Cleveland City Council suspends rules and fast-tracks a slate of ordinances

Council suspended its rules and placed a package of departmental and emergency ordinances on final passage during its Nov. 24 meeting, with most items approved by recorded roll calls reporting 15 yeas.

The motion to suspend the rules was made by Council member Casey and seconded by Council member Bishop. The set of measures placed on final passage included appropriations and transfers, an amendment to the lakefront parks lease to add the North Coast Inner Harbor and marina, contract authorizations for water-works residuals handling and airport kiosks, and collective bargaining agreements for multiple unionized classifications. The clerk read many ordinance numbers into the record, among them Ordinance 15 o7 20 25 (credit card use amendments), Ordinance 15 o8 20 25 (a $1,200,000 special revenue appropriation), and Ordinance 15 10 20 25 (a $19,555,000 transfer and a $100,000 adjustment to the small enterprise fund).

Council also recorded votes on second-reading emergency ordinances and other departmental requests, including measures to extend and amend agreements with the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority and to apply for state public-works funding for roadway rehabilitation. On one matter — Ordinance 14 16 20 25, an amendment related to the Euclid Beach Trail Connector and submerged land lease language — the clerk recorded 14 yeas, no nays and one recusal.

The council’s use of suspensions to move a large number of departmental requests through final passage drew only procedural comment on the floor; no extended debate was recorded in the transcript of the meeting. The clerk also read communications and file notices from the director of sustainability and the Ohio Division of Liquor Control that will proceed through routine administrative review.

The meeting adjourned with the next regular session scheduled for Monday, Dec. 1, 2025.