2026-09-23 - Safety Committee

00:00back to the fifth to

00:02>> okay did you get any feedback or any

00:04thoughts why

00:06>> there was no referrals

00:10>> through the chair to the committee no

00:13>> well that's something I would hope the

00:14safety director's in the back of the

00:15room I hope he's listening to this and

00:18then I hope he can me he um um relays

00:21this to the chief as well if you have a

00:23program that's attempting to help young

00:27people before they do wind up behind

00:30bars

00:32unfortunately that I would like to think

00:34that we would promote this program and

00:37try to make everybody aware of it and

00:39make certainly the police officer that

00:40are working our streets um where we can

00:43hopefully get a young person on a

00:46different path and get a family member

00:50engaged in this process so they don't

00:52wind up with a criminal record. Um I

00:55think that's very important uh today in

00:57today's world. So I'm going to stop

00:59there. Are the end of the questions

01:01because I'm going to open up for my

01:02colleagues. I'm going to open up for

01:03question. Any other you have any

01:05>> to the chair and the committee. I also

01:06wanted to echo in addition to your

01:08comments um that the the a key

01:11significant part of this pilot that we

01:13need to emphasize is we're trying to

01:15prevent young people from getting that

01:17record that prevents them from getting

01:19into a system that makes it hard for

01:22them to get jobs.

01:23>> Yes. Um, a lot of these young people

01:25don't understand that once you go before

01:28the court system, it is very hard when

01:31running background checks for certain

01:33opportunities that these youth um

01:36violations that end up in the system

01:38carry on even once they get into an

01:40adult and can prevent them from some key

01:41opportunities of employment.

01:43>> Right. Okay. I'm going to open up for

01:45questions first the vice chair and then

01:47I have Nikki Hudson after that. Okay.

01:50Councilwoman Hudson.

01:52>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um just to follow

01:54up on um the the chair's line of

01:57questioning. Um

01:59so uh when an officer um detains a

02:04youth, is it through the chair, is it in

02:07his discret in their discretion already

02:09to um drive the youth home without um

02:13you know filing charges?

02:17>> Whoever can answer that. I'm I don't

02:19know if they can. I'll ask the director

02:21to come to the table. who worked the the

02:24fifth the sixth district then the fifth

02:26district and then uh was chief

02:30um jack of all trades.

02:34>> Okay.

02:35>> Good afternoon chair and committee

02:36members. Uh the question uh Councilwoman

02:39Hudson relative to an officer

02:42encountering a juvenile let's say a call

02:43for service whatever the case might be

02:45just it's going to depend on the the the

02:48offense. um they have to contact

02:51juvenile facility uh to determine

02:54whether or not the the the juvenile will

02:56be accepted into the facility. If they

03:00are, they'll transport the juvenile

03:02there, complete their reports, um and

03:05then move on from there. But there is a

03:07process that that the officers uh follow

03:10based on their policies and the law.

03:12Council lady.

03:13>> Um, so just to just to be clear, is it

03:17within the officer's discretion to not

03:20charge the youth and simply drive them

03:22home without this program?

03:25>> It is not within their preview whether

03:27or not to charge a child will arrest a

03:30child. If a child is involved in a

03:33criminal activity, um, whatever that

03:35case might be, it is not within the

03:38officer's preview just to let that

03:40particular child go. If the child was

03:42involved in a robbery, um, they're going

03:44to do their jobs. If it's petty theft,

03:45they're going to do their their their

03:47job and, um, follow through with the

03:49process. This program, the PASS program,

03:52give gives them the opportunity,

03:54officers, to obviously refer the the

03:57children, the child to this program if

03:59they're eligible for the program. um if

04:01they're not eligible for the program,

04:02then the officers will follow the normal

04:04course of action.

04:05>> Okay. Thank you. And um through the

04:07chair, can you give some examples of the

04:09you know the lowlevel offenses that

04:11would qualify uh a child for this

04:14program?

04:15>> Yes. Whoever.

04:18>> Yes, I can get some examples. So those

04:20could include um typically misdemeanor

04:22level offenses, potentially unruly

04:24offenses. Um, these would include maybe

04:27a misdemeanor theft, um, a public

04:29disturbance where, um, a local business

04:31may have been impacted. Um, but like I

04:34said, it's all law enforcement driven.

04:36So, it doesn't mean that every

04:38circumstance, every, you know,

04:40misdemeanor assault will get referred to

04:42the past program. Um, they have the

04:44ability to take into account the full

04:46circumstances as they arrive on the

04:48scene to determine if a youth may or may

04:50not be eligible to participate. Does

04:52that include through the chair curfew

04:54offenses?

04:55>> It could also include curfew. So, we

04:58have identified that, you know, in

04:59situations if you see a youth that's

05:01consistently outside, you see them at

05:0410:00, you see them at 12:00, you see

05:05them at 2 a.m., you know, that's kind of

05:08identifying there may be some underlying

05:09needs in that household, something along

05:11those lines. So those youth can also be

05:13referred to the PASS program cuz that

05:16could definitely quickly snowball into

05:18them getting into something that could

05:19be more um higher level or go official.

05:23>> Understand? Thank you. And through the

05:25chair to the to the director. So, if a

05:28if a youth is picked up for curfew, is

05:30it in the officer's discretion to, you

05:33know, drive the youth home without, you

05:35know, filing charges or taking them, you

05:37know, and I'm assuming that they don't

05:38have a warrant. Um, but to, you know,

05:40drive them home and then just speak with

05:42the parents

05:43>> through the chair. That's a great

05:44example. Through council person Hudson,

05:48that's a great example. Uh yes, in that

05:50particular case, depending on the

05:51circumstances, yes, the officer in that

05:53particular case, whether than citing the

05:55juvenile or the the parent generally

05:58when I did it um years ago, we normally

06:01would take the juvenile back to their

06:03guardian or parent um and and make a

06:06decision, which was discretionary at

06:08that particular time, whether or not we

06:09were going to site the parent for the

06:10curfew violation. So, in that particular

06:12case, it was more discretionary.

06:14>> Okay. Thank you. And then just following

06:17up also about why a family might not

06:20agree to participate in this program um

06:24and or you know of other barriers to

06:27participating in this program. Um you

06:30know if if a child doesn't have the um

06:33familial support, the parental support

06:36at home, does that mean that they're not

06:39eligible for this program through the

06:41chair?

06:42>> Whoever can answer that.

06:44>> Yes. In that situation, we would need to

06:46have the parents consent for that youth

06:48to participate and engage in the

06:50services. Um, so that involves an

06:52assessment. It also involves making

06:54referrals to community agencies. So we

06:57would need that parental buy in and that

06:59release of information completed so that

07:01we could actually make those connections

07:03uh for that youth. So

07:06>> um, thank you. and through the chair,

07:09you know, you know, that I have to admit

07:12that that troubles me because a lot of

07:14times the the kids without the parental

07:17support are the ones who um are most at

07:20risk um and you know probably need the

07:24most second chances um and programs like

07:27this. So, can you think of any um

07:30through the chair any ways that we could

07:33possibly

07:34um involve um kids who who might not

07:39have the parental support at home?

07:42>> Whoever can answer that

07:47>> to the chair and to the council woman.

07:49Um this is where I have said some um at

07:53this table before this is where council

07:55to me comes very crucial to have that

07:56dialogue with the state legislature. Um,

07:59the court has to abide by whatever the

08:01state legislature, the Ohio Revised Code

08:03says as far as how we go about those

08:06matters. And this is a good time to have

08:08that conversation of how can we have

08:11some laws, some policies to support that

08:14child because I am in agreement that is

08:16often even the staff when we talk about

08:18it, the children do even when the

08:21officer makes the referral, they do want

08:22to be in the program, but the struggle

08:24is we have to have some type of parental

08:27or guardian consent. And so that goes

08:29above kind of all of us here that um it

08:32does, you know, grow a larger

08:34conversation kind of with the

08:35legislative body of how can we implement

08:37something or assort something to even

08:39give the court some type of authority

08:41that they can be able to do this in a

08:43way that uh a youth can participate um

08:47who wants to participate on their own um

08:50you know without the consent or or try

08:52to still figure out other methods of how

08:54to gain parental consent so they can be

08:56involved. I mean, um, through the chair

08:58thinking, you know, perhaps a

09:00courtappointed guardian, um, just some

09:03something to to help these these youth,

09:06um, who it's by no fault of their own,

09:09um, are in the circumstances that

09:11they're in, um, and and need, you know,

09:14every opportunity that we can, um,

09:16provide for them. it I'm I would say,

09:19you know, the vast majority of

09:22circumstances you

09:24it's because of they're lacking

09:26something at home and that's why they're

09:28in the situation they're in. Um I' I'd

09:31like to follow up with you afterwards

09:33and um continue that discussion and see

09:35how we can work together. Um thank you

09:39through the chair. That's all.

09:40>> Thank you, Councilman Star. You have a

09:43amendment to offer.

09:45Still

09:51a lot of record.

09:51>> Thank you, chair. Um, the amendment that

09:53I would wish to offer for 906 2026 is at

09:57the end of section three. Um, can you

10:01insert the director of public safety

10:03shall provide?

10:11Wait

10:26for this one. No, that'll be for 907 and

10:30R10.

10:32>> So, no, no amendment.

10:33>> No be I rather from this rather from

10:36this actual one. Do we have any thing

10:39within the legislation for us to get um

10:42daily reports or not daily, quarterly

10:44reports regard regarding this actual

10:47contract? Do we have anything in this

10:48legislation to allows us to have that?

10:51>> If you make that motion, it will be in

10:52there. Yeah, I think we should make a

10:54motion that um do quarterly reporting

10:56from the director of CRB at the end of

11:00section three where they will provide

11:02quarterly reporting to council clerk to

11:04be distributed to council members to

11:06ensure that we receive updates on how

11:08this new program is actually operating

11:11and so so we could be able to be um a

11:13breaching abroad.

11:15>> Thank you. Assistant law director, did

11:17you understand that amendment?

11:20>> Okay.

11:21So in the ordinance under number 9006

11:242026 and section 3 at the end or

11:27anywhere that you deem worthy to include

11:31a portion that the director of community

11:34relations will provide quarterly report

11:37and assessment regarding ordinance

11:39number 9006 2026 to make sure that we

11:43have um our quarterly reports and

11:46assessment of the pro program to ensure

11:48that the program is operating.

11:51And that should be to the the clerk of

11:53council and all members of council.

11:56Do you have that?

12:00>> Yes.

12:01>> Okay. That's um because that's more or

12:03less a standard request we're making on

12:06more and more pieces of legislation to

12:08quarterly report back so we can

12:10understand the success or or lack of

12:14success on a given program. Okay. Um

12:17>> it's not the director of public safety.

12:20relations.

12:21>> Yes.

12:22>> Yes.

12:23>> Okay. Um any other questions of the

12:26committee members? Committee members

12:29Charles.

12:30>> Is that a motion?

12:31>> Not a m. Yeah. Okay. Second that please.

12:33>> Second.

