Cleveland Heights staff say ordinance already allows 20-year lead-abatement exemption; committee discusses formalizing and staffing review process

Council members at the Cleveland Heights City Council Public Safety and Health Committee discussed clarifying a 20-year lead-abatement certificate option in the citys lead-safety rules after being contacted by a contractor who performs long-term abatements.

Vice Chair Gail Larson said the contractors question prompted a staff review and that a 20-year option would be a positive incentive if the work truly removed lead hazards: "if a property owner's gonna go to that extensive work to abate lead that will hold up for 20 years, that seems like a real positive thing." The committee heard from a staff member identified as Zach that the language effectively exists in the ordinance and that the city can treat an eligible abatement as a 20-year exemption if the applicant meets the federal requirements found in 40 CFR (Environmental Protection Agency rules).

Committee members discussed the difference between full abatement and interim controls, noting that abatement (removing lead paint or full encapsulation consistent with EPA definitions) is the measure that supports a 20-year lifespan, while interim controls require more frequent review. Staff said the ordinance currently references a three-year containment certificate in some sections and that the law department and the county board of health have been consulted to ensure terms align.

Zach and other staff described the administrative workload: verifying that reported work matches original paint inspections and risk assessments, checking report details and documentation, and comparing new reports against the initial inspection. Staff said those tasks are similar to existing reviews but could create a time sink as application volume grows. The committee was told the program can be managed in-house initially but that larger volumes or enforcement demands could create staffing needs.

Members asked about funding the program and outreach. Staff said some grant dollars have been set aside previously through ARPA and that communications to landlords and property owners are being prepared now; committee members encouraged staff to signal any funding or staffing needs to council. The committee also agreed the city would accept applications for certificates from property owners outside active target zones rather than hold them for later processing.

Next steps discussed included confirming the ordinance language with the law department (Assistant Law Director Chris Hetzel was named as a staff contact) and continuing outreach and checklist development to ensure applicants supply the documentation needed to qualify for the longer exemption period.

Ending: Committee members did not vote on any ordinance changes at the meeting. Staff said they would continue coordinating with legal and public-health partners and report back if additional staffing or budget requests are necessary.