Cleveland · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Cleveland public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Election Vote Counting Process
Cuyahoga County is walking voters through how paper ballots get counted and safeguarded on Election Day. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at the process that turns your vote into a certified result—and why officials say it’s secure.
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.
Chapter 630 Nuisance Abatement Enforcement
Council members reviewed enforcement data on the city's property nuisance ordinance, which targets problem properties and absentee landlords with escalating fines and tax liens. Officials reported 47 active nuisance properties citywide.
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.
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.
Bright City Lighting System Contract Modification
A resident advocated for a city program to replace outdated lighting fixtures in senior homes to improve safety and prevent falls.
Cleveland Public Power Strategic Plan & Reliability
CPP presented its new strategic plan focusing on grid reliability, safety, customer service, and vegetation management, while council members pushed for stricter timelines and answers regarding frequent outages.
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.
Animal Control and Dangerous Dog Regulation Alignment
Council members and safety officials debated the effectiveness of the city's $212,000 third-party wildlife trapping contract with Freeman. Experts noted that trapping healthy animals creates a 'vacuum effect' that actually increases nuisance wildlife, leading to proposed shifts toward education and deterrence.
Connect and Protect grant delays
A three-year grant awarded in 2023 was supposed to end September 30, 2026, but its biggest piece — mental health dispatchers — still hasn't started because of the city's slow contracting. Councilwoman Howse-Jones called the delay embarrassing and demanded accountability before 2027.
School crossing guard staffing
Crossing guard vacancies persist nationwide because the split-shift part-time work suits few people, but council members want the program evaluated and revamped — and want vacancy lists shared so churches and neighborhood groups can help recruit.
School Board Vacancies
Cleveland’s school board has two empty seats, and residents have until Nov. 13 to apply. It’s a rare chance to help shape decisions for more than 31,000 students—so if you care about schools, this is a direct way in.
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.
Traffic enforcement gaps
Council members say residents are demanding speed tables because they see almost no traffic enforcement. The chair has 36 streets requesting speed tables and says requests for enforcement have gone unmet; police say every officer can enforce traffic but calls for service come first.
Police communication with council and public
Multiple council members say they get less information from police than ever — just texts from commanders, no follow-up from homicide. Councilwoman Hudson cited a viral Ward 11 bar incident where indictments came but the public never heard the outcome; members want better, more contextual public communication.
St. Jerome and St. Mary of the Assumption Landmark Amendments
Several community fixtures, including the Beachland Ballroom and two historic churches, are up for official landmark designations. This status helps preserve their architectural and cultural heritage within Cleveland's neighborhoods.
State Vocational Planning Center Landmark Designation
The city is officially recognizing the historic former Cleveland Trust Company branch at Kamm's Corners as a landmark to celebrate neighborhood history and architecture.
Cleveland Hopkins Airport Biofilm Treatment Plant
Port control is upgrading de-icing collection systems at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport to prevent chemical runoff from creating harmful nuisance biofilms in local waterways like Rocky River.
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.
LA28 Olympic Torch Relay Host Agreement
Cleveland is considering an agreement to host a portion of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games torch relay through the city.
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.
Stokes Boulevard and Wade Park Avenue Resurfacing Projects
The committee advanced multiple major street resurfacing projects across the city, including State Road, Shaker Boulevard, and Brookpark Road. These projects incorporate federal and state funding, roadway repairs, and traffic calming features such as protected bike lanes and speed tables.
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.
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.
Upcoming City Council Legislative Review
City Council members are meeting in caucus to go over upcoming legislation and discuss local policies before they reach the full council floor.
Regional Road Resurfacing and State Infrastructure Coordination
Cleveland is partnering with ODOT and neighboring cities to resurface portions of Brookpark Road, Shaker Boulevard, and State Road, aiming to improve local travel conditions.
County Jail Relocation and City Court Renovation Costs
The city is evaluating lease extensions with Cuyahoga County for the municipal court and police division spaces inside the Justice Center.
Public Safety Administration Facility at Former Miles School
The city is proposing to purchase and renovate the recently closed Miles School on the southeast side to house Fire and EMS administrative offices and a youth vocational program. While officials highlight the opportunity to decentralize operations and partner with CMSD, some council members and union representatives have expressed strong concerns about the distance from downtown and project costs.
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.
Tax Levy
Local campaigns are rushing to pass health and human services tax levies, getting a massive $500,000 cash boost from the Cleveland Clinic right at the finish line. This means major funding decisions for county care programs are coming down to the wire.
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.
Flats Parking and Transportation Access
Residents raised concerns about parking availability and bike path configurations near Irishtown Bend, warning that reduced parking could harm small businesses in the Flats.
ODOT Transportation and Infrastructure Partnerships
ODOT wants to install new traffic warning signs and detection cameras along I-90 and SR-176. Council members raised concerns about city maintenance responsibilities and potential data collection capabilities.
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.
Library Relocation
The Memorial-Nottingham library branch is packing up and moving to a brand new location right by the Euclid Beach Pier. Meanwhile, the old building is getting bulldozed to make way for a Metroparks expansion.
Ethics and Discretionary Food Assistance in Cleveland
Council members and experts debated whether distributing grocery cards and other discretionary aid to low-income residents constitutes ethical constituent service or problematic political patronage.
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport Infrastructure and Training
Cleveland is continuing its contract with Air Force One, Inc. to service heating and cooling systems at both Hopkins and Burke Lakefront airports to keep facilities operating properly.
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.
Warren Road Bridge Deck Replacement over I-90
The city is partnering with the state to replace the aging deck on the Warren Road bridge over Interstate 90, keeping commuter routes safe.
Transit-oriented Development
A prime development spot right next to the Ohio City transit station is up for grabs again, meaning we could soon see fresh housing and shops pop up right by the train. It's a huge chance to build a more walkable neighborhood where catching public transit is a breeze.
Good Food Retailer Certification and Tax Credit Program
State Representative Terrence Upchurch and Council members urged support for House Bill 543, which provides small grants to retail chains in food deserts to offer fresh produce.
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.
Opposition to Federal Census Bureau Demographic Rule Changes
Council strongly condemned proposed federal census rules that would exclude undocumented residents and noncitizens while dropping race and ethnicity questions. Leaders warned it would severely damage federal funding and civil rights protections.
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.
Data Center Permit Moratorium Extension
Council announced upcoming public meetings to address data center developments and community concerns regarding energy and infrastructure impacts.
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.