Written by the reviewer from the ASR + docket; [verbatim-ASR] = quoted machine transcript; [paraphrase] = reviewer's wording, not a quote.
0:00 All right, we'll call Committee of the, or not Committee of the Whole, full council to
0:05 We just did Committee of the Whole.
0:06 If you're able, please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.
0:25 Now pause for a moment of silence.
0:37 Madam Clerk, please call the roll.
0:38 Vice President Payne?
0:41 Councilmember Bixenstein?
0:43 Councilmember Bullock?
0:45 Councilmember Evans?
0:49 Councilmember Hamilton-Steiner?
0:51 Councilmember Striebig?
0:53 I move to approve the regular meeting of council, held January 20th, 2026.
0:57 Move to approve without the necessity of a reading?
1:00 Motion's been made and seconded.
1:06 And that motion passes.
1:09 Without objection, I'd like to move items 24 and 25 to the top.
1:22 The first item is a resolution from Councilmembers Hamilton-Steiner, Keppel, and Striebig regarding resolution to honor Black History Month 2026.
1:32 Councilwoman Hamilton-Steiner?
1:33 Thank you, President Keppel.
1:34 Dear colleagues, Mayor George, and directors, we celebrate and honor Black History Month, which was first started in February 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson as a week-long celebration.
1:46 February was selected due to it being close to President Abraham Lincoln's birthday, the force behind the Emancipation Proclamation, in addition to honoring the birthday of Frederick Douglass.
1:57 We owe much to Kent State University students, whom are responsible for what we now know as the month-long celebration of Black history.
2:05 Black United students, plus, advocated that Black History Week turn into a month-long celebration.
2:12 Through both student advocacy and efforts from campus educators, February 1970 marked the first month-long celebration at Kent State University.
2:21 With continued momentum across the country, President Gerald Ford federally recognized Black History Month in 1976 and encouraged Americans all over to participate in the observance.
2:33 We encourage the community to participate in Black History Month events happening in Lakewood and beyond.
2:39 Take some time to reflect on the many contributions of African-Americans and reflect on and learn not just from the past, but on the present, and look to a positive future for us all together.
2:53 I move to receive and file the communication.
2:56 Thank you, Councilwoman.
2:59 I'll turn it over to Councilmember Stupak.
3:04 I'm proud to join my city council sisters and brothers in recognizing February 2026 as Black History Month here in Lakewood.
3:16 When I think about Black history, I sometimes think about the risks and sacrifices that so many people took just to live.
3:25 Like Harriet Tubman and people both known and unknown that worked the Underground Railroad to escape enslavement and death.
3:36 I sometimes think about the bravery of those that spoke out like Frederick Douglass, the abolitionist and suffrage supporter.
3:45 When I inadvertently stumble upon a lounge dedicated to him at the Imperial Hotel in Cork, Ireland, where I read about a significant speech that he gave there with the support of local anti-slavery societies.
4:00 I sometimes think about the Obama family and their impact on the Black community and our American society.
4:08 The gift they gave us by showing who they are, their values and visions.
4:14 And sometimes I forget about the history that we are creating here at this very moment because it's not far enough away yet in my mind to be history.
4:24 And sitting here next to the very first Black person and Black woman ever to sit on this dais.
4:31 Thank you for your bravery and sacrifice, Councilperson Angelina Hamilton Steiner.
4:37 We are all richer and wiser from your insight, understanding and shared experience.
4:43 Happy Black History Month to you and your family.
4:49 Thank you, Councilmembers.
4:52 You know, I also want to thank Councilman Hamilton Steiner for this thoughtful communication and reminding us of the history with Kent State.
5:03 So as we noted that the original Black History Week was that week was chosen because of the birth dates of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
5:15 But Frederick Douglass didn't actually know his actual birthday.
5:20 So that was his chosen birthday because he was born into slavery and the birthdays of slaves were rarely recorded.
5:28 This type of lost history was what Woodson, Carter G. Woodson, who set up that week and other Black intellectuals worked tirelessly to uncover and share following the Red Summer of 1919,
5:41 a time of intense racial violence that led to the deaths of hundreds of mostly African-American people.
5:47 Woodson believed that increased knowledge of Black history could reduce discrimination and make everyone safer and more unified.
5:54 Those who have studied the Fugitive Slave Acts of 1793 and 1850 will know that they established provisions that allowed slave catchers to enter private property without a warrant violating the Fourth Amendment.
6:07 Slave catchers did not need to provide verified legal papers or due process, which allowed for the kidnapping and enslaving of free people and anyone who interfered in an arrest could be imprisoned.
6:18 It is not difficult to see the parallels between this shameful chapter of American history and what is happening currently in Minnesota and our nation today.
6:26 Deeply unpopular, the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was a critical inflection point for increasing abolitionist sentiment, which led to widespread civil disobedience and ultimately accelerated the end of slavery.
