Cleveland City Council Meeting - October 12, 2026

The Cleveland City Council met on October 12, 2026, to conduct regular business. The meeting featured presentations recognizing Down Syndrome Awareness Month and declaring October 13 as Bernie Kozar Day. Council also heard public comments on various issues including housing, transparency, and public safety, and passed several emergency ordinances and resolutions.

Down Syndrome Awareness Month Recognitions

• Councilman Brian Casey led the recognition, highlighting the theme of education. He introduced five educators: Gina Michner, Casey Brown, Amy Siverton, Lauren Galanka, and Mora Jameson, who were honored for their work with individuals with Down syndrome. Casey expressed full support for inclusive education and shared a personal story about his daughter Brianna being denied admission to a Catholic school due to her disability, and his family's successful civil rights complaint with the USDA, which resulted in the school being required to educate her.
• Three graduates were recognized: Kellen Donahue (Kent State University), Eve (PACS program), and Brianna Casey (St. Joseph Academy), who also celebrated her 20th birthday. Kellen Donahue spoke about her graduation and current work as a Gear Life Ambassador for the Cuyahoga Board of Developmental Disabilities, advocating for inclusion and diversity. Eve also spoke briefly, expressing love for Brianna and Brian.

Bernie Kozar Day Proclamation

• Council President Blaine Griffin introduced former Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kozar, recounting his career highlights and his connection to Cleveland. Council declared October 13, 2026 as Bernie Kozar Day in Cleveland. Bernie Kozar spoke about his personal struggles, including addiction and mental health, and emphasized the importance of second chances, education, and community support. He thanked the city and acknowledged his family.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Saint James Singleton (Ward 9): Thanked council for their hard work and expressed appreciation, noting that he wanted to be in the room to recognize them.
• Tyresha Thompson (Ward 9): Spoke about community responsibility using the analogy of group projects. She urged officials to do their part to address crime, affordable housing, schools, and youth opportunities, emphasizing that children are often the ones who pay the price when officials fail.
• Daryl Houston (Bedford Heights): Criticized Mayor Bibb's leadership and the law department, calling for accountability. He urged the black community to pay attention and support young leaders, and questioned the lack of elderly black men at a recent community event.
• Sabrina Otis (Cleveland): Addressed transparency, stating that officials only use the term after residents complain. She urged council to use transparency properly and not as a cover-up.
• James Box (Ward 6): Filed charges against someone for threatening him, reported his tires were stabbed. He called for resignations and requested that police districts have bloodhounds and cadaver dogs to assist in searching for missing persons.
• Kiana Bell (Garden Valley): Expressed her family's distress after the Rainbow Terrace explosion, seeking help and accountability. She stated her children are traumatized and struggling.
• Bridget Smith Jackson (East Cleveland): Detailed the ongoing housing crisis for Rainbow Terrace families, nearly 16 months after the explosion. She asked for leadership, collaboration, and accountability from the administration, including individualized family plans. She noted she cannot continue as an unpaid substitute for a coordinated government response.
• Unnamed speaker (Slavic Village): Concerned about harassment at City Hall and lack of security cameras. He noted the Fourth District has a backlog of 100 pending assignments and urged the mayor to learn from Virginia Beach, the safest U.S. city.
• Austria Everson (Ward 5): Addressed the need for accountability and transparency after her prosecution for a boycott. She stated that Detective Timothy Hannon testified that before charging her, he had a phone call with Mayor Bibb, Chief of Police Dorothy Todd, and council members to decide on pressing charges. She called for an independent investigation into city officials.

Key Outcomes

• Council passed numerous emergency ordinances and resolutions, including: road resurfacing projects (Shaker Boulevard, State Road), the purchase and lease of Miles School for a new Fire/EMS administration building, a grant for the Nora Village Project, a lead safety certificate program, and an extension of the moratorium on building permits until January 29, 2027.
• **Ordinance 923-2026 (Regional Infrastructure Accelerator Program) passed with 12 yes and 1 nay.
• Resolution declaring October 13, 2026 as Bernie Kozar Day passed unanimously.
• All other ordinances and resolutions passed with 13 yes.
• Council also adopted condolence resolutions for Robert A. Valavin, Dr. Javier Lopez, Mosella P. Thomas Wiggins, Yahwa Ryan, and Jane Sheets.
• Council adjourned to the call of the chair, with the next meeting scheduled for October 19, 2026.