Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee: General Fund Budget Hearing, Day 1, Morning Session
Cleveland City Council
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Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024
9:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. EST
601 Lakeside Ave Cleveland, OH 44114 (Directions)
Cleveland City Hall, Mercedes Cotner Room 217 (or watch on YouTube)
It is budget season in Cleveland! We’re going to document it!
We do not expect you to be a budget expert. Honestly, we don’t know many people who are. We want you to lead with your curiosity. Document the process as you see it. Ask questions about what you don’t understand. And of course, follow the money.
NOTE: This assignment is for the morning session of day 1 of General Fund Budget hearings. This assignment is scheduled from 9 a.m. to until council takes a lunch break. Lunch break is expected at noon, but it may come earlier or later.
When council breaks for lunch, please contact the Cleveland Documenters team to let us know at (216) 202-4383 or cledocumenters@gmail.com. That way we can give a heads up to Documenters covering the afternoon session.
Also, be sure to let us know what’s the best way to reach you while on assignment: phone call, text, or email?
Pay: For budget assignments, we treat each session (AM or PM) as a four-hour meeting, even if it runs shorter.
- Minimum pay if watching remotely: $108
- Minimum pay if watching in-person: $144
More pay is added for sessions that run longer than 4 hrs & 15 min.
Documenters covering this should be prepared for the session to last up to four hours. If the session lasts longer than four hours and you cannot continue, let the Documenters team know and note where you leave off in your meetings notes or live-tweet thread.
Live tweeters: Because we are trying to make information from these budget hearings available for residents as quickly as possible, please only accept this assignment if you can live tweet this meeting WHILE the meeting is ongoing.
Notetakers: We know officials cover a lot in these sessions. You’ll have 48 hours to submit budget notes rather than the typical 24 (note: You’ll still receive an automated email to submit assignments within 24 hours).
On the agenda for this meeting: During these hearings, City Council will ask questions of every city department, division, and office regarding their proposed 2024 budgets. When we know which sections are set to be covered in your session, we’ll update this spot and also send you the information, including relevant page numbers in the Mayor’s Estimate.
2024 budget hearing resources:
- The 2024 Mayor’s Estimate. Council members will refer to this document in the meeting. It has all the proposed budget numbers. Note: The original PDF might be easier to navigate. To access it from the Document Cloud link, click or tap the button in the top right corner. Then click or tap “Original Document (PDF).”
- Video: 5 quick tips for navigating the 2024 Mayor’s Estimate document: https://youtu.be/TrHO1kFhfdw
- Cleveland’s budget process: How does it work? (Guide) Note: This is from last year, but the process is the same.
- Review past Documenters’ budget hearing coverage.
Watching remotely?
Find livestreams of this meeting:
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ClevelandCityCouncil/streams
On TV20: http://www.tv20cleveland.com/watch-now/
Attending in person? Be sure to bring a photo ID. There is paid parking connected to City Hall at the Willard Parking Garage, located at 601 Lakeside Ave.
Finance Committee members:
- Blaine Griffin, chair (Ward 6)
- Kerry McCormack, vice chair (Ward 3)
- Kevin Bishop (Ward 2)
- Kevin Conwell (Ward 9)
- Anthony Hairston (Ward 10)
- Brian Kazy (Ward 16)
- Michael Polensek (Ward 18)
- Jasmin Santana (Ward 14)
- Jenny Spencer (Ward 15)
Other council members:
- Joe Jones (Ward 1)
- Deborah Gray (Ward 4)
- Richard Starr (Ward 5)
- Stephanie Howse-Jones (Ward 7)
- Danny Kelly (Ward 11)
- Rebecca Maurer (Ward 12)
- Kris Harsh (Ward 13)
- Charles Slife (Ward 17)
Note: The relevant page numbers in the Mayor’s Estimate will have the names of some administration officials.
For more information go to Cleveland City Council’s website: https://www.clevelandcitycouncil.org.
Check the source website for additional information
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Cleveland - OH Documenters Team
Live reporting by
Prerna Agarwal
Council kicks of budget with questions to mayor
prerna
@_prernaagarwal
goood morning cleveland! budget season starts today, and i'll be live tweeting the city's Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee: General Fund Budget Hearing, Day 1, Morning Session for @signalcleveland @cledocumenters. #CLEdocumenters
07:55 AM Feb 20, 2024 CST
During these hearings, City Council will ask questions of every city department, division, and office regarding their proposed 2024 budgets. For a refresher on Cleveland's budget process, check out this piece!
signalcleveland.org/what-you-need-…
The 2024 Mayor's Estimate was published on February 1st. Council members will refer to this document in the meeting. It has all the proposed budget numbers.
