| When does Cleveland City Council meet? |
| City Council meetings are, generally, held every Monday at 7:00 p.m. from September through June. Council has a summer recess, from mid-June until after Labor Day. During summer recess, Council meetings are held once a month and an ordinance is passed by the Council stating the date of each summer meeting. All City Council meetings are held in the Council Chamber in City Hall. In addition, there are 11 standing committees of Council that meet weekly or bi-weekly, consistent with the permanent schedule set forth in the City Record. A legislative calendar that lists the dates and times of committee meetings is published weekly by the Clerk. |
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| Where is Cleveland City Council located? |
| Council offices are on the second floor of Cleveland City Hall, 601 Lakeside Avenue. Council member offices are in Room 220. The City Clerk's offices are located in Room 216. |
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| How many Council Members are there and who do they represent? |
| There are 21 members representing the 21 wards of the City of Cleveland. Each ward has approximately 23,500 people. |
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| How long is a Council Member's term? |
| Each council member serves a four-year term. The current term started on January 2, 2006. |
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| Are council meetings open to the public? |
Members of the public are welcome to attend all Monday night Council Meetings, committee meetings and committee hearings. In addition, committee meetings and hearings are aired live on Time Warner Cable TV 23.
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| What happens at a committee meeting? |
| Council members review legislation that is to be voted on and hear testimony from directors and staff members of city departments regarding the legislation. |
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| What is a committee hearing? |
| Committees will hold special hearings on important issues affecting the city of Cleveland and its residents in order to understand the issue and help educate the public. Committee hearings often lead to the drafting of legislation. |
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| Who can sponsor legislation? |
| All 21 Cleveland City Council Members, and the Mayor of Cleveland, can sponsor legislation. City Departments can request council members to sponsor legislation on their behalf. |
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| How does an ordinance become law? |
| Members of Council and/or the Mayor work with the city's Law Department and Council staff to draft legislation. The legislation is prepared for introduction and first reading by the Clerk of Council; it is read into the City Record at a Council Meeting; and, it is then sent to city departments for review. Next, the ordinance is submitted to the appropriate council committees for discussion and review. After the review is complete and any amendments are made, the ordinance is returned to the Clerk of Council for a second reading. It is then scheduled for third reading and final passage when the vote takes place. A simple majority is needed to pass the ordinance. The ordinance is signed by the President of Council, the Clerk of Council and the Mayor. Ordinances become law 40 days after passage. Click on the Publications button to access the "Cleveland City Council - Legislators at Work" brochure for more information. |
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| What is an emergency ordinance? |
| An emergency ordinance is enacted for the immediate preservation of public peace, property, health, or safety or to provide for the usual daily operation of a municipal department. Emergency ordinances that are passed by City Council become effective upon the Mayor's signature or 10 days after passage. |
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| What does it mean when an ordinance passes "under suspension"? |
| An ordinance passes "under suspension" when two-thirds of the council members vote to suspend the rules of council regarding the number of times an ordinance must be read into the City Record at a council meeting. Ordinances can pass under suspension after the first or second reading. |
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| Can the Mayor veto an ordinance? |
| The Mayor of the city of Cleveland does have the power to veto an ordinance. If an ordinance is vetoed, City Council can reconsider the ordinance and hold another vote. If two-thirds of the council members vote to pass the legislation, the Mayor's veto is overridden and the ordinance becomes law. |
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| What is The City Record? |
| The City Record is the official record of the City and contains the official proceedings of Cleveland City Council. Published weekly by the City Clerk, Clerk of Council, The City Record lists legislation introduced and/or passed, resolutions introduced and/or adopted, congratulatory and condolence resolutions and communications received by Cleveland City Council. It also lists the legal advertising of the City or invitations to bid, Board of Control minutes, and public notices. View The City Record online by clicking on the City Record button. Copies of The City Record are available free of charge in the Office of the Council, Room 216, City Hall or by clicking here. |
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