Council committee approves RFP and $900,000 ceiling for citywide management training

Cleveland’s Workforce, Education, Training and Youth Development Committee on May 14 approved Ordinance 29-2026 to authorize a request for proposals (RFP) for a comprehensive management training program for supervisory staff across city departments and set a $900,000 spending ceiling as an amendment.

The measure follows a 2024 consultant engagement that created a citywide performance management program and conducted a needs assessment. Committee members said the ordinance is intended to fund the next phase: a vendor to design and deliver multi-level management training aligned to new performance-evaluation competencies.

Janet, who led the needs-assessment presentation, told the committee the consultant completed interviews and a written survey of managers and identified six competencies that will appear on managers’ performance evaluations. "Management training is always a topdown initiative," she said, arguing the city must secure buy-in from senior leadership and align training to evaluation metrics. She added the initial rollout would include assessments (such as CliftonStrengths or DISC), cohort work, shadowing and at least 24 hours of training per manager in the initial phase.

The director summarized how the training ties to the performance management program and said the city would own the curriculum produced under the RFP. Council members repeatedly pressed for data to justify external contracting — asking for turnover, disciplinary appeals, engagement surveys and exit interviews — and for clarifications about scope and long-term maintenance. The presenters said the RFP will specify deliverables and the city will retain the materials for future cohorts.

Councilman Tate Shaw offered two amendments that passed: one requires notification to council when a vendor is selected either through a cooperative purchasing process or by the board of control, and the other inserts a spending ceiling of $900,000 into the ordinance. Shaw moved the amendments; Councilwoman Stephanie House Jones seconded. After discussion and a roll call, the ordinance passed as amended.

Council members emphasized that many city positions are unionized and asked that proposers demonstrate experience working with public-sector unions; committee members also requested the director provide a list of board-of-control members and vendor lists the city might use under cooperative purchasing rules.

The committee approved the ordinance as amended and asked staff to provide the additional information before the item moves to finance. The committee did not record individual vote tallies in the transcript; the clerk announced the ordinance had been approved.