Find it here:
documentcloud.org/documents/2441…
Find it here:
And with that, the meeting starts with roll-call! Everyone on the committee is present: Blaine Griffin, chair (Ward 6); Kerry McCormack, vice chair (Ward 3); Kevin Bishop (Ward 2); Kevin Conwell (Ward 9); Anthony Hairston (Ward 10); Brian Kazy (Ward 16);
Michael Polensek (Ward 18); Jasmin Santana (Ward 14); and Jenny Spencer (Ward 15).
Griffin sets the grounds for today's meeting--they are only focusing on budgeting appropriations. He jokes that this is one of the only times they get the mayor (Justin Bibb) at the table.
Griffin sets the grounds for today's meeting--they are only focusing on budgeting appropriations. He jokes that this is one of the only times they get the mayor (Justin Bibb) at the table.
Griffin now reads Ordinance 160-2024 before passing it off to Bibb.
He says "The city of Cleveland revises its financial plan annually...to ensure that recurring revenues are equal to its recurring expenditures."
He says "The city of Cleveland revises its financial plan annually...to ensure that recurring revenues are equal to its recurring expenditures."
They are committed to making the budget accessible to all Cleveland residents. Bibb shares some of the past year's highlights: The NSF, a safety fund managed by the Cleveland Foundation, managed its first 1 million dollars of grant funding to 30 grassroots organizations.
The passage of Residents First, a digitized parking system, lead service line connections replaced with copper, the leverage of a 20 million ARPA investment, and the development of a transformative Arts Fund to invest 3 million dollars in arts spaces are some more highlights.
Bibb is also really optimistic about Cleveland's policing systems, greater investment in the department has led to over 7,000 arrests, 78 search warrants, and a 14% reduction in homicide over the past 3 years. The city's credit rating has increased to a double A rating.
We've seen a core increase in the city of Cleveland's employment. A primary source of the general fund is a 2.5 income tax, levied on all Cleveland residents and folks who work in Cleveland. That quantity has increased.
Thus, Bibb's main 3 points:
This budget is structurally balanced.
It creates the right level of flexibility in a fiscally responsible way
It prioritizes public safety, and neighborhood revitalization, and makes the right long-term investments.
This budget is structurally balanced.
It creates the right level of flexibility in a fiscally responsible way
It prioritizes public safety, and neighborhood revitalization, and makes the right long-term investments.
Now the budget hearing will move into council remarks. Council speaks according to seniority.
Council has some concerns around the overall vacancy pool voices Griffin, noting that it could potentially usurp's Council's capacity having unfilled positions.
Council has some concerns around the overall vacancy pool voices Griffin, noting that it could potentially usurp's Council's capacity having unfilled positions.
For context, per the 2024 mayor's estimate. "The Vacancy Pool will provide flexibility to hire and deploy staff across the general fund to meet current operational needs."
Bibb doubles down on the point of flexibility.
Bibb doubles down on the point of flexibility.
Ahmed Abonamah, the city's CFO, sitting to the right of Bibb, notes that this would not be usurping the council's authority as the council would be approving the decisions around the vacancies.
The next point of discussion is on policing capacity and staffing. Here's what fund projections look like for the Department of Public Safety, which includes the Police.
For the most part, the city had a really tough summer (policing-wise). They want to stay on top of things.
Griffin now asks "How do we reduce the amount of consultants, contractors, third-party folks and retain more permanent city positions?"
Griffin now asks "How do we reduce the amount of consultants, contractors, third-party folks and retain more permanent city positions?"
Bibb has a few responses
shortening the bureaucratic hiring processes
modernizing our HR systems
sometimes it's okay to have private partners to help the city manage their assets effectively and efficiently
shortening the bureaucratic hiring processes
modernizing our HR systems
sometimes it's okay to have private partners to help the city manage their assets effectively and efficiently
Griffin: How can we be faster, and more expeditious in our delivery of services/hiring/working with partners? Contracts take 18 months to 2 years.
Bibb: One of the biggest challenges has been working as quickly as they can to deploy the federal historic investments.
Bibb: One of the biggest challenges has been working as quickly as they can to deploy the federal historic investments.
