Cleveland City Council meeting

The meeting began at 7:03 p.m. with roll call, followed by a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance. Meeting details page.

Attendance:

• Joe Jones
• Kevin Bishop
• Lauren Welch
• Deborah Gray
• Richard Starr
• Blaine Griffin, council president — absent 
• Stephanie Howse-Jones
• Michael Polensek
• Kevin Conwell
• Anthony Hairston
• Danny Kelly
• Rebecca Maurer
• Kris Harsh
• Jasmin Santana
• Jenny Spencer
• Brian Kazy
• Charles Slife

First, Santana read a notice declaring the meeting a lawful meeting, which included the rules around disruption and a warning for removal.

Public commenters advocate for new department to run city’s crisis response teams

The public comment period started at 7:06 p.m.:

• Michael Anderson, Tanisha Anderson’s uncle, told the story about Tanisha’s death and its lasting effects, speaking in support of Tanisha’s Law passing. [Editor’s note: Nearly a year later, advocates still pushing to expand Cleveland’s mental health crisis response with Tanisha’s Law].
• Darrell Houston, from Bedford Heights, asked the mayor to eradicate lead poisoning in the City of Cleveland. He also expressed frustration about the long-serving council members Polensek and Conwell, saying they have not done enough for Collinwood and Glenville.
• Brenda Bickerstaff, a resident from Ward 9, criticized city officials for holding a press conference with Gov. Mike DeWine, sharing her disapproval for the Stand Your Ground Law in Ohio that DeWine signed in 2021. She asked for consent decree compliance and police accountability and the passing of Tanisha’s Law, telling officials that “that way, we won’t have no more Tanisha Andersons.”
• Piet van Lier, a resident and member of the Community Police Commission (CPC), spoke in favor of passing Tanisha’s Law and shared examples in Albuquerque and Durham, North Carolina, as shining models that have implemented community crisis response, as well as other cities that have integrated mental health professionals and community response into 911 calls. He highlighted the ADAMHS Board in Cuyahoga County doing great work in this area. He asked the council to hold a committee hearing for Tanisha’s Law. 
• Teri Wang, from Ward 3 and a former member of the CPC, talked about crime prevention and how the city uses tools she finds ineffective, such as ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system. Wang also criticized the potential switch to Flock Safety, another gunshot detection system. She talked about crimes being related to poverty. [Editor’s note: Is ShotSpotter helping to make Cleveland safer? City Council debates the question]
• Jake Taylor from Ward 15 owns a duplex on the West Side and spoke about lead safety and his attempts to remediate lead and “do right by tenants” despite not having the money to do necessary repairs. He has not heard back about a grant he applied for in November 2024 to help with the work. He asked officials what the hold up was in getting the grant and expressed concern for remediating the lead.

Public comment ended at 7:25 p.m. Communications were then read, which included several Oath of Office notices. Then condolences resolutions were read, followed by a moment of silence. Other ceremonial resolutions, such as for congratulations and recognition, were read by the clerk. Find those and all agenda items listed on the meeting details page.

Trans Day of Remembrance presentation

Then, a presentation was provided for Trans Day of Remembrance (authorized by a resolution passed tonight) by Council Members Jenny Spencer, Rebecca Maurer and Lauren Welch. Part of the resolution (1469-2025) was read out loud. Here is a summary of the resolution: 

“AN EMERGENCY RESOLUTION Recognizing Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, 2025, and annually to honor the memory of transgender individuals whose lives were taken by anti-transgender violence; and reaffirming the City of Cleveland as a community where transgender individuals are welcome, and our commitment to transgender equality and codified anti-discrimination protections and laws for our LGBTQ+ community.”

Spencer spoke about the power of the resolution and the advocates presenting alongside her; about 25 people stood behind the podium in support. 

Phyllis “Seven” Harris, the director of the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, was introduced and acknowledged by Welch, who thanked LGBTQ+ advocates for continuing to show up and fight for freedom and safety for trans people.

Harris introduced members of her team at the LGBT Center, including Gulnar Feerasta, the managing director. Feerasta spoke in appreciation of fellow advocates and stressed the urgency of this moment to protect all people of all identities around Cleveland.

Carey Gibbons, Cleveland’s first full-time LGBTQ+ liaison, addressed the meeting and stressed the importance of building bridges and solidarity to support queer people in and around Cleveland. A few other allies spoke, and then the group took a photo.

