OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Cleveland City Council Finance Committee Meeting - October 13, 2025

City Council Meetings — Monday, October 13, 2025
BodyCleveland, Ohio
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateMonday, October 13, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:19:41

Transcript — Verbatim
7:10

Good afternoon.

7:11

Today is Monday, October 13th, 2025.

7:15

This committee of finance, diversity, equity, and inclusion is called the order.

7:19

Madam Clerk, please call the role.

7:22

Here.

7:28

Present.

7:29

Present.

7:34

All right.

7:34

I don't think we have any guests.

7:37

So we're just going to go ahead and do the agenda.

7:39

Let's bring up uh city planning.

7:44

And then after city planning, public safety.

7:47

So city planning ordinance number twelve fifteen dash twenty twenty-five as amended by Council Members Harrison, Politic, and Griffin by departmental request, an emergency ordinance, the supplement, the codified ordinances of Cleveland, Ohio, nineteen seventy-six by enacting new section four oh one dot seven eleven relating to the definition of under speed vehicles and to enact sections four five zero dot oh one to four five zero dot oh eight and four five zero dot nine nine relating to underspeed vehicles.

8:24

And there is an amendment.

10:05

And also gives a um authority to the director of public safety to establish rules and regulations to govern the use of under speed vehicles, golf carts associated with businesses in the city of Cleveland.

10:17

It also sets up an annual inspection requirement that the Bureau of Traffic will conduct where each golf cart has to be inspected and certified that it meets the requirements in this ordinance.

10:27

The businesses are also required to keep information on their business and authorized drivers on record with the Bureau of Traffic.

10:34

And the Bureau will take in service area maps for each business and transmit those to city council through the clerk.

10:41

So this is an initial introduction of golf carts legally on city streets to support small businesses.

10:49

Like I said, we are joined by two representatives here today who can talk through their business models.

10:54

But the overall goal is to provide mobility opportunities and options, especially between entertainment districts or in neighborhoods where distances might be a little bit too far to walk, but don't necessarily necessarily necessitate travel by car.

11:21

Good afternoon, Chair and Committee.

11:24

The division of our police and more specifically Commissioner Gordon Holmes and his staff did vet this uh legislation.

11:33

Um their concerns were and questions were answered.

11:38

So uh we are good with this particular legislation.

11:42

And also it does give me the direct public safety the ability, the uh the authority for rules and regulations and also the ability and authority to to limit the locations and areas of these uh um golf carts if that becomes an issue.

11:59

Okay.

11:59

Commissioner, did you want to add anything?

12:01

Good.

12:02

Yeah, I'm good.

12:03

Okay.

12:03

All right.

12:04

Uh just a couple of questions.

12:05

First of all, I know that this was uh debated uh vigorously in uh public safety, but just a couple of things.

12:12

How would you determine zones that you would exempt or zones that you would regulate?

12:18

Because I know that there's always suggestions to use golf carts in order to take people back and forth to uh parking lots and parking locations.

12:27

I can speak, for example, in Little Italy.

12:29

I know there's a proposal uh to try to have people monitor, I mean, uh take golf carts to try to take uh customers back and forth to lots where they park their cars.

12:39

So how would you determine the need?

12:41

How would you actually determine what districts you would allow this to happen, what districts you would have to the chair.

12:50

Um as we were discussing this and talking with the businesses, there are currently no restrictions on service areas.

12:57

We're very interested in seeing what the demand is and and not ruling out certain neighborhoods or districts from the beginning, but the ordinance does give the director of public safety the authority should issues emerge to restrict service areas.

13:09

It also gives him and the authority, as with any vehicle, to restrict access around special events.

13:14

And so in safety as well as with the businesses.

13:17

We've talked, for example, about the Brown schemes, there are certain traffic restrictions, those would also apply to these golf carts.

13:22

But at this point, as we're entering a new program, we didn't want to be overly regulatory about what could happen just to just have the uh authority in place should it be needed to preserve public safety.

13:33

Thank you so much, Director.

13:34

And just so that you know, I agree there's a lot of variables that can take place.

13:38

I mean, you look at weather, you look at traffic patterns of traffic at the time of day.

13:42

Um I mean, I could like I said, I could use little Italy, for example, if it's a day like today.

13:47

Um it's going to be crowded up there or during the feast, so it's going to be hard to navigate with that.

13:52

So I'm just trying to figure out how and when do we actually look at this, but what you're saying is it's pretty much learning as we implement and then give the director um an opportunity to make adjustments as he sees fit.

14:06

Will that be done in consultation with the council member of that standing area?

14:13

Through the chair, absolutely.

14:16

And obviously, if uh there isn't a call to restrict those, obviously, we'll include the uh council members in that conversation in those conversations.

14:24

Okay.

14:25

Oh, I would hope so because it's been lately a few arbitrary decisions that we want to make sure that council should have some feedback in the process.

