Council highlights: Lunar New Year and Ramadan greetings, charter review topics and police community event announced

Councilmembers used their comment period on Feb. 17 to recognize recent holidays and community events, and to flag items for the upcoming Charter Review Commission.

Councilmember Khan opened council comments by acknowledging Lunar New Year and the start of Ramadan. Councilmembers exchanged holiday greetings and offered birthday wishes to a longtime colleague identified in the meeting as 'Bob.'

Councilmember Palunas outlined topics he intends to deliver to the law director and the Charter Review Commission for consideration, saying he will raise term limits, the ward veto from a planning perspective, the composition of council (including whether to add at-large seats), the potential implementation of a city manager (not as a replacement for the mayor), and whether to have a council president instead of a vice mayor. Palunas presented these as items for the commission to consider rather than formal proposals by the council.

During department comments, the Police Chief urged residents to be alert during tax-preparation season for fraud and scams and recommended contacting the police with questions. The chief also announced a 'Hoops with Heroes' community basketball event scheduled for Sunday, March 1 at 3:30 p.m. at the community center and invited youth to participate with local police officers.

Mayor comments highlighted Chinese New Year activities hosted locally by the Cleveland Contemporary Chinese Community Association and the Chinese school, noted a senior center lunch on Thursday and encouraged attendance at local events on March 1. The meeting then moved to a motion to adjourn and the council voted to adjourn.

The items Palunas intends to send to the Charter Review Commission will be considered by that body; no formal charter changes were approved at this meeting.