OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Cleveland City Council Meeting: October 20, 2025

City Council Meetings — Monday, October 20, 2025
BodyCleveland, Ohio
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateMonday, October 20, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:22:46

Transcript — Verbatim
4:49

Madame Clover, please call it a roll.

4:52

Griffin.

4:52

Here ship.

4:54

Tomwell.

4:56

Gray.

4:57

Kirsten.

4:58

Harsh.

5:00

Here, Bishop, Cromwell, Gray, Hairston, Harsh, House Jones, Jones, Casey, Kelly, Moore, Polensick, Santana, Slife, Spencer, Star, Welch.

5:13

You have four, Mr.

5:14

President.

5:25

Okay.

5:26

Uh will everyone please rise for a moment of silence, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

5:36

Thank you.

5:37

I pledge allegiance to the United States of America.

5:44

One nation under God in the principle with liberty.

5:48

Justice for all.04 of the codified ordinances.

6:02

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.

6:11

Members of the public are invited to speak only under the rules set by this council.

6:15

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.

6:26

Such disruptions may constitute a misdemeanor and a violation of Section 605.04.

6:32

Anyone who disrupts this lawful meeting in violation of the codified ordinances commits misdemeanors and is subject to prosecution.

6:40

The following is the first and only warning.

6:42

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.

6:52

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.

7:02

The council proceedings will not begin again until those that participated in a disruption have left the chamber and the chamber doors are closed.

7:11

Disruptors will not be allowed back in the chamber after the meeting resumes.

7:16

Again, this is the first and only warning.

7:19

Madam Clerk, please dispense with the journal.

7:24

By councilmember Spencer that the reading of the minutes of the last meeting be dispensed with the journal approved.

7:30

Seconded by Councilmember Palency.

7:33

Thank you.

7:34

We will now move to public comment.

7:36

I will ask all council members to acknowledge the speakers by turning around.

7:40

And then I will ask all of the speakers to make sure that you acknowledge your time.

7:49

She's here to talk about the district policing committee partnering with council and administration to correct uh the correct way.

7:56

She is not representing anyone and not being paid by anyone.

7:59

Miss Otis, you had a floor.

8:02

Are you okay?

8:02

No, I'm afraid of my trip.

8:04

I'm a big person on the call.

8:06

Yeah, y'all trying to kill me.

8:09

Y'all want to kill me, I see.

8:11

Good evening, council, council president, uh, mayor, and administration.

8:17

So I am first district's uh uh policing co-chair.

8:23

We have a problem.

8:25

I don't really know where it lies, but if y'all don't get it together, we're gonna have bigger problems.

8:33

So let me explain something.

8:36

Our DPCs should have bylaws or have them.

8:40

I don't know.

8:40

But first district has some, and they're not being followed.

8:45

We have issues with community relations, where our community relations representative refuses to talk to the co-chair because she and her feelings.

8:57

For one year and two months, I've written and asked y'all to deal with her.

9:03

And for one year and two months, no one has dealt with her.

9:23

It's not in our bylaws, and if it was, you would amend the bylaws and put it the onus on us to pay for these dinners.

9:33

It's not in writing.

9:34

Who came up with it?

9:35

You can't have residents vote for something when you don't have the legal authority to amend a bylaw.

9:42

I am tired.

9:43

I am tired of asking people to do their job.

9:47

If I was an employee of the city of Cleveland, you would have fired me.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement█████████████████████████25%
Procedural█████████████████17%
Public Engagement██████████████14%
Public Safety███████████11%
Disability Rights████████8%
Historic Preservation█████5%
Arts And Culture█████5%
Land Use Planning████4%
Transportation Safety████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Cleveland City Council Meeting: October 20, 2025

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.

