City of Cleveland - 2015 Council Budget hearings , Mayor's Estimate and Council Oversight

Cleveland City Council begins today a two week process of reviewing Mayor Jackson's 2015 Budget Estimate.  Budget hearings begin at 9:00 am each day and will concluded on Friday February 27th.

Today's schedule:

General Fund Budget Hearings, February 17, 2015 @ 9:00 am

Ord. No. 110-15
By Council Member Kelley (by departmental request).  To make appropriations and provide current expenses for the daily operation of all municipal departments of the City of Cleveland for the fiscal year from January 1, 2015 until December 31, 2015.

• Mayor's Letter of Transmittal
• Finance Director's Statement
• City Council and Clerk of Council
• Office of the Mayor
• Boards and Commissions
• Board of Zoning Appeals
• Board of Building Standards and Appeals
• Boxing and Wrestling Commission
• Landmarks Commission
• City Planning Commission
• Department of Aging
• Community Relations Board

See the Council Legislative Calendar for details through Friday 2/27/15.

The following documents are the primary information that will be reviewed.  They include:

• 2015 Mayor's Summary of Estimated Budget.
• 2015 Cleveland City Council Budget Review Materials
• 2013 City of Cleveland Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

2015 Mayor Budget Estimate by Brian Cummins

2015 Council GF Budget Package - FINAL by Brian Cummins

2013 City of Cleveland CAFR by Brian Cummins

Cleveland Emergency Snow Ban Procedures

NOTICE -- Snow Emergency Parking Ban Declared – February 14 at 3:00 pm

In addition, see below "Cleveland Emergency Snow Ban Procedures".

Cleveland – Michael McGrath, Director of Public Safety for the City of Cleveland, has declared a snow emergency parking ban for the City of Cleveland effective at 3:00 pm on Saturday, February 14, 2015. As a result, stopping, standing, and parking of vehicles will be restricted and prohibited on city streets with posted red and white signs until further notice.

Parking is prohibited on snow emergency streets, which are identified as necessary for transportation, the movement of food and fuel, supplies, medical care, fire, health, police protection, and other vital city services. Significant snowfall can cause streets to become congested and impassable. Vehicles left in the roadway can prevent snow plows from clearing streets, which can make driving down these streets difficult. The resultant bottleneck can hamper emergency response.

For this reason, citizens are encouraged to avoid parking vehicles on all city streets to allow snow plows sufficient time to remove snow and ice from the roads.

The Cleveland Division of Police reports hazardous driving conditions on city streets due to weather conditions. Road conditions and visibility are poor. Citizens are advised to limit travel if possible based on today’s weather.

CLE Emergency Snow Ban Procedures-Streets by Brian Cummins

Cleveland City Council - Community Development Block Grant Budget Hearings

Beginning this morning, 1st of three days of CDBG Budget Hearings (Community development Block Grant - Federal Funding). Estimated total budget $26 million - $20 million CDBG; $3 million Home Investment Partnership; $1.6 million Emergency Shelter Grant; $1 million Housing Opportunities For Persons with AIDS.

The budget represents year 41 since the inception of the CDBG program. The estimated budget is the lowest amount Cleveland is expected to receive since the inception of the program.

Today's agenda:

• Overview
• Neighborhood Development Activity
• General Administration; Code Enforcement/Demolition
• Fair Housing & Consumer Affairs
• Commercial Revitalization/Storefront Renovation
• Land Reutilization (Lot Clean Up, City Land Bank, Community Gardens)

REF: Legislative Calendar, Watch the hearings live at Cleveland/TV20.

Here are some excerpts of the Budget document that provide some overview and line items for proposed expenditures with comparisons to 2013 and 2014 budgets.  Below this document are two others with: excerpts regarding HUD eligible activity requirements, income eligibility requirements and maps depicting blighted areas eligible for use of these funds for 2006 and 2010; and, the 2001 - 2016 City of Cleveland Consolidated Plan.  This document represents a detailed plan as required by HUD.

HUD CDBG Other Program Grants Excerpts by Brian Cummins

HUD Eligibilty Requirements by Brian Cummins

CLE Consolidated Plan2011-2016 by Brian Cummins

Chapter 3, Code Enforcement and Demolition


Requests for additional information; staffing chart, status of opened positions, list of demolitions by ward from 2008 - 2014...(hearing in process).

CLE Code Enforcement 2015 BDGT Report by Brian Cummins

If readers have any questions about the City's CDBG funding, feel free to comment here.

For additional information see:

• City of Cleveland Block Grant Program - Year 40 City proposals
• City of Cleveland, Community Development Forms and Documents
• Department of Housing and Urban Development, Community Development Block Grant Program - CDBG

City of Cleveland’s Winter Weather Update – 9:00 am Thursday, February 5, 2015

As of 3:00 am this morning, the Department of Public Works has 51 snow plows and 10 road graders servicing residential streets. The snow removal fleet will focus on clearing residential roads until 4:00 pm today when the street conditions will be reassessed.

At this time, the Department of Public Works reports that there is 9,600 tons of salt available for roads, bridges, and hills. If you have snow removal concerns, please contact 216-664-2510.

Key points to remember:

• A parking ban that went into effect at 9:00 pm on Wednesday, February 4, will be lifted as of 10:00 am on Thursday, February 5, 2015.
• The City of Cleveland is requesting voluntary compliance from residents who park on streets that are not included in the ban. Parking off street, whenever possible, helps ensure that plows can service the entire width of the street – curb-to-curb.
• If you must travel, use caution, allow extra time, and remember not to “block the box” at intersections.
• If you live with or near an elderly person, regularly check on these vulnerable citizens to ensure that they are warm, fed, and safe.

For updates from City Hall see the CLECityHall blog.

CLEVELAND PARKING BAN LIFTED 10:00 am Thursday 2/5

Motorists are encouraged to avoid parking on city streets 

CLEVELAND – Michael McGrath, Director of Public Safety for the City of Cleveland, will officially end the Snow Emergency Parking Ban today at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, February 5, 2015.

As a result, the prohibitions and restrictions that were placed on stopping, standing, and parking vehicles on posted Snow Emergency streets have been lifted.

The ban was made effective 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 4, 2015, in order to give plows the ability to clear roadways, reduce traffic congestion and enable utility crews and first responders access to emergency situations and critical services.

However motorists are still encouraged to avoid parking vehicles on all city streets even though the parking ban has been lifted. This will allow snow plows sufficient time to remove snow and ice from the roadways.

Snow Ban in effect - 9:00 pm Wed. 2/4/2015

SNOW BAN IN EFFECT AS OF 9:00 PM this evening - Wed. 2/14.  Note the 9:00 pm effective time is two hours ahead of what was originally reported (11:00 pm). Only in effect for streets marked with red and white snow ban signs. We're checking to see if we can get a copy of the streets that will be included in the ban.

CLEVELAND SNOW REMOVAL UPDATE -- There are 40 trucks being deployed on three shifts. Currently streets adjacent to schools are a priority along with residential streets. As of 5:30 pm today, only 10% of residential streets and alleys have been plowed since Monday in Ward 14. We're receiving similar reports from other Wards. City crews are working through the evening on residential streets and shifting to main arterial streets again following this evening's snow.
NOTE: Snow removal line at 216-664-2510. Be safe!

Click on image for an enlarged view.