Making an In-Person Public Comment at An Upcoming Council Meeting
Council welcomes public comments at each regularly scheduled Monday evening Council meeting.
If you are interested in speaking at a Cleveland City Council, please read the revised rules and procedures for public comments and fill out the online form below.
Submitting a Registration to Speak
Anyone who is interested in addressing Cleveland City Council at a public meeting must register with City Council prior to that meeting.
Registrations may be submitted:
- By using the online form below
- In person at Cleveland City Hall, Room 220, 601 Lakeside Avenue NE. Paper forms are available to register.
- By downloading this form, filling it out, and emailing it to publiccomment@clevelandcitycouncil.gov or dropping it off at Council offices.
Registration Periods
Registrations will ONLY be accepted between Noon on Wednesday and 2:00 pm on the same day as a regularly scheduled Monday evening Council Meeting.
Council allows no more than 10 people to comment at its regularly scheduled Monday night meetings. Registration will close as soon as the first 10 people sign up. Each registrant will be allotted 3 minutes to speak.
Registrations will only be accepted for making comments at the next regular meeting; registrations for any future meeting will not be accepted until the Wednesday before the meeting. Early, incomplete, or false registrations will be rejected.
Notice of Registration
If your registration is successful, you will be notified by email or phone.
Accommodations
If you need assistance due to a language barrier or disability, please let us know at least three (3) days in advance by going here to make a request.
Attending Council Meetings
Cleveland City Council meetings are held in the Council Chamber on the second floor of Cleveland City Hall, 601 Lakeside Avenue, East.
Visitors may park for free at the upper lot behind City Hall after 5:00 pm on days when Council is meeting.
Public Record
Please remember that all registration information and public comments are public records and can be subject to public record requests.
Decorum
Cleveland City Council must maintain orderly, efficient, and productive meetings to ensure the important business of city government is completed. Council has developed a set of rules and procedures that allow the public to be heard in a fair and orderly manner. These rules and procedures apply to all speakers, and Council does not discriminate based on the speaker's identity or viewpoint or the content of the speech. Please read Council's revised rules and procedures for public comments before you register and before you appear before City Council.
Please note: Anyone attending a Cleveland City Council meeting is prohibited from engaging in any action or behavior that substantially interrupts, delays, or disturbs the due conduct of the proceedings of the Council; such conduct includes but is not limited to: handclapping, stomping of feet, whistling, making other loud noises, yelling, or similar demonstrations. Any person who violates any of the above may be immediately removed from the Council Chamber.
Rules for Speakers
- Speakers may not yield their time to other speakers.
- Speakers shall only address the topic they registered to speak about.
- Speakers' comments shall not be frivolous or repetitive.
- Speakers shall not use language that is obscene or likely to produce imminent unlawful action.
- Speakers shall address all comments to the presiding officer.
Prohibited Items
- Signs, posters, banners, placards, or similar items
- Food and drink
Make a Comment In Person at a Council Meeting
To sign up to speak during the registration period (Noon Wednesday through 2:00 pm Monday before Council Meetings) click this button.
You will be notified by email or phone if you are one of the ten people who will speak.
Make a Comment Online
If you would rather submit your comments in writing, please fill out the form below.
Written public comments will be published on this page and delivered to all Councilmembers before the next full Council Meeting after they have been submitted.
Public Comments
Filter By
Dumping, Street repairs, park renovations
I take care of the Harvard area
Miles-Glendale/Invermere
E.136th street - E. 189th street
So that includes ward1 and ward2
My issue is ward2 councilman kevin bishop does not answer or respond to community concerns it's a lot of dumping in the ward 2 and road repairs that past overdue the Gawron park needs updated and better lighting it's lots more issues like trees damaging homeowners property and plumbing that the city won't cut down but I'll send it here you all can follow my social media where I document all these problems and try to take care of them myself due to the lack of help and communication from the council members
@myharvardcommunity on all platforms thank you
Miles-Glendale/Invermere
E.136th street - E. 189th street
So that includes ward1 and ward2
My issue is ward2 councilman kevin bishop does not answer or respond to community concerns it's a lot of dumping in the ward 2 and road repairs that past overdue the Gawron park needs updated and better lighting it's lots more issues like trees damaging homeowners property and plumbing that the city won't cut down but I'll send it here you all can follow my social media where I document all these problems and try to take care of them myself due to the lack of help and communication from the council members
@myharvardcommunity on all platforms thank you
Marquell Mitchell
CPP Proposed rate increase to subscribers.