6:41 It was, and then also, as Councilmember Hamilton Steinmer mentioned, the expansion of Black History Month coming in part to the Kent State University's Black United students.
6:56 With, as a Kent State alumni, so that was in the 1970s, and as a Kent State alumni, of course, I can't think of the 1970s on that campus without also reflecting on the four students who were shot by the National Guard.
7:11 And echoes of those shots fired in the face of folks trying to exercise the First Amendment reverberate again today with the recent murders of Renee Good and Alex Petty.
7:24 So, I'm proud to support this resolution, and I encourage all of us in Lakewood to continue to learn from history and continue to use our First Amendment rights and speak out against injustice.
7:38 Councilmember Hamilton Steinmer.
7:41 Thank you, President, and thank you for that history lesson, and to be expected from a librarian. So, I appreciate that.
7:50 So yes, this February marks the 100th anniversary of commemorating Black History Month.
7:56 And yes, it was founded as originally as Negro History Week in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Weston, who himself was history.
8:06 He was only the second African American to earn a PhD from Harvard University.
8:12 And of course, so much of history is change happens through students and through our youth and through our young people and so through that advocacy and work, Kent State University, they were able to have Black History Month.
8:30 They have extended into a month long celebration.
8:34 But Black History Month is not just a time to remember the words of American history on Black in our struggle for liberation, but to understand the rich and deep history of this country and the role and legacy that Blacks have in building this nation, and even our own state in our own community.
8:54 Ohio has a rich history and connections of Black history, and was the first state to grant freedom to slaves through the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.
9:04 From Sojourner Truth and her Ain't I a Woman speech at the Women's Convention in Akron, to the founding of the country's oldest private Black university, Wilberforce University, to the first colored infantry being organized for service at Camp Delaware,
9:20 to John Mercer Langston becoming one of the first African Americans to be elected to public office and becoming the first Black person to win elected office in Ohio.
9:30 Ohio, dare I say, has a long history of Black political leaders from the past to present and certainly our future is bright
9:41 for Black leadership.
9:44 But politics is not only where Black Ohioans have excelled. From enhancing public safety, thank you Garrett Morgan, inventor of the traffic light, to the arts, Toni Morrison, who was the first African American woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature,
10:00 She will also be honored from February 18th, 2026, this year, to February 17th, 2027 by Literary Cleveland. To health sciences and pioneering the field of medicine and psychiatry, Dr. Clotilde Bowen, the first African American woman to graduate from
10:20 the Ohio State University College of Medicine in 1947 and go on to become the first female physician in the United States Army in 1956.
10:31 Black Ohioans from history and present day have made an impact from politics to the arts to health and medicine and beyond.
10:41 Black Ohioans, Black Lakerite, have so much to offer our community and our greater communities, as well as the state, and we all are stronger for it.
10:52 There seems to be a few strong and loud voices and rings of power that won't want to hold on to a shameful and hurtful past.
10:59 Throughout history and throughout time, Blacks have continued to persist and persevere.
11:06 We will continue to be here, present, giving, and sometimes sacrificing for not just ourselves, but for our collective community, our shared community, and for the sake of humanity.
11:24 Any other council members? Councilman Bowen.
11:27 Thank you, Madam President. Thank you for the thoughtful resolution and really thoughtful history insights and social insights from my colleagues tonight.
11:36 I'm happy to support the resolution and encourage us all to continue doing what we can to be a source of fairness and justice to all people.
11:47 I do take the point that today it does seem that not accepting, but rather intimidating our neighbors seems to be the way of too many people in America, and that to me is quite backwards to put it mildly.
12:07 So, thank you to everyone here for doing what, taking this step at least, to lead ourselves in the right direction.
12:21 Council members, Councilman Evans.
12:26 Just last week we saw Black history literally being erased in Philadelphia.
12:32 I'm proud to stand with my colleagues here today to celebrate Black History Month, and I know being up here, but all of us, we'd never allow that kind of thing to happen in Lakewood.
12:42 I'm proud of that. I'm proud to be a part of that. So thank you for everybody and all the things we've done.
12:50 Councilmember Pixinsine.
12:52 Just to echo my colleagues, thank you for doing this. Thank you for breaking a barrier. Thank you for the history lesson you provide today. It's a reminder that I need to study up on my own knowledge of Black History Month, and I'm going to take the time to do that.
13:07 But I really appreciate you, my council colleagues, bringing this resolution before us today.
13:15 Vice President Baker.
13:16 Yeah, I have to speak. So thank you, and I'll say Garrett Morgan also invented the gas mask, as well as the Garrett Morgan water intake, so his history is all around town, and he's just, so thank you for that, and I'm happy to support this.
13:32 And his granddaughter is now the mayor of East Cleveland, so.
