2026-09-28 - City Council

11:55>> Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

11:59>> Griffin. >> Here.

12:01>> Bishop. >> Conwell.

12:05>> Davis.

12:06>> Gray.

12:07>> Harsh.

12:09>> House Jones.

12:10>> Hudson.

12:11>> Jones.

12:13>> Casey.

12:14>> Polencic.

12:16>> Santana.

12:17>> Shaw.

12:18>> Slife.

12:20>> Starr.

12:21>> You have a quorum, Mr. President.

12:23>> Thank you, will everyone please rise for

12:25a moment of silence, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

12:34>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

12:39>> And to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God,

12:43indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

12:50>> I read the following statement.

12:51This meeting of Cleveland City Council is a lawful meeting.

12:54Under section 605.04 of the codified ordinance is no person with purpose to

13:00prevent or disrupt their lawful meeting shall do any act which obstructs or

13:04interferes with the due conduct of such meeting.

13:06Members of the public are invited to speak only under the rules set by this council.

13:11Disruptions including, but not limited to, speaking out of turn and

13:15making loud noises and loud utterances are in violation of the rules and

13:20interfere with the due conduct of this lawful meeting.

13:23Such disruptions may constitute a misdemeanor and a violation of section 605.04.

13:29Anyone who disrupts this lawful meeting is in violation of the codified ordinances,

13:34commits misdemeanors, and is subject to prosecution.

13:37The following is the first and only warning.

13:40If this meeting is disrupted, I will gavel it all to the proceedings and

13:44direct the assembled officers to escort any person participating in the disruption

13:49out of the chamber.

13:50Once persons participating in the disruption are outside of the chambers,

13:54the officers will close the doors and

13:57the disruptors will be handled as directed by the director of public safety.

14:00The council proceedings will not begin again until those that participated in

14:04the disruption have left the chamber and the chamber doors are closed.

14:08Disruptors will not be allowed back in the chambers after the meeting resumes.

14:12Again, this is the first and only warning.

14:15Madam Clerk, please dispense with the journal.

14:20>> By Council Member Starr, that the reading of the minutes of the last meeting

14:23be dispensed with the journal approved, seconded by Council Member Davis.

14:29>> Thank you.

14:32We'll now go to public comment.

14:34I will ask all of the public commenters to turn around and

14:38ask all of the council to turn around and face the speakers.

14:43When the speakers address us.

14:46And then I'll ask all the speakers to please acknowledge your time, okay?

14:51And once again, for fairness of all of the speakers,

14:55I hold everyone to a strict three minute rule.

14:58The first person that we have for public comment is James Box.

15:02James Box is from Ward 6.

15:04James Box is here to talk about city issues.

15:06He's not representing an organization.

15:09The only, the organization he's representing is Truth Ministries, Black Guard.

15:13He's not being paid by anyone to comment.

15:16It's James Box present.

15:18It's James Box present.

15:19I do not see James Box.

15:22Therefore, we'll move to the next speaker.

15:24The next speaker is Matthew Straczynski.

15:27Mr. Straczynski is from Slavic Village.

15:29He's here to talk about police and community.

15:31He is not representing any organization.

15:33And he is not being paid to comment.

15:35Mr. Straczynski, you have the floor.

15:37Please acknowledge your time, sir.

15:44>> Well, thank you, everyone.

15:46Thank you, Council President, and I really enjoy coming down here every Monday.

15:53Now, I don't know if anybody's familiar with this particular recording.

16:02Just listen for a moment, and I'm sure maybe some of you are.

16:06Some of you aren't.

16:09Takes a little bit- >> [INAUDIBLE]

16:17>> Mr. Straczynski, I am going to yield your time back,

16:20because for whatever we had, that's disruption.

16:22So what I'm going to do is start you back again.

16:24>> Thank you, sir.

16:28>> Can everyone please mute your phones?

16:32Thank you. Mr. Straczynski, you have the floor.

16:34>> Okay, that particular recording, I'm not going to play it again.

16:36I think we're all familiar with this, the 911.

16:39Now, when I call the 6211234 number, I get an emergency recording.

16:47That's the question.

16:49Now, over the weekend, it was horrendous.

16:52I called 911 a few times for the emergency.

16:55Shots fired, okay?

16:57At times, I make calls maybe five times a day.

16:59Not all the time, but maybe five times, and they're legitimate calls, okay?

17:04Shots fired, suspicious activity, neighbor trouble, garbage can in the middle of

17:10the freeway could cause a hazard, you name it, I call it, okay?

17:13That's what we all should be doing.

17:15But I can't understand why 6211234 number designates an emergency line.

17:21It says in all our information throughout the city that it's non-emergency.

17:27Now, that's supposed to be a non-emergency line, yes.

17:30And I use it as a non-emergency line, and the 911, I designate for

17:34priority shots fired, things that are urgent.

17:39I really would like the administration, Mr. Bibsir, to look at the Cleveland Police.

17:45How many times I come down here and I say, the Cleveland Police Department is the most

17:50important department, okay, of our city.

17:54Our city of Cleveland is the most important department.

17:57And if our 911, and if our 6211234 number is not working properly, or

18:03designating the right information, there's a lack of communication.

18:08That's the number one, that's the front line of the police department.

18:13Now, I had to wait 20 minutes on a non-emergency call, 20 minutes.

18:18And when I got on the phone, I asked the dispatcher.

18:20I says, why do I have to wait for 20 minutes?

18:23And you know what she said to me?

18:24I'm not playing with you today, Matt.

18:27Okay, Matt, how does she know my name is Matt?

18:31I didn't give her my name.

18:33That's a recorded line.

18:34That can be reviewed for public record, okay?

18:37When I give her my name, that's when she can accept the information and

18:42call me by my name if she wants.

18:45I'm gonna tell you something, former Cleveland Police Dispatcher.

18:48These dispatchers today are not trained.

18:52It's being overlooked.

18:54They're not asking the right questions.

18:56And at times, they keep asking me the address.

19:01That wastes time for other callers.

19:03Why do you gotta keep repeating the address?

19:06You have to pay attention.

19:08You have to pay attention to these things.

19:10You can't interrupt the caller.

19:11You gotta know when to speak and when not to speak, okay?

19:15Training is very important, very important.

19:18Mr. Mayor, I would like your administration to look into this,

19:21because it can become a very serious matter.

19:23We know what happened in the Tamara Rice situation, and

19:26I don't wanna hash on that, okay?

19:28My time is up here, and please, this is a serious, serious comment.

19:33Thank you.

19:34>> Thank you.

19:35Next, we have Elanjanae Moses-Williams from Cleveland Ward 5.

19:46The topic that Elanjanae would like to discuss is the Rainbow Terrace

19:50Apartments Explosion.

19:52Elanjanae is not representing the organization and

19:54not being paid by anyone.

19:56Elanjanae, you have the floor.

19:58>> It's Elanjanae Moses.

20:06It's been over 15 months, 15, 15.

20:14I had moved over four to five times within a year.

20:19My son got high lead levels.

20:22Then after watching today the conference when Mayor Bibb is undetermined.

20:27My emotions is getting to me.

20:29All 44 of us, we don't feel like it's undetermined.

20:32I truly don't feel like it's undetermined.

20:36My auntie got shot in front of me, I was a little kid.

20:39I'm 23 years old today, and I had a witness of fire.

20:44And I'm on medication, depression medication,

20:46anxiety medication for long term till I die.

20:50I've never been on no type of depression, anxiety meds, none of that.

20:5515 months just to hear undetermined?

21:0015 though, four to five times y'all say y'all are here for us, y'all are this.

21:10I don't think so.

21:11We ain't seeing it, we ain't feeling it.

21:13Till this day I can't work.

21:15For my son lead, my depression, my stress, my finances.

