March 18: Cleveland City Council
Covered by Documenters Barbara Phipps (notes) and Regina Samuels (live-tweets)
2024 Cleveland budget: Final answer
Cleveland City Council finished the budget process and voted to approve the 2024 budget. The budget outlines how Cleveland can use more than $779 million of General Fund money. Council Member Richard Starr, who represents Ward 5, voted against the budget but did not say why during the meeting.
Cleveland police reform
Residents showed up to amplify a range of topics, including concerns about Israel’s war on Gaza and challenges to Cleveland police reform.
Richard Jackson, a former Cleveland police officer and West Side resident, told City Council the Community Police Commission needs support to be effective.
“I understand a lot of the stress points in the police department, and I have to say that the consent decree … is actually starting to do some things,” said Jackson, who spent 30 years with the Cleveland Division of Police and served in the military.
Jackson said if council supports the commission “they would more than likely see a very, very quick turnaround and a larger part of the consent decree completed.”
Calls for Gaza ceasefire continue
Four community members also urged council to pass a Gaza ceasefire resolution. Familiar faces included Dallas Eckman, Juan Collado Diaz, Basma Hamid and Rasmia Alnadi, who, since last October, have attended other Cleveland City Council meetings to make the same plea.
Alnadi, a Medina resident, read names of babies killed in Gaza. She said she aimed to convince council members to “proudly stand on the right side of history.” Alnadi also referenced the total number of Palestinian children killed in Gaza since October, a toll UNICEF reported was more than 13,000 as of March 17.
“Have I humanized them enough?” she asked.
Two residents to continue terms on Civilian Police Review Board
Last month, the city put out a call to fill two spots on the city’s Civilian Police Review Board. The review board is made up of nine Cleveland residents who decide whether to issue discipline in civil-complaint cases against police officers. Cases can cover unprofessional behavior, lack of service, excessive force and more.
But, despite their terms expiring, both Diana Cygnaovich and David Gatian were re-appointed to their seats on March 8 by Mayor Justin Bibb.
City Council formally received communication about the re-appointments at this meeting. Cygnaovich and Gatian will serve four-year terms that expire on Feb. 1, 2028.
Play ball
Council also teed up two emergency ordinances to offer free sports programming to youth over the summer. One would allow the city to accept an $80,000 grant from Cleveland Guardians Charities for baseball and softball programs. Case Western Reserve University is also expected to receive no more than $150,000 to continue its National Youth Sports Program.
Council is also considering approving no more than $160,000 for the city-wide muni football league.
The legislation is set for committee review and awaits council’s final approval at another meeting.