Cleveland City Council Health, Human Services and Arts Committee Meeting: Lead Safety Amendments and Good Food Retailer Certification Program - October 19, 2026

The Health, Human Services and Arts Committee of the Cleveland City Council met on October 19, 2026, to consider two major legislative items: a comprehensive update to the lead-safe certificate law (Ordinance 1444-2026) and the establishment of a Good Food Retailer Certification and job retention income tax credit program (Ordinance 1230-2026). The meeting featured public testimony, detailed presentations from city administration and the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition, extensive discussion, and final votes on both ordinances.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mike Burkans, a lead risk assessor, expressed general support for the proposed changes to lead standards, noting that extending the certification interval from two to five years is good for the program even against his self-interest. He raised a concern about the lack of inspector discretion in the current standard, arguing that no house is perfect and that minor imperfections that pose no real risk should not necessarily cause a property to fail.
• Zach Ravinelli, a local landlord from Slavic Village, stated his full support for the changes. He highlighted that the every-two-year requirement was expensive and contributed to rent increases, and that landlords who make meaningful investments should be rewarded. He also noted that he replaces wood windows and porches to reduce lead hazards.

Discussion Items

Lead-Safe Certificate Law Amendments (Ordinance 1444-2026)

• Presentation by Rebecca Moore (Senior Advisor for Lead Accountability) and Dr. David Margolius (Director of Public Health) outlined five strategic pillars, with the first three requiring legislative changes: 1) graduated certificate timelines, 2) local risk assessment standards and inspection licenses, and 3) administrative improvements and alignment with federal rules.
• The key change moves the base lead-safe certificate from a two-year to a three-year cycle, with incentives for replacing lead-hazard components:
  • Properties that replace all movable and accessible windows receive a five-year certificate.
  • Properties that also replace exterior doors and porches receive a ten-year certificate.
  • Full abatement yields a twenty-year certificate (unchanged from current law).
  • Properties built after 1960 can receive ten years; consecutive passing certificates extend terms.
• The administration has hired a Lead Safe Ombudsman to handle resident complaints and resolve disputes informally.
• An XRF lending program will allow risk assessors to borrow XRF analyzers from the city to more precisely identify lead-based paint, reducing assumptions and improving assessment quality.
• Enforcement is being strengthened through additional personnel in Building and Housing, with plans to double enforcement capacity via civil tickets and faster processing of appeals.
• Councilmember Questions included concerns about funding, accountability, and the balance between carrots and sticks. Councilmembers Jones and Harsh pressed for clearer metrics on enforcement and a flowchart of responsibilities; Councilwoman Hudson inquired about the ombudsman and testing of children; Councilman Shaw emphasized the need for tenant feedback and affordability criteria.
• The Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition (represented by Ayana Blue Donald) expressed qualified support for the changes after a membership vote, noting that the coalition will continue to advocate for a strong implementation framework.

Good Food Retailer Certification and Tax Credit Program (Ordinance 1230-2026)

• Deputy Director of Business Growth David Lucas and Dr. David Margolius presented the proposal to create a "Good Food Retailer" certification for grocery stores that demonstrate financial need and meet criteria such as selling at least 40% fresh food, accepting SNAP/WIC, hiring local residents, paying above minimum wage, using environmentally sustainable practices, donating excess food to pantries, and sourcing from local Ohio producers.
• Certified retailers would be eligible for a job retention income tax credit of up to 100% of the city income tax paid by the grocer, for a term of two years. The credit can be renewed if the grocer continues to meet the criteria.
• The estimated budget impact is $500,000 to $1 million annually, based on a rough calculation of current income tax collections from grocers (at least $2 million).
• The program is designed as a retention tool (rather than attraction), and the administration plans to seek outside grants and philanthropic funding to create a Good Food Retail Fund to supplement the tax credit.
• Councilmember Concerns: Councilman Shaw expressed deep reservations about opening a "Pandora's box" and noted the lack of affordability criteria; Councilman Jones supported the program but cautioned about general fund spending; Councilman Harsh noted the need to compare this with other city tax credits; Councilwoman House Jones questioned the long-term revenue generation and the equity of property-tax reliance. In response, the administration committed to incorporating affordability into the evaluation rubric when presenting future recommendations for certification.

Key Outcomes

• Ordinance 1444-2026 (lead-safe certificate program amendments) passed unanimously (voice vote, all ayes).
• Ordinance 1230-2026 (Good Food Retailer certification and tax credit program) passed with a vote of 3-2 (on a roll call, "Yes. Yes. No. Yes. No.").
• Both ordinances are emergency measures and will be forwarded to the full City Council for final approval.