13:37 Cool, too. Yeah. All right. So, anyway, with that, any further comments from council members? I see we have members of the public signed in to speak.
13:49 Let's go ahead and we have a motion to receive and file this communication, then we'll move on to the resolution. So, on the motion to receive and file the communication, all those in favor.
13:58 Aye. And that motion passes.
14:01 Item 25 resolution 2020602 a resolution to join with states municipalities and other jurisdictions around the country to designate February 2026 as Black History Month in the city of Lakewood, Ohio by celebrating African American culture and paying tribute to the contribution
14:21 Motion has been made and seconded.
14:24 We've had some discussion on this topic already but further discussion from council members.
14:29 All right, I'll invite folks to speak when I call your name come up to the microphone it's already on so you don't have to push anything. You'll have up to five minutes and you can address the chair that's me.
14:40 And first up is Shirley Nelson.
14:49 Hello, Madam Chair, and city council members, thank you for the opportunity to speak on Black History Month.
14:58 I am Shirley Nelson president of Lakewood Black Caucus.
15:04 And this particular Black History Month is so important because I'm so grieved about what's going on in our country and how this current regime is trying to erase us off the face of the earth.
15:20 If there's ever a time to celebrate blackness in any form, this is the time to do it, but especially Black History Month.
15:34 Lakewood Caucus is a black black grassroots organization that was founded in 2021 by Patricia Wellborn, who passed the baton to me when she died in 2024.
15:50 Our prior was to educate, to continue a movement to help not just black people understand their history, but everybody in this community and the whole wide world, but we focus on this community.
16:08 The mission of Lakewood Black Caucus is to educate, advocate, collaborate, and rejuvenate.
16:17 We educate ourselves and the Lakewood community by creating brave spaces to present and discuss issues that pertain to societal injustices and ways that we can heal individually and collectively.
16:36 We advocate for justice and we stand for freedom and liberation for black people in the face of historical oppression.
16:47 We collaborate with organizations in Lakewood and the surrounding areas to raise the awareness of black issues.
16:57 Our community partners are Lakewood Presbyterian Church, Racial Equity Buddies in Cleveland Heights, Black Lives Matter, and West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church, both in Rocky River, and New Era and the Love Project movement, both in Cleveland.
17:22 We rejuvenate by providing programs that are not only mentally and spiritually stimulating, but also known to be soul nourishing and extremely uplifting and joyful.
17:38 Our Black History Month programs this year are on February 21st and February 28 at West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church, and I brought some flyers to hand out.
17:52 So please join us in celebrating Black History Month by attending our programs.
17:59 I invite you to see just how much you can learn about black contributions to the world and share what you learn with your family and friends.
18:10 I so appreciate the history that was just shared in this past 10 to 15 minutes by each of you and the resolution that has been passed.
18:23 I'll leave you with this quote by Carter G. Woodson, Father of Black History Month.
18:31 We have a wonderful history behind us.
18:34 If you are unable to demonstrate to the world that you have this record, the world will say to you, you are not worthy to enjoy the blessings of democracy or anything else.
18:57 I attended the Black Caucuses Black History Month celebration last year and it was excellent.
19:03 So look forward to it again.
19:05 And next we have April Stoltz.
19:15 Good evening, everyone.
19:17 President Keppel and my fellow council members.
19:20 I was not planning on speaking tonight, but I was asked to consider doing it.
19:24 I'd like to actually speak as a white person around this motion, around this resolution.
19:32 We all need to know each other's history.
19:34 I mean, that's not just some little academic thing, right?
19:38 So let me just share my personal story.
19:40 I am a product of the public schools of Flint, Michigan.
19:43 All my schools that I attended were deeply integrated from kindergarten through high school.
19:49 But it wasn't until the black power movement created a demand that black history be taught.
20:00 In 1971, Flint, Michigan decided to teach Harlem Renaissance at my high school.
20:05 And I was able to take that, right?
20:07 And I had always gone to school, like I said, with black students.
20:11 They were in my college prep classes.
20:13 But it wasn't until I got into that class where we actually talked not just about the history,
20:20 but had discussions on Friday.
20:23 And let me just as a sidebar tell you that a class of 40 turned into 80.
20:27 Because this became a place where the black students in my high school knew they could come
20:32 and talk about what was going on in the world.
20:34 And the fact that there were about three or four white folks in the room, it didn't matter.
20:38 It was their class.
20:40 It cracked me open and it educated me.
20:43 And it really has so much to do with why I'm an activist today.
20:48 And I just want to make the connections, the historical connections for women in the room.
20:53 It was the civil rights movement that gave us the, you know, women's liberation.
20:59 It was the abolitionist movement that gave us the suffragist movement.
21:05 It's always been black folks fighting for the rights that has created a movement for other folks getting rights.
21:13 And just knowing this stuff, especially in this moment when it's being denied, in so many ways.
21:20 So one, thank you so much for bringing it up.