12:35>> All those in you've heard a motion made

12:37by Councilman Star. Second by Councilman

12:39Slife. All in favor call the role.

12:40Madame clerk.

12:43>> Yes.

12:45>> Yes.

12:49Yes.

12:52>> Yes.

12:55>> Thank you. Okay. Other questions of the

12:58committee members to our folks at the

13:01table? Any other questions? Okay. Again,

13:05we're hoping to see those numbers

13:07increase and efforts to um intercept and

13:12get more people, younger people on a on

13:14a better path in life. And I hope again

13:17the director heard the concerns

13:19especially that we expressed in about

13:21the fifth district. Um I'm hoping that

13:24there be um do you just a question do

13:27you act you've indicated you've appeared

13:28at roll calls correct

13:32>> through the chair to the committee

13:33correct

13:34>> and that's what districts have you done

13:36that at?

13:37>> We the first um the second third and the

13:41fifth.

13:42>> Okay. And I would certainly encourage

13:44that to take place. Um and especially um

13:47and you you've indicated um you haven't

13:50done that the fourth yet, correct?

13:51>> No, that is scheduled for next month.

13:53>> Okay. Um but I would certainly encourage

13:56that to take place. Um because these

13:59numbers obviously in light of the the

14:01juvenile problem that we're experiencing

14:02in the city, I would have thought these

14:03numbers would be much higher. Um so

14:06again, let's hope that um we can get the

14:09message and across the parents and

14:12guardians out here that is an

14:14opportunity to help them and to help

14:16their um their children. Um so without

14:19any further discussion, uh ordinance

14:22number

14:24get it back in here.

14:29Ordinance number 906-2026

14:33is approved as amended. Please sign it

14:36up, Charlie.

14:39>> Okay, let's go back to the Thank you,

14:42director.

14:42>> Thank you.

14:45>> Okay, let me see what we got here.

14:49Oh, and by the way, does Director

14:50Drummond get does he have a copy of

14:52this?

14:54If not, I'm going to give you one.

14:57Okay, good. So, you have it and that you

14:59should get a packet that should go with

15:01all your commanders as well um in um the

15:04districts. Okay, we're going to go back

15:08um let me see whether we're at here

15:13574.

15:15Yep, we're looking for that one right

15:16now. Okay. Ordinance number 745-2026

15:23by Councilman Palencic Star in Griffin

15:26by department request an emergency

15:27ordinance to amend section 135.47

15:30of the codified ordinances of Cleveland,

15:32Ohio 1976 as amended by ordinance number

15:36879-2019

15:39passed August 21st 2019

15:42relating to emergency medical service

15:45clinical agreements. It was read for the

15:48first time in July 15, 2026. It was

15:51approved by director of public safety,

15:53approved by director finance. There's no

15:55legal objection.

15:57Came to city council on August 3rd.

16:00Director, the floor is yours and nice to

16:02see you, Commissioner.

16:05>> Good afternoon, chair and council

16:06members. Uh with me uh at a table is

16:08Commissioner Wheeler from division of

16:10VMS and the section that you referred to

16:14135. Um actually this ordinance is

16:17745-2026

16:19and it's going to amend uh section

16:2113547. This will uh this uh legislation

16:24would amend section

16:2613547 authorizing EMS uh clinical

16:30agreements with educational

16:31institutions, nonprofit organizations

16:34and career or vocational centers in

16:37addition to Ka County uh college

16:39community college and other government

16:41agencies and area hospitals. Um and

16:43these additional institution will expand

16:47a range of uh EMT and paramedic uh

16:50continuing education and training

16:53programs to provide uh these services

16:56and programs to a larger group of

16:57individuals and to also provide them

16:59with real life experiences. Um

17:02Commissioner We can into more of the

17:04details and if you have any questions

17:05relative to this particular uh

17:07ordinance.

17:09>> Okay, Commissioner, good to see you at

17:10the table. Um the clinical agreements we

17:14have right now, we did have one with

17:16Kaga Community College. Correct

17:18>> to the chair. That's correct.

17:20>> And so in this um in this legislation

17:25is being amended, you're striking Kaga

17:27Community College, but you're including

17:29other educational institutions as well.

17:32>> To the chair, that's correct.

17:34>> Okay. So who do you envision working

17:36with? Uh to the chair, we are

17:39envisioning working with premier uh EMS

17:43training academy. This is to provide uh

17:48their EMT and paramedic students to ride

17:51with the city of Cleveland EMS and also

17:55to possibly enter into a paramedic

17:58program for our training of EMTs to

18:02become paramedics. But doesn't it

18:05doesn't procure preclude you from

18:06working with tri, right?

18:08>> That's that's correct.

18:10>> Okay. So, you're just expanding your

18:13options. Is that what I'm to understand

18:15in the piece and for my colleagues

18:17>> to the chair? That's correct.

18:18>> Okay.

18:19>> Giving us more options and more

18:21available uh uh schools to work with.

18:25>> Okay. How many units are we running now?

18:29Uh we've been averaging roughly last

18:32week we had 23 during the day and 20 at

18:38night.

18:39>> Okay. Um when you brown out a unit or a

18:42unit cannot operate, are you notifying

18:45the local council people to that effect?

18:48>> Uh to the chair uh note because we

18:51usually have a unit dynamically

18:54stationed in that to cover that area.

18:57>> Okay. So, you're telling the committee

18:59when a unit is grounded out that

19:03specific geographical area ward uh

19:07district is still adequately covered. Is

19:10that

19:10>> to the chair? That's correct.

19:12>> Okay. Uh how many um uh folks in EMS

19:16right now, paramedics and EMTs? Uh to

19:19the chair, we have a total of

19:23291

19:24and we have a class of 20 starting on

19:27Monday.

19:28>> So going into this year's budget, next

19:30year's budget will be because we still

19:33haven't decided whether we're going to

19:34do operational hearings, how are you

19:37how's your staffing level look?

19:38>> Uh to the chair, after this class

19:41starts, we should be very close to being

19:44fully staffed once again.

19:46>> Okay. which has been the goal of

19:48council. We wanted to make sure that

19:50you're fully staffed uh because we all

19:54know that there's nothing more important

19:55and life- saving in the city uh

19:57especially within our community. So

19:59again, I'm glad to hear that.

20:00>> Yeah. To chair, we actually were pretty

20:02close this summer. Uh really close to

20:04the 315 um budgeted. I'm sorry, not yet

20:07315 budgeted. We're really close, but

20:09there are things that occurred that

20:11>> tried to slow those numbers.

20:13>> Okay. Questions of the committee? Any

20:15questions? of my colleagues. Nikki,

20:18Councilwoman Hudson.

20:20>> Oh, you are fine. Um, just my my last

20:23comment question. Uh, at the council

20:26meeting, an individual came to testify

20:29or comment on their public comment about

20:32the need for additional AEDs.

20:34Um, in the city of Cleveland, uh, the

20:37director indicated to me that as it

20:40pertains to city buildings and our

20:42rolling units, they all we all have AED

20:45AEDs on them. Correct

20:47>> to the chair. That's correct.

20:49>> Okay. What is an AED cost? And for the

20:52viewing public, tell the viewing public

20:53what that is.

20:54>> Uh,

20:56automated external defibrill. They could

20:59run anywhere between 800 and up. depends

21:03on the the model and the capabilities.

21:07>> So that would be the challenge is how do

21:09we how would we fund that um to disperse

21:13more of those throughout the city. So,

21:16um, I'm not going to belabor the point

21:18now, but if you have any ideas or

21:20thoughts of you from from foundations,

21:24private business, the corporate

21:26community, who you think we could

21:29approach collectively for additional

21:31AEDs in the city and then where do you

21:34think those should be located at? I some

21:37businesses have them already. Some large

21:39scale businesses have them already. So,

21:40this is for the viewing public. This is

21:42if someone's having a heart attack.

21:44Correct.

21:44>> To the chair. That's correct.

21:46>> This is to revive them.

21:47>> This is to take them out of a lethal

21:50cardiac arhythmia and to try and restore

21:54a normal heart rate again.

21:56>> Right. So, we have them in the hall of

21:58city hall. Correct. By the elevators.

22:00>> Correct.

22:01>> And I think they're on all floors.

22:03Correct.

22:03>> Correct.

22:04>> Okay. And then I know

22:06>> also at every rec center and every

22:08swimming pool.

22:09>> Okay. and other city facilities.

22:12>> Okay.

22:13>> Maintain those.

22:14>> But so so as it pertains to private

22:16businesses, I'm I've seen them in in

22:19some office buildings. I've seen them in

22:21other largecale operations. But again,

22:24the cost to let's say a small business

22:27that that they might view that as cost

22:29prohibitive. That's the challenge that

22:31we're confronted with. So um again, I'm

22:35not going to believe it point. uh look

22:36forward to some thoughts that you might

22:38have as maybe to who we could approach

22:40or who we could ask and where you think

22:42those would be strategically positioned

22:44through the city. Um because the the

22:47testimony was indicated that um that

22:50there were there were several hundred

22:52people who lost their lives that could

22:55have been saved. I don't know that I

22:57have no idea. I don't have anything to

22:59document that on

23:00>> to the chair. I wouldn't be able to give

23:02you a number, but

23:04>> AEDs, they save lives just like seat

23:07belts and other things.

23:09>> But you would know when your crews are

23:11responding, unfortunately after the

23:14fact, you would have an idea internally

23:17how many people

23:19were lost their lives before we could

23:21get there.

23:22>> Uh to the chair, that would be hard to

23:26quantify.

23:26>> Oh, yeah. But we once we arrive and CPR

23:31is in progress or AED has been used then

23:34we perform advanced life support to

23:37continue those efforts. So it would be

23:39hard to quantify that number.

23:41>> Thank you commissioner. Any questions of

23:43the commissioner?

23:44>> Mr. Chairman.

23:45>> Yes. Councilman Jones.

23:47>> Thank you. Um on Monday night, Mr.

23:49Chairman, um concerning ADAs, we had

23:52someone testify. I presumably believe

23:55that he was a part of the EMS team.

23:57>> Yes, he was.

23:59>> And his numbers, Mr. Chairman, was more

24:01like 300 roughly, if I'm correct, 385 or

24:07387 to 386, give or take two or three um

24:12people who have lost their lives. And

24:16for those situations where we've had

24:19ADAS, I believe the number was something

24:22like um uh I want to say 13 people who

24:27or 14 give or take two or three um whose

24:31lives were saved that uh I presumably

24:35uh uh were close to ADAs and their lives

24:38were saved. Um so um Mr. Chairman, the

24:42question would be um how do we uh get

24:47the actual numbers? So if we have one of

24:49the members of MS giving us numbers, I'm

24:52quite sure, Mr. Chairman.

24:53>> Okay.

24:53>> Um those numbers come from somewhere and

24:57we need to take a look at it to see if

24:58it's a wider issue, a wider broad issue.

