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Committee approves emergency ordinance to authorize citywide speed tables, adds ARPA funding language and notice requirement
Summary
The committee approved an emergency ordinance authorizing public works to procure and install speed tables citywide, added language directing use of ARPA (and other) funds and a clerk notification requirement, and discussed eligibility criteria and ward distribution concerns.
The Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee on May 18 approved an emergency ordinance (1406-2025 as amended) authorizing the director of public works to enter into one or more public‑improvement contracts to install speed tables for traffic calming and pedestrian safety.
Public‑works staff, who introduced assistant director Patrick Dugan and speed‑table manager Droro Sarabian, told the committee the measure will permit the department to go to contract. “So this legislation will allow the division and department to enter into a contract for the purposes of installation of a speed table citywide,” the public‑works representative said. Staff estimated a per‑unit cost of about $5,000 when installed during resurfacing and $7,000–$8,000 if procured separately, and noted two purchase orders are in place to keep the program moving while competitive procurement is prepared.
Councilmembers amended the ordinance to (1) require the director of public works to provide written notice to the clerk of council whenever purchases are made under the section (including cooperative‑purchase details), and (2) specify sub‑fund appropriation language so the work can draw on ARPA dollars already allocated for the program. Councilwoman Santana moved the fund‑language amendment; it passed by voice vote.
Several councilmembers pressed staff for clearer communications and more equitable allocation by ward. “We are being bombarded with requests for speed tables because, unfortunately, Cleveland Police Department is not doing traffic enforcement in our neighborhoods,” a councilmember said, urging both clearer criteria and ward‑level budgeting. Public works described three quantitative eligibility criteria—roughly a 4,000 average daily traffic threshold, average speeds about 1 mph over the posted limit (25 mph on many residential streets), and an 85th‑percentile speed near 31 mph—and committed to meet individually with members to reconcile submitted requests.
The ordinance, as amended, was approved by the committee for signature and further processing. The department said contracting and bid timelines typically require two to three months from solicitation to a signed contract, after which installations would be scheduled.
