Public Notice: EV Charging Feedback Deadline and City Council Budget Hearings

Final Call for Public Comment: EV Charging Station Proposal

Today, Friday, February 6, 2026, marks the final day for Cleveland residents to submit public comments regarding the proposed installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at two local recreation centers. In partnership with the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) and the Federal Highway Administration, the City of Cleveland is considering the addition of four Level 2 EV chargers at the following locations:

• Michael Zone Recreation Center: 6301 Lorain Avenue
• Sterling Recreation Center: 1380 E. 32nd Street

The proposed installations are expected to take one to two days per site, with measures in place to maintain full access to the centers during construction. Residents are encouraged to submit their feedback via email to the NOACA transportation planning department by 5:00 PM today to ensure their voices are heard in the final review process.

City Council 2026 Budget Deliberations

Cleveland City Council has officially entered its month-long review of Mayor Justin Bibb’s $2.3 billion budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year. Following the release of the "realistically conservative" budget last weekend, council members are now auditing department-level spending. Key items under review include:

• A $92 million allocation for capital projects, including road resurfacing and recreation center repairs.
• Proposed 3% annual raises for unionized city employees and firefighters.
• Budgetary adjustments for the airport, water department, and Cleveland Public Power.

Public hearings are scheduled throughout the coming weeks to address community concerns regarding service delivery and the proposed leaner spending limits for city departments.

Police Reform: Substantial Compliance Achievements

The City of Cleveland and the Cleveland Division of Police (CDP) have reached a major milestone in federal oversight. On February 5, 2026, the independent Federal Monitoring Team filed seven Compliance Assessments showing that the CDP has achieved 75 upgrades in the Use of Force section of the Consent Decree. The monitor noted that 97% of Level 1 and Level 2 uses of force in the previous year were constitutional, reflecting significant institutional progress and a commitment to data-driven accountability.

Infrastructure Update: Irishtown Bend Stabilization

The Port of Cleveland has announced the successful completion of the Irishtown Bend hillside stabilization project. This critical infrastructure work prevents potential hillside collapses into the Cuyahoga River. Leadership of the site will formally transfer to the Cleveland Metroparks on February 13, 2026, initiating the next phase of development for a planned 25-acre public park and riverfront trail.