Madam Clerk, please call the road.

Griffin here, Bishop, Conwell, Davis, Gray, Harsh, House Jones, Hudson, Jones, Casey, Polensic, Santana, Shaw, Slife, Star.

You have a quorum, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Would everyone please rise by a mo for a moment of silence, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Thank you.

I pledge of late to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic.

For which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, 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 the disruption are outside of the chamber, 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 the disruption have left the chamber and the chamber doors are closed.

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

Again, this is the first and only warning.

Madam Clerk, please dispense with the journal.

Thank you.

We'll now move to public comment.

All right.

No one and not being paid by anyone.

Mr.

Freeman, you have the floor.

Yep.

Thanks again.

Again, I'm Adrian Freeman, lifelong resident city of Cleveland.

And I'm here to continue on with gathering the signatures, not of the citizens, uh citywide, but of the councilpersons, so they can be on record for the safety and energy retrofit initiative.

And I have it.

The formal submission.

Some of you all don't remember when they had 33.

No, they don't remember.

33 down to 15, but they're already that's done, and in the near future, I'll be submitting them right here to be put in an official record.

I think that's in order.

Not Robert Food, but Cleveland's order of how we behave.

Now I'd like to go back to what I alluded to about something I'm working with is the food desert elimination initiative.

It's gonna be very important to a lot of grocers and retailers on the east side in particular because the historic victimization, redlining, and that'll be another day to talk about that.

But I have a couple of clients.

It's only 250,000, and it's gonna be a fierce competition and a battle to get those funds.

But I hope it goes to those most in need.

But secondly, I think thirdly, it's gonna be important on my agenda to be dealing with repurposing these old civic buildings that are in our neighborhood and don't need to be torn down.

Just like the 10 the 9410 on the off.

I was there, I saw the councilwoman Jones there, I saw you there, uh President Griff.

And it's I live around the corner.

I just moved in the neighborhood.

I'm not in Ward 1 anymore, but I'm citywide still.

Everything's important when you're talking about citywide.

But it's gonna be real important how we repurpose these buildings, especially in the absence of tax uh incentives from the state and everything.

We'll we're gonna have to go it from the straight financial route.

And so I think it's gonna be very important that the commission and everyone looks at who's in need and who needs it in a priority manner like that.

And with that be said, I'd like to yield.

Thank you.

Next, we have Matthew Strazinski from Ward 2.

They're here to talk about communication with the city.

He's not representing anyone and not being paid by anyone.

Mr.

Zinski, you have the floor.

Thank you.

I appreciate you letting me speak.

It's a great honor.

Again, we don't have is the mayor here today.

He's not here.

Uh, what about my councilman?

Councilman Bishop is not here either.

You know, and the way I grew up is if you know you miss a meeting or you're not on time or you're not in an appointment, either you're dead or you're in the hospital.

That's your only excuse.

And I don't like this at all.

My grandfather was Joseph M.

Kowalski, and I mentioned it thousands of times.

And he worked hard for the community, worked hard for Slavic Village, which now we have one part of one council person, and we have another council person that divided it up with Mr.

Bishop.

Now, this is directed kind of towards you, Miss Gray.

We have a I want all the councilmen when you get a chance.

I want you to drive down Fleet Avenue.

Okay.

Fleet Avenue was a great, great street, flourishing businesses, and it went to hell.

Now we have a business now.

It's a, I don't know if you want to call it a gas station or a service station, but it looks like a wrecking yard, a junkyard.

Okay.

You have trucks parked in there, piled upon pile.

It's against code violation.

I'm a former code enforcement officer.

And when I drive by, I see these trucks parked in the parking zones, which is no parking for commercial trucks.

You're not supposed to be parked there.

They're abusing it.

Okay, it's not a service station.

The place is jam-packed.

Now let me tell you something, okay.

You have one little drip of gasoline from one of those cars that they're working on, and one car lights up, that's it.

That whole that whole corner is gonna go up.

And then you got residents that live all around that area.

Please, I would like the council people, councilmen to drive through East 7 uh East 72nd or um East uh Street.

I lost my train of thought.

Uh on Fleet Avenue at uh uh 60, I think it's 62nd, I can't even think now.

I'm a little nervous.

Uh but I would like the councilman to to drive through there, and I would like you to see and just see how that area is set up.

Okay, how those vehicles are parked.

Um there's another area on the corner of 71st and fleet.

We got big large pinatas.

I never seen nothing like it in my whole entire life.

Big large piñatas.

And one last thing, because I don't have much time, is the Stellar Wall Center.

If you're gonna board it up, please have a little respect for my grandfather.

He had that area, that thing built, put some decent boards on it.

Please have a little respect.

Thank you.

Time.

Next, we have Christina Hill from Ward 11 to talk about city collaboration and support for small businesses.

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

Good evening.

I'm here for a second time regarding the closure of my child care center, Tiny Heroes Academy.

The first time I came, I shared my timeline.

I spoke about what was lost jobs, families losing stability, children losing a safe space, and my reputation taking a hit.

And I asked a question that I'm still sitting with why was I treated like a criminal?

I'm not here to repeat everything.

I'm here because I'm still looking for answers and honesty, honestly, just fairness.

I'm not sweeping this under the rug because what happened to me felt like a conclusion was already made about me before the full truth was ever looked at.

After I spoke with the director of public health, I tried to walk him through my documentation.

I wanted to show him that even the inspection report didn't match up with the revocation letter that shut down my business.

But after even seeing that he sided with his inspectors and told me there's always an option to sue.

But before he even gets to that point, shouldn't there be accountability?

The very revocation letter, the one that painted Tiny Heroes like it was we were a threat to the public says that the inspection took place on February 26th was ended because we kicked the inspectors out.

But on the actual inspection report, it clearly says that the inspectors left on their own.

So now, how does something like this happen?

Did anyone take the time to read their own internal documents before deciding to use this type of enforcement?

Both of these documentations cannot be true at the same time.

So which one was used to make the decision to label my child care center a public threat.

If this could happen to me with documentation with proof, it can happen to anyone.

With that being said, I'm asking for something very simple and very fair.

I'm asking for an independent review from someone outside of the Department of Public Health to look at my case and documentation.

I'm also asking for counsel to look and work with me at policies and procedures so there's more transparency and accountability moving forward.

Because when there isn't, people get hurt.

And in my case, it was families, workers, and children who depended on that space.

So, yes, there is an option to sue, but I also believe there should be another option.

