The Public Meetings Report for the week of April 21, 2025

In this week’s Public Meetings Report, a resident addresses Cleveland City Council about not funding Browns stadium projects with public money, while West Park residents expressed their concerns to the City Planning Commission about the Cleveland Clinic’s expansion of Fairview Hospital. Learn more in this week’s episode.

The Documenters whose work contributed to this episode are:

• Alyssa Holzkloos

• Alicia Moreland

• Kellie Morris

• Caelum Burns

  
  

Their work has been compiled this week by Doug Breehl-Pitorak. The Public Meetings Report is produced by Gennifer Harding-Gosnell. 

The Public Meetings Report is produced by Signal Cleveland and Cleveland Documenters, in partnership with WOVU 95.9FM “Our Voices United,” a Burten, Bell, Carr community radio station.

Show Notes:

Signal Cleveland meeting briefs: 

• Fairview Hospital expansion postponed, planning commission addresses residents’ concerns Cleveland City Planning Commission, April 4, 2025

Documenters coverage: 

• Cleveland City Council Notes, March 31, 2025 
• Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services Advisory Board Notes, April 2, 2025
• Cleveland City Planning Commission Notes [1], Notes [2], April 4, 2025

Signal Cleveland reporting: 

• Child abuse expert to join University Hospitals staff By Frank Lewis and Cleveland Documenters 
• A closer look at Cleveland’s $117 million in ARPA money for housing By Nick Castele
• Cleveland’s role in Earth Day? Bigger than you’d think By Celia Hack 
• ‘This law will not be ignored’: State Sen. Jerry Cirino warns Ohio’s colleges to get ready for Senate Bill 1 By Amy Morona 

Legislation:

• Ordinance No. 425-2025 contract for lead inspections 

Recordings: 

• Cleveland City Council, March 31, 2025
• Cleveland City Planning Commission, April 4, 2025 

• Other resources:
  City Planning Commission agenda and presentations April 4, 2025

The Public Meetings Report for the week of April 14, 2025

In this week’s Public Meetings Report, the Cuyahoga Land Bank outlines plans to modernize and rehabilitate housing in Cleveland’s Southeast Side and beyond, including a $10 million initiative to create 54 housing units. Plus, CMHA agrees to sell vacant properties to the Land Bank to support revitalization. Hear what’s next for these neighborhoods. 

The Documenters whose work contributed to this episode are:

• Colleen Boyd

• Tina Scott

• Maria Zajac

Their work has been compiled this week by Frank Lewis, Gennifer Harding-Gosnell and Doug Breehl-Pitorak. The Public Meetings Report is produced by Gennifer Harding-Gosnell. 

The Public Meetings Report is produced by Signal Cleveland and Cleveland Documenters, in partnership with WOVU 95.9FM “Our Voices United,” a Burten, Bell, Carr community radio station. Show Notes:

Signal Cleveland meeting briefs:

• Construction and rehab underway for two new housing initiatives through Cuyahoga Land Bank Board of Directors, Cuyahoga Land Bank, March 28, 2025 
• Span scan plan: RTA to conduct safety inspections of bridges Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, April 1, 2025 

Documenters coverage: 

• Board of Directors, Cuyahoga Land Bank Notes, March 28, 2025 
• Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Notes, April 1, 2025 
• Board of Commissioners, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Notes April 2, 2025

Signal Cleveland reporting: 

• ‘No staff, no program’: Cleveland neighborhood nonprofits await news on federal funding from Trump By Nick Castele 
• A closer look at Cleveland’s $117 million in ARPA money for housing By Nick Castele

Recordings: 

• Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, April 1, 2025 

Other resources:

• Phase I Rehabilitation of Viaduct Bridge - RTA
• Project Clean Lake
• City of Cleveland Southeast Side Initiative
• Cuyahoga Land Bank gets $10M from Cleveland (Legacy Communities Revitalization Program) - NEO Trans Blog March 22, 2024    

The Public Meetings Report for the week of April 7, 2025

In this week’s Public Meetings Report, the City of Cleveland’s Department of Public Health along with the City Planning Commission presented legislation to Cleveland City Council to regulate smoke shops in the city through new zoning and compliance measures. Learn more in this week’s episode.

