Council Meeting Highlights

May 20, 2024

City Council held its regular meeting tonight, both in person in Council Chambers and live streamed. Council's next meeting will be Monday, June 3^rd. (No meeting on May 27^th, Memorial Day.) Here are today’s highlights:

Habitat for Humanity: Council approved selling City-owned property no longer needed located at the southeast corner of Grovewood Avenue and East 164th Street to Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity , Inc. for future development. The 1.7 acre property will be sold for the appraised fair market value of $65,000. Habitat for Humanity plans to construct 10 single family modular homes with basements. Habitat for Humanity plans similar homes, with aging in place considerations, in other parts of the city. Ord. No. 407-2024

Dugway Brook: Council approved an agreement for the city to participate with the Chagrin River Watershed Partners who has received a $500,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for the “Engaging Dugway Brook Communities in Designing Stream and Wetland Restoration Project”. Cleveland has pledged $25,000 in in-kind staff-time to participate in Dugway Grant’s Advisory Committee, provide design input, plan and execute community engagement, and other activities required under the Dugway Grant. Dugway Brook is a tributary that feeds directly into Lake Erie. Ord. No. 471-2024

A Cleveland Mural: Council approved a license agreement with The Convention and Destination Cleveland, to install and maintain graphic art on City-owned property at 205 West St. Clair Avenue, for a period of five years automatically renewing from year to year. There is no cost to the city. Ord. No. 404-2024

Introductions:

Regulating Short-Term Rentals: Legislation that enacts a licensing procedure and regulations for the use and operation of short-term rentals (such as Airbnb and VRBO) in residential neighborhoods was introduced. Ordinance No. 588-2024. The new regulations include:

• Requiring all short-term rentals be licensed. License application and annual renewal $150  
• Rentals cannot be advertised without a license
• A local contact must be available at all times the property is used as a short-term rental and must be able to be onsite in one hour if contacted
• Proof of at least $300,000 in liability insurance required
• STR applications will be reviewed by different departments for approval and council members will be notified of applicants
• STRs cannot be rented to any guest for more than 30 consecutive days or less than 24 hours.
• The maximum number of people is 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional people
• Density limitation. In a residential district, STRs are limited to at least one or no more than 15% of the total residential homes on the block or units in a multi-unit building. 
• Booking agents  are required to register and provide name, address, phone number of at least one person who’s in charge of occupancy taxes and is available to take any action to address violations of owner’s or operator’s responsibilities. 
• Fines will be imposed for violations of the law, including failure to obtain a license. The civil penalties are in addition to any other civil or criminal penalties that may be charged.

Reducing Homelessness: Legislation was introduced to contract with Clutch Consulting Group, the Cleveland Mediation Center, and various non-profit organizations for the purpose of developing and implementing direct-to housing practices to eliminate unsheltered homelessness in the City of Cleveland. The cost is $2 million. Ord. No. 595-2024