Committee to review key-card security rules after video showing mayor in law department

Cleveland Heights council members agreed Wednesday to review the city’s key-card and property-management rules after a news video showed the mayor entering the law department, prompting questions about who may access secured areas of City Hall.

Councilman Cobb raised the issue after the video; he said the city’s current practice limits council’s physical access and that “we don't have key cards to go into any, parts of the building.”

The council discussed two separate sets of rules: the key-card/security ordinance, which distinguishes between restricted areas, secured areas and general-access areas and includes escort rules for restricted spaces, and a separate ordinance (or amendment) governing management and assignment of city property and usage rights. Assistant Law Director Heltzel told the council that some secure areas — including police and court systems — use separate key-fob systems and that “the key fob system for police, for the courts, for the law department are all separate systems and separate from the city's general key card access.”

Mayor (unnamed) said the city’s broader key-card/security system was implemented after he took office and defended the distinction between general-access badges and the separate systems for sensitive spaces. “The access that she had was a wholly separate system from any of the sensitive areas that you were concerned about,” the mayor said, responding to concerns raised about the mayor’s spouse using a key card.

Council members debated whether to address property-management authority — specifically, an ordinance the mayor currently relies on that gives control over city property — or to limit access through the security ordinance. The assistant law director advised treating property-management questions separately from security rules because they involve different subject matter and processes such as leasing or licensing city space.

On action, Councilman Cobb was authorized by his colleagues to review the existing ordinance(s) and report back; several members said they would support that review and suggested putting the key-card/security legislation on the next Monday agenda. Vice President (Council) and others asked that the security language be expanded to explicitly reference key fobs and physical keys in addition to badges.

Discussion (not a formal policy change) included seeking a definitive list or database of who holds access to particular doors; staff said a roster of restricted-area access had been included in drafting. No ordinance amendments were adopted at the meeting. The council indicated it would consider separate committee discussion or a future ordinance to address property-assignment authority if members decide to proceed.

Ending: Council members agreed to return this item for further review and to place the key-card/security ordinance on an upcoming agenda for more formal consideration.