21:20How am I supposed to take care of me and my kids?

21:23My household, me moving four to five times within a year.

21:27If the shoe was on y'all foot, how would y'all feel?

21:29Y'all not letting this go by?

21:3315 months though, 15, that's terrible.

21:43That's all I gotta say.

21:47>> Thank you.

21:52Next we have Shemeika Howard.

21:54Shemeika Howard is from Ward 5.

21:55Shemeika Howard is here to talk about public housing.

21:58She is not representing organization and not being paid by anyone.

22:01Shemeika, you're out of the floor.

22:08>> Hello, I'm here to speak about Garden Valley and the explosion.

22:15Me and my family, we moved in in February.

22:19There was violation straight off the bat.

22:25I didn't have no fire alarms in my home, no nothing.

22:28I have documentation, it's pictures of how I moved in, it was filthy.

22:32Me and my significant other, we went in there, we cleaned it up ourselves.

22:37But you may ask why I stayed.

22:39Why would anybody stay, right?

22:42But me personally, I had two infants, a two year old, a one year old, and I was currently

22:47six months pregnant.

22:49Not only that, I had picked up myself and my children, and we moved far across from

22:55the country.

22:56We moved from San Diego, California.

22:57We didn't have nothing.

22:58All we had was three suitcases.

23:00That was it.

23:02That's what I was living out of, three suitcases.

23:05So then let's talk about the day of the explosion.

23:08It should have been the most excited day of my life.

23:11I had just had my baby the day before.

23:15I had been cut open seven layers.

23:20Do you know what Jessica, the manager, told me on the phone, told him and his sister,

23:25my sister-in-law, that I would not be able to be helped or anything until I checked myself

23:29out of the hospital or until I was released, that no one would be able to help me, even

23:35though I had documentation that I was a lease holder, that I paid my rent every month on

23:40time.

23:41That's all I'm saying.

23:42And then on top of that, for you Mayor Bibb, I spoke to you the next day, on the 24th.

23:47You know what your answer was to me when I told you my stories?

23:51You can go down there to jail with Zelma George and sleep on a cop.

23:54You may not have said it that way, but that's how it came out.

23:58You're shaking your head.

23:59You may not have said it that way.

24:00That's not how you said it, but you said it.

24:02There is a shelter at Zelma George for you guys.

24:06You mean to tell me you want me to get myself on a cop?

24:10And I just got, I was supposed to be released from the hospital until four days prior.

24:16I released myself that day.

24:18At seven o'clock that day, I left that night to make sure me and my children had somewhere

24:23to stay.

24:25And that's one thing that I feel like that's not right, because you guys took from my child's

24:29mouth.

24:30Because guess what?

24:31You guys stopped my breast pumping.

24:32I wasn't able to feed my child.

24:34I had to feed my child man-made milk instead of my milk that I pumped for her.

24:40So you tell me how I'm supposed to live like that, postpartum depression.

24:45My son is three years old, and he's still asking me to this day, "Mom, is our house

24:50still burning down?

24:52Can I go back home?"

24:53A home that he wasn't even in for five months, but you know that's his home though.

24:58But y'all saying it's okay and it's undetermined.

25:00I don't believe that.

25:01But it's cool though.

25:03It's going to come out.

25:04And when it come out, it's it.

25:05But I'm going to say my last thing.

25:06I know my time is up.

25:07My name is Rayneisha Duncan.

25:08Rayneisha Duncan.

25:09And this is not the last time y'all going to hear my name, y'all going to hear Adonis,

25:16y'all going to hear Kaylina, and y'all going to hear Kaylani.

25:19Then Ms. Marthory.

25:20That's who y'all feel.

25:27Next we have Darrell Houston.

25:29Darrell Houston is from Bedford Heights, he's here to talk about city issues, he is not

25:33representing the organization and not being paid by anyone.

25:36Oh, y'all can best believe, I'm going to finish y'all off today, right?

25:40Check this out, man.

25:41These people back here should have never had to came down here 15 months later.

25:47I really changed my speech, but my speech, Dan Mongolius, should never be sitting in

25:54the health department chair as administrative leader.

25:57Period.

25:58We want him gone.

25:59We want him gone.

26:00And I'm asking for a federal investigation on the law department and the fire department.

26:08Why?

26:09Because that, Simeon Williams was a personal friend of mine that I was mentoring.

26:14And to hear it opened up an old room that I'm going to finish y'all off with.

26:19To hear that records was withheld.

26:23Do you know most of the wrongful imprisonment people besides myself, all of those cases

26:28was records withheld by the city of Cleveland, bro?

26:31Hey, man, y'all got a lot of real BS going on down here, man.

26:36And I'm here to clean it all up.

26:38And I mean, clean it up from the constitutional standpoint.

26:41I think I got y'all in three different directions right now, but you won't fill it until you

26:45get walked out or you in cuffs or that pension is messed up, okay?

26:52The next person up next Monday will be my buddy over here, Mr. Drummond, safety director.

26:59You got a date coming Monday, right?

27:01Now there's a gentleman down here that's been slinging racial words to black people

27:06working down here.

27:07His name is Vincent.

27:09He's in the tender, he's in the tender, he's a tender on 49th, right, in Harvard.

27:15He's the property manager.

27:17People complained about him using racial slurs.

27:21They moved the people, but didn't address him.

27:24I'm not having no white boy down here talking crazy, using no N words, period.

27:29Because I'm not racist.

27:30I come down here, I be 50/50 with everything going on down here, right?

27:35I hold everybody accountable.

27:36It's a bunch of names I ain't even mentioned down here that's doing great.

27:39But if I mentioned your name down here, and I read your paperwork down here, that means

27:44you are in constitutional trouble.

27:46And I do not bluff about constitutional gains, man.

27:50I'm here on Constitution.

27:51I'm free because of the Constitution.

27:53And you guys took an oath under the Constitution, Mark Griffin, okay?

27:59Delaunte Spencer, right, the consent decree, right?

28:03It's two employees sitting down there that has not been to work in over 12 months and

28:10we're still paying them taxpayer dollars.

28:13You ain't from the railroad, it's no more.

28:15And after this election, after the fifth, I got a beautiful speech for every last one

28:21of y'all.

28:22And I mean that, right?

28:23I mean, I got a cold speech for y'all, man.

28:26Because I didn't knock on no doors.

28:28I didn't go into churches.

28:29I didn't go out to the community and promise nobody nothing.

28:33You guys did.

28:34Hold up to the game.

28:36Because the game is on.

28:37It's just getting started.

28:38And I'm going to guarantee I'm going to get some license, guarantee an act, guarantee

28:42it, guarantee it.

28:45Next we have Diamond Morales.

28:48Diamond Morales is from Ward 5, they're here to talk about housing.

28:51Diamond is not representing any organization, and Diamond is not being paid to comment.

28:55Is Diamond Morales here?

28:59Diamond Morales has the floor.

29:01Alright, my name is Diamond Morales.

29:07Now we're speaking on the fact that that's not fair to us how we sat here and went through

29:12all this stuff, lost a lot of stuff, and nobody helped us.

29:16Everybody telling us that they got us, and they're going to do this, and they're going

29:18to do that, and they're not.

29:20The lawyer been saying this from day one, but the star been saying that from day two,

29:24and let that happen.

29:25I just feel like at the end of the day, we should get some type of feedback or get back

29:31of we lost everything.

29:33People had kids.

29:34People got burned.

29:35People lost somebody.

29:36Somebody lost their life, loose way, fired, and people said they don't know how it started.

29:40And I just feel like that's not fair to us.

29:43And thank you.

29:45Thank you.

29:51I'm a mayor, one of these survivors, and I'm sitting up here for the first time.

29:55Ma'am, my apologies.

