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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ILLEGAL ACTIVITY INVOLVING CPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY
CPS of Cuyahoga county is neglecting my three younger children physically mentally and educationally while they're under their care. Snatched my children out of the home separated them from their siblings and not giving me the fair due process for my children. In these unforeseen times to evaluate and assess the case for the best interests of the kids and to adhere to CPS of Cuyahoga county's policies yet and still my kids are abused and neglected by the agency and when I asked to receive my children back in the home because they were false allegations they tell me there was multiple calls still no evidence no proof and even though there has to be an investigation that should not excuse my children coming to my weekly visits with rubber bands around my 2-year-old's ankle my son with the heeled black eye them smelling or their clothes rigging of urine in feces scratches all over their face and bruises on my 2-year-old's back. This is all since they've been taken out of my home based off of false allegations and put under the care I believe illegally of CPS of Cuyahoga county. I am crying out to take a closer look at my case because I know I'm not being given all my custodial rights as their mother and their treatment has to be illegal in a court of law no matter what the circumstance is especially if I am not facing any criminal or charges that would affect me being a parent. I also believe I'm being discriminated against because I was diagnosed with primary progressive MS and this was during them taking my kids away. I have asked CPS of Cuyahoga county what does my health condition have to do with me being a mother to my children if there was no uncertainty and there was no negligence based off of me having a disability I believe that I am being discriminated against because I have a physical disability that I cannot control and that too is against the law. I have reached out to the mayor governor and senator of Ohio because I fear for my kids lives and the way that CPS and their flawed system is doing my children is appalling and hard to watch.
Shawndra Folmar
Leaf Pickup
The City of Cleveland's leaf pickup has been a biased program since it's inception into 2000. At one point under former Mayor Vonovich it allowed the entire City to enjoy those services but withinthe last 35 years it's changed and in the last 6 years it's even gotten smaller so it's only a small segment of the city that is getting Leaf pick up. But the rest of the City residents are paying for it via taxes. It's not a free program so reinstating it was not right and if the City of Cleveland Council and the Mayor of Cleveland wanted to do right by ALL the citizens they would allow that program to extend the entire City. Leaves are a problem for everybody not just for some it's not as if the City is offering free bags those paperbags are over $2 a bag. They're not cheap people are on budgets, they can't afford bags the number it bags it would take for so many people's yards.
It's the audacity that Council persons felt like this is something that should fight for well everybody who felt like it should be reinstated should have felt like every resident should enjoy those same services of leaf pickup. It is a very tedious process to rake those leaves and place them in bags. And just as well as the Mayor changed his mind and reinstated the program, he can also expand it. Council can expand it and include everybody and not just some because last I checked where you picking up leaves you're not charging them for it it's free so it should be free for all.
Sabrina Otis
Cannabis Expungements
Thank you Council President for reading this for me.

I am writing on behalf of the people who face marijuana convictions. This administration delivered the law that would free 4,077 Clevelanders from the stamp of a criminal for using a plant proven to have positive medical capabilities. The ball is rolling, but the job is not done.

Many have already begun the expungement process. A judge claimed 60 cases were currently being cleared. A member of the Bibb administration said it was over 100. Either number is well short of 4,077.

People, each day, are facing challenges finding jobs, buying homes, getting child care and more only because they did not see an email or letter from the city.

I understand there is much on your plate, so with my more open schedule, I am able to reach out to these individuals and ensure they see the freedom you have given them.

I have a small group of volunteers ready to find and call these people to complete their expungements

Anyone who is interested in joining, please email Seanfreeman334@gmail.com

In order to complete this task, I need the names and any public information on these individuals with cases. After pursuing multiple offices within City Hall, the only place known to have the list of names is Mayor Bibb’s office. Together with myself, Council President Griffin, we delivered the initial expungements to the clerks office.