25:01Should council becomes I guess the

25:03question comes in

25:05>> should council look to regulate or or

25:08legislate um um ADAs to be in all the

25:12facilities uh within the municipal

25:15corporation

25:16um you know but all that's going to be

25:19um I I would say Mr. Chairman um

25:22incumbent upon us doing some type of

25:23study.

25:24>> Okay. So, uh, what, um, you heard the

25:27request of, Councilman Jones,

25:29Commissioner, anything you could provide

25:30to us that would better educate us

25:33because again, as we mentioned, to um to

25:36impose that on on the cost um, which

25:40could be substantial, especially for

25:41small business um, might be cost

25:44prohibitive as as as much as they are

25:47needed, it might be cost prohibitive for

25:49small business. So what so again based

25:52on Councilman Jones's request any data

25:54you could supply us would be helpful

25:55>> through through the chair to councilman

25:59the numbers that you were given I don't

26:02know where the individual received them

26:04from but it's hard to quantify lives

26:07that would be saved

26:10based on that because there's a lot of

26:12factors that go into play when someone's

26:15in cardiac arrest. It has to do with

26:18their overall health. uh where they

26:20were, if a AED was present, if it

26:24wasn't, if immediate CPR was started. So

26:27to give those numbers,

26:30yeah, we can I can give you the numbers

26:32of how many cardiac arrests we have, but

26:34to quantify how many would survive with

26:37an AED, that's impossible.

26:39>> Okay.

26:39>> Well, Mr. Chairman, I know that ADAs do

26:42work. Um and Mr. Chairman, just, you

26:46know, putting it out there on the table.

26:49Um, we know that heart attacks are uh I

26:54think the number one or number two

26:56depending on what areas you're located

26:57in. Um, it's a real issue. Um, and our

27:02population uh is hit by that uh in the

27:04number one or number two spot depending

27:06on what location uh geographically

27:08you're speaking about, but all across

27:10the continental United States of

27:12America, heart disease and heart attacks

27:14are the number one killers of Americans.

27:18And um and I think that we should, you

27:20know, because it has been brought to our

27:22attention, Mr. Chairman, I don't think

27:24that we should just kind of like gloss

27:26across it. Um we should really

27:28fundamentally look at it cuz it could be

27:29you. Uh it could be the commissioner, it

27:32could be the director here, uh that is

27:35suffering a cardiac arrest. And God

27:37knows you gentlemen across this table

27:39work just as hard as we do. Um, and you

27:42know, God forbids all of a sudden your

27:44ticker start having an issue

27:46electrically and um, and then you get

27:49incapacitated and then you'll wish the

27:52day that you would have said to the

27:54council, "Hey, we should have had one of

27:56these ADAs uh, everywhere we can place

27:59them because again, you know, getting in

28:02some more years on your life, getting a

28:04couple more years to have an existence

28:05on the planet is very valuable." And so,

28:08Mr. Chairman, I would suggest that this

28:10council further digs into this

28:12particular subject matter and and see

28:15what that looks like. And then the

28:17question I have, Mr. Chairman, how much

28:18is the ADA?

28:20>> Commissioner,

28:21>> through the chair to the councilman, uh,

28:24AEDs, they run anywhere between $800

28:28and up. It could go upwards into

28:3210 grand. And those are based on the

28:36model and the capabilities. And one

28:40thing that we have done for the city

28:43residents and the visitors, we provide

28:47CPR training. Over the summer, we've

28:49done over 275

28:52uh CPR classes,

28:55over 75 stop the bleed classes,

28:59and last year we've done over 500 CPR

29:05classes. And

29:06>> does that include ADA, Mr. Chairman, to

29:08um our commissioner

29:10>> through the chair to the councilman?

29:11That that is CPR, AED,

29:16and first aid. So, and CPR, a AED alone

29:22without CPR

29:25is like having a spare tire without a

29:27car. So, it useless. And that's why we

29:33focus on public education,

29:36CPR, first aid, and stop the bleed.

29:39Thank you. to make sure that we that

29:42people get the full 360 care that they

29:45would need in cardiac arrest.

29:47>> I see. So, so Mr. Chairman, can we get a

29:50can we look at this because this again

29:52is it's an issue I think that of public

29:54interest um Mr. Chairman certainly in

29:58public health and um I guess the

30:01question is there's a a range here from

30:04800 to 10,000. Um

30:08what's the cost on the average one? We

30:09put it in one of our our um EMS trucks.

30:13>> Commissioner, do you have have an idea?

30:15>> Through the chair to the councilman, we

30:18don't have AEDs in our ambulances and

30:20the cardiac monitors that we have run in

30:23excess of $25,000.

30:26But the AEDs that are put in city

30:29facilities, they run roughly between

30:32about 7500 to 10,000. Okay. So, let me

30:36just make sure I'm clear. I don't want

30:37to be confused. You're talking about

30:39defibrillators, right?

30:40>> Correct.

30:41>> Okay.

30:41>> Our cardiac monitors have defibrillator

30:44capabilities and cardiac monitoring

30:47capabilities and pacing capabilities

30:49which AEDs don't.

30:51>> Well, I I I would think that, you know,

30:53>> okay,

30:54>> um we need to get some kind of uh

30:56training understanding of what Mr.

30:58Chairman and the commissioner is talking

31:00about uh because it's going to loop over

31:02me. Um, so given the fact that it's a

31:05loop over me now, I need to do even

31:07deeper dive. I didn't think I would have

31:09to do [sighs]

31:10so. But here in the meantime, the

31:12question still is the ADA or ADS.

31:17Is that how we what's the the correct

31:19acronym here?

31:21>> Chair, that's AED.

31:23>> AED.

31:24>> Yes.

31:24>> Okay.

31:25>> Automated external defibrillator.

31:28>> Okay. So, these defibrillators can

31:30range, Mr. chairman to the commissioner.

31:32Anywhere between 800 and 10,000, right?

31:35>> That's correct.

31:35>> Do they all do the same thing in terms

31:37of shocking the heart and bringing it

31:38back?

31:39>> That's correct.

31:40>> Okay. So then 800 can do the same job as

31:42a 10,000 one.

31:44>> Yes.

31:44>> Okay. So it just the difference is it

31:47might have some other fancy tinkerings

31:48on it, maybe a radio and some other

31:50dials that gives you some other par

31:53parameters, but it still does the same

31:55thing like a car. It gets you to where

31:57you need to go.

31:58>> Correct.

31:58>> Okay. So So Mr. Chairman, I I would, you

32:01know, I'm not scared here about, you

32:05know, taking a deeper dive and trying to

32:07make sure that, you know, we are

32:09offering these $800 facilities, you

32:12know, $800, you know, or however you

32:15want to look at it. Um, because, uh,

32:18it's best to still be alive. It's best

32:20to be able to get to location A to B.

32:23you might not be able to get all the way

32:24to Z somewhere, you know, depending on

32:26what type you have, but at least if it

32:28can can

32:30save a human life. Uh I just think that

32:32it's something that we should look at,

32:34we should invest in, or we should have

32:36some kind of more uh thoughtful thought

32:38about it versus Mr. Chairman just

32:40blowing it out the water and saying,

32:41"Oh, no, no, worry about it." Um when it

32:44comes down to saving a life, um and Mr.

32:46Chairman, I'll share this with you. Um,

32:49you know, I had an opportunity to do uh

32:52follow-up um house house calls on people

32:56to check in on them from time to time

32:58and one which you probably are familiar

33:01with and may be aware of. Do you

33:03remember Mr. Richard B or Cra Richards?

33:05>> Yep.

33:07I had an opportunity to go uh

33:09unfortunately he he wasn't answering his

33:12phone and so me and another gentleman

33:14went to his uh residence and we were

33:19able to obtain access to the residence

33:21because the door was opened and um we

33:24found him collapsed on the floor. Um at

33:27that time I performed um um u heart

33:31impressions that were uh said to be

33:34given to him. you know, it was

33:35instructions from um uh our fire

33:39department um to try to make sure he

33:43stay viable and alive. Um Mr. Chairman,

33:47we didn't have a a ED and um I think

33:52that it's really critical for us to to

33:56um have these here. Uh and then if we

33:59had needed to to use one um in his

34:02facility, they didn't have one. and he

34:05was in a senior citizens facility. So, I

34:08would be interested in knowing, Mr.

34:10Chairman, just how equipped we are,

34:12especially in our senior facilities. Um,

34:15and I think that we should even look at,

34:17Mr. Chairman, what that would look like,

34:19making sure that all of our senior

34:21citizens facilities have AEDs.

34:26Okay. Thank you, Councilman. You heard

34:28the requests and um suggestions. So

34:31whatever you can provide to us would be

34:33very helpful. And then from a standpoint

34:35of once we receive that then we can look

34:38internally within the council could we

34:40mandate that a nursing home a senior

34:44citizens building. Could we mandate by

34:46legislative action that they have AEDs

34:50on site and have properly trained staff

34:53or um members of their staff that would

34:56be adequately trained? I'm very much

34:58aware um I'm aware of three of my

35:01colleagues um both in the past three

35:05members of this body who passed due to

35:07heart attacks. Um one at this very table

35:11um many many years ago um I'll never

35:14forget that day I was sitting where

35:16Councilman Jones is at and um that

35:20colleague had a heart attack and by the

35:21time he hit the floor he was dead. So,

35:25and there were members of the fire

35:27department sitting in the room who tried

35:30to administer um life-saving

35:33uh um

35:35procedures to him, but it was he was

35:37gone. He I mean, I never saw anything

35:40like that, nor will I ever forget that.

35:42So, very much aware.

35:43>> So, Mr. Chairman, just to follow up so

35:45this won't be a day of conversation. Can

35:47we have our staff begin the proposition

35:49of working on um putting together

35:51legislation to talk about putting um

35:54>> okay

35:55>> AEDs

35:57in play of into nursing homes or looking

36:00into the particular issue is that okay

36:02>> can we do that now? Can we make sure

36:04that we can do

36:05>> instruct our staff? So this is an issue

36:08that I I'm not going to sit back and you

36:10know there's a number of issues in the

36:11years past I've set back on uh and

36:14nothing has happened with some of those

36:16things. So this one here Mr. Chairman if

36:19our we'll ask staff to do some research

36:22if there's anything within the codified

36:24ordinances now with regard to mandating

36:27within senior citizens buildings that

36:29are identified as senior citizens and

36:31nursing homes in the city. Is there

36:33anything that mandates that AEDs be

36:35present on the property? We'll look at

36:37that. Thank you for your suggestions,

36:39Councilman. Councilwoman Hudson.

36:43>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I was just um

36:45updating um Councilman Jones that uh a

36:49few of a few of my colleagues and I have

36:51spoken with staff about this particular

36:53issue and they are working on it

36:55already. And so I'm going to uh loop

36:58Councilman Jones in on that.

