Cleveland Heights City Council Meeting - March 17, 2026

The Cleveland Heights City Council met on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 (the meeting began at 7:50 PM on March 16 and continued into the early hours of March 17). The meeting covered a wide range of topics including student achievements, city updates, legislative actions, and public comments on surveillance, immigration, community events, and more. Key actions included approval of an ordinance establishing the Cumberland Pool Facility Task Force, passage of multiple resolutions, and a statement from the police chief regarding a February 28 traffic stop incident.

Consent Calendar

• Resolution 061-2026 (proclaiming April 6–10, 2026 as National Community Development Week) – passed.
• Resolution 062-2026 (joining with HUD in observation of April 2026 as Fair Housing Month) – passed.
• Resolution 063-2026 (proclaiming April 2026 as National Poetry Month) – passed.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Emmanuel Gutierrez (student representative from Heights High): Reported on athletic achievements (indoor track, wrestling, swim and dive), art awards, career tech honors, SAT testing, parent-teacher conferences, and upcoming college events. He noted that 14 Heights High students were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society on February 26, and that the vocal music department's women's choir and a cappella choir both qualified for state competition on March 14.
• Zenobia Sheets (BIPOC Affinity Council): Raised questions about transparency in the CDBG Annual Action Plan, asking for breakdowns of youth services funding, housing rehabilitation parcel information, commercial district revitalization business allocations, and clarification on the Hebrew Academy sewer project. She expressed a desire to ensure all children in the community benefit from youth services, not just private school students.
• Stacey Ferguson (Tremont, Cleveland Heights): Expressed concerns about the planning of multicultural events (Black History program, Pride, Juneteenth), stating that the recent Black History program lacked meaningful input from residents and local vendors. She called for collaboration and timely communication.
• Sean Herman: Spoke against the use of Flock cameras, citing instances of misuse in other jurisdictions (East Cleveland, Atlanta, Kansas, etc.) and data breaches. He urged council to reconsider the contract.
• Barbara Susnowski (Northampton Road): Asked about maintenance of 74 flower pots in the Noble neighborhood (previously done by Deluxe landscape, but poorly maintained last year) and complained about a condemned apartment building at 2646 Noble Road that has been an eyesore for years. She requested action on both.
• Marlene Goldheimer: Supported the police chief's statement but advocated for clear legislation to prevent cooperation with ICE, suggesting redirecting Flock camera funds to immigrant legal services. She urged passing legislation to ensure local police don't cooperate with ICE and reviewing immigration policies.
• Sonia Charles (Erie View): Asked council to fulfill a promise to put ranked-choice voting on the November ballot, noting that the Charter Review Committee vetted it and provided ballot language.
• Danielle Benham (Woodbridge): Raised two issues: lack of snow removal enforcement on sidewalks (citing Toledo's ordinance with fines) and the unsightly condition of 2646 Noble Road.
• Christopher Wood: Opposed surveillance cameras (including Flock), arguing that they do not reduce crime and that the root causes of crime (inequality, poverty, racism) should be addressed instead. He also called for free Palestine.
• Lou Radovoyovich: Thanked the city for the YouTube channel and requested that all meetings of committees and commissions that deal with real estate, zoning, development, or tax incentives be recorded and posted on YouTube for transparency.
• John Western (Rexwood): Opposed surveillance cameras and automated license plate readers, drawing parallels to East Germany's Stasi. He argued such systems undermine trust and privacy.
• Bill Brummel (Middlehurst Road): Supported the police chief's statement on ICE and expressed concern that future pressure from the federal government could degrade the police department's integrity.
• Quinton Yoder (from South Euclid, representing Cleveland Heights for Immigrant Rights): Criticized the police chief's account of the February 28 incident, arguing that the evidence suggests cooperation with ICE. He urged council to listen to residents of color and to investigate the matter.