I just read about the council meeting. When you reviewed and questioned, CPP representatives about their proposed rate hike.
I submit that they should demonstrate how they have first reviewed their own infrastructure, cost, waste and budgeting. Are they top heavy? Are they holding raises & bonuses at least equivalent to the cost customers will suffer? Are their processes running efficiently? Are they over paying for products? What is their waste ratios. I know that they are not allowed to give or sale their overstock, thus more waste.
I TRULY understand the need to upgrade. However, demand they show you and the citizens how they're cleaning their own house before pimping us.
I submit that they should demonstrate how they have first reviewed their own infrastructure, cost, waste and budgeting. Are they top heavy? Are they holding raises & bonuses at least equivalent to the cost customers will suffer? Are their processes running efficiently? Are they over paying for products? What is their waste ratios. I know that they are not allowed to give or sale their overstock, thus more waste.
I TRULY understand the need to upgrade. However, demand they show you and the citizens how they're cleaning their own house before pimping us.
Cheryl Stewart
Random Road Singer Steel Building
RE: Northeast Design Review Advisory Committee Meeting, October 20th, Singer Steel Project
I would like to make the following public comments related to the planned construction on Random Road of the Singer Steel Project.
In addition to the oversaturation of rental properties, often with out of state ownership in Little Italy, the impact on already heavy traffic, the deterioration of the green canopy, and major stressors on energy and utility infrastructure, as well as the absence of any consideration by the developers to the neighborhood aesthetic or functional impact, my greatest concern is the environmental hazards to the Little Italy community of construction on the site of a defunct steel mill. There has been no communication of any assessment of the environmental contamination likely to incur with site construction.The site is likely to have become
chemically contaminated with a wide range of substances
from the manufacture of iron and steel, and its many associated processes,
including coke-production, metal refining and finishing. Contamination by metals, inorganic and organic compounds, acids/alkalis and asbestos is common on such sites. These toxic contaminants can include lead, cadmium, halides, zinc, chromium, arsenic, copper, asbestos , nickel and alkali metals. The community has received no environmental studies of how these risks will be addressed, despite the likelihood of their exposure which poses large health risks to the residents, especially those closest to the site and to the school children who use the play ground on a daily basis.
Additionally, when residents have argued against past projects such as the one on Cornell Road, the Landmarks Commission approved projects saying that there was nothing that could be done since LIRC had no design guidelines for development projects. Since then, design guidelines have been approved so any proposed project must work within those guidelines.
I also note that in past projects developers have promised compensatory projects for the destruction they are conducting. One such promise was the restoration of the Barricelli Inn and houses on Murray Hill Rd., neither of which were ever completed. The Inn sits empty where it was a thriving restaurant and hotel previously. Where is the followup to these promises?
My husband and I moved here 22 years ago with solicitations from University Circle for owner occupied residences. Our building has 11 homeowners who reside directly across from the proposed site of development. This project does not honor the plans and promises made to us by the city of Cleveland when we and others on Random Rd. invested in the neighborhood.
Thank you for your consideration.
Lynn T. Singer PhD
Distinguished University Professor
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
2079 Random Rd. #205, Cle., OH 44106Cell: 216.470.2458
Lynn T. Singer
Flock Cameras Still Up!
Please stop violating our Forth Amendment rights and get these cameras down. The highest court in our nation has ruled that they are a violation of our rights. I'm sure the community would volunteer their time and tools to help the City to remove them. Please reach out if you would like to organize this removal work with community members.
Stephanie K. Thomas
shooting
can people stop shooting
Logan
Illegal parking
I am writing to report an ongoing traffic hazard and severe congestion issue occurring daily during the evening peak commute on southbound East 9th Street, between Superior Avenue and Euclid Avenue.
In front of the Kimpton Schofield Hotel, the designated curbside drop-off zone is routinely double-parked, spilling into the right-most travel lane.
