[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6318877,"mediaKeyId","2364476-b6399dcad2def342281c3ee233e4bb8f","parentId",2364476,"title","Cleveland housing court judge outlines 2025 budget, describes tactics to hold out‑of‑state landlords accountable","audioSeconds",539,"startMs",642000,"endMs",1181000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2364476-b6399dcad2def342281c3ee233e4bb8f&start=642&end=1181","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2364476-b6399dcad2def342281c3ee233e4bb8f/thumbnail_642000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6318877/Cleveland/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Cleveland-housing-court-judge-outlines-2025-budget-describes-tactics-to-hold-outofstate-landlords-accountable","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6318877-1e238260248928f998c326b603ab1fe8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199920&Signature=ghbzQe6Yf9aB5j9l7fm~0bn1KUBRlhDPeDQlMiNNnNb~iGQvB6ZYRgS736pjS9aVfymprIpLzk8utTbMwcZoghDqysEhYzcMJTEFTmyLI4vU800dprPQqaDeA2-kiw9JbZqFkfK96whT8j1sw2Xzc38qLNy9XYdbDpHWjM1OlWlMt8sLoL9RMpqNMBbGeRYqpnmk0OwYAJuTnhzl8crS6xHWxgoOEQmRG2sM6DIZffWFh~5xpQNM2CPvdFDQ3V8JGEE2poQsxo~kaMIIGLFRHCn1-Vooy5yc7pYZDmJyIj6t5F1tTHM3LUg~04Ml-aVpObT6Z5qF-GAO70L~it1IaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Cleveland OH","date","2025-02-20T13:10:18Z","article","Cleveland Municipal Court’s housing division administrator Judge W. Monet Scott presented the division’s 2025 budget and described operational changes the court says have reduced evictions and raised compliance among absentee landlords. Scott told the City Council Finance Committee the court has expanded virtual access, deployed kiosks in public libraries and trained housing specialists to mediate landlord‑tenant cases.

Scott said the court moved quickly at the start of the COVID‑19 pandemic, converting in‑person dockets to virtual hearings and using grant funds to buy equipment. “We chose Zoom as our virtual platform as it was the most user friendly when thinking about the public,” Scott said, describing technology and rule changes the court adopted in March 2020.

The judge credited city investments and local partners for reducing eviction filings since 2020. Scott said the division worked with Legal Aid and the United Way to connect tenants with right‑to‑counsel services and helped disperse rental assistance in 2020 that she said prioritized tenants at imminent risk of eviction.

Nut graf: The judge asked council to view housing court’s 2025 request in context of pandemic changes, a city “residence first” law and new certificate requirements for rental properties. Council members probed budget details — including a projected rise in salaries and benefits, a larger professional‑services line and whether the court has capacity to enforce evolving code and lead‑safety requirements.

Most substantive points

Out‑of‑state LLCs and enforcement: Scott said an important change in practice has been insisting that the owner or member of an LLC appear in criminal housing dockets rather than permitting property managers alone to handle plea agreements. She told council the court now requires the owner of an LLC — not a property manager — to come before the court on criminal housing charges. The judge said that step was meant to increase accountability where bulk owners or investors own multiple properties.

Residence‑first, CHIRO and lead rules: Scott described how recent local rules require rental properties to have a Certificate of Proven Rental Occupancy (CHIRO). To obtain CHIRO, owners must meet tax, registration and lead‑safety requirements. She said a court of appeals decision limited the court’s ability to adjudicate lead‑safe certificates, returning that enforcement step to the city’s Building & Housing department; the CHIRO requirement nevertheless incorporates lead clearance as part of the registration process. Scott said the mayor’s executive order shifting from a “lead safe certificate” to a higher‑level lead risk assessment has required some owners and certifiers to re‑do work, and that the court has largely seen owners comply when certificates were court‑ordered.

Access and language services: Council members asked about a jump in the division’s professional services line from about $49,000 in prior years to $225,000 in the 2025 budget. Court staff and Judge Scott attributed most of that increase to interpretation services, transcription fees for appeals, pre‑employment screenings, physical exams, parking and property‑record searches. Scott said interpretation demand has grown as property owners and tenants from abroad — she cited owners from France, China and Belgium as examples raised by council members — participate in dockets.

Staffing, vacancies and positions: The court’s budget packet recorded vacancies in 2024 and a request to budget for full staffing in 2025. Scott and the finance director told the committee the court expects to budget roughly 53 full‑time staff in 2025 (the court reported operating with fewer employees during 2024). Scott said part‑time magistrates were converted to full‑time positions to improve case handling and retain staff; the court also plans new or reclassified roles including additional full‑time magistrates and housing‑specialist positions.

