CLEVELAND — Cleveland City Council is asking for community input as they prepare to draw new ward boundaries. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Cleveland City Council is getting ready to draw new ward boundaries, and they're looking for community input

  • The council will be dropping two members due to population decline

  • Triad Research Group will be drawing new maps

  • Residents can offer feedback, ideas and ask questions at community meetings this week

“The people of these communities own these seats,” Council President Blaine Griffin said. “So, I don't want anybody to think that this is about councils saying, ‘how do we protect my seat?’ What we are trying to do is make sure that we have a good, clean process, that neighborhoods are left intact, and that we can try to provide the best services possible with the structure that we put in place. That's all.”

Because census data shows Cleveland’s population declined by about 6% between 2010 and 2020, council is required to drop from 17 to 15 members. 

The body hired local firm, Triad Research Group, to draw new maps, which must be voted on by a majority of council members to be approved before April of next year. 

Those consultants are inviting residents to share their feedback, questions and even their own map ideas at community meetings across the city this week.

The public meetings will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at various locations across the city. 

Tuesday will be at the Jerry Sue Thornton Center, Wednesday at the Glenville Neighborhood Resource and Recreation Center and Thursday at the Estabrook Neighborhood Resrouce and Recreaton Center. 

Griffin said he’s hoping to finalize a new map by the start of next year, to give members enough time to prepare a campaign before the 2025 election cycle. 

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