[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6218895,"mediaKeyId","3624444-e723f9c25fafa76097adeded346b24bd","parentId",3624444,"title","City proposes Salesforce CRM to centralize economic development, planning and permits; council raises cost and training concerns","audioSeconds",730,"startMs",8378000,"endMs",9108000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624444-e723f9c25fafa76097adeded346b24bd&start=8378&end=9108","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624444-e723f9c25fafa76097adeded346b24bd/thumbnail_8378000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6218895/Cleveland/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/City-proposes-Salesforce-CRM-to-centralize-economic-development-planning-and-permits-council-raises-cost-and-training-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6218895-0cdb9c6c135b834047a424a1e8977bf8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175559&Signature=mBsPtqZ5fBsU8bCRMK-v3BH6Wd3F1tUbtYHNwWzkNGBulwj9ceGyXxI3XOU96sxPWme~SSyFX46ksdIJRIJ~mFi8-0tuTW8x9LboLXhcI420jzLCk3X2s1d-2Qx7m7f6-NLBnmk0wdz9DRWNGvTcZVe-EtAu-rBhDUELe7lDSjHo0tfPxviWmapcCv2Oc4-6jN32OtJuv8F28oD7mHfHXROPrHZZh4iEJc4HRvnmhxDcl6-4aloMOMmflKmi5BohI~Pi451lQFgp-rwYfvQ1n2Q4ME8evuxOF8zet9~zLJC38UkgiMrKxzToFr4qCkyoByrxE-SAGxpLjfzBgGQ-Jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Cleveland, OH ","date","2025-06-02T21:28:21Z","article","City technology and economic development officials told council they are seeking funding to implement Salesforce as a shared platform to manage development projects, land‑bank transactions, grants and business outreach.

Tom McNair, Director of Economic Development, said the city currently operates with disconnected systems and spreadsheets across departments and that Salesforce would provide a single place to track a project from initial business attraction through incentives, permits and ribbon cutting. He said the administration expects to implement development cluster functions in phases and to link Salesforce with the city’s Acela permitting work to provide a smoother customer experience.

Chief Epstein and senior technology staff described the work already completed: department process reengineering and a substantial amount of design and discovery that project staff said will reduce the usual implementation time and cost. The administration asked for about $1.5 million in licensing and consulting for 2025 to deploy the first phases and said it expects to request two city FTEs to maintain the system after deployment.

Council members asked detailed questions about costs, training, maintainability and alternatives. Councilman Horst raised the risk of long‑term “cost creep” with proprietary SaaS platforms and asked how the city will avoid an expensive vendor dependency. IT staff and department directors said they plan to retain city employees to operate and maintain the system and to build processes that will keep the configuration maintainable.

Several councilmembers urged stronger integration with constituent services. Councilwoman House Jones pressed the administration to include council offices in any constituent management component and sought an explicit plan for whether the 3‑1‑1 system would be used or extended to handle constituent casework. Director Kim Roy Wilson said IT had not yet been asked to implement a council CRM but committed to meet with counsel offices to assess whether the city’s 3‑1‑1/Verint platform or Salesforce would best meet council needs.

Data ownership and an exit strategy were raised by multiple members. IT staff said the city will keep ownership rights to its data and include contract clauses requiring export of data in standard formats if the city later ended a contract. Director Wilson added that the city intends to keep primary documents in SharePoint while linking them to records in Salesforce so that document repositories remain independent of the CRM.

What’s next: the committee approved the ordinance in committee to move forward for council consideration. Staff said they will return with final contract terms, a staffing plan that includes at least two city FTEs for maintenance, and integration testing for 3‑1‑1 and Acela. Officials emphasized that any expansion beyond the initial economic/community development phases would be considered separately and budgeted by department.

