Council Meeting Highlights

Sep 20, 2021

Cleveland (September 20, 2021) - City Council held its regular meeting tonight. The next scheduled meeting is Sept. 27. Here are highlights.

*Authorized the city to set aside a share of its federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to develop a city-wide broadband network. The city is committing $20 million to the project, though additional funds from other sources are needed.

The Covid-19 emergency has highlighted the importance of universally available, high speed, reliable and affordable broadband coverage. People rely on the internet to participate in a variety of activities, including remote education classes, healthcare and employment, down to ordering food or getting tickets for entertainment activities.

Recognizing the need for this connectivity, the U.S. Treasury Department is allowing American Rescue funds to be used to make necessary investments in broadband infrastructure. Ord. No. 691-2021

*Authorized the city to enter into agreements with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank to financially assist with the food banks’ capital improvements at its new center on Coit Road and its existing facility on South Waterloo Road. The city has committed to paying $5 million from federal funds it will be receiving through the American Rescue Plan Act and council will discuss whether additional funding in the future is warranted. Ord. No. 681-2021.

A number of economic development projects were authorized including:

*Authorized the Director of Economic Development to enter into agreements with Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center for Economic Development to provide assistance – through loans and grants – for the CentroVilla25 Project to develop the West 25th Street and Clark Avenue area. CentroVilla25, a collaborative effort between MetroHealth, the Hispanic Business Center, Hispanic Alliance and Metro West Community Development Center, is developing the W. 25th/Clark area as the economic and cultural center of the Latino Community in Greater Cleveland. The stretch south of Clark Avenue to MetroHealth contains several vacant buildings and empty land. Ord. No. 701-2021.

*Authorized the Director of Economic Development to enter into a loan agreement with Fairfax Renaissance Development Corp., to provide economic development assistance to partially finance the development of the Innovation Square mixed-use neighborhood project located on the west side of East 105th Street and other associated costs necessary to redevelop the property. The project will consist of 80 units (20 studios, 44 1BRs, and 16 2BRs). Of those, 56 units (70%) will be market rate and 24 units (30%) will be workforce housing. Along with the neighboring development of the Meijer grocery store, this will be the first attempt to develop market-rate and workforce housing at scale outside of the downtown, University Circle and Near West side markets. Ord. No. 699-2021.

*Authorized the Director of Economic Development to enter into a loan agreement with the Levin Group to provide economic development assistance to partially finance the development of the former Blanket Mills building on Fulton Road and other associated costs necessary to redevelop the property. Ord. No. 700-2021.

To read the entire legislation go to: https://cityofcleveland.legistar.com/Legislation.aspx