Cleveland Heights · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Cleveland Heights public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Environmental Protection
Governor DeWine stopped by Cleveland Heights to show off state-backed H2Ohio programs designed to cut down on road salt and protect our local streams. While it's great for nature, it means our city might have to change how we tackle icy winter roads.
Cain Park operating deficit
Cain Park went from a $900,000 transfer last year to roughly breaking even this year — nearly a million-dollar swing. A full revenue and expense review is promised during the budget process.
Edgehill and Scarborough bicycle boulevards grant application
The city will apply for a NOACA TLCI grant to design bike boulevards on Edgehill and Scarborough, prioritizing safe routes to schools. Residents on those streets will get a say in the design, and the city can walk away if opposition is overwhelming.
Altamont Avenue waterline replacement
Resolution 179-2026 would hire GPD Group for construction management on the Altamont Avenue waterline replacement, moving that infrastructure project forward.
Artist housing and creative-sector space
A companion study found artists are being priced out of the community that drew them here, with housing the biggest need after studio space. Recommendations include live-work units, low-cost practice and maker spaces, better outreach about existing city programs, and possibly dedicating space in developments like Park Synagogue and Taylor Tudor.
Tiered rental licensing program
The consultants recommended a three-tier rental licensing system that rewards responsive landlords with fewer inspections and lower fees, while problem properties get more oversight and higher fees. Council members expressed strong interest, noting the city currently has mostly enforcement sticks and few carrots.
Confirmation of department director reappointments
Because of a charter change, council must now confirm the Mayor's continuing appointments. Three directors — Public Works, Planning and Development, and Law — were confirmed unanimously.
Taylor Road Corridor Project with East Cleveland
An intergovernmental agreement lets Cleveland Heights and East Cleveland both use the same engineer to finish the Taylor Road project. Design choices and public input come next year.
School Levy
Council Member Posch raised whether higher density should account for school district capacity, noting state funding declines could force school consolidations. The consultants said Ohio doesn't require adequate-facilities analysis, and council suggested coordinating with the school board.
Plastic food ware policy
A resident-led initiative wants restaurants to hand out plastic forks, straws and condiments only when customers ask. A pilot with nine restaurants went well and the sustainability committee unanimously backs an ordinance, but council members raised enforcement questions and want the law department to weigh in first.
Joint legal matters with Shaker Heights
Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights councils met jointly with an attorney to discuss claims or disputes that are in court now or could end up in court. The subject matter was not made public.
Heights Regional Greenway Phase 1
Council was asked to consent to ODOT for the Heights Regional Greenway Phase 1 Project and authorize related agreements.
Forestry service complaint — tree stump and sidewalk
A 53-year resident said the city removed her tree a year ago but never removed the stump, damaged her Japanese maple, and hasn't restored her sidewalk despite repeated calls.
Cain Park and Denison Park improvements
Cain Park's ADA and seating upgrades are done, ~20 summer shows are booked (up from 8 last year), the Denison Park splash pad is in, and the pool opens June 1.
Suicide prevention awareness
Council proclaimed September as Suicide Prevention Month; a resident urged attention to men's mental health, noting men are nearly four times as likely to die by suicide.
Public Health Closure
Cleveland Heights had to shut down its outdoor pool and move programs inside because the air quality got too nasty. If you were planning to hit the pool or work out outside, definitely double-check your schedule before heading out.
Arts Commission strategic plan funding
Council seated eight new members on an Arts Commission that had gone dormant — earlier appointees never even met. Commissioner Judith Ryder-Frumker said the arts help connect the community during a precarious time.
Moving committee records off personal Gmail and Google Drive
Several committees keep agendas, minutes, and contact inboxes on personal Gmail accounts and private Google Drives. Council wants everything moved to city systems and posted publicly for open-meetings compliance.
Nuisance Declaration — 3378 Blanche Ave.