Bibb: we are modernizing systems for efficiency.
Abonamah: doubles down on the importance of paper-less efficiency.
Onto Vice Chair McCormack.
Abonamah: doubles down on the importance of paper-less efficiency.
Onto Vice Chair McCormack.
McCormack shares a lot of gratitude to the mayoral administration and for everyone involved in public service. He also shares an appreciation for the modernization efforts Bibb and Abonamah discussed.
As the chair of the transportation committee, McCormack is passionate about building the city's airport efficiency.
He asks: for the folks who are interested in alternative ways to get around (buses, bikes, etc.) how do we expedite those processes?
He asks: for the folks who are interested in alternative ways to get around (buses, bikes, etc.) how do we expedite those processes?
Bibb: A few things in the pipeline. 1. later this year, the city's mobility plan will be finished. more concrete steps to build multi-modal transportation.
TOD transit management policy has been employed to further incentivize developers to give out bus passes ...
TOD transit management policy has been employed to further incentivize developers to give out bus passes ...
and install bike racks instead of parking lots
historic investments based on the bipartisan investment bill
historic investments based on the bipartisan investment bill
McCormack: What can we communicate to our neighborhoods about increasing public safety?
Bibb: Sustained partnerships with the Ohio highway patrol, US marshalls, the ATF, and the US attorney to ensure we're ready for summer. Having detailed warrant sweeps across the city.
Bibb: Sustained partnerships with the Ohio highway patrol, US marshalls, the ATF, and the US attorney to ensure we're ready for summer. Having detailed warrant sweeps across the city.
Bibb: we've also partnered with local and state officers to monitor city hotspots. this summer, we should have a fully launched crime gun center to get guns off the streets. lots of people buy guns legally and sell them illegally. we've seen a decrease in homicides this year.
Onto Councilwoman Santana!
Santana: Last week, we had a ribbon cutting for our welcome center. What is your plan to increase bilingual or multilingual capacity in the city?
Bibb: We have to better systemize language translation to embed that across city hall.
Santana: Last week, we had a ribbon cutting for our welcome center. What is your plan to increase bilingual or multilingual capacity in the city?
Bibb: We have to better systemize language translation to embed that across city hall.
Santana: We have families with students in CMSD schools--how are you providing for them, recognizing CMSD is not directly in the council's purviews?
Bibb: We are deploying ARPA capital that can be sustained over time. Working with the CMSD CEO to figure it out.
Bibb: We are deploying ARPA capital that can be sustained over time. Working with the CMSD CEO to figure it out.
Santana: A key concern is the after-school program. Want to keep that as something we remember, especially concerning gang violence.
Councilman Polensek is next. This is his 46th budget meeting 😮
He is disappointed in this year's budget books, as they differ greatly from the ones in the years before. He is not able to compare this year's to the previous year's books.
He is disappointed in this year's budget books, as they differ greatly from the ones in the years before. He is not able to compare this year's to the previous year's books.
He brings a magnifying glass to illustrate how difficult it was for him to read, visually as well.
He notes that due to corporate disinvestment and moving jobs, many folks have left Cleveland--from 700,000 folks when he first started to around 400,000 residents now.
He is concerned about the employment pool and its vacancies, especially around policing/public safety and building housing health.
He wants people to be hired, especially in these departments as residents are not feeling it, afraid to even go to church he references.
He wants people to be hired, especially in these departments as residents are not feeling it, afraid to even go to church he references.
He says to Bibb: "I don't always agree with you. But you might be our last hope to stabilize the city, especially the East side neighborhoods."
Bibb reiterates many of his earlier points around efficiency and hiring. He is holding his departments accountable around police staffing. He will not spare any expense to keep the streets of Cleveland safe.
Next is Councilman Conwell. He also talks about the employment pool, talking about recruitment efforts, and finding people who really fit into the department culture.
He highlights that there is loss due to attrition (defined by Merriam Webster as "a reduction in numbers usually as a result of resignation, retirement, or death.")
Bibb: You're right in terms of culture. How do we make Cleveland one of the best places to work?
Bibb: You're right in terms of culture. How do we make Cleveland one of the best places to work?
Bibb again references shortening the hiring process as it currently takes months on months to onboard new folks. He also says they are bringing on a firm to help with employee engagement and performance management.
They executed paid parental leave and changed their vacation policy for city employees too.
