Joint Committee

Cleveland City Council

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Wednesday, March 15, 2023
10:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m. EDT

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Cleveland City Council’s committees on Public Safety, Municipal Properties and Services, and Development, Planning, and Sustainability are meeting together. Committee members are set to discuss legislation that would allow the city to purchase and develop the ArtCraft building for use as the new Cleveland police headquarters.

Learn more about a city architect’s plans for the building. And, learn what current tenants had to say about the proposal.

Watch the meeting on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/clevelandcitycouncil

Or on TV20: http://www.tv20cleveland.com/watch-now/

For more information go to Cleveland City Council’s website: https://www.clevelandcitycouncil.org.

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Cleveland - OH Documenters Team

Note-taking by Collin Cunningham

Committees advance plans for new police headquarters

View notes

Live reporting by Gennifer Harding-Gosnell

City officials review cost breakdown for new police headquarters

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_

Good morning, Cleveland! I'm live-tweeting today’s @CleCityCouncil Joint Committee meeting for @cledocumenters & @signalcleveland. It started at 10 but I just woke up, so lemme rub the crust outta my eyes & I'll get right on it.
#CLEDocumenters https://t.co/pUgsDjhdjf

10:00 AM Mar 15, 2023 CDT

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 2/45

Think we got something wrong? Send any enquiries on the meeting or these tweets to @cledocumenters or email us at cledocumenters@gmail.com

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 3/45

This meeting is being live-streamed on @CleCityCouncil’s YouTube channel:
@ClevelandCityCouncil' target='_blank'>youtube.com/@ClevelandCity…

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 4/45

Three of @CleCityCouncil's committees - Safety, Municipal Services and Properties, and Development, Planning and Sustainability - are meeting jointly today to review plans for the new police headquarters on Superior Avenue.

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 5/45

From the @CityofCleveland press release:

"The legislation to purchase the ArtCraft building was initially heard by Municipal Services and Properties Committee and was scheduled to go to Safety Committee next...

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 6/45

"...with Chairperson Mike Polensek, who owes Gennifer with a G twenty-five cents, asking to make it into a combined hearing to enable council members to get an extended overview of the plans and all questions answered."

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 7/45

Polensek is asking about the Cleveland Police officer who was shot and injured last night. Police Chief Wayne Drummond says he's seen the officer and two other officers injured in a car accident yesterday, & all three are doing well. https://t.co/TQ8i7pgHUM

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 8/45

@CityofCleveland Capital Projects Director Jamie DeRosa is giving a presentation on the property & plan with other city officials. https://t.co/ZO4FKLlv68

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 9/45

@CityofCleveland Manager of Architecture and Site Development, and master of the bow-tie game, Carter Edman, is presenting on the history of the current plan. https://t.co/p0k0Z7xlx2

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 10/45

https://t.co/t9uJm2PbFC

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 11/45

Edman says ODOT plans to remove the on-ramp adjacent to the building, which will occur after the police building project is completed. https://t.co/ZPkJ7g7do7

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 12/45

Edman says there will be quiet rooms & an exercise facility for officer wellness. A rooftop running track was proposed but doesn't appear to have been moved forward. https://t.co/7MivX1VRc0

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 13/45

Edman has been making comparisons between the new building site and the Opportunity Corridor site that was originally selected. https://t.co/0AnGy4RL4H

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 14/45

https://t.co/w9F2x7OIBW

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 15/45

This is the final deal set-up. https://t.co/esmVOnJZpm

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 16/45

Council members sent a list of questions to the department prior to this meeting, they're reviewing and answering them now. https://t.co/Py5pZHUV1B

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 17/45

Council members asked for details about what is going into the South High building. Edelman is explaining them now, to include training facilities and an area for a high school vocational program, and says the money is already allocated & it's fully funded.

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 18/45

Drummond is explaining the strategic reasoning for having SWAT units kept off site. The current plan is to have SWAT housed in the valley near Clark Ave. & a design review with @CLEcityplanning is happening later today. https://t.co/nYftqrsejG

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 19/45

Polensek is surprised by the $6.5 million price tag for a relocated SWAT unit. Edman says the cost to build a whole new facility was upwards of $12 million. https://t.co/iXoi6cbwtW

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 20/45

Edman is explaining the plans for the mounted unit. It will be located off E. 59th St. and Thackeray Ave. Council member @R1chardStarr is taking a tour of the proposed stable area later this month. https://t.co/WEHID6MA0U

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 21/45

Starr says he's heard from residents on Thackeray that don't want the stables in their neighbourhood. He's proposing other sites. Polensek responds he has also been asked why the mounted unit is being moved so far from downtown. https://t.co/J3tqOTSXGj

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 22/45

DeRosa says the current location of the stables needs to be moved per @ODOT_Cleveland, who has plans to flatten Dead Man's Curve and needs that land. https://t.co/DCMGJmbhMZ

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 23/45

The new stables will cost $13 million. I'm a horse-gal & I promise, that's a LOT of money for a stable & maintenance for 7 horses. I agree with Polensek on this one. I could do all that for much cheaper.

