The October 20, 2025, meeting of the Cleveland City Council convened with a roll call, a moment of silence, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The body processed routine appointments, emergency ordinances, and landmark designations while addressing significant public commentary regarding policing, code enforcement, and student rights. The meeting concluded with strong advocacy for the preservation of Cleveland State University's radio station (WCSB), a celebration of the Tamir Rice Butterfly Memorial's landmark status, and tributes to staff member Alan Dreyer.
Councilmember Griffin and Councilwoman Spencer led discussions recognizing Samaria Rice for her 11-year advocacy. The body celebrated the designation of the memorial as a permanent landmark (Ordinance 1084-2025). Councilwoman Spencer requested a group photo with Samaria Rice, Molly Negan, and Nikki Hudson in the well immediately following the meeting to commemorate the sacred nature of the site.
Councilmembers Welchs, Harsh, Palency, and Conwell led a robust discussion in support of Resolution 1324, which urges CSU and IdeaStream to restore full radio access to students. Councilmember Harsh read a constituent comment describing the station as a cultural cornerstone. Councilmembers called for immediate mediation and urged the administration to amend agreements to include students. Councilman Conwell emphasized the artistic and educational necessity of youth involvement in the music scene.
Councilman Starr engaged in a heated exchange regarding redistricting accuracy and political accountability. He contrasted the safety record of his representation (noting high homicide rates in Ward 5) with accusations of hypocrisy from other council members regarding the "old boys club" label. He defended the funding secured for neighborhood equity and recreation under his tenure.
Madame Clover, please call it a roll. Griffin. Here ship. Tomwell. Gray. Kirsten. Harsh. Here, Bishop, Cromwell, Gray, Hairston, Harsh, House Jones, Jones, Casey, Kelly, Moore, Polensick, Santana, Slife, Spencer, Star, Welch. You have four, Mr. President. Okay. Uh will everyone please rise for a moment of silence, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. I pledge allegiance to the United States of America. One nation under God in the principle with liberty. Justice for all.04 of the codified ordinances. No person with purpose to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting shall do any act which obstructs or interferes with the due conduct of such meeting. Members of the public are invited to speak only under the rules set by this council. Disruptions, including but not limited to speaking out of turn and making loud noises and loud utterances are in violation of the rules and interfere with the due conduct of this lawful meeting. Such disruptions may constitute a misdemeanor and a violation of Section 605.04. Anyone who disrupts this lawful meeting in violation of the codified ordinances commits misdemeanors and is subject to prosecution. The following is the first and only warning. If this meeting is disrupted, I will gather a halt to the proceedings and direct the assembled officers to escort any person participating in the disruption out of the chamber. Once persons participating in a disruption are outside of the chambers, the officers will close the doors and the disruptors will be handled as directed by the director of public safety. The council proceedings will not begin again until those that participated in a disruption have left the chamber and the chamber doors are closed. Disruptors will not be allowed back in the chamber after the meeting resumes. Again, this is the first and only warning. Madam Clerk, please dispense with the journal. By councilmember Spencer that the reading of the minutes of the last meeting be dispensed with the journal approved. Seconded by Councilmember Palency. Thank you. We will now move to public comment. I will ask all council members to acknowledge the speakers by turning around. And then I will ask all of the speakers to make sure that you acknowledge your time. She's here to talk about the district policing committee partnering with council and administration to correct uh the correct way. She is not representing anyone and not being paid by anyone. Miss Otis, you had a floor. Are you okay? No, I'm afraid of my trip. I'm a big person on the call. Yeah, y'all trying to kill me. Y'all want to kill me, I see. Good evening, council, council president, uh, mayor, and administration. So I am first district's uh uh policing co-chair. We have a problem. I don't really know where it lies, but if y'all don't get it together, we're gonna have bigger problems. So let me explain something. Our DPCs should have bylaws or have them. I don't know. But first district has some, and they're not being followed.