Um April sixteenth.

Calling this utilities committee to order.

Present.

Right.

Here.

Present.

Thank you, madam, madam clerk.

We have uh a couple of pieces from the Department of Public Utilities, and then we have one from the Office of Sustainability, but I understand that we have public comment.

Uh, so we're gonna start with the public comment.

As soon as we get your name, hang on.

David Beach.

Um, welcome to the table.

I understand you have public comment, so we'll give you three minutes.

Uh good morning.

Uh, thanks for the opportunity.

My name's David Beach, I'm a resident of Ward 3.

Um, and I've been a participant in energy and water issues in Cleveland probably almost as long as Councilman Palency.

Um, so I want to um express my appreciation for two of the ordinances today, uh 406, um, which is the city's aggregation program.

Um, I'm not able to be on uh Cleveland Public Power.

I'm on first energy where I live.

Um, and the city's aggregation program through SOPEC allows me to get affordable 100% green renewable energy, uh, which I really appreciate.

So the city's aggregation program is one of those underappreciated uh services that the city provides.

So I I really appreciate it.

And then ordinance 410, um, which uh deals with investing or reinvesting in the CPP substations.

Um I just want to flag that that it's so important to keep reinvesting in our municipal uh utility.

Um, you know, as our lives become more and more electrified, you know, everything's gonna be electrified in the future.

And as big corporations build data centers to monopolize our energy system beyond our borders, it's gonna be more and more important in the future that we have a strong municipal utility.

Um it can, you know, it's one of the most important things for the future sustainability of Cleveland.

Um we have our own utility, it's under local democratic control, um, and we need to keep uh investing in it.

So thank you.

All right, thank you, Mr.

Beach.

Appreciate that.

And you're more than welcome any time to come down for public comment.

We appreciate it.

Good morning, Director.

Good morning, Chairman, members of the committee.

Ordinance number 363, 2026 by council members Casey and Griffin by departmental request, an emergency ordinance authorizing the director of public utilities to enter into one or more requirement contracts without competitive bidding with Murphy Tractor and Equipment Company Inc.

for the purchase of proprietary replacement parts for heavy duty construction equipment and labor and materials to repair and maintain the proprietary equipment for the division of water, Cleveland Public Power, Water Pollution Control, Department of Public Utilities for a period of two years.

That's correct, Chairman.

So throughout the divisions, we utilize heavy equipment such as tractors, excavators, mini excavators, backhoes, lift trucks, wheel and front end loaders, the majority of which are John Deere.

John Deere has a selected vendor, not only by way of warranty, maintenance and repair for those vehicles.

So this uh list legislation would allow us to continue that relationship with Murphy Tractor for the approximate amount of 325,000 dollars over the next two years, uh seeking approval.

Any questions on 363 2026?

CNN 363 2026 stands approved.

Please sign up.

Ordinance number 407, 2026 by council members, House Jones, Hudson, Santana, Slife, Casey, and Griffin by departmental request, an emergency ordinance determining the method of making the public improvement of constructing the Archwood Avenue and West 39th Street, Bradgate Avenue, Clyborne Avenue, East 58th Street, and Luther Avenue, area sewer replacement projects authorizing the director of public utilities to enter into one or more public improvement contracts authorizing the director to employ one or more professional consultants necessary to design the improvements and authorizing the director to apply for and accept any loans and grants for any public or private entity.

Chairman, that's correct.

Typically, hopefully we come every year with a list of projects for the Division of Water Pollution Control's Capital Improvement Plan.

These uh projects are selected by the Commissioner and his team for a number of different uh variables that are analyzed on a regular basis.

These are the recommendations for 2026 in an approximate value of 5.4 million dollars.

That is a bunch of different funding streams, and also we continue to look for grants and other opportunities to fund these improvements.

All right, uh Commissioner, how is it that you actually choose these streets to be done?

Well, it's based on on sewer main, um the age of it, um if there's any breaks or uh failure of the mains.

Um we our engineering team is out there uh televising, die testing, and checking out uh areas you know all week long to see, and that's how we come up with typically our list of streets that we need to handle.

Plus, we handle uh flooding conditions and issues from residents, so that very uh plays a factor in it as well.

All right.

Any questions on 407 2026?

Councilwoman Hudson.

Thank you through the chair.