Immediately past this area, southbound vehicles routinely violate the posted 'No Parking 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM' restriction zone.
This restriction violation bottleneck routinely causes southbound traffic to back up and sit directly in the active intersection of East 9th and Euclid Avenue, creating severe pedestrian hazards, blocking cross-street transit, and restricting emergency vehicles.
Targeted parking enforcement, active towing, and traffic control deployment during the 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM window are urgently requested to restore safety and flow
In front of the Kimpton Schofield Hotel, the designated curbside drop-off zone is routinely double-parked, spilling into the right-most travel lane.
Immediately past this area, southbound vehicles routinely violate the posted 'No Parking 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM' restriction zone.
This restriction violation bottleneck routinely causes southbound traffic to back up and sit directly in the active intersection of East 9th and Euclid Avenue, creating severe pedestrian hazards, blocking cross-street transit, and restricting emergency vehicles.
Targeted parking enforcement, active towing, and traffic control deployment during the 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM window are urgently requested to restore safety and flow
Kyle McGrath
Data Centers
Dear City of Cleveland Council Members,
My name is Brian Siggers, and I serve as the Cleveland Metro Advocacy Director for the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) Action Fund, which works toward achieving a clean, healthy Ohio, where our democracy empowers all communities to thrive in harmony with the environment. Cleveland is deciding how to handle data centers at a pivotal moment. Data centers are a part of the modern economy, and they are likely to be part of Cleveland’s future. The OEC Action Fund appreciates the time Council has taken to study the issue and hear from residents. With the moratorium set to expire October 20, this Council has the responsibility of putting clear guardrails in place so that any future development works for residents, ratepayers, and the environment.
Recommendations
Ratepayer Protections: Large water and energy users pay the full cost of the infrastructure required to serve them.
Environmental Impact Review: Evaluate every proposal for water, energy, and air quality impacts, and require or incentivize clean on-site power.
Community Protections: Keep neighboring residents' interests at the center of every review.
Conservation: Add data centers to the building performance standards and require efficient water and energy use.
Transparency: Require public disclosure of projected and actual water and energy use and prohibit non-disclosure agreements.
Data Center Challenges
Hyperscale data centers are among the most energy-intensive facilities in the modern economy. Data centers used about 4% of U.S electricity in 2025, and that demand is expected to more than double by 20301. A typical AI-focused data center can use as much electricity as 100,000 households, while the largest facilities under construction may use 20 times more2. Their water demands are also significant: U.S. data centers used 17 billion gallons directly for cooling in 2023.3 Because utilities and city governments plan infrastructure years in advance, clear rules help prevent costs and risks from falling on the public.
Ratepayer protections
The core principle is cost causation: whoever drives the need for new infrastructure should pay for it. Large data centers can require major investments in water treatment, wastewater systems, and grid upgrades, and those costs should not be shifted onto families or small businesses. This concern is already showing up across the PJM grid. Capacity prices rose 22% over the prior year, adding an estimated $16 per month to the average Ohio household’s electric bill.4 Regional demand growth, including data centers, demonstrates how quickly costs from large new loads can reach residents. Cleveland should require large water and energy users to cover the full cost of the infrastructure, operations, and resources needed to serve them. Columbus recently directed its water and power utility to develop a new rate structure requiring large users, including data centers, to pay those costs5. Cleveland can use that approach as a practical reference point. Families and small businesses should not carry costs made by one large customer.
Environmental impact
Data centers vary widely in size, power source, and location, so the city needs a consistent way to evaluate them before approval. Comprehensive planning and impact analysis protects the city and gives developers a predictable standard. Some data centers rely on natural gas (or fuel cells powered by natural gas) for their own power— which can bring pollution and climate impacts to the surrounding community. A recent study found that air pollution from data centers could cause breathing issues and premature death for people living nearby6. Data centers can meet their energy needs with cleaner technologies, including solar generation paired with battery storage—and some states are exploring “Bring Your Own Energy” policies that require any on-site generation powered by clean sources. Cleveland should evaluate every proposal for its water, energy, and air quality impacts, and require or incentivize clean energy for any on-site generation. That approach protects air quality and supports the city’s climate goals.