37:00>> Thank Thank you. Um, um, Councilwoman

37:03Nikki Hudson, um, for you and I think

37:05it's Tom Asa who's working on this

37:07particular piece

37:08>> and Councilman Davis, make sure you loop

37:10me in. Um, and then if you could give me

37:12the information that you guys have

37:13gotten on so far. Um, Mr. Chairman, just

37:16for um, and I'm not sure if we're

37:18talking senior citizen facilities, but

37:21>> in general. So, Mr. Chairman, I just

37:23want to make sure that our staff knows

37:25and that what I'm more interested in

37:28also with just making sure that it is a

37:31tool that's available to all of

37:33Cleveland citizens. Uh but in particular

37:35to make sure that all of our senior

37:37citizen facilities, uh all of our senior

37:39medical staff facilities, all of our

37:41locations where we do rehabilitation

37:43work at, um that um we do legislate them

37:47to have one of these. I don't think

37:49$800, Mr. Chairman, is a whole lot of

37:51money.

37:52um or even $10,000 uh to save a life. Um

37:57so, Mr. Chairman, I would, you know,

37:59certainly just want to make sure that

38:00you know that's put on there.

38:01>> I would say to any any of my colleagues

38:03is miss uh Councilwoman Hudson loop the

38:06entire safety committee into those

38:08discussions or if there's any

38:09gatherings.

38:10>> And thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your

38:11leadership on making sure that this

38:13happens.

38:14>> Um and then thank you for your testimony

38:16about one of our colleagues uh

38:18succumbing to that. And I think another

38:20one of our colleagues uh in years ago,

38:23Richard Star now holds his seat uh also

38:26died of a heart attack.

38:27>> And uh Mr. Chairman, I believe Matt

38:30Zone's uh uh father also died of a heart

38:33attack. Yep.

38:34>> So So we have a number of great examples

38:36here at the city to to look at uh and

38:39and and altering some of those. Even

38:41having our EMS, Mr. Chairman, was due to

38:44the fact that one of our members had a

38:46heart attack and no one was able to get

38:47to him in time.

38:48>> Thank you. So, so with that being said,

38:50Mr. Chairman, this is a really important

38:52topic matter and just in that spirit

38:54along or the establishment of Mr.

38:57Chairman to the commissioner, EMS was

38:59based upon that that we should take this

39:02uh a step further.

39:04>> Thank you, Councilman Jones. Without

39:05objection, ordinance number 745-2026

39:09is approved as read. Please sign it up.

39:12Our next piece of legislation thanks

39:16>> is 9007 ordinance 9007-2026

39:21as amended by council members Palencic

39:24and Griffin by department request

39:26authorizing the director of public

39:28safety to apply for and accept a grant

39:30from the United States Department of

39:33Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance

39:36Fiscar 26 burn discretionary community

39:41projects fund on for the Cleveland

39:44Public Safety Radio program.

39:48First time it was read was a August

39:5019th, 2026. Read into the city record

39:54was approved by director of public

39:56safety. Approved by director of finance.

39:58There is no legal objection.

40:01estimated cost

40:04is um

40:091,31,000.

40:13And I was just going to ask the um

40:16assistant director of law um on the

40:20administrative report,

40:23why aren't the funds indicated on the

40:26administrative report

40:29where it says um the sum of it's it's

40:32blank on the administrative report,

40:36but it's in the legislation.

40:41Yeah, I that's a question I I because

40:45we're seeing that more and more on the

40:46legislation coming before us and um

40:50those the estimated costs and

40:52certificate of funds used to be in the

40:55administrative report. So, I'm just

40:57wondering why that those are being

40:59deleted, but I'll let you and the law

41:01director. Okay. Thank you very much,

41:04director. The floor is yours.

41:06>> Thank you, chair and council members. At

41:07the table with me is to my right,

41:09Commander ShraMM from uh communications,

41:12and to his right is Don Hartzong, our

41:14grants coordinator. Um, and you've

41:16mentioned before this ordinance is um

41:18907,

41:20and it's going to authorize me to apply

41:22for an accepted grant from the DOJ

41:24Bureau of Justice Assistance for the

41:26fiscal year 26 burn discretionary

41:28community uh project grant. This grant

41:32uh um by the way we were invited by to

41:35apply for this grant by Representative

41:36Shantel Brown as part of the

41:39congressionally directed fiscal year 26

41:42burn discretionary community projects

41:44fund. uh Don and uh our grants team

41:48>> applied will receive the amount that you

41:50mentioned which is the 1 uh three

41:52basically the 1 million31,000

41:55to purchase uh radios for public safety

41:57divisions uh EMS fire and division of

42:01police um commander ShraMM as well as uh

42:03Dawn's at the table answer any questions

42:05that committee members may have

42:07>> but let me read this there is no legal

42:10objection to the to this legislation if

42:12amended as follows section one in the

42:15title starting in line five and in

42:17section one line four strike burn

42:20discretionary community projects fund

42:22and insert burn discretionary grants

42:24program in both places and that was um

42:28by the assigned by um Gaglani assistant

42:32uh director of law so what what I'm

42:35trying to whoever can answer this for us

42:39to explain what the program is in detail

42:43um But is there

42:47are we going to receive the funds or

42:50we're just applying and do we have to

42:53provide a match?

42:54>> Uh through the chair there is no local

42:56match.

42:57>> Okay.

42:57>> Um we will receive the funds. We have

43:00submitted the application. So we have

43:02not received the award yet but um the we

43:05were told by Shantel Brown that we will

43:07receive the grant. So it's it's part of

43:09the congressionally directed spending.

43:12So we went to her and asked her for

43:13funding for radios. She approved it. We

43:16had to wait for it to go through the

43:17federal process and get on the federal

43:19yes budget. And then then we were given

43:23the application information, but it's

43:25kind of a formality to submit the

43:27application at this point. We know that

43:29the money is in the federal budget and

43:31we'll receive it. We just haven't

43:33received the official award yet. But

43:35yes, they will give us that money to

43:36purchase additional radios.

43:38>> So this is

43:39>> this is a new grant. So this is just for

43:41radios.

43:41>> Yes, this is for radios. This is a new

43:43grant. The grant period I should have

43:44mentioned is runs from October of this

43:46year through uh September 30th 2028. And

43:50there is no local match like Dawn just

43:52said. And this is a new grant.

43:54>> Okay. What type of radios? Tell us.

43:57>> Uh these going to be mobile radios for

43:59police, fire, and

44:00>> that they wear radios that they carry on

44:03their body.

44:05>> No, these are going to the vehicles.

44:06Correct. vehicles.

44:07>> Yeah, these are these are going into EMS

44:10wagons, police vehicles, and fire

44:12apparatus.

44:13>> Okay. To replace the existing radio

44:15systems

44:16>> through the chair to council member,

44:18that's correct.

44:18>> And so all frontline vehicles will get

44:20new radios

44:21>> at through the chair. At this particular

44:23times, we have it broken down. Actually,

44:25I'll let Don, she prepared this, so I'll

44:27let her explain how it's going to be

44:28broken down.

44:29>> Tell us what we're going to get.

44:31>> Sure. We are going to receive um funding

44:33to purchase 15. pull it closer to you.

44:36>> Sorry to chair.

44:37>> Uh the funding will allow us to purchase

44:40151 mobile radios. What we did was we

44:43looked at the number of mobile radios

44:45that need to be replaced for EMS, fire,

44:48and police. This will allow us to

44:50purchase about 19% of those. So we'll

44:54purchase 19% of what's needed for EMS,

44:56fire, and police. So EMS will receive

44:5910, fire will receive 20, and police

45:02will receive 121 radios.

45:05>> Okay. And um obviously we have more

45:08vehicles than that

45:10>> for the chair. Yeah, as as Don just

45:11stated, it's replacing approximately 19%

45:15of the uh vehicles. So yeah, we have a

45:18total of 778

45:21mobile radios.

45:22>> Yeah. Um, right now we're going to end

45:23up replacing, like I said, 10 for EMS,

45:2620 for fire, and 121 for the division of

45:30police. So, it's a it's uh we're going

45:31to utilize the the1 million $31,000 to

45:34replace those particular 19% of the

45:36radios.

45:37>> But if we were to up replace all of the

45:40radios or upgrade them, it would be a

45:42substantial amount of additional funds.

45:44Correct.

45:45>> So, the chair, yes, you you consider

45:47that it's 90% we're doing and that's

45:49again 1,31,000.

45:51So to replace the full 100% of the

45:54mobile radios will be quite a bit money.

45:57>> Okay. So nothing else other than radios.

45:59I want to make get that straight.

46:01Nothing else other than radios

46:02>> to the chair. Correct.

46:03>> Okay. Questions of the committee,

46:05>> Mr. Chairman.

46:06>> Yes, Mr. Jones.

46:07>> Um first, you know, before I start, I

46:09just want to, you know, shout out to our

46:11congresswoman for uh Shantel Brown for

46:15um recommending that we apply for the

46:17grant. Um and um and and and thank God

46:22it seems like we have gotten the funds

46:23for it. Um so really wanted to do that.

46:26Shout out to to Shantel Brown and her

46:28office for their continuing outstanding

46:31job that they're doing for our city. Uh

46:33as well as making sure that we have and

46:35we keep our citizens safe. And then I

46:37also want to, Mr. Chairman, because I've

46:40always said this, um we have an

46:42impeccable person who writes for our

46:44city, Dawn. So, we I appreciate, you

46:48know, every time I come to the table, um

46:50I will not be a council person who um uh

46:54would deny or reject any funds coming to

46:57the city of Cleveland, uh at all

46:59whatsoever. The more funds we're able to

47:02bring in, the the the the better it is

47:04for our people, the better it is for our

47:05our uh people who uh deliver our

47:08services to our citizens. And so, I just

47:10want to say thank you for the hard work

47:12you do. And I'm hoping and praying, Mr.

47:14chairman because I know that I've seen a

47:16number of retirements uh in the city of

47:18Cleveland with some very outstanding

47:20people and Don is one of those

47:22outstanding people and um and then once

47:27the new ones come in they don't really

47:29fundamentally know what to do uh and we

47:32have lost a lot of leverage a lot of

47:34steps a lot of opportunities u because

47:37of some of these new people and um and

47:41the city has you know and I will be

47:43talking about this a little bit down the

47:45road uh when that time comes where we

47:49have uh unfortunately, Mr. Chairman, uh

47:52we're in a real bad shape. And so that's

47:54about the best way to say it. And so

47:57with that being said, because there's a

47:58point here, um is succession planning.

48:02Uh Mr. chairman. Yes, sir.

48:04>> To to our safety director. Um I know

48:07that some of our workers may want to be

48:09here. Like I know that Fanny Lewis is

48:11one of those council people whom I've

48:13had a close relationship with uh in the

48:16years past. And I know Fann's belief was

48:18to be here as long as she could be here.

48:20And so she she left here being here. So

48:24she never took a retirement. So we may

48:26have some of those folks like her, like

48:27me that probably would never retire. Um

48:30and but still there needs to be a

48:33succession planning process in play um

48:36to make sure that when we do retire one

48:38way or another uh that the people who

48:41are taking our spots, Mr. Chairman, um

48:43is just as capable uh just as able and

48:48uh [clears throat] has been trained

48:49under the great ones. So I think that

48:51sitting here, Mr. chairman. Out of the

48:5230 some years I've been sitting at this

48:54table, well, part of which I've been

48:56sitting at this table going back to 33

48:58years ago, um, Don has always been a

49:01stable here at the table. And she's

49:04always been very good at what she does.

