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Message from the Council President
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 Cleveland City Council
2008 Issue Agenda
Charter Review
In accordance with the City of Cleveland Charter, Cleveland City Council will facilitate a review of the Charter, which is the City’s operating document. The Charter Review process is an opportunity to streamline outdated codes and procedures and to take a close look at they way the City operates. The Charter mandates that a review be undertaken every 20 years, but the last few reviews have not yielded any substantial results. Cleveland City Council intends to take this opportunity to facilitate a thorough review of the Charter and recommend that voters approve changes that will make the City of Cleveland’s operations more efficient and effective.
The review process involves several steps:
1) Internally review and contemplate changes to the City Charter that can be suggested to the Charter Review Commission.
2) Collect public input into possible changes that can be made to the City Charter.
3) In accordance with Section 200-1 of the City Charter, select a Charter Review Commission comprised 15 Cleveland electors by February 1, 2008.
4) Present suggestions to the newly formed Charter Review Commission, which will function as an independent body.
5) Assist the Commission in any ways it requests.
6) Review recommendations for Charter amendments made by the Commission when it presents a report to the Council in July.
7) Approve recommendations by the end of August.
8) Place proposed amendments to the City Charter on the ballot in November.
9) Institute changes approved by the voters of the City of Cleveland.
Breaking the Cycle of Abandonment
The City of Cleveland and the surrounding region is currently at the epicenter of a foreclosure crisis. The 44105 zip code, inside Cleveland, has ranked number one in the nation for foreclosures. Cleveland City Council is going on an aggressive offensive to combat this issue.
Since the start of the current term in January 2006, Cleveland City Council has focused on the foreclosure crisis and the resulting presence of vacant and abandoned properties in the City of Cleveland. The effort to improve the quality of life for Cleveland residents by reducing the negative social and economic impacts of these properties, such as decreased safety, lower property values and the overall decay of neighborhoods, is being undertaken as the Breaking the Cycle of Abandonment Initiative.
The scope of the crisis is bigger than any one governing body or private entity. The only way to effectively tackle the problems associated with the presence of vacant and abandoned properties is to work in collaboration with both the private and public sector. In examining ways to alleviate this issue, Cleveland City Council is working collaboratively with several outside partners, including the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and Cleveland’s non-profit community.
Cleveland City Council efforts to Break the Cycle of Abandonment include a four step, holistic approach, addressing Detection, Prevention, Maintenance and Blight Elimination, and Redevelopment. Each and every Cleveland neighborhood is affected by the problem of vacant and abandoned properties. Cleveland City Council is committed to working toward a solution that addresses the needs of the residents of these neighborhoods and makes Cleveland a place people choose to live, work, learn and play.
2008 efforts to Break the Cycle of Abandonment include:
1) Reviewing the results of the Public Land Authority Study recently commissioned through the Office of Cuyahoga County Treasurer James Rokakis in conjunction with the Jackson Administration and Cleveland City Council and determining the best course of action regarding Land Bank reform.
2) Increasing pressure on the State and Federal government to reform current laws to stem the tide of foreclosures and facilitate strategic revitalization through lobbying and awareness efforts as well as working strategically with State and Federal representatives to identify additional government action to be taken. Key issues include increased regulation of the mortgage industry, increased speed of government control of vacant properties, a sharp increase in demolition funding, programming focused on assisting homeowners with avoiding foreclosure, tax credits specifically intended to assist in strategic redevelopment of established neighborhoods and a possible foreclosure moratorium.
3) Coordination with the non-profit community and the Jackson Administration to effectively track the presence of vacant and abandoned homes, which will allow for continued increases in strategic demolition and targeted redevelopment of blighted areas.
4) Assisting in the maintenance of a database of properties in various stages of vacancy and foreclosure, which, through coordination with the Department of Building and Housing, Housing Court and the County Treasurer’s Office, will increase the turnaround of these properties.
5) An examination of the Building and Housing Department that includes a progress assessment of efficiency, goals, improvements and challenges in addition to the compilation of a list of code enforcement, board-up and demolition activities.
6) A review of the potential to bring litigation against predatory lenders as part of the focus to hold the mortgage industry accountable.
Safety
While the overall crime rate for the City of Cleveland decreased, the homicide rate increased in 2008. Cleveland City Council’s Safety Committee, under Chairman Kevin Conwell, is committed to addressing this and other safety issues facing the City of Cleveland.
In 2008, Council’s Safety Committee intends to address:
1) Overtime costs for all divisions of Safety are historically higher than any other City departments. The Safety Committee intends to conduct a continual review of the operating budgets for EMS, Fire and Police to curtail abuse of overtime.
2) After extensively riding with EMS operators, Councilman Conwell intends to address EMS deployment and shift structure issues in addition to examining the number of EMT classes being held.
3) Carefully examine the Mayor’s police redeployment and district restructuring plan to ensure that it best serves the residents of the City of Cleveland.
4) Examine the Mayor’s plan to reinstate a gang unit and incorporate this initiative into the Committee’s examination of possible anti-gang legislation.
5) Monitor the success of measures taken by the Jackson Administration to take guns off of City streets.
6) Continue a discussion of possible uses for surveillance cameras throughout the City of Cleveland in commercial retail areas, recreation centers and residential areas in addition to possible coordination with other law enforcement and security agencies to take advantage of surveillance technology.
7) Continue a discussion of strategies to inspire parental accountability through community outreach and coordination in addition to possible legislation.
Finance
One of the most important responsibilities of Cleveland City Council is to review and approve the annual City of Cleveland budget and to serve as a watchdog in regards to City finances. That that City of Cleveland is under serious constraints in terms of financing is an unfortunate reality in today’s economic atmosphere. Cleveland City Council intends to increase its commitment to monitor the City’s finances by undertaking additional steps in the budgetary process. In addition to the February Budget Hearings held for the purpose of passing the 2008 City of Cleveland budget, Council intends to conduct a similar hearing process halfway through the budget cycle and to review quarterly budget reports.
The Budget Hearing Process will include:
1) A February Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Hearing that focuses on the current mission, strategies and policy objectives for improving neighborhoods, housing stock and community development corporations and how these tie into current programming and measurement tools.
2) A bi-annual budget assessment that includes (1) a ranking of General Fund Services by level of importance; (2) a review of the Capital Plan Budget and requests; (3) an analysis of revenue projections; (4) a review of employee compensation and benefits; (5) a cost containment review; (6) a Enterprise Budget and Programs review; (7) a department by department budget assessment focused on linking expenditures to department mission and objectives and (8) the review and establishment of performance monitoring benchmarks.
3) A quarterly budget assessment that will focus ensuring alignment with decisions made during the bi-annual budget hearings.
Public Utilities
Focus on sustainable living has increased as the country has come to realize the importance of protecting the world in which we live for future generations. Council intends to remain at the forefront of such efforts in 2008. Through infrastructure, we have the ability to connect the community on a regional level through technology and modernized processes. A strong effort to create the kind of infrastructure that will hold up modern data management communications and link together communities, organizations and departments can bring the City of Cleveland fully into the 21st century.
In 2008, Council intends to address:
1) Undertaking the decision on whether to commit to a 50 year purchase agreement for power from AMP-Ohio by March and the employment of an independent study commissioned by Council to determine the feasibility of such a venture.
2) Encouraging innovative ways to provide new and replace aging infrastructure and identifying long term objective improvements as a means to enhance economic development.
3) Maintaining and improving a diverse transportation system that includes air, rail, water and highways.
4) Ensuring cost effective, high quality public services that become a model for other communities.
5) Developing and applying environmental and energy efficiency planning in all City departments and developments and streamlining processes.
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