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 24/45

The Cleveland Police Museum will be moved onto the first floor of the new building. clevelandpolicemuseum.org

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 25/45

TurnDev representative Jon Pinney explains their policies on working with collective bargaining agreements & accountablity in response to Ward 10 Council Member Anthony Hairston's questions about CBAs & other work agreements. https://t.co/4ifYjjE9Nm

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 26/45

Ward 1 Council Member Joe Jones asks questions about the stable location for the mounted unit. Drummond explains the horses are trailered to areas outside of downtown.
"One acre per horse" of pasture space is standard, so the 6.5 acres they want for 7 horses is accurate.

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 27/45

Need my sunglasses to ease the glare off Polensek's and Jones' noggins... https://t.co/55BGjq1r3T

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 28/45

Edman explains to Jones that they are working as a joint team with the developer and the city's Office of Equal Opportunity to ensure maximised diversity of candidates to complete the building rehab & construction work. https://t.co/D69yHDLgmn

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 29/45

Jones asks how much savings there is between this plan & the former Opportunity Corridor plan. Polensek keeps reiterating that Council were given "the wrong number last time". City officials said they'll have Finance respond later. It's *approximately* $$60-million. https://t.co/JyK4AaPZnJ

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 30/45

Polensek points out that Jones got his comments in with 37 seconds to spare & commends him for his efforts.

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 31/45

Lord have mercy, Auto-Caption... 🤦🏻‍♀️ https://t.co/brlSdZNXCa

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 32/45

Ward 13 Councillor Kris Harsh asks about the potential for "cost overruns" & if there's a "contingency plan" to address it. DeRosa says he's not aware of one.
This is why you need poor people in charge of your $$. Having contingency plans is what allows us to sleep at night. https://t.co/WuJsRepk16

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 33/45

Ooooh, cool! Ward 4 Council Member Delores Gray said she toured the building & saw an area that is meant to be used by the community for engagement activities, meetings, etc. https://t.co/2WSfuCtEGf

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 34/45

Edman says essentially "the entire first floor" will be dedicated to public-facing activities like community engagement, transport/parking needs, meetings, etc. https://t.co/HPHxJn5MrB

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 35/45

Ward 17 Council Member @ADayInTheSlife shares his concerns that the police district offices are where most of the public end up interacting with police, & those places are "depressing", and are "designed like bunkers". https://t.co/AxC0YwrDES

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 36/45

Ward 16 Council Member @kazy_brian asks to confirm there's only one horse rider in the mounted unit right now & how that will affect the St. Patrick's Day Parade.
I nominate myself to ride in the parade.🖐️🏻 https://t.co/z9S0bkBofI

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 37/45

KA-ZAY! No you didn't. 😂😂😂
@kazy_brian just referred to First Energy as "the other electrical supplier". He won't even call them by name.
I am absolutely dyin' right now. 🤣🤣 https://t.co/sPVLZRYv2e

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 38/45

Apparently the new building is still serviced by those who shall not be named. There is a plan to move @clepublicpower service up to the building. Says Polensek, "I'm serious as a heart attack. If we're gonna own a building, it's gonna be on CPP." And then, "I'll repeat that."

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 39/45

Polensek: "You're not gonna make the same mistake you made with Metro Hospital."
I couldn't find any background info on this, but he mentioned "not losing out on customers", and brought up the bribery scandal.

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 40/45

Danny Kelly speaks! Newly-minted Ward 11 Council Member Danny Kelly did the smart thing & kept his mouth shut since January. This is him coming down on the other side of the learning curve. https://t.co/bZNgSukhT1

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 41/45

Mike Polensek, who owes me twenty-five cents, says "transparency" is a major concern for him: "The administration was not transparent to us when you presented the Opportunity Corridor. What we were told at the table was one thing... https://t.co/BpkKonzj6O

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 42/45

"...and what we found out after the fact was something different."

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 43/45

The meeting is now adjourned.

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 44/45

This is Chex from the @CLEpolice Mounted Unit. This is the horse I nominate myself to ride if y'all are short on riders. He's stacked, might be a draft horse, seems more-whoa-than-go. Completely bomb-proof.
Make this happen, @kazy_brian, you got pull with the cops. https://t.co/Z0cyqEwWv3

Gennifer Harding-Gosnell @GenniferwithaG_ 45/45

This concludes my coverage of @CleCityCouncil’s Joint Committee meeting for #CLEDocumenters. For more news and information, visit the @signalcleveland website at signalcleveland.org/governmentmeet….

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Agency Information

Cleveland City Council

See meeting notes for details

www.clevelandcitycouncil.org

(216) 664-2840

@CleCityCouncil

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See Documenters reporting

Cleveland City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Cleveland in Ohio. There are 17 elected Cleveland City Council members representing the 17 wards of the City of Cleveland. Each ward has approximately 25,000 residents. Council Members are elected to serve a four-year term. Council members serve two roles in their duties: to draft and enact legislation for the city of Cleveland and act as ombudsmen for their constituents.

Find meetings streamed at: *online on TV20 at: http://www.tv20cleveland.com/watch-now/

*The meetings are also streamed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ClevelandCityCouncil/