The option to fix what went wrong, the option to restore what was lost, and the option to actively support small businesses instead of pushing them to survival mode.

That includes looking at readily available resources, vacant buildings, assisting city spaces, and funding that already exists, and actually using the support to support entrepreneurs like myself who are trying to serve this community.

I'm asking for essence for what is already there and already available.

I'm still here.

I didn't walk away.

I didn't come here to be heard.

I came here to be taken seriously.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, next we have uh Bridget Smith Jackson from East Cleveland to talk about a housing solution.

She's not representing anyone, not being paid by anyone.

Ms.

Smith Jackson, you have the floor.

Good evening.

Tonight I come before you again with real situations.

What we are seeing across Greater Cleveland is not isolated.

It is systemic.

First, I want to speak to Ms.

Watkins, who has given me permission to continue sharing her story.

She is still homeless.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge and genuinely appreciate the members of this council, as well as fair housing and community development who have responded to my continued outreach and stepped in to help identify pathways towards housing stability.

That matters and is not overlooked.

But I must also be clear access to safe, stable housing should not be contingent upon how many times someone shows up in this podium.

Or how persistent they are in navigating systems that are designed to serve them in the first place.

Second, there was another woman aired on the news with Ms.

Watkins.

I asked her permission to share her story.

She told me to share everything.

She is in a motorized wheelchair and could not access common areas due to negligence.

Her personal items was damaged and destroyed, all while requesting a transfer.

Eventually, she was moved to a unit where she could not bathe due to plumbing issues.

And when she spoke up, she was met with retaliation.

She told me she had to take a bus in a winter in our power chair to Superior Hill just to bathe before school.

Her words were, I almost died there.

I've never felt so endangered, unheard, and neglected in my life.

So she left.

Not because she wanted to, but because she had to to survive.

And third, I am currently working with a mother raising three children, two of them with disability, who is still living inside one of these properties.

She is doing everything right, yet she cannot get clarity on her rent ledger.

Her maintenance requests are going unanswered, and she is now fearful that simply asking questions will put her in a housing risk.

I am sharing her situation now proactively so that no one in this room can later say they did not know.

The room is this room is officially on notice, and that leads me to asking tonight.

Because right now the system is not just failing resident, it's conditioning them to stay silent.

And before I close, this is for the families who are not here tonight.

The ones who are afraid that speaking up will cost them their housing, the ones who have already experienced retaliation, the ones navigating child care disability, transportation, and trauma, just trying to survive.

They should not have to choose between their voice and their home.

So I leave you with this.

I'm telling the truth, I'm telling the truth about unsafe living conditions can cost someone their housing.

I'm sorry, if telling the truth can cost them their housing.

It is a power issue, and power when left unchecked becomes a harm.

The question is no longer what is happening.

The question is will this body interrupt.

Thank you.

Next, we have Sabrina Otis.

Sabrina Otis is from Cleveland.

She's here to talk about public safety failures, still not addressed.

Power outages and charter ordinance that don't cover renters.

Good evening, everybody.

I'm gonna be as fast as I can.

I'm gonna start with the charter ordinance that don't cover renters.

Um renters are paying bills, and I brought it up the last time I was here about the garbage.

Um I don't know who oversees garbage anymore, because y'all, you know, they keep replacing folks.

But renters are still being hit with tickets for excess garbage.

When it's bulk, people are allowed to put garbage out.

You can't keep hitting renters up to pay it because you're not doing it to the homeowners.

And when the homeowners have a problem, their remedy is to go here to this building, talk to that to talk to somebody, and then the money is reversed or the tickets aren't being given.

But $350 is a lot of money for excess garbage.

Um, and if we have to pay that other rumpkey, whatever rumpkins or whatever they are, that's $190.

We are renters, we don't own homes, so why are we having to go into our pocket and pay the most?

Um, and it's starting to annoy me because nobody is addressing it.

You you want us to be part of the community, but we only can be a part of the community a little bit.

Um, because we're not homeowners.

I I think that's garbage.

Because if you look in this city, it's more than 70% renters, not homeowners.

There's the difference.

So I would like something to be done.

Renters should get some of the equal.

Um, the next thing that I'm complaining about power outages, Cleveland Public Power is suffering just like first energy.

And we, as residents, want to know are we getting some money back?

As first energy show, giving eight um people money.

It's coming in three increments.

I read it online, they're getting money back.

So are we getting anything for all the power outages we go through?

We suffer just like everybody else.

And it's not fair.

And the fact that you guys have a committee for utilities, that should be discussed.

If we're gonna flip out on first energy, I want Cleveland Public Power to get that same energy right back.

And lastly, when I'm talking about public failures, safety failures, there's two points.

With the lights being out on the street and all the potholes, um, and people just being harmed.

When is that gonna be addressed?

How long?

The weather is nice now.

Can we get some of these potholes?

And can we get some lights on?

Like, figure it out, find the funds and help us stop torturing residents that actually live here, but you guys are making a way, you know, with opportunity corridor and all the other places for people who don't even live here.

Like, if we didn't live here, we would get help.

But because we're here, we're trapped to have to put up with subpar services.

And that is what I had to say.

Have a great evening.

Thank you.

Next, we have Lauren Lawler from Cleveland to talk about infrastructure failures, waterman break, power outages, and other city issues.

Is Lauren is not representing anyone and not being paid by no one.

Lauren, you have the floor.

Hello, my name is Lauren Lawler, and I'm concerned about the stuff that's going on in my neighborhood, trash being all up and down Neff Road.

I explained to that it was a garbage guy when I went to the meeting with Michael D.

Polisic, and um, he said he was gonna get that um the feces off the um off the um RTA stop, and he he told me he was going to get it off, and I go to the bus stop and it's still there.

That disgustes me every time I will sit at that bus stop to go to go to work or school.

I get disgusted, and that stuff is still sitting there.

The trash that's up and down that road disgustes me.

I want to live clean, I want to live happy, and I'm not about to live like that.

Um he explained to me that he was gonna sell workers around there to at least, you know, clean that stuff up.

Uh the murders are the murderers that's around there, um, disagree with the shooters and the stabbings and stuff like that.

They could at least put some more jobs out there for those workers.

Um for the people that want to rob people to clean that stuff up so they won't have to do that.

These people that's probably have felons or whatever case is, they probably want to, you know, go around shooting and stabbing and stuff or whatever case is because they don't have a job or whatever case is because they want to rob people or don't have a job or whatever case is, they need to put more uh workers out there to clean that stuff up.

