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Cleveland council hears staffing update for events, considers youth internship pilot
Summary
Council members discussed a proposed full‑time events staff position, an organizational assessment by the city manager, and a separate proposal to create part‑time internships for high‑school students to help city departments.
The Cleveland City Council discussed staffing needs for the city's event and facility operations and a proposal to create short, part‑time internships for local high‑school students.
Councilwoman Rachel Hall asked staff about a recurring request for a full‑time events position, saying she had seen the need raised repeatedly in staff reports. Ashley Broussard, city facilities and parks operations, told the council the civic center and other facilities are busy and that the city recently filled an event coordinator post but that it is currently part time. "We did not budget in this fiscal year to make that a full time position," Broussard said. She added that making the role full time was under discussion for fiscal year 2026 and that with the current part‑time staffing the department is "making it work."
City Manager Lee Tipton told council he is conducting an organizational assessment of departments and expected to complete evaluations in roughly 30 to 60 days. Tipton said the assessment will be used to prioritize staffing needs and to inform next year's budget: "The goal is gonna be to assess all that and then try to prioritize where it's needed the most," he said.
Separately, Hall asked whether the city could create very part‑time internships for high‑school students to provide work experience while helping understaffed departments. Hall outlined a proposal for four interns working roughly 8 to 10 hours a week during after‑school hours at a modest wage; she described this as a job‑training pathway that could cost the city only a small amount and suggested the economic development budget might be an allowable funding source for a pilot. Tipton and Broussard said they would look into feasibility and budget implications and report back to council.
No formal action was taken. Council members said they welcome the organizational assessment results and requested staff return with options and cost estimates before adding permanent, full‑time positions.
The discussion occurred during agenda items covering a proposed budget amendment and related personnel questions and was followed by separate agenda items on facilities software and volunteer operations.
