City of Cleveland, OH

04/09/2021 | Press release | Archived content

04/09/2021 - City of Cleveland Daily News Updates - #333

The City of Cleveland continues to take numerous precautions across multiple departments and divisions amid increasing cases of coronavirus (COVID-19). Below are some important updates. Mayor Frank G. Jackson signed an order on March 31, 2021 extending the City's Proclamation of Civil Emergency through April 30, 2021. Click here to view the order. Essential services such as Police, Fire, EMS, waste collection and Utilities will remain operational.

Cleveland Department of Public Health Releases Weekly COVID-19 Update

The Cleveland Department of Public Health has released a COVID-19 update for the week of March 28 to April 3. To view the update, click here. To view the COVID-19 watch report, click here.

Cleveland Police Officer Charged with Misdemeanor Domestic Violence in Parma, Ohio

Cleveland Police Detective Raul Atanacio was charged with one count of misdemeanor Domestic Violence in Parma, Ohio on April 6, 2021. Atanacio has been placed on restricted duty with no contact with the public pending the outcome of the judicial proceedings. After the judicial process is complete, an administrative review will begin within the Cleveland Division of Police.

Raul Atanacio, 39, was hired by the Cleveland Division of Police in 2007. He is currently assigned to the Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit.

The City of Cleveland will maintain the confidentiality and privacy of all City employees until due process is afforded and/or the matter is adjudicated. All other inquiries on this matter should be referred to Mr. Atanacio' s attorney.

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport Passenger Travel Data

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), like other airports worldwide, has had a dramatic drop in air service and travelers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerns over health and safety, as well as quarantines, coupled with many businesses cancelling travel and leisure travelers staying home, have impacted flights.

We are currently averaging 9,199 passengers in the past seven days, compared with the 314 passengers we reported in April 2020. Click here to view regularly updated numbers on airport travel on the Hopkins website.

Union Avenue Rehabilitation Project Traffic Advisory

Beginning Monday, April 19, 2021, ODOT will begin the Union Avenue Rehabilitation Project.

Maintenance of traffic will be as follows:

  • One way traffic will be maintained eastbound on Union Avenue from Broadway Avenue to East 93rd Street.
  • The westbound Union Avenue Detour shall be: South on East 93rd Street then east on Harvard Avenue to Broadway Avenue.

Access at all intersections and driveways will be maintained, but on-street parking will not be permitted. Electronic message boards have been placed on both ends of the project informing the public of the impending construction work.

The Union Avenue construction is being administered by the Ohio Department of Transportation. Improvements include:

  • The existing asphalt surface will be removed, the underlying pavement base will be repaired and new asphalt will be placed in two courses.
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps will be installed.
  • Repairs or replacement of non-compliant street curbs, sidewalks, and drive aprons as required.
  • 67 driveways will be removed at abandoned houses & empty lots improving the safety of the bikers.
  • New thermoplastic pavement markings will be installed to support a road diet. The road diet will improve safety by channeling traffic into one lane in each direction, with center left turn slots at signalized intersections. On-street parking will be removed.
  • Bike lanes on both sides of the street.
  • Crosswalks at intersecting streets.
  • High Visibility (Ladder-Style) crosswalks at Safe Route to School locations 1 mile of shared lanes.

The work on this project will take place Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The project is scheduled for completion in June 2022.

Questions? Contact the Ohio Department of Transportation District 12 Public Information Office at [email protected], 216-584-2005 or 216-584-2007.

Editor's Note: Road construction invariably presents hazards to the public. All travelers are urged to use caution in construction zones. Public safety and the safety of workers is a top priority.

Lynn Court Reconstruction Project Traffic Advisory

During the week of April 21, 2021, weather permitting, the City will restart roadway reconstruction on Lynn Court from Lydian Avenue to End. The street will be open for local access only. No on-street parking will be permitted for the duration of the project.

The project includes milling the existing asphalt pavement, concrete drive apron placement, grading, adjusting utility castings, placement of compliant ADA ramps, and placing new asphalt. The work will take place during the hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The asphalt resurfacing project is expected to complete by the end of June 2021.

Should there be any questions, please contact the City of Cleveland's Construction Inspector, Eric Faehner at 216-857-3028.

Editor's Note: Road construction invariably presents hazards to the public. All travelers are urged to use caution in construction zones. Public safety and the safety of workers is a top priority.

Virtual Public Information Presentation for West Franklin Boulevard Rehabilitation Project

Mayor Frank G. Jackson, Ward 15 Councilwoman Jenny Spencer, Ward 3 Councilman Kerry McCormack, Director of the Mayor's Office of Capital Projects Matthew Spronz, Richard J. Switalski, P.E., Administration Bureau Manager, and the Division of Engineering and Construction invite you to participate in the Virtual Public Information Presentation for the West Franklin Boulevard Rehabilitation Project. This presentation can be viewed from April 22, 2021 to May 20, 2021 at www.westfranklincle.com.