49:06And so, Mr. Chairman, I just want to

49:08make sure I I emphasize to the

49:10administration, if they're listening,

49:12uh, that they need to have a really

49:14good, strong succession program in

49:15place, uh, because the people we're

49:18losing are quality people. They know

49:20this city. they have worked this city in

49:22and out. They know every aspect of it um

49:26sometimes better than those who are

49:28managing the city. So, I just want to

49:30just say that we need to look at that

49:33and I don't want to beat it too too hard

49:36um um for this this this particular

49:38piece. And Mr. Chairman, I think if the

49:40math is right, it's going to take us $5

49:42million to replace all well in this case

49:44about $4.6 million just to to replace

49:48all the radios. Is that correct, Mr.

49:49Chairman to director? In terms of your

49:51assessment,

49:51>> do you have a financial

49:53>> to the chair to council councilman

49:54Jones? I don't have those figures in

49:56front of me. Um, but I know you're doing

49:58the math over there, but I don't have

49:59the exact figures, but it would be a

50:01substantial amount to replace all the

50:03mobile radios for all public safety.

50:05>> Thank you.

50:06>> Well, I was just that was just a figure

50:08just for police only. So, it wasn't

50:10didn't involve EMS and it didn't involve

50:12fire. It's just it's just based on 780.

50:17Is that 780 vehicles? Is that 780 police

50:20vehicles?

50:20>> That was for all 7 778 that's for

50:24police, fire, and EMS.

50:25>> Okay. So then it would include all that.

50:26>> Yes, sir.

50:27>> All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

50:28Thank you.

50:29>> And through the chair, if I can respond

50:30real briefly, um concerning succession

50:33plan, that's something we look at u to

50:35your point, uh Councilman, uh make sure

50:37that we have people in place. You know,

50:39we have uh individuals like Don who is

50:42fabulous, and I don't say that lightly.

50:44She's fabulous in what she does. I've

50:46known uh Don for a great part of my

50:49career. Um started from when I was a

50:51sergeant in the chief's office many many

50:53moons ago and uh her skill set just got

50:56better and better and she's able to

50:57bring in millions of dollars, millions

50:59and upon millions of dollars into city

51:01of Cleveland. So we know that she's a

51:03gem and she has a vast knowledge. So to

51:06your point, we uh hired Rachel Murphy.

51:08She's going to be coming to the table

51:10very shortly here um who is uh learning

51:13quite a bit from Dawn. So, we are

51:15looking at that not only in her position

51:17but other positions as well.

51:18>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you,

51:20director.

51:20>> Thank you. Um and we do appreciate um

51:23because as long long as I've been here,

51:26Don has been um a great help to the

51:30safety department and and I don't think

51:31she's going anywhere anytime soon.

51:33Correct. And and I'm here to save you,

51:36Councilman Jones. So I'll [laughter]

51:41uh Councilman Star has a amendment

51:47only and safety committee [laughter]

51:50um for ordinance number 907-

51:55um 2026 under section 4. If we can add

51:59the language at the end of section 4,

52:02insert the director of public safety

52:04shall provide written notice to the

52:07clerk of council whenever any purchase

52:09is made through the cooperative process

52:12which notice shall include the details

52:15of such cooperative process.

52:18That would be the amendment.

52:20>> Thank you.

52:21>> The last word purchases process

52:24>> cooperative process. So the last phrase

52:27would be which notice shall include the

52:30details of such cooperative process

52:32>> and the council will provide you that

52:34verbiage. Okay.

52:39>> Okay. And we'll we'll get that

52:42rectified. Any questions on the

52:44amendment?

52:46All those in favor call the role.

52:49We need a second please. Excuse me.

52:51Second to the on the amendment.

52:54>> Second. Councilman's life. Madame clerk,

52:57call the role.

53:00>> Yes.

53:09>> Yes.

53:12>> Thank you. Okay. So, without objection,

53:16ordinance number 907-2026

53:19as amended is approved as well. Okay.

53:22Okay, we have one last piece and then

53:24the director is going to update us on

53:25staffing levels. Um, ordinance number

53:28910-2026

53:30as amended by council members Pencic and

53:33Griffin by department request an

53:34emergency ordinance authoring director

53:36of public safety to apply for and accept

53:38a grant from the Ohio Attorney General.

53:40Thank you.

53:41>> for the 20 26 shine a light on dumpsters

53:45grant program and authoring the director

53:48to enter into one or more contracts with

53:50various agencies or entities to

53:53implement the grant. First time was read

53:56into council

53:58August 19th. It's been approved by

54:00director of public safety, approved by

54:01director of finance. There's no legal

54:03objection. Came over to council on

54:05September 4th.

54:08director. Um, and if your team can

54:11explain this to to us and let me read

54:14the amendment. Uh, there's no legal

54:16objection to the legislation if amended

54:18as follows. In the title, line four and

54:21in section one, line three, strike

54:23general and insert general's office in

54:27both places. That was submitted to us by

54:30assistant director of law director and

54:33your team and introduce and wait a

54:35dollar amount on this one. um $17,579.

54:43Okay.

54:44>> Yes. Yes, sir. Uh to the chair. Uh thank

54:47you. And to the members uh at the table

54:49with me to my left is Rachel Murphy. I

54:52talked just talked about her just a

54:53second ago. Um and then to my right,

54:55Lieutenant Psycha uh from the

54:58intelligence unit and to his right is uh

55:00Sergeant West from the Environmental

55:01Crimes Task Force. Uh we're here to

55:04answer any questions relative to this

55:05ordinance which is uh uh 9102026.

55:08You mentioned the amount already uh

55:10council uh chair uh safety chair which

55:13is $17,579.

55:16Um and this would authorize me to apply

55:20for an accepted grant in that amount

55:22from the Ohio Attorney General for

55:23fiscal year 26 shine a light on dumpster

55:27grant program. Uh this dress does not

55:30have a cash match and also this grant

55:33period is from uh awarding the grant

55:36period is uh the date of the award

55:38through 73127

55:41and this is new grant and there's no

55:43local match and again we're here to

55:45answer any questions. Okay, tell us what

55:46it does before the viewing public

55:48because we all know

55:51>> uh the growing problem we're having in

55:53our city with illegal dumping

55:55>> and I was just doing a a tour yesterday

55:58uh with a member of one of my

56:00development corporate with the

56:01development corporation and I we pulled

56:03up on the house there had to be there

56:05had to be 70 tires in the back of this

56:07house uh that were dumped. Um so tell us

56:11what's going on. What what is this

56:13about?

56:15uh Sergeant Wess will uh answer that

56:17particular question.

56:18>> Thank you.

56:18>> Uh through the chair uh to the body. Uh

56:21good afternoon. Thank you for this

56:22opportunity to in front of you. Uh what

56:25this uh grant is going to do is we will

56:28receive funding to purchase uh eight

56:30more uh cameras, actually nine in total.

56:34Um which will double our camera amount.

56:36right now through attrition we've uh

56:39have gone down the amount of cameras

56:42that we've had to assist us in uh our

56:45investigations. Uh so with these cameras

56:49we'll be able to deploy them to needed

56:52areas and uh like I said will assist us

56:55with all of our investigations.

56:58>> Okay. So how many mobile cameras do we

57:01have right now? uh through the chair.

57:04Right now, we have eight mobile cameras

57:06that we can deploy through the area.

57:07>> And they're all working.

57:08>> They're all working. Yes.

57:09>> And this will bring us how many

57:11additional?

57:12>> Uh we're going to have seven additional

57:15trail cameras and along with a uh a pole

57:18camera that would have a live feed.

57:20Okay. Camera system.

57:21>> So, explain to the body how does a

57:24councilman make a request? council

57:26person make a request because we all

57:29have these areas that that are just

57:31repeatedly dumped on and it seems like

57:36nobody ever gets charged, nobody gets

57:38arrested and if they do, we're not being

57:39notified and I would hope and that's the

57:42other part of this equation. I would

57:44hope that when somebody is arrested or

57:46identified that the administration,

57:49uh, the chief or whoever would hold a

57:51news conference to indicate that because

57:54I think our p the public needs to know

57:56when we're having successes. But I tell

57:57you, I'm going to go into a meeting

57:59tonight uh in the Uclid Avenue corridor,

58:01and I know what I'm going to hear

58:03tonight about the illegal dumping as all

58:06of my colleagues hear at one time or

58:08another at their neighborhood meetings

58:10about the ongoing and we also know that

58:12there are people coming in from the

58:14suburbs dumping because in many of the

58:16suburbs they charge for additional u to

58:19have different u bulk items picked up,

58:21to have tires picked up, etc., etc. So

58:23those of us that are on the edge of the

58:27city, we tend to get uh that that

58:30illegal activity as well coming in from

58:32the nearby suburbs dumping in our

58:34neighborhoods. So um I'm hoping with the

58:37addition, but so explain to us if a

58:39member of this body would like to have a

58:43mobile camera, trail camera, whatever

58:45you're referring to them as, what's the

58:47process?

58:48>> Uh through the chair to the body. Um

58:51what [clears throat] our process would

58:52be generally is we do a target

58:54enforcement. If we see we get we get

58:57reports from council complaints, we get

58:59them from commander complaints, uh zone

59:02car reports and also calls 311 calls.

59:06Yeah.

59:06>> Uh once we we do an investigation, if

59:10it's an area that we deem to be a hot

59:13spot, uh that will garner more

59:16attention, that's where we'll deploy any

59:18camera, any kind of assets that we can

59:20over there.

59:21>> Okay. So, do we direct that to the

59:23director, to the chief, to you,

59:25Sergeant? Who do we

59:26>> me? You can absolutely uh I will leave

59:28my cards with uh

59:30>> Okay.

59:30>> with you guys and um you can reach out

59:32to me by phone or by email. Okay. and uh

59:36request because uh again there's and I

59:40can understand where the frustration is

59:42because it's definitely a problem and

59:44it's throughout the state. I mean this

59:45was a state grant, right? uh with this

59:47shining a light on on dumping and uh you

59:50know we're working you know with the

59:52newest technology. Now these cameras

59:54will be state-of-the-art specifically

59:56designed for the illegal dumping and uh

1:00:00so we're hoping really to uh be able to

1:00:03gather more evidence more evidentiary

1:00:06value plates faces etc with these

1:00:09cameras. The the night vision on them

1:00:11are are pretty outstanding

1:00:12>> but correct me if I'm wrong in what I'm

1:00:14reading here. We will not get the

1:00:16cameras until 7:3127.

1:00:20>> Uh that's not what I was uh

1:00:23what I was explaining to. No, I uh that

1:00:25>> it says the grant term and amount the

1:00:28grant award amount may be up to $17,579.