Discussion vs. decision: committee authorized the administration to proceed with procuring consultant and license services under the proposed budget but did not finalize any long‑term financing or contract beyond the committee authorization.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee of the Whole (Part 2), June 2, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City leaders asked council to fund a phased Salesforce implementation to centralize project, grant and business management across economic development and community development.","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},6218900,"Council hears design, funding details and concerns about North Coast Connector land bridge and Shoreway boulevard",589,1611000,2200000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624444-e723f9c25fafa76097adeded346b24bd&start=1611&end=2200","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624444-e723f9c25fafa76097adeded346b24bd/thumbnail_1611000.jpg","/articles/6218900/Cleveland/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Council-hears-design-funding-details-and-concerns-about-North-Coast-Connector-land-bridge-and-Shoreway-boulevard","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6218900-44cc0c5fa153a7f58585aba89dc0cb7e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175559&Signature=i8GKh76SJJetm2U3Z2NwNrXORu~~U-Wl-1H2luZomvhQsxMQfATmasaxj4wSFyAQ8UEwUWRPlOkzhtHXBKL9utRfK9Vy88Uv4pv8-Pd~56BvSBVjvmZvOA3waCWr38OkfxIu80tkCMuIiaj0mTlhaxqeWnhH5JOd0RHKscIMw1VOwYhg4xwGBwqfGgMFprCRfc4uL6xoPnWrqwPjcksMifnS1jCzEXp-EKtF1M-VFcWdCThEixjpPWV8xRmER-4tFdGTx2ZAOoMfNhz8MQb2T3Vzf-dGyI-7JYv~l7ZtTtOP4g6ngoFewcxh3bsVAQsOEBvH3niMJj9DbPXMdHB10A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City officials on Tuesday outlined plans for the North Coast Connector — a multimillion-dollar project that would convert sections of the Shoreway into a boulevard and build a pedestrian land bridge linking downtown to the lakefront. The administration said it has been awarded federal grants that total about $60 million (INFRA) and $70 million (Reconnecting Communities), is holding $20 million in state funding, and is pursuing additional financing including a TIFIA loan to cover the project’s estimated $284 million price tag.

The briefing, led by Assistant Director Chambers of Capital Projects, described the project’s Phase 1 scope as west of East Ninth Street and listed elements that include Shoreway reconfiguration, demolition of the Main Avenue Bridge approach where needed, retaining-wall work and the land bridge design and access improvements. Chambers said construction work is scheduled to start in 2027, with a target completion in 2029, and stressed that the FHWA will administer the federal awards and require completion of NEPA and other approvals before construction.

Why it matters: the plan would change how cars, pedestrians and cyclists move between the east and west sides of downtown and the lakefront. Councilmembers pressed for specifics about traffic routing, parking, and maintenance of dedicated bike lanes and asked how the project would be paid for if key elements such as the nearby stadium were removed.

Councilmembers pressed the administration for clarity on traffic patterns. Councilman Casey asked repeatedly whether motorists traveling east–west would need to exit the Shoreway and route through downtown to reconnect; Chambers confirmed that the proposed design would truncate the Main Avenue Bridge circulation such that some through traffic would be routed to West Third and other downtown streets. Chambers said detailed traffic analyses and bridge type studies are being completed and that the INFRA and Reconnecting Communities grants required such studies.

Several members emphasized maintenance and operational impacts. Councilman Palenski asked whether the city has the sweepers and specialized equipment needed to maintain newly configured bike lanes and boulevards; Public Works staff said the city currently has two multipurpose vehicles that can service narrow lanes and bridges but would evaluate whether additional equipment is required before committing to purchases. Members warned that adding bike lanes without a maintenance plan could create long‑term problems.

Financing and risk were major themes. Staff said $60 million in INFRA funds and $70 million from Reconnecting Communities have been awarded (staff described the INFRA award as being administered by FHWA and the Reconnecting Communities award likewise). The administration said it has $20 million in state design funds “in hand” to advance design work. Chambers and the mayor’s senior adviser Jessica Trevisano said any future TIFIA loan or tax increment financing would return to council for approval; Trevisano added that allocations of TIF or any bonds would come back for legislative approval.

