Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee- October 12, 2026

Cleveland City Council’s Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee met October 12, 2026, and approved several procurement and infrastructure measures. Ordinance 923-2026 authorizes acceptance of a $1.15 million U.S. Department of Transportation Regional Infrastructure Accelerator grant, with no local match, and one or more professional-services contracts for technical, financial, legal and project-management assistance. The grant has a 36-month term and is expected to support analysis of TIF and federal financing options, including work related to the North Coast Connector and lakefront projects. An amendment requiring quarterly reports to Council on retained consultants, their scope and grant expenditures passed, and the ordinance was approved as amended. The committee also approved Ordinance 1043-2026 authorizing temporary and seasonal staffing contracts for up to one year; an amendment bars weapons and illegal substances on the job and requires termination after two or more infractions. Members discussed the long-standing Snyder Blake relationship, employee pay and the city’s estimated $2.7–$2.8 million annual Public Works spending through the arrangement; staff agreed to provide citywide contract totals and vendor history.

Other approved items included easements for the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s Big Creek Storage Tunnel at Emery and Estabrook Parks: Emery’s easements and restoration contribution total $670,400, and Estabrook’s easements are valued at $56,400, with funds restricted to improvements at the respective parks. The committee removed the cap on utility easement payments; authorized a new bid for a two-year cafeteria concession agreement, with two one-year renewal options; approved two-year requirement contracts for electrical test equipment and maintenance; and approved annual vehicle and equipment purchasing contracts for Public Works, including five bucket trucks. Officials cited industry lead times of up to three years for some vehicles, and a detailed fleet list was still being prepared. The committee also approved a $1.25 million Legal Aid Society contract for the right-to-counsel eviction program. A proposed substantive change to rules for allocating casino revenue remained held for further discussion; only clerical amendments and removal of the fixed 17-ward reference were approved during the discussion.