Conwell: you didn't touch on attrition...he continues sharing concerns around funding and staffing and also names wanting to make sure we have money put aside for the kids.
Conwell: you didn't touch on attrition...he continues sharing concerns around funding and staffing and also names wanting to make sure we have money put aside for the kids.
Lastly, he talks about wanting to be clued into the Lakefront Plan needs assessment.
Bibb: Happy to have our Southeast side strategist brief you on that plan.
Bibb: Happy to have our Southeast side strategist brief you on that plan.
Next up is Councilman Kazy. He is also concerned about the vacancy pool and the amount of "ghost vacancies," or positions that the city is looking to fill, that are listed in the budget without being assigned to a department.
Bibb responds that these ghost vacancies are specific to public safety, more specifically the policing department.
Kazy: "Are these 184 police officers that you're budgeted to hire...is it realistic or are they ghost vacancies?"
Kazy: "Are these 184 police officers that you're budgeted to hire...is it realistic or are they ghost vacancies?"
Bibb: "I believe that we have a pragmatic approach to get close to the number."
Kazy: Can you give us an update on the stadium deal?
Bibb: We've been in active negotiations for the past 2 years. hoping to keep the lakefront location. more details to come.
Kazy: Can you give us an update on the stadium deal?
Bibb: We've been in active negotiations for the past 2 years. hoping to keep the lakefront location. more details to come.
Kazy, also the chair of the utilities committee, How we can take our city-owned asset of Cleveland Public Power and make it part of a community benefits group?
Bibb: it's a fantastic idea, would welcome your collaboration!
Bibb: it's a fantastic idea, would welcome your collaboration!
Kazy: Can you give us an update on Issue 24?
Bibb: how do we ensure more thoughtful, pragmatic commissioners to be part of it? tweaking the legislation to be more conducive to city function.
Bibb: how do we ensure more thoughtful, pragmatic commissioners to be part of it? tweaking the legislation to be more conducive to city function.
Kazy's last question is on the Southeast Side Promise. He's curious about how residents not on the Southeast side can plug into the revitalization. Bibb says the whole city benefits from revitalization in one area, and that the plan can serve as a model for future revitalization.
Councilman Jones is next. He is not on the finance committee but is present at this meeting. He asks about building out the city's financial partnerships.
Bibb has 3 tangible examples of leveraging ARPA investments.
Bibb has 3 tangible examples of leveraging ARPA investments.
He contextualizes that over 80% of money spent so far has been place-based, neighborhood-specific.
His examples:
2 million dollar grant from key bank for home rehab investments across the city
50 million in funding (20 mil from ARPA, 10 mil from state, 20 mil from philanthropy) for broadband
half a billion investment to lay fiber across the city
2 million dollar grant from key bank for home rehab investments across the city
50 million in funding (20 mil from ARPA, 10 mil from state, 20 mil from philanthropy) for broadband
half a billion investment to lay fiber across the city
Jones: Do we need to have another institution to help us with contracts around distributing ARPA funding?
Bibb: We're good on that front. We've done a solid job getting money out there as fast as we can. Federal money is all about compliance.
Bibb: We're good on that front. We've done a solid job getting money out there as fast as we can. Federal money is all about compliance.
Jones expresses concern about police staffing.
Bibb runs down the numbers: the budgetary plan accounts for 1350 police officers. Currently, there are 1169 officers. Moving to 12-hour shifts has led to full staffing in all districts and will allow for greater hiring flexibility.
Bibb runs down the numbers: the budgetary plan accounts for 1350 police officers. Currently, there are 1169 officers. Moving to 12-hour shifts has led to full staffing in all districts and will allow for greater hiring flexibility.
By the end of this year, each police district will have its own crime intelligence analyst--before, there was only one for the whole city. This will help make the policing process more efficient and intelligent.
Jones: There is a promise to the Southeast for 15 million dollars. Roads and infrastructure have been denied for so long. I'm concerned about the redlining process. There is modern-day redlining and financial discrimination.
Jones: There are a lot of African-Americans seeking a level playing field and the same investment opportunities as downtown and University Circle neighborhoods get.
Bibb: We need to continue working with council members on the southeast side. Building the CDC capacity.
Bibb: We need to continue working with council members on the southeast side. Building the CDC capacity.
Bibb: The public sector has to incentivize the private sector to further support revitalization and community development. Director Hernandez is working on a revised banking agreement to address some of those concerns too.
Councilman Bishop is next.
Councilman Bishop is next.
