Summary

  • Michael Polensek, Safety Committee chair (Ward 10), voiced concern about the City of Cleveland always “picking up the tab” for Cuyahoga County services.

  • Although Cuyahoga County’s officers book and process inmates into the jail system, arresting Cleveland officers have to remain at the facility until the inmate is processed or released. Depending on the crime committed, processing can take up to 36 hours (for charges such as sexual assault and homicide).

Follow-up questions

  • Are culled deer processed for meat to be donated to Cleveland area soup kitchens, homeless shelters and food distribution centers?

  • Why aren’t Cleveland police officers assigned to only work in shifts, with the Department of Corrections, to process or release inmates? Then arresting officers could get back on patrol much sooner.

  • Why does the mayor have so many special assistants, and why does he need a security detail when he travels out of town?

  • Should the budget hearings schedule be extended, for a few extra days, so that all the discussion of information won’t have to be crammed into extra long daily meetings?

The hearing began at 1:05 p.m.

Budget Hearing Resources 

2026 Budget Hearing Presentations

There was no roll call.

The following council members were in attendance:

  • Michael Polensek, Safety Committee chair (Ward 10)
  • Blaine Griffin, council president (Ward 6)
  • Kevin Bishop (Ward 2)
  • Kevin Conwell (Ward 9)
  • Kris Harsh (Ward 4)
  • Brian Kazy (Ward 13)
  • Richard Starr (Ward 5)
  • Charles Slife (Ward 15)
  • Joe Jones (Ward 1)
  • Deborah Gray (Ward 3)
  • Austin Davis (Ward 7)
  • Stephanie Howse-Jones (Ward 8)
  • Nikki Hudson (Ward 11)
  • Tanmay Shah (Ward 12) 

The focus of this portion of General Fund budget hearings was the Department of Public Safety: 

  • Funded through the General Fund. 
  • Cleveland’s city income tax is the largest source of revenue for this fund.
  • This fund is generated by a 2.5% tax on earnings and wages of Cleveland’s residents and non-residents who work in the city.

Public Safety Administration 

Safety Committee chair, Council Member Mike Polensek began the hearing by briefing the council on the agenda.

Next, Wayne Drummond, chief director of the Department of Public Safety, presented to the council.

Polensek questioned the “substantial increase” in total contractual services 

(from $398,000, adopted in 2025, to $804,750 budgeted for 2026).

Drummond explained that the increase was due to the Cleveland Co-Responder Team’s  expenses, which is an obligation under the consent decree.

Council Member Brian Kazy asked why wasn’t rent for the Division of Police taken out of the police department’s budget? 

He added: “And then, on top of that, we are paying $221,000 out of the police budget for 75 Erieview [where several other departments are located].”

City controller James Gentile said: “Just historically, that is where we paid it. So we just continue to budget out of other administrative [categories listed in the Mayor’s Estimate]. But, it is still hitting the same source.” 

Kazy wanted to know what services were provided at 75 Erieview?

Jeffrey Gelfand, administrative manager, answered that assistance and services for victims of domestic violence are provided there.

Kazy asked how many staff provided those services.

Members of the Cleveland Documenters team at City Hall. Top row: Anastazia Vanisko, Larry Gardner, Andrea Jones, Ronaldo Rodriguez Jr, Regina Samuels, Mary Ellen Huesken, Gennifer Harding-Gosnell. Bottom row: Doug Breehl-Pitorak, Kellie Morris, Laura Redmon, Cleveland City Council Member Rebecca Maurer, Sheena Fain, Jeannine Isom-Barnhill, Jotoya Gray, Angela Rush. Credit: Anastazia Vanisko

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Gelfand replied: “It is not staffed by the city of Cleveland, it is staffed by the county and those organizations.”

Then, Kazy asked: “How are we involved, aside from paying rent if we have no staff or anything else there?”

Drummond informed the council that the majority of the domestic violence victims who needed the services were Cleveland residents.

Kazy agreed that the services are needed, but he said that Cleveland was paying $18,500 per month for a program they didn’t have control of, and he also wanted to know if the county paid anything?

Drummond said that he wasn’t aware of anyone else paying any rent for the programs. 

Polensek added: “It seems like we are more frequently picking up the tab for the county. When the question is, ‘Why aren’t the other suburbs contributing as well,’ to this effort?”

Additionally, council president and Finance Committee chair Blaine Griffin suggested that someone from the program appear before the council so that they can all do a “deep dive” into their operations.

[Due to technical difficulties, TV20’s livestream of the meeting briefly ended at this point.

When TV20’s livestream resumed, Shalenah Williams, Cleveland Community Police Commission executive director, was presenting to the council.]

Community Police Commission (CPC) 

Council Member Chalerls Slife asked Williams about the (approximately) $3.5 million set aside in the United Black Fund (UBF) for sub-grantees’ violence prevention programs.