Consent Calendar

  • Appointments Approved: The council unanimously approved the following mayoral appointments without objection:
    • Anthony R. Whitfield to the City Planning Commission (6-year term).
    • Chanel Smith Wigum to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Board (term ending March 2027).
    • Michelle Anderson, Robert Strickland, Raymond Terasuk Jr., and Julie Trott to the Landmarks Commission (reappointments, term ending August 1, 2029).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • District Policing Committee (DPC) Concerns: Miss Otis, First District DPC Co-Chair, expressed deep frustration that DPC bylaws were not being followed. She stated she has requested resolution for one year and two months regarding a community relations representative who refused to communicate. She positioned that residents feel disrespected, volunteers are undervalued, and DPC co-chairs are excluded from agenda planning despite bylaw requirements for their inclusion.
  • Form-Based Code & Tree Preservation: Michael Armstrong (Ward 15) expressed concern that the new Form-Based Code (Ordinance 34724) eliminates Title VII tree preservation requirements in Zoning Title 7A. He warned that this could lead to the removal of mature trees and parking lots in residential neighborhoods like Cadell.
  • Tamir Rice Memorial: Samaria Rice, representing the Tamir Rice Foundation, expressed gratitude for the historical landmark process and requested that the site be designated as a fire station rather than a gas station, citing the negative impacts of gas stations on residential families.
  • Housing & Evictions: Bridget Smith Jackson (East Cleveland) expressed appreciation for Mayor Bibb's responsiveness but criticized the lack of visible support from Councilman Richard Starr during the Ward 5 emergency, characterizing the broader silence of the council as "complicity." She emphasized that the housing crisis is a citywide issue affecting neighborhoods beyond Ward 5.
  • 1002 to Madison Avenue Gas Station: Fauzi Badour (Ward 11), representing a coalition, expressed strong opposition to a proposed gas station at this location. He argued the site is not bike-friendly due to street shrinkage and historical failure of previous gas stations, stating the business "will not survive."
  • Public Safety & Police Response: Austria Everson (Buckeye Woodhill), representing the Love Project, expressed that she will "never call the police again" after witnessing an incident where police prioritized investigating community vigilantes over addressing a drunk driver who hit a family car. She questioned why police are the only option for public safety and criticized the lack of community benefit from police contracts.
  • Police Informants: Chairman Fahim (Buckeye Woodhill) expressed support for dismantling the current police department and restructuring public safety. He highlighted concerns about the use of a credible suspect with a history of child rape and assault as a witness in a recent gas station case, urging the council to investigate police informant practices.
  • CSU Radio Station (WCSB): Councilwoman Welch expressed support for CSU students fighting to regain access to the 89.3 FM frequency. She criticized IdeaStream and CSU administration for stripping students of professional development and punished their power, asserting that the community needs an outlet for diverse, local music.
  • Jazz & Youth Development: Councilman Conwell expressed disappointment with IdeaStream's handling of the CSU student issue, characterizing it as "not cool" and contrary to the spirit of jazz, which requires cultivating young people. He urged the administration to bring students into the mix.
  • Redistricting & Public Safety: Councilman Starr expressed frustration with residents and officials he deemed unqualified to discuss Ward 5 safety or redistricting. He positioned that the "old boys club" he is labeled as actually secured significant funding for safety and recreation, while accusing others of lying about redistricting maps and failing to address land safety issues.

Discussion Items

Tamir Rice Butterfly Memorial

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.

Cleveland State University & WCSB Radio

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.

Redistricting & Ward 5 Safety

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.

Key Outcomes

  • Landmark Designations Passed:
    • Ordinance 1083-2025: Designated former Fire Engine Company 26 Station House as a Cleveland Landmark.
    • Ordinance 1084-2025: Designated the Tamir Rice Butterfly Memorial as a Cleveland Landmark.
    • Ordinance 1321-2025: Designated Old John Marshall High School Building as a Cleveland Landmark (First Reading).
  • Condolence Resolutions Adopted:
    • A special resolution was passed for Alan Dreyer (Deputy Clerk/Historian of the Council).
    • Resolutions were passed for George Hood, Sister Matilda Jeanette Goins, Marvin William Reed, Betty Jean Spragan, and Jahari Steagle.
    • Requests were made to add numbers for Drew Chilius and Maurice Ford in future sessions.
  • Support for CSU Students: Resolution 1324-2025 was adopted with all 16 council members added as co-sponsors, supporting students' fight to restore WCSB radio access.
  • Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned to October 27, 2025, with an invitation for the public and council to meet in the well for a photo with Samaria Rice and advocates.
  • Emergency Ordinances Passed:
    • Brown Stadium relocation and demolition agreements (Ordinance 1325).
    • Various contracts for vehicle procurement and easement rights.
    • Collective bargaining agreement with Utilities Worker Union (Ordinance 1323).
    • Mobile vending permit issuance (Ordinance 1312).

Meeting Transcript

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.

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