The Documenters whose work contributed to this episode are:

• Andrew Kenneson

• Ayanna Rose Banks 

Their work has been compiled this week by Frank Lewis and Doug Breehl-Pitorak. The Public Meetings Report is produced by Gennifer Harding-Gosnell. 

The Public Meetings Report is produced by Signal Cleveland and Cleveland Documenters, in partnership with WOVU 95.9FM “Our Voices United,” a Burten, Bell, Carr community radio station. 

Show Notes:

Signal Cleveland meeting briefs: 

• Cuyahoga County Council backs African Town Plaza project with grant and loan Cuyahoga County Council, March 25, 2025

Documenters coverage: 

• Health, Human Services and the Arts Committee, Cleveland City Council Notes, March 24, 2025 
• Cuyahoga County Council Notes, March 25, 2025

Signal Cleveland reporting: 

• WTF is a TIF? And why are they used for development projects across Greater Cleveland? by Mandy Kraynak
• Cleveland police watchdog Marcus Perez out of the job April 10 after just two years by Frank W. Lewis
• You can start early voting in Ohio’s May primary tomorrow 
• Cleveland readies limits on smoke shops that sell cannabis derivatives by Nick Castele 
• Where to buy legal weed in Cleveland by Frank Lewis 
• Can legislation help Clevelanders live healthier lives? Tobacco law conversation continues at Cleveland City Council by Candice Wilder 

Legislation:

•  Proposed smoke shop regulation ordinances 

Recordings: 

• Health, Human Services and the Arts Committee, Cleveland City Council, March 24, 2025
• Cuyahoga County Council, March 25, 2025

Other resources:

• African Town Plaza 

'Lunch With A Doctor' is series for seniors to get real talk from doctors about aging-related health topics. Listen in as Dr. Hoang Phung explains “white-coat hypertension”, how the act of going to the doctor itself can raise your blood pressure.

Public Meetings Report for the week of March 31, 2025

In this week’s Public Meetings Report, Ward 9 Cleveland City Council member Kevin Conwell introduced legislation to urge the Cleveland Metropolitan School District to put cameras on buses so police can catch drivers who fail to stop for the bus’s flashing red lights. Plus, RTA’s CEO India Birdsong-Terry and Metroparks’ CEO Brian Zimmerman named projects that could be affected, and some that won’t, by federal funding cuts to their board members. Learn more in this week’s episode. 

The Documenters whose work contributed to this episode are:

• Bilal Hakeem

• Nick Ventura

• Lori Ingram

• Angela Rush

Their work has been compiled this week by Frank Lewis and Doug Breehl-Pitorak. The Public Meetings Report is produced by Gennifer Harding-Gosnell. 

The Public Meetings Report is produced by Signal Cleveland and Cleveland Documenters, in partnership with WOVU 95.9FM “Our Voices United,” a Burten, Bell, Carr community radio station.Show Notes:

Signal Cleveland meeting briefs: 

• Metroparks forecast: fewer federal dollars? Cleveland Metroparks Board of Commissioners, March 20, 2025.  

Documenters coverage: 

• Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Board of Trustees Notes, March 18, 2025 
• Cleveland City Council Notes, March 18, 2025 
• Cuyahoga County Council Health, Human Services and Aging Committee Notes, March 19, 2025
• Cleveland Metroparks Board of Commissioners Notes, March 20, 2025

Signal Cleveland reporting: 

• Thousands of Cleveland voters’ polling places will change. City Council wants to know why By Frank Lewis and Rachel Dissell 
• Federal judge restores fair housing funding to Cleveland center By Olivera Perkins
• Cleveland on edge waiting for word on federal money for neighborhoods By Nick Castele 
• Legislation:
• Cleveland City Council Resolution No. 333-2025 urging CMSD to install bus cameras  

Recordings: 

• Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Board of Trustees, March 18, 2025  
• Cleveland City Council, March 18, 2025
• Health, Human Services and Aging Committee Cuyahoga County Council, March 19, 2025

Other resources:

• Cleveland Metroparks’ CHEERS project

The Public Meetings Report for the week of March 24, 2025

In this week’s Public Meetings Report, Cuyahoga County Council hears from YWCA executives about the need for services at the Norma Herr women’s shelter. Plus, the latest data on the number of county residents using social welfare benefits like Medicaid and SNAP. Learn more in this week’s episode.

