Delete WardCouncil Meeting Highlights
Mar 25, 2024
City Council held its regular meeting tonight, both in person in Council Chambers and live streamed. Council's next meeting will be Monday, April 1st. Here are today’s highlights:
A Resolution Calling for the Halt of Fighting in Gaza: With the United Nations adoption of a ceasefire resolution for Gaza, Cleveland City Council passed a resolution sponsored by all Council members stating “this Council condemns the attacks in Israel on October 7th that lead to the loss of Israeli and American lives and the taking of hundreds of hostages,” and “this Council and Clevelanders of all faiths and backgrounds have expressed profound concern for the innocent civilians suffering and are alarmed by the loss of tens of thousands of innocent Palestinian and American lives due to the war in Gaza; further this Council calls for international aid to go immediately and directly to the people of Gaza.” Finally the resolution states that, “Council supports all efforts to resolve the tragic conflict in Gaza and further supports the Resolution adopted by the UN Security Council that calls for a halt to the fighting in Gaza and for the release of all hostages taken captive on October 7th..” Res. No. 366-2024
Tax Increment Financing District Established: Council passed the establishment of the Shore-to-Core-to-Shore TIF District. This will mean certain parcels of property in the prescribed district, as their property values increase, the increase in property taxes will go to the city to fund major public improvements. This funding will go to public infrastructure improvements to be made to directly benefit the district, as well as benefit neighborhoods. Cleveland Municipal School District will be held harmless, meaning they will continue to receive an amount equal to the property tax increases they would have received. The legislation does not authorize the issuance of any debt. Ord. No. 38-2024.
Reducing Violent Crime: Council approved legislation authorizing the city to accept a $3.75 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, COPS Office, for the FY23 COPS Hiring Program for Violent Crime Reduction. This grant will provide funding for 30 police officers over three years for violent crime reduction and will pay a portion of their base salaries for three years. The goal of the grant is to provide funding for violent crime reduction by assigning six additional officers to each of the five Police Districts. These additional officers in each of the districts will work as a team and will attend community meetings and community events. The City is putting in an additional $4,453,320.00 for the 30 officers. Ord. No. 230-2024
Legislation Introduced:
3D Homes: Legislation providing a $1 million grant to Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry to partially finance the purchase of equipment, the lease or acquisition of warehouse space, and the construction of pilot houses, related to the development and implementation of an affordable housing program for low income or homeless people using 3D printing technology. The legislation was sponsored by Councilwoman Stephanie Howse-Jones. This legislation will first be reviewed by the Directors of Economic Development, Finance and Law before coming to the Council Committees of Development, Planning & Sustainability and Finance, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion before a full vote of Council. Ord. No 339-2024
Pedestrian Plazas: Legislation allowing the city to accept an $100,000 grant from the Project for Public Spaces for the West 29th Street Open Street Program to design and install one or more pedestrian plazas in one or more areas to be selected located along West 29th Street north of Clinton Avenue and south of Detroit Avenue. This legislation will first be reviewed by the Directors of City Planning Commission, Finance and Law before coming to the Council Committees of Development Planning & Sustainability, Finance Diversity Equity & Inclusion before a full vote of Council. Ord. No. 341-2024
Universal Basic Employment: Legislation allowing the city to provide a $600,000 grant to the United Way of Greater Cleveland, to act as the City’s agent to partially finance costs for the development, administration and the providing of small business and participant support associated with development of a Universal Basic Employment and Opportunity two-year pilot program. Universal Basic Employment & Opportunity (UBE) is a public policy initiative with the mission to demonstrate that a federal jobs guarantee policy can eliminate poverty. The legislation was sponsored by Councilwoman Stephanie Howse-Jones. This legislation will first by reviewed by the Directors of Economic Development, Finance and Law before coming to Council Committees of Workforce Education Training & Youth Development, Finance, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion before a full vote of Council. Ord. No. 343-2024