[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",5974539,"mediaKeyId","5837957-80136c43a9cec15a4d7ce195acb14b79","parentId",5837957,"title","Committee reviews impaired-driving grant authorization and presses city on speeding, mutual aid and pursuit policies","audioSeconds",378,"startMs",2261000,"endMs",2639000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5837957-80136c43a9cec15a4d7ce195acb14b79&start=2261&end=2639","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5837957-80136c43a9cec15a4d7ce195acb14b79/thumbnail_2261000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5974539/Cleveland/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Committee-reviews-impaired-driving-grant-authorization-and-presses-city-on-speeding-mutual-aid-and-pursuit-policies","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5974539-4dea01074374630a00037ae0b9db2516/orig.mp4?Expires=1773593107&Signature=M2TKvgNsGNDwpL14SEH1xk-otCKEzHWB3e-9jlkibiIZ8xFlFB8BSeirdkz2fp9YendY0qAqXhKiUx4mE5Docm6tPGCgMu3pC4HmM5BLGrwxNbJGf17xp5wHOWhbz8EWY6tGm54ey3lpFkuDEf94nWN2u-bY6rtoMyhnPKuOAJo4DwPziDHllWz-uqK1~FY-NLw28ezre4pOk84uSi2Jugejk6B37J~MxxUvHXxUgbb1oOLw12IqZAajBgVPZLFypMHbOUCvOPFrseLd8VJzl24e4jy8MYD6rknDCd68k~ncQPFxIFTd6BDXWqkcGlEfO4-tb~Pe9~T5zqgmBbVXPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Cleveland, OH ","date","2025-09-25T00:00:00Z","article","The Cleveland City Council Safety Committee reviewed an ordinance authorizing the director of public safety to apply for state grants for impaired-driving enforcement and selective traffic enforcement programs and used the hearing to question the administration about neighborhood speeding, interagency enforcement partnerships, pursuit policies and drone use.

The ordinance (listed in committee as 90950-2025) authorizes the director to apply for and accept grant funds from the Ohio Department of Public Safety for fiscal year 2026 impaired-driving enforcement and selective traffic enforcement programs. The item had been approved by public-safety and finance directors and had no legal objection noted by the law department, according to committee paperwork.

Committee members repeatedly raised speeding and red-light running as the most frequent public-safety complaints from residents. The chair told the panel: “At virtually every meeting I attend… The number 1 issue that's being confronted, I'm being confronted with the public safety is speeding in our neighborhoods, speeding through our commercial districts, through school zones… I see it myself.” That council concern led members to press staff for specifics about enforcement strategy, detail schedules with the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OHP) and data on traffic enforcement activity.

Police staff described multiple enforcement approaches. They said the department maintains district traffic units, schedules special enforcement details in partnership with the Ohio State Highway Patrol and runs department-led details; the transcript recorded that the OHP participates in scheduled traffic enforcement details and that at least one OHP detail was scheduled for the week following the committee meeting. The chief noted the city conducts traffic enforcement details in response to hotspots identified by district commanders working with the traffic commissioner.

Council members requested specific data and policy documents. Councilman Casey asked for the number of vehicle/ticketing (VTT) citations issued by the division over the last 10 years and for current pursuit policies; members asked staff to provide the Cleveland Police pursuit policy and the sheriff’s pursuit policy and to note the last review dates and owners of those policies so council can compare protocols across jurisdictions. Committee members emphasized that outside agencies (state, county or federal) follow their own pursuit policies when they operate in the city.

Council members also raised automated enforcement and cameras. One member noted a charter prohibition against traffic cameras for automated enforcement and said state-level restrictions further limit local options.

The committee discussed use of drones for police and fire operations; staff said certified operators have used drones on incidents but full program implementation is ongoing and that a presentation on drone operations will be scheduled for the committee.

