Why Cleveland Heights Needs Issue 7
Updating Our City Charter for a Stronger Future
On November 4, Cleveland Heights voters will decide on Issue 7, a comprehensive set of amendments to our City Charter. This is not a small adjustment — it’s a critical modernization of the “rulebook” that guides how our local government works.
Our Charter hasn’t had a full review in over forty years. Instead, it’s been patched together with decades of one-off, piecemeal amendments. The result? An outdated, inconsistent, and sometimes contradictory document that no longer serves us well.
WHY THIS MATTERS
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Clarifying the Roles of Mayor & Council
In 2019, voters created an elected mayor.
But because of state law, those amendments couldn’t address City Council at the same time.
The result: our Charter now contains two forms of government (mayor–council and council–manager).
This has created confusion, tension, and dysfunction in City Hall.
Issue 7 fixes this by clearly defining the distinct roles and responsibilities of Mayor and Council.
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Modernizing the Charter
Updates processes for elections, budgets, and vacancies.
Adds provisions for ethics, training, and nondiscrimination.
Reflects best practices from other Ohio cities studied by the Charter Review Commission.
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Ensuring Consistency
Dozens of amendments over decades left us with a Frankenstein charter full of contradictions.
Passing Issue 7 as a whole ensures a unified, consistent document that works as a complete system.
What’s in the amendments?
Scroll down for tables of in-depth descriptions of each and every revision in the proposed charter amendment.
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Defines roles and responsibilities of Mayor and City Council.
Balances powers, including veto authority and Council’s right to information.
Clarifies appointments, removals, and departmental structures.
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Streamlines how vacancies for Council or Mayor are filled.
Ensures continuity of government and transparency.
Updates removal provisions to be clear and fair.
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Adjusts petition signature requirements for candidates.
Updates rules for initiatives, referenda, and recalls.
Adds new provisions for ethics, nondiscrimination, and required training for officials.
Authorizes virtual Council meetings.
The Process Behind Issue 7
This was a careful, transparent, and community-driven process — built to ensure our city government works better for everyone.
A Charter Review Commission studied Charters of nearby cities in depth and consulted many more. They interviewed mayors and council members and reviewed the 2019 Charter Review Commission’s recommendations.
They met over 35 times in less than a year to draft a comprehensive set of amendments.
City Council approved the package, making only minor changes after public comment.
Why Vote YES on Issue 7?
To end the confusion and contradictions holding us back.
To give our Mayor and Council a clear foundation for collaboration.
To bring Cleveland Heights’ charter into the 21st century.
To create a city government that is transparent, accountable, and effective.
These changes were made to clarify the Mayor's and Council's respective roles and responsibilities. Because the change of form of government was done through a ballot initiative, it was subject to Ohio's "single subject" rule: the drafters of the charter amendment could only make changes to one aspect of the Charter — that is, changing the City Manager to Mayor. They were NOT allowed to change anything in the Charter related to City Council.
As a result our Charter lacked clarity regarding the distinct roles and responsibilities of the Mayor and Council, which was critically needed during the first four years of our new form of government, and had they been present, much of the dysfunction that was experienced may have been preventable.
Together, these amendments rectify that.