The Documenters whose work contributed to this episode are:

• Nina Awal

• Alicia Moreland

• K. Marie Smith 

Their work has been compiled this week by Doug Breehl-Pitorak. The Public Meetings Report is produced by Gennifer Harding-Gosnell. 

The Public Meetings Report is produced by Signal Cleveland and Cleveland Documenters, in partnership with WOVU 95.9FM “Our Voices United,” a Burten, Bell, Carr community radio station. 

SHOW NOTES:

Signal Cleveland meeting briefs: 

• Cybersecurity, parking tickets, sidewalks: A Cleveland Documenters recap of 2025 budget hearings Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council, February 2025. 

Documenters coverage: 

• Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Committees Notes, March 4, 2025  
• Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Notes, March 5, 2025
• Cuyahoga County Council Health, Human Services and Aging Committee Notes, March 5, 2025

Signal Cleveland reporting: 

• ‘Don’t give up. You have to push yourself.’ Ty’Janeya Gordon named Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Club by Najee Hall. 
• Child care costs more than public college for many Ohio families by Olivera Perkins
• Ohio is lifting old driver’s license suspensions for unpaid fines. Here’s what to know by Rachell Dissell and The Marshall Project 
• ‘You will lose teachers over this’: Teachers largely oppose CMSD school calendar cuts by Michael Indrolio 

Legislation:

• Cuyahoga County Council Resolution No. R2025-0095 approving YWCA contract 

Recordings: 

• Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Committees, March 4, 2025  
• Health, Human Services and Aging Committee Cuyahoga County Council, March 5, 2025

Other resources:

• RTA’s outline of policy changes to implement fare-capping 

Soul Yoga Studio’s Trish Sexstella guides attendees through a beginner-level yoga session set to candlelight and goth music. Learn more in this short Signal Cleveland audio story. 

Public Meetings Report for the week of March 17, 2025

In this week’s Public Meetings Report, Cleveland City Council wraps up its 2025 city budget talks with a tense discussion on the role of the county in helping to combat homelessness in Cleveland. Learn more in this week’s episode. 

The Documenters whose work contributed to this episode are:

• Alfreda Williams

• 
  
• Moneak Jones

Their work has been compiled this week by Doug Breehl-Pitorak with additional reporting from Signal Cleveland's Frank Lewis. The Public Meetings Report is produced by Gennifer Harding-Gosnell.

The Public Meetings Report is produced by Signal Cleveland and Cleveland Documenters, in partnership with WOVU 95.9FM “Our Voices United,” a Burten, Bell, Carr community radio station.

Show Notes:

Signal Cleveland meeting briefs: 

• Cleveland health programs could suffer under federal budget cuts Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council, February 21, 2025

Documenters coverage: 

• Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council Notes [1], Notes [2] February 21, 2025 
• Cleveland City Council Notes, February 24, 2025 

Signal Cleveland reporting: 

• How Cleveland’s budget process works By Cleveland Documenters 
• What costs more, policing or housing? Tell City Council how you would spend Cleveland’s 2025 budget By Dakotah Kennedy 
• Cleveland promised marijuana tax money. Where is it? By Andrew Tobias 
• ‘I am a girl with a plan’: Meet the new interim mayor for East Cleveland, Sandra Morgan By Najee Hall

Recordings: 

• Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council, Part I, Part II, February 21, 2025
• Cleveland City Council, February 24, 2025 

Public Meetings Report for the week of March 10, 2025

In this week’s Public Meetings Report, Cleveland City Council wraps up its 2025 city budget talks, hearing from leaders at many of the city’s departments, including the Department of Public Safety, Public Health, and the Cleveland Municipal Court. Learn more in this week’s episode.

