Council committee trims bond asks, debates Cleveland Moves priorities and park security funding in CIP review

The finance committee on Sept. 22 approved a set of amended bond ordinances that narrow the city’s requested borrowing to match projects the administration expects will have executed contracts this year and discussed processes for prioritizing capital projects going forward.

Director DeRosa and staff told the committee they reduced the initial capital‑improvement borrowing request because the administration and Municipal Capital Projects (MOCAP) aligned the borrowing with contracts they expect to execute this fiscal year. DeRosa said the list was “whittled down from $76,000,000 down to $36,044,000” for projects the city expects to have contracts executed in the current year, and that the total authorization across the five bond pieces (including issuance costs) would be $40,000,000. Several ordinances were amended to lower principal amounts (for example, a $4,000,000 authorization was reduced to $3,000,000 in the amendment language inserted on the record), to adjust permitted maximum interest language (amendments referenced increases from 6% to 6.5% in some sections) and to reflect changes in sinking‑fund trustee names.

Council members engaged at length about implementation priorities and program details. Several exchange topics included:

- Cleveland Moves and speed tables: Councilmembers requested clarity on where funds for traffic calming and speed tables appear in the CIP. Staff pointed to a Cleveland Moves line in the road and bridge section that was proposed for $1 million to fund a range of mobility improvements (temporary or permanent speed tables, quick builds and similar measures). Councilmembers urged prioritizing installations near schools, parks and playgrounds and asked for clearer decision rules and mapping for where city capital funds and ward discretionary dollars should be used.

- Park security cameras: The bond packet included $250,000 labeled “citywide park security camera” money; staff said that amount had originally been planned as a 50/50 match with public safety but that only the MOCAP portion remained in the current package. Council members said security cameras have city‑wide public‑safety value and urged exploring a larger programmatic approach rather than relying on individual ward allocations.

- Sidewalk programs and tree‑damage sidewalk recovery: Committee members discussed the city’s 50/50 sidewalk program and a separate tree‑damage sidewalk recovery program; staff said the recovery program is underway in two wards and will continue citywide next year.

- Police headquarters and project costs: Committee members sought clarification on the total cost of the new police headquarters. Staff confirmed the developer’s guaranteed maximum price on the construction contract is $90 million and said additional city costs (IT, art, consultant fees and other items outside the developer’s guaranteed price) remain and will be itemized for council.

- Vehicle acquisitions: Staff said a detailed vehicle list (light and heavy) will be provided with the legislation on Monday; staff described the department’s efforts to move from a reactive replacement model toward steady annual purchasing so vehicles do not enter chronic failure mode.

Councilmember Kevin Bishop (chair of Public Works) and staff were commended by the committee for detailed vetting. The committee approved the set of amended bond ordinances (several are identified in the record as 6‑73, 6‑75, 6‑76, 6‑77, 6‑78 with amendments) and instructed staff to continue working with council offices on CIP project lists and mappings; staff reminded council that ward CIP requests must be submitted to staff by Sept. 30 for consideration in the next cycle.