Cleveland Documenters guide to local government terms

Local government is full of jargon, legal terms and acronyms that can make it harder to understand what decisions are being made and how they affect your community.

The Cleveland Documenters Local Government Glossary is designed to make those terms easier to understand. It brings together definitions we’ve developed over years of covering public meetings and answering readers’ questions and makes them accessible as people read the stories that appear on our website.

You also can search terms on this page or find them alphabetically.

When you see an underlined term in a Signal Cleveland story, you can view its definition without leaving the page. On a desktop computer, hover over the term. On a mobile device, tap it.

Don’t see a word or acronym you think belongs here? Click here to suggest a term to add. We’ll continue expanding the glossary with help from our readers and the Cleveland Documenters community.

A city planning framework where all essential services are available to residents within a 15-minute walk, bike ride, or transit trip (e.g., grocery store, park, restaurants, job).

A community development model where aging and older residents are able to continue living in their residences and in their communities with supports as their health and other needs increase.

Federal economic relief for governments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cleveland received roughly $512 million to cover expenses and spend on projects.

Money authorized by formal action, such as a city council , for a specific purpose.

A figure that is often used to determine who is eligible for affordable housing. It is the midpoint of a region's income distribution. Half of all households in the region make more than this amount and half make less.

An official inspection of an individual's or organization's financial accounts, typically by an independent body.

Residents can propose a new ordinance or suggest to repeal or amend an existing one by submitting a petition to the Clerk of City Council that is signed by at least 5,000 eligible Cleveland voters. Once certified, the proposed ordinance goes through council's legislative process. If the ordinance is not passed the way the petitioners want, it can be placed on the ballot for a vote. There is a similar process for at the state level.

Money a hotel must pay the city for each room rented.

An IOU or promise to repay borrowed money by a specific date. Bond proceeds are primarily used to finance .

Money for internal or long-term investments in infrastructure.

The construction, rehabilitation or acquisition of fixed assets (buildings, bridges) or permanent improvements.

A portion of the 5% of that the City of Cleveland gets each year and council members get to spend.

Collects taxes for the City of Cleveland.

Often reviewed by the Landmarks Commission, a Certificate of Appropriateness is a document stating that any proposed work is appropriate for the historic district the building is in and meets criteria in the local code. A certificate is required before most exterior work begins and before a building permit can be issued.

A legal document that lays out the structure and operation of a municipal government. Like a constitution but at the local level.

This seven-member body of that oversees development and improvement in Cleveland and its neighborhoods and reviews legislation and other matters that concern the use or development of land. Six members are appointed by the mayor and one is a City Council member.

Accepts and processes applications for some Cleveland jobs, administers tests to create lists of qualified applicants, and certifies names from eligible lists to fill vacant positions within the city.

This office administers Cleveland's Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Program, which aims to address the lack of credit and services in the city, particularly for residents who are Black, indigenous, people of color or low -income. This office is part of the Office of Fair Housing & Consumer Affairs within the Cleveland of Community Development.

A city board made up of members of the mayor's cabinet and city heads. It directs the city's of Purchases & Supplies.

Cleveland's Division of Park Maintenance & Properties provides burial services and maintenance for public cemeteries.

The collection of the laws that lay out the functions of Cleveland's government. Also known as "the code" or "the city code," the are organized by sections and chapters according to topic.

City-owned facility on Lakeside Avenue hosts meetings, trade shows, theatrical events and receptions.

Used to support capital improvements and payments related to Huntington Bank Field. The primary revenue sources are the sin tax, service charges and money transferred from the .

The head of a specific within a City of Cleveland department.

Cleveland City Council Committee of the Whole consists of all 17 council members acting as a committee. It can serve as a step in the process of vetting important legislation before the council officially votes.

A contract between a developer and community-based organizations representing residents' interests. This agreement lists the developer's commitments to the community and to residents if they support the project. These commitments often include the hiring of local people, giving contracts to local businesses or the inclusion of affordable housing options.

Money provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) intended to help cities provide safe and decent housing and support economic opportunity for low-wealth residents. Has specific rules as to how it can be spent.

