Cleveland · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Cleveland public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
CPP Cost of Service Rate Study & Phase II Increases
CPP's Chief Financial Officer presented Phase II of the rate study, proposing incremental rate and fixed-fee increases for 2027-2029 to cover rising operating costs and prepare for a bond sale.
Public Safety Division Operational Reviews
Only 13% of Cleveland firefighters are Black in a majority-Black city, no academy class ran in 2026, and the recruitment phone number on the city website has been dead for months. Councilman Starr traced decades of federal discrimination findings and demanded full applicant data, threatening a separate hearing on the entire civil service hiring pipeline.
Cleveland Public Power Net Metering and Interconnection
Local solar advocates and organizers testified against recent changes to net metering policies, arguing that reduced credit values hinder community solar adoption and clean energy goals.
Cleveland Public Power Facility Lease Update
Residents and council members raised serious concerns regarding chronic power outages, aging infrastructure, and inadequate compensation or response from Cleveland Public Power.
Fire and EMS Facilities Modernization Program
All 24 fire stations are slated for repair, with 12 getting additions and 9 marked for replacement due to cancer risks from diesel exhaust. Fire apparatus lead times run about two years nationwide, and most spare engines and ladders are in poor condition.
NORA Village HUD Grant Allocation
A $1 million federal HUD grant will fund the construction of four new townhome recovery housing units as part of phase two of the NORA Village project.
Industrial-Commercial Land Bank Parcel Transfers
Transferring vacant and publicly held parcels into the city's land bank helps avoid mounting property taxes while the city works with developers to bring sites like former schools and parking lots back into productive use.
Right to Council Eviction Representation Program
Advocates and residents urged council members to address ongoing housing crises, housing code enforcement, and protections for domestic violence survivors under federal housing laws.
Lead Safe Certificate Program and Code Revision
Cleveland is updating its landmark lead-safe rental registry laws to extend certificate cycles, incentivize property improvements like window replacements, and refine local risk assessor licensing standards. The changes aim to balance rigorous child safety protections with workable administrative rules for landlords.
Gateway Stadium Financing and Taxpayer Protections
Council members clashed over funding projects connected to the Browns or regional areas following the team's planned move to Brook Park. Frustrations boiled over regarding city priorities, maintenance backlogs, and the impending loss of downtown stadium revenue.
Citywide Speed Tables and Traffic Calming
The committee evaluated multiple ODOT and multi-municipal roadway projects featuring road diets, separated bike lanes, and mini roundabouts on major corridors like St. Clair, Wade Park, Stokes, and Shaker. While city engineers emphasize safety data and crash reduction, some council members questioned the practical impact on traffic flow and bicycle lane utilization.
Community Development Block Grant Budget Hearings
The council is reviewing legislation to accept and distribute federal housing and community development grants for 2026, funding local programs like CDBG and HOME.
Huntington Bank Field Emergency Repairs
The city is advancing a $1.1 million reimbursement to the Cleveland Browns for emergency capital repairs at Huntington Bank Field. While officials stress this is a binding lease obligation that protects the city from liability and credit rating downgrades, council members and residents expressed deep frustration over using public funds for the stadium given the team's planned relocation.
CDC Funding, Staffing, and Home Repair Backlogs
Council members and staff debated the effectiveness of Community Development Corporations (CDCs) and proposed moving toward a more collaborative proposal process and a potential funding swap.
St. Clair Avenue Target Speed Pilot Project
Cleveland is partnering with ODOT to overhaul St. Clair Avenue—notoriously one of the most dangerous corridors in the state—by adding road diets, raised crossings, and closing hazardous intersections like Woodworth Road to curb speeding and save lives.
Data Center Zoning and Permit Moratorium Extension
The city instituted a three-month moratorium on standalone data center permits to study how to update zoning rules and protect neighborhoods from grid and environmental strains.
Subsidized Housing and Living Conditions
Residents testified about unsafe living conditions, pest infestations, high lead levels, and tenant displacement following explosions and neglect by landlords, urging stricter code enforcement and tenant protections.
I-X Center Lease Extension and Payroll Credit Incentives
Cleveland is considering a major settlement with Brook Park to end decades of tax-sharing on the IX Center and surrounding land. The deal gives Cleveland all future tax revenues from the site in exchange for multi-million dollar payouts, clearing the way to attract modern industrial employers.
Surveillance Technology and Flock Cameras
Police leadership updated council members on the deployment of operational drones for public events and crime scene documentation, alongside plans for a first responder drone pilot program.
Police Consent Decree Compliance and Oversight
A resident raised concerns regarding the independence of civilian police oversight bodies and recent interactions with law enforcement.