1:00:33The award period would begin the day the

1:00:36award is received. Oh, excuse me. And

1:00:38end and end. Good. So, do we have an

1:00:41idea when we would receive the the the

1:00:44funds? uh through the chair. That would

1:00:46be an answer for

1:00:48>> um to the chair at this point.

1:00:50>> Pushing go

1:00:52>> identify yourself,

1:00:53>> please.

1:00:54>> Sorry about that. Rachel Murphy, grants

1:00:56administrator for public safety. Um to

1:00:59the chair, we have received the award at

1:01:01this point.

1:01:01>> Okay, good.

1:01:02>> Yeah.

1:01:02>> So, I'll have somewhere with the cameras

1:01:04be purchased.

1:01:05um we need to just make sure the award

1:01:08is fully reviewed uh with the city's

1:01:10processes and then um as soon as we have

1:01:14it executed and signed by everybody we

1:01:16will start the procurement process

1:01:18immediately as soon as we can.

1:01:20>> Okay. So Sergeant if you can get us your

1:01:23contact information

1:01:25um as soon as possible so we would

1:01:27members of the body would have that and

1:01:29um and so we can disseminate that among

1:01:32the members. I mean, the the the dumping

1:01:34is so frustrating, the tires. Um, and

1:01:38this is what I would ask as well. I'm

1:01:41looking at a couple Tyler operators in

1:01:43my neighborhood and they have just

1:01:46stacks and stacks of tires that they're

1:01:49like um, you know, hoarding on their

1:01:53property. And I keep asking myself, wait

1:01:55a minute, where are these tires going to

1:01:57go? It's like they're not disposing of

1:01:59the tires, but I know at some point

1:02:01they're going to go somewhere. So, um,

1:02:04could you briefly educate us? If you are

1:02:06a tire dealer in the city of Cleveland,

1:02:08if you sell tires in the city of

1:02:10Cleveland, do you have to also submit

1:02:14where those tires are going

1:02:17uh through the chair? Yes, there is a uh

1:02:19a form that they will they fill out that

1:02:21when they sell it whether they're I mean

1:02:24truthful or not that's not you know

1:02:26that's up to

1:02:27>> okay

1:02:28>> them um but as far as like the tire uh

1:02:31we with our environmental crimes task

1:02:33force we're also partnered with the uh

1:02:36Cleveland Board of Health as well as the

1:02:37EPA and we loop them in on tire shop

1:02:41complaints and they will assist us with

1:02:43investigations on that.

1:02:44>> Okay. So, we could also give you the

1:02:46name of a tire dealer or shop.

1:02:48>> Absolutely.

1:02:49>> That is hoarding tires on their property

1:02:51wanting to know question where they're

1:02:53going to wind up at cuz I know they're

1:02:55going to wind up somewhere because I

1:02:57know they're charging the customer. I

1:02:58believe they're as I know right now they

1:03:00charge the customers. Yeah. And so, um

1:03:04the question is and are they going to

1:03:07hire somebody to dispose of those tires

1:03:09and that person then's going to dump

1:03:10them somewhere in the city of Cleveland?

1:03:12So, if you could p provide us whatever

1:03:15information you can to better um educate

1:03:18members of this body so we in turn can

1:03:20disseminate information. It's it's so

1:03:23frustrating to me to see illegal

1:03:24dumping. It just irritates the living

1:03:27hell out of me quite frankly.

1:03:28>> Through the chair, just to expound on

1:03:30that, um we recently uh it got put

1:03:34through grand jury. We're indicting four

1:03:36individuals on 19 felony charges of tire

1:03:39dumping. Um, it was a tire. Uh,

1:03:44we actually we got actually had a uh GPS

1:03:47warrant for his vehicle and we were able

1:03:49to track down even more locations that

1:03:50we didn't even know about. And we're

1:03:52talking thousands and thousands of

1:03:53tires.

1:03:54>> And what area was this?

1:03:55>> Uh, this was downtown. This was uh in

1:03:59the fourth district and actually pretty

1:04:01much hit all of the districts. Okay. And

1:04:03uh so like I said, we uh are charged in

1:04:07four individuals were indicted.

1:04:08>> Okay. So then educate us all. Um

1:04:13Wayne Drummond is caught dumping tires

1:04:15in the city. Okay.

1:04:17>> Like we all

1:04:18>> right. And um and do we go after his

1:04:22truck? Do we are we attempting to seize

1:04:25vehicles? Because that's the way to end

1:04:27this crap.

1:04:28>> Uh through the chair this one. Uh we uh

1:04:30we did seize his vehicle. It's down at

1:04:32our uh lot as as we speak is being held

1:04:35as evidence. So are we are we taking

1:04:37legal action to to grab that vehicle

1:04:39>> through the chair? Uh that is one of our

1:04:41main things that we try to do. The issue

1:04:44got we have to go through is whether the

1:04:47vehicle is owned by or leanree you know

1:04:51or and owned by the person if it's owned

1:04:53by the bank or if there's any kind of

1:04:55leans on it. It's what you know

1:04:57>> but as it's a criminal tool

1:04:59>> for sure. Yes sir.

1:05:00>> So we still I'm told that we could go

1:05:02after if it's a criminal tool. through

1:05:04the chair.

1:05:04>> Is it correct?

1:05:05>> No, through the chair. Uh, Sergeant Russ

1:05:07is correct. We will uh try to confiscate

1:05:10and forfeit it as a criminal tool.

1:05:12However, it should we wanted would

1:05:14prefer for it to be free of any leans.

1:05:16Has to be owned by the individual

1:05:17because sometimes they're leased

1:05:19vehicles. Um, they're owned by the bank.

1:05:21So, if it's lean free, then part of what

1:05:24we would do is ask the courts to forfeit

1:05:26that as a criminal tool.

1:05:27>> But someone needs from law needs to

1:05:29educate me. Even though there's a lean

1:05:31on it, we confiscate it. The lease

1:05:35holder, I mean, the le is still

1:05:37responsible for that, not us.

1:05:39>> In years past that

1:05:41>> through the through the chair is

1:05:42correct. But if there's a lean on the

1:05:44vehicle, the vehicle has to be paid off.

1:05:46Uh the city could to your point, the

1:05:49city could pay off the lean, but uh if

1:05:52you have a a large lean left on the

1:05:53vehicle, I don't think it makes sense.

1:05:54I'm going to make a request through law

1:05:57if somebody could educate the because it

1:06:00was my understanding that we could if

1:06:02it's a lease vehicle, we could take it

1:06:05and it's up to the person who had the

1:06:07lease with uh whoever that they're

1:06:10they're on the hook for that vehicle,

1:06:12not the city. So, I would make that

1:06:14request through the law department if we

1:06:16could get some clarification because you

1:06:18start taking people's trucks and their

1:06:20cars. Now, you send a message because

1:06:23now now you've up the Andy. Now, it

1:06:25becomes a different a different level.

1:06:28Do I take the chance of dumping in the

1:06:30city and losing my dump truck or dump or

1:06:32losing my pickup truck, then that

1:06:34becomes a whole another ball game.

1:06:35>> It sure does.

1:06:36>> Because a lot of this stuff, I will tell

1:06:37you that I've seen in my own ward is not

1:06:39coming out of a trunk of a car. You

1:06:41could see when it's in the street. You

1:06:43can know it's coming off a truck. It's

1:06:45coming off a truck. When you see a pile,

1:06:48a pyramid, you know it's coming off of a

1:06:50vehicle, a a pickup truck, a dump truck.

1:06:54It's not someone's not standing there

1:06:56pitching it out of a truck, out of a

1:06:57trunk. That's that's what I'm concerned

1:06:59about is the the people who come in or

1:07:02piles of construction debris. I know

1:07:04that's coming off a truck. So, um,

1:07:07again, I just I'm I'm just saying this

1:07:10is something that is at the at the heart

1:07:13of members of this council. We want the

1:07:15law enforce. We want tough um

1:07:17anti-dumping laws. We want the strictest

1:07:19penalties possible direct. And I will

1:07:22say that since I made a request at the

1:07:23law department, if there's something

1:07:24within the codified orances that we need

1:07:27to tweak or that we need to change, then

1:07:29then please notify us and we'll and I I

1:07:32don't think there's a member at this

1:07:33table would would not go on would not

1:07:35sign on to support that legislation. And

1:07:37I would say that through the director,

1:07:39if something we need to tweak, then tell

1:07:42us what it is. We did that on the

1:07:43nuisance law. You guys, we asked you to

1:07:46look at the nuisance law. Tell tell us

1:07:48where we need to tweak it. We did it and

1:07:50it's working. Let's do the same here

1:07:52with the dumping laws. Okay. Members of

1:07:54my councilman

1:07:57Jones.

1:07:59>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um you just last

1:08:02week I gave a speech on the council

1:08:04floor uh about illegal dumping because

1:08:06it's been a very as as the chair has

1:08:09mentioned very frustrating issue um in

1:08:12my ward and throughout the city. Um

1:08:16through the chair, what is the penalty

1:08:18for illegal dumping in the city of

1:08:19Cleveland right now?

1:08:22>> Sergeant, could you tell us what it is

1:08:23if you know it?

1:08:25>> Uh through the chair, it it's kind of a

1:08:28case by case uh scenario whether it be

1:08:30classified as a unclassified felony or a

1:08:33misdemeanor. And then uh from that point

1:08:36once it's turned over to the

1:08:38>> pull your mic up closer. That's all

1:08:39right. Just pull just talking into

1:08:41>> Okay. And then uh once it's turned over

1:08:43to the prosecutor's office, then it's

1:08:46that's where you know it's whenever

1:08:48however they the judge deems it not the

1:08:52the penalty necessary.

1:08:53>> Cleveland police prosecutor.

1:08:55>> Correct.

1:08:55>> Okay. Thank you.

1:08:56>> The city prosecutor, not the county

1:08:58prosecutor.

1:08:58>> City prosecutor would be the misdemeanor

1:09:00and then the uh the county prosecutor

1:09:01would be our fel would be the felony.

1:09:03>> But she would but our prosecutor would

1:09:05make the determination whether it goes

1:09:07recommend for a felony charge. Correct.

1:09:09>> Correct.

1:09:10>> Okay. And

1:09:11>> so through the chair, what would what

1:09:12would uh raise dumping uh from a

1:09:14misdemeanor to a felony?

1:09:17>> Uh through uh through the chair uh to

1:09:19council woman. Um we uh it depends on uh

1:09:23solid waste is a automatic um felony

1:09:27charge. And then it also then would be

1:09:30dependent on uh the amount generally the

1:09:34amount of it. And when we would present

1:09:36the facts to the prosecutors,

1:09:40they would also kind of go off of what

1:09:42past uh practices as far as whether they

1:09:45deem it would deem it a felony, whether

1:09:47they felt it's felony worthy or

1:09:49misdemeanor. Uh the other issue we would

1:09:52have too is identifying. So the burden

1:09:56of proof on misdemeanors is a lot less

1:09:59than a felony. uh with misdemeanor

1:10:02charges. Generally, if we have a

1:10:04vehicle,

1:10:05it's that the way that the misdemeanor

1:10:08law is just the vehicle possession of

1:10:11the vehicle, whether you're driving it

1:10:13or not, if you're the owner of the

1:10:14vehicle, we can charge you with

1:10:15misdemeanor dumping. We don't have to

1:10:18see necessarily see you, identify you,

1:10:21or anything like that. You're the owner

1:10:23of the vehicle. You should have uh know

1:10:26about whereabouts where your vehicle is.