The Documenters whose work contributed to the 2025 city budget wrap-up episodes are:

• 
  
• Bilal Hakeem 
• 
  
• Christina Easter 
• 
  
• Alfreda Williams
• 
  
• Dean Jackson
• 
  
• Marvetta Rutherford
• 
  
• Angela Rush

Their work has been compiled this week by Frank Lewis and Doug Breehl-Pitorak. The Public Meetings Report is produced by Gennifer Harding-Gosnell. 
The Public Meetings Report is produced by Signal Cleveland and Cleveland Documenters, in partnership with WOVU 95.9FM “Our Voices United,” a Burten, Bell, Carr community radio station. Show notes:

Signal Cleveland meeting briefs: 

• ‘Woefully inadequate’: Cleveland council members say public safety under-budgeted for some important expenses Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council, February 21, 2025

Documenters coverage: 

• Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council Notes [1], Notes [2] February 18, 2025
• Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council Notes February 19, 2025
• Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council Notes [1], Notes [2] February 20, 2025
• Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council Notes [1], Notes [2] February 21, 2025 

Signal Cleveland reporting: 

• Meet the players behind Bibb’s $2.1 billion 2025 budget By Doug Breehl-Pitorak, Dakotah Kennedy and Cleveland Documenters
• How Cleveland’s budget process works By Cleveland Documenters 

• Parks, police and turkeys: Cleveland City Council’s ward spending projects By Nick Castele
• What costs more, policing or housing? Tell City Council how you would spend Cleveland’s 2025 budget By Dakotah Kennedy 
• Cleveland promised marijuana tax money. Where is it? By Andrew Tobias 

Recordings: 

• Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council, Part I, Part II, February 18, 2025
• Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council, Part I, Part II, February 19, 2025
• Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council, Part I, Part II, February 20, 2025
• Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council, Part I, Part II, February 21, 2025
• Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council, Part I, Part II, February 24, 2025
• Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council, Part I, Part II, February 25, 2025
• Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council, March 3, 2025

Public Meetings Report for the week of March 3, 2025

In this week’s Public Meetings Report, Cleveland City Council begins its 2025 city budget talks, hearing from Mayor Justin Bibb and leaders at many of the city’s departments, including Port Control, Community Development, and Cleveland Municipal Court. Learn more in this week’s episode.

The Documenters whose work contributed to this episode are:

• Bilal Hakeem 

• Christina Easter 

• Marvetta Rutherford

• Angela Rush

Their work has been compiled this week by Doug Breehl-Pitorak. The Public Meetings Report is produced by Gennifer Harding-Gosnell. 

The Public Meetings Report is produced by Signal Cleveland and Cleveland Documenters, in partnership with WOVU 95.9FM “Our Voices United,” a Burten, Bell, Carr community radio station. Show notes:

Documenters coverage: 

• Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council Notes [1], Notes [2], February 18, 2025
• Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council Notes, February 20, 2025
• Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council Notes, February 20, 2025 

Signal Cleveland reporting: 

• Cleveland Clinic gifts city recreation centers with Pelotons; City Council wraps up budget hearings By Nick Castele
• How Cleveland’s budget process works By Cleveland Documenters 
• What costs more, policing or housing? Tell City Council how you would spend Cleveland’s 2025 budget By Dakotah Kennedy 
• Cleveland lead paint team tied up with application backlog By Nick Castele 
• Mayor Justin Bibb discusses potential federal cuts, Browns move in budget presentation to Cleveland City Council By Nick Castele 

Recordings: 

• Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council, Part I, Part II, February 18, 2025
• Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council, Part I, Part II, February 19, 2025
• Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council, Part I, Part II, February 20, 2025
• Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Cleveland City Council, Part I, Part II, February 21, 2025

Other resources:

• CIRI