Shaker Heights · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Shaker Heights public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
2027 Tree Advisory Board appointments
New mayoral appointments to the board for 2027 are on the agenda — a chance for residents to help shape tree policy.
Heritage Tree recognition
The city honors private-property owners whose trees are standouts in the urban forest. Two homes get this round's award.
2027 Tree Planting Programs
Public Works cleared invasive trees from the Doan Brook floodplain at South Park and Courtland, and volunteers will plant about 100 native trees and plants on September 26 at Grow Not Mow Site 2.
Flock License Plate Reader Program
Residents repeatedly pressed Council to cancel the city's contract with Flock Safety, citing immigration-related database searches, out-of-state access, stalking misuse elsewhere, and doubts the cameras reduce crime. Council took no vote; the issue is clearly building pressure for future action.
Service Center Fuel Tank Replacement
Public Works wants to use NEORSD Community Cost Share money for replacing the fuel tank at the Service Center. Using outside cost-share funding could reduce the burden on Shaker Heights taxpayers.
Van Aken Bike Striping Project
The committee will consider a construction management contract with QCI for the Van Aken bike striping project. Good construction oversight can keep the bike lanes built to spec and on schedule.
Residential exterior alterations and as-built approvals
More than a dozen homeowners and contractors are seeking board review of windows, porches, siding, shutters, retaining walls, a greenhouse and a new garage. Several are as-built applications — work already done without prior approval — which the board weighs for compatibility with Shaker Heights' design standards.
Recreation Strategic Plan Phase 2
A $95,000 consultant contract will produce a 12-month implementation plan for a new community center at the Stephanie Tubbs Jones site and a decision on rebuilding versus rehabilitating the Thornton Park ice arena, with more community engagement to come.
Pool Fees
Pool fees determine what residents pay for swimming access. Any changes discussed could affect family recreation budgets.
Shaker Heights City Schools building alterations
The school district is bringing three projects before the design board: exterior changes at Lomond School, at Mercer School, and an athletic field shed at 20600 Shaker Boulevard. These are the district facilities residents' kids and neighbors use every day.
Historic review of patio door at 13800 Fairhill Road, Unit 217
A South Park Manor condo owner wants to install a patio door, which needs a Certificate of Appropriateness because the property falls under Shaker Heights historic review. The design's fit with the building's character is what the commission weighs.
Historic review of window replacement at 19014 Winslow Road
The board rejected plain replacement windows on a historic Aldersyde Road home, signaling that window style and grids matter when your house has historic character. Homeowners with older homes should expect pushback on generic window swaps.
2027 Housing Needs Analysis and Action Plan
The city is updating its housing plan for the first time since 2015, partly to respond to investment firms buying apartment buildings and letting conditions slide. Council Member Nancy Moore pushed to make sure renters with mold, leaks, and no heat get heard in the community engagement.
School bus depot relocation to Shaker Boulevard and Green Road
The city proposes building a new school bus depot (40 buses, ~10,000 sq ft building) at the Green Road Transit Station so the Lee Road bus facility can be redeveloped. Residents near Green Road worry about traffic, noise, diesel exhaust, and home values; supporters say it's the fairest way to finally reinvest in Moreland and Lomond.
Recycling pilot program and Ohio EPA grant
Residents who say the five-gallon recycling buckets are too small could soon get bigger containers through a $67,500 state-funded pilot in one neighborhood (Fernway), with the city contributing $22,500. If the grant isn't awarded, the purchase won't happen — a change made after a committee member's objection.
2027 Tax Budget
The state-required tax budget keeps property tax millage at 9.9 mills and projects spending about $2.4 million above expected revenue — a familiar gap. If revenue outperformed, the state could theoretically force a millage cut, but that's not expected.
Police Lieutenant promotional examination process
The police department needs a new lieutenant eligibility list because the old one expired in December 2024 and staffing gaps are looming — one lieutenant is at the FBI National Academy and a commander retires at the end of July. The exam process recommendations were up for commission action.
Firefighter entry-level hiring pipeline
A report recommended changing the minimum hiring age for firefighter/paramedics, which would affect who can apply for fire service jobs in Shaker Heights.
Shaker Heights Municipal Court update
Judge Anne Keller was scheduled to brief council on the state of the Shaker Heights Municipal Court. The court handles local traffic, misdemeanor, and civil cases, so its operations, staffing, and caseload directly affect residents who interact with the local justice system.
Animal control and kenneling services
A two-year contract with A&S Animal Control covers stray dogs, dead deer, wildlife complaints, and dog-bite coordination with police. It's the only company that bid, but residents reportedly like the service.
Budget Debate
Shaker Heights is launching its annual budget planning and wants you to weigh in on how your tax dollars get spent next year. It's your main chance to tell city leaders what matters most to your neighborhood.
Mayors/Managers 911 Fund
The council was scheduled to discuss the Mayors/Managers 911 fund, which relates to regional emergency dispatch funding among area municipalities.
Residential recycling program expansion
The city is switching large-dumpster disposal to the county's cheaper program and extending its recycling consortium membership through 2028, keeping quarterly large-item drop-offs alive and possibly adding a one-time pickup pilot.
