Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Information Technology Capital topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City IT capital request held for additional detail after council questions on cybersecurity and camera funding
Summary
Committee held a proposed $10 million IT capital ordinance to allow staff to provide an itemized project plan linking line items to the legislation; the request includes Microsoft licensing and cybersecurity work but committee members sought clearer attachments before approval.
CLEVELAND — A proposed $10 million information-technology capital ordinance (No. 557-2025) was held by the committee pending submission of a single, itemized project plan that ties detailed line items to the ordinance language. The ordinance would fund cloud, licensing and infrastructure work, professional services and cybersecurity measures.
City IT leaders said the request includes roughly $4.5 million in Microsoft licensing citywide and about $5 million for infrastructure, professional services and security. Stephanie Wardette, chief innovation technology officer, told the committee that the work "includes hardware, software, consulting services, and cybersecurity" and said keeping defenses current is essential: "As fast as we improve our technologies for protection, they improve the technologies for attacking."
Council members pressed for a single detailed attachment that maps the administration’s categories to the legislation. The council president had previously reviewed an itemized list; the administration supplied a different, higher-level version at the meeting. Committee members asked that the administration either align the itemized list with the ordinance text or submit a single combined file. The committee agreed to hold the ordinance until the council president reviews and the administration supplies the reconciled, itemized project plan.
The IT presentation also prompted questions about neighborhood video surveillance funding. Staff clarified the $900,000 line item in the detailed list is for camera refresh and lifecycle replacement (roughly 8-year lifecycle), not the neighborhood camera expansion proposals that council members had submitted; expansion would be funded through a separate process and separate requests that include a procurement and project list.
Public-safety preparations were discussed: Commissioner Larry Jones noted the capital investment would also refresh mobile data computers, modems and related hardware for EMS and Fire in preparation for a new records and CAD system. Council members emphasized urgency for cyber protections but agreed to the short hold to secure a reconciled, itemized plan.
The ordinance was held for further documentation and a reconvening of the item for the next available committee meeting after the council president’s review.
