[{"_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",6235591,"mediaKeyId","3397114-aea080196ba8e901828eac3f5a9abf8b","parentId",3397114,"title","Council Adopts Ordinance Requiring Publication of City Contracts Between $7,500 and $50,000","audioSeconds",146,"startMs",5850000,"endMs",5996000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3397114-aea080196ba8e901828eac3f5a9abf8b&start=5850&end=5996","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3397114-aea080196ba8e901828eac3f5a9abf8b/thumbnail_5850000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6235591/Cleveland-Heights/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Council-Adopts-Ordinance-Requiring-Publication-of-City-Contracts-Between-7500-and-50000","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235591-93336d37e322281aba97b03f8dd76517/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185179&Signature=TUWjJ6vluH8nS36gB~LqnqoJ97F4lB8--jx51BeojDKn9YbifV~x-y0neWCDqYJ2TT4TYKb7r7uN4PqOV2FcB0qtor19Kel4P2pu-dhEcnr0kuaeezt-Pi8HMD9HsrhaaVjpTD15dfXdPLnc~wrzGbnoTCpP874ElmCXABDy0Um6U0aVcosztKRLM7ErTsksjgnI12qxJ-KNTvvpI6IVm1HocRnG7ZySdAdd50eoGL-~hkLbkYLWsnZXI~isHZNMX1ifXIuBjrAdWiJ8PP0F6YjWviqelAt908Tc37CmOVxkHPCO3s3Xp0bG-453STjEvA5Qf410rjbcr0wWme~CBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Cleveland Heights, OH","date","2025-05-20T03:13:26Z","article","Cleveland Heights City Council on May 19 adopted an amended ordinance (084-2025) that requires the publication of city contracts between $7,500 and $50,000, a change council members and authors said will increase transparency and prevent contracts being structured to avoid routine council review.

The ordinance establishes a posting requirement so residents and council can see contracts in the specified dollar range. Vice President Russell, who sponsored the measure, said council's review threshold had allowed some contracts to be passed \"just below the threshold to skirt our knowledge,\" and that the new ordinance would make smaller contracts visible to the public and council.

\"This legislation is critically important because it will provide transparency to not just us, but all residents of this city of contracts between $7,500 and $50,000 so that there won't be any more getting snuck through,\" Russell told council during the discussion. Council members adopted a committee-substituted amendment to the ordinance, then voted to pass the amended version.

Council discussion highlighted recent instances in which members learned of contracts after execution and expressed a desire for clearer, routine notification. The ordinance passed after an amendment was substituted into the packet and approved by voice vote; councilmembers thanked the law department and staff for producing the amended language.

The ordinance was presented as a second-reading, amended and adopted measure; councilmembers said staff will publish contract summaries moving forward and that the ordinance should improve public access to procurement information. No changes to existing procurement thresholds were recorded; the ordinance focuses on publication and transparency rather than altering the council's approval thresholds.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cleveland Heights City Council Meeting May 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Cleveland Heights council amended and adopted an ordinance on May 19 that increases transparency by requiring publication of city contracts in the $7,500–$50,000 range after members said some contracts were passed just below council-review thresholds.","taxTitle","Cleveland Heights, Cuyahoga County, Ohio","taxId",54271,"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},6235596,"Council Approves Juneteenth Contract, Members Voice Concern Over Cost and Event Staffing",260,3824000,4084000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3397114-aea080196ba8e901828eac3f5a9abf8b&start=3824&end=4084","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3397114-aea080196ba8e901828eac3f5a9abf8b/thumbnail_3824000.jpg","/articles/6235596/Cleveland-Heights/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Council-Approves-Juneteenth-Contract-Members-Voice-Concern-Over-Cost-and-Event-Staffing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235596-c790d1654529ab9b6818f851234b7690/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185179&Signature=lgRUNXaF1YNEQXtwdowx5V~Ost7V2fQpVDcS83uxfEC5jTyfwa0t8L9nU5jhVYazOt6EjzBUAjHdKVuQXuIn3~2xD1hlppKHHFLEhH0xcjhcngiRbfHP~axocOvBGVE91Qb7eF985zGTum5WhXXBEjOKQ7dBWE5vd52rdnqUABYWA5Z0HcAOXL9feA4eO9TfToS~q8SwAxEezcO4lhvG9fNOTNSodl0f5jGDSMTwEAe8qAMcIc~6NEx2sx427-~QhR~YKhKBhVEqeFqPeDwZU4D0MkWxya~5~xUBHVyxs2~A2JF6PwYd1BXiAyriB3MqLk01Od2nzxjEZjmUEaDVUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cleveland Heights City Council on May 19 approved a contract authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with the Japco Cultural Arts Institute, Inc., to plan and produce the city's Juneteenth Arts and Culture Fest at Cain Park, but several council members said the item revealed weaknesses in event budgeting and staffing.