14:32

Um, how do we look at the zones?

14:34

Like where would they actually be allowed to um ride?

14:39

Because, for example, um, I never forget a group of young people were riding their bikes and everybody was upset because they thought it was a street takeover, and then they very astutely said, but this is a shared lane.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Transportation Safety██████████████████████████████30%
Public Safety███████████████████████23%
Community Engagement███████████11%
Fiscal Sustainability███████████11%
Procurement███████7%
Budget Equity Analysis█████5%
Personnel Matters█████5%
Public Health Awareness███3%
Procedural███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Cleveland City Council Finance, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Meeting - October 13, 2025

The Committee of Finance, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion met on Monday, October 13, 2025, to consider several ordinances and discuss departmental transfers. Key topics included the regulation of golf carts for business use, a medical billing contract for inmates, a local government test fund for a transfer station, a budget transfer from police to fire, salary classification amendments, and a software subscription for the council.

Discussion Items

Golf Cart Business Ordinance (1215-2025)

  • Ordinance Summary: An emergency ordinance to define underspeed vehicles and allow businesses to operate golf carts on city streets with speeds under 35 mph, subject to annual inspections and approval by the Bureau of Traffic. Businesses must submit service area maps, and the Director of Public Safety can restrict areas if needed.
  • Representatives: Bob Polk (Leisure Tours Cleveland) and Chris Taylor (Golf Cart Girl CLE) presented their business models. Polk has given bike tours since 2011 and sees golf carts as a way to serve older customers. Taylor previously operated carts unaware they were illegal and supports connecting entertainment districts.
  • Council Debates: Councilmember Polinsic asked about limiting zones and operators, suggesting a cap of 10 businesses initially. The planning director argued against caps, citing fairness and desire to learn demand. Councilmember Bishop expressed opposition, arguing that if golf carts are unsafe in neighborhoods, they should not be allowed downtown either; he voted no. Councilmember Casey noted a loophole: anyone can obtain a business certificate and use a golf cart for personal transportation under the guise of business. Commissioner Holmes confirmed only 20 traffic officers are available for enforcement.
  • Positions: Councilmember Polinsic expressed concerns about proliferation and wanted caps. Councilmember Bishop opposed the ordinance outright. Councilmember Casey highlighted enforcement challenges. The administration emphasized starting with businesses only and revisiting later.
  • Outcome: Ordinance 1215-2025 as amended was approved (Councilmember Bishop recorded as no). A six-month review was suggested.

Inmate Medical Billing Contract (1082-2025)

  • Ordinance Summary: An emergency ordinance authorizing a contract with Heritage Health Solutions Inc. for medical billing services for inmates, replacing the incumbent Medical Mutual. The contract is for one year with two one-year renewal options. The division of corrections budgets approximately $750,000 annually for medical claims and administrative fees.
  • Council Debates: Councilmember Polinsic confirmed no city employees would lose jobs. The new vendor was selected via RFP and is cheaper, offering an online portal.
  • Outcome: Ordinance 1082-2025 approved.

Local Government Test Fund (1216-2025)

  • Ordinance Summary: An emergency ordinance establishing a special revenue fund required by state law for closing costs and EPA remediation at the Ridge Road transfer station. The amount is approximately $200,000, based on annual independent audit estimates.
  • Council Debates: Councilmember Polinsic asked how the amount is set and whether similar funds exist for city fueling stations. The finance director confirmed the fund is non-bond, earns interest, and cannot be used for other purposes. The council requested a follow-up report on fueling station reserves.
  • Outcome: Ordinance 1216-2025 approved.

Police-to-Fire Budget Transfer (1224-2025)

  • Ordinance Summary: An emergency ordinance transferring $350,000 from police vacancy savings to fire to hire 12 additional firefighters for the remainder of the year. The city is currently eight firefighters over budget; the money funds them through December. The positions are expected to be returned to police via attrition next year.
  • Council Debates: Councilmember Polinsic expressed frustration that the item did not come through the Public Safety Committee and stressed the need for police officers, noting a recent spike in car break-ins (60 in one day in one neighborhood). Commissioner Drummond mentioned police arrested 10 individuals over the weekend, recovering four stolen vehicles and two weapons. Councilmember Casey raised concerns about the impact on the Community Police Commission (CPC), which is funded as a percentage of the police budget. The finance director acknowledged they had not considered that and would report back. Councilmember Polinsic demanded all future fund movements go through Public Safety.
  • Outcome: Ordinance 1224-2025 approved, with a commitment to review CPC funding impact.