Nonprofit, community-focused entities whose mission is to support their affiliated city neighborhoods with a range of programs boosting affordable housing, economic development, safety and social services. have some oversight of new developments in their areas.

Responsible for promoting peaceful relationships between Cleveland groups from different cultures, protecting civil rights, and conducting multicultural outreach, engagement and education. Officials help mediate disputes related to police or community relations or with youth or families in crisis.

A set of rules governing Cleveland City Council's procedures and decorum for conducting business.

A channel crossing under a road or railway for the draining of water.

A is an angled cut in the edge of a curb that permits vehicle or wheelchair access from a street to a driveway, garage, or loading dock.

What it costs the city to borrow money for projects or services.

Department

The entity overseeing specific types of Cleveland city services. Headed by a who is responsible for all of the in the department.

The head of a Cleveland department.

Small businesses where historically, socially, and economically disadvantaged individuals (women and Hispanic, African American, Indigenous, Asian-Pacific and Subcontinent Asian American individuals) own at least a 51% interest and control management and daily business operations.

Division

A division is part of a Cleveland city department. It handles specific city programs or services and is headed by a .

Responsible for answering calls and complaints in Cleveland concerning dogs, cats and nuisance wildlife, including skunks, raccoons, opossums and groundhogs. It also oversees the city kennel and works to get pets adopted and reduce the number of euthanized animals.

Responsible for the construction, maintenance and repair of Cleveland streets, including fixing potholes and surface cracks, street cleaning, illegal waste dumping and graffiti removal.

Cleveland laws that take effect 10 days after passage or immediately after the mayor signs them. Legislation requires a two-thirds affirmative vote — currently 10 or more votes — to carry emergency status.

Money reserved for a specific debt or future . An organization can encumber in multiple ways and for multiple reasons, such as creating a purchase order to buy goods or services.

Charges on property or assets, such as a mortgage. The purpose of accounting is to avoid budget overspending by showing open commitments as part of projected expenses.

Cleveland that contain city-run businesses that generate their own revenue, such as Cleveland Water, Cleveland Public Power and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

Funds that hold money collected from bills or that finance or support a public service. In Cleveland, this includes the Cleveland Division of Water and Cleveland Public Power. This money is kept separate from other funds.

Residents can make to the Cleveland Department of Public Health regarding any activity (or neglect) that negatively impacts the health, safety, welfare, comfort or convenience of the general public. Public nuisances that can be reported may include: accumulation of garbage, animal nuisance, asbestos, farm animals, food complaints, fugitive dust, high grass or weeds and sewage backup.

A closed-door part of an otherwise open public meeting where members of the public are not permitted to observe the proceedings. An is allowed under state law when a public body discusses something in private, such as personnel issues (hirings or firings) or negotiations to buy land. Any formal decisions or votes must happen in public.

An amount of money spent, or the act of spending money.

A charge to a person or business who is using or benefiting from a city service. For example, when a person applies for a building permit, that pays for an inspector to make sure the construction work is done properly.

A 12-month period when a budget begins and ends. Cleveland's is Jan. 1 through Dec. 31. The federal government's fiscal year is Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.

Zoning laws that regulate land development to achieve a specific urban form, such as a walkable neighborhood with many different land uses. The organizing principle behind is place-making.

In parliamentary procedure, this is an amendment that is unanimously agreed upon by the voting body as an enhancement, or helpful clarification to the current version of a piece of legislation.

Fund

Used to account for money. Must be balanced for money coming in and going out.

General Fund

Most Cleveland city services are supported from this , including police, fire and EMS, the city's recreation centers and garbage pick up.

A provision in a new law that allows already existing situations to be exempt from changing to follow a new policy. In housing policy, this could mean that buildings can violate new zoning laws or building requirements if those violations were permissible when the building was constructed or acquired.

Money from the state or federal government or a nonprofit organization that pays for a specific purpose or program.

Greensheets are corrections to the Cleveland Budget Book. Council members are sometimes given a green sheet of paper with updated numbers from a department or division to replace an existing budget book page.