The contract covers programming, education, vendors and a concert; the event is scheduled for June 14 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a concert portion at 8 p.m., according to staff remarks during the meeting. Council debated the legislation in Committee of the Whole earlier and approved the agreement on the council floor after discussion.

Councilmember Larson said she would support the measure because the event is important and \"Joppa\" (Japco) had already begun work; she thanked staff for stepping in during transitions. Councilmember Cobb and others said they would vote reluctantly because the contract cost exceeds previous community-events budgets. \"I'm troubled by the amount of money that's being proposed to be spent, which is an excess of $60,000,\" said Councilmember McCobb during discussion, referencing the city's community events budget and expressing concern that current spending had already exceeded the budgeted $50,000 for the year.

Several council members said the high cost resulted in part from not having a posted events coordinator position in place. \"Why don't we have an events coordinator? Prior years, we've been able to do this in house,\" Councilmember Maddox said, urging the city to fill the position so future events can be run more cost-effectively.

Vice President Russell said she would vote against the agreement due to the spending and timing; other councilmembers voted to approve the contract. The council recorded a vote and the motion passed.

Staff said the Juneteenth event and related pride events are intended to support local businesses by driving visitors to Lee Road after concerts and by encouraging vendor participation. Councilmembers asked for cost information from prior years and additional budget transparency for future community events.

The contract was presented as an emergency measure on first reading and authorized the mayor to enter into the agreement with Japco Cultural Arts Institute, Inc. for services at Cain Park on June 14.","Cleveland Heights council approved a contract with Japco Cultural Arts Institute for the city's Juneteenth Arts and Culture Fest but several council members expressed concern the event's cost exceeded budgeted community-event funds and called for hiring an events coordinator to prevent future high vendor expenses.",{"_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},6235601,"Neighbors Ask Council to Pause Sale of Cedar Road Green Space, Offer Alternatives",1863,1137000,3000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3397114-aea080196ba8e901828eac3f5a9abf8b&start=1137&end=3000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3397114-aea080196ba8e901828eac3f5a9abf8b/thumbnail_1137000.jpg","/articles/6235601/Cleveland-Heights/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Neighbors-Ask-Council-to-Pause-Sale-of-Cedar-Road-Green-Space-Offer-Alternatives","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235601-d8e3660476c24a1173f85ebefa7841cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185179&Signature=TqfF9Kv3Qu1f9HuDo2v5uFksoRSJVxHEoWHX6P~mYnDxdgE19RdTJetKDgMiqf~Li6Wqztgedo7AqMbEhcanW7R-jseNCl2XEcLu~PJp8EZuqgq-b581R51U6afebzM7kvcJSIcD7hDPiy2zWk0Qig9~OVyDj~kAjoLlDg0C-NnnrGRRMzh7vPpJ~1qAAcEH0xz0YwNBO0TJhFBg6XoOT5zTf8cVtxjz3JpHxW7xrxE8ViIVmencZvl-O4tGsKtAlEocJmfBjQ9pls0QzhUn9wZ7x5BtuHo8NzmQLTIem~cDa~i6yKJMB4og3Y1eo7~L0qygNe4v1YCiFXIwSX~mEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents of the neighborhood near Cedar Road told Cleveland Heights City Council on May 19 they oppose a proposed sale of a public green sliver between Delaware Drive and South Overlook Drive and asked the council to pause the transaction to engage the community in alternatives.

Speakers described the site as longstanding public green space and a neighborhood amenity. \"The site has been public space for at least 77 years,\" said Helen Liggett, who said the parcel functions as a daily green space used by walkers and dog owners and provides a buffer from traffic. \"It is not empty vacant land,\" she said, urging council not to approve the sale.

Several residents asked council to reconsider the decision-making process and increase outreach. \"We need a process that is fair. We need a process that is transparent so that we understand where a purchase agreement comes from,\" said Diana Gurley, who asked council to pause the project and to work with neighbors on a development plan or a park proposal. Kellie Ovsek, a resident organizing petition signatures, asked council to \"vote down the sale of the property and work with this neighborhood to accomplish so much more.\"

Financial questions were raised by residents opposing the sale. Philip Wadsworth, a Delaware Drive resident, said the proposed sale price of $40,000 for two properties appeared low compared with recent local sales and argued that property tax and income-tax revenue over time could favor retaining the land as public space. He also urged council to consider preserving the \"integrity of the neighborhoods\" and suggested alternatives such as a sign or a small park.

Council members did not vote on the property sale during the meeting; public comment closed and the item remained under discussion. Councilmember Cobb urged that, before approving any resolutions related to extending Blanche Avenue or other public land actions, the council schedule public hearings to ensure adequate notice and input from residents.

Residents said they plan to continue petitioning and to propose alternative uses, including a dog park or a community park developed in partnership with a nonprofit. Several speakers referenced a desire for clearer charter updates and committee representation in City committees; an official response from the law department in the meeting said revised charter text would be prepared in June for possible placement on the November ballot.

