Marriage licenses are handled by the Cuyahoga County Probate Court's Marriage License Department, more information can be found here.
1234. Where can I find general information regarding assistance from agencies such as the Red Cross or Children's Services?
Several programs and links to many services are listed in the City's website under the Community Tab here
1235. I have a problem with the Cleveland Board of Education and can't resolve it with them. Who do I speak with in the Mayor's Office?
Please contact the Chief of Education at 216.664.2222.
1245. My mother doesn't speak English. If she needs to call the City, who does she call?
The Mayor's Office of Communications at 216.664.2220.
1252. How do I register to vote?
There are several ways to register, and you can get the full details- including a registration card- from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections website here.
1253. What are the hours of operation for City Hall?
Please contact the Mayor's Office of Communications at 216.664.2220 to obtain a photograph of the Mayor.
1329. Can I get a copy of a photograph that was taken of me with the Mayor, or that I have seen on the City's website?
Please contact the City of Cleveland's Photograhic Bureau at 216.664.2547.
1331. Who is in charge if the Mayor is unavailable?
The Chief of Staff is in charge of the Mayor's Office when the mayor is unavailable, and you can find more information here.
1333. Who answers questions about education in the Mayor's Office?
Questions about education can be answered by the Chief of Education, who can be reached by phone at 216.664.2222. You can find additional information here.
1335. What has the Mayor done to save money for the City of Cleveland?
Please read this letter from Mayor Frank G. Jackson regarding the cost saving measures taken by the City of Cleveland.
249. My friends and I would like to have a group tour of City Hall. Is that possible?
Yes. Please call the Mayor's Office of Communications at 216.664.2220 to make arrangements.
101. What is the purpose of Mayor Jackson's Operations Efficiency Task Force?
The Operations Efficiency Task Force is seeking to create a new model for the way city government operates.
5. Is any internet service provider safer than the others?
Sex offenders have contacted children through most of the major on-line services and the Internet. The most important factors in keeping your child safe on-line are the utilization of appropriate blocking software and/or parental controls, along with open, honest discussions with your child, and monitoring his/her on-line activity.
133. What are the signs that my child might be at-risk online?
Your child spends large amounts of time on-line, especially at night.
Children on-line are at the greatest risk during the evening hours. While offenders are on-line around the clock, most work during the day and spend their evenings on-line trying to locate and lure children or seeking pornography.
Your child receives phone calls from men you don't know or is making calls, sometimes long distance, to numbers you don't recognize.
While talking to a child victim on-line is a thrill for a computer-sex offender, it can be very cumbersome. Most want to talk to the children on the telephone. They often engage in "phone sex" with the children and often seek to set up an actual meeting for real sex.
While a child may be hesitant to give out his/her home phone number, the computer-sex offenders will give out theirs. With Caller ID, they can readily find out the child's phone number. Some computer-sex offenders have even obtained toll-free 800 numbers, so that their potential victims can call them without their parents finding out.
Your child receives mail, gifts, or packages from someone you don't know.
As part of the seduction process, it is common for offenders to send letters, photographs, and all manner of gifts to their potential victims. Computer-sex offenders have even sent plane tickets in order for the child to travel across the country to meet them.
Your child turns the computer monitor off or quickly changes the screen on the monitor when you come into the room.
A child looking at pornographic images or having sexually explicit conversations does not want you to see it on the screen.
Your child becomes withdrawn from the family.
Computer-sex offenders will work very hard at driving a wedge between a child and their family or at exploiting their relationship. They will accentuate any minor problems at home that the child might have. Children may also become withdrawn after sexual victimization.
Your child is using an on-line account belonging to someone else.
Even if you don't subscribe to an on-line service or Internet service, your child may meet an offender while on-line at a friend's house or the library. Most computers come preloaded with on-line and/or Internet software. Computer-sex offenders will sometimes provide potential victims with a computer account for communications with them.
102. Why is there a need for an Operations Efficiency Task Force?
Because of the City's current economy, government must find new and better ways of providing the best possible services to the citizens of Cleveland. Mayor Jackson's goals for the Operations Efficiency Task Force are to:
Achieve and maintain financial stability
Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of key city services
Develop a "Customer Service Focus"
250. What does the Mayor’s Action Center do?
This center can connect you with city services, answer your general questions, and work with you to resolve your complaints. You can find more information here.
251. How do I contact the Mayor's Action Center?
Email or call the Mayor’s Action Center at 216-664-2900 with general questions, comments or service requests.
103. What will be the focus of the Operations Efficiency Task Force?
The project will focus on improving services across the entire City in stages. Stage One will target four departments that provide direct services. These departments are Public Service, Parks, Recreation and Properties, Public Health and Building and Housing and they are the first being targeted because:
They have already started to look at "how work gets done" in and between their departments
They represent services with significant cost savings potential
They work directly with the public on a daily basis
They are already looking at how to save costs
During Stage One, the Task Force will examine how to save money by examining four core processes:
Information Technology, or the City's computers
Purchasing of services and products
Human Resources and Personnel
Customer Service
134. What can I do to minimize online danger to my child?
Talk to your child about potential on-line danger. Spend time with your children on-line. Learn their favorite on-line destinations.