I humbly request the mayors office to complete the records request so free citizens can live free

Thank you
Sean Freeman
Youth Empowerment
I am sadden by the lack of recreation choices and spaces on the eastside of Cleveland for young people. I would like to see more funding spent to create more fun and engaging spaces for them to exist and thrive.
Teralawanda Aaron
The Gay stuff being pushed everywhere
Why is our society in Cleveland pushing more gay stuff. What’s the reason for pushing all the gay stuff on people. When in fact is black people in the hood and projects don’t like that stuff.
Roderick banks
Drugs, shootings and killings
Why isn’t the police presence felt in Cham homes. Every other day there a shooting, almost every other weekend it’s a killing. Why aren’t you all putting measures in place to help stop the drugs and shootings and killings in this area?
Roderick Banks
Traffic Enforcement
I would like to see improved traffic enforcement on Lake Avenue. Drivers on Lake Avenue regularly reach speeds of >45mph coming off of the Shoreway. This poses a significant risk to the safety and well-being of our neighborhood's children. The speeding on Lake Avenue is out of control. The lack of enforcement created a frightful scenario for our children during the annual Edgewater 'Trick-or-Treat', when the neighborhood hosted 100's of pedestrians and drivers were flying down Lake Avenue at unsafe speeds. To keep our children safe, I would urge City Council and the City of Cleveland to consider finding a way to calm traffic on Lake Avenue. Perhaps lowering the speed limit? The pedestrian death rate in >30mph zones is 3x higher than in 25mph traffic zones.
Barry Stormer
Housing Court & Selective Code Enforcement Harassment
Stop housing court and housing inspectors from attacking seniors, low and moderate working poor in our Clark Fulton neighborhood. The SIP Selective Intervention Program misleads homeowners when this is nothing more than a “probation” office not a “clinic” and Housing Specialists are nothing more than “probation officers” making defendants “criminals” there is abuse of authority under the color of the law for code enforcement which is compromising your Constitutional rights including your 14th, 4th amendment rights. There’s another to handle this problem rather than bankrupt citizens of Cleveland. We are not the ones you should be going after in court!
Eugene Pate
Amtrak in Cleveland
The state of the Amtrak station in Cleveland is pretty abysmal. The station is small and old, and parking is incredibly confusing and poorly marked. I was shocked at the state this city allowed such an important pathway in and out of Cleveland to be in.
Ko Sar
1020-2022: AN EMERGENCY RESOLUTION Supporting West Creek Conservancy’s Clean Ohio Fund Greenspace Conservation Program application for the Zaclon River Landing Project in the City of Cleveland.
I write in strong support for the Zaclon River Landing project on the Cuyahoga River.
As one of the project’s volunteers, I am excited to encourage City Council to support the application by West Creek Conservancy to the Clean Ohio Fund program by the Ohio Department of Public Works.

The funds being applied for will make an accessible, ADA compliant ramp system which will allow members of the community to access the Cuyahoga River. The group organizing the creation of this park are not seeking funds from the City of Cleveland, and have amassed funds to date from private donors and the Brownfields Fund to “green” the space. In addition to river access, the plans call for expanded greenspace, an historical information kiosk, and public restrooms for cyclists and runners.

This project has been highlighted enthusiastically by the Vision for the Valley, and has also obtained the support of Cuyahoga County (through the Brownfields Grant), Cuyahoga Soil and Water (through a recent ODNR application), Flats Forward, and several other waterway stakeholders. Additionally, there is a budding relationship with CWRU, as one of the University’s student organizations will maintain the site. This park is the lone project currently in development in Jefferson Link Zone of the Vision for the Valley plan.

The support of City Council will help transform this industrial area of the Cuyahoga River into a mixed-use area, so that human-powered watercraft can safely transit the Cuyahoga Water Trail. There are no “safe harbors” for recreational river users between the southern City Limits and the Flats entertainment area, and the Zaclon River Landing solves for that public safety concern. This concept has been applauded by industrial river stakeholders and shippers’ organizations as being a very positive thing. Additionally, any river infrastructure will be outside of the Federal Channel, and the project has been vetted in a preliminary way by the Army Corps of Engineers twice as being sheltered and unobtrusive to commercial traffic.

This project is the collaboration of several greenspace & river stakeholders, who have come together as a nonprofit collaborative to put this former industrial site to good use. City Council’s support in the Clean Ohio Fund application will significantly assist in making yet another part of Cleveland great.
Aaron Marcovy