29:56I'm a mayor.

29:57No, no, no, because I'm with him.

29:58Ma'am, I'm being respectful.

29:59We got a list of people.

30:00I am, but he's looking.

30:01And I want to make sure.

30:02That's why you're looking at these people that's sitting up here.

30:04Ma'am.

30:05You're not giving them respect.

30:06Ma'am.

30:07You are sitting up here giving looks to people.

30:09Ma'am, we want to make sure that all of the speakers have an opportunity to speak.

30:13Ma'am.

30:14I'm going to ask if you can allow the speakers that are scheduled to be on the agenda.

30:22We want to make sure that we hear from the speakers, ma'am.

30:25Ma'am.

30:26I'm asking everybody to listen, but can you allow the speakers to go ahead and speak?

30:36Thank you.

30:37We have Andre Rowe, Andre Rowe is from Word 5.

30:40Andre Rowe is here to talk about public housing concerns.

30:43Andre Rowe is not representing any organization and he is not being paid the comment.

30:48Mr. Rowe, you have the floor.

30:49How y'all doing today?

30:51I was wondering, where is there a line drawn at, you know, where it's just total just

30:59disregard or disrespect for your constituents, you see?

31:03We supposed to be the people y'all serve, y'all look after this great city and all.

31:09How can you allow somebody to operate a public housing unit in such terrible, terribleness?

31:15You know, like, they're not fixing things, they're not cleaning things.

31:19People are telling them, like, things are broke, we need to fix.

31:23I had dog feces in my hallway for over a week and I told them, I pay rent.

31:27We all still pay rent.

31:28There is no difference between me and you, you understand?

31:33Our kids was traumatized.

31:34We lost the roof over our head, had nowhere to go, you know?

31:40And it just seemed like people was using it as like a cash grab or just for nationwide

31:45attention when the eyes was on you, they was throwing parties for the kids, they were

31:49sitting out, giving us all these empty promises and stuff, you know?

31:52It seems like who's to get punished?

31:54It's undetermined, but what should be determined is how it could have been prevented because

31:58if it could have been prevented through proper maintenance, then somebody broke the law

32:02on that little lease that I signed and said they would keep proper maintenance to facilitate

32:06a proper housing unit for me and my kids.

32:08This is my first time at subsidized housing.

32:11So I didn't expect much, but I expected way more.

32:14And to see how they operated in the city and you were allowing it, and people getting

32:18hurt and losing things were traumatized, and the only thing to say is undetermined,

32:22it's their fault, it's their fault, it's their fault, but we're the only ones being

32:26punished for it.

32:27We're the only ones constantly, constantly going through things to try to get up on

32:31our feet to heal our kids and their traumatization, and the only thing we can hear from the city

32:36is the same thing I heard three months ago, six months ago.

32:39It was always undetermined.

32:41That wasn't even the question.

32:43The question was, was the pipes checked at a proper time?

32:47Could they have been fixed beforehand?

32:49How long was it before they smelt gas and it blew up?

32:52Why wasn't the attention and the urgency on it?

32:55Why isn't the urgency on the well-being of the people who were hurt?

33:01I just don't understand it.

33:02I think it's very egregious.

33:05So my question is, you guys need to figure something out because it's not right.

33:11It's not necessarily right.

33:12They're not going to necessarily have the right words to put together, but I'm pretty

33:15sure you understand where I'm coming from.

33:17Just where you stay somewhere doesn't make you less equal, just because your economic

33:22and social value doesn't make you unequal to anybody else to the next person.

33:26So if my grandma's house blew up and the landlord could have fixed them pipes, but

33:30he didn't, that landlord has to be punished and pay for my grandma being a victim.

33:36Might not know much, but I know it makes sense to me.

33:42I just want to have my last seconds to go to a moment of silence for Cordell Sheffield.

33:52Thank you.

33:54Thank you.

34:00Next, we have Richard Starr.

34:01Richard Starr is from Word 5.

34:03Richard Starr is here to talk about public housing concerns.

34:05He is not representing any organization.

34:07He is here on behalf of the community and not being paid the comment at this time.

34:12Good evening.

34:18First, being the mayor of the city of Cleveland is a hard job.

34:24I understand that, but leadership is also about communication, accountability, and showing

34:31up with answers when families have been waiting for 15 months.

34:34So I have a very question that is very basic.

34:38Why hold a press conference announcing that Rainbow Terrace investigation is closed when

34:43we still cannot tell these families exactly what caused the explosion?

34:47And why do the member myself of Cleveland City Council, Word 5, didn't even get a call

34:52before I had?

34:54Cordell Sheffield lost his life.

34:57Children burned.

34:59Families lost their homes.

35:00And just last week, Ms. Keanu Bell had to come down here before the city council and

35:05everyone asked for answers.

35:07Then the next day we get an update.

35:10The city's oral report says natural gas rapidly accumulated reached an explosion concentration

35:16and then ignited, but investigators could not establish the source of the gas or the

35:22ignition source with the certainty required under the National Fire Protection Association

35:27921.

35:29Yet the same report tells us that Enbridge map failed to show its service line.

35:34Natural gas continued flowing from that line for approximately 20 hours at the explosion

35:39leak.

35:41This leak detection personnel failed to detect escaping gas and some pipe was removed in

35:46a way that made the pressure and leak testing impossible.

35:51And then we were told undetermined case closed.

35:55Across the country, major gas explosion investigations have taken time and sometime that additional

36:01time produced answers.

36:03On March 12, 2014, East Harlem gas explosion took about 15 months before the National Transportation

36:10Safety Board identified a failed gas service connection in which two five-story apartment

36:16building were completely destroyed, eight people were killed, over 50 others were injured

36:21and more than 100 families were displaced.

36:23They knew what happened.

36:25On August 16th, we also had the same thing happen in Silver Spring, Maryland Flower Branch

36:31Apartments took roughly 32 months before investigators identify a failed regular and

36:38disconnected vent that caused a fire explosion.

36:41They know what happened.

36:42In Massachusetts, September 13, we also had NTSB determination after investigation that

36:50they figured out that the gas explosion that caused that fire was determined by high pressure

36:55gas to enter a low pressure system resulting in widespread fires.

37:00They know what happened on that fire explosion.

37:02So my question is not simply, why did it take 15 months?

37:06My question is why stop now?

37:08I also have concern about what we learned from Fox 8 IT investigation that reported

37:15in 2024 that inspections at the number of high risk apartments despite division of

37:20fire policy stating that the goal was annual general inspection.

37:24Now I'm going to make sure I get to the end because I understand that the time is three

37:27minutes.

37:28My experience is not simply a private apartment complex.

37:31It has documented history of her subsidized project based section eight housing serving

37:36low income Cleveland family like the one you see behind me and that makes it especially

37:40important that we examine where the residents and federally assisted housing receive the

37:45same level of inspection, prevention, emergency residents, response, and communications and

37:51accountability like we do every once in a city.

37:53You can't say it's undetermined because they know what happened and they don't want to

37:56tell us until they go to court.

38:04Next we have Jessica Fitzgerald.

38:05Jessica Fitzgerald is from Word 5.

38:07Jessica is here to talk about handicap accessible housing and she's not representing organization

38:14and not being paid to comment.

38:15You had a floor.

38:17Okay.

38:18Um, I would like to just go based on for that night or that day when that happened.

38:22Um, I was sitting in the house with my kids, my oldest daughter, she is 10 now.

38:27She is legally blind.

38:29She has optic nerve hyperplasia.

38:30I told Jessica that we wasn't supposed to be living on the third floor.

38:34I presented evidence and I presented a letter from her doctor saying that we wasn't supposed

38:40to be standing at building due to me falling down the stairs carrying my daughter because

38:45she cannot see.