21:23 It seems like you're all going to support it.
21:27 But it's, you know, I want to take it out of just the niceness of a resolution
21:32 and really bring it to where we're at now.
21:35 You know, this is not just passing a resolution.
21:37 Actually, this is an act of resistance.
21:40 And that's important because nobody has the right to erase any of our stories, any of our stories.
21:47 And the black community and many communities of color and women are really under attack right now in so many ways.
21:56 Thank you for supporting it.
21:59 And what I'm trying to say is this this affects all of us.
22:02 It impacts all of us.
22:03 We're all connected to it.
22:05 It's not just like their history.
22:07 It's all of our history.
22:09 So thank you so much.
22:10 And I don't know what else to say.
22:12 But thanks for giving me time.
22:16 Did anyone else want to speak on this?
22:18 Those are the only people I'd signed in.
22:22 If not, then we have after we presumably pass this based on everyone's comments, we'll do a picture down front.
22:33 So I invite folks to come up and join in on that picture.
22:36 And we do have a ceremonial copy of the resolution to present to you, Shirley.
22:43 So with that, we have a motion and a second to adopt Resolution 2026-02.
22:49 All those in favor?
22:51 And that motion passes.
22:53 We'll come down front.
24:35 Item one, report from Committee of the Whole held January 20th, 2026.
25:05 Oh, colleagues, tonight.
25:08 Oh, no, this is the 20th.
25:16 Sorry, I was on the wrong one.
25:18 Dear colleagues, Committee of the Whole met on January 20th, 2026 to hear a presentation from Carter Edman, Vice President of the American Institute of Architects, Cleveland Chapter,
25:27 and President of Cogent's Alliance, a nonprofit organization that brings together industry professionals to be a resource for improved project delivery.
25:36 In the context of Council's upcoming decision regarding City Hall facilities, the presentation was intended to provide general information and background on various methods of project delivery and the considerations related to each method.
25:51 For each method discussed, Mr. Edman identified pros, cons, and the relationships between and among the relevant parties such as owners, architects, contractors, and others.
26:02 Ultimately, Mr. Edman did not recommend one specific method above others, but provided guidance on how entities can evaluate their project and identify the best method given the scope of their project, tolerance for risk, and other project-specific factors.
26:18 Council greatly appreciated the opportunity to hear directly from such a distinguished leader in the field.
26:24 Over the next several weeks, Council will undoubtedly reference the advice and information that Mr. Edman shared as we face an important decision regarding the future of City Hall.
26:33 Move to receive and file that report.
26:36 Motion's been made and seconded.
26:40 All those in favor?
26:42 And that motion passes.
26:45 Item two, report from Committee of the Whole meeting held January 26, 2026, and February 2, tonight, 2026.
26:53 Dear colleagues, on Monday, January 26, Committee of the Whole met.
26:58 The first half of the meeting was a presentation by Jeff Rink, managing director at KeyBank, and Catherine Schwartz, bond counsel, Bricker-Graden, regarding the City's finance plan for 2026, which includes a number of legislative items around note issuances as well as bonds.
27:15 Mr. Rink explained that the 2026 bonds is eligible to be refinanced come September, and if market rates stay favorable, the City can expect to save $55,000 to $60,000 a year over the next 10 years of that bond.
27:28 Council members asked a variety of questions regarding the City's debt capacity and practices.
27:34 The second half of the meeting included slides from the administration with arguments on what they like about the idea of moving many administrative departments to the former school board building on Warren Road.
27:44 They then invited Drew Seiley and Tom Calaris from Liberty Development to speak.
27:48 Council members expressed several questions to which they will need answers before moving in the next few weeks in order to make an informed decision.
27:56 That conversation continued at tonight's Committee of the Whole, which opened with the administration noted that unfortunately Drew Seiley, who has been the main lead on this project for Liberty, was unable to attend tonight due to illness,
28:10 and then introduced Tom Calaris from Liberty Development to present about the site plan that they have put together for the Warren Road building.
28:20 Berardi Partners architects Joe Berardi and Melissa Spires spoke about their past experience working with historical redevelopment and their work with Liberty, with Liberty's Drew Seiley on their proposed fit plan of the Warren Road building.
28:40 Tom Calaris noted that while they believe it is a solid plan that they're not tied to any particular part and would anticipate working with stakeholders.
28:54 Mr. Weber from John G. Johnson spoke about the iterative process of design and that they envision coming back with 25 percent design and respond to the stakeholder meetings.
29:08 In response to questions from council members, the administration spoke about how Mr. Seiley met with all of the departments to give a high level overview of their working styles and the type of space needed.
29:26 Council members asked a variety of questions and specifically some about the potential parking spaces. Mr. Calaris noted that adding structured parking would add about $35,000 per space and then council members expressed the need for more information on the type of spaces needed for our staff in order to determine whether the Warren Road option is the right solution to meet our needs.
