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

 

To sign up to comment in person or online, please scroll down.

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

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Short term rental legislation
My name is Erika McLaughlin, and I am a 16-year resident of Ohio City. My family, which includes myself, my husband, and two children ages 7 and 10 live on West 48th Street. Over the last few years, the popularity of our neighborhood has grown at a rapid rate, attracting the increase in short term rentals.

From the outside, it can seem that this could be a great way for a Clevelander to make some extra money on their home in a popular neighborhood, and I do not besmirch that. However, the rise of out of town, or irresponsible short term rental owners has increased, and more and more houses are being bought in our neighborhood for the purpose of being a short-term rental. At last count, on my block alone (between Bridge and Franklin), there were 10 short term rentals, including one across the street from us, which is currently for sale and being promoted as a short-term rental.

The headlines and social media videos don’t lie. These short-term rentals invite trouble. From out-of-control parties including several in Ohio City last year with hundreds of juveniles taking over streets to garbage, noise, guns, and overall an air of disrespect for people who actually live here. How can we build a community with people who have no investment in living here? When every few days there are new people staying at these rentals, they have no investment in this place or knowing neighbors or being involved. We are forced to live next to and near houses and individuals that do not care about my family, my children’s safety, or the safety of those around them.
One thing I have learned in my years of being a Clevelander, is that far too often our city places more importance on the attractions and visitors to our city. While I value the impact that visitors and tourism have on our city, what about the homeowners and long term renters who call Cleveland home? What about those of us who work to keep our community a safe place? Why aren’t we prioritizing the needs and wants of Clevelanders FIRST before anyone else?

Short term rentals are an issue in cities across the country, and cities have taken steps to crack down on them. What is this council willing to do? And how will it be enforced? Passing legislation isn’t enough. Residents deserve reassurance that our streets belong to us, and not to short term renters who have no vested interest in our city thriving.

Thank you.

Erika McLaughlin
The Cleveland Browns
Hello, I fear the decision to move to Brookpark. I like Brooklyn Heights. Here's why. Toooo far to the west leaves the east emotionally bad. With Brooklyn Heights they are even distance east even distant west and can Win for the city. With Brookpark, bio-emotionally upset east siders ripped off by the locale. I think the east side will get mad, shafted, jealous, left out and then heart ghetto. Please look at the fan receptors sense of fairness east side and west side. So, in conclusion I greatly fear Brookpark is wrong because of no team to possess, feeling loyal and not represented become, They cant feel a part of the Browns they'll be too far away. In Brooklyn Heights EVERY Clevelander in the WHOLE metropolitian region would have equidistant opportunity to become a Brownie and succeed with the Team. GREAT fear and consider it a loss because it will bio-behaviorilly backfire as a good idea and think it will crime the east side, fears me. Even fighting I would guess would arise from unhappy east siders. Hurt morale, you know and deep seat unfairness. Well, please study fan feedback and happiness and see even in the center fairness to each person. I am a The American University Graduate '91 and fellow Clevelander all my life and hope the best for Us, Thank you for your time, Dave Cygan
David Cygan
The street take overs in Cleveland on bikes and fourweekers
If the cops cannot safely pull these people over then they need to purchase some type of vehicles that can do it safely like dirt bikes, and four wheelers for the police so when this happens, they have them on hand to start chasing these people and getting them off the street before somebody gets hurt
Sherry metzgar
The sale of Collinwood Highschool
Hello, my name is Leon Welch. I graduated from Collinwood High School in the class of 1990 and earned my Associates of Applied Science Degree from Cuyahoga Community college in 1998. I wish to purchase Collinwood High School to use it for the future of the education of Collinwood Community and other surrounding areas. I will allow a charter school to lease it if they have a true passion to help students achieve their goals. I am a self published author and wish to use it in my upcoming documentary. Please advise me on my next steps. Sincerely,
Leon Welch. My email address is whenilearnedtobreathe@gmail.com and cell phone number is 216-851-7362.
Leon Welch
Programs and Services
My comment is to the regard of finance/budgets to allotted programs and to offices. These bodies are more efficient in effort by concentrating programs. When similar or identical programs are active, we suffer and our funding is wasted. All bodies should focus on their most effective project/program. For example, youth reading programs, urban planning projects, etc. Can we propose that committee chairs and supporting council look into all assigned supported bodies to minimize and define programs so that funds aren’t spread so thin. If one business has a more impactful program compared to another of the same regard, I propose these boards and businesses respectively communicate with one another; exchanging resources and anything else to improve overall success and effectiveness. These bodies would have to focus on one or two task with supporting data of success rates. No more proposals of new programs until we’ve assessed existing programs. Push the businesses to support all communities throughout Cleveland with possible expansion to neighboring cities collectively to offer services and programs. Also facility usage should be recorded and the community facilities with poor visitation should have those council members look into the needs of constituents, lack of participation (being awareness, mental health/development, or financial burdens).
Bernard Lackey
H5 Data Centers’ Cleveland Data Center expansion plans
I'm writing to express my strong opposition to H5 Data Centers’ Cleveland Data Center's plan to expand along St. Clair Avenue.
There is growing evidence that living close to data centers poses significant health risks due to light and noise pollution and poor air and water quality. I live two miles from the proposed expansion site and suffer from asthma, chronic migraines, fatigue and eczema that are exacerbated by poor air quality. These issues have caused me to miss work and sometimes make it difficult to care for my home and family due to pain and lack of energy. I can only imagine that these problems will become more frequent and severe with the expansion of the data center.
In addition to threatening the health of nearby residents, expanding the data center has the potential to strain the utilities grid. Cleveland infrastructure is already notorious for being outdated, poorly maintained and prone to failure. Vulnerable residents are at risk of being without power during increasingly frequent heat waves.
To add insult to injury, it's common knowledge that data centers neither pay taxes nor create many jobs. The expansion of the data center will pollute the environment, cause chronic health conditions, threaten the already unstable grid, and will not provide any benefit to the community. I strongly oppose the expansion and hope the city will reconsider and ultimately decide not to allow it to move forward.
Thank you,
Chelsie Colvin
Chelsie Colvin
Data Centers
Quit selling out citizens, or taking bribes for more data centers
jOHN
The fraud by this administration
Good evening, Council Members,

My name is Jerrell Tyree, representing the Cuyahoga County Republican Party. I am here to raise a serious concern about the harboring of illegal immigrants in CMHA housing and the broader impact on our community.

This is not just a legal issue—it’s a matter of public safety. Corner stores and small businesses in these areas must be thoroughly investigated, as well as the families connected to them, to ensure compliance with the law and to prevent exploitation of our public housing system.

Our residents deserve safe, lawful communities, and public resources should protect citizens, not be misused to shelter individuals who are here illegally. We need accountability, stronger enforcement, and transparency in public housing practices to uphold both the law and the safety of our neighborhoods.

I urge this Council to take immediate action to review policies, enforce compliance with ICE, and ensure that our community’s trust and safety are protected.

Thank you.”
Jerrell Tyree
INDYCAR
Please bring a INDYCAR race to Cleveland. This race will bring millions of dollars to our city!!!!!
Jim Buchanan
Burke Airport Propery
Please do not build a golf course in the redevelopment plans of burke airport. It takes of so much space and will have fertilizer runoff right into the lake, just so a few people in a dying sport to hit a ball around. Theres such better ways to use that space than a stinking golf course. Why not landscape the area like a central park where there's paths with greenery for people to walk through and enjoy the space on the water, but theres paved plazas and areas to recreate and meet up.
John