Keep the computer in a common room. It is more difficult for an offender to communicate with a child when the computer is visible to others.
Use parental controls provided by your service provider and/or blocking software. Monitor your child’s chat rooms especially..
Maintain access to your child's on-line account and randomly check his/her e-mail and anything your child gets through US mail. Be up-front with your child about the reasons why..
Teach your child the responsible use of the resources on-line.
Find out what computer safeguards are utilized by your child's school, the public library, and at the homes of your child's friends..
Understand, even if your child was a willing participant in any form of exploitation, that he/she is not at fault; he/she is the victim. The offender always bears the complete responsibility..
104. What Are the Intended Outcomes of the Task Force?
The group intends to achieve the following:
Reduce Operating Costs by at Least 3% by December 2006
Enhance City Services by Establishing Performance Indicators and Targets;
Increase Employee Productivity with Better Use of Technology; and
Improve Customer Service to our External and Internal Customers.
252. If I call the Action Center with a complaint, what happens from there?
The Mayor’s Action Center informs the City Department of your complaint so they can work to resolve your issue. You receive a written notice informing you of the outcome
253. How can I let City Hall know about what a good job one of its employees is doing for me?
Email or call the Mayor’s Action Center at 216-664-2900
105. How Will the Task Force be Structured?
Oversight of this initiative will occur through the creation of an Operations Efficiency Council (Task Force), which will be chaired by Darnell Brown, Chief Operating Officer. The various subject related work groups will be established and will consist of employees, community leaders and subject matter experts. The work of the Task Force will be facilitated by the creation of a Program Management Office (PMO). The PMO will be responsible for the day to day operations of the project and will develop and implement all standard operating procedures and processes to ensure the initiative is effectively managed.
86. My child has received on e-mail advertising for a pornographic web site, what should I do?
Advertising for a pornographic site that is sent to an e-mail address does not violate federal law or the current laws of most states. It can be reported to your internet service provider and, if known, the service provider of the person who sent the e-mail. It can also be reported to your state and federal legislators, so they can be made aware of the extent of the problem. For more information on current Ohio laws, visit http://www.findlaw.com/
136. What should I do if I suspect a predator has contacted my child on-line?
Consider talking openly with your child about your suspicions
Review what is on your child's computer. If you don't know how, ask someone for help.
Use the Caller ID service to determine who is calling your child
Phone companies offer a service that allows people to block their phone number from appearing on someone else's Caller ID. They also offer a service that rejects blocked phone calls. This prevents computer-sex offenders or anyone else from calling your home anonymously.
Devices can be purchased that show telephone numbers that have been dialed from your home phone
The last number called from your home phone can be retrieved, provided that the phone is equipped with a redial feature. You will also need a phone pager to complete this retrieval. This is done using a numeric-display pager and another phone that is on the some line as the phone with the redial feature. Using the two phones and the pager, a call is placed from the second phone to the pager. When the paging terminal beeps for you to enter a telephone number, you press the redial button on the first (or suspect) phone. The lost number called from that phone will then be displayed on the pager.
Monitor your child's access to all types of live electronic communications (i.e., chat rooms instant messages, Internet Relay Chat, etc.), and monitor your child's e-mail. Computer-sex offenders almost always meet potential victims via chat rooms. After meeting a child on-line, they will continue to communicate electronically often via e-mail.
106. How Long Will the Task Force Process Last?
The Operations Efficiency Task Force will operate throughout 2006 (Stage 1) and 2007 (Stage 2) to achieve sustained cost reductions beginning in January 2007. The 2007, the operating budgets for all departments are expected to reflect a 3% continuous cost savings. The cost savings will be obtained as a result of implementing projected operational efficiencies wherever and whenever feasible.
254. I have a question about a news advisory that was issued by the Mayor. Who can I speak with?
Email or call the Mayor’s Office of Communications at 216-664-2220 regarding News Releases or Advisories.
255. What is a proclamation?
Proclamations are ceremonial documents signed by the Mayor and issued for public awareness, charitable fundraising campaigns, arts and cultural celebrations, and special honors by recommendation of the Mayor. Proclamations are not issued for matters of political controversy, ideological or religious beliefs, or individual conviction; events or organizations with no direct relationship to the City of Cleveland; or campaigns or events contrary to City policies.
107. What Level of Participation is Expected from City Departments?
Each department is expected to:
With the assistance provided by the Operations Efficiency Task Force, identify opportunities to improve efficiencies and work practices.
With the help of skilled and knowledgeable employees, participate with members of the Operations Task Force to recommend changes to the methods in which work is performed and will result in effective and efficient work practices we believe will result in improved customer service and operational savings
Adhere to the standardized project management, policies and procedures implemented through the Program Management Office (PMO)
Quantify performance improvement measures and targets so there can be an effective determination of the quality of the job performance and a clear accountability for results.
