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Outgoing Cleveland council members deliver farewells and release transition memos
Summary
Several departing councilmembers offered reflections, thanked staff and constituents, and said they produced transition memos outlining priorities such as lead‑safe housing, Tanisha’s Law, Harvard Landfill solar proposals, and operational reforms for the council.
At the meeting, multiple councilmembers who are leaving office offered farewell speeches, thanked colleagues and staff, and outlined transition materials for incoming members.
Councilmember Jenny Spencer delivered extended remarks thanking colleagues, staff and constituents and noted policy wins on traffic calming, affordable housing, and neighborhood improvements. Spencer said she will publish a transition memo for incoming members and praised staffers Joseph Nasr and Heather Lazar by name.
Councilmember Rebecca Moore also spoke at length and said she prepared a transition memo organized into three sections: tangible wins (housing, parks, service delivery), projects to transfer (including lead‑safe housing and Tanisha’s Law), and structural recommendations (including council operations reform and proposals such as an inspector general and independent maps to improve trust and reduce partisanship in ward mapping).
Several other councilmembers — including Danny Kelly, Lauren Welch, Richard Starr, Kevin Conwell and Michael D. Polensek — offered tributes to departing colleagues. Remarks emphasized constituent service, community ties, and civic gratitude; some speakers encouraged continued engagement from departing members.
Next steps: multiple councilmembers said they would provide transition memos to incoming members; the administration and council staff will coordinate the distribution of those materials.