29:53 I'll move to receive and file that oral report.
29:57 Motion's been made and seconded. Discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor?
30:03 And that motion passes.
30:04 Item three, ordinance one, 2026. An ordinance to take effect immediately to approve the editing and inclusion of certain ordinances as parts of the various component codes of codified ordinances and to provide for the publication of such new matter.
30:19 Motion's been made and seconded. So this is just our sort of quarterly cleanup to get everything printed that we've already passed. Any discussion? Hearing none. On the motion to adopt. All those in favor?
30:35 And that motion passes.
30:38 I will move to suspend the rules to read items.
30:44 Oh, wait, no, we're still on. Oh, I'm sorry.
31:03 Because we've already referred to committee.
31:06 Yes, we will. So we're going to move to suspend the rules to read items four through 21 consecutively.
31:16 Motion's been made and seconded. Roll call.
31:19 Vice President Baker?
31:21 Councilmember Bixenstein?
31:23 Councilmember Block?
31:25 Councilmember Evans?
31:29 Councilmember Hamilton-Steiner?
31:31 Councilmember Striebig?
31:33 Item four. Ordinance two, 2026. An ordinance to take effect immediately to amend chapter 1775 weeds of the codified ordinances for the purpose of establishing regulations for front yard plantings.
31:46 Item five. Ordinance three, 2026. An ordinance to take effect immediately updating the various sections of chapter 505 animals and fowl of the codified ordinances and creating regulations for trap, neuter, spay, and return of community cats within the city of Lakewood.
32:01 Item six. Ordinance 33, 2025A. An ordinance to take effect immediately to establish appropriations for current expenses and other expenditures of the city for the fiscal year ending December 31st, 2026.
32:14 Item seven. Ordinance 34, 2025A. An ordinance to take effect immediately authorizing the mayor, director of law, director of finance, director of public works, and director of planning and development, the director of human services, the director of human resources, or the procurement officer to enter into contracts for professional services and to advertise for bids and enter into contracts for the purchase of repair, maintenance, and operating supplies. Services and equipment as authorized by the 2026 appropriation ordinance and the administrative code with the lowest
32:44 and best bidder or bidders or as otherwise provided by law. Item eight. Ordinance 36, 2025A. An ordinance to take effect immediately authorizing the mayor, the director of public works, the director of law, the director of finance, the director of planning and development, and or purchasing manager to enter into service contracts in accordance with the administrative code for the department of planning development in accordance with the administrative code. Contracts not to exceed the specified amount shown without separate resolution of council. Item nine.
33:14 Ordinance 37, 2025A. An ordinance to take effect January 1st, 2026 to provide for creating positions and rates of pay for full-time and certain part-time annual salaried employees and hourly rate employees not covered by a collective bargaining agreement in the several departments, divisions, and offices of the city, including chief of fire, chief of police, and civil service commissioners and superseding all prior salary ordinances.
33:39 Item 10. Ordinance 33, 2025B. An ordinance to take effect immediately to establish appropriations for current expenses and other expenditures of the city for the fiscal year ending December 31st, 2026. Item 11. Ordinance 4, 2026. An ordinance to take effect immediately authorizing the transfer in advance of certain funds.
34:00 Item 12. Ordinance 5-2026. An ordinance to take effect immediately authorizing the director of finance to enter into equipment leases in forms approved by the director of law on behalf of the city of Lakewood.
34:14 Item 13. Ordinance 6-2026. An ordinance to take effect immediately authorizing the issuance of notes in the amount of not to exceed $4,900,000 in anticipation of the issuance of bonds to pay costs of improving Bunce Road, Lake Road, Clifton Road, and other streets located within the city.
34:33 Item 14. Ordinance 7-2026. An ordinance to take effect immediately authorizing the issuance of notes in the amount of not to exceed $18,300,000 in anticipation of the issuance of bonds to pay costs of improving Winterhurst, Icerina, and City Hall, and other public buildings, together with all necessary appurtenances thereto and approving related matters.
35:03 Item 15. Ordinance 8-2026. An ordinance to take effect immediately authorizing the issuance of notes in the amount of not to exceed $850,000 in anticipation of the issuance of bonds to pay costs of designing, engineering, and constructing water improvements together with all necessary appurtenances thereto.
35:23 Item 16. Ordinance 9-2026. An ordinance to take effect immediately authorizing the issuance of notes in the amount of not to exceed $500,000 in anticipation of the issuance of bonds to pay costs, ordinances to provide for the publication of such new matter.
35:47 Cost of improving sidewalks within the city and improving related matters. Item 17. Ordinance 10-2026. An ordinance to take effect immediately authorizing the issuance of notes in the amount of not to exceed $125,000 in anticipation of the issuance of bonds to pay costs of providing new traffic signalization together with all necessary appurtenances thereto and approving related matters.