So um that's all I and then a water main break or whatever case is.

I it just need the community needs need to be more healthier.

So that's all I gotta say.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next we have Larry H.

Gardner from Ward 3.

Uh, Larry is not supporting the recall of Mayor Justin Bibb.

He is not representing one and not being paid by anyone.

Good evening, city council members, council president Glenn Griffin, everybody on the city council.

I come to you because I've been a podcaster for the city for 10 years.

And the thing about it is, thank you.

And the thing about it is that I do not support this recall because number one, this is bad comedy.

Those people who are behind it have not been around when I started protesting and fighting for Black Lives Matter and Marston parades like I have.

Number two, we have a state, we have a primary going on in Cuyahoga County and Ohio for state reps, the governor, and other judicial candidates.

If they wanted to vote, if they wanted to put Mayor Bibb out, they had a chance last year during the election to do so because he did have an opponent.

Number three, who's next?

I'm looking at every single one of you in Cleveland City Council, and you earn your seats by getting your people voted in, by going out and soliciting votes because of the simple fact of the matter is that you put in the work.

Who they want out next?

Would it be Councilman Starr?

Would it be Councilman Griffin?

Would it be Polinzik and Conwell or will it be or Deborah Gray?

I voted for Mayor Bibb because I believe in what he has vision for the city.

I support every single person in here, from Nikki Hudson to Tammany Shaw to Austin Davis.

The thing about it is that what they want is not what I want.

200,000 for a recall is gonna cost more of the city's taxpayers' money.

Something that as a taxpayer in the city of Cleveland, I cannot afford because we got a madman, a convicted felon in office in the White House that wants to take away everything.

If they want to be angry about, if they want to be angry about something, have them be angry about that instead of trying to pick for low-hanging fruit.

We understand that there's gonna be stuff we don't agree on, but at the end of the day, I'm going to take the words and twist them by my one of my one of the greatest presidents in the United States of America, Barack Hussein Obama.

Don't boo, don't recall, vote.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, we have one C.

Collado Diaz from Ward 12 to talk about the recall of Mayor Bibb.

He's from the accountable Cleveland era, and he's not being paid by anyone.

Mr.

Calado Diaz, you had the floor.

Thank you, uh, Council President.

Good evening, everybody.

Um, today I am very proud to say that as a week ago, we have submitted a recall petition.

And there's a thousand signatures that we have collected.

Um, I have done this with a group of a small group of people.

We have let some people just go out of our group because they're not the perfect fit, and some others are amazing, and we're doing this work.

I want to also add some things to this recall.

There's a data center happening in Cleveland.

Again, the people of Cleveland have spoken against data centers over and over again.

They bring no good.

Electrical bills go up, our water, like literally is slowly just getting destroyed by this data centers.

We are losing our best resource in this city, which is our beautiful lake, to a data center.

What is gonna happen eventually?

We're just gonna upload our consciousness into computers and live that way, because that really sucks and sounds actually stupid.

It sounds like something from Hollywood.

But yeah, I wanted to add that to one of the reasons of this recall.

Then the other one is the shot spotter technology.

We're talking about how much it will cost to do a recall.

Let's talk about how much that costs, even though the residents of Cleveland have said no.

This didn't even go through council, but the executive office of Cleveland decided, and this is what they have to do.

I also want to go over the non-elected officials that people are afraid and may take over.

Believe me, if I'm doing this recall against the mayor right now, I will stand here and do another recall to get rid of Mark Griffin if he gets up there.

Because he won't.

And I will recall every single member onto an elected official.

It's the one in that seat.

This recall is not a personal attack as the mayor, as a mayor friends, his pastors have made it seem.

It is not a racial attack, as his friends have made it seem, or other residents in here, because they want to throw how they started, like at and they have done their activism with Black Lives Matter.

I started my activism with Black Lives Matter when I was 12 years old.

I don't need to brag about it, but I want to let people know because the mayor has made his little friends around going and antagonize us and actually make us look like the bad guys.

This recall is not a personal attack, it's an attack on your administration and on your horrible policies.

It's an attack directly because we as a city deserve better, and we need to be better.

We need to do better.

We have the chance, you have the chance every time that I call your office, and I was told email, and then I sent an email and never got returned to me to sit down and talk about this issues in our city.

Sadly, those issues were not talked about, and now this is the best option.

If you have a problem, you get rid of the problem, and the best way to do it is a recall.

People are screaming, go do it at the federal level.

Well, guess what?

If you know the law of the United States, that ain't my that ain't my power.

As a citizen, I don't have that power.

That power goes to Congress.

And sadly, I will tell you right now, I don't think I'm fit to be the mayor of Cleveland, nor I'm fit to be a congressperson in the United States.

I have a lot to learn.

I'm 25 years old, I have a one-year-old, and I have more important things in my house.

But this to me is important because it's my city, it's what I want my son to grow and actually do better and be better for the city.

I want my son to actually live in a city that he loves, and it's not taken by data centers and mayor starting out of our town.

Thank you.

Next, we have Ladonna Wheeler from Ward 9 to talk about CPP and Councilman Casey's comments at last meeting regarding power outage.

Uh Ladonna's not representing one and not being paid by anyone.

Ledonna, you had the floor.

Nope, not being paid by anybody.

Um, I'm here to comment about our chronic uh power outages in the Glenville area.

Um, and also to remark about uh Councilman Casey's remark about how we should have gone to church and prayed.

Uh councilman, I did go to church.

I went, I prayed, and I prayed that my mouth would not be foul, that I would not use unprofessional words tonight.

Because let me tell you, I can ask Justin Bibb.

Um, because he got my wrath one time.

Um, also I want to let you know your apology was half-hearted, it had racially overtones to it.

And let me tell you, when I heard it, I was clearly upset, and I'm sure other people were as well.

You did not show any empathy whatsoever towards anyone who lost power during the Easter holiday.

I myself had to pivot and cook on the grill because I didn't have no power.

Also, I want to say about the power.

If someone blinks one eye too hard, the power goes out.

And when my power goes out, it goes out for 12 to 48 hours.

I either have to go to a hotel or I just have to tough it out.

And frankly, I'm tired of toughen it out.

Also, all of council, all of you knew that that infrastructure for CPP needed to be updated, and all of you who have been on council going into your second term, why didn't you do anything?

Why didn't you do anything?

Because it didn't drop in your lap.