The authority of a region to govern itself rather than be governed by a distant power. Cleveland officially gained that authority from Ohio in 1912, and its first took effect in 1914.

A program run by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development aimed at developing and preserving safe, affordable housing for low-income and homeless families. The Ohio Development Services Agency distributes this money in Ohio.

Council's online legislation-management system.

Something a person or company owes, usually a sum of money such as loans, accounts payable, mortgages, deferred revenues, , warranties and accrued expenses.

A document created each year that outlines the Cleveland city administration's budget process, policies and decisions for every department and division.

A form of city government in which the executive and legislative powers are split between an elected mayor and an elected city council. In a council-city-manager form of government, an elected council can hire and fire the city manager.

An MOU is a written agreement between two or more parties that defines the relationships between the parties and describes what the parties agree on.

Areas of Cleveland identified by developers, planners and housing non-profits as being on the borderline between growing and declining economically.

The Model Blocks program provides a source of public investment funds to remove blight and preserve neighborhood buildings in targeted areas. The program has two focus areas: exterior repairs on owner-occupied residential property and the acquisition of vacant property.

Monitors and enforces the minority- and female-owned business enterprise programs. Assures that union workers are getting paid the proper wages, makes sure city contractors are following residency and other requirements, and investigates and imposes penalties on businesses that don't comply.

This relatively new department was created to expand services at neighborhood resource and recreation centers. Focus areas include: Job and career readiness, health and wellness, youth development, mentorship, leadership and community service, the arts, and sports and recreation.

Develops policies and programs to foster a culture of sustainability. Works with city departments and outside partners on projects that support cost savings for taxpayers, residents and businesses and produce environmental benefits.

The chief executive in Cleveland's mayor-council system oversees all city services and is responsible for enforcing the city charter, city ordinances and Ohio laws.

Plan for how to spend public money.

A piece of legislation passed into law in a city or town.

A piece of land with defined boundaries. Parcel numbers are used by the county for purposes.

Cleveland's Division of Parking Facilities handles construction, maintenance and operation of all city-owned garages and downtown. Also oversees on-street parking, parking tickets and snow bans.

Refers to when Cleveland City Council suspends its rules and votes on legislation after reading it on only one day — the same day it was introduced to full council.

A salary range for a government job, sometimes negotiated between the city and labor unions. City Council has the final say over for city positions.

Money that property owners pay based on the value of the property they own. Used to levy taxes for purposes such as funding libraries and schools.

The opportunity for members of the public to voice their opinions at government meetings. Sometimes a public body will set aside time during their meetings for comment.

A request submitted to a government entity for access to documents or materials maintained about public business. The City of Cleveland has a portal online. Sometimes referred to as a Freedom of Information Act request or FOIA. (Learn more from our guide to making records requests.)

An arrangement or cooperation between a private corporation, organization or person and the government. Often the private entity will help fund or provide services to assist a government-led project.

A is the minimum number of members of a council, board or committee that must be present at any of its meetings to take a valid vote.

Surplus revenue from the General Fund set aside for use during unexpected expenses.

A right granted to registered voters by Cleveland's city charter allowing them to repeal laws passed by council or put them to a citywide vote. It requires gathering signatures totaling 10% or more of the votes cast in the last regular city election. They must be delivered to council within 30 days of passage of the law in question. See also: Ballot Initiative.

To take a property from an owner and give it to the city or municipality. This is usually done so the city can demolish a structure.

Publicly announces a project and calls for bids or applications from qualified contractors to complete the project.

When a public entity or company asks vendors of specific products or services to give a quote or list their prices for the desired goods or services.

Cleveland City Council's official declarations of support, opposition, sympathy and celebration. (At Cuyahoga County Council and other government bodies, authorize actions like the spending of public money or appointing people to government positions.)

This program provides grant funds to low-income Cleveland residents aged 60+ and disabled adults who reside in a single- or two-family home needing critical health, safety and maintenance repairs. Only one critical repair item can be addressed with the grant funds.

The minimum distance a building or other structure must be set back from a street, property boundary, body of water or other landmark. can be legislated via ordinances and zoning and building codes.

An account to collect money for a specific purpose or project. Funds are kept separate for accountability and transparency.