38:47So that morning we were supposed to move out.

38:50Jessica said that it was going to take a few more weeks and we had to hold on as soon

38:55as I go back in the house, I lay down my kids playing around the building blow up

38:59while we're inside of it.

39:01So I feel a certain type of way, but I'm going to hold my emotions back because it's

39:05not, it's not the time for that.

39:07The thing is, I won't ask this.

39:09I won't ask this from you, Marybeth.

39:11I won't ask this from everybody who's supposed to protect me and my kids because regardless

39:15of whether you know or not, I stayed there for less than a month, man.

39:20Less than a month.

39:21Even to tell me everything I had, my dad ashes, my boyfriend just passed away, got

39:25killed, all his stuff in my house, my dad in my house.

39:30I can't get none of that back and you telling me that nothing is undetermined.

39:36How can you speak to me and say that my feelings is undetermined?

39:40I'm still staying down there.

39:43Don't nobody hear me though, and we still stand on the floor that we're not supposed

39:47to be on.

39:49Are you serious right now?

39:50But you could go by them chairs and stuff in your office.

39:55I can't do none of that in my house.

39:58My house was laid out.

39:59I could take pride in everything I have because like he said, like Andre said, it's not

40:06about where the hell you stay at.

40:08You understand me?

40:11I'm not like a lot of people that live in the projects or anywhere like that.

40:14I didn't grow up in the projects, so you can't base it off of that.

40:20People go through stuff just like all of y'all do, people go through things.

40:25Just because you're a little higher up on the level don't mean we're not equal.

40:29We need help, and we didn't need to know though, like right now, we shouldn't have

40:34to come down here and be talking and doing all of this.

40:36You shouldn't even have to see us.

40:39You should just want to help us.

40:44We struggling.

40:45We are off completely.

40:46Look at us.

40:47What?

40:48Because you're driving a nice car?

40:49What the hell that mean?

40:50It's maintenance only.

40:51You got to pay, you got to pay, you got to pay.

40:52I keep trying to get a job, but then Jessica want to keep going up on my rent every second.

40:56Keep doing the most.

40:5713, 15, is how much I got to pay to live with her?

41:00Is you cool?

41:02Man, listen.

41:03We need help, period, and that wasn't our fault, so we demand to get it.

41:09If we don't get it, we're going to keep coming down here until we get it.

41:11Thank you.

41:12Thank you.

41:19Next we have Brenda Biggerstaff.

41:20Brenda Biggerstaff lives in residency, was not given.

41:25Brenda Biggerstaff's topic is the historical church that burned up on East 55th and withholding

41:32information Brenda Biggerstaff is not representing organization and not being paid the comment.

41:37You got the floor.

41:39Let me tell you all something.

41:41When Richard Starr came up and Joe Jones walked in and stood up, all of y'all should

41:45have stood up.

41:47All council should have stood up in solidarity with these families.

41:51Now let me get to the church.

41:53That church was built in 1894.

41:54They don't build churches like that today.

41:58How did that church burn down?

42:01They got a suspect.

42:02He a white boy.

42:04But guess what?

42:06I want to know who paid him to do it because I've been tracking, you know, there's over

42:1230,000 lots in this city.

42:15And guess what?

42:17Councilwoman Kinzantana, Cleveland Clinic, wanted another piece of property and another

42:25church burned down.

42:26See, I watched them dollars at Cleveland Clinic.

42:29I watched their land in Cleveland Clinic.

42:31I know the deal and I know who the players are, but I'm going to watch their case.

42:37Now let me move on to the rainbow terrace.

42:40I understand that y'all gave a report, but where's the actual investigation file?

42:44Who did they talk to?

42:46Who was responsible?

42:47Who was the people that they interviewed?

42:50We need that five-mail bill.

42:52Me, you get into it from time to time.

42:55Because what?

42:56Sometimes you got to overstep your law director.

42:57You need to get on the phone and get with Terry Billups over there at CMHA, get with

43:04the corporate council, and in which, guess what, I'm going to find out who it is that

43:07I'm going to send it to you.

43:08Give them a call and tell them that you ain't going for that bull crap.

43:11You're the mayor of the city of Cleveland.

43:14We empowered you to protect us in this city at all costs.

43:18Hold them accountable.

43:20Don't do that, Biv.

43:21Sometimes you got to step over your law director.

43:22He worked for you, but you're the big boss.

43:23We voted for you.

43:24Don't forget about that conversation you and I had on 147 Again.

43:25Be your own man.

43:26Like I know you are.

43:27Come on now, Biv.

43:28Let's do this.

43:30Give some answers to these families.

43:31Hold them people accountable.

43:32They damn wrong.

43:33They don't know what they're going to do.

43:34They don't know what they're going to do.

43:36They don't know what they're going to do.

43:37They don't know what they're going to do.

43:38They don't know what they're going to do.

43:40I'm going to find out who it is that I'm going to see you tonight.

43:49And I expect for you to do it because I voted for you.

43:55I'm going to constituent.

43:57I voted for you.

43:59And counsel, the next time these people come down here, stand up for them.

44:00Stand up for them.

44:02And say something to do something.

44:03Don't just sit there.

44:04Now, Kevin, I see you at a meeting today.

44:05That same name.

44:07Did you get a day to get some money?

44:18Give it to St. James down in Columbus so he can get some money.

44:25If you go by his church, it's packed with a lot.

44:29It's packed.

44:30Go up there and talk to this man.

44:33He's doing a lot of positive things in the neighborhood with the young people.

44:37And that's all I got to say.

44:40Thank you.

44:46That concludes public comment.

44:48We will now hear communications, Madam Clerk.

44:50Please share communications.

44:57File number 1198, 2026 from the residents of the City of Cleveland and our CPP group

45:05of customers presented by Cleveland City Council, presented Cleveland City Council

45:10with petitions on September 17, 2026 regarding July 26, 2026 Cleveland Public Power blackouts

45:19and their recommendations.

45:21From the Ohio Division of Liquor Control, file number 1196, 2026 regarding a new license

45:29application at 815 Superior Avenue, Ward 8.

45:34File number 1197, 2026 regarding a transfer of ownership application at 3995 Jennings

45:42Road, Ward 14.

45:44File number 1200, 2026 regarding a transfer of ownership application at 2063 East 4th

45:53Street, Ward 5.

45:55File number 1201, 2026 regarding a new license application at 1060 West 10th Street, Ward

46:057.

46:06File number 1202, 2026 regarding a transfer of location application at 5517 Memphis Avenue,

46:14Ward 11.

46:17Thank you.

46:18Are there any condolence resolutions?

46:21Resolutions of condolence by Council Member Griffin for Rory James Garrett III, by Council

46:27Member Griffin for Stanley Griffin, by Council Member Palencic for Yolanda Jermaine Walker,

46:33by Council Member Gray for Annie Julia Banks, by Council Member Starr for Jameel Hassan

46:39Koonce, by Council Member Starr for Shirley Diane Witherspoon.

46:47Are there any other condolences, I don't see any other condolences while Council Members

46:55rise for a moment of silence.

47:04Thank you.

47:08Are there any congratulatory resolutions?

47:10Resolutions of congratulations by Council Member Griffin for Dr.

47:16Lois A. Keith, by Council Member Griffin for Team Cleveland 10th Grade AAU Boys Basketball

47:23Championship, by Council Member Griffin for Team Cleveland 9th and 10th Grade AAU Girls

47:29Basketball Championship, by Council Member Griffin for Levita Parker on her book signing,

47:35by Council Member House Jones for tors employment on their 50th anniversary gala.

47:42Resolutions of recognition by Council Member Bishop for James Jimmy Scott Arnold.

47:49Thank you.

47:50We do not have any presentations at this time.