Committee members discussed a high-profile downtown enforcement incident and urged the administration to provide a written summary of actions taken and the legal/policy basis for those actions so council could compare enforcement in downtown areas with enforcement in neighborhoods.

No formal committee vote on the grant application was recorded in the transcript excerpt; committee discussion indicates staff will provide the requested enforcement data, pursuit policies, policy review dates, and a future presentation on drones. Council members also expressed opposition to bringing National Guard forces to Cleveland without a formal request from city leadership.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Safety Committee, Sept. 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council discussed an ordinance to apply for state impaired-driving enforcement grants and used the hearing to press the administration on speeding, Ohio State Highway Patrol partnerships, pursuit policy differences, drone use and requests for enforcement data.","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},5974543,"Committee holds 'under-speed' vehicle ordinance for rewrite after extensive amendments",405,1385000,1790000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5837957-80136c43a9cec15a4d7ce195acb14b79&start=1385&end=1790","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5837957-80136c43a9cec15a4d7ce195acb14b79/thumbnail_1385000.jpg","/articles/5974543/Cleveland/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Committee-holds-under-speed-vehicle-ordinance-for-rewrite-after-extensive-amendments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5974543-1413bc1dd86d525d330099cef205a02d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773593107&Signature=G3FvO8~wtZZ6A1lcYmDqnVzOcEJyBx2oZdSN2GwQO-GkrF2IG~uzeicudQ9jf1pXqI~2WzGqBCd6IetySureMiWpwqD~6GK~kskI3IGLN5c~sChj9BwHrr8LCY9r~5LS7-55Nbkn2qQmEHnd1~wp4khDHtgm6LzfJRM02ud1dDZaVOJsQec54AtSdSX0jDYPeUoPaYyQuVwVEwRsmgfho3NygNMluvHfZIa~wjoZOrMoKu8VZw7X1ywbIGkz864z2wzfZ3VwkZ9YXYB6VfhEuMLfG1vH14qYhsj1Idkn6w-WLoy9S7B0Dit~wTj1I0BdPyFmRR6uZfOp-DTIF~ut3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ordinance 808-2025, an emergency ordinance to add definitions and new sections relating to under-speed vehicles, was held by the Cleveland City Council Safety Committee after members said the substituted amendments made the bill hard to follow.

The ordinance was introduced July 9, 2025, and staff presented a set of amendments during committee. Director of City Planning Cali Merceman told the committee staff and law had coordinated and chose to move forward via amendments rather than reintroduce a single substitute. Merceman said, however, that local businesses are “eager to get operating under this ordinance if council should approve it.”

Several council members said the amendments substantially changed the original text and recommended that the administration file a clean substitute that incorporates the amendments into a single document. One councilmember said, “I would recommend that you hold it and make and put that come back with as as a legitimate field piece of legislation and not an amended piece,” and other councilmembers agreed.

Council members also noted the measure had passed to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and was ultimately approved by the director of public safety on Sept. 17, 2025, but they still preferred a substitute to improve readability and to ensure the council fully understands the operational details and suspension/appeal processes added in the amendments.

The chair said the ordinance would be held and the administration was asked to return with a substitute at the next meeting. The committee’s stated rationale was to avoid delaying a potentially beneficial ordinance while ensuring council has a coherent, consolidated bill to review.