Youth Summer Programming and Funding Support
The city is partnering with Youth Opportunities Unlimited to fund summer jobs, career academies, and financial literacy training for Cleveland youth as part of a broader violence prevention and poverty reduction strategy.
Casino Revenue Funds and Proper Public Purpose Oversight
A proposed ordinance to amend casino revenue fund guidelines sparked a major debate over who decides what qualifies as a 'proper public purpose.' Council members argued that elected officials, rather than administrative staff and the law department, should define public purpose.
Future of Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL)
City council and the administration are examining whether to close Burke Lakefront Airport to redevelop 450 acres of lakefront land, improve public access, and boost direct city tax revenue.
East Side Investment, School Closures, and Healthcare Access
Public health officials outlined ongoing equity assessments, infant mortality reduction strategies, and preparations to assist residents navigating upcoming administrative changes and work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP benefits.
CMSD Land Swap for Schools, Fire Station, and Redevelopment
Council members debated a major land exchange with the school district that involves demolishing the J. Glenn Smith Health Center and two former schools, raising concerns about community disinvestment and replacement healthcare services.
Rainbow Terrace Apartment Explosion Investigation & Accountability
Residents and council members raised urgent concerns regarding the lack of answers and ongoing struggles faced by families displaced and injured by the Garden Valley Rainbow Terrace explosion over a year ago. Council members committed to pressing for thorough accountability and support.
Illegal Dumping Enforcement on Private Property
Council members and safety officials addressed rampant illegal dumping of tires and construction debris, discussing the deployment of new trail cameras funded by a state grant and tougher penalties for violators.
Office of Equal Opportunity and Community Benefits Implementation
Council members heavily scrutinized Port Authority board nominees over their 2024 vote to repeal prevailing wage requirements, debating labor standards versus bond ratings and competitiveness.
Pedestrian Safety and Vision Zero Infrastructure
Bike Cleveland shared alarming data showing over 500 pedestrian and cyclist strikes in 2025, prompting council members to discuss better traffic calming, stricter enforcement, and safer street designs.
East Side TIF District Establishment
The city is launching a major initiative in Hough and St. Clair-Superior to streamline zoning, waive permit fees, and invest in housing and infrastructure. Officials hope to combat high vacancy rates and encourage homeownership without displacing existing residents.
Impending SNAP Benefit Cuts and Food Security
The committee endorsed state legislation to fund small, independent food retailers in low-income neighborhoods. Council members noted the heavy reliance on corner stores and discount retailers and stressed the need for better access to fresh produce.
Flock Automated License Plate Reader Contract
Residents and council members debated whether to renew the city's contract for Flock Safety cameras, balancing the police department's need for investigative tools against severe concerns regarding privacy, data sharing, and potential abuse by federal immigration or law enforcement agencies.
Healthcare Worker Safety and Workplace Violence
Council discussed increasing penalties for threatening healthcare workers to a first-degree misdemeanor to combat rising workplace violence in emergency rooms and hospitals. However, members raised questions about low arrest numbers, underreporting, and whether tougher laws alone would solve internal workplace safety culture.
Short-Term Rental Regulation and Licensing
The city is implementing a new licensing system, strict fines, and a 10% density cap to crack down on disruptive short-term party houses while allowing responsible hosts to operate.
Lead and Galvanized Service Line Replacement (Year 5)
The State of Ohio is reclaiming over $3.2 million in unspent lead remediation arpa funds due to slow deployment and strict spending caps, triggering council scrutiny over community development operations.
Winter Maintenance and Rock Salt Procurement
City officials addressed public concerns regarding winter storm road conditions and a severe slowdown in salt deliveries from Cargill. The city has implemented sensible salting strategies and utilized brine and organic additives to conserve dwindling supplies.
Cleveland Public Power Tree Trimming and Line Clearance
Council members raised concerns about power reliability and long outage restoration times following recent severe storms over Easter weekend, pushing administrators for better infrastructure investments and communication.
GCRTA Budget Shortfalls and Service Reductions
Nominees to the RTA board discussed looming budget deficits, proposed weekend service cuts on key routes like the number 10, and strategies to maintain reliable public transit.
Municipal Budget and Transparency
City Council passed the 2026 city budget to fund day-to-day operations for all municipal departments through the end of the year.
Affordable Housing Redevelopment at 4242 Lorain Avenue
The city is partnering with Pennrose Holdings and Ohio City Inc. to transform the soon-to-be-vacant McCafferty Health Center site into 62 to 72 units of mixed-use affordable housing.
Establishment of Department of Community Crisis Response
Cleveland is establishing a new Department of Community Crisis Response to provide an unarmed fourth option for 911 calls involving mental health or behavioral health crises.