Starting with public comment — Leslie Jennings Moldonado is from Ward 6 and represents Speakezie, Go Hard, and Together We Rise. She announced that June is Gun Violence Awareness Month and stated that Project Ripple is the solution to gun violence in Cleveland.

According to Maldonado, Project Ripple focuses on the nano, micro, and macro level to bring communication and solutions between every level of the community. She also stated that $10 million is not enough money, and the gun violence organizations need a larger investment.

More on Project Ripple: https://signalcleveland.org/public-commenters-demand-support-for-a-community-led-approach-to-stop-gun-violence/

Next, Michelle Bell of Ward 10 and Together We Rise also expressed her support of Project Ripple. She shared the story of her son, André Brown, who died due to gun violence. She emphasized gun violence as a public health crisis and all the adverse/traumatic effects.

Shari Thomas aka Ashley B of Maple Heights and New Era Cleveland also shared support for Project Ripple. “Why are we here? Why are we in an epidemic? Why are we ignoring the fact that we need to take action?” she said.

Michael Wood of Westlake and lead administrative organizer of SEIU District 1199 spoke in support of library workers. He listed some daily responsibilities of library workers and asked the council members to visit their library branches to ask how they can support the workers.

Ilinda Reiss of Cleveland spoke in support of renaming a street in Mount Pleasant after her parents, Pastor Lawrence and Theresa Boone. She shared the story of her parents and the impact of the Covenant Community Church.

Martin Mcgann of Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Partnership spoke in support of the Community Benefits Agreements and Ord. 297-2023.

A couple notable announcements — Mayor Bibb appointed members to the City of Cleveland’s Community Relations Board. Read the resumes of his appointments here: https://cityofcleveland.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6247377&GUID=340EE3C7-EBF3-4B50-A738-9ABD3471E643&G=2EB18EF1-2C21-4D1D-85C9-B38100AB8FFD&Options=&Search= https://t.co/3ZgBlrHPPT

The approval of the dedication of Moltke Court in Ward 3. This is a proposed street dedication that will extend Moltke Court through TREO’s luxury, mixed-use developments along the border of Tremont and Ohio City.

The extension of Moltke Court will serve as an access road linking West 25th and West 20th Streets. https://t.co/FQcDaXK5Nd

The Council and Mayor celebrated the Glenville Tarblooders Track & Field State Championship.

A couple notable Emergency Ordinances to be passed — Ord. 698-2023 authorizes a contract extension with Code Studio, Inc. to provide additional engagement activities for The Land Code, a form-based zoning pilot initiative, and for the review of draft code elements.

The Land Code is a new form-based code that will reduce the time projects spend in zoning review. Rather than the one size fits all zoning code Cleveland has today, the new code will be based on a neighborhood plan developed through a community process. https://t.co/NbCS6EPy9T

The council also suspended the rules to pass the collective bargaining agreements with the Cleveland Utility Workers Union of America Local 270, the Cleveland Association of Rescue Employees (CARE) Local 1975, and Communication Workers of America Local 4340

Council passed ord. 510-2023 which authorizes contracts with Econsult Solutions Inc. to conduct an economic development analysis of Burke Lakefront Airport to quantify the current economic impact of BKL as well as the future economic impact potential if BKL closed.

They also passed ord. 526-2023 which authorizes agreements between Capital Projects and Bedrock Management concerning Mayor Bibb’s waterfront activation plan to build public improvement infrastructure along the lake and river that will cost up to $3 million

Ord. 644-2023 also passed. It authorizes contracts between the Director of Public Health and the Ohio Department of Health that will perform environmental lead investigations for lead hazards in residences occupied by Medicaid-eligible and non-Medicaid-eligible children.

They passed Ord. 657-2023 which reads that the Community Relations Board is seeking to apply and receive funding for an initiative to support Intensive Mentoring, Community Engagement, and Violence Intervention and Reduction among Cleveland youth.

Youth identified for the program are those returning home from the State of Ohio DYS system. The goal is to provide the following: Life Skills Training and Case Management, Intensive Mentorship, Trauma-Focused Treatment and Education, and Community Partnerships.

State funding of $2,103,872.00 for two years will be used for mentors, safe housing, safe travel, workshops, job help, trauma services, and professional services.

Council President Griffin celebrated community leaders that had a voice in forming the Community Benefit Agreement ordinance.

Councilman Conwell announced that Parade the Circle is this Saturday, June 10. According to Conwell, there will be 30,000 attendees. “It’s Cleveland Mardi Gras,” he said.

Councilman Slife announced the passage of Resolution 714 by all 17 council members. It opposes State Issue 1 which attempts to require a super majority of Ohio voters on all future ballot issues.

Councilman Conwell spoke against the proposed site for the new county jail in Garfield Heights. He advocated for keeping the jail within Cleveland so more people have access to visiting their loved ones.

President Griffin concluded the meeting by honoring the work during the past session. He specifically celebrated the Finance, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee and those who advocate for the residents of Cleveland who historically haven’t had a voice in local politics.

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