Council Meeting Highlights

Oct 25, 2021

Cleveland (October 25, 2021) – City Council held its regular weekly meeting tonight. The next council meeting will be held Monday, November 8th. Here are tonight’s highlights:

*Adopted legislation authorizing the city’s Department of Public Works to enter into agreement with Burten, Bell, Carr Development Inc. for the Garden of the Eleven Angels Project. The agreement is for the public purpose of placing a memorial monument at a public greenspace located on Imperial Avenue, memorializing eleven women who were victims of violence at that site. Funding is available through the use of Wards 2, 4, 5 and 6 casino revenue funds, plus capital repair funds. The cost is capped at $50,000. Ord. No. 949-2021.

*Adopted legislation authorizing the city to enter into both a loan agreement and a grant agreement with Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network, Inc., (MAGNET) to provide the company with $1 million in assistance for the purchasing of new machinery and equipment at its new headquarters at 1800 East 63rd Street, the former Margaret Ireland School. The assistance will also help with new construction and other costs necessary to redevelop the property. The costs of the agreements include a non-forgivable loan in the amount of $500,000 and a grant in the amount of $500,000 to assist with construction costs at the project site.

As part of the project they will create a Manufacturing Innovation, Technology, and Job Center. The building will be redeveloped to include opportunities and features designed to help manufacturing companies adopt to cutting-edge technologies and business processes, develop our manufacturing workforce, especially in underserved communities, and create a community asset with public space for the Hough community.

MAGNET is a business consulting firm. Its manufacturing expert’s help companies grow revenue, launch products, and strengthen workforces. Ord. No. 885-2021.

*Adopted two pieces of legislation affecting rate structures for water service and water pollution control. The city’s department of Water Pollution Control currently includes minimum rates, regardless of usage. One part of the legislation (Ord. No. 1393-2019) would phase out the minimum charge, resulting in lower bills for lower users. However, for most homeowners the bill would increase by about 90 cents a month next year and an additional $1.05 the following year. Larger homes, businesses and other commercial property would see larger increases. Water Pollution Control cleans and services thousands of catch basins and storm drains annually to minimize or eliminate potential street and basement flooding. The sewer collection system transfers sanitary sewage and storm water to three Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District wastewater treatment facilities. Discount continue to be available for senior citizens or income-eligible customers. Utility officials noted that there are more than 500 miles of underground infrastructure that needs to be replaced, as much of it is a century old.

The other legislation (Ord. No. 178-2021) addresses water rates from the Division of Water. Cleveland residents will not see an increase until 2024. At that time, the average user of water will see a 3.5 percent increase which works out to be 87 cents a month. Suburban water customers will also not see a rate increase until 2024 and it will also be a 3.5 percent increase. The city has 400,000 water customers in Northeast Ohio.