It wasn't a part of it, didn't bother you.

So you need to not ignore it.

And I'm gonna be just like this young lady who was saying that first energy got money.

Where my money at?

Because I have to replace food.

I have to replace, I have replaced appliances for the power surges that come back on and it kills my appliances.

I replaced the refrigerator, I replaced the a dryer.

Now I'm gonna have to replace a stove.

Where's my money?

But yet you want my tax dollars so y'all can get paid.

Where's my money?

Fix this infrastructure.

Thank you.

Fix it quickly.

Thank you.

Next we have Greg Wheeler from Ward 9.

Mr.

Wheeler is here to talk about CPP response and the lack of official response.

And he's not representing anyone and not being paid by anyone.

Mr.

Wheeler you have the floor.

Good evening, President Griffin, City Council, and Cabinet members.

I'm here to address the uh chronic problems of CPP and the response Councilman Casey gave to the city council on April 6th.

Uh, we all know that CPP infrastructure is antiquated and unreliable.

And I just want to say to the workers that I have the utmost respect for our CPP workers.

They are overworked and underpaid, and they are doing their best that they can in order to keep us safe and to keep our power on.

We understand that.

However, things are not improving the way which they should.

This is a deeply flawed system, and I want them to know that they are appreciated.

There are there were three outages the week of Good Friday.

The Friday event lasted for us 15 hours spilling into Saturday afternoon.

Another power fluctuation happened Saturday night, causing damage to one of my appliances.

A few weeks prior to this, there was another interruption of service over a three-day period, which caused my family to check into a hotel.

I have medical conditions that require electricity for treatment.

Every time the power goes out for extended periods of time, my health is at risk.

I also have a 99-year-old neighbor who had to check into the hotel due to uh health risk connected to the power outage.

For the last five years, there's been multiple outages that have lasted for more than 12 hours.

Many lasted 24 hours or more.

Money is wasted, food is lost, and appliances are ruined, and we have nobody to hold accountable.

During Councilman Casey's remarks, I took great offense, and I quote, I guess I'll stand up on the floor and apologize to whomever needs to be apologized to because your Easter was ruined because you didn't have electricity.

I'm sure the churches did.

They should have went and prayed.

Me quoting you at the podium doesn't give you justice to what you said.

It's probably the worst apology I've ever heard from a public official, and that you had the audacity to make that comment.

It shows your contempt for the citizens of Cleveland.

Mr.

Casey, I invite you to come to the ward meetings in Gliville and Collywood with that same sarcastic and insincere comments.

You'll get a much different response than what you get here in the council chamber.

The spirit of your words was hurtful and out of order.

There were a lot of upset people.

They're tired of excuses, they're tired of ineffective service and leadership.

You are the chair of the utilities committee.

We now hold you accountable.

No need for any more half-hearted apologies, just delivering results.

That's the apology we deserve.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That concludes public comment.

Madam Clerk, please share communications.

Appointment to Cleveland Cuyahoga Port Authority.

Eddie Taylor appointment for a four-year term ending April 7th, 2030.

File number 483, 2026 from the mayor's appointments committee of Cleveland City Council.

Recommending approval of the appointment of Luis Cartagena to Cleveland, Cuyahoga County Port Authority.

Term ending January 31st, 2029.

Cleveland, Cuyahoga Port Authority.

Without objection, the appointment is approved.

File number 484, 2026 from Mayor's Appointments Committee of Cleveland City Council, recommending approval of the appointment of Glenn Shoemate to Cleveland Cuyahoga County Port Authority.

Term ending January 31st, 2028.

Cleveland Cleveland Cuyahoga County Port Authority.

Without objection, the appointment is approved.

File number 485, 2026 from the mayor's appointments committee of Cleveland City Council, recommending approval of the appointment of Anastasia Elder to Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority.

File number 486, 2026 from the Mayor's Appointments Committee of Cleveland City Council, recommending approval of the appointment of Emily Harper to Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority.

Term ending March 2029.

Without objection, the appointment is approved.

File number 487 2026 from the Mayor's Appointments Committee of Cleveland City Council.

Recommending approval of the appointment of Jeffrey Sleesman to Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority.

Term ending March 2029.

Without objection, the appointment is approved.

File number 505 2026.

Dedication Plat for Woodhill Homes Development Project Phase 5 and 6, located between Woodland Avenue and Mount Carmel Road.

Area to be dedicated as Blue Rock Road, Ward 6, approved by committees on municipal services and properties and development planning and sustainability.

Without objection, the plat is approved.

File number 506 2026.

Dedication Plat for Woodhill Homes Development Project 5, Phase 5 and 6, located between Woodland Avenue and Mount Carmel Road.

Area to be dedicated as Luna Park Avenue Ward 6, approved by committees on municipal services and properties and development planning and sustainability.

Without objection, the plat is approved.

From the Ohio Division of Liquor Control, file number 488, 2026 regarding a transfer of license application at 1966 East 66th Street, Ward 8.

File number 489 2026 regarding a new license application at 6909 Clark Avenue Ward 11.

File number 490 2026 regarding a new license application at 24 Public Square Ward 5.

File number 491 2026 regarding a transfer of ownership application at 4506 Lorraine Avenue Ward 7.

File number 492 2026 regarding a new license application at 10109 St.

Clair Avenue Ward 8.

File number 493 2026 regarding a transfer of ownership application at 1268-72 East 61st Street Ward 8.

Thank you.

Are there any condolence resolutions?

Resolutions of condolence by Councilmember Griffin for John E.

Johnson by Councilmember Jones for Beverly Lawry by Councilmember Starr for Danny LaRoy Solomon by Council Members Conwell and Jones for Francis Walker by Councilmember Starr for Doris Maxine Deval Braith Brathwaite by Councilmember Gray for Annie Ruth Turner.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, before I acknowledge Councilman Michael Palency, can we hold out a number for Mr.

Bob Dykes?

Mr.

Bob Dykes.

Mr.

Dykes was the one who actually has been a longtime poster and drew the last two maps of Cleveland City Council.

Next, uh I would acknowledge the chair will acknowledge Councilman Michael Palencick.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Madam Clerk.

Would the clerk please hold out a number for former or former colleague Bill Patman?

Who was just uh we just learned that he just passed.

Thank you.

So noted.

Uh Councilman Pelic, is there any objection to all of counsel being added to that resolution of condolence?

Madam Clerk, can you add all council members to that resolution of condolence for Councilman Bill Patton?