Community Protections
Protecting communities are central to the OEC Action Fund’s data center policy approach. Data centers are large industrial facilities, and their effects are felt most by the neighbors closest to them. Nearby neighborhoods often face the first impacts on water systems, the electric grid, air quality, and the climate from added fossil fuel generation. While the benefits of data centers are spread across a broad customer base, the burdens are concentrated locally. Cleveland’s review process should account for that imbalance by keeping nearby residents at the center and ensuring costs do not fall by default on surrounding neighborhoods.
Energy and Water Conservation
Data centers use enormous amounts of water to cool the servers that power their computing systems—much that water does not return to the water system, which is often referred to as consumptive water use. The largest facilities can be used up to 5 million gallons of water per day, compared to a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people7. Energy and water are limited resources, and Cleveland should require data centers to use both as efficiently as possible. Adding data centers to upcoming building performance standards would help reduce energy use and emissions while aligning new developments with the city’s climate goals. Clear efficiency standards would give developers certainty while protecting Cleveland’s grid and water systems from added strain.
Transparency
Transparency is the foundation for every other priority. The city cannot evaluate, price, or plan for energy or water use that is undisclosed. Technology companies do not always reveal how much water their data centers use, and voluntary reporting makes those figures more difficult to compare8. For local governments, that lack of information makes planning for water utilities and infrastructure investments that lack of information makes planning for water utilities and infrastructure investments much more difficult and risks harming residential and business customers. Cleveland should require full public disclosure of projected and actual water and energy use, infrastructure needs, and associated power generation, while prohibiting non-disclosure agreements.
Conclusion
Cleveland has an opportunity to show that environmental responsibility and economic development can go hand in hand. We urge Council to adopt clear standards that protect ratepayers, safeguard community resources, ensure transparency, and hold data centers accountable to water and energy efficiency standards. The OEC Action Fund looks forward to working with Council, the Administration, and community partners to build a data center review and local regulatory framework that is transparent, responsible, and sustainable.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Brian Siggers, Cleveland Metro Advocacy Director
Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund
My name is Brian Siggers, and I serve as the Cleveland Metro Advocacy Director for the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) Action Fund, which works toward achieving a clean, healthy Ohio, where our democracy empowers all communities to thrive in harmony with the environment. Cleveland is deciding how to handle data centers at a pivotal moment. Data centers are a part of the modern economy, and they are likely to be part of Cleveland’s future. The OEC Action Fund appreciates the time Council has taken to study the issue and hear from residents. With the moratorium set to expire October 20, this Council has the responsibility of putting clear guardrails in place so that any future development works for residents, ratepayers, and the environment.
Recommendations
Ratepayer Protections: Large water and energy users pay the full cost of the infrastructure required to serve them.
Environmental Impact Review: Evaluate every proposal for water, energy, and air quality impacts, and require or incentivize clean on-site power.
Community Protections: Keep neighboring residents' interests at the center of every review.
Conservation: Add data centers to the building performance standards and require efficient water and energy use.
Transparency: Require public disclosure of projected and actual water and energy use and prohibit non-disclosure agreements.
Data Center Challenges
Hyperscale data centers are among the most energy-intensive facilities in the modern economy. Data centers used about 4% of U.S electricity in 2025, and that demand is expected to more than double by 20301. A typical AI-focused data center can use as much electricity as 100,000 households, while the largest facilities under construction may use 20 times more2. Their water demands are also significant: U.S. data centers used 17 billion gallons directly for cooling in 2023.3 Because utilities and city governments plan infrastructure years in advance, clear rules help prevent costs and risks from falling on the public.
Ratepayer protections
The core principle is cost causation: whoever drives the need for new infrastructure should pay for it. Large data centers can require major investments in water treatment, wastewater systems, and grid upgrades, and those costs should not be shifted onto families or small businesses. This concern is already showing up across the PJM grid. Capacity prices rose 22% over the prior year, adding an estimated $16 per month to the average Ohio household’s electric bill.4 Regional demand growth, including data centers, demonstrates how quickly costs from large new loads can reach residents. Cleveland should require large water and energy users to cover the full cost of the infrastructure, operations, and resources needed to serve them. Columbus recently directed its water and power utility to develop a new rate structure requiring large users, including data centers, to pay those costs5. Cleveland can use that approach as a practical reference point. Families and small businesses should not carry costs made by one large customer.