47:52First reading emergency ordinances referred for administrative review and committee review.

47:58Ordinance 1162, 2026, by Council Members House Jones and Griffin by departmental request.

48:04Authorizing director of finance to enter into an amendment to lease agreement with Mid-City

48:10Limited for the lease of office space for Cleveland Police Commission at 3631 Perkins

48:17Avenue for one additional year with one year option to renew.

48:22Ordinance 1163, 2026, by Council Members Palencic and Santana by departmental request.

48:30To amend section one of ordinance 1147-08 relating to designating the St. Jerome Church

48:38school convent and rectory as a Cleveland landmark.

48:42Ordinance 1164, 2026, by Council Members Palencic and Santana by departmental request.

48:49To amend section one of ordinance 1148-08 relating to designating the St. Mary of the

48:56Assumption Church school gymnasium and rectory as a Cleveland landmark.

49:03Ordinance 1165, 2026, by Council Members Palencic and Griffin by departmental request.

49:10Authorizing the director of public safety to exercise the option to renew a contract

49:15with TMT Consolidated, DBA Cleveland Vehicle Detention Center for the storage of non-commercial

49:23impounded vehicles and motor vehicles and one-stop impound services for the Department

49:29of Public Safety.

49:31Ordinance 1166, 2026, by Council Members Commonwealth and Griffin by departmental request.

49:37Authorizing the director of public health to enter into one or more agreements with

49:41the Ohio State, with the Ohio State University, East 66th Street services and other entities

49:49to support the administration of the City of Cleveland's community gardening program

49:55known as the Summer Sprout community gardening program for a period of one year with an

50:00option to renew for an additional one year term.

50:04Ordinance 1167, 2026, by Council Members Slife, Bishop and Griffin by departmental request.

50:12Giving consent of the City of Cleveland to the director of transportation of the state

50:16of Ohio to repair or reconstruct three ramps along Interstate 480 at Greatton Road and

50:27West 150th Street and authorizing agreements.

50:31Ordinance 1168, 2026, by Council Members Slife, Bishop and Griffin by departmental request.

50:39Giving consent of the City of Cleveland to the director of transportation of the state

50:43of Ohio to replace the deck of the Warren Road bridge over Interstate 90 and authorizing

50:50agreements.

50:53Ordinance 1169, 2026, by Council Members House Jones, Bishop Slife and Griffin by departmental

51:00request. Giving consent of the City of Cleveland to the director of transportation of the

51:05state of Ohio to resurface Stokes Boulevard from MLK Junior Drive to Chester Avenue authorizing

51:13agreements and causing payment to the state for the city's share of the improvement.

51:19Ordinance 1170, 2026, by Council Members Slife, Santana and Griffin by departmental request.

51:27Determining the method of making the public improvement of designing and constructing

51:32a nuisance biofilm treatment plant, including removal of current equipment at Cleveland

51:39Hopkins International Airport, authorizing the director of port control to enter into

51:43one or more contracts for the making of the improvement.

51:47Ordinance 1172, 2026, by Council Members Casey and Griffin by departmental request.

51:54Authorizing the director of public utilities to amend a contract to substitute the name

52:00of the lessor from City Rose Limited to Darley Holdings group LLC or its designee and to

52:07extend the term to a seven-year term with one five-year option to renew.

52:14Ordinance 1173, 2026, by Council Members Slife and Griffin by departmental request.

52:21Authorizing the director of port control to enter into one or more contracts with Fire

52:25Force Inc. for professional services necessary to provide the airport rescue and firefighting

52:31personnel annual FAA certification training for a period of one year with three one-year

52:37options to renew.

52:39Ordinance 1174, 2026, by Council Members House Jones, Conwell, Polancik, Bishop Slife and

52:46Griffin by departmental request.

52:49Giving consent of the City of Cleveland to the director of transportation of the state

52:53of Ohio to construct the target speed pilot project countermeasures on a portion of South

53:00of St. Clair Avenue authorizing agreements and causing payment to the state for the

53:05city's portion of the improvement.

53:08Ordinance 1175, 2026, by Council Members House Jones, Conwell, Bishop Slife and Griffin

53:15by departmental request.

53:17Giving consent of the City of Cleveland to the director of transportation of the state

53:21of Ohio to construct the improvement of resurfacing Wade Park Avenue from East 66th Street to

53:29East 118th Street authorizing agreements and causing payment to the state for the city's

53:35share of the improvement.

53:37Ordinance 1176, 2026, by Council Members Bishop Polancik and Griffin by departmental request.

53:45Authorizing the mayor and or appropriate director to enter into a host agreement with the Los

53:50Angeles Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, 2028 and one or more

53:58agreements with local organizing committee and/or sponsors and other entities for the

54:04city to host the torch relay through a portion of the City of Cleveland.

54:10Ordinance 1203, 2026, by Council Member House Jones, designating the state vocational planning

54:17center as a Cleveland landmark.

54:21Thank you, first reading emergency ordinances to be passed.

54:26Ordinance 1179, 2026, by Council Member Davis, to amend Section 2 of Ordinance 1153, 2026,

54:35relating to the agreement with Cleveland Public Theater for the Dia de Muertos Neighborhood

54:41Festival.

54:43Ordinance 1180, 2026, by Council Member Jones, to amend Section 2 of Ordinance 778, 2026,

54:51relating to the agreement with the New Sardis Primitive Baptist Church for the Youth Workforce

54:57Development Program.

54:59Ordinance 1181, 2026, by Council Member Gray, to amend Section 2 of Ordinance 705, 2026,

55:07relating to the agreement with Slavic Village Development Corporation for the Senior Lawn

55:13Care Program.

55:15Ordinance 1182, 2026, by Council Members Starr Griffin, Davis-Conwell-Hudson Shaw-Slife,

55:23an emergency ordinance authorizing the director of the Department of Parks and Recreation

55:28to enter into agreement with Cleveland Public Theater for the public purpose of providing

55:33the 2026 student theater enrichment program through the use of wards 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12,

55:41and 15 casino revenue funds.

55:44Ordinance 1183, 2026, by Council Member Gray, authorizing the director of the Department

55:50of Aging to enter into agreement with New Point Community Development Corporation,

55:56providing senior lawn care program for the public purpose of providing grass cutting

56:01and lawn maintenance to seniors through the use of Ward 3 casino revenue funds.

56:06Thank you.

56:09Read the motion to suspend the rules.

56:11By Council Member Starr, that the rules be suspended and the legislation just read be

56:16placed on final passage, seconded by Council Member Davis.

56:20Call the roll.

56:21Griffin, Bishop-Conwell, Davis, Gray, Harsh, House Jones, Hudson, Jones, Casey, Palensic,

56:26Santana, Shaw, Slife, Starr, 13 yeas.

56:30Call the roll on passage.

56:31Griffin, Bishop-Conwell, Davis, Gray, Harsh, House Jones, Hudson, Jones, Casey, Palensic,

56:37Santana, Shaw, Slife, Starr, 13 yeas.

56:42First reading, ordinance referred for administrative review and committee review.

56:48Announce 1171-2026 by Council Members Casey and Griffin by departmental request to amend

56:55various sections of Chapter 523 of the codified ordinances relating to definitions, small

57:03non-building facility rates, and joint registration for the Division of Cleveland Public Power.

57:12First reading, emergency resolution referred for administrative review and committee review.

57:17Section 1199-2026 by Council Member Starr, urging the Department of Public Safety and

57:23Department of Law to conduct an individualized review of body-worn camera recordings responsive

57:29to public records requests, requesting the release of reasonably separable, non-exempt

57:36portions of those recordings, requesting a written explanation of the legal basis for

57:43continued withholding and supporting independent judicial review of disputed recordings where

57:49necessary to determine the proper application of Ohio Public Records Law.

