New Professional Development Program Proposed for City Staff

August 2, 2026

The City of Cleveland is considering a plan to bring in outside experts to help train and develop its workforce. An emergency ordinance, Ord. No. 750-2026, would allow the Director of Human Resources to hire professional consultants to design and run a comprehensive professional development program for city staff.

What's in the file

According to a memorandum from Human Resources Director Matthew Cole, the department is seeking authorization to enter into contracts with one or more professional services providers. The goal is to supplement the existing expertise of the Talent Management team to meet the specialized technical and leadership needs of the city's nearly 8,000 employees.

The proposal includes the following details:

Purpose: To provide industry training, soft skills development, leadership coaching, mentorship, and skill assessments.
Duration: An initial term of one year, with three one-year options to renew.
Budget: An estimated annual budget of $100,000, which the memorandum states will be reappropriated from the EAP contract for standalone professional development training.

Who may be affected

Department of Human Resources: The department will oversee the contract and the implementation of the training.
City of Cleveland workforce: Nearly 8,000 employees may receive access to expanded training, leadership coaching, and skill assessments.

Status and timeline

June 30, 2026: The Department of Human Resources issued a memorandum requesting the legislation.
July 9, 2026: The emergency ordinance was introduced to City Council.
Current Status: The ordinance is currently in the Workforce, Education, Training and Youth Development Committee.

Residents can verify all details regarding this proposal by visiting the City of Cleveland Legistar portal.

Key facts

Contract term: one year
Renewal options: three one-year options

Source record

File: 750-2026
Type: Emergency Ordinance
Status: In Committee
Committee: Workforce, Education, Training and Youth Development Committee
Introduced: July 8, 2026

View on Cleveland Legistar