Williams told the council that there is a plan in play to finally award the 40 grantees – who are already vetted and have waited for two years – the combined grants from Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025. 

She said that grant funding will not automatically roll over. Going forward, potential grantees will have to apply for new grants, complete the application packet, and be vetted.

Kazy commented: “This has been a disaster.”

“Absolutely nothing has been quantitatively accomplished with the Community Police Commission,” he added.

Furthermore, Kazy asked if all of the problems, and the checkered past, of this commission could be turned around this year.

Although Williams has only been the executive director for about a month, she replied: “Absolutely.” 

Howse-Jones suggested that the UBF take over and do the entire process of vetting applicants, approving grant funding and awarding grants.

Williams told council that the CPC should be staffed, and fully functional, by September 2026.

Office of Professional Standards (OPS) 

Michael Hess, Office of Professional Standards (OPS) interim administrator, presented to the council. He said that the Civilian Police Review Board (CPRB) oversees OPS.

Furthermore, he said that CPRB meets monthly, and they try to hear 10 to 20 cases per month. “The cases are getting completed by OPS, at about the same rate,” he added.

Polensek asked if the number of complaints that were received by his office had decreased. Hess said yes, they had decreased.

Council Member Stephanie Howse-Jones asked if OPS had met with CPC and CPRB in joint working sessions?

Hess said he had met with the CPRB but not with the CPC. 

Division of Animal Care and Control 

Bruce Campbell, Division of Animal Care and Control manager, presented to the council.

Polensek asked for an explanation for the decrease in wildlife trappings.

Campbell said that they took opossums off of the trapping list, because “an opossum’s body temperature is so low that it doesn’t harbor rabies. It cannot harbor rabies. And they don’t cause any property damage. They are nomadic, they move on.”

“We trap groundhogs, raccoons and skunks. We continue to do that,” he added.

Campbell informed the council that stray cats are sent to the Cleveland Animal Protective League (APL).  He said that his department works closely with the APL, at no cost to the city.

Signal background

He also said that owners can surrender their dogs to be euthanized if their dogs have behavior or health issues.

Polensek asked how many people have been cited/prosecuted for animal cruelty in the city of Cleveland.

Campbell replied that, in 2025, 614 people were charged with animal cruelty. He said that his department’s goal is to offer residents a low-cost, in-house, animal spay and neuter program. 

Additionally, he told the council about a contractor of interest, Freeman Nuisance Pest Control, which has a sustainable Nuisance Wildlife Program that would provide residents with 24/7 services, which includes:

  • Humane trapping procedures 
  • Monitoring all traps
  • Removing animals from traps
  • Euthanizing and cremating the removed animals 
  • Onsite residential prevention plans, education and guidance 
  • Single point entry home repair (at no cost to residents)
  • [Editor’s note: Learn more about this program in reporting from Signal Cleveland’s Nick Castele.]

Polensek commented that critter control is a big issue with the council.

Griffin said that this nuisance program was “exciting” and he asked if this program would be citywide. 

Drummond said that this is a pilot program and, if it is successful, this department would come back to the council and request additional funding.

Council Member Joe Jones asked about plans to control the deer population and their Lyme disease threat.

Campbell informed the council that, thus far, there is no cost-effective way to control the deer population.

Polensek commented that a deer culling program (a regulated, managed, authorized program for hunters and sharpshooters to reduce the deer population in certain areas) was a liability in the city because of the proximity of homes, vehicles and other property.

Also, he said that there is a risk that a sharpshooter or a hunter with a bow and arrow could accidentally hit a resident.

Division of Corrections

Note: At the beginning of this session, “green sheets” (green-colored documents providing updated, in-depth or amended information to help council members amend, review and refine the mayor’s proposed annual budget) were given to council members.

Polensek asked for an explanation of a private Cuyahoga County Corrections Center (CCCC) contract.

Gentile said that it was a contract for billing services when inmates are injured and need medical attention. He added that the additional cost (of $90,000 to $100,000 for the additional person) was on the green sheet.

Council Member Richard Starr asked how many inmates were housed and how much was the daily cost?

Drummond replied that approximately 60 inmates were housed daily, with a $143 per diem.

Furthermore, he said that Cuyahoga County’s officers (not Cleveland’s officers) book and process inmates into the jail system.

However, Cleveland officers have to remain at the facility (which can take up to 12 hours) until the inmate is processed or released. And, depending on the crime committed, it can take up to 36 hours (for charges like sexual assault and homicide).

Starr suggested that officers hand off inmates to an assigned officer at the facility so the arresting officers can return to work on the streets.

Polensek commented that he hoped the county was watching and they should “quit cheating us out of money.”

Also, he said that moving the county jail to Garfield Heights was a terrible decision.

Department of Justice (DOJ)

At the beginning of this session, council members already had green sheets for this department given to them because of typo corrections for the chart on pg. 241.

Polensek asked for an explanation on the Special Assistant to the Mayor position.

