December 1, 2025 Cleveland City Council Committee of the Whole Review
December 1, 2025 Cleveland City Council Committee of the Whole Review
On December 1, 2025, the Cleveland City Council convened a Committee of the Whole meeting to review and approve a series of emergency ordinances and legislative motions. Key agenda items included financing for the Erie View Tower hotel redevelopment, funding increases for the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, lease amendments for Lakefront Parks and Public Square, and the restructuring of the Department of Economic Development into the Department of Development. The meeting featured significant discussion regarding the implementation of Community Benefits Agreements, the balance of funding between downtown and neighborhood parks, and strategies for improving the efficiency of city operations.
Consent Calendar
- Ordinance 1440-2025: Adopted, authorizing a PACE financing deal of up to $43.88 million for the hotel component of the Erie View Tower redevelopment to fund clean energy improvements.
- Ordinance 1454-2025: Approved, authorizing a grant to the Greater Cleveland Film Commission with an additional $50,000 for operating expenses due to inflation and competition.
- Ordinance 1512-2025: Approved, adding the North Coast Inner Harbor and Marina to the existing 99-year lease with Cleveland Metropolitan Park District, removing it from private management (previously OASIS/GIT).
- Ordinance 1316-2025: Approved, granting a fire lane easement for the CEDAR redevelopment Phase 4 residential project adjacent to the Central Recreation Center.
- Ordinances 1397-2025 & 1399-2025: Approved, authorizing the city to acquire and reconvey properties at 2230 and 2202 Superior Avenue to establish chain of title for future Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for the Heller and Keller Cone building redevelopment.
- Ordinance 1456-2025: Approved, providing an $500,000 restricted contribution match to Downtown Cleveland Inc. (DCI) for the maintenance and programming of Public Square.
- Ordinance 1460-2025: Approved, terminating the Port Authority lease for the original Rock & Roll Hall of Fame site and consolidating it into a direct city-to-museum lease.
- Ordinance 1514-2025: Approved, authorizing contracts for common-use self-service kiosks at the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport via Amadeus.
- Ordinance 1452-2025: Approved, contracting with Esperanza Inc. for $100,000 to provide outreach and programming for high-risk youth in Wards 7, 11, and 14 under the Safe Streets Safe Schools project.
- Ordinance 1403-2025: Approved, accepting a $105,000 grant from the Office of Criminal Justice Services to operate the Cartel Gang Narcotics Laundering Task Force.
- Ordinance 1411-2025: Approved, authorizing the acquisition and reconveyance of 1200 West 58th Street (Westinghouse plant) for chain of title for future TIF.
- Ordinance 1464-2025: Approved, contracting with five organizations to provide "Moms First" home visitation and support services for at-risk pregnant women.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Councilman Brian Casey: Expressed strong concern that the project team for the Erie View Tower had not moved forward with the Cleveland Public Power (CPP) conversion as stipulated in the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA). He stated, "we haven't moved one iota on on that community benefits agreement" and argued that without fulfilling these commitments, the project team had failed to provide a reason for the council's support. He threatened to bring CPP officials into the meeting if the issue was not resolved.
- Councilman Michael Pelancy: Expressed full support for the Erie View project as critical for job creation but echoed concerns regarding the delay in the CPP agreement.
- Councilman Brian Casey (Film Commission): Stated wholehearted support for the Film Commission but noted that the organization failed to publicly thank City Council for its longstanding support.
- Councilman Brian Casey (Public Square): Expressed opposition to the $500,000 match for Public Square, stating, "this one's gonna be for me" and drawing a line in the sand regarding the disparity in funding between downtown and neighborhood parks, which received significantly fewer resources.
- Councilwoman Rebecca Moore: Stated support for downtown but expressed concern that resources were not being distributed equitably to neighborhood playgrounds and facilities, citing specific lack of action on Coit Playground.
- Councilman Anthony Hairston: Emphasized the need for seamless operations and safety in neighborhoods, stating that children in the Glenville and Collinwood communities "need to know that you care about them."
- Councilman Polencick: Expressed frustration with the city's inefficiency, comparing a delay in opening a candy store to the difficulty of getting large development projects through the system. He demanded proactive strategies for business retention and investment in underserved neighborhoods like the East Side.
- Councilwoman Trudy Andrews (Chief Assistant Director of Law/Transition): Thanked colleagues for their support during her tenure and acknowledged the upcoming transition.
Discussion Items
- Erie View Tower CBA (CPP): Project team confirmed the CPP conversion was part of the CBA but deferred explaining delays, citing low current demand due to demolition and a 1.5-year construction timeline. They committed to the agreement will be completed by the time the building is operational (Certificate of Occupancy).
- Public Square Funding: Councilman Polencick challenged the necessity of the $500,000 DCI match, citing high costs in neighborhood parks. Director DeRose noted the funds come from Economic Development, not Parks & Recreation, and that DCI had exceeded a 1:1 match ratio in 2025.
- Neighborhood Park Equity: Multiple council members (Moore, Hairston, Polencick) pressed Director DeRose on the disparity in resources between downtown and neighborhoods like Coit Playground and Glenville, urging the administration to prioritize preventative maintenance and specific improvements in those areas.
