Council approves ORD 33-2025: 2026 city budget appropriations, 7–0

Sets the city's appropriations for current expenses and other spending for fiscal year 2026, with the sums in attached Exhibits A and B. Existing encumbrances are carried forward. This is the substitute version of the ordinance. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to adopt S. Ordinance 33-2025A, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

Next: listed on the Committee of the Whole agenda for Feb 23. agenda 02.23

Authorizes the Mayor, listed directors or the Procurement Officer to enter into professional services contracts and to bid and buy supplies, services and equipment as authorized by the 2026 Appropriation Ordinance, with the lowest and best bidder or as otherwise provided by law. It lists professional services contracts totaling $3,563,000 and service contracts including $10,000,000 for hospitalization and health care benefit services. This redlined 2026 amendment shows changes to the communications services, advertising and printing lines. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to adopt Ordinance 34-2025A, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

Authorizes the Mayor to accept Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council grants: $159,719 for the 2025 Energized Community Grant and $3,500 for community event sponsorship. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to adopt Resolution 2026-07, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

Authorizes the Mayor, listed directors or the Procurement Officer to enter into service contracts for the Department of Planning & Development up to listed amounts without a separate Council resolution. Line items include $1,500,000 for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, $900,000 for the Street Resurfacing Program, $210,000 for pedestrian and bike safety improvements and $50,000 for a composting program. The redlined 2026 amendment shows changes to the service contracts total and to the LakewoodAlive and Public Art Projects lines. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by Vice President Baker to amend the language in Section One to add “and/or” before “Procurement Officer.” All members voted in favor. Motion made by Vice President Baker to amend the language in Section Two to strike the officials listed and add “Mayor, Director of Law, Director of Finance, Director of Public Works, Director of Planning and Development, Director of Human Resources and/or the Procurement Officer.” All members voted in favor. Motion made by President Kepple to adopt S.” minutes ▶ video

Sets job classifications, pay grades and pay ranges for full-time and certain part-time city employees not covered by a union contract, including the fire chief, police chief and Civil Service commissioners, and replaces all prior salary ordinances. It lists ranges such as $95,289 to $145,088 for the City Architect and City Engineer, and license and certification pay supplements. The ordinance is written to take effect January 1, 2026 if it receives a two-thirds vote of Council. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to adopt Ordinance 37-2025A, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

Authorizes the Director of Finance to make the first-quarter 2026 transfers and advances between city funds listed in the ordinance. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to adopt Ordinance 04-2026, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

Authorizes the Director of Finance to enter into lease-purchase agreements of up to $2,375,000, at no more than 8% annual interest and for terms of no more than 20 years. The equipment listed includes a fire medical squad ($385,000), a fire special operations truck ($600,000), five police vehicles ($420,000), a refuse packer truck, a salt truck and two sewer vehicles. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to adopt Ordinance 05-2026, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

Joins Cleveland in opposing bills in the Ohio General Assembly, including House Bills 26 and 42, that the resolution says would empower Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It says HB 26 bars local sanctuary policies and HB 42 requires collecting citizenship and immigration status data. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to adopt Resolution 2026-04, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

Recognizes the city's crossing guards for keeping schoolchildren, pedestrians and drivers safe in a walking school district. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President to adopt Resolution 2026-05, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

Urges state government to allow community energy projects in Ohio, such as shared solar, so families and small businesses can lower electricity costs. It cites a 26 percent rise in Ohio electricity bills in June 2025. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to adopt Resolution 2026-06, seconded by Vice President Baker. Motion made by Councilmember Bullock to amend by striking the language “high housing costs” and replace it with “high energy costs,” seconded by President Kepple.” minutes ▶ video

Amends the city's weeds code to create a right for property owners to install and maintain a "Managed Natural Landscape" (such as rain gardens, meadow vegetation and ornamental plants) in front yards, free of noxious weeds. These landscapes are excluded from the six-inch tall-grass limit, and on corner lots they must be set back at least 2 feet from the public right-of-way and side property line. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to defer.” minutes ▶ video

Next: listed on the Housing, Planning, & Development Committee agenda for Mar 9. agenda 03.09

Enacts Section 129.65, creating a Host Community Cannabis Fund to guide how the city uses its share of state cannabis tax revenue. The ordinance says Lakewood expected 3.6 percent of the state's 10 percent tax on cannabis sales in the city. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to defer Ordinance 15-2026, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

Next: listed on the City Council agenda for Mar 2. agenda 03.02

Places a Charter amendment before Lakewood voters that would change how often the Civil Service Commission reviews the salaries of elected officials. The document cites a Friday, September 4, 2026 deadline for submitting Charter amendments to the County Board of Elections. pdf Written by AI

Next: listed on the City Council agenda for Mar 2. agenda 03.02

Places a Charter amendment before Lakewood voters that would add requirements to the process Council uses to appoint a new member to fill a vacancy, setting that open process in the Charter. pdf Written by AI

Next: listed on the City Council agenda for Mar 2. agenda 03.02

Places a Charter amendment before Lakewood voters that would change how legislation is amended, removing the requirement that an entire ordinance or resolution be repealed and re-enacted to change it. pdf Written by AI

Next: listed on the City Council agenda for Mar 2. agenda 03.02

Places a Charter amendment before Lakewood voters that would set a process and requirement for redrawing ward boundaries, with periodic redistricting where necessary. pdf Written by AI

Next: listed on the City Council agenda for Mar 2. agenda 03.02

Places a Charter amendment before Lakewood voters that would clarify the different ways the City Charter can be amended. pdf Written by AI

Next: listed on the City Council agenda for Mar 2. agenda 03.02

Places a Charter amendment before Lakewood voters that would give Council the option of implementing ranked choice voting. pdf p. 13 Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to refer items 18-23 to Committee of the Whole, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

Next: listed on the City Council agenda for Mar 2. agenda 03.02

Council President Sarah Kepple asks Council to oppose legislation in the Ohio General Assembly that she says would empower Immigration and Customs Enforcement and promote fear and surveillance in communities. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to receive and file the communication, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

Councilmember Thomas Bullock asks Council to pass a resolution recognizing Lakewood's crossing guards, citing the city's goals for safe walking and cycling. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to receive and file the communication, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

Council President Sarah Kepple asks Council to fill the Tree Advisory & Education Board seat that Matt Bixenstine resigned after his appointment to Council. The appointee serves until December 31, 2026. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to receive and file the communication, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

Councilmember Thomas Bullock asks Council to back a resolution supporting state legislation to allow community energy programs in Ohio as a way to lower electricity bills, which he says rose 10 percent or more in 2025. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to receive and file the communication, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

The Planning Department asks Council to accept the 2026 NOPEC Energized Community Grant and a community event sponsorship award. The grant supports building efficiency and decarbonization projects. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to receive and file the communication.” minutes ▶ video

The Planning Department reports support from the Ohio Department of Development's Pipeline grant toward a historic district nomination for Madison Avenue, which can make properties eligible for state historic preservation tax credits. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to receive and file the communication, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

The Planning Department reports a Certified Local Government grant from the State Historic Preservation Office to help fund a historic district nomination for Madison Avenue, from Riverside to Cohassett and Halstead. The city will hire a consultant through a request for proposals. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to receive and file the communication, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video