Bishop commends the mayor and his years of leadership and selection of staff members.
Bishop: " When the feds draw back from the interest rates, our increase in revenues will go back to less than 1%. Are we prepared to lose this healthy interest income?
Bishop: " When the feds draw back from the interest rates, our increase in revenues will go back to less than 1%. Are we prepared to lose this healthy interest income?
Fortunately, the interest levels will not decrease precipitously. Abonamah does not think we will go lower than a 3% interest rate, but when that happens, other forms of tax revenue (such as property sales/property taxes) should increase. Emissions tax has increased tremendously.
Bishop: Being realistic, how can we maintain our public buildings? There are violations in our public hall, police districts, rec centers, etc...A firm from Philadelphia echoed that we need that maintenance, so how do we move forward?
Bibb: Safety and fully funding safety has been a top department priority. We are exploring and hopefully will come back to the council soon to separate the Parks and Rec dept. and better fund it too.
Bishop asks a question for Councilwoman Howse-Jones who was not able to present at this meeting today. Her question: Looking at the Bipartisan infrastructure law ...are any of these resources available to fix the local streets?
Bibb: We are working with the Biden-Harris administration. We have secured back to Basics funding with ARPA to get 30 million dollars to fix our roads and parks.
Bishop now gets personal...talking about how in the past 4 days, his family has heard multiple gunshots and has found multiple bullets in their home. This is a problem facing families across Cleveland. To Bibb, What is the city's plan to reduce traffic fatalities, gunshots, etc?
Bibb: We're investing into police staffing--this is a real issue we're working on. Better partnership and support with the judicial dept. to make sure people who shouldn't have guns don't. Tracking traffic enforcement to hit the numbers. We have to hold Columbus accountable too.
Next is Councilman Hairston. He echoes what many of his council peers have said--crime is a huge city problem, comparing it to the wild, wild west.
He says we are waving the white flag, by cutting positions in the policing department.
He says we are waving the white flag, by cutting positions in the policing department.
He says positions for housing health and public safety should never be touched. And is in support of the law enforcement partnerships Bibb touched upon, including the crime intelligence centers.
He also brings up concerns about CMSD. They received a one-time dollar donation of $20 million which they used to plug a budget deficit. Hairston says that this was an irresponsible, unsustainable budgetary decision that put aside the wants and needs of students and families.
The councilman has heard nothing from the district on how they plan to make things right or address what families and students want.
Bibb responds. He says they are absolutely not waving the white flag around policing. Even in this year's budget, the policing budget has the flexibility to increase by 15%. It is hard in this environment to attract and retain good officers.
In terms of housing, he says, we did not expect the council to pass Residents First. We're working on that with Director Martin O'Toole, the director of housing. Bibb says they can discuss what's going on with CMSD with Director Morgan outside of this meeting.
Onto Councilman's Splife questioning. He brings forward Issue 38, around participatory budgeting. "What conversations were there around how this budget would look if Issue 38 had passed?"
Abonamah: The plan was to take 15 million out of the general fund, around 110/115 employees.
Abonamah: The plan was to take 15 million out of the general fund, around 110/115 employees.
The Financial Director continues. The bigger departments would be the ones that would have had to be cut--housing, public safety, etc.
Slife: A goal of mine in this budgetary system is to identify growth edges for different departments.
Slife: A goal of mine in this budgetary system is to identify growth edges for different departments.
He starts comparing Cleveland policing hiring to Toledo and Cincinnati, questioning if the city's standards are too high for their officers?
"Are we holding people who are now 25/26 accountable for something they did when they were 15?"
"Are we holding people who are now 25/26 accountable for something they did when they were 15?"
Bibb: Agree, the whole point of the vacancy pool is to be able to make those efficient tweaks. We're open to any suggestions around accountability, etc. We are entering our 10th year in the consent decree. "I want more transparency!"
A little background on the consent decree from the Cleveland Community Police Commission.
clecpc.org/resources/cons…
Onto Councilman Spencer. Just a few more comments before we break for lunch 🫡
She and Ward 15 are excited about the 311 system. Here's a brief explainer from the 2024 Mayor's Report.
She touches on the vacancy pool and Residents First policies as well. It's important to her that Residents First is well-funded.
She also brings up a new point on Urban forestry-- the team needs to get to a predictable and consistent revenue stream.
She also brings up a new point on Urban forestry-- the team needs to get to a predictable and consistent revenue stream.