36:10 Item 18. Ordinance 11-2026. An ordinance to take effect immediately authorizing the issuance of notes in the amount of not to exceed $2,370,000 in anticipation of the issuance of bonds to pay costs of designing, engineering, and constructing sewer improvements together with all necessary appurtenances thereto and approving related matters.
36:34 Item 19. Ordinance 12-2026. An ordinance to take effect immediately authorizing the issuance of notes in the amount of not to exceed $32,695,000 in anticipation of the issuance of bonds to pay costs of constructing a refuse recycling facility, renovating refuse truck parking facility, replacing or improving the roofs of public buildings including the municipal facilities garage,
37:01 improving the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems at the fire station, improving parks including pavement and sidewalk resurfacing and construction, lighting and landscaping together with all necessary site work, infrastructure improvements and appurtenances thereto, improving sidewalks within the city, improving Bunce Road, Crest Lane, Guile Avenue, Onondaga Avenue, Wayne Avenue, and Webb Road, and other streets located within the city between certain termini by resurfacing
37:31 and replacing concrete together with all necessary appurtenances thereto, improving City Hall, Winterhurst Ice Arena, Fire Station Number 3, Public Works Garage, and other city facilities including renovating city facilities, improving the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, constructing a storage facility, improving parks within the city including Lakewood Park, Kaufman Park, and other park improvements together with all necessary appurtenances thereto, improving sidewalks within the city, improving
38:01 sidewalks, edge water drives, Summit Avenue, and other streets located within the city between certain termini by resurfacing and replacing concrete together with all necessary appurtenances thereto, designing engineering and constructing water improvements together with all necessary appurtenances thereto, and designing engineering and constructing sewer improvements together with all necessary appurtenances thereto, and retiring notes previously issued for such purpose and approving related matters. Item 20.
38:31 Issuance 13-2026, in ordinance to take effect immediately, authorizing the issuance of not to exceed 15,845,000 of bonds for the purpose of currently refunding all or a portion of the city's various purpose improvement and refunding bonds.
38:50 Series 2016A, dated April 5th, 2016, to refund a portion of the city's $21,210,000 various purpose general obligation bonds. Series 2005, limited tax obligation, dated May 26th, 2005. Refund a portion of the city's $14,320,000 sewer system revenue bonds. Series 2006, dated August 30th, 2006.
39:18 Refund a portion of the city's $10,285,000 water system revenue bonds. Series 2006, dated August 30th, 2006, and retire the city's $17,375,000 various purpose improvement notes issued on April 9th, 2015, and approving related matters in connection with the issuance of the bonds.
39:42 Item 21, ordinance 14-2026, in ordinance to take effect immediately, authorizing the issuance of not to exceed $32,695,000 of bonds for the purpose of retiring notes issued for the purpose of
39:57 Constructing a refuse recycling facility, renovating refuse truck parking facility, replacing or improving the roofs of public buildings, including the municipal facilities garage, improving the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems at the fire station, improving the parks, including pavement and sidewalk resurfacing and construction, lighting and landscaping, together with all necessary site work, infrastructure improvements and appurtenances thereto, improving sidewalks within the city, improving Bunce Road, Crest Lane, Guile Avenue, Onondaga.
40:27 and other streets located within the city between certain termini by resurfacing and replacing concrete, together with all necessary appurtenances thereto, improving city hall, winterhurst ice arena, fire station number three, public works garage, and other city facilities, including renovating city facilities, improving the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, constructing a storage facility, improving parks within the city, including Lakewood Park, Kaufman Park, and other park improvements,
40:57 together with all necessary appurtenances thereto, improving sidewalks within the city, improving Edgewater Drive, Summit Avenue, and other streets located within the city between certain termini by resurfacing and replacing concrete, together with all necessary appurtenances thereto, designing engineering and constructing water improvements, together with all necessary appurtenances thereto, designing engineering and constructing sewer improvements, together with all necessary appurtenances thereto, approving related matters in connection with the issuance of the bonds.
41:31 I will move to defer.
41:35 Motion has been made and seconded.
41:41 I was going to say, what was the middle one?
41:45 And aren't we excited that you get to do that one more time?
41:47 So thank you to the clerks for your calisthenics, verbal calisthenics.
41:56 Any further discussion?
41:59 All those in favor?
42:01 And that motion passes.
42:02 Item 22, communication from President Keppel and Vice President Baker regarding establishing
42:06 a Lakewood host community cannabis fund.
42:10 Dear colleagues, as you know, in November of 2023, Ohio voters approved state issue
42:14 two, the regulate marijuana like alcohol initiative to legalize adult use marijuana
42:22 received extraordinary support in Lakewood with over 81% of voters in favor of its passage.
42:28 Issue two established a statute by which Ohio imposes a 10% tax on adult use cannabis
42:34 with 36% of the tax revenue directed to the host community cannabis fund.