137. My child has been in contact with an online predator. What should I do?
If anyone in your house receives child pornography via the Internet, or if your child has been sexually solicited, you should immediately contact the police at 216.621.1234, the FBI at 216.522.1400, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Cyber Tipline at 1.800.843.5678. Keep the computer turned off in order to preserve evidence for law enforcement use. Unless directed to do so by the police or FBI, you should not attempt to copy any of the images and/or text found on the computer.
87. Should I just forbid my child from going on-line?
There are dangers in every part of our society. By educating your children and taking steps to protect them, they can benefit from the wealth of information now available on-line. Further information on protecting your child on-line may be found in the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Cyber Tipline at 1-800-843-5678, www.cybertipline.com.
108. Why is the Operations Efficiency Task Force process important?
This process will enable city government to establish a culture that is "Customer Service Focused", which will:
Improve Customer Satisfaction.
Challenge the "Status Quo" by developing new and effective work practices
Constantly strengthen internal work processes
Increase Customer Service (Both internal and external customers)
Achieve and maintain Financial Stability
256. How many proclamations can my organization request?
An organization may request only one proclamation annually
257. I don’t think we meet the criteria. What if our request gets turned down?
A Certificate of Recognition or Congratulatory letter is an alternative
109. How Will Collective Bargaining Units be Engaged?
Collective bargaining units directly affected by the Stage 1 core process evaluations have already been invited to meet with Chief Operating Officer Darnell Brown. As the remaining CBU's become directly impacted by the evaluative process, they will also be given the opportunity to discuss issues and concerns with Chief Brown.
110. Is Outsourcing Being Considered as an Option?
The Task Force will examine all possible efficiency opportunities. This may, in some instances, mean evaluating whether the City should provide a certain service, or contract with an agency to do so. It also may include an evaluation to determine whether the City could more efficiently perform services that it currently contracts to private agencies.
258. Who can make a proclamation request?
The request must be made by a City of Cleveland resident.
259. Can a proclamation be made up for an individual?
Proclamations are reserved for organizations, events or for an issue that affects a group of people. To receive recognition for an individual, you may request a certificate or letter appropriate to the event or circumstances.
111. Will There be a Training Component to the OETF Project?
Yes, employee training will be included in the OETF project. The key to the success of the OETF is in the sustainability of its improvements. Without training, sustainability is not possible.
260. How should a proclamation request be made?
Requests must be made in writing and can be mailed (Attn: Dave Gallagher, Mayor’s Office of Communications, City Hall Room 227, 601 Lakeside Ave, Cleveland, OH 44114 Direct requests via email to dgallagher@city.cleveland.oh.us or facsimile to 216-420-8758. If you have questions or need to verify receipt of request (via mail or fax) please contact Dave Gallagher at 216-420-7606. If mailed or faxed, please call to make sure it has been received.
261. How far in advance should I send my proclamation request?
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Requests should be made at least ten business days in advance of the date it is needed. The exception to this rule is condolence requests- these should be made as soon as possible after a person’s passing
262. What must the proclamation request include?
The contact person's first and last name, address, and telephone number.
A brief summary and/or background of the event or organization.
The name and date (s) of the day, week, month or event to be proclaimed.
Draft text for the proclamation, including 4-6 "whereas" clauses.
An indication of whether the proclamation should be mailed or will be picked up and the date.
A date when the proclamation is needed.
283. How long does the City hold on to its records?
The City of Cleveland record retention schedule can be found here.
284. What is the City of Cleveland's Public Record Policy and what types of records are included in this policy?
Click here to read the Policy. Any records (on paper or electronically, including emails) which have been created or received by a public servant or office in charge of documenting information. Routine requests include police incident reports and building and violation notices and permits.
285. Do I have to fill out the request form for a public request?
The form is available to help you make your request, but it is not required. You do not have to put your request in writing, provide your identity, or provide the intended use of the requested public record. However, you may be asked for your identity or your intended use of information, for example, so that your request may be delivered to you or so that the records custodian can best assist you. In addition, public records are generally available for inspection during the normal operating hours of the City department, division, or office.
286. Is there a fee for copies of the records?
The City may charge for the actual cost of making copies of records. The City’s current costs are as follows:
5 cents per page of paper copy $2.50 per video tape
$1.00 per diskette $1.00 per 5x7 photograph
$2.50 per compact disc $2.00 per 8x10 photograph
$2.00 per audio tape
If an outside duplication service is requested, all charges from the service are passed on to the requestor.
287. Can my request be denied?
Yes. Your request will be denied if the records you ask for are exempt from disclosure according to the Ohio Revised Code. Your request may also be denied if the City feels your request is too vague or broad-based. In the event your request is denied, you will receive an explanation and the opportunity to revise and resubmit your request.
Click here to see the Frequently Asked Questions from other City Departments.
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