Legislation first readings

First reading of legislation began at 7:50 p.m. (starting on page 3 of the agenda). Each item was read aloud by the clerk. This was a lengthy portion of the meeting. A few emergency ordinances notable to me that were referred to committee for further review:

• Relevant to residents of Wards 7, 11 and 14, ordinance 1452-2025: “AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE Authorizing the Executive Director of the Community Relations Board to enter into one or more contracts with Esperanza, Inc. for the public purpose of providing outreach services and programming for high-risk youth in hot-spot areas in Wards 7, 11, and 14 under the Safe Streets Safe Schools Project program for youth, for a period of one year with three one-year options to renew, exercisable by the Executive Director of the Community Relations Board.”
  
• For those following maternal and child health policy in Cleveland, ordinance 1464-2025: “AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE Authorizing the Director of Public Health to enter into one or more contracts with The Merrick House, Friendly Inn Settlement, Inc., West Side Community House, Lexington Bell Community Center, Birthing Beautiful Communities, the MetroHealth System, Ronald White [doing business as] the Transparency Project, Case Western Reserve University and other organizations to provide MomsFirst services to women at risk of poor birth outcomes in the City of Cleveland, for a period of one year.”
  
• Regarding a new skatepark in Luke Easter Park, ordinance 1492-2025: “AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE Authorizing the Director of Parks and Recreation to apply for and accept a grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for the Luke Easter Skatepark Project; to accept cash donations from the MGK Foundation and the Skate Park Project for this purpose; determining the method of making the public improvement of designing and constructing a skatepark at Luke Easter Park; and authorizing the Director of Parks and Recreation to enter into one or more contracts for the making of the improvement.”

Emergency ordinances

Other emergency ordinances were read aloud and passed after a first reading (pages 8-10 of the agenda). Most of these noted approved funding to several community development corporations (CDCs) for development projects on both the West and East sides of Cleveland. 

All 16 council members present adopted the legislation up for passage after first reading, including resolution 1469-2025, approving a Transgender Day of Remembrance. 

Legislation second readings

Second reading of legislation up for passage (pg. 11) was then read by the clerk, followed by unanimous approval from all council members, except for 1304-2025, which had 15 yays and 1 nay as a vote: 

“AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE Authorizing the Director of Port Control to enter into one or more contracts with West Creek Conservancy for the design and implementation of wetland mitigation projects for the Department of Port Control.”

There were no introductions or announcements. 

Howse-Jones on Tanisha’s Law

For miscellaneous comments (started about 8:10 p.m.), Council Member Stephanie Howse-Jones thanked advocates for Tanisha’s Law coming out to speak at public comment.

Howse-Jones then spoke about council authorizing the initial Connect and Protect grant in January 2024, which was intended to fund the modernization of Cleveland’s 911 call system to better handle crisis response. Howse-Jones said there has been little action from the mayor’s administration on that work, and instead the administration is interested in rescoping the work covered by the grant. She also said 371 days have passed since the introduction of Tanisha’s Law before any communication from the administration, which she said signals to her that decision-makers in the city do not truly believe in community care.

Howse-Jones expressed frustration that the administration has refused to engage with council on Tanisha’s Law and not offered any viable suggestions regarding the legislation. Howse-Jones communicated her anger and shed tears in speaking about obstacles in trying to “center underserved people” in the community.

Conwell and Polensek on schools

Council Member Conwell of Ward 9 spoke about the history of segregation in the school system, including those in Glenville. He mentioned the questions he has received from constituents about the school buildings set to be closed on the East Side of Cleveland. He said he recognized the need to work with the mayor to address that issue.

Council Member Polensek of Ward 8 echoed Conwell’s sentiments about the closure of old schools on the East Side, predicting a continuation of family departures from the East Side due to fewer options for schools with funded programs. He reiterated that the council has no control over the schools and their funding, as well as the need to work with the mayor and his team. 

Council Member Joe Jones of Ward 1 spoke about the history of racism in Cleveland’s school policies and their impact. He shared lengthy comments about his vision for expanding development, education and safety. 

Council excused the absence of Council President Blaine Griffin and adjourned at 8:50 p.m. 

These notes are by Documenter Tommy Oddo.

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalcleveland.org  with “Correction Request” in the subject line.