Bibb and Abonamah agree. On Residents First, they will work with the council to make sure Director Martin O'Toole has adequate staffing--that's part of the reason they have the large vacancy pool many council members have talked about.
Bibb commits to finding a more consistent, long-term stream of funding to address urban forestry in Cleveland. Its an important part of sustainability here.
Councilwoman Gray is next to speak. She agrees with everyone and its important to her that positions are well staffed.
Councilman Starr is next. He asks the mayor to explain what a TIF is, as media sources have inundated that the council is not sure what they are....
Bibb defines a TIF, or tax increment financing, as a local government revenue tool that uses future property tax gains w/in a district to pay for infrastructure improvements.
Starr now passionately expresses frustration around the CMSD budget cuts and the cutting of afterschool programs. He is a die-hard youth advocate and says their recreational programming sucks! Morgan, CMSD CEO needs to give a full, transparent budget report.
He brings up more issues around food deserts, poor staffing in housing development, and frustration from residents in Slavic Village around city services and housing conditions.
To Bibb: "Have you ever looked at the compliance audits to OEO for these projects in the city?"
To Bibb: "Have you ever looked at the compliance audits to OEO for these projects in the city?"
Bibb's direct response is yes, he is briefed by Director Mitchell.
As it relates to the Slavic Village--the pilot project in the southeast side focuses on 3 geographies, but the goal is to expand it to every part of the city where there is demand.
As it relates to the Slavic Village--the pilot project in the southeast side focuses on 3 geographies, but the goal is to expand it to every part of the city where there is demand.
He wants to do everything he can for Fleet Ave and to support Slavic Village development.
In terms of rec centers, for the first time ever, the city is comprehensively auditing all parks and rec centers. He plans to separate the dept from public works and increase its funding.
In terms of rec centers, for the first time ever, the city is comprehensively auditing all parks and rec centers. He plans to separate the dept from public works and increase its funding.
In terms of CMSD, Bibb notes that COVID funding allowed for an increase in afterschool programming ~ 2020. This was short-term funding so some of these programs are not able to be continued--but there is no change in funding/availability for traditional after-school programs.
Starr also asks about the $15 million home repair improvement funding allocated through ARPA funding...
Bibb notes that because of the nature of the funds, there are lots of compliance mechanisms and projects are moving slowly.
Bibb notes that because of the nature of the funds, there are lots of compliance mechanisms and projects are moving slowly.
Starr also adds that rec center employees need to be paid better! 10, 15 $ an hour doesn't cut it for late-night employees. And in terms of CMSD funding, many sports coaches are being told there is no money available. Someone needs to be fired, he repeats.
Starr asks: where is city money held? How many bank accounts?
Abonamah: ~200 accounts in 2 banks: Key Bank and PNC
Starr: When are we going to start leveraging our position with these banks to invest in our neighborhoods?
Abonamah: ~200 accounts in 2 banks: Key Bank and PNC
Starr: When are we going to start leveraging our position with these banks to invest in our neighborhoods?
Bibb: I'm in active conversations with all our banking institutions.
Starr: One more point. I had residents recently ask me: is $1,200/month affordable housing?
Bibb: Lots of nuances, but that's really expensive for working-class families. We need to work on that.
Starr: One more point. I had residents recently ask me: is $1,200/month affordable housing?
Bibb: Lots of nuances, but that's really expensive for working-class families. We need to work on that.
Next is Councilwoman Maurer. She highlights her 3 main priorities: the 311 system, the implementation of Residents First (pushing back on the notion that the council wasn't going to pass it), and lead safety.
She wants to measure the success of the 311 system through how long it takes to get a new garbage bin? and what is the customer service around getting lots mowed? For lead safety, she wants to quantitatively track how many properties enrolled in lead-safe certification.
Bibb: agreed with the lead crises. We leverage $60 million of ARPA funding to address lead safety. We need more accountability for third-party partners to increase compliance. There's new staffing to address rigor, capacity, and execute to address lead safety too.
Bibb: we're bringing on a new data analyst to help manage Residents First policies. and agreement with the importance of 311. We're working with United Way to do it after hours too.
Councilman Harsh is next. He shouts out Commissioner Scott working in the streets. He has a few budget questions. There is an incoming 21.5 million $ in projection--is that consistent. The financial director responds yes, with 4.5 million coming from income.
