Council Meeting Highlights

Nov 25, 2024

City Council held its regular meeting tonight, both in person in Council Chambers and live streamed. Council's next meeting will be Dec. 2nd. Here are today’s highlights:

Development Planned Near NASA Glenn and Airport: Council approved selling some City-owned properties no longer needed located on Brookpark and Old Grayton Roads near the NASA Glenn Research Center to NASA Park, LLC for purposes of developing hotels and restaurants. The developers need to assemble enough land to develop this parking lot into a 124-room Waterwalk by Wyndham Hotel, an Extended Stay Marriott with 130 rooms, and two fast-casual restaurants. The developers are expected to invest approximately $60 million in the proposed project. The appraised fair market value of the three parcels is $140,000.The property is not necessary for the present or future operation of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Ord. No. 1056-2024

Street Racing Laws Toughened to Stop Takeovers: Council approved legislation, sponsored by Councilmen Mike Polensek and Kerry McCormack and Council President Blaine A. Griffin, to amend the city’s street racing laws (433.07) to prohibit additional actions and behaviors. The new prohibitions include actions taken at these recent "street takeovers" including blocking intersections, burnouts, doughnuts, wheelies, drifting (a sideways skid), and stunt driving will be added to the list of prohibited actions. Stunt driving usually entails performing or engaging in burnouts, doughnuts, drifting, or wheelies, or allowing a passenger to ride either partially or fully outside of the vehicle while operating that vehicle.

The new legislation would also make "vehicle components" subject to seizure and forfeiture, including but not limited to steering wheels, wheels and tires and mufflers, or any part of the vehicle or component that was adapted for use in street takeovers, stunt driving or racing.

The new ordinance conforms to changes in state law, which became effective Oct. 24, 2024; the penalty for violation has not been changed from the current city code and is the same as state law: a 1st degree misdemeanor and at least a 30 day suspension of the driver’s license as well as the same penalty for anyone who assists them. Ord. No. 1080-2024

New Homes to Be Built: Council authorized the city to enter into a development agreement with Bequest Builders Inc., or its designee, for the sale and redevelopment of City-owned properties currently in the City’s Land Reutilization Program which are located in the Glenville Circle North neighborhood. Circle North is a neighborhood that sits right outside of University Circle. Residents are a neighbor to Little Italy, Case Western Reserve, Cleveland Clinic, museums, parks, and dining. The name derives from the building that included retail, co-working space and apartments on E. 105th and was named Circle North. It was part of Mayor Jackson’s Neighborhood Transformation Initiative. Ord No. 1142-2024

Permit Fees Abolished for Bicycle Racks: Council approved legislation, sponsored by Councilman Kerry McCormack, to exempt bicycle racks from permit application fees and renewal fees. It does not exempt them from insurance, indemnification, and other requirements. The current permit application fee is $160 and the annual renewal fee $110.

City Council and the City promote bicycle use for transportation and recreation. The City wants to encourage more Clevelanders to ride bikes and businesses to provide bicycle racks for their use. Portland, Oregon is an example of a city that doesn’t charge a fee for bicycle racks. While other major Ohio cities charge permit fees for bicycle racks, Cleveland would be the first in Ohio to prioritize bicycle rack installation by eliminating permit and renewal fees. Ord. No. 991-2024

New Department of Innovation and Technology Established: Council approved the Bibb administration's plan to discontinue the Division of Information Technology and Services, the Office of Information Technology Planning, and the Office of Urban Analytics and Innovation by repealing various sections of the Codified Ordinances. The administration will establish the Department of Innovation and Technology. Ord. No. 1081-2024

Introduction 

Legislation was introduced to authorize the city to enter into a Joint Sponsorship Agreement with the Cities of Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights regarding City-owned property jointly located in both cities necessary for the cities to file a grant application for funding under the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program. The grant funding requested is needed to construct a 10-foot wide trail in Horseshoe Lake Park. Ord. No. 1328-2024