So noted.

Councilman Richard Starr.

Thank you Council President.

Can you add out a number for Warfare's finance?

Miss El Nora Penson.

Um I will get the language over for the condolence resolution for us.

Duly noted.

Councilman Kevin Conwell.

No, Mike got it.

Okay.

Are there any other condolence resolutions?

Seeing no other condolence resolutions, will all council members rise for a moment of silence.

Thank you.

Are there any congratulatory resolutions?

Resolutions.

I do not have any presentations.

Uh I do not have any presentations.

Therefore, we'll move to first reading.

Emergency ordinances referred for administrative review and committee review.

Ordinance 464 2026 by Council Members Santana and Griffin by Departmental Request, authorizing Director of Community Development to administer the Community Engagement Healthy Home Initiative to enter into one or more contracts with various community development corporations for the purpose of hiring community engagement specialists by neighborhood by neighborhood to improve the quality of life for residents and the city's housing stock to enter into professional services contracts for training to conduct the initiative and to make purchases and materials, equipment, supplies, and services needed to conduct the initiative.

Ordinance 465 2026 by Council Members Palencyc and Griffin by Departmental Request to amend Section 405.04, the codify ordinances relating to storage fee at vehicle pound impound.

Ordinance 467 2026 by Council members Bishop and Griffin by Departmental Request, authorizing the purchase by one or more requirement contracts of various types of general maintenance, structural repair and lubrication requirements of the movable bridges, including materials, equipment, supplies, services, and labor, if necessary for the division of streets, department of public works for a period of one year with two one-year options to renew, exercisable by the director of public works.

Ordinance 468 2026 by Council Members Bishop and Griffin by Departmental Request, authorizing the purchase by one or more requirement contracts of Rock Salt for the Division of Streets Department of Public Works for a period of one year.

Ordinance 469 2026 by Councilmember Harsh to supplement the codified ordinances of Cleveland, Ohio related to admission tax exemptions.

Ordinance 470 2026 by Council Members Bishop and Griffin by Departmental Request, authorizing the purchase by one or more requirement contracts for the transfer and disposal of solid waste for the division of waste collection and disposal, department of public works for a term of two years with three one year options to renew exercisable by the director of public works.

Ordinance 471 2026 by Council Members Bishop and Griffin by Departmental Request, authorizing the purchase by one or more requirement contracts of the transfer disposal, transfer, disposal, and processing of recyclable materials for the division of waste collection and disposal, Department of Public Works for a period of two years with three one-year options to renew exercisable by the Director of Public Works.

Thank you.

First reading emergency ordinances to be passed.

Ordinance 472-2026 by Council members by Councilmember Casey to amend Section 2 of Ordinance 288-2026 relating to the agreement with Bel Air Puritist Development Corporation for the Summer Safety Series.

Thank you.

Read the motion to suspend.

Ordinance 474 2026 by Councilmember Casey.

Authorizing Director of Department of Community Development to enter into agreement with Bel Air Puritist Development Corporation and DBA Jefferson Puritus West Park Community Development Corporation for the public purpose of providing Ward 13 code enforcement program through the use of Ward 13 Casino Revenue Funds.

Ordinance 475 2026 by Councilmember Casey authorizing the Director of Department of Community Development to enter into agreement with Bel Air Puritus Development Corporation.

DBA Jefferson Puritus West Park Community Development Corporation for the Jeffish Jefferson Puritus Home Repair Classes Project through the use of Ward 13 Casino Revenue Funds.

Ordinance 476 2026 by Councilmember Casey authorizing the Director of Department of City Planning to enter into agreement with Bel Air Puritist Development Corporation, DBA Jefferson Puritas, West Park Community Development Corporation for the third annual music keynote to the city through the use of Ward 13 Casino Revenue Funds.

Ordinance 477 2026 by Councilmember Gray authorizing the Director of Department of Community Development to enter into agreement with New Point Community Development Corporation for the Kids Pantry Project through the use of Ward 3 Casino Revenue Funds by Council Member Ordinance 478 2026 by Councilmember Santana authorizing the Director of City Planning to enter into agreement with Metro West Community Development Organization for the Grow Wizard Paint a Better Picture Project Providing a Community Beautification Project through the use of Ward 14 Casino Revenue Funds.

Ordinance 481 2026 by Council Members House Jones Santana and Griffin by Departmental Request to amend Section 12 and 3 of Ordinance 747 2024 relating to approving the addition of certain property to the Northeast Ohio Advanced Energy District and providing for the assessment of the cost of the special energy improvement project in the district read the motion to suspend the rules by Councilmember Slife that the rules be suspended and the legislation just read be placed on final passage, seconded by councilmember Casey.

Caldero Griffin Bishop Conwell Davis Gray Harsh House Jones Hudson Jones Casey Palencick Santana Shaw Slife Starr.

13 Yes.

Calderon passage.

Griffin Bishop Comwell Davis Gray Harsh House Jones Hudson Jones Casey Palencick Santana Shaw Slife Star.

13 YAs.

Thank you.

First reading emergency resolutions referred for administrative review and committee review.

Resolution 480 2026 by Council Members House Jones Santana and Griffin by Departmental Request.

Approving the creation of the Cleveland Superior Arts Improvement District as a special improvement district in the city.

Accepting petitions from owners of the property in the proposed district, approving a plan for public services, declaring that the creation of the district is necessary and the plan will be conducive to the public health, safety, peace, convenience, and welfare of the proposed district, providing for the assessment of the cost of such work upon benefited properties in the district and declaring an emergency.

Thank you.

First reading emergency resolutions to be adopted.

Resolution 479 2026 by Councilmember Casey objecting to the transfer of ownership of a C1C2 liquor permit to 12702 Lorraine Avenue.

Resolution 507 2026 by Councilmember House Jones, honoring new voices for reproductive justice and celebrating Black Maternal Health Week 2026 from April 11th to April 17th, 2026 with the theme Rooted in Justice and Joy.

Thank you.

Read the motion to suspend the rules.

By Councilmember Slife, that the rules be suspended and the legislation just read be placed on final passage.

Seconded by Councilmember Casey.

Thank you, Carterhoe.

Griffin, Bishop Conwell, Davis Gray, Harsh, House Jones, Hudson Jones, Casey Palencic, Santana, Shaw, Slife Star.

13 YAs.

Calderole on adoption.

Griffin Bishop Comwell Davis Gray Harsh House Jones Hudson Jones.

