #EMS to purchase a new fleet of stretchers. Some had previously been in use since 2008. Other new equipment has improved the delivery of services to patients. Chapin explains the technological impact. https://t.co/lVMoTlwlAb

Interim Deputy EMS Commissioner Chapin says response times have not changed much since 2021. Notice the question marks ❓❓❓for answering 911 calls in 2022. He says they now have number from the vendor. It’s 6 seconds.

Answering 911 calls in 2022 = 6 seconds https://t.co/m7NchQn6oi

Despite the data, in recent years #EMS has had well-documented challenges with response times & staffing shortages. @fox8news reporter @edgallekfox8 has provided extensive coverage.

‘It’s costing lives’: How long it takes to get an ambulance in Cleveland https://fox8.com/news/i-team/its-costing-lives-how-long-it-takes-to-get-an-ambulance-in-cleveland/

Partnerships are cited as a reason for the successful strides that EMS has made. https://t.co/m3dwJ3cxbR

EMS has cultivated a relationship with @MagnoliaCHouse. The clubhouse provides individuals living with mental illness opportunities for friendship, employment, education & access to medical & psychiatric services in a “caring & safe environment.”

Interim Deputy Chief Chapin says clinicians work with members to run the clubhouse’s daily activities. @MagnoliaCHouse has given @clevelandEMS employees the chance to spend time working side-by-side with staff & clients.

Normally when EMS members encounter someone living with mental illness, “the patient is in crisis.” Chapin says spending time with Magnolia Clubhouse members “has given them a unique, often unseen perspective.”

It has enabled them to learn about mental illness from clinicians & “the mental health consumers themselves,” says Chapin. EMS employees can see people when they aren’t experiencing a mental health crisis.

Members of the cadet class that recently graduated said they appreciated the opportunity to spend time at Magnolia Clubhouse. EMS is also exploring a new partnership with Case Western Reserve University. This concludes Chapin’s presentation.

Now it’s time for Q&A. Council member Mike Polensek says he want to take a “deep dive.” He asks questions about EMS “brownouts” in the Collinwood & Glenville neighborhoods. He says his west side colleagues have similar concerns.

What is an #EMS🚑 brownout? According to @EMS1, “brownouts involve reducing staff or coverage, often on a rolling basis.” The practice can stretch resources & lead to delays in response time & emergency🚨medical care.

Council member Polensek asks questions about staffing & the number of paramedics vs. EMTs. This is the proposed EMS staffing list.👇 https://t.co/Hj7DFrtgbW

Polensek asks if EMTs still have to incur the costs of attending paramedic training. Answer: currently $320,000 has been budgeted for paramedic training. It’s listed under tuition & registration on page 267. https://t.co/eGmBUtr7pE

“We want to make sure we have the best trained paramedics in the city of Cleveland — bar none,” said Council member Mike Polensek.

There are 15 vacancies for EMTs & paramedics.
There are 5 vacancies for emergency medical dispatchers.

There are questions about new ambulances🚑 that were purchased with #ARPA funds. Polensek asks about maintaining spare vehicles. The Cleveland EMS annual report includes a detailed color-coded vehicle list which includes age & mileage. https://t.co/1rCqR4nSYv

The majority of brownouts are due to staffing shortages — period, says Interim Cleveland EMS Commissioner Wheeler. During staffing shortages, “we dynamically deploy units to cover those areas,” he said. Wheeler does not explain this term & nobody asks for clarification. https://t.co/T9TEc6D036

“Due to the decreased headcount,” Wheeler says there will probably be 23 ambulances during the day & 19 at night. Another class of EMTs & paramedics starts in March. He says he anticipates “having a decent attrition rate” throughout the year.

Polensek asks how many employees they lost last year. Wheeler replies “roughly 54.” Polensek is surprised to hear this. He raises his voice & says “54?!” Then he says, “educate me.” Wheeler said 1 employee retired & 1 was fired.

Wheeler added that most made lateral transfers to Cleveland police or Cleveland fire. Others quit to go to suburban fire departments. Polensek asks if money is “a big factor?” Wheeler responds that it used to be a “huge” factor. He says “I think we’re bridging the gap with that.”

Now it’s time for Q&A. Ward 1 council member Joe Jones says he would like to see EMS address employee morale. He also wants to see more diversity in hiring. He says the city should use CMSD schools for recruiting. Jones wants to see the city’s employee “exit interviews.” https://t.co/b8Bj2Gn4Ul

Ward 17 @CleCityCouncil member Charles Slife (@ADayInTheSlife) asks why is the city cutting the EMS budget? Chief Financial Officer Ahmed Abonamah said they had to make “vacancy reductions across the board” to balance the budget.

