Cleveland Heights · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Cleveland Heights public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Confidential economic development project
Council discussed an unnamed economic development project behind closed doors, including possible investment of public funds. Any deal would shape what businesses and jobs come to Cleveland Heights.
Vacant lot sales and zoning update
Council finalized the sale of three vacant residential lots to owner-occupant builders (the Caledonia lot was pulled and returns to a developer RFP). Council Member Cohen also reassured neighbors that Hampshire Park stays in the zoning update — no changes take effect January 1 and public input comes in late winter.
Hampshire Road sewer project change order
Council added $671,000 to the Fabrizi contract for the Hampshire Road illicit connection controls project, citing design changes and two years of cost inflation. Work started on Mayfield Road and should wrap by spring.
Community event contributions: Heights Music Hop and Tiger 5k
Future Heights thanked Council for the $70,500 investment in the 2026 Heights Music Hop, which they leveraged five times over — 90 bands, 46 venues, three days, thousands of visitors. They floated expanding it to four one-day events next year.
Council Code of Conduct and Legislative Process
Resolution 202-2026, a code of conduct for council members, was up for its second reading. It sets behavior standards for the city's elected leaders.
Tree Advisory Board
Cleveland Heights is putting together a brand new tree advisory board to help take care of our city's parks and green spaces, and they're looking for applicants right now. If you care about keeping our neighborhoods leafy and green, this is your chance to get involved.
Legal claims and disputes involving the city
Council met privately with an attorney to discuss legal disputes involving the city — either already in court or expected to be. The specifics aren't public, but litigation can carry real costs for taxpayers depending on how things unfold.
Bulk trash pickup policy
A resident said the refuse task force recommended against changes to bulk pickup, but the color-calendar system makes it hard to dispose of furniture; she proposed an on-demand portal with roughly 25 allowances a year.
Council Committee Structure
Council is replacing three separate committees with a single committee-of-the-whole format on a trial basis through September. This changes when and how residents see committee work happen, and could make council more coordinated — or less specialized.
Chapter 111 rules revision
Council is rewriting the rules that govern how it operates: who can call special meetings, whether Zoom attendance counts for quorum, how a council president could be replaced, and whether council can act only through ordinances and resolutions. The MOU controversy of past years loomed over the debate.
Wastewater Facilities Loan
Council was to consider authorizing a Water Pollution Control Loan Fund agreement with Ohio EPA for planning, design, or construction of wastewater facilities, with a dedicated repayment source.
Tree Commission
Council took first reading of an ordinance creating a Tree Commission. A tree advocate testified the city's canopy has fallen from about 44% in 2011 to roughly 27%, mostly from individual homeowner removals.
Berkshire Road traffic calming
A resident who submitted a 37-household petition in 2022 asked that Berkshire Road be included among the four streets in the upcoming traffic calming study, citing 22 children under ten on the street.
Public Art Plan for Noble and South Taylor Roads
An RFP for a public arts plan for Noble and South Taylor Roads was issued with responses due March 9; Coventry and Cedar Lee are working on proposals from their earlier assessments.