Casey Palencick Santana Shaw Slife Star.

13 YAs.

Thank you.

Second reading emergency ordinances to be passed.

Ordinance 359 2026 by Council Members Palencick and Griffin by Departmental Request, authorizing the mayor and or the Director of Public Safety to apply for and accept a grant from United States Department of Homeland Security FEMA for the fiscal year 25 port security grant program and authorizing the purchase by one or more requirement contracts for safety equipment for the use of the fire for the use on the fire boat supplies and operation search and rescue training needed for the division of fire department of public safety.

Ordinance 369 2026 as amended by Council Members Comwell and Griffin by Departmental Request authorizing the purchase by one or more requirement contracts of cremation services for deceased indigent residents of for the division of health department of public health for a term of two years with two one year options to renew exercisable by the director of health.

Thank you.

Read the motion to suspend the rules.

By councilmember Slife, that the rules be suspended in the legislation just read, be placed on final passage.

Seconded by Councilmember Casey.

Caldero.

Griffin Bishop Camwell Davis Gray Harsh, House Jones, Hudson Jones.

Casey Palency, Santana Shaw, Slife Star.

13 Yes.

Call to Roll on Passage.

Griffin Bishop Conwell Davis Gray Harsh House Jones, Hudson Jones, Casey Palencic, Santana Shaw, Slife Star.

13 Yes.

Thank you.

Second reading emergency resolutions to be adopted.

Resolution 459, 2026 by Council Members Griffin Santana, Bishop Cromwell, Harsh, Casey, Polencic Slife Star, declaring the month of April as child abuse prevention month annually in the city of Cleveland.

Thank you.

Read the motion to suspend the rules.

By councilmember Slife that the rules be suspended and the legislation just read be placed on final passage.

Seconded by Councilmember Casey.

Call to roll.

Griffin Bishop Comwell Davis Gray Harsh, House Jones, Hudson Jones, Casey Palency, Santana Shaw, Slife Star.

13 Yes.

Call to Roll on Adoption.

Griffin Bishop Comwell Davis Gray Harsh, House Jones, Hudson Jones, Casey Palencick, Santana, Shaw, Slife Star.

13 Yes.

Thank you.

We'll move to introductions.

Are there any introductions?

Any introductions?

Council have any introductions.

Councilman Kevin Conwell.

Mr.

Mrs.

Wheeler.

Oh, they're right behind me.

You guys should stand up.

Mrs.

Wheeler.

They're the peeler pillars in the neighborhood and everything.

I'm glad it didn't come down and jump on me.

But I called you several times, right?

All right, I called him.

Just to make sure everybody was okay.

So let's give a round of applause for the Wheeler family.

I also want to take a moment to acknowledge Mr.

Wheeler.

Um I was privileged to raise three young boys in uh a neighborhood school, and Mr.

Wheeler was one of their mentors.

So uh glad that um to see him and his lovely wife here today.

Thank you, sir.

Um, any other introductions, any other introductions?

Any other introductions?

Councilwoman Deborah Gray.

Just hold it and tap it.

There you go.

I would just want to um I just want to introduce Linda Howard.

She is a dedicated um, you know, resident ward three, and she has the kids uh pantry and a ward three.

Welcome.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That is all of the introductions.

We'll now move to announcements.

Are there any announcements?

Any uh councilman Charles Slife and Councilwoman Stephanie House Jones.

Thank you.

On uh Wednesday at 10 o'clock, transportation mobility will be holding its fourth of four previously scheduled hearings on the proposed closure of Burke Airport.

Uh, you may have seen that the mayor's administration put out some uh concepts of what could be uh at Burke if it were not an airport.

Uh I want to be clear that this is not a definitive plan.

There's no legislation pending before this body to close the airport.

However, I do think that this is an important part of our analysis to understand the economics of what's being proposed, so we can make a uh informed decision, uh, potentially at some point down the road.

I also want to commit to my colleagues what we've learned through this process is there's a lot of other voices that would like to come and have the opportunity to speak about the airport, especially airport users.

Uh stay tuned.

I'm gonna try to get through legislation through May, and I think we'll be having some special hearings over the summer on that, as well as something to flag, uh bringing RTA in to have some conversations about their service cuts, uh, specifically cuts to the 78 route, which is 117th, west of 117th Impuritus, uh cuts to the 86, which serves my ward on Rocky River Drive.

It's a lifeline for residents at CMHA's Riverside Park, uh, which by my number is the third or fourth largest CMAHA estate in the entire city.

They're gonna be on the edge of the city with an hourly bus route, uh, which to me is unacceptable.

And then also the number 10, which serves 93rd East 105th up into Collinwood and is among the busiest lines in the entire system, so why it would be cut back is something that is hard for me uh to rationalize.

So stay tuned for uh future hearings coming out of transportation and mobility, but specifically this week uh will be the fourth of four hearings on Berkeley.

Thank you.

And I know that you um said a few things about the areas that you serve, but I would tell you equally as important are the uh 10 and some of the other routes that really are critical to our largest employer and to our ads and mayors institutions like the Cleveland Clinic as well.

So I'm looking forward uh to that hearing because I think that affects our community tremendously.

Uh councilwoman Stephanie House Jones and then Councilman Michael Palency.

Uh yes, hi, good evening.

I just wanted to um invite Ward 8 residents to our very first neighborhood network night.

Um, this body uh voted in supported of our grassroots community fund, and uh the first uh neighborhood network night will be tomorrow, um, Tuesday, April 14th at the neighborhood connections office at 196 1971 East 66th Street.

So for residents in Huff, St.

Clair Superior, Goodrich, Kirtland, Glenville, Asia Town, and downtown uh tomorrow from 6 to 8 p.m.

Come, and we are starting this work as we are starting um our community fund and getting residents to get to know each other and provide mutual aid for one another.

So people are invited.

Hope to see you tomorrow.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Uh Councilman Michael Penesick announcements.

Ms.

Helene.

Okay, Councilwoman Deborah Gray, announcements.

And one more route.

That's 19 beat on fleet.

That's also um, you know, on the Cunny block.

Just want to add that too.

So we're looking forward, and one of the things in preparation, um, Councilman's life, we probably want to make sure that we understand which what our routes are being cut because I think this impacts everybody in the city.

Okay.

Uh we will now move to miscellaneous.

And right now I have Councilman Michael Palencick and Councilman Christopher Harsh.

My counselor, you had the floor.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman, my honorable colleagues, Mr.

