Thread by @DocumenterK

Hi! I'm Keith and I will be live-tweeting today, Monday, October 4, 2021, Cleveland City Council's Special Meeting starting at 10:00 AM for @cledocumenters #CLEdocumenters & @NeighborUpCle.

Note: This special meeting's sole purpose is to discuss "allowable uses of the American Rescue Plan Act funding and to gain consensus on a process to establish Cleveland City Council's funding priorities in advance of future American Rescue Plan Act budgeting activities."

Join us at 10:00 AM via the livestream on @CleCityCouncil
Youtube page broadcasted by @TV20Cleveland,

youtube.com/user/Cleveland…

@TV20Cleveland also provides a stream via their webpage,

tv20cleveland.com/watch-now/

Public Notice of the Meeting

cityofcleveland.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&…

As indicated in the Public Notice, the following Councilmember supported this special meeting:

Ward 1 Councilmember Joseph Jones
W3 CM Kerry McCormack
W4 CM Marion Anita Gardner
W5 CM Delores L. Gray
W6 CM Blaine A Griffin
W8 CM Michael Polensek

Continued list of Councilmembers who supported this special meeting:

W9 CM Kevin Conwell
W10 CM Anthony T. Hairston
W11 CM Brian Mooney
W14 CM Jasmin Santana
W15 CM Jenny Spencer
W16 CM Charle Slife

Read more about the Special Meeting here,

cleveland.com/cityhall/2021/…

Today's Cleveland City Council's Special Meeting agenda

cityofcleveland.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&…

The meeting is live and can currently be accessed via @TV20Cleveland

tv20cleveland.com/watch-now/

Cleveland City Council has completed their call to order, roll call, a moment of reflection, and the pledge of allegiance.

Council President Kevin Kelley has motioned to make the City Council Meeting for a committee as a whole meeting.

"With that, we are going to have discussions about ARPA dollars, what we have done so far, and the path forward."

CP & W8 CM Kelley shares documents to refresh Council on where they have been and where they are going.

"We had to apply for and accept American Dollars, we passed ordinance 303.2021 to accept those funds."

CP & W8 CM Kelley,

"On 5/10/2021 we received some preliminary information from Treasury on allowable uses.

On 5/17/2921 we received interim final rules.

On 6/1/2021 we received the first tranche of dollars, ~250 million dollars received."

CP & W8 CM Kelley continues to review the history,

"On 6/17 compliance guidelines.

On 7/19 another FAQ provided. Online survey for citizens input. Due to digital divide could not solely rely on website.
Collected surveys from Rec Centers and drop boxes."

CP & W8 CM Kelley,

"Most recently, we had a conversation amongst Councilmembers on how to move things forwards. CM Polensek believed it was important to have Finance Directory from the City to be present."

CP & W8 CM Kelley,

"Now we are at a point that we are going to move forward on two points - broadband access & food security. An ordinance has been brought forward. It will go through committee process. Nothing above 50,000 can go through Council without going through process."

The youtube stream is available now,

Jim from the City is present and is providing an update about City spending.

"26.3 million for public safety - primary vehicles and some camera. When we did the plan we received council input and public input. The ones we saw repeated requests is kind of how we structured this.

Jim, "We have 15 million dollars in strategic demo.

191 thousand for professional services to help with compliance.

8.3 million in lending pulls for development home repairs and storefront, grant pulls, home repair grants, rental & food assistance, lead safe housing."

"The last area is strategic Investment. As well as minority & women assistance."

CP & W13 CM Kelley directs Jim to get his staff to provide documents that reflect all these funds as "we are going to be here for a while."

CP & W13 CM Kelley inquires about lead safety.

Jim, "There is a lead safe element included here.

W15 CM Jenny Spencer inquires about the funding for the lending pools.

Jim, "80.3 million is the total for those. The lists will provide a better breakdown."

Jim, "We are going to wait for the final guidance before we submit the requests to Council."

CP & W13 CM Kelley, "How do you envision this process working?"

Jim, "Through committee process."

W8 CM Michael Polensek has the floor.

"What is important for us to understand is - I'm looking at basic physics, cause and effect. The funds we are receiving obviously has the potential to free up other city dollars."

W8 CM Polensek, "In the course of our discussion what we need to understand is where we are freeing up city dollars. And where we have cash balances. What is our over all cash balance. Not only general fund but enterprise accounts as well."