1:10:28Now, felony dumping, there's a little

1:10:30bit more burden of proof. They want

1:10:32face. They want to be able to us to be

1:10:34able to physically identify the person

1:10:37that's uh

1:10:37>> more than the vehicle through

1:10:39>> more than just the vehicle. We can

1:10:40>> more than the license plate.

1:10:41>> We can get the license plate. Yes. And

1:10:43then if we get the license plate matches

1:10:46whoever is on screen that we've

1:10:49witnessed doing a dumping, then that we

1:10:51can certainly charge them with a felony.

1:10:53Uh but sometimes we do have very strong

1:10:55cases with plates and we see a people we

1:11:00just don't quite get a very good look at

1:11:03uh the person. We can't quite make out

1:11:05the person. We end up having that

1:11:07prosecutors were recommended dropping it

1:11:08down to the misdemeanor because of the

1:11:11level of of proof that we need.

1:11:13>> Okay. through the chair. Um, what's the

1:11:15prosecution rate in in Cleveland for

1:11:17illegal dumping then for and I don't

1:11:19expect you to know this now, but um this

1:11:21this information the the prosecution

1:11:24rate in Cleveland for misdemeanors as

1:11:26well as felony illegal dumping in the

1:11:30city. Um, I'd like to know that

1:11:31information for the last I'd say three

1:11:34years. Um, and then also in addition to

1:11:37the prosecution rate, I'd also like to

1:11:39know the conviction rate. Um, I've had

1:11:42some conversations with um um city

1:11:47attorneys who've said who who were, you

1:11:49know, previously prosecutors who said

1:11:51they they hate prosecuting illegal

1:11:53dumping cases because they're very hard

1:11:54to to prosecute. Um, so I'm interested

1:11:57in learning exactly where the problem

1:11:59lies. Is the problem in enforcement? Is

1:12:02the problem in prosecution? Is the

1:12:04problem um, as uh, Councilman Palinsk

1:12:07said, um, the laws. Do do our laws need

1:12:10to be changed to make them stronger?

1:12:13>> Um and um

1:12:16>> well she the council lady has made a

1:12:18request. So whatever you can provide to

1:12:21us within a reasonable period of time um

1:12:24the better it is and again if there's

1:12:28issues where I I have no problemre I

1:12:31don't think there's a member here we

1:12:33have no problem increasing the penalties

1:12:36if you have successions as to increasing

1:12:39the penalties we we'll gladly do that we

1:12:42just want the laws enforced and we want

1:12:44these people who are so disrespectful of

1:12:47our neighborhoods Um, we want them dealt

1:12:51with.

1:12:51>> Council lady.

1:12:52>> Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, and then

1:12:55in the example you gave of the of the

1:12:57dumper with um thousands of tires and

1:13:00there were four people indicted. So

1:13:02those all four people they were indicted

1:13:04on felony charges

1:13:06>> through the chair through uh

1:13:08Councilwoman Hudson. Yes, they all four

1:13:10were indicted on um uh felony level

1:13:14dumping charges.

1:13:14>> That's what we need. And um through the

1:13:17chair, I'm also interested in learning

1:13:19about uh you know, a lot of the signs

1:13:22that you see saying about illegal

1:13:24dumping, they say rewards offered. Um so

1:13:27I'd also like to know more about the

1:13:29reward for tips on illegal dumping and

1:13:32how often there are payouts for those

1:13:34awards.

1:13:36>> Thank you, Chair, Councilwoman. We'll

1:13:37get that information, work with our

1:13:38Crimestoppers. We'll provide

1:13:40information.

1:13:41>> Thank you.

1:13:43>> Thank you, Council Lady. Um, Councilman

1:13:45Jones.

1:13:46>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, Mr.

1:13:48Chairman, to my colleague, I'd certainly

1:13:49love to sit down with you, um, at a

1:13:52later date, maybe as well, Mr. Chairman,

1:13:54our legal team, our staff to really talk

1:13:57about this particular subject because it

1:14:00is the same thing. And

1:14:03it's soup warmed over and um, and we're

1:14:07still having problems. And this is now

1:14:0933, 34, 35, 35 years now. And um even in

1:14:15some areas it's gotten better. Um but

1:14:18we've seen nothing change here at the

1:14:20table other than just the people change.

1:14:22Uh but the situation has has been

1:14:25ongoing. Mr. Chairman, I think the

1:14:27council needs to step it up to another

1:14:29level. Um or we'll be sitting here

1:14:3333 more years talking about the same

1:14:36issue. Um and I suggest, Mr. Chairman,

1:14:39that we look at increasing the fees. I

1:14:42like the concept and the thought that

1:14:43you've challenged the law department to

1:14:46take a closer look at um really going

1:14:50after these people's property and making

1:14:54them responsible, Mr. Chairman, for any

1:14:57leans to the property. Sometimes we sit

1:14:59at the table, Mr. Chairman, and we hear

1:15:02all of these excuses coming back and

1:15:04forth about why we shouldn't, couldn't,

1:15:06and can't. Um, this is our municipal

1:15:09corporation and our citizens are being

1:15:11violated. Our city is being victimized.

1:15:15We're the victims of people, Mr.

1:15:17Chairman, who are coming out of other

1:15:19communities and have been coming out of

1:15:21other neighborhoods and communities uh

1:15:23and and just illegally dumping. For an

1:15:25example, Mr. Chairman, on East 167th

1:15:28Street and Miles Avenue, Family Dollar,

1:15:31uh, Mr. chairman which was closed down

1:15:33due to the fact that it kept being

1:15:35robbed kept being robbed twice Mr.

1:15:38Chairman out of a week this facility is

1:15:41being robbed and unfortunately I was

1:15:44told by then the police chief Mr. Kutz

1:15:47uh that he wasn't going to do too much

1:15:48about that only due to the fact that uh

1:15:52it's a low-level felony or a low-level

1:15:54crime and um and they got bigger bigger

1:15:58issues within the district and Mr.

1:16:00chairman.

1:16:04>> Yes, sir.

1:16:04>> I hear this all the time. And so now

1:16:07they've closed my store down. Now it's

1:16:10it's it was a brand new Family Dollar

1:16:12store. It's now vacant. And we have a

1:16:15lot of illegal dumping going over there.

1:16:18And I have to and I I must give Mr.

1:16:21Leairard kudos. Um as well as um Mr. uh

1:16:27Commissioner Scott. uh when I do give

1:16:29them a call, they do get out and try to

1:16:30get folks out to to resolve these

1:16:33issues, but it's ongoing. I I have

1:16:36several dumping site locations. So, it

1:16:38leads me to, Mr. Chairman, uh sitting

1:16:40down as a council, this should be a part

1:16:42of our caucus. If if Mr. Chairman, in

1:16:45terms of the leadership who's sitting

1:16:46here, we should make this a part of a

1:16:49caucus session uh in terms of coming to

1:16:52some type of resolution dealing with

1:16:54illegal dumping in our community. And I

1:16:57went as far, Mr. Chairman, to look at

1:16:59some of the garbage debris and I've

1:17:02tracked some of it. Uh, some of it as

1:17:04far as Willoughby for illegal dumping.

1:17:07So, there are people who are coming out.

1:17:09They're doing trash outs in Willoughby.

1:17:11They're doing trash outs in Westlake.

1:17:13They're doing trash outs and and and

1:17:16Madina and these addresses that I'm

1:17:18getting out of these garbage. I even go

1:17:20as far as tracking it down to the site

1:17:22locations. I've went as far as even um

1:17:26uh going to the apartment buildings

1:17:28where where you got the the the name of

1:17:30the person and the apartment unit. Mr.

1:17:33Chairman, um and I'll say this uh to our

1:17:36police officers, who are our new police

1:17:38officers dealing with illegal dumping?

1:17:40Who who are they?

1:17:42>> The chair there, Councilman Jones. Uh we

1:17:44have the environmental crimes task

1:17:46force. We have a detective that's signed

1:17:48there. We also have Sergeant West.

1:17:50Sergeant West is sitting here. He's

1:17:52here. He's in charge of the unit. Also

1:17:54has another detective unless there are

1:17:55more folks assigned there. I know right

1:17:57now they're assigned to it, but they

1:17:59also partner with the county. They also

1:18:01partner with the health department and

1:18:02others.

1:18:07>> Now, I'm giving you my card because

1:18:09that's how serious I am about it. And um

1:18:13and I've talked to your predecessors

1:18:14before you and pretty much haven't

1:18:17gotten anywhere. And um you know we

1:18:20handle a lot of situations in our

1:18:23neighborhood. Mr. Chairman to Sergeant

1:18:24Mer I mean was Sergeant West.

1:18:27>> Okay. Sergeant West. We handle a lot of

1:18:30um issues and sometimes we're inundated

1:18:33with situations. Um but I would like to

1:18:36know more about um Mr. Chairman to

1:18:39Sergeant West. What kind of cameras are

1:18:40we talking about when you say mobile

1:18:43cameras?

1:18:44Sergeant

1:18:46>> uh to the chair uh to Councilman Jones.

1:18:50Um they are more or less trail cameras.

1:18:54They would be considered uh a pretty

1:18:56discreet camera setup that we have that

1:18:58uh that captures uh video and pictures.

1:19:04>> So are they like So when you talk about

1:19:06them, you said they're pretty good. Are

1:19:08like the top of the line?

1:19:10>> Yes, sir.

1:19:10>> Okay. And then how do they work?

1:19:13uh through the chair to uh Councilman

1:19:16Jones. Uh they are motion activated. Um

1:19:19and they are uh they work day and night.

1:19:24Uh we replace we have a camera rotation

1:19:26with our cameras. They're battery

1:19:28operated and uh we have like a weekly

1:19:31schedule. We go through replace the

1:19:34batteries and uh review the video.

1:19:37>> I see. So the batteries last for about a

1:19:39week.

1:19:39>> Yes. Yes, sir.

1:19:40>> I see. And so do we have how many police

1:19:43officers, Sergeant West, do we have

1:19:44working on this?

1:19:47>> Uh through the chair, uh through

1:19:49Councilman Jones, we have uh one

1:19:52Cleveland detective and we have two

1:19:55deputy sheriffs from the county that are

1:19:57assigned to us.

1:19:59>> So we have one Cleveland police officer

1:20:01and he's called a detective.

1:20:03>> It's actually two. It's the sergeant

1:20:04himself.

1:20:06the sergeant to one detective and two

1:20:08deputy sheriffs are assigned to the task

1:20:11force.

1:20:11>> And who are the two deputy sheriffs?