Safety Director Karrie Howard says the vacancies have been there for about 5 years. Council member Slife says there will be a lot of conversations during the reconciliation process. He says this is an area where they “need to double down.”

Council member Stephanie Howse says she wants to ensure that EMS has “family-sustaining wages.” Council member Kerry McCormack tells his colleagues that when they request information they have to do so through city council staff. Requests need to be clear & concise.

Council member Brian Kazy asks about paramedic training. Do EMTs have to pay out of their own pocket & get reimbursed? Do they have to attend training on their own time? He received a vague answer.

Council member Jennie Spencer says last fall a number of her colleagues did “some really fine work” around #ARPA funding for “crisis intervention teams.”

Read Signal Cleveland reporter Stephanie Casanova’s story here: https://signalcleveland.org/cleveland-city-council-to-expand-co-response-consider-non-police-crisis-response/ #CrisisIntervention

@jennyspencercle says the position for a Strategist for Public Safety & Health was posted & notes job duties include creating “a sustainable strategy for Cleveland’s Crisis Intervention Team model including a co-response team & a care response team.” https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/cleveland/jobs/3914491/strategist-for-public-safety-and-health https://t.co/xUZImdFqhQ

Council member Spencer asks how EMS fits into the city’s mental health response plans? Safety Director Karrie Howard says he has discussed this with Director of Public Health Dr. David Margolius. They will receive “some guidance” from the strategist once they have been hired. https://t.co/NX6i5dajch

Spencer asks if EMS is “actively involved” in discussions to provide input on “shaping the future strategy?” Howard says Dr. Margolius (@DaveMargo) was “gracious enough”to invite EMS Commissioner Wheeler, Dr. Collins & himself to participate in “that conversation.”

Council member Spencer asks if public safety has “a position” on co-response compared to care response? Are there updates on discussions at this time? Or will that be part of the new strategist’s responsibility?

Karrie Howard says it will be part of the senior strategist’s conversation with Dr. Collins. “We do believe there is a right place for both” programs. They will “expound” on that with the strategist to see how the city can “intertwine” both programs.

In August 2022, @pietvanlier at @PolicyMattersOH wrote a report entitled “Creating a care response model in Cleveland for those in crisis”

Read it here: https://www.policymattersohio.org/research-policy/quality-ohio/justice-reform/creating-a-care-response-model-in-cleveland-for-those-in-crisis #CrisisIntervention

Learn about what local mental health advocates are doing to start a care response program in #Cleveland. They created a group called REACH. Their website explains the difference between a “cop response,” co-response & care response. https://www.reachneo.com/projects-3 #MentalHealth https://t.co/895kxw1NVS

Council member Spencer asks which department the Strategist for Public Safety & Health will fall under. Chief Finance Officer Ahmed Abonamah says the new position will be in the Dept. of Health. But it will be paid out of the “strategic project sub-fund.”

Council member Kevin Conwell asks about council members going on “ride-alongs” with EMS & the fire department. He said there was not a problem in the past when he did it. Karrie Howard made a vague reference to “guidance” from the law department. It was effectively a non-answer. https://t.co/mj7cpDetuw

Council member Jasmin Santana asks about bilingual emergency🚨 dispatchers. Is the call☎️ answer time longer for non-English speakers? Interim Commissioner Wheeler says he does not have an answer. They contact the language bank when those calls are received.

Interim Commissioner Wheeler says they have a sergeant who speaks fluent Spanish. Karrie Howard says EMS doesn’t have bilingual dispatchers. But Cleveland police does, so there are bilingual dispatchers in the call center.

Council member Jasmin Santana asks how many 911 calls the city receives from non-English speakers. Nobody knows. This question will be added to the laundry list of other questions that administration officials were unable to answer. https://t.co/xJgRVuU2d2

Council member Anthony Hairston has a question that was asked & answered earlier. Karrie Howard then tells Council member Santana the language bank is a city-wide service. The prosecutor’s office also uses it.

Council member Mike Polensek asks where the language bank is listed in the budget & how many times is it being used. He says they submitted pre-budget requests & they’re still awaiting answers.

Council member Mike Polensek announces they will take a 7-minute break unless someone wants to install a porta-potty in the corner. Members laugh & then leave. https://t.co/8a0uc11yeA

They’re back in session. Council member Mike Polensek tells the “viewing audience” they’ve been going since 9 am. They will discuss the House of Corrections & Division of Fire now. The Division of Police hearing is moved to tomorrow morning, so they can get home before midnight.