Case handling and mediation: Scott said housing court has strengthened pretrial mediation, opened kiosks in public libraries, and cross‑trained housing specialists as mediators and probation officers to reduce evictions. She said rent escrow and tenant remedies have increased; move‑outs and eviction dispositions have fallen in part because more cases resolve in mediation or rent escrow.

Hoarding and mental‑health approach: Scott described a specialized caseload addressing hoarding disorders that combines code enforcement, mental‑health screening and social‑service partnerships. She said many hoarding defendants also have untreated mental‑health conditions and that the court orders evaluations and coordinates cleanups and services rather than rely on punitive measures alone.

Questions committee raised: Council members asked for clearer revenue and fine tallies from the clerk’s office (the court does not collect or retain fines — the clerk records payments), a line‑by‑line explanation of the jump in professional services, and detailed counts of separations and separation payments. Scott and finance staff agreed to supply follow‑up data to the committee.

What the court did not decide: The committee did not adopt any legislative changes during the hearing. Council members and the judge discussed changes council could enact — including clarifying registration and lead‑safety enforcement — but no ordinances were introduced or voted at this meeting.

Ending: Judge Scott said she welcomes continued council engagement around code enforcement prosecutors, Building & Housing capacity and funding for outreach and language access, and asked the committee to consider how legislation and city resources can sustain neighborhood stability while ensuring due process in housing cases.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee - Budget Hearings, Feb. 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Cleveland Municipal Court’s housing division administrator Judge W. Monet Scott presented the division’s 2025 budget and described operational changes the court says have reduced evictions and raised compliance among absentee landlords.","taxTitle","Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio","taxId",2662,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6318860,"Office of Equal Opportunity adds two positions for community‑benefits work; plans program review after court decision",100,7200000,7300000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2364476-b6399dcad2def342281c3ee233e4bb8f&start=7200&end=7300","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2364476-b6399dcad2def342281c3ee233e4bb8f/thumbnail_7200000.jpg","/articles/6318860/Cleveland/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Office-of-Equal-Opportunity-adds-two-positions-for-communitybenefits-work-plans-program-review-after-court-decision","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6318860-3dd0a39ad6a0ee0ed9a68fbdfd7db8aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199920&Signature=AAQNz-ERlhMPQgKcPOEVMcoNgVbuiMY6g3PYXpzrFjdpvuudxyIVDGPebJTM1giwJBZWryeoGoOtQBe9p7E6WMOE2A1yq8KUKWr~GmHYTTYl0Cy-dAqQlWqddPJulBcxfQtNM~XNKSTTHr~s4ZR~WIh-jPkJdKe2tG0i6jcYRNPOjGvR0w2XxgB~4JaIau5BfKgFU3QHeHYcri4im9r9HBqqrfnUupAhEN3ov9KbLiY8i4CEf-f0hFM4gvn9rGzfOxv6gK1YKFZZqnSPE9-WhodPcm-8adFxG2DKUaOFHsncgGii9CGWh9nJIZUOP2DHSE8a7yzedMc8V4TV~EzO-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Cleveland Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) told the finance committee it added two full‑time positions that originated in the 2024 vacancy pool and budgeted professional services to redesign minority and small‑business participation programs after a recent court ruling.

Nut graf: OEO said it will pivot some staff capacity toward a mentor‑protégé program and business‑development work intended to prepare small minority‑owned firms for larger city contracts. The director told the committee those changes respond to a court opinion (referred to in session as the Harvard decision) that required program changes and a legal review of certification rules.

Key points

Staffing and community benefits: Finance staff confirmed two positions were added back to OEO specifically to support community benefits legislation and program administration. Committee members asked whether the new staff would be enough; the director said the office would pilot mentor‑protégé work and grow capacity as needed.

Professional services: OEO budgeted a new professional‑services line to support legal and program redesign work prompted by litigation and to prepare a public rollout of any revised MBE/FBE/CSB rules.

Metrics and next steps: Council members asked for follow‑ups that document penalties and contractor participation trends; OEO officials said they will supply additional details and noted ongoing outreach to prepare businesses for the open market.