No formal council action to sell the Cedar Road parcel was recorded during the May 19 meeting; council members heard public comments and asked for additional procedural clarity and engagement.","Residents opposed a proposed sale of public green space on Cedar Road, urging council to pause the transaction, work with the neighborhood on alternatives and preserve the site's role as community green space.",{"_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},6235606,"Cleveland Heights Council Unanimously Adopts Resolution Condemning Antisemitism After Public Allegations",4553,187000,4740000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3397114-aea080196ba8e901828eac3f5a9abf8b&start=187&end=4740","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3397114-aea080196ba8e901828eac3f5a9abf8b/thumbnail_187000.jpg","/articles/6235606/Cleveland-Heights/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Cleveland-Heights-Council-Unanimously-Adopts-Resolution-Condemning-Antisemitism-After-Public-Allegations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235606-40b102e9bfb90d8d9e2d75110a671ee3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185179&Signature=ndu7GHbc3QLnaXAOolA-ZCUBGMcs9~V1RtFtBUaCVQB82V1t8R8AoKxTupr5hEajVeBwwDjhv-l~bOpuTlKcv75zzVkgPKB64H-Y8KmTPp2oRbwjYC26ESLQXhZx5j0kwxZBv3xYbsLF05WRpy~XwIwuXRC~15cj-J0w6qtEn8zFN3v~8ZOv8uU08OFxHvpRBjD0YDTid0ssMKWDB01TnVOQEt1QAZ2KaatmZnR8rtdbO6Fcn8mzgHdeCtfwGMygtABkB7L1XZ-spXIVaIGf5ViJuOlgm-Z0jjWBxyzCIG7ptX-PDeJVdMHVYmLG0wxmg417MDqU3tdm2htvKo2Flw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cleveland Heights City Council on May 19 adopted Resolution 100-2025, condemning antisemitism and reaffirming the city's commitment to inclusion after public commenters described alleged antisemitic statements by the mayor's spouse and urged formal action.

The measure, introduced on first reading and moved for adoption the same night, affirms the city's rejection of hate and states that public officials and those closely associated with them are expected to \"conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the integrity, accountability, and ethical standards expected by the people they serve.\" The council voted to adopt the resolution in a roll call that recorded unanimous support from members present.

The resolution followed more than an hour of public comment, during which multiple residents described alleged remarks they said were made by the mayor's wife and pressed council for remedies. \"These are serious allegations that reflect a growing and dangerous trend of casual antisemitism being brushed aside or minimized,\" said Sarah Popivker, a Cleveland Heights resident during public comment. \"Adopting [the IHRA] definition of antisemitism would send a strong message that this city takes antisemitism seriously.\"

Other residents called for apologies and accountability. \"Words alone are not enough. Our community is watching closely and expects accountability, transparency and a clear stand against hate,\" said Jacob Berger, identifying himself as an Orthodox Jew and a resident. Several commenters urged specific policy steps, including adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism; the resolution itself does not adopt that definition but reaffirms municipal commitment to combat antisemitism.

Council members characterized the reported comments and related behavior as unacceptable. \"I am going to apologize on behalf of the city to Eric, Jessica, Marty, Jason, Michael, and Jim for the hurtful, false, defamatory, and antisemitic remarks in those text messages,\" said Councilmember Cobb, referencing individuals named in recent media reports. Councilmember Larson said she was \"disgusted\" by the alleged verbal treatment and called on Mayor Saren to apologize to affected employees and residents. Council President Kuda and others said the city must restore trust and ensure a safe workplace.

The resolution's text cites recent media reports and affirms the council's position that silence or inaction can be interpreted as complicity. It directs community leaders and public officials to speak out against antisemitism and to stand in solidarity with Jewish residents.

Council members and many speakers at the meeting also urged additional steps beyond the resolution: transparent investigations into workplace complaints, clearer rules on access to municipal offices, and implementation plans so policy pronouncements translate into personnel and procedural changes. Councilmember Cobb noted concerns that employees who complain must not face retaliation and urged protections for staff who raise workplace issues.

The resolution (100-2025) was introduced on first reading and placed on the agenda for immediate adoption as an emergency measure. The motion to adopt passed in a roll call vote with all members present recorded as voting in favor.

Council members said they expect follow-up actions, including possible policy changes and clarifications on building access and staff protections; specifics were not adopted as part of Resolution 100-2025. Mayor Saren was not present for the meeting's conclusion; commenters and council members asked for a direct statement and personal apologies from the mayor in coming days.","On May 19, Cleveland Heights City Council adopted Resolution 100-2025 condemning antisemitism after multiple public commenters accused the mayor's spouse of making antisemitic remarks at City Hall and residents demanded accountability and policy action.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council Adopts Ordinance Requiring Publication of City Contracts Between $7,500 and $50,000

Council Approves Juneteenth Contract, Members Voice Concern Over Cost and Event Staffing

Neighbors Ask Council to Pause Sale of Cedar Road Green Space, Offer Alternatives

Cleveland Heights Council Unanimously Adopts Resolution Condemning Antisemitism After Public Allegations