Committee approves contract authority for city active-transportation safety work

The Municipal Services and Properties Committee on Nov. 24 approved Ordinance 14-04-2025, authorizing the director of public works to enter into public-improvement requirement contracts and hire consultants for the city Active Transportation program, which implements Vision 0 and Cleveland Moves bike and pedestrian safety work.

Commissioner Rob Mavic, who leads the division of traffic engineering, told the committee the ordinance is intended to let the department retrofit completed road projects with bike facilities and safety improvements and to contract for materials and labor when in-house crews need assistance. "This will allow us to enter into contracts to push forward on our active transportation, which is a part of the Vision 0," Commissioner Rob Mavic said.

Council members probed budget and oversight details. The chair asked whether the $1,000,000 figure in the executive summary was annual; Mavic confirmed the amount is per year. Councilman Richard Starr offered an amendment requiring the director of public works to provide written notice to the clerk whenever purchases are made through cooperative processes; Councilman Brian Casey seconded the amendment. Director Lear described the change as a notification requirement, not a requirement that council give prior permission for routine changes.

Supporters said the contracts are intended mostly for minor safety work such as restriping, adding delineator posts or turn slots rather than for major reconstruction. "This is more to assist our crews, our in-house crews, with things that are just beyond their ability to perform," Mavic said.

The committee approved the amendment by voice vote and then approved Ordinance 14-04-2025 as amended. Staff said project-specific public engagement and final funding breakdowns will follow design work and that the department will return with more detail when required.