Ending: OEO said it would begin a phased rollout of mentor‑protégé and business‑readiness work and return to council with metrics and program materials as the legal review and program design progress.","The city’s Office of Equal Opportunity told the committee it restored two positions from a vacancy pool and budgeted professional services to rework minority‑participation programs following a court decision. The director said the office will prioritize mentor‑protégé work and small business readiness.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6318865,"City economic development department seeks staff growth as council weighs $3M transfers for grants and storefront repairs",685,10975000,11660000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2364476-b6399dcad2def342281c3ee233e4bb8f&start=10975&end=11660","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2364476-b6399dcad2def342281c3ee233e4bb8f/thumbnail_10975000.jpg","/articles/6318865/Cleveland/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/City-economic-development-department-seeks-staff-growth-as-council-weighs-3M-transfers-for-grants-and-storefront-repairs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6318865-00836ca56007895b2bfc6213b756f792/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199920&Signature=fRHQp~8dSukBaT-t3CDkmnqu2xINCTSAposa2YcfLSatQYQnfv0RFU~s8dmsNWrQp16skQE8o3arOQEVt8ffLXhmXijbY2rF-KcTcOSopNp9xgZ4DhPzpLAXJcKSSlDyMhhwq7eXaBtpMQLahHkBhXSLj80Z96HtZ4NWpDGYxs1BtvQ~1z9cUtH4-3Rk7TV6E9b9y~QcYg4-prpXMiCMujesMnzvRKdW25M-J7pO6e5Dh0FDGrQ3Awi4BCZkGJCHuDFCA6L0pLnpmadhnSgaB3A8OEkckqVT2szWVdKs8dvKjsKiezjpkjyyeTQV4~w6XAWgiX~a1ig~u4stl~pgeA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cleveland Department of Economic Development told the City Council Finance Committee it is expanding staffing to support neighborhood investment, business retention and a newly transferred storefront renovation program.

Director (Economic Development) and budget staff said the 2025 request reflects additional headcount: several neighborhood investment roles, a contracts and compliance manager and a marketing coordinator. The department said some positions formerly funded by external grants were reclassified to general‑fund budget lines as grant funding expired.

Nut graf: Council members asked for a breakdown of a roughly $3.0 million annual transfer the city provides for grants and loans that support neighborhood business work and question how the city will target limited dollars. The department said the storefront renovation program will include roughly $500,000 for building renovations and that staff are working to align neighborhood investment managers with city planners.

Details from the hearing

Staffing and structure: The 2025 operating request includes five additional full‑time positions. Three positions reflect the storefront renovation program transfer; other additions include a contracts‑and‑compliance manager and a promoted fiscal manager. The department said it ended 2024 with roughly 23 filled positions (some entries in the published book were miscoded to grant funds and will be corrected in future materials).

Grants and transfers: Committee members asked where the city’s recurring $3.0 million appropriation for grants and loans is recorded. Finance staff confirmed transfers to subfunds and committed to provide an itemized breakdown of the “transfer to other subfunds” line in the packet, which includes UDAG repayment, stadium capital repairs and other allocations. Economic Development said roughly $1.8 million of the $3.0 million historically goes to operational support for external organizations; the department described that amount as small relative to city needs.

Storefront renovation program: The department said it will allocate $500,000 toward the storefront renovation program to support building improvements on neighborhood commercial corridors; other funding streams (such as CDBG dollars and kiosk revenue) also support the program. Officials said the program will emphasize smaller‑scale neighborhood building rehab and storefront sign support alongside broader business‑retention efforts.

Business retention and expansion (BR&E): Economic Development described a plan to use a network of neighborhood investment managers to conduct proactive BR&E visits citywide. The department said it has recruited staff with BR&E experience and intends to receive data and transitional support from existing partners while it phases out some external contracts.

Follow‑ups requested: Council members asked for a copy of signed community benefits agreements, an itemization of the $7.0 million “transfer to other subfunds” line (which includes the $3.0 million) and a detailed list of grants and loans and their available balances. The department and finance staff agreed to provide those materials.