Councilmembers urged caution. Councilman Slife and Councilman Light questioned whether removing the Main Avenue Bridge connection would worsen everyday traffic for Cleveland residents who rely on the route, and asked whether the plan had adequate alternatives for commuter movements. Councilman McCormick argued the project would reclaim public access to the lakefront and called it a long‑overdue step to reconnect people with waterfront land: \"For the first time in my lifetime...our residents deserve access to the lakefront,\" he said.

What’s next: staff said they are finalizing the alternative evaluation report required by ODOT and FHWA, completing traffic and railroad coordination studies, and preparing procurement documents for design‑build work. Council asked staff to return with more detailed traffic modeling, equipment and maintenance plans, and in particular to show how design decisions would affect regular commuting patterns as well as event days.

Discussion vs. decision: the meeting provided an update and produced a set of requests and amendments to clarify funding language on related legislation; no final construction contract was approved at the hearing. Council and staff agreed that further detailed analysis and community engagement will be needed before execution of long‑term financing.","City staff briefed council on the North Coast Connector project, including federal grants, a planned pedestrian land bridge and a conversion of the Shoreway to a boulevard; members pressed for details about traffic, financing and contingency plans if the nearby stadium is removed.",{"_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},6218880,"Council approves city application to Ohio EPA for Recycle Ohio grant and seeks to form Keep Cleveland Beautiful chapter",132,731000,863000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624444-e723f9c25fafa76097adeded346b24bd&start=731&end=863","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624444-e723f9c25fafa76097adeded346b24bd/thumbnail_731000.jpg","/articles/6218880/Cleveland/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Council-approves-city-application-to-Ohio-EPA-for-Recycle-Ohio-grant-and-seeks-to-form-Keep-Cleveland-Beautiful-chapter","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6218880-a821e87ee00ebae1f7ff1efe3b7f46c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175559&Signature=K021t54uMW~Hj-IOkDFZO6KOuDBH49iePzvBx~C-KTPjVjy6lHyXHvFy4wb~EG5RZNc9HaGU0-UJIz73VyFngRsVAAd3xJI8kKLUKBABbALvdpAItiq0z1zSowqmj7FBOVCpNF1sAAay4n3zMiesz4Eqq22Tv501BdNRg0kyKfnIiNG5vsJO6wnfNrBhK0YqyxnIWgn968HM8UR0ZnIiQm~OXPSuJ1rk8nbnUHabNRR6Yl8OH5JVNUW-zsy4srnjPpGNqlRLDcpUXU2fLDJR29KBPA2wbMg3DwTJEBFbmOc6qgJd1i9m9Tvm0nmRdPjOHNgXaVQ3id9Fes7coetUYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council approved legislation allowing the director of Public Works to apply for and accept a $61,006.50 grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency under the Recycle Ohio program and to enter contracts for materials, equipment and services to implement recycling and community outreach. The ordinance also authorizes a local agreement with Keep America Beautiful to establish a local Keep Cleveland Beautiful chapter.

Public Works staff described the grant as requiring a cash match of about $12,000 and said funds will be used to purchase recycling materials and to help establish the local chapter of the national Keep America Beautiful network. Administration said the program is intended to increase recycling awareness and operations in the city.

Council members asked practical questions about whether the city could accept certain materials for recycling, such as plastic film and bags. Public Works staff explained that single‑stream recycling used by the city's vendors makes recycling plastic film difficult at the materials‑recovery facilities. Staff recommended that residents continue to use retail drop‑off locations (for example grocery stores that accept plastic bags) for film plastics.

