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Cleveland council postpones vote on 25‑year electric franchise, asks for comparisons
Summary
Council members delayed action on Ordinance 2026‑667, a proposed 25‑year non‑exclusive franchise for Indian Electric Cooperative that continues a 40% street‑lighting discount; the postponement passed 3‑1 and a separate election item was also postponed to April 9.
The Cleveland City Council on March 12 postponed consideration of Ordinance 2026‑667, a proposed 25‑year non‑exclusive franchise with Indian Electric Cooperative, Inc., and asked staff to gather comparative franchise agreements from similar cities. The postponement passed on a 3‑1 vote, with Councilmember Mike Carroll recording the lone dissent.
City Manager Mike Vaughan and City Attorney Nathan Floyd reviewed the franchise proposal, which would authorize construction and operation of electric lines, poles and related facilities in city rights‑of‑way and continues a 40% discount on street lighting that has been in place since 1998. Council members discussed the potential fiscal and utility‑bill implications for residents and Mayor Chris Gabriel said he wanted to see franchise language from comparable municipalities before making a decision.
A separate agenda item to call a June 16, 2026 election to submit the ordinance to voters was likewise postponed to the April 9 meeting by a unanimous vote. The council did not take final action on the franchise at the March session and directed staff to return with comparisons and any recommended changes at the next regular meeting.
Votes at the March 12 meeting on this ordinance: postponement motion carried 3 yes, 1 no (Carroll), one member absent at the time of the vote (Damon Lester arrived later).