Mayor, Mr.

My Colleagues.

I rise to address the issue we've learned over the weekend with an executive committee of CMSD meeting.

We've learned that approximately 410 teachers and administrators are going to be terminated from CMSD.

We've also learned, which I had learned from Signal, um, the news outlet, that Collinwood High School is going to be put up for sale.

Mr.

Chairman, I saw and also wrote an article that Mr.

Miss Karen Thompson has supposedly been talking to Cleveland officials, Cleveland elected officials, about this plan.

She has not spoken to me.

She's not spoken to the Collinwood neighbor.

Mr.

Chairman, I attended all the school meetings for the Northeast Side.

And what we were told then, it was that the teachers from the closed school buildings would be moved to the other school buildings that they were going to be assigned to, students were going to assign to.

But what we've learned now, because all these students who are supposed to move are not moving.

They're going to charter schools.

They're moving out, they're going here, they're going there.

And I and I also want to recognize Mr.

and Mrs.

Wheeler that are here because they've been involved in this discussion.

There's great people, neighborhood activists involved in discussion pertaining to Collinwood schools.

Mr.

Chairman, what we're seeing in the dismantling of the schools on the east side of the city of Cleveland.

First time in a hundred years, there will not be a school in the Euclid Avenue corridor.

First time in a hundred years, there will not be an elementary school within the St.

Clair Avenue corridor.

Largest school in the city of Cleveland, once the largest high school in the state of Ohio, decimated, stripped of critical programs, as the residents and the staff know at Collinwood.

And what they did at Collinwood was criminal.

Just what they did at the elementary schools, took the STEM program out of Henning Gibbons.

Whoa, kids don't want to go there.

Well, when you take all the programs out of the buildings on the Northeast side, then you wonder why parents do not want to send their children there.

Look at the population loss in the Glenville neighborhood as a result of school closings.

The proof is in the pudding.

You cannot keep decimating, stripping the east side of programs, critical education, and expect our residents and their children to stay.

What we have seen on the east side is that people talk with their feet.

They're fleeing right now to the charter schools in Euclid, Shaw High School, and surrounding schools in our own community as well, charter schools.

And some of those charter schools, as we all know, are not the greatest in the world.

But residents feel they have no other choice.

What has happened at CMSD is outrageous.

You talk about a mismanaged system.

They lay off teachers, gonna lay off teachers, but yet they provide excessive pay raises to the top staff.

They hire consultants.

An insult to the taxpayers of the city of Cleveland.

And they go about their business like they don't care.

And in 2024, when the residents of Cleveland supported a school levy, did they tell us, give us any indication that they ever gonna do this?

But we know they worked on this plan for a year, and then by some strange coincidence, the day after the council and mayor's election, the very next day they announced their plan.

Man, that was a real coincidence.

Which it should have been about transparency.

The taxpayers had a right to know, and our parents have a right to know what's gonna happen to their children.

So what's the game plan for the Northeast side?

Just decimation, isolation, take away our educational opportunities, and then wonder why we have peer, poverty, despair, and lack of opportunity in our city.

It's no coincidence what's happened here.

This is premeditated what they did on the Northeast side.

And Mr.

Chairman, you know what?

If anyone thinks that I'm gonna get locked over this, I got news for them.

I got news for them.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Thank you.

And I'm simply trying to uphold the rules that council has done.

If anyone ever needs extra time, I need to know in advance because I really try to hold council just like we hold the listening body to the four minute rule that we all agreed upon.

But if there's extra time needed, please let me know in advance because I'm I want to be respectful of everyone's uh commitment.

Uh Councilman Christopher Harsh.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I'll be brief.

Um I just want to talk about the uh resolution that was introduced tonight, 469, 2026, the admission tax.

I've had a chance to talk with some of you about this, and we'll have more conversations in the day ahead.

It got in the days ahead, it got referred tonight.

So we'll have uh we'll bring it to the table.

But um, in a nutshell, this is seven pages that changes one number.

Um it changes the exemption limit from 150 uh uh capacity club to a 750 capacity club.

So all we're changing is 150 to 750.

Um the reason that we're uh I'm asking you all to consider this and support this is that um the uh the uh ticket tax was first introduced in 2003.

It was last revisited in 2017.

Um, but since then COVID happened and in 2020, a lot of the local venues had a very, very uh difficult time making payroll while everybody was staying inside, and they have not recovered yet, actually.

While a lot of society has caught back up and recovered, um our local venues have not.

And uh an independent study in 2025 uh found that 75% of local clubs are actually not making money, they're they're losing money.

And I asked the operators how this is happening.

They said, Well, we live on loans, we all owe people money and we keep borrowing money and hoping that next year we break even.

So um I'm fairly certain that the uh cost to the coffers will be less than 100,000.

I've checked in with some of them.

There aren't, again, a lot of venues are gonna fall into this uh uh this this change.

I think it'll be uh far less than 100,000.

But while that's not a lot to us, it does mean a lot to the people that operate these venues.

And these are all, by the way, uh locally owned uh clubs.

These are these are mom and pop shops, so to speak.

These are not the uh, we're not talking about the the Rocket Mortgage Field House, we're not talking about uh the Agora, we're talking about the local places owned by by our neighbors, um the ones that actually support our arts community the most.

So we'll have more conversations about this.

I just wanted to sort of uh set the table a little bit um and share some of that with you and uh look forward to talking with you all individually as this comes to the committee.

Thanks.

Thank you, councilman.

Uh I do not see oh, councilman Kevin Cowwell.

Well, you know, I support that uh the legislation 100%.

And matter of fact, uh many of the venues and similarity arts and Jeremy Johnson, the rest of them, Chris Harsh was talking about that.

And they have not came out of the pandemic.

You know, when you look at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, all that stuff came from us with those venues.

You have to, you must protect them, CP and every everyone else here.

And let me say this about the tax dollars that um we were discussing earlier.

These venues are will be able to put in more payroll tax dollars that will go out into our economy.

And they're gonna bring bands there and money will be flowing.

But if we let them die, if we let them die, shame on us.

And many people visit cities.

Like New York City and Detroit, Nashville City, um, over there around in West San Antonio Reno.

They visit these cities because of work.

Just touch it, sir.

Don't have just touch it.

And that's why they visit.

And you'll go back again and again and again when we go even to the National League of Cities.

We visit New Orleans, we visit Nashville, but we go back because these venues are there, and we got to make them strong.

