Council Meeting Highlights

Nov 04, 2024

City Council held its regular meeting tonight, both in person in Council Chambers and live streamed. Please note, Council's next meeting will be Nov. 18. (Don't forget Nov. 5th is Election Day.) Here are today’s highlights:

Cleveland Public Power Electricity Rates: Council approved legislation that will increase the price of electricity for those who are customers of Cleveland Public Power. The average CPP customer uses about 500 kWh each month and the increase would amount to a $4.85 increase a month in 2025 and an additional $3.45 in 2026. CPP has not had a rate increase since 1983.

CPP is a major enterprise fund of the City. Enterprise funds function in a manner like private business enterprises and are financed primarily by user fees to the general public. As a not-for-profit, profit enterprise. every dollar it makes is used to keep the utility running, light city streets and provide service to its 73,000 customers. Ord. No. 957-2024

Reimaging a Vacant Grocery Store: Council approved purchasing property located at 15900 Lakeshore Boulevard (old Dave's supermarket) which will be placed into the City’s Land Reutilization Program for future redevelopment, for the Department of Economic Development. The purchase price is $1,475,000 which is determined to be fair market value by the Board of Control for the vacant building and the 4.2 acres it sits on. The location is strategic, with a major expansion of lake front parks nearby and two adjacent plots controlled by the County Land Bank resulting in a 6 acre site. Once the city has control, the plan is to prepare it for redevelopment, including a possible grocery store and other shops and amenities in a mixed use development. The legislation is sponsored by Council members Mike Polensek, Anthony Hairston and Council President Blaine A. Griffin. Ord. No. 1170-2024

New Rules for Lights at Outdoor Parking Lots: Council approved legislation updating an ordinance that oversees lighting at outdoor parking lots with 10 or more spots. The legislation was initially sponsored by Councilwoman Rebecca Maurer.

During non-daylight hours outdoor parking lots must be illuminated with one (1) to 2.5 footcandles, as recommended by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES). The purpose is to provide adequate lighting for the safety of residents and pedestrians, and to prevent crime and accidents.

The new rules only apply to lighting installed in lots after the legislation takes effect. If existing lighting plans were previously approved, the lot owner could be cited for not maintaining lighting as approved. An owner that is replacing existing lighting and installing new lighting must comply with these new standards. The penalty for a violation is a 1st degree misdemeanor with up to a $1000 fine and 180 days in jail. A tool to use for enforcement is an illuminance meter that measures light illumination levels. Ord. No. 639-2024

Helping Low-Income Residents with Utility Concerns: Council approved the city entering into agreements with CHN Housing Partners to administer energy, water, and sewer conservation services to low-income homeowners, for the Divisions of Water, Water Pollution Control, and Cleveland Public Power, Department of Public Utilities. The cost is $250,000.  Ord. No. 624-2024

Introduction 

Legislation was introduced authorizing the City to enter into a $1 million grant agreement with the United Way of Greater Cleveland to act as the City’s fiscal agent to administer and provide a tenant resources and outreach program to increase tenant housing stability. United Way will provide funding to organizations to provide services such as tenant intake, tenant education and organizing, emergency housing assistance, legal and mediation assistance, and evaluation. Councilman Kris Harsh and Council President Blaine A. Griffin are sponsoring this legislation to reestablish a tenant rights organization similar to Cleveland Tenants Organization that was founded in 1975 and provided information and advocacy for tenants in Greater Cleveland and closed in February of 2018 because of lack of financial support. While the City is using federal revenue recovery money, others are expected to provide funding. Ord. No. 1197-2024