OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Cleveland Finance Committee Meeting: Project Scarlet TIF and Capital Projects – August 19, 2026

City Council Meetings — Wednesday, August 19, 2026
BodyCleveland, Ohio
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateWednesday, August 19, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:54:59

Transcript — Verbatim
6:13

I call it a full money.

6:17

Right.

6:17

So you can we can we can yeah, I mean that's a hundred and fifty and five.

6:25

Yes.

6:49

Yeah.

7:08

Judge Kilpin Judge What's your name's Qatar Key to Section?

7:22

I went up more and then I turned right and truthfully.

7:26

My brother, younger brother, very famously got into Brexit.

8:16

Good morning.

8:17

Today is Wednesday, August nineteenth.

8:19

This committee of finance diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as committee at the whole is called to order, Madam Clerk.

8:25

Please call the roll.

8:28

Here.

10:00

To the chair for I'll get it one of these days to the to the chair and council.

10:05

Uh my name is James O'Malley, I'm a captain of the division of police and the president of FOP Lodge 8.

10:12

Welcome.

10:14

To the Chair, the Council.

10:15

My name is Edward Lunch, Mulaton of Police.

10:19

Moving Fraternal Order, police lodge eight.

10:21

Vice President.

10:22

Thank you.

10:24

Thank you.

10:24

Good morning, uh, Mr.

10:26

Chairman and members of the committee.

10:29

Um, this legislation would authorize the director of capital projects to sell a vacant parcel uh located at the corner West 44th and Train Avenue to FOP Lodge 8.

10:41

They own the building to the south, and they are seeking to acquire this 4,074 square foot lot to improve it with fencing and um to green it up.

10:52

Um the city has no use for it.

10:55

We are the city is going to reserve a 20-foot easement along the side of the bridge for maintenance.

11:00

Um and the sale will be at a praised value of $2,100.

11:05

Thank you.

11:06

Uh any other comments.

11:08

Uh no, sir.

11:10

All right.

11:10

Uh any council members would like to make any comments.

11:13

I don't see the two sponsor members here.

11:16

So moved.

11:16

Any other questions?

11:18

All right, seeing all the questions, ordinance number 764 dash 2026 stands approved.

11:23

Always good to see you guys at the table.

11:25

Thank you.

11:26

Thank you.

11:26

Keep up the good work and be safe out there.

11:31

I want to remind all the council members, please sign on to the committee that you represent.

11:36

And then also um, that's what I need everybody to sign on to.

11:41

Thank you.

11:46

All right, next up is 693-2026, East Ninth Street Scarlet.

11:54

If we could have that group come to the table, 693.

12:06

All right, thank you.

12:09

693-2026.

12:11

This is 693-2026 as amended by Councilmember Starr, Santana and Griffin by Departmental Request.

12:18

An emergency ordinance authorizing the director of development to enter into a tax increment financing agreement with East Ninth Scarlet LLC, and or is designed to assist with the financing of the East Ninth Scarlet LLC project to be located at 260 East Ninth Street to provide for payments to the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and to declare certain improvements to real property to become a public purpose.

12:45

And there is an amendment.

13:02

Whereas under ordinance number 686-2026 passed July 15, 2026, the city entered into chain of title of the real property for conveyance deeds from East Knife Scarlet LLC and or his designee redeveloper to City Recorded August 10th, 2026, DEQC 2026 8100728, and to City to Redeveloper, recorded August 12, 2026, DEQC 2026 812-0211, the real property, thus establishing 2026 as the base for determining the increment or appreciated value after completion of the improvement pursuant to the requirements of section 5709.41 of the revised code prior to the passage of this ordinance.

13:55

Date 814 2026, signed by Stephen Martinick, Assistant Director of Law.

14:00

Director, and uh you can introduce your guests.

14:04

Or Miss uh Ms.

14:06

Ufoma, and then I see the directors coming in.

14:08

Yes.

14:09

Um morning.

14:34

All right.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Tax Increment Financing█████████████████17%
Downtown Development█████████████13%
Affordable Housing█████████9%
Public Safety██████6%
Moral Claims██████6%
Public Works█████5%
Land Use█████5%
Procedural████4%
Public Utilities████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Cleveland Committee of Finance, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & Committee of the Whole – August 19, 2026

The meeting covered multiple agenda items including tax increment financing (TIF) agreements, capital projects, salary adjustments, and a moral claim. The most discussed item was the Project Scarlet development (East Ninth Street), which sparked debate on affordable housing payments, living wage guarantees, and impacts on public libraries. Several ordinances were passed or moved forward to the full council.

Consent Calendar

  • Ordinance 764-2026: Authorized the sale of a vacant parcel at West 44th and Train Avenue to FOP Lodge 8 for $2,100. Approved.
  • Ordinance 744-2026: Authorized a requirement contract with Siemens for building automation at the airport. Approved.
  • Ordinance 746-2026: Authorized acceptance of the BioWatch grant and amended to require notice to council for cooperative purchases. Approved as amended.
  • Ordinance 944-2026: Authorized acceptance of a $230,000 ADAMHS grant for specialized court dockets. Advanced to full council.
  • Ordinance 945-2026: Approved the report of the Assessment Equalization Board for the Superior Arts Improvement District. Approved.
  • Ordinance 747-2026: Renamed a portion of Scranton Road to Eagle Avenue. Approved.
  • Ordinance 759-2026: Vacated unnamed alley south of Train Avenue for CMSD. Approved.
  • Ordinance 760-2026: Vacated unnamed alley south of Abbey Avenue. Approved.
  • Ordinance 761-2026: Vacated portion of East 81st Street for Cleveland Gear expansion. Approved.
  • Ordinance 762-2026: Vacated portion of Mount Carmel Road for CMHA project. Approved.
  • Ordinance 767-2026: Issued encroachment permit to Cleveland Public Theater for a blade sign. Approved.
  • Ordinance 768-2026: Issued encroachment permit for Cleveland Clinic overhead pedestrian bridge. Approved.
  • Ordinance 770-2026: Consented to Norfolk Southern replacement of Superior Avenue railroad bridge at no cost to the city. Approved.

