Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Council Legislation Votes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cleveland City Council approves multiple emergency ordinances and resolutions in unanimous votes
Summary
At its meeting, Cleveland City Council placed several first- and second-reading emergency ordinances and resolutions on final passage and adopted them by recorded roll calls of 16–0. Measures cover temporary council chamber use for filming, neighborhood funds, public-safety agreements, youth programs and amendments to nuisance and utility rules.
Cleveland City Council voted unanimously on a package of emergency ordinances and resolutions during its April meeting, approving measures that range from authorizing temporary use of the council chamber for a film to contracts for utility and public-safety projects.
The council recorded 16 yeas on multiple suspension-of-rules motions that moved several items to final passage, with councilmember Moore moving the suspensions and councilmember Santana seconding the motions.
Among measures adopted on final passage were: an agreement authorizing temporary use of the council chamber for filming; neighborhood safety and community program contracts funded with ward equity or casino revenue funds; amendments and second-reading emergency ordinances concerning criminal-nuisance enforcement; and contracts for airport safety equipment and water-service-line replacement work. Roll-call tallies for the recorded final-passage votes list the following members as voting "yea": Council President Blaine A. Griffin; Councilmembers Bishop, Conwell, Gray, Hairston, Harsh, House Jones, Jones, Casey, Kelly, Moore, McCormack, Polencic, Santana, Slife and Spencer; and Star.
Why it matters: the ordinances authorize contracts and funding flows that enable immediate departmental activity (consultants, equipment purchases, neighborhood programming, and technical systems) and change administrative authorities the city uses to manage utilities, public safety, and capital projects. Several items were advanced under emergency designations and therefore take effect on the timetable set in the legislation.
Votes and key items (text condensed from the clerk’s reading):
- Ordinance 5-35-2025 (final passage): Authorizes the clerk of council to enter into an agreement with Shoestring Productions for temporary use of the council chamber for filming scenes. Motion to suspend rules moved by Councilmember Moore; seconded by Councilmember Santana. Vote: 16 yeas. Outcome: approved.
- Ordinance 5-36-2025 (final passage): Authorizes Department of Public Safety to enter an agreement with the Famicos Foundation to provide an East 105th safety and security program through Ward 9 Neighborhood Equity Funds. Motion to suspend rules moved by Councilmember Moore; seconded by Councilmember Santana. Vote: 16 yeas. Outcome: approved.
- Ordinance 5-37-2025 (final passage): Authorizes Department of Public Health to enter an agreement with Thrive for Change to provide community overdose prevention and outreach using Ward 15 casino revenue funds. Motion to suspend rules moved by Councilmember Moore; seconded by Councilmember Santana. Vote: 16 yeas. Outcome: approved.
- Resolutions adopted (final passage): Resolution 5-38-2025 (fixing 2025 summer meeting schedule) and Resolution 5-39-2025 (recognizing April 22, 2025 as Earth Day), and an objection resolution (file number referenced by councilmember House Jones) regarding a liquor permit transfer to 3704 Superior Avenue. Motion to suspend rules moved by Councilmember Moore; seconded by Councilmember Santana. Vote on suspension and on adoption: 16 ayes. Outcome: adopted.
- Second-reading emergency ordinances passed (final passage): Ordinance 2-28-2025 (as amended) amending codified nuisance enforcement and cost of enforcement; Ordinance 3-30-2025 authorizing the director of public safety to contract with Case Western Reserve University for data collection and analysis for the Division of Police; and Ordinance 3-78-2025 authorizing the parks and recreation director to contract with the Cleveland Municipal Football League for a citywide youth football program. Motion to suspend rules moved by Councilmember Moore; seconded by Councilmember Santana. Vote: 16 ayes. Outcome: approved.
What the roll calls recorded: the clerk read unanimous roll-call tallies (16 yeas) on the suspension motions and on final passage where recorded; the recorded roll-call participants match the attendance roll the clerk called earlier in the meeting.
Background details and next steps: many of the measures were introduced earlier in the meeting as first- and second-reading emergency ordinances and referred for administrative or committee review before being placed on final passage. Several ordinances authorize departmental contracts or permit the city to accept loans or grant funds for water-line replacement, airport friction-measuring equipment, and consultant services for utility billing systems. Departments named in the readings include Public Utilities, Port Control (airports), Parks and Recreation, Public Safety, Public Health and Capital Projects.
The council adjourned to its next regular meeting on April 28, 2025.