Salary Classification Amendments (1298-2025)

  • Ordinance Summary: An emergency ordinance amending the pay plan for three classifications: replacing Buyer with Procurement Specialist (salary range $50,000–$105,000), updating the Veterinarian position (salary range $70,000–$200,000 to aid recruitment), and increasing Head Usher/Organ Tuner hourly maximum to $16.26 (to align with living wage). The buyer position already required a bachelor's degree; the new role adds substitution options for experience and certifications.
  • Council Debates: Councilmember Polinsic asked about school guard vacancies and requested a deep dive into compensation. The human resources director noted that health benefits are a draw and that 45% of the city's 33 bargaining units have settled contracts (10-11 fully executed, three pending council ratification, others in progress). The negotiations are handled by Wilkins Law Firm for public safety and Stefanik Iosue for others.
  • Outcome: Ordinance 1298-2025 was heard for consideration by full council (committee approved).

Granicus Software Subscription (1217-2025)

  • Ordinance Summary: An emergency ordinance authorizing a contract with Granicus LLC for cloud-based legislative management software for Cleveland City Council. An amendment was offered and approved to correct the funding source to general fund (object code 6320-00, fund 01001).
  • Outcome: Ordinance 1217-2025 as amended approved.

Key Outcomes

  • Ordinance 1215-2025 (Golf carts): Approved as amended with one recorded no vote; six-month review planned.
  • Ordinance 1082-2025 (Inmate medical billing): Approved.
  • Ordinance 1216-2025 (Transfer station test fund): Approved; follow-up on fueling stations requested.
  • Ordinance 1224-2025 (Police-to-fire transfer): Approved; concerns about police staffing and CPC funding to be addressed.
  • Ordinance 1298-2025 (Salary amendments): Heard for full council consideration.
  • Ordinance 1217-2025 (Granicus software): Approved as amended.
  • Other: Committee adjourned after completing the agenda.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon. Today is Monday, October 13th, 2025. This committee of finance, diversity, equity, and inclusion is called the order. Madam Clerk, please call the role. Here. Present. Present. All right. I don't think we have any guests. So we're just going to go ahead and do the agenda. Let's bring up uh city planning. And then after city planning, public safety. So city planning ordinance number twelve fifteen dash twenty twenty-five as amended by Council Members Harrison, Politic, and Griffin by departmental request, an emergency ordinance, the supplement, the codified ordinances of Cleveland, Ohio, nineteen seventy-six by enacting new section four oh one dot seven eleven relating to the definition of under speed vehicles and to enact sections four five zero dot oh one to four five zero dot oh eight and four five zero dot nine nine relating to underspeed vehicles. And there is an amendment. And also gives a um authority to the director of public safety to establish rules and regulations to govern the use of under speed vehicles, golf carts associated with businesses in the city of Cleveland. It also sets up an annual inspection requirement that the Bureau of Traffic will conduct where each golf cart has to be inspected and certified that it meets the requirements in this ordinance. The businesses are also required to keep information on their business and authorized drivers on record with the Bureau of Traffic. And the Bureau will take in service area maps for each business and transmit those to city council through the clerk. So this is an initial introduction of golf carts legally on city streets to support small businesses. Like I said, we are joined by two representatives here today who can talk through their business models. But the overall goal is to provide mobility opportunities and options, especially between entertainment districts or in neighborhoods where distances might be a little bit too far to walk, but don't necessarily necessarily necessitate travel by car. Good afternoon, Chair and Committee. The division of our police and more specifically Commissioner Gordon Holmes and his staff did vet this uh legislation. Um their concerns were and questions were answered. So uh we are good with this particular legislation. And also it does give me the direct public safety the ability, the uh the authority for rules and regulations and also the ability and authority to to limit the locations and areas of these uh um golf carts if that becomes an issue. Okay. Commissioner, did you want to add anything? Good. Yeah, I'm good. Okay. All right. Uh just a couple of questions. First of all, I know that this was uh debated uh vigorously in uh public safety, but just a couple of things. How would you determine zones that you would exempt or zones that you would regulate? Because I know that there's always suggestions to use golf carts in order to take people back and forth to uh parking lots and parking locations. I can speak, for example, in Little Italy. I know there's a proposal uh to try to have people monitor, I mean, uh take golf carts to try to take uh customers back and forth to lots where they park their cars. So how would you determine the need? How would you actually determine what districts you would allow this to happen, what districts you would have to the chair. Um as we were discussing this and talking with the businesses, there are currently no restrictions on service areas. We're very interested in seeing what the demand is and and not ruling out certain neighborhoods or districts from the beginning, but the ordinance does give the director of public safety the authority should issues emerge to restrict service areas. It also gives him and the authority, as with any vehicle, to restrict access around special events. And so in safety as well as with the businesses. We've talked, for example, about the Brown schemes, there are certain traffic restrictions, those would also apply to these golf carts. But at this point, as we're entering a new program, we didn't want to be overly regulatory about what could happen just to just have the uh authority in place should it be needed to preserve public safety. Thank you so much, Director. And just so that you know, I agree there's a lot of variables that can take place. I mean, you look at weather, you look at traffic patterns of traffic at the time of day. Um I mean, I could like I said, I could use little Italy, for example, if it's a day like today.

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