June 3: Cleveland City Council
Covered by Documenters Aaron Skubby (notes) and Ayanna Rose Banks (live-tweets)
Residents respond to Cudell construction pause
Several members of the Cudell community and its supporters came out to Cleveland City Council’s last regular meeting before summer break to thank city officials for their efforts in pausing construction of a new school at Cudell Park. They also proposed next steps.
Ward 15 resident Brent Eysenbach talked about other challenges proponents for the preservation of Cudell Park have faced going back to the 1950s. He encouraged unity between city and school officials and residents.
“Let’s not use this period of a pause to waste time,” Eysenbach said. “Let’s be productive. Let’s meet during this period to get on the ground and create some solutions here.”
Jamie Brazier, a member of the Friends of Cudell Commons Park advocacy group, gave specifics, saying, “The redesign should show special attention regarding the Tamir Rice Memorial, the Cudell Clock Tower, and Cudell Park Commons. In no way should the memorials be hidden or enclosed by a building, shrubbery or trees as part of the redesign package.”
Brazier also asked council to create legislation “for the eternal protection” of the park and its landmarks.
Preserving the City of Cleveland’s original flag design
Cleveland Heights resident Kristen Fragassi addressed council about a recent independent campaign to update the design of the City of Cleveland’s official flag. Fragassi’s great-grandmother, Susan Hepburn, designed the current flag. She asked council not to allow a change.
Fragassi said an 18-year-old Hepburn won a flag design contest launched by The Plain Dealer in 1895 by “beating out two dozen male finalists.”
Fragassi pointed out the history of manufacturing and shipping represented in the current design and how those industries still impact Cleveland today. She also commented on the potential costs of having to replace the flag on all city assets, including police uniforms and city vehicles.
Resident questions form-based zoning code
Ward 15 resident Michael Armstrong addressed City Council carrying a printed copy of the city’s form-based code, a new pilot plan for regulations on neighborhood design and construction. He asked council to send it “back to committee.”
Armstrong said his takeaway from the new code is that “it seems the planning department’s theory is to build, build, build.”
He raised concerns for current low-income residents.
“If [form-based code] is about the benefits of build, build, build investments, how do the increased cost pressures from this not lead to the displacement of economically vulnerable households?” Armstrong asked.
Mayor Justin Bibb’s administration has argued form-based zoning code allows for development and flexibility and will help meet Bibb’s vision for making Cleveland a 15-minute city.
Council unanimously approved the form-based code pilots later in the meeting.
Watch the full public comments or read transcripts edited by Documenter Gennifer Harding-Gosnell on the Public Comment CLE website created by Ohio City resident Angelo Trivisonno.
Read the notes from Documenter Aaron Skubby
Read the live-tweet thread by Documenter Ayanna Rose Banks
