Delete WardCouncil Meeting Highlights (4/3/23)
Apr 03, 2023
(Cleveland – April 3, 2023) - City Council held its regular Monday meeting tonight, both in person in Council Chambers and through live streaming. The next regular meeting is April 10th . Here are tonight’s highlights:
Youth Basketball Program: All 17 council members provided casino revenue funds for Impact Youth Incorporated to establish a City Youth Basketball Program in Ward 16 in Jefferson Park again this year. Impact Youth, a community-based mentoring organization, will organize basketball activities, as well as include social-interactional development skills for Cleveland youth. Last year, Councilman Brian Kazy brought in Impact Youth to Jefferson Park, where 125 players completed classes and training on conflict resolution and neighborhood outreach before putting on a jersey. The cost is not to exceed $40,000. Ord. No. 401-2023
Intelligent Traffic Signals: Council approved the city’s SMART - Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation - grant proposal, in partnership with the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority and Cleveland State University, to hire consultants and other professional services, to design, establish a prototype and then evaluate intelligent, cloud-based adaptive traffic signals. These signals provide transit and emergency vehicle priority at traffic signals. It could also incorporate optical sensor-based bicycle and pedestrian detection, eliminating the need to push a walk button. It may also be used for officials to identify near-crash occurrences and establish programs to eliminate this threat. The funding is through a $1,820,500 SMART grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. No local match is required. Ord. No.: 106-2023.
Planning and Career Exploration (PACE): Council approved using $2.1 million from the American Rescue Plan Act funding to expand PACE, a program embedded in the curriculum for 6th – 12th graders that provides them with knowledge, skills, experiences, and confidence to uncover the occupations or careers they want to pursue. The funding covers a three-year period and the students will receive a variety of quality in-school and out-of-school lessons and experiences to enable students to explore different opportunities. The aim is to have all Cleveland students graduating with a career pathway plan, whether it’s something that requires a four year college degree, a two-year associate’s degree, a certification program, or apprenticeships in trades. Ord. No.: 93-2023
Two New Mini-pitch Soccer Fields: Council approved a donation from the U.S. Soccer Foundation for two mini-pitch soccer fields with sponsor logos, that will include lighting, fencing, goals, benches, ADA-compliant access, and lockable storage at each location. Sponsors for the soccer fields include the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Black Players for Change, the Black Women’s Player Collective, Mosco Lighting, and Adidas. The mini-pitch soccer fields will be installed at the Lonnie Burten Park in Ward 5, represented by Councilman Richard Starr, and at the Halloran Park in Ward 11, represented by Councilman Danny Kelly. Ord.: No.: 250-2023.
New Connection to Lakefront Bikeway: Council approved a real estate gift from The NRP Group LLC for property that will be used for planning, designing, and constructing a trail to connect the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway to Herman Park in Ward 15, represented by Councilmember Jenny Spencer. The county appraised value of the donation at $21,300. Herman Park is on Herman Avenue between West 65th and West 58th streets. Ord. No.: 251-2023.
U.S. Bike Route: Council approved the Ohio Department of Transportation installation of signage on the United States Bike Route System. The Cleveland portion of the U.S. Bike Route is approximately 15 miles and follows a path along Lake Erie between West 117th Street and Neff Road/Lakeshore Boulevard. Over 18,000 miles are currently established as U.S. Bike Routes in 34 states and Washington DC. ODOT will supply and install the signage and the City will own and maintain it after installation Ord. No.: 252-2023