42:40 Senate bill 56, which passed in December, 2025 maintained the host community fund and
42:45 requires the state tax commissioner to distribute a proportional percentage of the
42:49 excise tax to communities such as Lakewood that have allowed adult use cannabis sales.
42:55 The Ohio Department of Taxation began distributing nearly 36 million of these funds,
43:00 which reflect taxes collected since dispensaries were allowed to open in 2024.
43:05 So far, Lakewood has received seven hundred and forty three thousand four hundred and
43:10 seven dollars and seventy seven cents and is expected to receive approximately five
43:14 hundred thousand dollars annually.
43:16 So long as the city maintains profitable dispensaries within city limits, the attached
43:21 legislation would establish a dedicated host community cannabis fund into which all funds
43:26 received from the ODT host community cannabis fund payments, as well as any other
43:30 cannabis related revenue, shall be deposited.
43:33 This will allow for thoughtful deliberation about use of these funds, which are not
43:37 included in the twenty twenty six budget and thus have not yet been allocated.
43:42 The ordinance envisions allocating these funds toward advancements of council's
43:45 identified public safety and accessibility capital priorities, such as complete
43:50 and active streets, a transition plan and creating equitable locker room space
43:55 for female police officers.
43:57 We respectfully request that this legislation be forwarded to committee for
44:00 further discussion.
44:02 I'll move to refer to the finance committee.
44:06 OK, motion's been made and seconded.
44:09 Discussion, Vice President Baker, anything?
44:14 No, I think the communication says it well and I think basically you'll see in
44:21 the legislation that there's a portion of it that's highlighted, which kind of
44:27 we're open to the administration and our colleagues thoughts on how we should
44:31 allocate these funds.
44:33 I think the idea behind it is that these are monies that that we weren't
44:38 necessarily taking into account when we did the budget last year.
44:40 So we have an opportunity to be thoughtful about how we'd like to spend
44:43 them as a community.
44:45 So welcome input from the members of the public as well, as well as my
44:47 colleagues, as well as administration about how we should go about
44:50 investing these funds in our community.
44:53 Any further discussion?
44:58 Thanks, Madam President.
44:59 Thanks for the beginning of a thoughtful discussion.
45:02 So a couple of thoughts first, and I'd love to hear from the
45:04 administration, at least on a preliminary basis.
45:07 For a while we were not certain that we were going to ever receive funds from
45:13 That has been the subject of a pretty active back and forth.
45:16 Some of that carried out on the front pages of various state policy journals.
45:23 So as far as the administration goes, I know that you folks participate in
45:28 the Ohio Mayor's Alliance and other entities.
45:30 Do we have any degree of confidence with your crystal ball that I'm sure
45:36 the governor issues that this is a settled matter or we just don't know,
45:43 we're taking it year by year?
45:46 That's question one.
45:47 And then question two, does this represent this disbursement of
45:51 $743,000, everything that we're owed to date as of maybe which date?
45:59 That would be helpful to know.
46:03 Director Mahoney, if you...
46:04 I'm not sure if you're...
46:05 So the second question, it relates from the passage of the bill through November of 2025.
46:20 And I wish I knew what they were going to do downstate is the answer to the
46:25 first question, but yes.
46:28 And as an aside, I don't want to speak for the mayor, but I know her and I both
46:32 had had discussions of hoping that this could help fund capital improvements
46:39 rather than continue to take out debt.
46:41 So what council is suggesting actually could fit fine in that plan.
46:49 So I think we're on the same page.
46:53 And Madam President, one more thing.
46:55 Historically, there was some discussion of human service funding in the
46:59 spirit of, I guess it's originated with the concept of medical marijuana use,
47:06 which was something that the city had early on, and the idea that if we're
47:13 concerned for people's health and it's adjacent to medical use and medicine
47:19 use and addiction, that we could also be mindful of those needs.
47:25 I know that the general fund quarterly advances a certain amount to the Office
47:33 on Aging, so that's something for, in my opinion, for discussion as well.
47:38 But I appreciate the strategic perspective that this letter puts forward.
47:49 And like President Baker said, too, is we're open to further discussion on that.
47:55 We do in terms of addiction because we do have the opioid funds that helps with
48:03 some of the addiction programs that we've had so far, but always happy to
48:08 support human services as well.
48:09 So we have plenty of ways we can spend money in the city.
48:14 Any other discussion on the communication?
48:17 All right. So on the motion to refer to finance, all those in favor?
48:22 And that motion passes.
48:24 Item 23, Ordinance 15-2026, an ordinance to take effect immediately to enact
48:29 Section 12965 of the liquid codified ordinances entitled Post-Community
48:34 Cannabis Fund to provide guidance regarding the use of new tax revenues
48:38 related to the sale of cannabis.
48:40 Move to refer to finance.
