Council Meeting Highlights

Apr 21, 2025

 City Council held a regular in-person meeting in Council Chambers today, which was also live-streamed. Council's next meeting is on April 28th. Here are tonight’s highlights:

City Nuisance Laws Strengthened: City Council approved amendments to the nuisance laws to strengthen enforcement against properties repeatedly linked to nuisance activities, aiming to protect public safety and enhance the quality of life in our neighborhoods.

Criminal Activity Nuisances Declared:

Probable Cause Determination: Clarifies that a formal arrest or citation is not required to establish probable cause that a nuisance activity has occurred. Police personnel are permitted to rely on witness statements when making this determination. 

Expanded Definitions: Introduces the term "person associated with the property", which includes anyone who enters, patronizes, visits, attempts, or waits to do so. This may include individuals such as officers, directors, customers, agents, employees, or independent contractors of the property owner.

Expanded List of Nuisance Activities: The following are now included as nuisance activities:

• All drug-related offenses under Ohio Revised Code Section 2925
• Equipment and safety violations: Horn, Sirens, and Warning Devices, and Muffler; Muffler Cutout; Excessive Smoke, Gas, or Noise
• Reckless operation offenses, including Street Racing, Stunt Driving, and Street Takeovers
  Nuisance Declaration Process Adjustments:
• If three or more nuisance activities occur within 12 months, the Director of Public Safety will issue a written warning that the property is at risk of being declared a nuisance.
• The property owner must submit an abatement plan within 10 days. Failure to do so results in a $100/day fine until a plan is submitted.
• The Director has the discretion to declare the property a nuisance if another incident occurs at least 13 days, but no more than six months, after the notice.

The revised language grants the Director greater flexibility to evaluate the legitimacy of reported nuisances, helping to prevent misuse of the system while ensuring that property owners are not discouraged from reporting criminal activity occurring on their premises. Ord. No. 228-2025

Earth Day in Cleveland: Council passed a resolution, sponsored by all members, recognizing April 22, 2025, as Earth Day in the City of Cleveland. Earth Day serves as an opportunity to learn from one another and build community by engaging in projects, initiatives, and campaigns to protect and restore the planet and build resilient neighborhoods, including caring for and planting trees, removing litter, using public transit, walking and biking, conserving water and energy, and other environmentally responsible actions. Res. No. 539-2025
 

Council Chambers Set for Movie Filming: Council approved authorizing the Clerk of Council to enter into an agreement with Shoestring Productions for the temporary use of the Council Chamber for filming certain scenes of a movie that deal with the Torso Murders. The Cleveland Torso Murders, also known as the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run, was an unidentified serial killer who was active in Cleveland in the 1930s. The killings were characterized by the dismemberment of thirteen known victims and the disposal of their remains in the neighborhood of Kingsbury Run, on the southeast side of Cleveland. Ord. No. 535-2025

Introductions

Legislation was introduced that authorizes the city to enter into an amendment to the contract with Osborn Engineering to provide additional services relating to the North Coast Connector Project, aka the Lakefront Pedestrian Bridge Connector, to the Lakefront and other associated infrastructure. The additional services are needed from Osborn to receive the Ohio Department of Transportation’s and the Federal Highway Administration’s approvals of an Alternatives Evaluation Report, to assist the City in preparing a design-build Request for Qualifications package, and to assist the City in identifying future needs to complete the Project. The cost is not to exceed $5 million.

The legislation allows the city to enter into one or more grant agreements necessary to receive federal funds, previously applied for and accepted under the authority of Ordinance No. 683-2021, for the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant for $60 million and the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program grant in the amount of $70 million both administered by U.S. Department of Transportation, to study, design, and construct the Project. Ord. No. 549-2025