Cleveland City Council Meeting - August 19, 2026

The Cleveland City Council convened on August 19, 2026, at 7:42 PM. The meeting began with a warning about disruptions, followed by the reading of communications, condolence and congratulatory resolutions, and the passage of numerous emergency ordinances. Councilman Starr introduced two initiatives during the miscellaneous period, focusing on grocery access and mail access for seniors. The meeting adjourned to the call of the chair, with the next meeting scheduled for September 14, 2026.

Consent Calendar

• Communications: Filed notices from city directors, including acceptance of water supply loans, oaths of office, a debt policy summary, and a plat dedication. Multiple liquor license transfer and new license applications were read for various wards.
• Condolence Resolutions: Recognized the passing of 20 individuals, including Stephen Thomas Sr., Michael Lee Hare Jr., Reverend Robert J. Cropick, and others. A moment of silence was observed.
• Congratulatory Resolutions: Honored individuals and organizations, including the Sally Bration 2026, Reverend Dr. Rebecca Stitt, the Daz Band, Collinwood High School alumni (100th anniversary), Greater Cleveland Works, and several retirements and anniversaries.
• First Reading Emergency Ordinances (Referred): Over 30 ordinances were introduced and referred for administrative and committee review, covering airport contracts, water system equipment, appropriations, food shop license fees, the PASS program, grants for public safety radio, tobacco prevention, and various bond issuances.
• First Reading Emergency Ordinances (Passed): The following ordinances were passed on final passage after a motion to suspend the rules:
  • Ordinance 893-2026 (American Heart Association Heart Walk permit)
  • Ordinance 899-2026 (Walter Collins Veterans Home Project)
  • Ordinance 900-2026 (Lincoln Park Mural Restoration)
  • Ordinance 908-2026 (East 105th Safety and Security Program)
  • Ordinance 925-2026 (Bright Winter Festival 2027)
  • Ordinance 938-2026 (amending community violence intervention initiative)
  • Ordinance 939-2026 (replacing Department of Community Development with Department of Development)
  • Ordinance 940-2026 (down payment assistance program amendment)
  • Ordinance 941-2026 (TIF agreement with Library Lofts LLC) – Passed 11-2
  • Ordinance 942-2026 (salary classification amendments)
  • Ordinance 946-2026 (passenger boarding bridges at airport)
  • Ordinance 948-2026 (neighborhood equity funds transfer)
  • Ordinance 949-2026 (admissions tax exemption amendment)
  • All other first reading ordinances passed 13-0.
• First Reading Emergency Resolutions: Adopted 13-0, including objections to liquor permits (Resolutions 890, 896, 901, 951, 952, 953, 1015), withdrawal of objections (891, 895), support for brownfield remediation grants (892, 953), opposition to historic preservation rule changes (954), honoring TV 20 (955), urging a grocery access meeting (957), and supporting Cleveland Public Library workers (975).
• Second Reading Emergency Ordinances: Passed on final passage after a motion to suspend the rules:
  • Ordinance 552-2026 (transfer of parcels for parks and facilities)
  • Ordinance 615-2026 (East Side TIF District) – Passed 11-2
  • Ordinance 693-2026 (TIF with East Ninth Scarlet LLC) – Passed 11-2
  • Ordinance 744-2026 (Siemens building automation contract)
  • Ordinance 746-2026 (BioWatch grant)
  • Ordinance 747-2026 (name change of Scranton Road to Eagle Avenue)
  • Ordinance 749-2026 (moral claims payments)
  • Ordinance 759-2026 (alley vacation)
  • Ordinance 760-2026 (alley vacation)
  • Ordinance 761-2026 (street vacation)
  • Ordinance 762-2026 (street vacation)
  • Ordinance 763-2026 (housing financial assistance amendment)
  • Ordinance 764-2026 (sale of city property to FOP Lodge 8)
  • Ordinance 766-2026 (encroachment permit for UC City Center)
  • Ordinance 767-2026 (encroachment permit for Cleveland Public Theater)
  • Ordinance 768-2026 (encroachment permit for Cleveland Clinic pedestrian bridge)
  • Ordinance 770-2026 (Norfolk Southern railroad bridge improvements)
  • Ordinance 878-2026 (American Legal Publishing contract)
  • All but 615 and 693 passed 13-0.
• Legislation to be Tabled: Ordinance 658-2026 (Community Police Commission grant agreements) and Ordinance 692-2026 (urban forestry climbing safety training) were tabled unanimously.

Discussion Items

• Councilman Starr's Miscellaneous Remarks: Councilman Starr spoke on two resolutions introduced that day:
  • Resolution 957-2026: Urging a coordinated downtown and citywide food access and grocery stability meeting. He outlined a three-part strategy: establishing a $10–15 million grocery store access fund, creating a grocery development fast track, and issuing a grocery store operator RFP. He emphasized that grocery access is a public health, economic development, and quality of life issue, and called for proactive measures rather than reactive subsidies.
  • Resolution 956-2026: Addressing mail access for seniors in high-rise buildings. He noted that many seniors lack transportation to mail bills and proposed working with the USPS to install secure outgoing mail slots in senior buildings, supporting an age-friendly mail access initiative.

Key Outcomes

• Votes: Ordinance 941-2026 passed 11-2; Ordinance 615-2026 passed 11-2; Ordinance 693-2026 passed 11-2; all other ordinances and resolutions passed 13-0.
• Tabling: Two ordinances (658-2026 and 692-2026) were tabled unanimously.
• Next Meeting: The next regular council meeting will be held on Monday, September 14, 2026.
• Announcements: Councilwoman House Jones announced a meeting of the Cleveland Commission on Black Women and Girls on August 27, 2026, at 5 PM at City Hall. Councilwoman Hudson announced the Southeast Asian Festival at Lower Edgewater on August 22-23, 2026. Councilwoman Gray announced a City Club event at Shaker Square on August 27, 2026, featuring a panel on revitalization.