The purpose of this presentation is to provide information and receive feedback on plans for the upcoming West Franklin Blvd Project. The proposed improvements on West Franklin Blvd from West 85th Street to West 25th Street include:

  • Complete asphalt resurfacing, including full and partial depth pavement repairs where needed.
  • Realignment of West 85th Street intersection adding ADA-compliant curb ramps
  • Mini roundabouts and curb extensions at several locations as part of traffic calming measures.
  • Improved pedestrian crossings including installation of rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) at select crosswalks.
  • Signing and pavement marking upgrades, including sharrows along corridor.

Construction is estimated to begin in April 2022 and be completed in October 2022. View the invitation flyer here.

Cleveland Releases Green & Equitable Energy Report

On September 20, 2018, the City of Cleveland became the first city in the state of Ohio to commit to powering itself with 100% clean energy. Building off our Cleveland Climate Action Plan (CAP), Mayor Frank G. Jackson announced his commitment to combat climate change by transitioning Cleveland to 100% clean and renewable energy sources by 2050. At the heart of this goal is the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80% over a 2010 baseline by 2050.

To help us achieve this critical goal, we secured grant funding from Partners for Places, The Cleveland Foundation, the George Gund Foundation, and the United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland, and assembled a core team, including Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, Cray Consulting Group, Greenlink Analytics, and our funders to understand what it would take to meet this goal. Together we developed Cleveland's Clean and Equitable Energy Future report, an action-oriented roadmap the City can follow for successful implementation of the 100% clean energy transition by 2050. You can find the full report here and an FAQ sheet here.

'As a City, we have a long commitment to sustainability which includes focusing on reducing emissions,' said Mayor Jackson. 'This report builds on our utility-level efforts, and includes things that residents, businesses, and the City can do to generate more clean electricity locally and to increase energy efficiency. One of the key takeaways is that existing state energy policy limits what we can do locally. Without a more comprehensive state energy policy focused on clean energy and energy efficiency, we cannot maximize the positive impact for our residents and neighborhoods.'

Greenlink Analytics - a national leader on carbon footprint accounting, utility resource planning, and environmental/social impact assessment - provided a deep analysis of current and projected future energy use by the City of Cleveland and the Cleveland community. In the report, Greenlink Analytics modeled scenarios which demonstrate various Clean Energy Pathways the City can take to reach its 100% renewable electricity demand target, spanning across energy efficiency, solar, wind, energy storage, purchasing Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), Electric Vehicle (EV) adoption, and transit sectors. These pathways enable the City to achieve its goal of 100% clean energy, while also generating millions of dollars of public benefits, including utility bill savings and reducing energy burden for residents, the creation of green jobs, and public health benefits for Clevelanders.

Cleveland's Clean and Equitable Energy Future identifies numerous policy and program actions needed to achieve 100% clean energy as part of a Clean Energy Policy Toolkit. Since the launch of Sustainable Cleveland, we have taken intentional action to advance our transition to 100% clean energy. We have already implemented or begun implementing eleven existing policies and programs, committed to twelve, and are considering an additional nine as recommended by Greenlink Analytics. The actions included in the Clean Energy Policy Toolkit focus on:

  • Reducing the overall amount of electricity consumed by enhancing energy efficiency across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors;
  • Continued implementation of clean energy installations and investments in storage system technologies;
  • Transitioning the transportation sector to more-electrified, less fuel-dependent vehicles and reducing motorized trips;
  • Supporting state-level policy which supports clean energy and energy efficiency adoption; and
  • Identifying creative and sustainable financing mechanisms which allow increased access to energy efficiency and clean energy programs for low-to-moderate income residents and small businesses.

'Even with the constraints state policy imposes, taking action now can have a positive impact on energy equity, job creation and the health of our residents and neighborhoods. Successfully implementing this plan will require community-wide commitment and accountability. Like everything we have successfully done as a community, we will have to do this together.'

As the City of Cleveland begins to take action towards our 100% clean energy goal, there is also a role for our community to play in achieving this goal. Over the coming months, the Office of Sustainability will continue to engage with stakeholders at all levels to share the findings of the plan and how residents, businesses, and community organizations can help meet our 100% clean energy goal. Stay tuned for updates on upcoming projects and ways to get involved in this exciting work.

If you have any questions about Cleveland's Clean and Equitable Energy Future, feel free to contact us at [email protected].

About the City of Cleveland

The City of Cleveland is committed to improving the quality of life of its residents by strengthening neighborhoods, delivering superior services, embracing diversity and making Cleveland a desirable, safe city in which to live, work, play, and do business. For more information on the City of Cleveland, visit online at www.clevelandohio.gov, Twitter at @cityofcleveland, Facebook at www.facebook.com/cityofcleveland, or on our blog at clecityhall.com.

###