The 119th Council Takes Shape

Jan 05, 2026

Cleveland, Ohio - Jan. 5, 2026 -The 119th Cleveland City Council, comprised of 15 members, will be sworn in this evening.

In advance of the ceremony, Council President Blaine A. Griffin announced his appointments for committee leadership and membership for the 119th Session of Cleveland City Council, covering the 2026–2029 term. (See attached)

The Council President also named his leadership team: Councilwoman Jasmin Santana as Majority Leader and Councilman Charles Slife as Majority Whip.

“We can’t predict the kinds of legislation we will consider in the upcoming four years,” Council President Griffin said. “Instead, we try to organize ourselves to handle any issue or concern that comes our way. I believe this roster of committee leaders and members will allow us to thoroughly and fairly consider legislation that may come before us.”

In 2022, Cleveland City Council adjusted its committee structure and expanded the scope of several committees. Council will retain this structure into the new term.

Cleveland City Council has eight standing committees:

Development, Planning, and Sustainability
Finance, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Health, Human Services, and the Arts
Municipal Services and Properties
Safety
Utilities
Workforce Education, Training, and Youth Development
Transportation and Mobility
The Finance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee has nine members, and it reviews nearly every piece of legislation before the full Council considers them for a vote. Because of its critical role in the legislative process, the Finance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee has nine members. All other standing committees of Cleveland City Council have seven members.

Cleveland City Council also has three ad hoc committees that consider matters pertaining to Council’s roles and operations:

Mayor’s Appointments
Operations
Rules
Each committee has five members and meets at the call of its Chair.

Members of Cleveland City Council sit on at least four and no more than six committees. Standing Committees have a Chair and Vice Chair; Ad hoc committees only have a Chair.

Council President Griffin added, “Cleveland City Council has deep expertise and first-hand knowledge about many of the issues we are asked to consider. The depth and breadth of our members’ collective knowledge, lived experiences, and community connections are critical to making Cleveland a better place to live, work, and raise a family.”

City Council’s swearing-in ceremony will take place Monday, January 5, 2026 at 7:00 pm in Cleveland City Hall Council Chambers. The ceremony can also be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/user/clevelandcitycouncil.