Wildlife Management
The council was scheduled to hear an update on the city's approach to managing wildlife, such as deer or other animal populations.
Community Empowerment Grant 2027
The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the 2026 Community Empowerment Grant program, which funds community-led initiatives. No outcome is on the record.
Committee Name Change
With duties now spanning 14 parks, pavilions, fields and playground maintenance, the Recreation Department is getting a name that matches its work. Costs are minimal; committee names will change too.
Upcoming Community Events
The committee was to review the 2026 Event Calendar, which sets the schedule for city-sponsored community events next year.
Deer population management
The state is launching a new deer survey. The last Shaker Heights census was in 2014, and White Buffalo recommends a drone-based survey repeated every 2-3 years to guide future management decisions.
Shaker Life magazine editor contract
The city's magazine is how most residents say they learn what's happening in Shaker Heights, so who edits it matters for keeping everyone informed. The proposed deal is a one-year, $67,000 contract for 2027 with an option to renew for two more years.
Shaker Life advertising sales management
The committee was also set to recommend a contract for the magazine's advertising manager, whose work supports roughly $216,000 in annual ad revenue that helps offset the magazine's cost.
Transit Center Relocation
Shaker Heights is looking at moving the bus terminal as part of the Lee Road redevelopment. If you take the bus around here, your daily commute could be getting a makeover too.
City Budget
Shaker Heights is in great financial shape with a healthy $29.9 million general fund balance that easily beats the city's minimum savings requirement. This means your tax dollars are being well-managed and the city has a strong safety net for the future.
Service Center Solar System
The city's solar installation has cleared its biggest hurdle — First Energy's permission to operate — and commissioning is underway. A public ribbon-cutting is being planned, and the County Executive has expressed interest in attending.
New single-family house at 3305 Lee Road
A developer wants to build a new house on a lot just north of the police station parking lot. The board gave preliminary design feedback on windows, brick returns and colors before the plans come back.
Residential solar installation approval
The board approved rooftop solar panels at 3175 Ludlow Road, part of a growing number of solar approvals in the city. Panel placement is constrained by string-inverter technology requiring groups of at least four panels.
South Park Boulevard addition design character
A large addition at 17250 South Park Boulevard drew debate over whether mixed materials — stone, board and batten, white vinyl windows — depart too much from the home's mid-century modern character. The board continued the case to see softened color studies.
2026–2031 Animal Control RFP
The city is putting out a request for proposals for animal control services through 2031. This shapes how residents get help with animal issues for years to come.
Construction observation services 2027–2029
The city is lining up outside construction observation services for projects over the next three years. It's about making sure public construction work is done right and on budget.
2027 Recycle Ohio Grant Program application
The city considered applying for EPA recycling grant money to support its recycling programs. Grant funds could help offset the cost of recycling services.
Drone Delivery Regulation
Amazon delivery drones are now flying over Shaker Heights, prompting the city to update local rules to protect residents' privacy and safety. If you live here, expect new regulations soon on how these automated delivery devices operate above your backyard.
Digital GIS zoning map
A $4,000 county grant (plus $4,000 city match) will digitize the city's zoning map, including districts, setbacks, and historic districts, through September 2027.
Pavement Condition Assessment of All City Streets
The Transmap survey of every city street is nearly done; the amended contract funds the overage work and will guide the three-year road resurfacing program and funding decisions.
Regional transit funding (RTA levy)
A Cleveland resident who grew up in Shaker urged Mayor Weiss, as an RTA trustee, to support a 0.5% sales tax increase for transformative regional transit.
Flock license plate reader contract
Speaker after speaker demanded Council cancel the City's Flock Safety camera contract, citing confirmed ICE access to the data and arguing the cameras threaten civil liberties. Council and administration have renegotiated guardrails but haven't canceled.
Property tax rate and advance payments
Council locked in the city's 9.9-mill tax rate (unchanged since 1993) and early county advances of tax revenue, which Moore said would be 'severely debilitating' to city and school budgets if lost.
Shaker Family Center window replacement funding
The city will replace all 74 aging wood windows at the Shaker Family Center — a building full of children — in one contract that saves about $130,227 versus spreading the work over four years.
Shaker Youth Collaborative youth programming and funding
The Youth Center faces an $80,000 funding gap after county and foundation cuts, has cut a staff position, and asked the City and schools to raise their long-flat funding — currently $69,500 from the City and $100,000 from the district.
First CALL co-response program expansion
The nonprofit that employs First Call's field staff is shutting down, forcing the city to hire them directly as a stopgap. With four more cities poised to join, council members worry about costs, liability and whether the program is drifting beyond its original mission.
Citywide pavement condition assessment
Council is saving money doing pothole repairs in-house — $170,000 this year — but repairs have doubled to 104 and members Kaus and Alvarez said the repaving budget, unchanged in a decade at $2 million, needs a big increase in the next budget.
Solar panels on historic landmark homes
Two solar projects came before the board: one on Shaker Boulevard was approved with conditions, while panels on a Coventry Road home were continued over placement around the eyebrow dormers. The homeowner argued the city promotes solar, so panel counts shouldn't be reduced.