This is the updated @CleCityCouncil agenda for Thursday. https://t.co/kAKKXyKSHy

Division of Correction Liaison Lisa Scafidi is at the table. They are reviewing pages 276-278 in the budget book. Council member Polensek repeatedly refers to the Division of Correction as the “House of Corrections.” https://t.co/2ws0reCCfH

Ms. Scafidi talks very fast. There’s a presentation but it’s not appearing on the screen. She gives an overview of the history of the division & the city’s transition to housing “prisoners” at the Cuyahoga County Jail. https://t.co/7NbNMVyDrL

The city pays the county a daily per diem rate. The Division of Correction only has 2 full-time employees. This includes Lisa Scafidi. Below is the proposed list of expenditures & staffing. https://t.co/Zd7W3Xxffy

Corrections Liaison Lisa Scafidi says, “We have a perfectly balanced division by race & gender — only 2 of us — 1 female, 1 male, 1 black, 1 white.” The other employee is a project coordinator. Council member Joe Jones laughs & says “that’s good.” https://t.co/HN2xWfaIuG

She quickly rattles off a list of numbers & says they’re in the PowerPoint which she will provide. Council member Mike Polensek talks about the unaudited cost of “storage of prisoners.” Lisa Scafidi repeatedly refers to jail as “housing.”

They seem to have forgotten these are PEOPLE, not numbers. They are not inmates or prisoners. They are detainees who have not been convicted of crimes. https://t.co/Vi6rQlpGlZ

Lisa Scafidi says the county “provides the same services that we did.” The city partners with 8 outside agencies. She discusses various court dockets & billets. Council member Polensek wants to know what other cities & municipalities are paying. She doesn’t know.

It’s time for questions. Council member Joe Jones says he won’t say prisoners. He refers to “citizens” because some people are “wrongfully imprisoned.” Then he asks how many citizens are in jail. The city averages 21 arrests per day.

Lisa Scafidi says Cleveland residents represent less than 5% of the county jail population. Council member Joe Jones suggests creating a “special section” for Clevelanders because the city is spending “good money.”

He asks what $99 pays for. The answer is 3 meals, medical care, mental health care & limited recreation. Council member Jones wants council members to receive a tour. Council president Blaine Griffin talks about the importance of keeping the county jail within the city.

Council member Joe Jones goes & speaks to Council president Blaine Griffin. Council member Stephanie Howse asks for clarification because she says the numbers don’t add up. https://t.co/S42AmJAgc0

They move on to discuss the Police Inspector General on pages 279-281. Safety Director Karrie Howard says the position is “a product of the consent decree.” It was referred to as the police inspector general. https://t.co/GgenIhvxPG

The position will no longer be under the division of police. Conversations were had with the consent decree monitor about changing the position to a public safety inspector general.

Moving the position under the Department of Public Safety will avoid potential conflicts with having the chief of police having oversight of the inspector general & internal affairs. The job has been vacant for a long time. The job is posted & it will close soon.

The public safety inspector general will look at “systematic issues, not individual issues” within the department of public safety. The city has budgeted for 2 employees. https://t.co/Bh0dHFSg9U

Christopher Viland was appointed as Cleveland’s 1st police inspector general in 2019. He left the city when he became the Cuyahoga County Sheriff in 2021. He resigned a year later & returned to the city as the Superintendent of Internal Affairs in May 2022.

Thread continues here. https://twitter.com/rosiepalfy/status/1625945703733202947

Thread continues here. https://twitter.com/rosiepalfy/status/1626014069739163648

The police inspector general position has been vacant for 2 years. Now they’re moving on to the Division of Fire. Proposed staffing, expenditures, revenues, etc… are listed on pages 256-263 of the budget book. Here’s the link again: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23594350-2023mayorsestimate?responsive=1&title=1&onlyshoworg=1

Yesterday’s @CleCityCouncil budget hearing last 6 & a half hours. I’m going to quickly wrap up my coverage. Anthony Luke is the chief of @ClevelandFire. Here’s background info about the division. https://t.co/sa21LxPgOY

The Division of Cleveland Fire released their 2022 annual report earlier this week. https://www.clevelandohio.gov/sites/default/files/forms_publications/Annual%20Report%20Final%20Draft_02082023.pdf https://t.co/CF1Jr2fJo8

These are the number of calls for service & responses. https://t.co/qrSfrH0m8O

This is the Division of Fire’s revenues.👇 https://t.co/XR3QJcjyYs

Below is the Division of Fire’s proposed staffing level.👇 https://t.co/PRa9PQDvNs

These are the Division of Fire’s expenditures.👇 https://t.co/vFEMm8qqxJ

For more information, read @AbbeyMarshall’s live coverage of yesterday’s 2023 Cleveland budget hearings at @signalcleveland.

Wednesday, Feb.15 (live updates)
https://signalcleveland.org/2023-cleveland-budget-hearings-wednesday-feb-15-live-updates/

This concludes my coverage of the 2023 Budget Hearing held Wednesday, February 15. Think we got something wrong? Send any inquiries about the meeting or these tweets to @cledocumenters or email us at cledocumenters@gmail.com