No formal vote to adopt the ordinance as written was recorded in the committee transcript; the action recorded is a hold pending reintroduction as a substitute.","Council safety committee held Ordinance 808-2025, which would define and regulate under-speed vehicles, and asked the administration to refile a substitute with all amendments incorporated for clarity.",{"_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},5974547,"Cleveland committee approves consultant study for corporate sponsorships of city parks and facilities",881,487000,1368000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5837957-80136c43a9cec15a4d7ce195acb14b79&start=487&end=1368","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5837957-80136c43a9cec15a4d7ce195acb14b79/thumbnail_487000.jpg","/articles/5974547/Cleveland/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Cleveland-committee-approves-consultant-study-for-corporate-sponsorships-of-city-parks-and-facilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5974547-5d1d197283c7a68343ca784cd43540b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1773593107&Signature=UuAVGjmqyPiiLDj-L61M~5fznuj2-wWR7yicFoRufpQQ-UiJZiCl5tKDj1Cmb3mdH0EPBBFoF2zhEitb0lTQjaj28pOy6WwQR0MebhtNWcu0BgUHqrIkG0kwR2Vz27LVfw1Ag5DU8OyZI6LgIdd1rp5GeNxKghqJr9J6JPYIfhTnV~4SW2pnrenCVphk~uI9GrLhObLASGDjsE5kut4aKu~dUisptzX5RBJ3KrzGVOoBTnDTH6JpTrXx0oasGNxpY5a0LAHvVYXeGkddk~IBsRvynRpgGfS7V~Fj3ipYfimLLeao2D6JtfQucuaOR2p6knnTGuo7A-8GnrEcozCwFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cleveland City Council Safety Committee on Sept. 2025 approved an emergency ordinance directing the finance director to hire consultants to study corporate sponsorship opportunities for city parks and other facilities and to pursue sponsorships if the assessment finds viable properties.

The ordinance authorizes up to roughly $305,000 for consultant work. Parks and Recreation Director Alex ******* told the committee the work would proceed in two phases: a 90-day assessment estimated at $125,000 to evaluate facilities’ suitability for sponsorships, followed, only if the city wishes to proceed, by an 18-month sponsorship solicitation phase during which the vendor would solicit sponsors and receive a portion of resulting revenue while “the city would receive the majority of that compensation.”

The item was presented as part of recommendations tied to the Parks and Recreation master plan. Alex ******* said the plan identified parks operations and facilities as underfunded and described corporate sponsorships as “an opportunity for the city to get funding that would not come out of the general fund.”

Committee members pressed staff on naming rights and signage. When the chair asked whether existing named facilities would be renamed, Alex ******* said, “The goal of this project is not to change the name of any of those facilities.” The chief operating officer added that naming terms and sign size would be determined during negotiations and would be handled “similar to any naming rights that we have on any buildings.” The director said Playhouse Square-style sponsorships that retain existing names were a likely model.

The RFP process yielded one proposal from a local firm identified in the meeting as the Superlative Group; staff said 19 vendors showed interest and five downloaded the RFP. Staff described the contract as paid from contractual services (funding code 01452) in the current budget.

Law department language was added during committee to clarify oversight: any sale of corporate sponsorships or naming or renaming of city-owned properties must obtain legislative approval prior to the sale or renaming. The committee’s announcement at the end of the discussion was, “Again, ordinance 8 20 dash 25, as amended is approved. Please sign it up.”

Council members also requested that the administration develop a formal policy and process for reviewing current facility names and for future naming decisions. Councilwoman House Jones urged a formal evaluation of current building names and standards for future naming, and staff agreed to work with council on a naming process and criteria.

The approved amendment requires future sponsorship agreements that rename or sell naming rights for city property to return to council for legislative approval, while allowing the administration to proceed with the consultant study and the vendor phases as described.

The committee’s approval authorizes the administration to proceed with the consultant engagement and assessment; any subsequent naming or renaming agreements must come back to council under the amendment added to the ordinance.

Less-critical details: staff identified the initial assessment budget ($125,000) and told the committee the vendor’s second-phase compensation would be revenue-share based. The RFP response list and the funding code (01452) were provided during the committee Q&A.","The safety committee approved an emergency ordinance authorizing a consultant study and a potential sponsorship program for parks and city-owned assets; council amendment requires legislative approval for any sale or renaming of city property.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee reviews impaired-driving grant authorization and presses city on speeding, mutual aid and pursuit policies

Committee holds 'under-speed' vehicle ordinance for rewrite after extensive amendments

Cleveland committee approves consultant study for corporate sponsorships of city parks and facilities