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Vol. I · No. 1 Cleveland, Tenn. · Friday, November 13, 2026 Price: Free

Council Meetings › Cleveland City Council

Cleveland City Council · November 9, 2026

Council funds North Lee traffic signal; mayor calls recess during public comment

All seven council members were present for the November 9 regular session, and every vote heard on the video passed 7-0, including the consent agenda's final passage of five zoning and land-use ordinances and a motion to fund a traffic signal on North Lee Highway at Sequoia. Mayor Kevin Brooks called a recess during public comment, and Vice Mayor Ken Webb presided for the rest of the meeting. The roll call on Ordinance 2026-46, on the city's occupational safety and health program, is not audible on the video.

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Votes & decisions
ItemMoved / SecondedOutcomeVote
Item 4a: Waive the reading and approve the minutes of the Regular Session of October 26, 2026 [04:12] Ken Webb (Vice Mayor) / David May Passed 7–0
Item 8: Consent agenda, items 8a-8j (final passage of Zoning Ordinances 2026-41, 2026-43, 2026-44, 2026-45 and Ordinance 2026-42; Resolutions 2026-91 and 2026-92; surplus property; two appointments of Robert Thompson) [29:10] David May / Bill Estes Passed 7–0
Item 11a: Ordinance 2026-46, amending Municipal Code Title 4, Chapter 2 (Occupational Safety and Health Program) [40:58] Bill Estes / David May Not recorded Passed by roll call
Added item (new business): fund a traffic signal on North Lee Highway at Sequoia / North Lee Elementary, with the intersection redesign (turn lanes, ingress and egress) to be studied and the funding structured for reimbursement through the TIF agreement [42:18] David May / Bill Estes Passed 7–0

Summary

TL;DR: All seven council members were present for the November 9 regular session, and every vote heard on the video passed 7-0, including the consent agenda's final passage of five zoning and land-use ordinances and a motion to fund a traffic signal on North Lee Highway at Sequoia.[2][15][23] Mayor Kevin Brooks called a recess during public comment, and Vice Mayor Ken Webb presided for the rest of the meeting.[6][9] The roll call on Ordinance 2026-46, on the city's occupational safety and health program, is not audible on the video.[22]

Overview

Brooks called the 3 p.m. meeting to order at the Municipal Building, and all seven members answered the roll.[2][1] Chaplain Pastor Gwen Green gave the invocation.[2] The council approved the October 26 minutes 7-0 (Webb, May).[3] There were no special presentations.[3]

  • Public comment [04:45]. Brooks asked people who want to speak to sign the register outside the chamber.[3] Seven people spoke.

- Faith Baker of Rolling Brook Drive said "taking the land and services from VEC" looks "greedy," asked the council to "stop taking our land from us," and said residents are "looking into the legalities of the Ponderosa annex."[4] She later read a statement written by someone else, which asked the city to show the boundary that makes the Wright Brothers' 385.58-acre tract contiguous to Cleveland for annexation, to explain the legal basis for the 2024 Ponderosa annexation, and to release notice records.[13] - Misty Parks said Brooks told her outside the Municipal Building to take writing about the Epstein files off her van windows, and said she was "disappointed" in his comments.[5] After Brooks asked whether her comments had to concern the city, he called a 10-minute recess and asked City Manager Joe Fivas and City Attorney John Kimball to meet him in his office.[6] - When the council returned, Brooks said that on the city attorney's advice, the city charter allows him to limit comments to three minutes and to matters on the agenda or under the council's jurisdiction, and to stop comments that are not.[7] Parks resumed. She spoke about data centers, campaign money and national political figures, and used profanity.[8] Webb then called the session back to order.[9] - Abby Nelson of Wilcox Circle SW said she found errors in Ordinance 2024-10 for Westland Ridge Estates (PUD 42) and possibly in about six other ordinances, and asked the council to look into them. Webb asked her to put the concerns in writing with documentation.[10] - Mike Allen of Dry Valley Road in Charleston said, "Just because something is legal... does not make it necessarily moral," and asked the council to remember people living near Project River and Project MidSpan.[11] - Danette Hedrick asked for "a moratorium on all data center development, biomass development, and any large-scale industrial development."[12] - A speaker who did not give a name asked people on all sides of the debates to "act mature" and get along.[14]

  • Consent agenda [29:10]. Passed 7-0 (May, Estes).[15] It included final passage of:

- Zoning Ordinance 2026-41, about 33 acres on Wilkinson Road from RA Residential Agricultural to PUD 32 (Lake Mantooth).[1] - Ordinance 2026-42, adding "tea rooms" as a conditional use and defining "tearoom."[1] - Zoning Ordinance 2026-43, about 0.26 acres on Central Avenue NE from CH Highway Commercial to UMUC Urban Mixed Use Corridor (Andre Richardson).[1] - Zoning Ordinance 2026-44, about 18 acres at Creekside Place from FAR to R-1 Single-Family Residential (James and Della Lowe; Lakewood Phase V).[1] - Zoning Ordinance 2026-45, about 11.25 acres on New Murraytown Road from R-1 to PUD 78 (New Prospect Cumberland Presbyterian Church).[1] - It also included Resolution 2026-91, a contract extension with Icon Air & Mechanical for HVAC service; Resolution 2026-92, Amendment 8 with TDOT extending the Gaut Street sidewalk project; a surplus property declaration; and the appointment of Robert Thompson to the Health and Education Facilities Board and the City Industrial Development Board, each for a term ending July 27, 2032.[1]

  • Council reports [29:36]:

- Councilman Bill Estes thanked city staff and the police for Halloween and asked Kimball what is acceptable at the podium.[17] Kimball said a speaker can be stopped for profanity, that public comment covers items on the agenda and matters within the council's jurisdiction, and that the council could adopt specific rules. He said Cleveland "has always had very open public comment," unlike bodies that require speakers to sign up in advance, and that state law allows "reasonable rules."[18] Estes said he hoped the day "was a one-off" and did not want to adopt rules yet.[19] - Councilman Duane Goff praised the Tinsley Park reopening and a 5K, and asked about Greenway Park striping and adding parking at the Mohawk trailhead. Fivas said wetlands near the trailhead could require state permits to expand it.[20] - Webb praised Tinsley Park and its new sign, thanked staff working on a codes problem at 2501 Highland Drive NE, and asked about a sweep of small political signs. Fivas said the sweeps usually happen the first week of the month.[21] Webb wished residents a happy Thanksgiving, since the council will not meet again before then.[21] - Councilman Dan Moore, Councilwoman Hiawatha Brown, Councilman Tom Cassada and Councilman David May had nothing to report.[16]

  • Ordinance 2026-46 [40:58], amending Municipal Code Title 4, Chapter 2, on the occupational safety and health program. Estes moved and May seconded, and Webb asked the clerk to call the roll. The roll call is not audible on the video.[22]
  • North Lee Highway traffic signal [42:03], added under new business. May moved to fund a traffic signal on North Lee Highway at Sequoia, near North Lee Elementary, and commended the sheriff and the county for their work on the traffic problem.[23] Estes asked that the intersection redesign, with turn lanes, be studied as well, and Fivas said designs for the neighborhood being built across the street would come in the next couple of weeks. At Webb's request, May and Estes agreed that the funding be set up so the city can be reimbursed through the TIF agreement. It passed 7-0 (May, Estes).[23]
  • Announcements [45:06]: city offices closed November 11 for Veterans Day; the November 23 and December 28 council meetings are canceled; the next meeting is Monday, December 14; offices closed November 26-27, December 23-25, December 31 and January 1.[24][1]

Decisions

1. Minutes of October 26, 2026: passed 7-0 (Webb, May).[3] 2. Consent agenda, items 8a-8j: passed 7-0 (May, Estes).[15] 3. Ordinance 2026-46, occupational safety and health program: roll call not audible on the video (Estes, May).[22] 4. Fund the North Lee Highway traffic signal, with the intersection redesign studied and TIF reimbursement: passed 7-0 (May, Estes).[23]