Ending: Council members and the department signaled support for increasing capacity to do neighborhood investments but said the city’s limited discretionary resources will require prioritization and metrics to ensure dollars produce measurable local benefits.","The Economic Development Department told the finance committee it has rebuilt staffing and will absorb a storefront renovation program; council members sought detail on a $3.0 million transfer and on how grant and loan pools are allocated across neighborhoods.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6318870,"Cleveland Hopkins posts strong passenger rebound; airport seeks 2025 funds for custodial staff, terminal planning",455,8216000,8671000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2364476-b6399dcad2def342281c3ee233e4bb8f&start=8216&end=8671","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2364476-b6399dcad2def342281c3ee233e4bb8f/thumbnail_8216000.jpg","/articles/6318870/Cleveland/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Cleveland-Hopkins-posts-strong-passenger-rebound-airport-seeks-2025-funds-for-custodial-staff-terminal-planning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6318870-2e4dde221a56cf245dd61c4074c24f1a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199920&Signature=kkCtruyVj3e9T9V1GiOpn2ppWWvDgZnZQcCpCZzTcrOMSUQNAQMkuq79mBEdgNo3D7dOrMbALQ18LJXfc5GBCFxQL2yW-wYleW4pPvoN8OHdKHXefnZso~fBHFaTWfSC3uYlsKc-sMzqJ2iUIn-xa2fUiWBJB7YcRuNNtnFgJ-Ncz59a3BDQK3nPZTAlu0chMuiREr9psvYNV8Ek0ZpNjp7uW93lsXLQ~YdAYYmigAz3lvxxply1N-uoi1I2mI5lnZ5klLYR5LXgXJ9~VgvgaqLvmwK9JMRBv8siHilwBkLaJF4DyUo3wz5yPXuUHpF3BWsP--DjVcZB8fQ7k8Nq9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cleveland Hopkins International Airport officials told the council’s finance committee that 2024 passenger activity exceeded 2019 levels and topped about 10.2 million passengers, the highest annual traffic in more than a decade. Port Control said the increase has created near‑term operating needs and prompted budget requests for additional full‑time staff, including a large increase in custodial positions.

Director of Port Control (presenting) emphasized the airport is an enterprise fund that does not receive local general‑fund support. “Our operating expenses are supported by revenue generated by user fees, leases… and through rates and charges paid for by our airlines,” the director said during the hearing. The department also receives federal grants primarily for airfield capital projects.

Nut graf: With passenger volumes above 2019 levels and a short‑term need for more staff to maintain operations and customer experience, Port Control sought budget authority for new positions and noted a near‑term capital program to add two TSA screening lanes and related restroom upgrades. The department also said it will present a terminal modernization plan publicly in the spring.

Key budget and operational points

Passenger recovery and forecast: Port Control told the committee that Hopkins handled about 10.2 million passengers in 2024 and forecast roughly 10.4 million in 2025. Officials said 2024 activity surpassed 2019 levels and was the busiest year since 2008 for the airport.

Budget structure and funding: The airport reiterated that it does not draw tax dollars from the city’s general fund; airport operations are primarily supported by non‑airline revenues (parking, concessions, ground transportation) and airline rates. Officials said the airport does contribute certain payments into centralized city accounts (for example, some taxes and interdepartmental charges) but that core operations are funded from airport revenues and grants.

Staffing and custodial additions: The 2025 budget request included roughly 60 additional full‑time positions budget‑to‑budget, with the largest single category an increase of 34 custodial positions to address passenger‑level and cleanliness demands. Port Control said many requested hires are for operational trades (carpenters, electricians, plumbers) and specialized roles such as window washers and custodial supervisors. The department said those additions reflect higher passenger volumes and a desire to convert short‑term contractor work to in‑house positions.

Capital and near‑term projects: Port Control plans to add two lanes to the central TSA screening checkpoint and build pre‑security restroom capacity in 2025, and officials said they will shortly provide a public briefing on the terminal modernization and development plan (TMDP). The department said much of its capital work is grant‑funded; officials noted federal Airport Improvement Program grants primarily support airfield projects.

Questions from council: Members asked about a large year‑to‑year swing in grant and miscellaneous revenues (officials said earlier ARPA and state grant draws contributed to prior year totals), the banks holding airport deposits and whether the airport’s funds are invested consistent with community reinvestment goals. Port Control officials said operational cash balances are managed with the city’s treasury and depository agreements and agreed to supply fuller documentation and account breakdowns requested by council.

Ending: Port Control asked councilmembers to await a spring briefing for full TMDP details. Committee members flagged a desire to prioritize airport jobs that offer family‑sustaining wages as some contractor roles are converted to full‑time positions.","Port Control officials told the council the airport returned to pre‑2019 passenger levels in 2024, prompting requests for added custodial and operations staff and continued planning for a terminal modernization. City staff emphasized the airport receives no local general‑fund support but pays some centralized city charges.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Cleveland housing court judge outlines 2025 budget, describes tactics to hold out‑of‑state landlords accountable

Office of Equal Opportunity adds two positions for community‑benefits work; plans program review after court decision

City economic development department seeks staff growth as council weighs $3M transfers for grants and storefront repairs

Cleveland Hopkins posts strong passenger rebound; airport seeks 2025 funds for custodial staff, terminal planning