What’s next: the ordinance was approved in committee. Staff said they would provide contact information and program details to councilmembers to help residents find drop‑off locations and reduce confusion.","Council approved an emergency ordinance allowing the Public Works director to accept a roughly $61,006.50 Ohio EPA Recycle Ohio grant and to enter into an agreement with Keep America Beautiful to establish a Keep Cleveland Beautiful chapter.",{"_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},6218885,"Council reviews $10 million vehicle and equipment request as members press for maintenance plans for bike lanes and sweepers",323,1049000,1372000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624444-e723f9c25fafa76097adeded346b24bd&start=1049&end=1372","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624444-e723f9c25fafa76097adeded346b24bd/thumbnail_1049000.jpg","/articles/6218885/Cleveland/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Council-reviews-10-million-vehicle-and-equipment-request-as-members-press-for-maintenance-plans-for-bike-lanes-and-sweepers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6218885-96ba98516b1745425059c33761464569/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175559&Signature=GYgTzhKlkA5G1ajx3jLfr2E~POYaAsYwCkoSMSGnMYp6~W4re~t526wwzXpunVFw~dGXaLkIKgEdIeqh6s0mvAaCpzL9GNw9~elBdMGCPLlJ-MPyubExYZYjqGO986pnd~6P~NQAr3djnysgn66cO2AtPmHzJ4M3oQuGn-V6IyR3~0UVnFfXDASyWZLgyqCE-triXQpZwDwu3yH2soKxtBvsnQJh-C3RFPXHlBW--pVmfSLzH~aUt-n5oGCXXMUhQAyU-nZdWjjCxC7KMVcwK-9VgnjsXte1XTNO~PcUqCom9GcNkkmvNG-3-8FTB2ok~fi-AVl31Tb4oorH1V2wxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Department of Public Works presented a standing annual request for purchase, lease or lease‑to‑purchase of vehicles, apparatus and equipment to serve multiple divisions, saying the total program budget is roughly $10 million when reimbursable items are included.

Assistant director and department commissioners explained the total includes reimbursable purchases tied to utility partners — for example, sweepers that will be partially paid for by the Division of Water and Water Pollution Control — and that the $10 million figure combines enterprise fund items with reimbursables.

Council members asked specific questions about several categories of equipment. Councilman Palenski asked for a clear, public list of dumpster sizes and rental contact information related to an earlier ordinance changing dumpster fee corrections. Public Works responded it would provide size/price and contact details.

Street sweeping and bike‑lane maintenance drew sustained scrutiny. Councilman Polensek and Councilman Palenski asked how many sweepers the city has and whether new, narrow sweepers exist to properly service protected bike lanes that the city is installing. Public Works said the city has purchased roughly three street sweepers a year for several years and that three new sweepers purchased for the current year have been received and deployed. The department also said it has two multipurpose broom vehicles available — one assigned to the Division of Streets and another housed at the Public Auditorium — and staff will evaluate whether more machines are needed before expanding bike‑lane infrastructure.

Officials described the funding mix and procurement process. Staff said some items are purchased from enterprise and utility budgets and that certain purchases are reimbursable after the city completes procurement and invoicing. Councilmembers requested follow‑up about specific fund numbers that appear in ordinance language and asked finance and capital staff to verify whether references were to bond funds or to grant/enterprise funds.

What’s next: council approved the ordinance in committee and asked Public Works and Finance staff to verify and correct fund numbering and to return with amended language where necessary. Members asked staff to provide a clear inventory of sweepers and specialty equipment and to show how maintenance would be funded if the city expands bike lanes.

