Cleveland Municipal Services and Properties Committee Meeting - September 28, 2026

The Municipal Services and Properties Committee met on Monday, September 28, 2026. Members heard the final Leopardo update on police district improvements, approved several departmental ordinances, and held emergency stadium repair reimbursement legislation pending additional information.

Police District Capital Improvements Update (Leopardo)

• Heather Garay, Eric Betts, Drake Wallers, and Mark Dulick presented a quarterly update on a 10-month, roughly $21 million program to upgrade all five police district buildings. Construction was reported near completion and scheduled to finish in October 2026.
• Work was performed on all districts simultaneously. It included new boilers, HVAC equipment, LED lighting, solar panels, locker room and bathroom renovations, ceilings, floors, exterior facades, tuck-pointing, windows, doors, and a new District 5 roof with a 30-year warranty.
• The project reportedly came in under budget in some areas, allowing additional scope. The team reported 376 local jobs created and said OEO participation requirements were exceeded.
• Procurement savings included conversion of copper telecom lines to VoIP, saving over $6.8 million annually; police shooting target and apparel savings; and $1.1 million in further identified savings targets such as fuel, tire disposal, rental vehicles, and disposal supplies.
• Energy savings were projected at 1.2 million kWh annually, about $120,000 per year, with a projected $435,000 solar tax credit and estimated annual CO2 reduction of 1.2 million pounds.
• The police director said the improved facilities would help officer retention and hiring. Council members praised the work; Councilman Casey reported rust reappearing on repainted lockers, and Leopardo agreed to evaluate and clean up the issue.

Ordinance 688-2026 as amended - NEORSD Big Creek Storage Tunnel Easements

• Representatives from the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District described the Big Creek Storage Tunnel, the seventh CSO storage tunnel in Project Clean Lake: more than four miles of 20-foot diameter tunnel 50 to 100 feet below ground, expected to reduce combined sewer overflows to Big Creek by 550 million gallons per year.
• The ordinance granted easements at Emory and Estherbrook Parks and added amendments allocating $220,400 in Emory easement proceeds and $56,400 in Estherbrook proceeds to park improvements, and authorizing acceptance of a $450,000 cash gift from NEORSD to fund Emory Park improvements.
• Councilman Casey raised concerns about 27 new utility poles along West 130th Street and stated the bill would not pass in the utilities committee unless pole placement and removal commitments were resolved. Councilman Jones asked about methane and other gas releases from tunneling and requested data plus review by the city's air quality officials.

Ordinance 1033-2026 as amended - Public Works Vehicle and Equipment Purchases

• The annual purchase authorization covered on-road vehicles, off-road equipment, cabs, bodies, and accessories for the Department of Public Works, largely for the streets/asphalt program and recreation operations, including a Zamboni. The amount discussed was about $1.095 million.
• Councilman Harsh's amendment requiring written notice to the clerk of council whenever a cooperative purchase is made was adopted. The ordinance was approved as amended.

Ordinance 1043-2026 as amended - Temporary and Seasonal Personnel Contracts

• This annual authorization would allow Parks and Recreation, Public Works, and Finance to use an RFP to select temporary employment agencies for seasonal and temporary personnel. The director said the amount in this year's legislation was about $2.3 million but could reach $6.8 million as other departments participate.
• Council members raised concerns about the existing contractor Snyder Blake's performance and asked for attendance records, incident reports, and accountability measures. Councilman Casey's amendment requiring selection of any vendor with legislative authority, meaning return to council before selection, was adopted. Councilman Harsh withdrew a separate fund-source amendment after hearing departmental funding concerns.
• The ordinance was approved as amended.

Ordinance 1032-2026 - West Ninth Street Encroachment Permit

• The committee approved an encroachment permit for 1293 West Ninth Street LLC to install and maintain a new elevated concrete landing ramp and stairs in the West Ninth Street right-of-way as part of an ADA-compliant entrance to the former Tomo restaurant. The local ward council member was reported in support.

Ordinance 931-2026 - Cleveland Browns Stadium Emergency Repairs

• The legislation sought reimbursement of about $1.12 million to the Cleveland Browns Stadium Company for emergency capital repairs already completed at Huntington Bank Field, including sanitary pipe repair, sewer ejector pump failures, failed pipe insulation, overhead door repair, concrete and joint repairs, and arc flash device replacement.
• Administration staff said the repairs were required under the 1998 stadium lease and were confirmed by Osborne Engineering and city inspections.
• Councilman Harsh called the repairs essential for a city-owned facility open to the public. Councilwoman Hudson opposed reimbursement, citing the relocation clause and the Browns' and Jimmy Haslam's wealth. A council member called the stadium deal the worst in city history and requested a full stadium tour. Councilman Shaw opposed, questioned why billionaire owners should receive taxpayer funds, and requested the law director's advice on consequences of refusal.
• Haslam Sports Group representatives Phil Dangerfield and Greg Rush declined to answer questions outside the capital repair request.
• The chair held the ordinance without a vote. Councilman Jones requested a legal analysis of an allegedly broken contract, a projection of ongoing stadium maintenance costs, and a timeline for the stadium transition.

Key Outcomes

• Leopardo's police district construction is expected to be completed by October 2026; locker rust concern is to be addressed and tours of completed facilities were offered.
• Ordinance 688-2026 as amended was approved. Ordinance 1033-2026 as amended was approved. Ordinance 1043-2026 as amended was approved. Ordinance 1032-2026 was approved.
• Ordinance 931-2026 was held in committee; next steps include legal analysis, cost projections, a stadium transition timeline, and further committee discussion.