- Department Restructuring (Ordinance 1226-2025): Councilman Polencick and Conwell pushed heavily for a timeline and outcome measures for the reorganization of Economic Development into the Department of Development. They demanded proof that the new structure would improve efficiency, reduce delays (e.g., the candy store issue), and include proactive risk management for business closures. They also asked for clarification on the remaining functions of the Department of Community Development and the status of CDBG fund usage.
- Amendments to Renewable Power Ordinance: Councilman Casey moved to amend Ordinance 1494-2025, changing the expiration date for implementation contracts from December 31, 2030, to December 31, 2027, to ensure accountability and faster results on renewable power projects.
- Utility Disconnections: Council members requested updates on utility disconnection processes following the loss of CHN funding. Director DeRose confirmed that while a moratorium was in place, the department would reinstitute severance processes once CHN transitions were complete and encouraged residents to contact them directly for flexible payment arrangements.
- Lighting Repairs: Councilwoman Moore requested an update on lighting repairs at 55th and Broadway due to theft. Director DeRose explained crews were re-pulling cable and anticipated repairs before the end of the month, pending the implementation of a solution to secure the underground cabling.
Key Outcomes
- Ordinance 1440-2025: Approved unanimously.
- Ordinance 1454-2025: Approved unanimously.
- Ordinance 1512-2025: Approved unanimously.
- Ordinance 1316-2025: Approved unanimously.
- Ordinances 1397 & 1399-2025: Approved unanimously.
- Ordinance 1456-2025: Approved unanimously despite Councilman Casey's opposition.
- Ordinance 1460-2025: Approved unanimously.
- Ordinance 1514-2025: Approved unanimously.
- Ordinance 1452-2025: Approved unanimously.
- Ordinance 1494-2025: Approved unanimously as amended (deadline changed to 12/31/2027).
- Ordinance 1464-2025: Approved unanimously.
- Ordinance 1226-2025 (as amended): Approved unanimously, renaming the Department of Economic Development to the Department of Development and transferring 18 staff positions from Community Development to the new department.
- Meeting Adjournment: The meeting was suspended to reconvene at 1:00 PM for further legislative items.
Meeting Transcript
What is a mic? Mike Mike. What is the number for that again? Because I'm gonna announce and tell everybody that it won't be until like later this afternoon. These five ones that have six. These two are component pieces. I guess from the same developer, but they're only the comments. Okay. You know what the number is? I gotta call you back, buddy. One more. What's the browns one? On what the browns one? What's the number for the browns one? Thirteen twenty-five. Okay, all right. That's why I'm gonna make sure that's compared. This committee of finance diversity, equity, and inclusion is called to order. Madam Clerk, please call the role. And uh read the amendment. The amendment is there is no legal objection to this legislation if amended as follows in section three. One in section three in the first paragraph at line nine strike and previously reported to council and are now on file in the offices of the clerk of council and the director of finance set forth in the project petition to adopt it is adopted and confirmed, and that this maximum special assessments are levied and assessed on the property. And in the second paragraph, at line six strike, the semi-annual installment of the special assessment shall be collected in each calendar year equal to a maximum semi-annual amount of special assessments as shown in the project petition. In the third paragraph, in lines two and six, strike aggregate and insert maximum in both places. In line eight, strike, certify a final and insert provided and amended. In line nine, strike which final and insert and the amended, and in the fifth paragraph, line three, strike list and insert schedule. This was dated 1114 25 by Mary Comley Cornley, assistant director of law. Director. Thank you, Council President. Um good morning, everyone. Happy Monday. Um I am here uh with Rich Morehouse of KJK and Andy Wolschlinger from Turndev. Um I'm also joined by um Bobby Bruno, who has been the project manager on this project. Bobby will be able to speak to our um participation and um the project team can answer any questions around the project. Um good morning. Uh so this is a pace deal. Do we have slides by chance? Yeah, on the tablets on the show. Thank you. Uh so this is for the hotel part of the redevelopment of the Erie View Tower here downtown in the Erie View District. Uh, and so this is for pace financing. So property assessed clean energy financing, uh, which is sort of a creative financing tool that allows property owners to uh get uh bank or other lender financing uh on their property for uh clean energy improvements, and kind of what makes this special is that they will be paid back on an as a special assessment over and above their property taxes. Um so this is for clean energy things like solar panels, uh energy efficient, uh lighting, um, low flow water systems and things of that nature. Uh so the project again, this is for the hotel piece of the Erie View Hotel or the Erie View Tower redevelopment. Uh there's also a residential and a commercial office component to this project, but this financing will just be on the hotel. Thank you. Uh and finally, um, so the financing itself, it will be provided by uh Greenworks lending up to 43 million eight eighty-one eight sixty-four, uh financed over a period of twenty-eight years. Um it will be those sort of uh HVAC controls, building envelope, water heating, and lighting uh upgrades that exceed energy standards, uh, and the special assessment uh will be in semi-annual payments up to about 1.9 million dollars. And with that, um happy to answer any questions. Thank you.
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