Cleveland Approves $10 Million Technology Upgrade Plan
Cleveland is launching a comprehensive overhaul of its digital infrastructure through the 2026 ITS Capital Project Plan. To manage this wide-ranging technical update, City Council has passed emergency ordinance 584-2026, which authorizes the Director of Innovation and Technology to hire consultants, software developers, and various vendors to supplement existing city staff.
What's in the file
The legislation authorizes the Department of Innovation and Technology to implement various technology projects, services, and upgrades to existing systems. According to the 584-2026-Legislation Summary, the plan includes several key areas:
- Website optimization and Artificial Intelligence tools/services
- Cybersecurity tools, firewall upgrades, and disaster recovery build-outs
- Data center network and server upgrades using sustainable Blade Chassis and Virtual servers
- Hardware refreshes, including PCs, laptops, and tablets
- Infrastructure improvements such as Wi-Fi installation in city-owned and leased facilities, VoIP telephone systems, and camera system upgrades
- Software implementations for route optimization, learning management, document/workflow management, and record management
The 2026 IT Capital Priorities 2026 document provides a breakdown of the $10,000,000.00 total request:
| Project | Requested Amount |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Licenses | $4,900,000.00 |
| Professional Services | $1,800,000.00 |
| PC Refresh / Lifecycle Management | $1,000,000.00 |
| Video Surveillance | $650,000.00 |
| Panasonic Toughbooks Refresh | $400,000.00 |
| Network Hardware | $250,000.00 |
| Cybersecurity | $150,000.00 |
| Disaster Recovery Build out | $150,000.00 |
| Firewall Refresh/Expansion | $150,000.00 |
| Data Center Compute Refresh | $150,000.00 |
Who may be affected
- Department of Innovation and Technology: Tasked with managing the plan and hiring necessary professional services.
- Division of Police: Scheduled for a refresh of 75 Panasonic Toughbook units and cradlepoint modems for public safety vehicles.
- Public Works: Identified as a recipient for new tablets under the PC refresh project.
- City-owned and leased facilities: Targeted for new Wi-Fi installations.
- Municipal Court, DPU, and Airport: Included in the firewall refresh and expansion plans.
Status and timeline
The ordinance is currently passed.
- May 7, 2026: Ordinance 584-2026 was introduced to City Council.
- May 29, 2026: The final version of the ordinance was recorded in the City Record.
Residents can verify all details and project specifics by reviewing the official source records at the Cleveland City Council website.
Source record
- File
- 584-2026
- Type
- Emergency Ordinance
- Status
- Passed
- Committee
- City Council
- Introduced
- May 6, 2026