Discussion Items

Project Scarlet – Ordinance 693-2026 TIF Agreement

  • The developer (Green Harvest Capital/Spark GHC) proposed a $130 million mixed-use project: 171 market-rate apartments and 121 Marriott Tribute hotel rooms at 260 East Ninth Street. Requested a 30-year TIF (non-school) with estimated $16.5 million in TIF payments, $27 million to CMSD, and 95 jobs with $3.8M annual payroll.
  • Councilmember Casey raised concerns about the developer paying $850,000 in lieu of affordable housing units, calling it "modern-day redlining." The developer stated all units are market rate due to business decisions and that the TIF is critical for lender approval.
  • Councilmember Shaw questioned the two-year living wage guarantee ($19/hour for hotel staff) versus the 30-year TIF, noting no enforcement mechanism after two years. The developer stated wages are expected to remain above living wage.
  • Councilmember Shaw also requested information on TIF impacts on non-school entities (libraries) and moved to include library funding, but the motion was declined by the Chair as late.
  • Councilmember Starr defended the project, noting the developer followed the existing ordinance (482-2022) which allows payment in lieu. He emphasized the project's community benefits: 10 nearby resident hires, $100,000 community equity fund, and workforce development.
  • Council President Griffin noted downtown has 33+ buildings in distress and that without this project, no tax increment would be generated for any public entity. The TIF will start after a 15-year abatement, totaling 30 years.

Circle Square TIF Amendment – Ordinance 941-2026

  • Requested removal of the 2052 expiration date to allow future phases (hotel, residential, retail) to have a full 30-year TIF. Estimated $1.75 million additional TIF payments per phase. Project team noted existing community benefits and partnership with city. Advanced to full council.

Moral Claim – Ordinance 749-2026

  • Approved $500 to a resident for driveway damage caused by tree roots from a vacant lot. Several councilmembers expressed concerns about city liability and consistency, with Councilmember Conwell noting past denials for tree damage. Discussion emphasized the need for better communication with ward councilmembers.

Cleveland Thrive Budget Amendment – Ordinance 938-2026

  • Moved unspent funds from personnel, travel, and supplies to sub-awards for training violence interrupters. Approved despite concerns from Safety and Workforce chairs about lack of prior consultation. The Chair requested the director meet with those chairs before final passage.

Salary Adjustments – Ordinances 942 and 943-2026

  • Ordinance 942 adjusted salary for Arborist 3 per Local 860 MOU. Councilmember Starr noted it should have gone through the Workforce Committee. Approved with understanding of future coordination.
  • Ordinance 943 adjusted pay bands for chief clerk, removed personnel analyst, and created public records analyst position. Approved.

Key Outcomes

  • Project Scarlet TIF (693-2026): Approved by committee, will go to full council as amended. The payment-in-lieu of affordable housing fund now has approximately $950,000 (including $240,000 from University East project). The administration will provide data on all projects using option three (fee in lieu).
  • Circle Square TIF amendment (941-2026): Approved and moved to full council.
  • Moral claim (749-2026): Approved with direction to improve council member notification.
  • Biowatch grant amendment (746-2026): Passed with amendment requiring notice to council of cooperative purchases.
  • Norfolk Southern bridge replacement (770-2026): Approved. Councilmember Hudson noted ongoing concerns with other railroad bridges and urged continued engagement.
  • Several capital projects ordinances: All approved and/or moved to full council.

Meeting Transcript

I call it a full money. Right. So you can we can we can yeah, I mean that's a hundred and fifty and five. Yes. Yeah. Judge Kilpin Judge What's your name's Qatar Key to Section? I went up more and then I turned right and truthfully. My brother, younger brother, very famously got into Brexit. Good morning. Today is Wednesday, August nineteenth. This committee of finance diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as committee at the whole is called to order, Madam Clerk. Please call the roll. Here. To the chair for I'll get it one of these days to the to the chair and council. Uh my name is James O'Malley, I'm a captain of the division of police and the president of FOP Lodge 8. Welcome. To the Chair, the Council. My name is Edward Lunch, Mulaton of Police. Moving Fraternal Order, police lodge eight. Vice President. Thank you. Thank you. Good morning, uh, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. Um, this legislation would authorize the director of capital projects to sell a vacant parcel uh located at the corner West 44th and Train Avenue to FOP Lodge 8. They own the building to the south, and they are seeking to acquire this 4,074 square foot lot to improve it with fencing and um to green it up. Um the city has no use for it. We are the city is going to reserve a 20-foot easement along the side of the bridge for maintenance. Um and the sale will be at a praised value of $2,100. Thank you. Uh any other comments. Uh no, sir. All right. Uh any council members would like to make any comments. I don't see the two sponsor members here. So moved. Any other questions? All right, seeing all the questions, ordinance number 764 dash 2026 stands approved. Always good to see you guys at the table. Thank you. Thank you. Keep up the good work and be safe out there. I want to remind all the council members, please sign on to the committee that you represent. And then also um, that's what I need everybody to sign on to. Thank you. All right, next up is 693-2026, East Ninth Street Scarlet. If we could have that group come to the table, 693. All right, thank you. 693-2026. This is 693-2026 as amended by Councilmember Starr, Santana and Griffin by Departmental Request.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com