Council Meeting Highlights

Aug 16, 2023

Cleveland (Aug. 16, 2023) - City Council held its August meeting today. Council returns to its regular schedule starting with the next meeting on Monday, Sept. 18th. Here are today’s highlights:

A New Cleveland Landmark: Councilwoman Deborah Gray initially sponsored legislation, later additional members co-sponsored, designating the Boddie Recording Company on Union Avenue as a Cleveland Landmark, which council passed. Run by Thomas and Louise Boddie, it was Cleveland's first African-American owned and operated recording studio, serving a clientele ranging from gospel, soul, and rhythm & blues groups, to rock, bluegrass, and country musicians from as far away as Detroit and West Virginia. Ord. No. 512-2023

Home Repairs Revolving Loans and Small and Minority Business Revolving Loans: Council approved the city entering into agreements with various private nonprofit organizations to address vacant or abandoned properties and to provide financing for home repairs and to small businesses economically impacted by COVID-19.. The organizations are: CHN Housing Partners $4 million, Cleveland Restoration Society $3 million, Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity $1.5 million, LISC Cleveland/Local Initiatives Support Corporation $1.5 million, Cleveland Development Advisory Community Reinvestment Fund, Inc. (CDA-CRF) $2.5 million and Village Capital Corp. $2.5 million.  Ord. No. 712-2023

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: Council approved entering into contract(s) with Volta Charging, LLC for a publicly accessible electric charging station network in the public right-of-way and on City-owned property. Ord. No. 790-2023

Fair Wage Increasing: Council amended and increased the minimum wage in its Fair Employment Wage ordinance established in 1976 and last amended in 2006. While the City of Cleveland pays its employees over $15 per hour, the Fair Employment Wage rate, that also applies to employees of covered employers contracting with or receiving financial assistance from the City, remains at $10 by codified ordinance and is now below Ohio’s $10.10 per hour minimum wage. Council approved increasing the minimum wage to $15.33. The legislation also ties it to annual inflation with adjustments every October according to the Consumer Price Index for Northeast Ohio. The legislation was sponsored by Council Members Danny Kelly, Charles Slife, Rebecca Maurer and Council President Blaine A. Griffin Ord. No. 802-2023

Revitalizing Cleveland’s Commercial Corridors and Middle Neighborhoods: Council approved legislation for the city to enter into a grant agreement with Cleveland Neighborhood Progress to partially finance costs to acquire, hold, and implement and manage renovation of housing in City neighborhoods, and a grant agreement with Cleveland Neighborhood Progress to provide economic development assistance to partially finance costs associated with acquisition, stabilization and holding commercial properties, and to provide economic development assistance for associated projects that will revitalize commercial corridors in the City and create jobs. The grant is estimated at $7.3 million and comes from the revenue recovery funds the city received. The funding is divided into $3.3 million for the commercial corridors and $4 for housing projects. Ord. No. 750-2023

Longtime Council Researcher Honored: Council passed a resolution recognizing John James’ more than 30 years of service to Cleveland City Council and naming the small conference room in City Council offices as the John James Conference Room. Res. No. 806-2023

Legislation Introduced:

Parental Responsibility and Curfew Laws: Councilman Mike Polensek is sponsoring legislation to amend a codified Ordinance  relating to parental responsibility ensuring their minor children’s curfew. Under Section 605.14, a parent/legal guardian of a minor has a duty to supervise the minor so that the minor does not violate curfew laws in division (a).

The ordinance amends the penalty for failure of a parent or legal guardian to fulfill that duty:

1. from a minor misdemeanor for the first offense to a 4^th degree misdemeanor (up to $250 fine; up to 30 days in jail); 
2. from a 4^th degree misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense to a 3^rd degree misdemeanor (up to $500 fine; up to 60 days in jail)  
3. The parent/guardian may also be required to perform community service:  the value of such service is increased from not to exceed $100 to not to exceed $250 

This legislation goes to the Directors of Public Safety, Finance, and Law before it comes back to Council Committees Safety, and Finance Diversity Equity and Inclusion before it goes to the full council. Ord. No. 860-2013