Cleveland Seeks to Renew North Coast Harbor Management Contract
The Cleveland Department of Port Control is seeking authorization to continue its partnership with the Downtown Cleveland Alliance to manage and secure the city's downtown lakefront. This emergency ordinance, identified as File No. 1367-2026, would allow the city to exercise the second one-year renewal option for Contract No. PS2025-65, ensuring continued maintenance and promotion of the North Coast Harbor area.
What's in the file
The legislation requests authority for the Director of Port Control to renew a professional services contract with the Downtown Cleveland Alliance (DCA) to implement the Common Area Maintenance (CAM) Agreement. According to the Legislative Summary, the DCA provides services to supplement regularly employed City staff.
The scope of work for this contract includes:
- Property maintenance and management
- Security services
- Marketing and event planning
The Department of Port Control notes that the North Coast Harbor area—which spans from East 9th Street to Dock 28B and includes Voinovich Park and the North Coast Harbor Walkway—attracts an average of 2.8 million visitors annually. The summary states that the DCA has exceeded expectations under current terms and that failing to renew the contract by February 28, 2027, would disrupt critical services at the harbor.
The anticipated cost for this one-year renewal period is as follows:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| DCA Fee (not to exceed) | $489,011.53 |
Who may be affected
- Department of Port Control: Responsible for the oversight of North Coast Harbor.
- Downtown Cleveland Alliance (DCA): The contracted entity providing professional services.
- North Coast Harbor stakeholders: Including the City of Cleveland, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Great Lakes Science Center, the Cleveland Browns, and Cumberland Development, who are collectively responsible for the area through the Common Area Maintenance Agreement.
Status and timeline
- 2024-06-14: Ordinance No. 476-2024 was passed, authorizing the initial professional services contract with the DCA.
- 2025-02-28: The initial one-year term of the contract was executed.
- 2026-11-05: File No. 1367-2026 was introduced for its first reading.
Residents can verify the details of this request by reviewing the official record for File No. 1367-2026 on the Cleveland City Council website.
Source record
- File
- 1367-2026
- Type
- Emergency Ordinance
- Status
- First Reading
- Committee
- City Council
- Introduced
- November 4, 2026
Official documents
- 1367-2026-Exercise second option to renew K w Downtown Cleveland Alliance for North Coast Harbor
- 1367-2026-Legislative Summary - DCA - NCH - Option #2 - 102626
Sources
- Reimagining Downtown Cleveland: The City of Cleveland, Downtown Cleveland Alliance, Cuyahoga County, and Community Partners Unveil Comprehensive Strategy | City of Cleveland Ohio
- Downtown Cleveland Alliance kicks off 'StepUpDowntown' initiative
- Downtown Cleveland Alliance: Study shows city is making progress in recovery from COVID-19 pandemic