Environmental impact
Data centers vary widely in size, power source, and location, so the city needs a consistent way to evaluate them before approval. Comprehensive planning and impact analysis protects the city and gives developers a predictable standard. Some data centers rely on natural gas (or fuel cells powered by natural gas) for their own power— which can bring pollution and climate impacts to the surrounding community. A recent study found that air pollution from data centers could cause breathing issues and premature death for people living nearby6. Data centers can meet their energy needs with cleaner technologies, including solar generation paired with battery storage—and some states are exploring “Bring Your Own Energy” policies that require any on-site generation powered by clean sources. Cleveland should evaluate every proposal for its water, energy, and air quality impacts, and require or incentivize clean energy for any on-site generation. That approach protects air quality and supports the city’s climate goals.
Community Protections
Protecting communities are central to the OEC Action Fund’s data center policy approach. Data centers are large industrial facilities, and their effects are felt most by the neighbors closest to them. Nearby neighborhoods often face the first impacts on water systems, the electric grid, air quality, and the climate from added fossil fuel generation. While the benefits of data centers are spread across a broad customer base, the burdens are concentrated locally. Cleveland’s review process should account for that imbalance by keeping nearby residents at the center and ensuring costs do not fall by default on surrounding neighborhoods.
Energy and Water Conservation
Data centers use enormous amounts of water to cool the servers that power their computing systems—much that water does not return to the water system, which is often referred to as consumptive water use. The largest facilities can be used up to 5 million gallons of water per day, compared to a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people7. Energy and water are limited resources, and Cleveland should require data centers to use both as efficiently as possible. Adding data centers to upcoming building performance standards would help reduce energy use and emissions while aligning new developments with the city’s climate goals. Clear efficiency standards would give developers certainty while protecting Cleveland’s grid and water systems from added strain.
Transparency
Transparency is the foundation for every other priority. The city cannot evaluate, price, or plan for energy or water use that is undisclosed. Technology companies do not always reveal how much water their data centers use, and voluntary reporting makes those figures more difficult to compare8. For local governments, that lack of information makes planning for water utilities and infrastructure investments that lack of information makes planning for water utilities and infrastructure investments much more difficult and risks harming residential and business customers. Cleveland should require full public disclosure of projected and actual water and energy use, infrastructure needs, and associated power generation, while prohibiting non-disclosure agreements.
Conclusion
Cleveland has an opportunity to show that environmental responsibility and economic development can go hand in hand. We urge Council to adopt clear standards that protect ratepayers, safeguard community resources, ensure transparency, and hold data centers accountable to water and energy efficiency standards. The OEC Action Fund looks forward to working with Council, the Administration, and community partners to build a data center review and local regulatory framework that is transparent, responsible, and sustainable.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Brian Siggers, Cleveland Metro Advocacy Director
Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund
Brian Siggers
My life since the explosion
Hello it's me again I'm still here I was just sitting here crying like always I'm so fucking angry this is all I here what you need what you want I want my life back I'm going crazy I want my kids to live the life that was promised to them I want Cordale SHEFFIELD back the only man who loved me for me who loved our kids we didn't have a mansion but our apartment was ours I been through hell and back to have what I had my kids don't sleep well it's sad when I got to give my kids medicine just to sleep.I want you all to close your eyes and picture your kids in that explosion picture your baby girl say I DON'T WNAT TO DIE AND PEOPLE AROUND HER LAUGHING.I wish this shit never happened to us..I worked hard for what we had I'm old tied and my body is not up to part and I got to try to start all over again it's hard when your health has declined what am I to do I feel like shit now I feel I let my family down because now they living a life that I didn't promise them my baby girl came home from school the other day crying why because she said.MOMMY IM SO TIED OF WALKING AROUND WITH A SMILE ON MY FACE WHEN IM NOT HAPPY WHY DID THIS HAD TO HAPPEN TO