Drummond explained that, according to the consent decree, his department had to have a Special Assistant to Mayor position.

Kazy asked: “Why is there a need to spend $25,000 just to promote the DOJ?”

Drummond answered that it was not to promote the Department of Justice. It was for officers to go to various locations to promote hiring for the police division.

Then, Kazy asked why police officer recruitment was in the budget?

Drummond replied that staffing and recruitment was part of the consent decree.

Jones said that the Mayor’ Estimate (the “budget book”) was very confusing and it shouldn’t be.

Dorothy Todd, Cleveland police chief, assured the council that beyond the consent decree, there was a system in place that would maintain sustainability.

Public Safety Inspector General (also known as Police Inspector General)

Shayleen Agarwal, public safety inspector, presented to the council.

She said that her department is the “watchdog” for all the public safety divisions – and they independently conduct reviews, evaluations, investigations, audits and inspections. Her department also oversees OPS.

Polensek said that as a result of the consent decree, the Police Inspector General role was created. The Community Police Commission was also created by the consent decree and later restructured when voters approved Issue 24. Other offices involved in police accountability include the Office of Professional Standards, and the Civilian Police Review Board. 

Drummond told the council that, currently, the Public Safety Inspector General office isn’t investigating any police officers.

Polensek said that this is very confusing – a lot of money is being spent – and they have to more efficiently and effectively figure out how all of this works.

Kazy suggested that some departments be eliminated. He said: “If any department isn’t going to be up to snuff with performance, then we need to take a serious look at it. And this could be one of them.” 

Division of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) 

Commissioner Orlando Wheeler presented to the council.

Polensek asked why EMS response time and overtime had increased? And, he wanted to know if they had enough staff.

Wheeler said EMS was well-staffed. Also, he explained that response time shouldn’t be a factor because EMS paramedics provide “a great level of care” to their patients.

“No one else in this region, nor in the state of Ohio, provides the level of care that we provide here at the division of EMS,” he added.

Furthermore, Wheeler said: “Our response time averages about 6 to 7 minutes.”

Slife commented that rates should be increased for insurance companies.

Gentile said that Medicare and Medicaid were capped out, but room was left on the table to increase rates for private insurers.

Division of Fire 

Wayne Naida, acting Division of Fire chief, presented to the council.

Polensek said that five out of 26 fire stations are currently under renovation.

He said that firefighters and their family members complain to him about the deplorable conditions at the stations.

Paul Barrett, chief financial officer, told the council that the Finance Department is working with the Mayor’s Office of Capital Projects (MOCAP) on a plan to find a way to renovate the other firehouses. 

Additionally, he agreed with Polensek that the budgeted $15,200 for maintenance wasn’t enough for all of the needed renovations. He said that finding a solution would be costly.

Starr requested that Naida inform the council about the current gender and racial makeup of the last two firefighter classes. Then he said that it was very ”problematic” that there were few Black firefighters and firefighters of color in the predominantly African-American city of Cleveland.

[Polensek announced that there would be a five-minute restroom break (which was about  seven minutes).] 

When the hearing resumed, Polensek thanked his colleagues for their attendance. He said they had been there since 9 a.m.

Division of Police 

Dorothy Todd, Division of Police chief, presented to the council.

Polensek requested the dollar amounts of: parking tickets (written in 2025); moving violations; and money confiscated in drug raids. 

Todd said she would get that information for the council.

Additionally, Polensek said when officers switched to 12-hour shifts, the council was told that overtime hours would be reduced – but they were not.

Todd replied that in 2025, a lot of backpay was awarded to officers.

She said that overtime hours in 2025 included special events; sporting events; traffic escorts; airport details; and coverage of protests. 

Also, she told council that the division was short 110 of their 1,350 (or more) goal of total number of officers.

Polensek said that residents want to have a police presence in neighborhoods, like they used to have.

Todd told the council: “We are hiring all qualified candidates.” 

Kazy commented that the salaries for school guards should be the responsibility of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD).

Then, he asked why the mayor traveled with a security detail and who gave him the permission to do that?

Todd said that, nationwide, mayors travel with security details. And that it was “memorialized into a policy.”

Kazy said that it was “overkill” and took up a lot of budget money. “It is not like he is the president. It is not like people know who he is and he has a rockstar fanbase,” he added.

Council members expressed the need for traffic enforcement in their wards.

Todd told them that a lot of traffic violations occur in front of officers and that all police officers can write traffic tickets.

“Traffic violations alone are not reasons for pursuits,” she added.

Shah said he agrees with Kazy regarding Mayor Bibb not requiring a security detail. 

He suggested that if the mayor was so concerned about security that he “should just get a gun.”

Polensek adjourned the meeting at 10:07 p.m. 

These notes are by Documenter  Carolyn Cooper.

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalcleveland.org  with “Correction Request” in the subject line.

Cleveland Documenters pays and trains people to cover public meetings where government officials discuss important issues and decide how to spend taxpayer money.