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Garfield Heights council approves package of ordinances including FEMA grant applications and a three-month cannabis moratorium
Summary
The city council on July 14 unanimously advanced and adopted multiple ordinances by suspending readings and approving roll-call votes, including FEMA grant applications for firefighter equipment, updates moving tree duties to the service director, procurement of service vehicles, a contract for annual financial statements, and a three-month moratorium on adult-use cannabis permits (Ordinance 63-2026).
At its July 14 meeting, the Garfield Heights City Council considered and approved a package of ordinances authorizing grant applications, equipment purchases and a moratorium on adult‑use cannabis permits.
Chief of staff Jeff Jerome summarized the night’s legislation before council consideration. Council moved to consider several ordinances by title, then repeatedly moved to suspend the three‑reading rule and waive Rule 24 so the measures could be adopted that night.
Key adopted items recorded in the meeting include: - Ordinance 56‑2026: Authorizes application for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters grant to upgrade cardiac equipment; council moved to consider by title, suspended readings and adopted the ordinance. (Recorded adoption vote: carried.) - Ordinance 58‑2026: Authorizes application for a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters grant to upgrade respiratory care equipment; adopted following motions to suspend readings and waive rules. - Ordinance 57‑2026: Amends codified ordinances to transfer duties related to trees, hedges and related matters from the Parks and Recreation director to the Service director; council approved the amendment and declared an emergency. - Ordinance 59‑2026: Authorizes a contract with Zepka & Associates to provide annual financial statements; council approved the contract authorization. - Ordinance 61‑2026: Authorizes purchase of two 2027 chassis/trucks (service fleet) through a specified vendor under Ohio Revised Code purchasing provisions; the purchases were described as budgeted and necessary replacements. - Ordinance 63‑2026: Extends a moratorium (period not to exceed three months) on issuance and processing of permits and certificates for cultivation, processing, distribution or sale of adult‑use cannabis in Garfield Heights; the council approved the moratorium after motions to consider by title and to suspend rules.
Recorded roll-call and voice votes at multiple points in the meeting were reported as passing 6–0 for many of these items. The meeting transcript shows motions to “consider by title,” suspend the three‑reading rule and waive Rule 24 were routinely moved, seconded and carried before roll‑call adoption.
Council members and staff described some items as routine or housekeeping (for example, updating where the tree program is housed in the city code) and others as grant-seeking measures to secure federal funding for public-safety equipment. The moratorium motion was presented as a short-term pause while state regulations and licensing remain in flux; staff said it gives the city time to confirm compliance with state rules.
The ordinances were advanced and adopted on the same night; specific implementation steps (contract signings, grant submissions, procurement timelines) were not detailed in the meeting record and will be managed by the appropriate departments.
