Council Meeting Highlights

Apr 28, 2025

City Council held a regular in-person meeting in Council Chambers today, which was also live-streamed. Council's next meeting is on May 12th (there is no meeting on Monday, May 5th). Here are tonight’s highlights:

New Cleveland Health Clinic: Council has approved legislation authorizing the City to enter into a lease agreement for space within the Northern Ohio Blanket Mills building, located at 3466 St. Rocco’s Court, Cleveland. The lease will be with Blanket Mills Prime Tenant, LLC, or its designee, for a term of ten (10) years. The space will be used for the public purpose of establishing and operating a health care clinic.
In response to the growing demand for health care services in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood, as well as the need for additional affordable housing in the Ohio City neighborhood, the Department of Public Health will relocate its existing west side clinic, currently housed at the McCafferty Health Center, to the new site at Northern Ohio Blanket Mills. Ord. No. 468-2025

Off the Streets and Into Housing: Council approved legislation authorizing the City to enter into one or more contracts with Downtown Cleveland Alliance, The Centers for Families and Children, and additional partners in homeless services to continue the "A Home for Every Neighbor: A Vision for Housing Our Unsheltered Community" initiative. This initiative focuses on direct-to-housing encampment resolution efforts, aimed at transitioning individuals from the streets into stable housing. 
 

The contracts, administered by the Department of Public Health, will be in effect for a period of one year, with an option for the Director of Public Health to renew. The estimated total cost for this initiative is $1,920,000. Ord. No. 502-2025

Pay Equity and Transparency: Council passed legislation, sponsored by Council Members Jasmin Santana, Charles Slife, and Stephanie Howse-Jones, with other members joining, that prohibits Cleveland businesses with 15 or more employees from inquiring, screening, or relying on the salary history of an applicant in deciding whether to employ the applicant.

The legislation would also require the company to provide the salary range for the position. Any person may allege that a violation of Section 669.02 has occurred by filing a written complaint with the Fair Employment Wage Board within 180 days of the alleged violation.

At least 22 states and dozens of other cities, including Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo, have successfully implemented similar legislation, leading to more equitable compensation practices across the United States.

Prohibiting employers from asking about a job applicant's salary history can help ensure that compensation is based on the qualifications, experience, and responsibilities of the position rather than the applicant’s identity or background. Ord. No. 104-2025

Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights: Council approved a resolution adopting the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights, which seeks to ensure that all children in Cleveland have safe and equitable access to meaningful outdoor experiences that support their health, education, and overall well-being. The resolution was sponsored by Council Members Brian Kazy, Stephanie Howse-Jones, Jasmin Santana, Deborah Gray, Joseph Jones, Charles Slife, Jenny Spencer, and Richard Starr. Adopting the Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights acknowledges that every child in Cleveland has the right to:
1.     Breathe fresh and clean air.
2.    Recreate safely on the beaches and in the waters of Lake Erie.
3.    Play in clean parks, green spaces, rivers, and streams.
4.    Bike on safe trails in parks that connect the community.
5.    Hike and explore safely in nature.
6.    Walk along tree-lined streets in their neighborhood.
7.    Play in the snow, build a snowman, ride a sled, and throw a snowball.
8.    Dig in soil, plant and nurture a seed, watch it grow.
9.    Engage and connect with their community at events in parks and green spaces.
10.    Bond with family and friends over an outdoor meal.
11.    Watch the stars shine bright during a peaceful night of camping.
12.    Learn in nature, building confidence to be stewards of our natural world.

Cleveland Metropolitan School District students presented this initiative to the Workforce, Education, Training, & Youth Development Committee last week. The CMSD high school students, AP Environmental Science scholars from John Marshall’s School of Civic & Business Leadership, collaborated with City Council, the Western Reserve Land Conservancy, and the National League of Cities to help advance this initiative. Res. No. 436-2025

Gun Violence is a Public Health Crisis: Council approved declaring gun violence a public health crisis, sponsored by Councilman Richard Starr, and pledging to work to reduce the pervasiveness of gun violence in the City of Cleveland. Res. No. 562-2025
Council also approved recognizing May 1 - May 7, 2025, as Gun Violence Survivors Week in Cleveland which was also sponsored by Councilman Starr. Res. No. 563-2025.

View more, including the press conference, here. 
 

Introductions

Legislation was introduced to amend Codified Ordinance Section 121.10, requiring Consultant Review Committee (CRC) approval for unbid services agreements. This amendment is intended to enhance transparency, promote competitiveness, and ensure fairness in the approval process for unbid service contracts.
Under the proposed change, CRC approval will be required for all unbid services contracts exceeding $25,000. The CRC will consist of five members: the Director of Finance, the Director of Human Resources, the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO), one representative from the Mayor’s Office appointed by the Mayor, and one representative appointed by the Council President.
The new requirements will apply to all contracts on or after May 15, 2025. Ord. No. 568-2025
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Legislation was introduced to authorize the Director of Public Safety to lease property located at 7818 Kinsman Road to Vanguards of Cleveland. The property will be used to establish a Community Resource Center and a Minority Public Safety Museum. The lease term will be for thirty (30) years, with two additional thirty-year renewal options, exercisable at the discretion of the Director of Public Safety. Ord. No. 560-2025