Discussion Items

• Mayor Petris's Communications: Reported on meetings with state legislators regarding capital funding for Cumberland Pool, announced the first director of the new Department of Human Resources (Dee Weber), the creation of a Cumberland Task Force (applications due March 18), a $300,000+ agreement to support the Noble Business District, and confirmation of a parade for Layla Edwards later this year.
• City Administrator Michael Reese: Reported on individual meetings with council members, continuing to build relationships, meeting with First Call regarding the city's benefit program, coordinating health insurance renewal, working on vehicle use policies, and preparing for next steps on the US EPA consent decree.
• Police Chief's Statement on February 28 Incident: Addressed an incident that occurred on Saturday, February 28, 2026. He stated that after reviewing video and reports, he determined officers' actions were lawful. He clarified there was no pre-planned coordination with ICE; the traffic stop was based on a citizen complaint about erratic driving. The driver of the dark SUV wearing tactical attire was not identified as belonging to any agency. The stop was brief and the driver was released. He reiterated that the department does not enforce civil immigration laws, does not ask about immigration status, and does not hold people on ICE detainers alone. He recommended continuing existing policies.
• Legislative Items:
  • Ordinance 054-2026 (Cumberland Pool Facility Task Force) – amended to increase membership from 9 to 13 (received 26-27 applications). Passed.
  • Resolution 055-2026 (calling for state legislation to allow community energy pilot program) – passed.
  • Ordinance 060-2026 (salary schedules and benefits for city employees) – passed with roll call; Councilmember Cohen recused.
  • Resolution 064-2026 (agreement with Cuyahoga Soil and Water and NEORSD for NPDES compliance) – passed.
  • Four first readings (056, 057, 058, 059) – moved forward.
  • Second readings: Resolution 052-2026 (playground at Denison Park) – passed. Resolution 031-2026 (lease at recreation center, rate changed from $200 to $500/month) – passed. Ordinance 051-2026 (T-Mobile tower lease amendment) – passed with roll call (Councilmembers Cobb and Larson recused).
• Committee Reports:
  • Community Relations and Recreation Committee (Councilmember Foy): Meeting March 23 at 7 PM, update on parks master plan.
  • Finance Committee (Councilmember Foy): Meeting March 23 at 5 PM, discuss audits, debt service, fund balances, and possible moratorium on funding requests until bond rating.
  • Municipal Services and Environmental Sustainability Committee (Councilmember Cobb): Meeting March 9, reviewed EPA consent decree progress; next meeting April 13 at 7 PM.
  • Administrative Services Committee: Meeting March 23 at 5:30 PM to interview Cumberland Task Force applicants, with aim of making appointments at next council meeting.
  • Planning and Development Committee (Councilmember Cohen): March 9 meeting on accessory dwelling units (600+ survey responses, 25,000 video views); community town hall planned; next committee meeting moved to 4th Tuesday (April 28 at 5:30 PM). Also announced listening session on Blanch Road extension project on March 19 at 6:30 PM.
  • Housing Committee (Councilmember Stone): Meeting April 13 at 5 PM, review of housing code and short-term rental legislation.
• Councilmember Cohen's Comments: Circulated draft legislation to establish guardrails for automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology, including limits on data retention, use only for legitimate law enforcement, and prohibition on sharing for civil immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant. Aims to pass as emergency measure on April 6. (Note: This item was discussed during comments but not formally voted on.)
• Councilmember Foy's Comments: Congratulated Heights High athletic teams (boys basketball district champions, girls wrestling, indoor track state competitors). Clarified that a Board of Zoning Appeals case regarding a cannabis dispensary on Lee Road (seeking a variance for a drive-through window) would be heard on March 18 at 7 PM; community members can attend or submit written comments.

Key Outcomes

• Ordinance 054-2026 establishing the Cumberland Pool Facility Task Force passed (amended to allow up to 13 members).
• Resolution 055-2026 calling for state community energy pilot program passed.
• Ordinance 060-2026 (salary schedules and benefits) passed.
• Resolution 064-2026 (NPDES compliance agreement) passed.
• Resolution 052-2026 (Denison Park playground installation) passed.
• Resolution 031-2026 (recreation center lease increase from $200 to $500/month) passed.
• Ordinance 051-2026 (T-Mobile tower lease amendment) passed.
• Consent agenda (three resolutions on National Community Development Week, Fair Housing Month, National Poetry Month) passed.
• Permission granted to bid project 2602 (pavement striping) for 2026-2028.
• Applications for the Cumberland Task Force due by March 18; appointments to be made at the April council meeting.
• Councilmember Cohen will introduce ALPR guardrail legislation for possible emergency passage on April 6.
• The police department's existing policies on immigration and traffic stops were affirmed; no new legislation was introduced on that matter at this meeting.