He asks about future wage increases--Abonamah explains that they do not address hiring increases for years beyond 2024 because they need to be negotiated. In general, the numbers for 2024 can be approximately used for future years.
Onto the police. He has the same hesitation around ghost vacancies.
Harsh: What is your goal for academy enrollment this year?
Bibb: 108.
Harsh: What is your goal for academy enrollment this year?
Bibb: 108.
Correction! Bibb's goal for the academy is 180, and then be able to hire all of them.
Harsh reiterates a concern many council members have named throughout the meeting--not bringing people into the academy/having strict hiring practices.
Bibb: It's a lengthy process, especially considering the different types of fitness and mental tests. Last year, they had a streamlined hiring event and are hoping to continue making the hiring process more efficient.
Harsh: We're currently down 233 officers from 2021.
Harsh: We're currently down 233 officers from 2021.
Harsh: Less citations = less revenue. We probably have more traffic than we did 10 years ago. The number of police officers continues to go down year after year and that's worrisome.
Harsh: What happens if the pool has been drained before the housing director gets to it?
Abonamah: Residents First is a priority. We have not discussed tapping into pool with any other department besides housing and building.
Abonamah: Residents First is a priority. We have not discussed tapping into pool with any other department besides housing and building.
Harsh: One CMSD proposal is to shut down the year-long schools. My son attends one of these schools.
I've always been concerned about CMSD funding and the difference between that and charter schools. Bibb agrees on the importance of funding CMSD schools.
I've always been concerned about CMSD funding and the difference between that and charter schools. Bibb agrees on the importance of funding CMSD schools.
Harsh jokes about giving Tracy Chapman the keys to the city. Onto Councilwoman Howse-Jones. She says the city of Cleveland is doing too much. It is our responsibility as leaders to create a sustainable city structure.
She asks Bibb, "How would residents rate us?"
Bibb: not satisfied. Howse-Jones agrees. How do we get those rates up to satisfactory?
She says that 72% of Cleveland's operating fund goes into salaries and benefits. She asks for a few budget clarifications.
Bibb: not satisfied. Howse-Jones agrees. How do we get those rates up to satisfactory?
She says that 72% of Cleveland's operating fund goes into salaries and benefits. She asks for a few budget clarifications.
Howse-Jones: We are budgeted for 4600 employees. There are 576 vacancies listed...is that correct?
Abonamah: Yes
Howse: What are our hiring numbers
Abonamah: We hired 514 people and had 717 terminations. From the general fund, its 369 hirees and 519 terminations.
Abonamah: Yes
Howse: What are our hiring numbers
Abonamah: We hired 514 people and had 717 terminations. From the general fund, its 369 hirees and 519 terminations.
Howse-Jones: With that level of decline (~.8 termination/day) and looking to increase staffing, that seems challenging. She shares some confusion on the health and benefits numbers too which Abonamah clarifies.
She asks about capacity, cleaning, and citations. She keeps saying that it needs to be a more efficient process. There is no capacity to provide many of the services council and residents would like!!
Abonamah: bringing in a digital contracting tool that should ease contracting.
Abonamah: bringing in a digital contracting tool that should ease contracting.
Councilman Kelly is next. We are more than 4 hours into this meeting 😋
Kelly: Traffic is important to me and my district. He asks about CDBG and block club dollars.
Bibb: Open to enhancing that flexibility and clarifying those HUD guidelines.
Bibb: Open to enhancing that flexibility and clarifying those HUD guidelines.
Councilman Jones is wrapping us up with a few more points. He talks about a decision to close a high-performing school and suggests having the CEO meet with the council every quarter. He will be present for the council's caucus meeting on Monday.
And at 1:15, this first session is adjourned. The budget hearings will continue at 1:45 pm, so stay tuned for more updates from our amazing documenters. Find the full live stream here:
Have questions? Think we got something wrong? Send any inquiries on the meeting or these tweets to @cledocumenters. Or email us at cledocumenters@gmail.com 🥰
Correction: Bibb said $30 million has been spent on Back to Basics infrastructure projects
Agency Information
Cleveland City Council
See meeting notes for details
Cleveland City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Cleveland in Ohio. There are 17 elected Cleveland City Council members representing the 17 wards of the City of Cleveland. Each ward has approximately 25,000 residents. Council Members are elected to serve a four-year term. Council members serve two roles in their duties: to draft and enact legislation for the city of Cleveland and act as ombudsmen for their constituents.
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Documents
2/20/2024
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