Set by the U.S. Department of the Interior, these criteria determine if a historic rehabilitation project qualifies as a certified historic rehabilitation or renovation. The Cleveland Landmarks Commission uses these standards to approve or deny proposed changes to historic structures.

Supports basic street maintenance, including snow removal, street repairs and resurfacing. The primary revenue sources are state auto license and gasoline taxes and money transferred from the General Fund.

Cleveland doesn't always repave an entire street at once. A segment is a stretch of road between two cross streets.

The process in which any public street or alleyway is transferred from public ownership to private ownership. In Cleveland, the City Council must make a public about the , and a public meeting must be held to hear any objections to the transfer of the property.

School payments for recreation and cultural activities are made through this fund group. Revenue is derived from parking and vehicle lessor taxes by transfer payments from Cleveland's General Fund.

When Cleveland City Council does away with the requirement to read legislation on three separate days before taking a vote. With a two-thirds affirmative vote — currently 10 or more votes — to "," council can then vote on legislation after readings on only one or two distinct days.

The reduction or elimination of taxes on the increase in a property's value after new construction or renovation. Taxation on the previous or existing value is not changed.

A public financing method that is used as a subsidy for redevelopment, infrastructure and other community-improvement projects. Learn more about TIF's here.

Cleveland City Council's official journal of its proceedings.

Zoning laws that focus on the type of use allowed on a piece of land. This is based on a traditional notion that each space should have a singular use, and structures with similar uses should be grouped together and segregated from those of different uses.

Lays out how unspent money budgeted for a department, division or purpose will be transferred to any other department, division or purpose. According to , the city may recommend a transfer of funds at any time. A is common in December.

Assets or property that are free and clear of debts and liens.

A zoning tool that guides the future growth and character of an area in a manner consistent with a specific community plan. An overlay zoning district is placed over the base zoning in the city in order to modify the base zoning's regulatory standards. This allows development in specific areas to break from the traditional, use-based .

Permission to not follow a section of the city's zoning or building law. A property owner must request a , and a board decides to grant or deny the request. Two main types of are "area" and "use." An area variance concerns laws dealing with the height of a structure or how far back from the road it sits. A use variance deals with restrictions for what a property can be used for.

A policy that provides funding for a workplace's employees to receive additional education or training that would increase employee productivity, capacity or growth.

A set of laws that restrict and define the way land can be used. They regulate the types of development that can occur on each of land in a community. Zoning typically divides a community into districts that group compatible uses together and exclude incompatible uses. Common land uses found in these laws include residential, industrial, recreational or commercial. Zoning laws also include regulations that determine building placement (), height of structures, lot sizes, lot coverage, parking and other requirements.

Suggest a term to add to the glossary

Currently the glossary contains terms specific to local government in Cleveland. Some of the terms may also apply to other local governments or be used slightly differently at the county or state level. Find all of the current words that are defined here: https://signalcleveland.org/cleveland-local-government-glossary-documenters/

What term or acronym do you want us to add to the local government glossary?

Have a suggestion to update or correct a definition? Leave it below.

What does it mean? A Cleveland Documenters guide to local government terms

Suggest a term to add to the glossary

Emma Sedlak

Cleveland Documenters

Black business owners in Greater Cleveland say access to capital is their biggest challenge

Renovated women’s shelter to open as Cuyahoga County could lose 400 beds for homeless

Rediscovering a new Old Brooklyn once ‘frozen in time’

How to make sure your CMSD student has a seat on the school bus for the 2025-2026 year

Your home is an investment: How to create generational wealth

Ohio will soon get new Medicaid work requirements. Here’s what we know and don’t know

Need a hand around the house? How to access Cleveland’s Chore Services Program

How data centers could affect Northeast Ohio’s power grid, water use and air quality

43 properties on the nuisance list in Second Police District

What new HUD guidelines mean for Cuyahoga Homeless Services

Cuyahoga County respiratory hospitalizations outpace state average

33 new apartment units, some marked affordable, coming to MidTown

Suggest a term to add to the glossary

Beat the scroll — get alerts straight to your phone