Sources

  1. City of Cleveland, City Council agendas, November 9, 2026 (work session 1 p.m.; regular session 3 p.m.). https://www.clevelandtn.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11092026-881 ↩
  2. Meeting video, 02:16 to 04:04. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=136 ↩
  3. Meeting video, 04:04 to 05:26. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=244 ↩
  4. Meeting video, 05:43 to 07:20. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=343 ↩
  5. Meeting video, 07:44 to 09:43. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=464 ↩
  6. Meeting video, 09:43 to 10:15. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=583 ↩
  7. Meeting video, 13:08 to 14:04. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=788 ↩
  8. Meeting video, 14:04 to 18:41. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=844 ↩
  9. Meeting video, 18:41 to 19:08. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=1121 ↩
  10. Meeting video, 19:08 to 22:21. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=1148 ↩
  11. Meeting video, 22:21 to 23:13. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=1341 ↩
  12. Meeting video, 23:13 to 23:40. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=1393 ↩
  13. Meeting video, 23:55 to 28:07. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=1435 ↩
  14. Meeting video, 28:07 to 28:50. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=1687 ↩
  15. Meeting video, 28:50 to 29:36. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=1730 ↩
  16. Meeting video, 29:36 to 29:57 and 35:50 to 35:58. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=1776 ↩
  17. Meeting video, 29:57 to 31:03. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=1797 ↩
  18. Meeting video, 31:03 to 34:59. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=1863 ↩
  19. Meeting video, 34:59 to 35:50. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=2099 ↩
  20. Meeting video, 35:58 to 39:07. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=2158 ↩
  21. Meeting video, 39:10 to 40:48. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=2350 ↩
  22. Meeting video, 40:58 to 42:03. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=2458 ↩
  23. Meeting video, 42:03 to 45:06. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=2523 ↩
  24. Meeting video, 45:06 to 46:00. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=2706 ↩

Highlights

Full report

CLEVELAND, Tenn. The Cleveland City Council voted 7-0 on November 9 to fund a traffic signal on North Lee Highway at Sequoia, near North Lee Elementary, with the intersection's redesign to be studied and the cost set up for reimbursement through the area's TIF agreement.[2] The council also gave final passage, 7-0, to five zoning and land-use ordinances on its consent agenda.[3][1]

Councilman David May made the motion and commended the sheriff and the county for their work on traffic at the school. Councilman Bill Estes asked that turn lanes and the rest of the intersection be studied, and City Manager Joe Fivas said designs for the neighborhood being built across the street would come within a couple of weeks.[2]

Recess during public comment

Seven people spoke during public comment.[4][5] Misty Parks said Mayor Kevin Brooks had told her outside the Municipal Building to take writing about the Epstein files off her van windows. When Brooks asked whether her comments had to concern the city, he called a 10-minute recess and asked Fivas and City Attorney John Kimball to meet him in his office.[6][7]

After the recess, Brooks said the city charter allows him to limit comments to three minutes and to matters on the agenda or within the council's jurisdiction.[8] Parks resumed and used profanity, and Vice Mayor Ken Webb called the session back to order and presided for the rest of the meeting.[9][10]

Later, Kimball told the council that a speaker can be stopped for profanity and that the council could adopt more specific rules, but that Cleveland "has always had very open public comment."[11] Estes said he hoped the day "was a one-off."[12]

Other speakers asked for a moratorium on data center and biomass development, questioned the legal basis of the Ponderosa annexation and the proposed Wright Brothers annexation, and asked the council to review possible errors in older ordinances.[13][14][15]

Other business

The consent agenda included final passage of Zoning Ordinances 2026-41, 2026-43, 2026-44 and 2026-45 and Ordinance 2026-42, which adds tea rooms as a conditional use.[1] Ordinance 2026-46, on the city's occupational safety and health program, was moved and seconded, but its roll call is not audible on the meeting video.[16]

The November 23 and December 28 meetings are canceled. The council next meets Monday, December 14.[17]

Sources

  1. City of Cleveland, City Council agendas, November 9, 2026. https://www.clevelandtn.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11092026-881 ↩
  2. Meeting video, 42:03 to 45:06. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=2523 ↩
  3. Meeting video, 28:50 to 29:36. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=1730 ↩
  4. Meeting video, 04:04 to 05:26. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=244 ↩
  5. Meeting video, 28:07 to 28:50. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=1687 ↩
  6. Meeting video, 07:44 to 09:43. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=464 ↩
  7. Meeting video, 09:43 to 10:15. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=583 ↩
  8. Meeting video, 13:08 to 14:04. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=788 ↩
  9. Meeting video, 14:04 to 18:41. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=844 ↩
  10. Meeting video, 18:41 to 19:08. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=1121 ↩
  11. Meeting video, 31:03 to 34:59. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=1863 ↩
  12. Meeting video, 34:59 to 35:50. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=2099 ↩
  13. Meeting video, 23:13 to 23:40. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=1393 ↩
  14. Meeting video, 23:55 to 28:07. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=1435 ↩
  15. Meeting video, 19:08 to 22:21. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=1148 ↩
  16. Meeting video, 40:58 to 42:03. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=2458 ↩
  17. Meeting video, 45:06 to 46:00. https://youtu.be/9UL5gsryCcE?t=2706 ↩