W8 CM Polensek, "I'm looking at the prospects at the end of the year as having cash balances and that's very critical for this body who is going to be seated here next year going into the budget realm."

W8 CM Polensek, "I spoke to the Food Bank officials last week, they were unclear on how to access the funds we set aside. There's been no dialogue. They have construction and would like to access the funds now."

W8 CM Polensek, "I've tried to divide this into low hanging fruit and high. The broadband is going to be more difficult. What's the time frame on broadband? That's one thing but there are some things we can do now like demolition."

W8 CM Polensek, "We do it ever week to some degree. How do we plug the monies? Does Demo have the ability to ramp up?"

Jim, "Yes, they have the ability to ramp up."

W8 CM Polensek, "You also said strategic demolition?"

Jim, "Based on ARPA funds you have to use these in certain demographic or distressed neighborhoods, you have to look at that and assess if it is eligible."

W8 CM Polensek, "Are you at liberty to tell us where those are?"

Jim, "I will be able to."

W8 CM Polensek, "I'm tired of being told we don't have the funds to do it [demolition]. Let's mesh at this table. We also have a senior home repairs. Do they have the capacity to do the repairs?"

Jim, "If they don't, they have more contractors or can hire more."

CP & W13 CM Kelley, "Does the private force have enough capacity to do the demos?"

Jim, "I'm sure they are able to as there are several companies that demo for the City."

W8 CM Polensek, "I want to see the money hit the streets. To the people watching, Council does not hire, Council does not fire, and Council does not employ. That's set by the City administration."

W8 CM Polensek, "Those commitments have got to be delivered upon. No more pie in the sky crap. Our folks are disappointed. Let's finish out the mechanics of how we get these things done."

W8 CM Polensek, "I want to stress the things we can do now and the things that will take more time to do so we can work on parallel track."

W8 CM Polensek, "They want to see the city attacking quality of life issues. That's what I hear daily. I had over 12 calls from seniors that had leaking roofs. It's just not the elderly. It's working poor, it's working families."

W8 CM Polensek, "When you go door to door and see the conditions of some peoples hone. It really hits home, the tremendous need some have. They can't afford to fix their homes in this city. I want to see a meaningful program to address housing insecurity and housing problems."

CP & W13 CM Kelley steps out and turns the gavel over to W6 CM Blaine A Griffin.

W1 CM Joe Jones has the floor.

W1 CM Jones reviews the history of the interaction between the City and the Council concerning these funds and the lack of meaningful discussions about how to spend the 500 million dollars.

W1 CM Jones, "The purpose of this meeting is to have these details. Here we have the distinguished gentlemen [Jim] with handwritten notes. Nothing is prepared."

W1 CM Jones reviews the reason this special meeting was called and motions for a summit.

W3 CM Kerry McCormack seconds and request for discussion.

"I support that motion and to establish a road map for Council. Again, submitted how we can move forward.

W3 CM McCormack, "The point of this meeting is to build a process for its own plan to then reconcile with the Mayor's."

W15 CM Spencer chimes in, "We have a draft that was passed around. Our next meeting should be a deep dive on eligible uses."

W15 CM Spencer suggest bringing in a subject matter expert to review the process and funds.

W15 CM Spencer, "We have to craft our own plan...We are really close."

W8 CM Polensek, "What we did years ago was working sessions...members of council sat down and went point by point. If that's what you're talking about then I support it."

W1 CM Jones, "McCormack put it eloquently. ... To rush through this process is not in our interest. We need to make sure we are putting the City of Cleveland."

W6 CM Griffin, acting chair of the meeting now, seeks clarification from W1 CM Jones about his motion.

W7 CM Basheer S. Jones adds his input, expressing his concerns about the urgency of using these funds,

"Put your money where your mouth is. Let's not make this political. Let's put resources where people need them, where the abject poverty is."

W7 CM Jones, "As far as having 20 more meetings, a couple is fine but we need to get it to those in need."

W15 CM Spencer agrees with Jones about the urgency of these funds. "No more than 5 meetings. Reviewing this one page proposal would be a good time this meeting."

W6 CM Griffin again clarifies the purpose of the motion to have a series of meetings or a summit to develop a process and identify allocation of for ARPA funds.