Discussion vs. decision: committee approved moving the purchase authorization forward for council consideration while requesting additional detail about funds, equipment counts and maintenance plans.","Public Works asked council to approve a multi‑department purchase package for vehicles and equipment totaling about $10 million; councilmembers sought detail on which divisions benefit, reimbursable sweeper purchases and whether the city has the machines needed to maintain proposed bike lanes.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6218890,"City to sell and loan funds to developer to revive Warner & Swayze building as affordable housing",271,9915000,10186000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624444-e723f9c25fafa76097adeded346b24bd&start=9915&end=10186","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624444-e723f9c25fafa76097adeded346b24bd/thumbnail_9915000.jpg","/articles/6218890/Cleveland/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/City-to-sell-and-loan-funds-to-developer-to-revive-Warner-Swayze-building-as-affordable-housing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6218890-285c96080a8c7504942a49a74c99ecdd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175559&Signature=fda5tkRxDm7MxhaiIO0rrHWNN2aQpJNLY0LRS~N7k2vG2p11BrzjfrivaV2t5~EiYH8d24ZR60pwGiR4hGivdK2kxSPTT2c3QGH~FaiOhlvgOTrKeaGipnnBHNFVnCzDaECbzq~BTuTbGk1qXdBFeaVZlX1w817hMF4I1~9aw1m6rt4MMCeE69fAtGDEBIGLNaDRMgH97t31J2-YCFXoTMwgf7s0C24V23BLgP~GMKaw12PPi1gse5FSL2R22XP0XtYmPjlcAhDj~M9cJieQMj1o3RfODbuZnqRkWnxniYwUhGZ9w7zovsC0anSGBvzn7TO2RvK5RKaTjJAWnvCEXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City officials presented ordinances that would transfer the city‑owned Warner & Swayze building at Carnegie Avenue and East 50th Street to Penrose Holdings LLC (or its designee), provide a loan of up to $3 million and reallocate previously committed Rainbow Terrace proceeds to support the project and related neighborhood beautification.

Tony Bango, bureau chief for housing development in the Department of Community Development, said the century‑old Warner & Swayze building has been vacant for decades, is a public‑safety concern, and requires a complex capital stack to complete redevelopment. Penrose Holdings told council it plans a mixed senior and family affordable housing project with 12 apartment units for seniors and additional family units in the same structure, and said the development team has secured a large number of funding sources and is seeking remaining awards to close.

Why it matters: the sale and loan would convert a long‑vacant downtown‑edge building into affordable housing and could unlock $2.9 million in county funds that require an owner mortgage. Community development said the building has one of the most complicated capital stacks the department has handled and that the city’s loan will help bridge remaining financing gaps.

Financial mechanics and approvals: economic development staff said the city will sell the property to Penrose for a stated price (approximately $2,082,286) and then provide a loan for redevelopment; the legislation also amends a prior council action that had provided $1 million to the project, moving some of those funds to neighborhood beautification in other wards. Councilman Starr and other local members spoke in favor. CD said the transaction must still satisfy board of control and other approvals and that some grant sources are still under negotiation.

Project scale and partners: Penrose described the proposed redevelopment as 12 senior units plus family housing and said Midtown Incorporated CDC will be a co‑owner and partner on the project. CD staff and Penrose representatives said they were pursuing a closing in the coming months and are coordinating an array of grants, loans and tax credit and local resources.

Discussion vs. decision: committee voted to advance the ordinances for consideration; no final closing paperwork was recorded in committee. Council asked staff to preserve transparency about all funding sources and to return with final contract documents and any deed or mortgage terms required by county or state funders.

Direct quotes: Penrose’s lead on the project said the work is “a labor of love” and community development staff called the transaction one of the most complicated capital stacks the department has handled in recent years.

What’s next: staff will continue to assemble the financing, confirm board of control approvals and return to council with the finalized sale, loan documents and any required interagency agreements for final action.","Council was briefed on legislation to sell the long‑vacant Warner & Swayze building to Penrose Holdings, enable a loan and reallocate legacy Rainbow Terrace proceeds to support redevelopment and neighborhood beautification.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City proposes Salesforce CRM to centralize economic development, planning and permits; council raises cost and training concerns

Council hears design, funding details and concerns about North Coast Connector land bridge and Shoreway boulevard

Council approves city application to Ohio EPA for Recycle Ohio grant and seeks to form Keep Cleveland Beautiful chapter

Council reviews $10 million vehicle and equipment request as members press for maintenance plans for bike lanes and sweepers

City to sell and loan funds to developer to revive Warner & Swayze building as affordable housing