57:57Thank you.

57:58Read the motion to suspend the rules.

58:01Excuse me?

58:04The resolution.

58:10That's right.

58:11First reading, emergency resolutions.

58:13Resolution 1161-2026 by Council Member Conwell, calling upon the Ohio Legislature to adopt

58:20legislation acknowledging the essential role of arts for health initiatives in improving

58:26health and well-being and other lifelong benefits.

58:31Resolution 1177-2026 by Council Member Kasey, objecting to the transfer of ownership of

58:37a C1/C2 liquor permit at 4741 West 130th Street.

58:44Resolution 1178-2026 by Council Member Kasey, withdrawing objection to the transfer of ownership

58:51of a C1/C2 liquor permit at 12702 Lorraine Avenue and repealing Resolution 479-2026,

59:00objecting to said permit.

59:03Thank you.

59:04Call the roll.

59:07Read the motion to suspend the rules.

59:08By Council Member Starr, that the rules be suspended and the legislation just read be

59:12placed on final passage.

59:14Seconded by Council Member Davis.

59:16Call the roll.

59:17Ms. Griffin, Bishop Conwell, Davis, Gray, Harsh, House Jones, Hudson, Jones, Kasey,

59:22Palencic, Santana, Shaw, Slypestar, 13 yeas.

59:27Call the roll on adoption.

59:29Griffin, Bishop Conwell, Davis, Gray, Harsh, House Jones, Hudson, Jones, Kasey, Palencic,

59:34Santana, Shaw, Slypestar, 13 yeas.

59:38Second reading, emergency ordinances to be passed.

59:44Ordinance 906-2026 as amended by Council Members Palencic and Griffin by departmental request

59:52to authorize an amendment to the agreement entered into with Cuyahoga County Court of

59:58Common Pleas, Juvenile Division under Ordinance 624-2025 relating to conduct of the pass program.

1:00:10Ordinance 907-2026 as amended by Council Members Palencic and Griffin by departmental request

1:00:16authorizing the Director of Public Safety to apply for and accept a grant from United

1:00:21States Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance for Fiscal Year 26 Burn Discretional

1:00:27Community Project Fund for the Cleveland Public Safety Radio Program.

1:00:33Ordinance 910-2026 as amended by Council Members Palencic and Griffin by departmental request

1:00:40authorizing the Director of Public Safety to apply for and accept a grant from the

1:00:45Ohio Attorney General for Fiscal Year 26 Shine a Light on Dumpster's Grant Program and authorizing

1:00:52the Director to enter into one or more contracts with various agencies or entities to implement

1:00:58the grant.

1:00:59Ordinance 930-2026 as amended by Council Member Griffin by departmental request authorizing

1:01:06the Clerk of the Cleveland Municipal Court and the Director of Finance to employ one

1:01:12or more professional consultants to process and collect parking and fraction tickets and

1:01:18other civil tickets for a term not to exceed three years with one two year option to renew

1:01:24exercisable by the Clerk of Cleveland Municipal Court or the Director of Finance.

1:01:30Ordinance 1033-2026 as amended by Council Members Bishop and Griffin by departmental

1:01:36request authorizing the purchase by one or more standard and requirement contracts for

1:01:41the purchase lease or lease with option to purchase of various on-road vehicles, apparatus

1:01:47and off-road equipment, cabs, bodies and accessories, equipment and other aftermarket

1:01:53items necessary to equip the vehicles authorized for then for their intended purposes including

1:02:00vehicle rehabilitation training and inspections.

1:02:05Ordinance 1044-2026 by Council Member Griffin by departmental request to supplement the

1:02:11codified ordinances of Cleveland, Ohio by enacting new section 173.22 relating to the

1:02:18Fair Employment Wage Board.

1:02:22Ordinance 1136-2026 as amended by Council Member Griffin by departmental request authorizing

1:02:30the Director of Finance to exercise the option to renew a contract as amended with Scott

1:02:37F. Loomis to provide for professional services necessary to develop a succession management

1:02:44plan, train employees and consult in such additional matters necessary to efficiently

1:02:51run and manage the City's printing for the Division of Printing and Reproduction.

1:02:57Ordinance 1138-2026 by Council Member Griffin by departmental request authorizing the issuance

1:03:04and sale of bonds in the maximum principal amount of $700,000 for the purpose of providing

1:03:11funds to improve municipal cemetery facilities, building structures and grounds and authorizing

1:03:21related matters.

1:03:23Ordinance 1139-2026 by Council Member Griffin by departmental request authorizing the issuance

1:03:30and sale of bonds in the maximum principal amount of $11 million for the purpose of providing

1:03:39funds to acquire heavy duty trucks and equipment for performing functions of the City's Department

1:03:46of Public Works and Department of Public Safety.

1:03:51Ordinance 1140-2026 by Council Member Griffin by departmental request authorizing the issuance

1:03:58and sale of bonds in the maximum principal amount of $6 million for the purpose of providing

1:04:04funds to acquire vehicles and equipment for performing functions of the City's departments

1:04:12including the Department of Public Works and Department of Public Safety.

1:04:18Ordinance 1141-2026 by Council Member Griffin by departmental request authorizing the issuance

1:04:25and sale of bonds in the maximum principal amount of $3 million, $800,000 for the purpose

1:04:31of providing funds to improve municipal parks and recreation facilities and authorizing

1:04:37related matters.

1:04:39Ordinance 1142-2026 by Council Member Griffin by departmental request authorizing the issuance

1:04:46and sale of bonds in the maximum principal amount of $1 million, $800,000 for the purpose

1:04:52of providing funds to improve municipal parks and recreation facilities and authorizing

1:04:59related matters.

1:05:02Ordinance 1143-2026 by Council Member Griffin by departmental request authorizing the issuance

1:05:16and sale of bonds in the maximum principal amount of $3,750,000 for the purpose of providing

1:05:23funds to improve municipal parks and recreation facilities and authorizing related matters.

1:05:30Ordinance 1144-2026 by Council Member Griffin by departmental request authorizing the issuance

1:05:37and sale of bonds in the maximum principal amount of $1,150,000 for the purpose of providing

1:05:44funds to improve buildings and structures and providing for the discharge of governmental

1:05:51functions and services otherwise benefiting the public safety, health and welfare and

1:05:57for the provision of appurtenances, utilities and site improvements for the purpose of authorizing

1:06:03related matters.

1:06:05Ordinance 1145-2026 by Council Member Griffin by departmental request authorizing the issuance

1:06:12and sale of bonds in the maximum principal amount of $6,800,000 for the purpose of providing

1:06:19funds to improve buildings and structures and providing for the discharge of governmental

1:06:24functions and services otherwise benefiting the public safety, health and welfare and

1:06:30for the provision of necessary fixtures, furnishings, equipment, technology, appurtenances, utilities

1:06:37and site improvements for the purpose of authorizing related matters.

1:06:43Ordinance 1146-2026 by Council Member Griffin by departmental request authorizing the issuance

1:06:49and sale of bonds in the maximum principal amount of $2,100,000 for the purpose of providing

1:06:56funds to improve buildings and structures and providing for the discharge of governmental

1:07:01functions and services otherwise benefiting the public safety, health and welfare and

1:07:08for the provision of necessary fixtures, furnishings, equipment, technology, appurtenances, utilities

1:07:14and site improvements for the purpose and authorizing related matters.

1:07:21Ordinance 1147-2026 by Council Member Griffin by departmental request authorizing the issuance

1:07:28and sale of bonds in the maximum principal amount of $11,000,000 for the purpose of providing

1:07:34funds to improve buildings and structures and providing for the discharge of governmental

1:07:39functions and services otherwise benefiting the public safety, health and welfare and

1:07:46for the provision of necessary fixtures, furnishings, equipment, technology, appurtenances, utilities

1:07:52and site improvements.

