Cleveland City Council suspends rules and approves multiple emergency ordinances; withdraws objection to liquor permit

Cleveland City Council voted unanimously on March 16 to suspend its rules and place several packages of emergency ordinances and a resolution on final passage.

Council Member Santana moved to suspend the rules and place the first package of ordinances read by the clerk on final passage; the motion was seconded by Council Member Hudson and the roll call recorded 14 yays. The first package included ordinances authorizing software support contracts (Ordinance 280-2026), concession agreements for food services at City Hall (Ordinances 281-2026 and 282-2026), a professional services agreement for election phone/text outreach (Ordinance 283-2026), and authorization for public improvements including road resurfacing and ADA ramp work (Ordinance 309-2026), among others.

The council also adopted Resolution 279-2026 (sponsored by Council Member Hudson) withdrawing an objection to a new C1 liquor permit at 6501 Dennis Avenue; Santana again moved to suspend the rules, and the roll call for adoption showed 14 yays.

Later in the meeting the council read second-reading emergency ordinances related to the city's 2026 appropriations and departmental contracts (including a city summer youth-employment program and maintenance contracts for North Coast Harbor). Santana moved to suspend the rules on that package as well; the roll call recorded another 14 yays on passage.

Council members present for the recorded roll calls included Griffin, Bishop, Conwell, Davis, Gray, Harsh, House Jones, Hudson, Jones, Kazy, Pencic (Palencic), Santana, Shaw, Slife and Star. Council President Blaine A. Griffin said members who had concerns about budget amendments would meet with the mayor and department officials for follow-up before June.

The meeting included many other first readings, filings and ceremonial items that were not subject to final votes during the session.