Council is finally moving on a problem property that has bothered neighbors for years. If the owner doesn't clean it up within 14 days of the nuisance order, the city can abate it and attach the cost as a tax lien.
Fire Station #2 Generator Replacement
The 1981 generator at Fire Station #2 can't power the whole station during outages and parts are no longer made. The replacement is sized for peak demand with room to grow, costing about $5,000 more than budgeted.
Administrative Code Review
Council wrapped up its line-by-line review of the city's legislative procedures chapter, flagging outdated language — gendered pronouns, 1950s-era copy requirements, and an expenditure-approval provision that may conflict with a newer charter amendment — for the law department to redraft.
July 4th fireworks and celebratory gunfire
Noble neighborhood residents asked police to patrol for people firing live ammunition into the air on July 4th, not just fireworks. The mayor agreed a councilmember could raise it with the police chief, and a PSA will cover both fireworks and gunfire.
Out-of-county landlord accountability
A new ordinance would force landlords who live outside Cuyahoga County to name a local agent who can receive violation notices and be served court papers — closing an enforcement gap for problem rental properties.
Friends of Cain Park programming agreement
After being tabled earlier, council passed a formal agreement with Friends of Cain Park supporting the volunteer group's programming for 2026 and 2027, replacing the old handshake arrangement.
Liability Insurance for Coaches & Instructors
The city now requires liability insurance for every independent-contractor instructor — even unpaid volunteers. Small classes and senior center programs are losing teachers who can't afford the cost.
Crossroads rental registration settlement
A court found the city's $100 rental registration fee unlawful, and the city is paying out about $554,000 to settle rather than litigate further. Legislation to remove the fee while keeping landlord registration requirements comes to council June 15.
Smoke detectors and lockbox program
The fire department has installed about 20 residential lockboxes under a roughly $68,000 grant and is restarting its smoke detector giveaway, which collapsed under rising call volumes and COVID. Seniors will be reached through the Office on Aging and printed flyers, not just social media.
Taylor Road TLCI engineering design
Council approved OHM Advisors to design the Taylor Road corridor improvements under a federal TLCI grant. Members flagged that the underlying 2019 NOACA study is seven years old and pushed for fresh community engagement with the new Taylor Road Merchants Association.
EV fast chargers at City Hall and Community Center
The city has essentially zero public chargers, which is exactly why NOACA prioritized it — eight DC fast chargers will be installed at City Hall and the Community Center next year, mostly grant-funded.
Citywide food scrap composting expansion
The Rust Belt Riders program is expanding from two city-sponsored sites to four, serving about 830 households, and staying about $20,000 under the $100,000 budget. Residents get free drop-off composting; council wants usage data before next year's budget.
School Budget Cuts
A parent asked the city to help restore the school district's full-day preschool program, suggesting the city could host extended-day care at the Community Center or Cain Park while the district handles education.
Youth Advisory Council
The Youth Advisory Board created two years ago never got off the ground — zero applicants. Council President Tony Cuda reworked the legislation with high school youth advisor Steve Walker and Parks and Rec Director Andres Gonzalez, adding middle school and private school seats and an attendance requirement, with recruitment set to begin this spring.
Bulk Refuse Pickup
The city bought a second claw truck and keeps the four-items-per-month rule, which has largely ended the eviction-dumping problem. Residents still get confused about their color-coded bulk week, and special pickups cost $10 per item.
Recycling processing services agreement
Council joined a consortium of nine east-side communities contracting with Waste Management of Ohio for recycling processing, keeping the city's recycling program running.
Mac's Backs Bookstore lease at 1807 Coventry Road
The beloved Coventry Road bookstore is moving across the street next to the parking garage into the former city space, with council approving the lease.
Dead animal pickup service gap
Residents near a ravine say dead and nuisance animals are left uncollected, forcing them to pay private companies hundreds of dollars. Council acknowledged the issue and said animal control funding may be considered in next year's budget.