1:07:54Ordinance 1148-2026 by Council Member Griffin by departmental request authorizing the issuance

1:08:01and sale of bonds in the maximum principal amount of $1,000,000 for the purpose of providing

1:08:07funds to improve the municipal street system and related facilities and authorizing related

1:08:13matters.

1:08:14Ordinance 1149-2026 by Council Member Griffin by departmental request authorizing the issuance

1:08:21and sale of bonds in the maximum principal amount of $1,700,000 for the purpose of providing

1:08:28funds to improve the municipal street system and related facilities and authorizing related

1:08:34matters.

1:08:35Ordinance 1150-2026 by Council Member Griffin by departmental request authorizing the issuance

1:08:42and sale of bonds in the maximum principal amount of $7,100,000 for the purpose of providing

1:08:49funds to improve the municipal street system and related facilities and authorizing related

1:08:55matters.

1:08:56Ordinance 1151-2026 by Council Member Griffin by departmental request authorizing the issuance

1:09:04and sale of bonds in the maximum principal amount of $35 million for the purpose of providing

1:09:11funds to improve the municipal street system and related facilities and authorizing related

1:09:17matters.

1:09:19Ordinance 1152-2026 as amended by Council Member Griffin by departmental request authorizing

1:09:26the director of finance to enter into one or more requirement contracts without competitive

1:09:30bidding with Brinks Incorporated for armored transportation services for department of

1:09:36finance, Cleveland Municipal Clerk of Courts for a period of three years with two one-year

1:09:41options to renew.

1:09:46Thank you.

1:09:47Read the motion to suspend the rules.

1:09:49By Council Member Starr that the rules be suspended and the legislation just read be

1:09:53placed on final passage seconded by Council Member Davis.

1:09:58Call the roll.

1:10:01Griffin Bishop, Conwell Davis Gray, Harsh, House Jones, Hudson Jones, Casey Palencic,

1:10:07Santana Shaw, Slifestar, 14 yeas, call the roll on passage.

1:10:13Griffin Bishop, Conwell Davis Gray, Harsh, House Jones, Hudson Jones, Casey Palencic,

1:10:19Santana Shaw, Slifestar, Council Member Brian Casey, just touch it, just touch it.

1:10:39Just put your finger like, there you go.

1:10:51Somebody show him to do that.

1:11:17Thank you, Councilman Michael Palencic, Councilman Richard Starr, Councilwoman Hudson.

1:11:59Thank you.

1:12:07You guys got it?

1:12:16Councilman Shaw.

1:12:27Yeah, those 936 and 937 hasn't been read yet.

1:12:29What are we voting against?

1:12:40They haven't been read yet.

1:12:44Yeah, those haven't been read yet.

1:12:49930 is the only one that has been read.

1:12:51936, 937 has not been read, but we didn't move it.

1:13:10On 1044, 2026, 13 yeas, 1 nay.

1:13:14On all others, 14 yeas.

1:13:16On 930, 2026, 12, was that 12?

1:13:24Oh, I'm sorry, okay, 12 yeas, 2 nays.

1:13:39And I'm sorry, let me reread 1044, 2026, 13 yeas, 1 recusal.

1:13:46On all others, 14 yeas.

1:13:49Thank you.

1:13:51Next second reading ordinances to be passed.

1:13:53Can't recuse.

1:13:59They can say no, but they can't recuse.

1:14:01True.

1:14:04Yeah, you can recuse.

1:14:05You can recuse.

1:14:06Yes.

1:14:07You can recuse.

1:14:08I was thinking of abstaining.

1:14:11No one can abstain.

1:14:12Right.

1:14:13But you can recuse.

1:14:14Okay.

1:14:16So, ordinance 935, 2026 by Councilmember Griffin, changing the use, height and area districts

1:14:24of parcels of land east of East 89th Street between Beckman Avenue and Capitol Avenue,

1:14:32and subjecting an area titled the site development boundary to section 333.02 of the Cleveland

1:14:41Zoning Code and attaching the approved site development map.

1:14:46Ordinance 936, 2026 by Councilmember Santana, changing zoning districts of parcels of land

1:14:54north of Meijer between West 35th Street and West 30th, shown on the attached map.

1:15:01Ordinance 937, 2026 by Councilmember Conwell, changing the zoning districts and parcels

1:15:07of land south of St. Clair Avenue between Lakeview Road and Thornhill Drive.

1:15:16Thank you.

1:15:17Read the motion to suspend the rules.

1:15:18By Councilmember Starr, that the rules be suspended and the legislation just read be

1:15:23placed on final passage.

1:15:25Seconded by Councilmember Davis.

1:15:27Thank you.

1:15:28Call the roll.

1:15:29Conwell, Davis, Gray, Harsh, House Jones, Hudson, Jones, Kasey, Palencic, Santana,

1:15:36Shaw, Slife, Starr, 14 yeas.

1:15:39Councilman Michael Palencic, call the roll on passage.

1:15:56Okay, Councilwoman Hudson, Councilman Starr, and Councilman Shaw.

1:16:07All no?

1:16:11Please.

1:16:13I'm saying two.

1:16:32On 937, 9 yeas, 5 nays.

1:16:37On all others, 14 yeas.

1:16:39On 936, 9 yeas, 5 yeas.

1:16:42All right.

1:16:47We'll now move towards introductions.

1:16:51We'll now move towards introductions.

1:16:53Are there any introductions?

1:16:55Any introductions?

1:16:56Seeing no introductions, are there any announcements?

1:17:00Any announcements?

1:17:01Any announcements?

1:17:03Councilwoman Nikki Hudson?

1:17:05Shaw's microphone.

1:17:12I just have a quick announcement.

1:17:15We're having a joint wards 11 and 12 cleanup this Saturday from 11 to 2 at the corner of

1:17:22West 98th and Lorraine.

1:17:24So we're meeting in the parking lot at the new, or the soon to be food bank resource

1:17:30center on the west side if anybody wants to come and help with the neighborhood cleanup.

1:17:38Thank you.

1:17:39Seeing no other announcements, Michael Palencic, repeat because his mic was not on, but safety

1:17:48committee.

1:17:4910 o'clock on Wednesday.

1:17:50O'clock on Wednesday.

1:17:51Councilman Brown and Casey.

1:17:55Thank you, Mr. President.

1:17:56Tomorrow from 5 to 8, Cleveland City Council here in Chambers will be doing our second

1:18:00public comment hearings on data centers.

1:18:04Thank you.

1:18:05Thank you.

1:18:07Seeing no other, Councilman Conville announcements.

1:18:09Yes.

1:18:10Announcements.

1:18:11Tomorrow.

1:18:12In our neighborhood, Council Member Lane Griffin, hopefully you'll be there at the

1:18:18Glidden House from 7 to 8, our band will be playing with the Cleveland Police Department

1:18:25and other police departments at the Glidden House, and that is tomorrow, and we'll have

1:18:31a jazzy time.

1:18:32It's called Jazz and Coffee with a Cop.

1:18:36Thank you.

1:18:38Thank you.

1:18:39I don't see any other announcements.

1:18:41No other announcements.

1:18:42We'll move to miscellaneous.

1:18:43Miscellaneous.

1:18:45Miscellaneous.

1:18:46Councilman Tanmeshah.

1:18:47Thanks, Chair.

1:18:48I wanted to just highlight a couple things around town that's been happening and has

1:18:54been concerning.

1:18:56I'm sure folks have seen a wave of strikes going on.

1:19:00I want to congratulate the Cleveland Orchestra musicians for getting a successful contract

1:19:06and showing workers what it means when you withhold labor from the bosses and how that

1:19:11can be successful.