1:20:15>> Uh through the chair to Councilman

1:20:17Jones. There's uh Detective Myers and

1:20:19Detective Barnhard.

1:20:23>> Myers and Barnhard.

1:20:25>> Yes, sir.

1:20:26>> Can you spell Barnhard just to make

1:20:27sure?

1:20:28>> B A R N H A R T.

1:20:32>> I thought so. All right. So, is it

1:20:35possible um Mr. Chairman to the director

1:20:38that I could meet with um the two deputy

1:20:40sheriffs, the sergeant west um and and

1:20:44who's the other one you said for

1:20:45Cleveland?

1:20:46>> Detective Haggi H Detective Haggy. H A G

1:20:50Y

1:20:53>> Detective Hang

1:20:57>> But complaints would go to you. We would

1:20:59send them directly to you, members of

1:21:01council.

1:21:01>> Yes, sir.

1:21:02>> Okay. Okay. So, I would like to set up a

1:21:04meeting first, Mr. Chairman. I believe

1:21:07you, Sergeant West. You're running the

1:21:08whole show.

1:21:09>> Yes, sir.

1:21:10>> I see. So, I'd love to set up a a time

1:21:12with you if that's okay. Um, to talk

1:21:15about these cameras. Now, I How about if

1:21:18I get some permanent cameras where, you

1:21:20know, I got I got five site locations

1:21:23where they're always dumping and maybe

1:21:27we can move some around. How much would

1:21:29it cost me if I got five of those

1:21:31cameras? And then but before we go

1:21:33there, you also have another camera you

1:21:36set up on the pole, correct?

1:21:37>> Uh through the chair to Councilman

1:21:39Jones. Yes, sir.

1:21:40>> And that camera is that a permanent

1:21:42camera?

1:21:42>> It's mobile.

1:21:43>> It would be it's it's wouldn't be

1:21:45necessarily a permanent location. It's a

1:21:47it's one that would be hung up on a pole

1:21:49that would get powered like from the uh

1:21:52>> so we can power it up.

1:21:53>> Power it up and then it would have uh

1:21:56live feed live feed 24 hours a day that

1:21:58it's recorded.

1:21:59>> How much does that cost? uh with this

1:22:02grant that with the one that we

1:22:04received, it's uh $15,000.

1:22:07And the um the other cameras that we

1:22:11purchased, the

1:22:13trail cameras, we're purchasing seven of

1:22:15them, and I believe they were about

1:22:18$5,000 total for all the equipment

1:22:21because there's the the camera, the the

1:22:23housing, the lock, and all that stuff.

1:22:26>> Thank you,

1:22:26>> Mr. Chairman. I'd like to, if possible,

1:22:29work with the safety director to

1:22:31purchase cameras through our

1:22:32neighborhood equity fund so that we

1:22:35could locate um some of these cameras if

1:22:37that's possible. We're working with

1:22:39Sergeant West if that is not overkill.

1:22:42Um but to have some of those cameras uh

1:22:45stationed in our community

1:22:46>> through the chair, Councilman Jones,

1:22:48would love to work with you to get

1:22:50additional equipment.

1:22:51>> Thank you.

1:22:51>> I appreciate that. Thank you.

1:22:53>> So So Mr. Chairman, I'm going I'm going

1:22:55to yield the floor. I appreciate your

1:22:56leadership. I'm going to work with um

1:22:58Nikki Hudson uh with this. We can work

1:23:01together on this to talk about what

1:23:03those fines and fees are, working along

1:23:05with you, Mr. Chairman, to talk about

1:23:07getting clarification on taking these

1:23:09people's vehicles.

1:23:10>> Thank you. And so what I'm going to do

1:23:12because Councilwoman Slife has to make

1:23:14an amendment on this piece and

1:23:16Councilwoman um Hudson has a general

1:23:19question outside of this, but this is

1:23:21what I would the charge I would pose to

1:23:24the safe director. uh just as we posed

1:23:26to you the issue with the nuisance law

1:23:30not working or having difficulties and

1:23:33then you did you empowered certain staff

1:23:36people to at my request to um take a

1:23:39deep dive on that. I would ask you the

1:23:41same on this. Look at the existing

1:23:44legislation that we have in connection

1:23:46with the law department and assistant

1:23:48director um Jason um Shakener who was

1:23:52very helpful on the nuisance piece um

1:23:54and come up take a look at it and if

1:23:56there's anything we need to tweak if we

1:23:58need to increase penalties if we need to

1:24:00broaden I I really want that issue in

1:24:03there about confiscation

1:24:05of tools and or vehicles. um you know, I

1:24:09have no problem um doing what we have to

1:24:11do, but I think one of the things that

1:24:13is growing of great concern to the

1:24:15council is that we don't we need to be

1:24:18more aggressive as a city on a lot of

1:24:20this stuff. And so, um I just wanted

1:24:24just a specific point and then again I I

1:24:27have two colleagues that because we some

1:24:28of us have to be at another meeting at

1:24:303:00. Um,

1:24:33I know those of us who are on the edge,

1:24:35I'm getting these reoccurring complaints

1:24:37where people who live u in the suburbs

1:24:41or who have property live in the suburbs

1:24:44who have property in the city of

1:24:45Cleveland bring refuge bring garbage in

1:24:49to place it on a tree lawn or at their

1:24:52place of business. What would you

1:24:54classify that as

1:24:58>> uh to the chair as far as like bringing

1:25:01in your own

1:25:02>> Yes.

1:25:03>> garbage? Yes.

1:25:03>> To where you on your own property

1:25:05though?

1:25:05>> They're they're bringing it in and

1:25:07they're placing it on people's prop and

1:25:10they're placing it on a tree lawn or at

1:25:12their place of business for pickup.

1:25:15>> Oh, so I was I I was just uh clarifying

1:25:17the the question. It's like it's not

1:25:20their property. It's somebody else's

1:25:21property.

1:25:22>> Yeah. They're they're putting like on

1:25:23the they're bringing in putting like on

1:25:24a neighbor's tree lawn.

1:25:26>> Uh that would uh depending on the the

1:25:29level of whatever I mean it could be

1:25:31anywhere from a felony dumping to a

1:25:33littering citation.

1:25:34>> That would still be illegal dumping in

1:25:36the city

1:25:36>> for sure.

1:25:37>> Okay, that's all I need to know. That's

1:25:39all I need to know because those of us

1:25:41are on the edge, we get it

1:25:43>> and it's it's mindboggling to me how

1:25:45people do this stuff. But not

1:25:47nonetheless. So I have a I have first I

1:25:49Councilman Slife needs to make an

1:25:51amendment.

1:25:54>> Thank you. Do you want me to filibuster

1:25:55for 15 minutes?

1:25:56>> No. Okay.

1:25:56>> I don't want you to do that

1:25:58>> cuz some of us have to make a pit stop

1:26:00before the next meeting. Okay.

1:26:02>> Uh uh chairman, I move to amend uh the

1:26:05piece as follows. At the end of section

1:26:084, insert, the director of public safety

1:26:11shall provide written notice to the

1:26:12clerk of council whenever any purchase

1:26:14is made through the cooperative process.

1:26:17Which notice shall include the details

1:26:19of such cooperative purchases?

1:26:22>> Okay. There's been a motion made as our

1:26:24second. There's been a second made.

1:26:27Councilwoman, Councilwoman, I elevated

1:26:30you. Uh, [laughter] and you don't want

1:26:33that position, let me tell you. Um,

1:26:36madame clerk, call the call the role on

1:26:38that one.

1:26:39>> Yes.

1:26:45>> Yes.

1:26:48>> Thank you. The amendment is approved.

1:26:50Uh, Councilwoman uh uh H House

1:26:53Councilwoman Hudson

1:26:56has a question of the direct Wait a

1:26:58minute. Without objection, I'm going to

1:27:00revert back. Without objection,

1:27:02ordinance number 910-2026

1:27:05as amended is approved as amended and

1:27:08you've heard our request. So, we'll look

1:27:10for whatever data you can provide to us.

1:27:13Councilwoman Hudson, you have a question

1:27:15for the director.

1:27:16>> Thank you. Yeah, the questions that I

1:27:17asked regarding um you know uh

1:27:20prosecution rates, conviction rates, um

1:27:23our policy team sent those questions to

1:27:26you beforehand so that you could

1:27:28anticipate answers. Do you happen to

1:27:32have those?

1:27:32>> I have I have uh we have stats for you

1:27:36as far as the

1:27:38grab my notes here.

1:27:40>> Thank you. That's what I was looking

1:27:41for. Thank you. These are the stats. You

1:27:44did send questions over. It wasn't

1:27:46necessarily prosecution rates. Um it was

1:27:48actually they wanted stats from 2021 to

1:27:51present relative to environmental crimes

1:27:53task force. And these are the stats that

1:27:55was presented and sent over to city

1:27:57council. Um we have uh 756 cases were

1:28:01created uh from the task force. 138 uh

1:28:05felony charges referred to prosecutions.

1:28:08Uh 60 misdemeanor charges referred to

1:28:10the prosecution or prosecutors. Eight

1:28:13citations issued, 206 total criminal

1:28:16charges citations referred to or issued.

1:28:20And as far as the prosecution uh

1:28:22regarding a number of cases that result

1:28:24in its successful uh prosecution versus

1:28:26the percentage, I think you were talking

1:28:28about percentage. Uh the environmental

1:28:30cr um crimes task force does not

1:28:32currently track final prosecutional

1:28:36prosecutional um dispositions. Uh the

1:28:40information would be uh requested

1:28:41through the uh city prosecutor's office

1:28:43as well as the county's pro prosecutor's

1:28:45office as far as the final disposition

1:28:47of uh the cases. So yes, we did provide

1:28:50those answers, but um the reason why I

1:28:52didn't mention anything is because you

1:28:53were talking about percentages. That was

1:28:55not what uh was.

1:28:56>> So is that through from 2020

1:28:58>> from 2021 to present

1:29:01>> and and who did you send those to? I

1:29:02don't recall getting those. Did you get

1:29:04those?

1:29:04>> No, I didn't.

1:29:06>> Yeah, those were information that was

1:29:07sent over. Oh,

1:29:08>> but who did they go to?

1:29:10>> I'll check with I'll check.

1:29:11>> Yeah, get those to us with clarification

1:29:13as to what that is.

1:29:14>> So you were holding you were holding

1:29:16stuff back. Well, I wasn't holding I

1:29:18wasn't I wasn't holding anything back as

1:29:21to the question was percentage and I

1:29:22didn't have information for percentage.

1:29:25>> Understood. Okay. Okay. Thank you.

1:29:27>> Thank you. Without any further ado any

1:29:30line of questioning, I want to thank the

1:29:31director and all members and Sergeant

1:29:33West, you're going to be hearing from

1:29:35us. Um we want the law lay down on these

1:29:38illegal dumpers. Do what you got to do

1:29:40to them. Send a message. Yes, sir. We're

1:29:42we're sick of this crap. Okay. Committee

1:29:44stands adjourned. Thank you.

1:29:58>> [music]

1:30:05[music]