US SHE CRIES FOR CORDALE SHEFFIELD MOST OF HER SONGS NOW THAT SHE LISTENING TO GOT SOMETHING TO DO WHEN CORDALE SHEFFIELD MEANING ALL ABOUT HIS DEATH SOMETHING SHE CAN'T FORGET ABOUT SOMETHING THAT PLAYS IN HER HEAD SO WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO AS A MOTHER WHAT WOULD U DO YEAH WE ARE FUCKED UP....OR HOW ABOUT THIS EVEN THOUGH THE HARD PART IS OVER JUST IMAGINE LISTENING TO YOUR KIDS SCREAMING HOLLERING PAIN EVERY NIGHT FOR A WHOLE 8 MONTHS CUZ THESE PEOPLE SCRUB AND SCRUB AND SCRUB ALL MY BABY'S SKIN AND OFF THEIR BODY EVERYDAY HOW THE F*** YOU THINK WE FEEL CAN'T BRING Cordale SHEFFIELD back so what now I how can y'all help us if y'all not giving us meaning 44 families a life of no worries mentally financially and some stability then what the f*** can y'all give us we didn't ask to be put in your face trust me then nobody want to be up here I didn't I know I didn't and I don't but I do not like the way people treat people have a f****** heart where is your heart do you all give a f*** are your human what if this happened to your family how would you feel mayor how would you feel I need to ask all your people on them in them higher seats how the f*** would you feel if your family was in my shoes or shoes what would you do what would you expect from the people cuz me myself I expected more from the City of Cleveland...Ps I want to live like y'all living nice house with everything we had and everything we want we don't want much just to live like we was before this explosion...I got a lot inside that need to let out so I'll wait until next I will not keep quiet any longer y'all want WAR YALL GOT IT GOD BLESS YOU ALL...SO I END FOR NOW WITH THIS SIT BACK CLOSE YOUR EYES AND PICTURE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY IN OUR SHOES REALLY APPRECIATE
Kyanna Bell
Data centers, unregulated AI and surveillance technologies.
Your constituents have spoken and now you need to listen to them. Hyper scale data centers, unregulated AI and ubiquitous surveillance technologies like Flock cameras are inherently dangerous to human brings, evil by design and universally rejected by the great majority of citizens and voters in this city. It’s time to continue to say “NO!” to the billionaire tech bros, wealthy elites and rapacious corporations willing to wantonly destroy the plant and our children’s futures to make more money. Listen to the overwhelming majority of your constituents, please!
Arthur Hargate
Press Conference and Support Efforts
As a concerned Clevelander, I was deeply impacted after hearing Ms. Bell share her family’s experience and learning that, 15 months after the Rainbow Terrace explosion, so many families are still searching for answers and meaningful support.
The announcement that the cause of the explosion was undetermined should not be the end of this conversation. These families deserve clarity about what happened, transparency about what has been investigated, and a coordinated, trauma-informed response to the needs they are still facing.
I respectfully ask the Mayor, his administration, City Council, and our community partners: What happens next?
Regardless of whether a definitive cause is ever identified, 44 families were displaced, lives were forever changed, and a member of our community was lost. These families should not have to continue navigating recovery alone.
I am asking City leadership to bring the affected families to the table, publicly identify what assistance is still needed, establish who is responsible for coordinating that support, and provide the community with clear next steps and a timeline for action.
Fifteen months is long enough for these families to wonder who is listening and what comes next. Please do not allow “undetermined” to become the final word. Let the next words be action, accountability, compassion, and commitment and let the families see those words put into practice.
The announcement that the cause of the explosion was undetermined should not be the end of this conversation. These families deserve clarity about what happened, transparency about what has been investigated, and a coordinated, trauma-informed response to the needs they are still facing.
I respectfully ask the Mayor, his administration, City Council, and our community partners: What happens next?
Regardless of whether a definitive cause is ever identified, 44 families were displaced, lives were forever changed, and a member of our community was lost. These families should not have to continue navigating recovery alone.
I am asking City leadership to bring the affected families to the table, publicly identify what assistance is still needed, establish who is responsible for coordinating that support, and provide the community with clear next steps and a timeline for action.
Fifteen months is long enough for these families to wonder who is listening and what comes next. Please do not allow “undetermined” to become the final word. Let the next words be action, accountability, compassion, and commitment and let the families see those words put into practice.
Community
Submissions are accepted up to 5 hours before a hearing if time slots are available