1:19:12On the same note, I also want to highlight the fact that the Cleveland Clinic continues

1:19:18to refuse to negotiate with SEIU 1199 workers at Lutheran and just extend some solidarity

1:19:25with them.

1:19:26And I think it urges me to, once again, remind my colleagues that there's a lot of folks

1:19:30around our town not paying their fair share.

1:19:32And the clinic, I think, is at the top of that list.

1:19:35When they can afford to open up hospitals in Dubai and Florida, I think they can afford

1:19:39to pay our people a little more and provide adequate health care for the places with

1:19:43the worst outcomes in the city, which tends to be around Cleveland Clinic places.

1:19:47So I think having a pilot in place for these entities, I think, is something that we should

1:19:53definitely certainly look into.

1:19:55Would be happy to support.

1:19:56I know it's something I've spoken with a lot of you individually.

1:20:00But I want to put the clinic on notice that paying your workers is not going to pay you

1:20:04in the long run.

1:20:05And we're going to make sure of that.

1:20:08Along with that, I also wanted to just give a shout out to the Cleveland Police Commission.

1:20:13I had the opportunity to attend their meeting for the first time just last week.

1:20:18And just like any democratic decision-making body, there were difference of opinions.

1:20:22There was some bickering.

1:20:23There were some back and forth, just like any other ones.

1:20:26But for what it's worth, and I share this with the commissioners, they passed in legislation,

1:20:32some policies, and for me, at least, it was heartwarming to see a more deliberative and

1:20:38more democratic decision-making body than city council certainly has been this year.

1:20:42So I appreciated their perseverance, and I hope they continue to go forward on that

1:20:47process.

1:20:48Thanks, Chair.

1:20:49Thank you.

1:20:51Next, we have any other miscellaneous?

1:20:54Councilman Richard Starr, and Councilman Richard Starr, as X for X.

1:20:57Council President, as you heard tonight, all the families from Rainbow Terrace, we still

1:21:03have more that haven't came down here yet.

1:21:06Now that the administration has concluded their investigation, I am looking to work

1:21:12with you, and then Mike Polizzik, for us to do a hearing and some opinions from folks.

1:21:18We need to find out what happened there.

1:21:21Everyone thinks it's okay to treat people in public housing like anything.

1:21:25Nowhere they start with us here today, this has been stuff that has been happening for

1:21:31decades.

1:21:32But I think we used to use everything we got in our wheelhouse to ensure that accountability

1:21:37is the top priority.

1:21:39We heard that the investigation from the city, as well as Pucco, and Enbridge, all

1:21:46that has been completed, and when you hear inconclusive and undetermined, and a loss

1:21:52of life took place, I can't sleep at night knowing that that happened.

1:21:57And this type of stuff happens in anywhere else, anywhere else, we would never have

1:22:02to wait 15 months to find out what happened.

1:22:06Keanu Bill shouldn't have to come down here with our children and have everybody in her

1:22:10crime for us to find out what actually happened.

1:22:13So I want to make sure that I work with you, Council President, Dean Polizzik, as well,

1:22:18for us to call a hearing and some opinion of everyone, everyone who had a job and obligation.

1:22:26In advance, also like to find out exactly what is the authority, do our fire division

1:22:33have when it comes to investigation.

1:22:35I have a lot of questions, a lot of concerns, because when you talk about investigation,

1:22:41and when you talk about what I've learned the last 15 months, some of it just don't

1:22:47make no sense.

1:22:48Enbridge conducting their own investigation on a fire explosion, where they could possibly

1:22:53be held accountable, that don't make no sense.

1:22:56There's a fire division doing the investigation and telling me they can determine what happened.

1:23:04It don't make no sense.

1:23:06So as a city council, we have the authority to subpoena folks, we have the authority

1:23:11to ask the questions, and we have the authority to do what's right for our citizens in the

1:23:16city of Cleveland.

1:23:17We cannot allow people to treat individuals just because they live in public housing

1:23:22any kind of way.

1:23:24If this fire explosion happened anywhere else, anywhere else, you will see an outrage,

1:23:32you will see others speaking up, and you will see folks going out.

1:23:36In addition, I would like to say thank you to my colleagues for the support with ordinance

1:23:41number 1199 2026, where we are asking for the city to turn over all the public records

1:23:49requests that is needed.

1:23:51This should be transparency.

1:23:53Now that this investigation is over, we need to know everybody who was interviewed, where

1:23:59the video went, the documentation, we need to do the inspections.

1:24:04In addition, we need to really tap in.

1:24:06We heard in 2024 that we were not in compliance with check and fire inspections in a lot

1:24:12of our hot rods buildings as well.

1:24:14We need to find out why that's continue to happen.

1:24:17Overall, I can't sit here and say that I'm okay, or I'm happy.

1:24:22And I told the safety director when he called me last week, I'm gonna bring the house down

1:24:26only, and I'm gonna bring the house down twice.

1:24:29And I promise you, they're gonna remember this, we're gonna find out what happened

1:24:34before I die.

1:24:35I'm going to see the justice for this.

1:24:37This has never happened again on my watch.

1:24:47Thank you, Councilman, as we stayed in and as you and I talked last week, I also have

1:24:52had a conversation with Councilman Palencic, and yes, we are looking at doing a hearing.

1:24:58We are looking at utilizing our subpoena powers in order to try to get further explanation.

1:25:04I know that we also have talked about what other authorities outside of the authorities

1:25:11that have looked at this that we can reach out to as well, whether it be federal, whether

1:25:15it be others.

1:25:17You actually were in the office with me when I actually called the governor, asked for

1:25:22his assistance.

1:25:23So there will be no shortage of outreach, and we all share your outrage, and we all

1:25:28support the subpoena.

1:25:30I will tell you that I do want to have further deliberation over the ordinance that you

1:25:35introduced because I am very cautious of council inserting themselves into legal cases, but

1:25:42I do believe that you are completely right.

1:25:45And I have already had a conversation with Councilman Mike Palencic to have a thorough

1:25:51subpoena and hearing to make sure that we invite and bring everybody who has touched

1:25:58this case to the forefront.

1:26:01Thank you for your passion about this.

1:26:04Thank you for your keen insight on this.

1:26:08We are going to have to do this, ladies and gentlemen, as a body if we're going to be

1:26:11successful.

1:26:12Councilman Starr cannot do this by himself.

1:26:16And I have pledged my commitment to make sure that we will stand behind him.

1:26:21So when we have the hearing, I don't just want the safety committee there.

1:26:24I think it would make most sense for all of council to be there, to make sure that

1:26:29we have very, very direct questions, and that he is right, that these folks are right.

1:26:36For the listening audience, don't think that council takes this lightly.

1:26:41I will tell you that every council member has reached out to me.

1:26:45Every council member were very frustrated last week.

1:26:48As Councilman Starr and I had a conversation, one thing about me is when I throw punches

1:26:54I want them to land.

1:26:56I don't just do things just to make any kind of noise.

1:26:59I want it to be very concise.

1:27:01I want to make sure that we are very, very thorough in what we put together.

1:27:06And I will convene me, you, and Councilman Polensi so that we can discuss how we want

1:27:11to move forward, what people we need to bring to the table, and you do have the commitment

1:27:16of this council.

1:27:17Okay.

1:27:19Thank you, sir.

1:27:20Are there any other miscellaneous?

1:27:23Any other miscellaneous?

1:27:26Seeing no other miscellaneous, Madam Clerk, please excuse the absences.

1:27:34I council members star that the absence of Councilmember Jones is hereby excused, seconded

1:27:40by Councilmember Davis.

1:27:45Thank you.

1:27:47Council is adjourned.

1:27:48To the call of the chair, the next meeting of council will be on October 5th, 2026.

1:27:53This council is adjourned.