W11 CM Brian Mooney agrees with everybody and express that he would like to move forward with some stuff now,

"There's some things that aren't controversial that we can get to now. Even if this motions passes, what's the effect of it?"

W1 CM Jones, "We have Mr. Gentile across from us, he doesn't have a plan agenda. We have Mrs. Dumas who doesn't have a plan. There is no clarity on the other side of the table on how those funds will be spent."

W1 CM Jones, "As we sit right here right now, it would be nice as some express to spend the money as we want but we can't even say what we have to spend it on. We are not thoroughly educated on it. "

W1 CM Jones, "At the end of the day, Mr. Chairman, when the money comes from the Federal government we must put our City on a firm financial seating for the future. We can have 4 succinct meetings in a row."

W1 CM Jones, "Let's call the roll on the motion."

W1 CM Jones motion for a series of meetings has been approved by Cleveland City Council.

W6 CM Griffin makes a recommendation on "how we can structurally accomplish what you are talking about. I'm trying to make this for every body."

W9 Kevin Conwell stands up and appears to have left.

W3 CM McCormack agrees with both Jones additional meetings and Griffin's attempt to provide a definite structure for those meetings.

W6 CM Griffin, "I would ask if our committees make a deep dive into those buckets and let the working group follow your schedule so that we can keep on track. I agree with [Basheer] Jones that I don't want to put out an arbitrary time period..."

W6 CM Griffin, "but I don't want to kick it to the next Council so I believe we should make decisions and determinations with a deadline."

Griffin reminds Council that they have to adhere to the sunshine laws.

W3 CM McCormack motions for a "Working group of City Council that is comprised of chairs of committees and anyone else that wishes that follows the plan that will inform members about allowable uses, create council's unique plan of priorities,"

W3 CM McCormack, "reconcile those with Mayor's administration and put forth a final proposal.

This work will be informed by Committees of Council...it would take the time needed to develop this plan."

W7 CM Jones seeks clarification for a timeline, "Once again, what's the timeline?"

W3 CM McCormack disagrees, "It isn't appropriate,"

W6 CM Griffin interjects and focuses on finishing the motion.

W3 Cm McCormack's motion was seconded by W14 CM Jasmin Santana.

W7 CM Jones, "I'm asking my colleagues to come up with a timeline to commit ourselves to get it to happen."

W17 CM Charles Slife recommends meetings over a 3 week period to allow time to acquire information and reflect,

"I'm comfortable with a series of meetings over 3 weeks. ... For example, I have a really fear that what the administration is proposing is block grant 2.0."

W3 CM McCormack amends his motion to "have the work completed by November 1st."

W7 CM Jones, "Can this be done in one day if the administration was present?"

W17 CM Slife, "I'd be skeptical but I guess over a couple days it could be done."

The conversation continues between the members trying to hash out exactly what the meetings will look like.

W6 CM Griffin, "I'm asking what data you need. I am asking that you give that to John/Jon James to share that with the administration."

W9 CM Kevin Conwell has returned.

W9 CM Conwell voices his complaints about the lack of action from the Executive Branch, whether it is cameras that aren't access by law enforcement officers, rehab funds that just sit in an account.

Interim Finance Director Jim Gentile responds, "There are guidelines, they're broad but there are Federal guidelines. ... There are reporting requirements and showing effectiveness. ... That's why we have some professional services help us. "

Director Gentile (same person I earlier referred to as Jim), "Last thing we want to do is spend the money then have the Feds say we have to return funds."

W9 CM Conwell criticizes the City for their lack of transparency throughout this process and requests information on compliance.

A discussion between Conwell & Blaine about

Note: Compliance is set by the Federal Department of Treasury.

home.treasury.gov

The Interim Final Rule for the American Care Act may be accessed here,

home.treasury.gov/system/files/1…

W6 CM Griffin concludes the meeting by seconding W1 CM Jones and W7 Jones messages concerning urgency while stressing the importance of working together.

Today's, Monday, October 4, 2021, Cleveland City Council's Special Meeting adjourned at or around 11:56 AM.

Remember to check out McKenzie Merriman's recorded notes of this meeting. They should be posted soon on the Cleveland Documenter's website, access past meetings here:
cleveland.documenters.org/meetings/?alt=…

To become involved and for more meeting coverage, check out documenters.org. Have questions? Think we got something wrong? Send any enquiries on the meeting or these tweets to @cledocumenters

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