And we have to continue to make them strong.

And that's why, as I said earlier, it's a shame when you come here.

If you go to Rock and Roll of Fame, if these venues die, you can't let our city die.

So I encourage and I sign on that with you.

I'm gonna co-sponsor it.

Right.

I'm gonna co-sponsor it with you, and we'll work hard to keep jazz and music alive in the city of Cleveland.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Councilman Richard Starr.

He should be up.

Yes, I was having a senior moment like some of my colleagues.

Um, um definitely I just want to rise and just give kudos to Director Sally Martin.

She's not here.

Okay, well, one of the things I would definitely um give kudos to Director Sally Martin, um Chief Sammy Morris, as well as um David Roberts, as well as other people in the law code enforcement department, um, as well as building their housing department, um Kevin Leviano of HUD.

Um, for the last I think two months, we've been having monthly HUD trouble asset round table discussions.

And what we do in this meeting is we bring everybody from HUD, everybody from building the housing, and we start to talk about those HUD trouble asset properties for us to be able to figure out what we need to be doing in alignment, and I believe we're getting a lot of synergy on how we can work together to address those.

And I definitely want to give kudos to our leadership on addressing these issues that she's heard from the residents, she's heard from my office um under the mayor of Bibbs of leadership.

I want to commend your team for bringing these round tables, and these are not stuff that's just going on once, these are monthly conversations, and she also um sends them out to some of us.

If any council colleague have any property that they're dealing with when it's revolve HUD or anything, that's opportunity for you to talk to everybody in each bureau, every department to be able to get some resolution.

And I know one of the major properties that I have been dealing with with Rainbow Terrace, that's been a big topic, and I believe we have a meeting schedule with this owner about some of the changes that we want to see and what they're gonna expect, and also from these round table, there's gonna be opportunities for us to collaborate on pieces of legislation to hold individuals accountable as well as a database for those who are repeated offenders.

So I definitely wanted to rise and make sure I give kudos um to our building housing director Sally Martin as well as um Kevin Laviano of HUD, um, the police division, Chief Sammy Morris, and and Dave Roberts from the law department for coming together, so setting these on our schedule so we can get some action because the people need it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And I too want to acknowledge uh Director Martin.

I think uh we had a very, very good um strategy to deal with some of the abandoned and neglected properties in the Shaker Square area.

I won't divulge all that we were looking at doing, but I thought it was very creative on behalf of her and uh director Mark Griffin, and hopefully um some point in time HUD will treat our communities in a better manner than they are.

Um, and I do want to acknowledge that um I was just told that director uh Martin O'Toole is not here because uh she had to get to the hospital because she's expecting a grandchild.

And if anybody knows how I feel about grandchildren, I definitely understand that we need to give her a round of applause, and hopefully everything is okay.

Uh I do want to take a moment to acknowledge councilman uh Tan May Shah.

Councilman Tan May Shaw.

Thank you, Chair.

Uh I rise just to make two quick points.

Uh just this past week, we found out that the administration has authorized contracts with spot shot spotter and flock without approval of counsel.

Um and I wanted to just express my disappointment and disagreement with this decision.

This is something that I think council is gonna have to understand and um figure out what we can do going forward.

I know there's been conversation, and I look forward to it.

Um, Mayor Bibb, it's it's disappointing.

I know you said that you're not gonna be collaborating with ICE, but knowing what we know about Flock and Shot Spotter and how they're sharing data with ICE, uh, it's really concerning that we don't have more of these safeguards.

And this is something that we, you know, at some point we have to ask how much is enough for the police?

27 million in overtime, and it's still not enough, and they still need all of this tech.

At what point is enough is enough?

It's already the biggest department that they're getting money for, and we keep coming back to the table.

Well, now we're not even coming back to the table.

So it's it's uh growing concern, and that leads me to my second point.

Um, in favor speaking in favor of the marijuana tax split that was authored by Councilman Starr, because the more I see this administration spending priorities, the more I understand that not enough is going to our neighborhoods, and we need more of that.

So I stand to support um that resolution, and I hope more of my council members will also agree with that.

So thank you.

Thank you.

And uh just a couple of things that I will acknowledge, and I will say that I too had a conversation with the director uh as well as the administration, and the ordinance that was used was called uh ordinance number 181.102.

And uh myself and Councilman Polinsick as well as the leadership team have already begun having discussions on what we need to do to make sure that we have legislative approvals and protections in place.

Uh, so we have that concern.

We will also have some other concerns and conversations, but I will caution this council on one thing.

We are not 15 mini mayors, which means that we have to be very careful on trying to um, you know, have trying to just create um different funding mechanisms that are specifically tied to wards.

And the reason I want everybody to be cautious with that is because that will definitely lead to inequity and equity and equal is not the same.

So those are things that we will have a broader conversation.

I've talked to Councilman Starr.

Um I believe us as a body we'll have more conversations on that.

And um, I look forward to having those conversations, Councilman.

Okay.

Thank you.

Uh, I do want to take a moment, if I could, of um personal privilege.

Bill Patman.

Bill Patman.

Um, you know, some of us that's been around Cleveland politics for a while, um, remember and can tell you some dedicated public servants that have sat in these seats.

All of you know by now, even some of the newer council members know how tough this job could be.

One of the people that did that job with style, grace, and very much um wisdom and and talent and intelligence was Bill Patman.

Bill Patman was uh uh a statesman that deserves to be honored and that this city um needs to remember in a very special way.

Bill Patman was just as powerful and just as um just as artful in how he practices politics as Fannie Lewis and some of the other folks that I look up to, like Fred Jackson and others.

And uh it was truly a loss to the city.

Bill had had long battle uh with um uh terminal illness, and he fought it always to the end because that's the kind of guy Bill was.

He was a fighter.

Um I have to say personally, it was times in this business when I was on the opposite side of Bill.

Um, however, I always respected his um integrity, professionalism, and what he brought to the table.

Uh it's because of people like Bill that I've been able to really understand and um see what being a good public servant is about.

So I'd ask all counsel if we could one more time stand up and acknowledge uh a former member of this body and the administration as well, Bill Patman.

Thanks everyone.

Madam Clerk, please excuse the absences by councilmember Slife that the absence of council members Bishop and Jones are hereby excused, seconded by councilmember Casey.

Thank you.

Council is adjourned to the call of the chair.

The next meeting of council will be on April the 20th, 2026.

Once again, I'm asking everyone to please take all conversations out into the lobby.