48:42 Motion's been made and seconded.
48:45 I'd like to thank Vice President Baker for quickly getting this drafted.
48:51 So thank you and the clerical staff.
48:54 Any further discussion?
48:56 Hearing none, on the motion to refer to finance, all those in favor?
49:00 And that motion passes.
49:02 Item 26, report from Vice President Baker regarding report from January
49:07 2026, Lakewood Alive Board meeting.
49:09 Vice President Baker.
49:11 Dear colleagues, Lakewood Alive Board of Directors met on January 21st
49:14 at the Lakewood Public Library for its bi-monthly meeting.
49:17 The meeting started with discussing the transition team update
49:21 as former Executive Director Ian Andrews left Lakewood Alive in early
49:24 2026 to take a role in the city of Lakewood's planning and development
49:28 department as housing and development manager.
49:31 Ian will be greatly missed at Lakewood Alive,
49:32 but will be an asset to the city of Lakewood in his new role.
49:35 Joe Higgins was named interim executive director,
49:38 and the executive director position was posted on January 6th
49:41 and closed on January 31st to various websites.
49:44 The transition team hopes to consider and interview candidates,
49:48 both internal and external, in the coming weeks
49:50 and present the preferred executive director candidate for approval
49:53 job offer by March 2026.
49:56 The board also discussed the new ways in which they are trying
49:58 to re-engage former board members in the current operations of Lakewood Alive,
50:02 both as donors and volunteers, and those efforts are starting to bear fruit.
50:06 Council members looking to get more involved with and support Lakewood Alive
50:08 can attend an event or talk with me about joining the committee
50:11 or participating in a volunteer project.
50:13 For a full list of Lakewood Alive's upcoming events,
50:15 please subscribe to their weekly newsletter.
50:17 And if no, Loving Lakewood, a theme of Cirque de Lakewood,
50:20 a loving Lakewood spectacular, sponsored by Cleveland Property
50:23 Management, is scheduled for February 28th,
50:25 and tickets are on sale now at Lakewood Alive's website,
50:29 and I will be there.
50:30 So I'll make a motion to receive and file that communication.
50:34 Motion's been made and seconded.
50:38 Hearing none, all those in favor?
50:40 And that motion passes.
50:42 Item 27, report from Council Member Striebig
50:44 regarding January meeting of the Lakewood Youth Council.
50:47 Council Member Striebig.
50:49 Dear colleagues, the Lakewood Youth Council met on Thursday,
50:52 January 22nd, 2026, in the auditorium at City Hall.
50:57 Mel Demert opened the meeting
50:59 and proceeded through the agenda.
51:01 Maria Zajac gave updates on getting more bike racks
51:04 across the city and communication with the mayor's office
51:09 A survey was suggested to understand more
51:11 about numbers of bikers.
51:13 A suggestion was made to provide free bus passes
51:16 for Lakewood Youth, and a letter would be drafted.
51:20 Concern was expressed about snow-covered sidewalks.
51:24 A question was raised about city purchases
51:26 from small businesses.
51:29 Sean Miller gave a report about painting the bike racks
51:32 to improve public art and is working in cooperation
51:35 with the Public Art Advisory Board.
51:38 Sean also reported on a pride event
51:41 in coordination with the Friends of Kauffman Park.
51:45 Errol Lula reported on promoting Lakewood Youth bands
51:49 and will conduct a survey to determine this need.
51:53 She also proposed a program to help youth
51:55 and aspiring entrepreneurs start their own businesses.
51:58 A camp and jobs board was suggested
52:01 in partnerships with the Chamber of Commerce
52:03 and Recreation Department would be explored.
52:07 National news was discussed,
52:09 and the fear of ice raids was reported by many.
52:13 The conversation moved to actionable items,
52:16 pardon me, actionable steps,
52:18 and the group will consider adding
52:20 the Advocacy Committee and Special Committee
52:23 to get out the vote at the next meeting.
52:28 Move to receive and file that report.
52:31 Motion's been made and seconded.
52:33 I'll note that there are also two e-comments on the report
52:38 which is not coming up on the iPad, but they are there.
52:42 So council members, you should have those in your email.
52:45 Both are just noting with admiration
52:48 the topics the Youth Council are exploring.
52:53 All right, any further discussion?
52:56 Hearing none, on the motion to receive
52:57 and file the report, all those in favor?
53:00 And that motion passes.
53:01 Item 28, report from Council Member Hamilton-Steiner
53:04 regarding January meeting of the
53:05 Liquid Animal Safety and Welfare Advisory Board.
53:08 Council Member Hamilton-Steiner.
53:09 Thank you, Madam Chair.
53:11 Dear colleagues, I attended my first LASWAB meeting
53:13 that was held on Wednesday, January 21st
53:15 in the City Hall East Conference Room.
53:18 The board has welcomed me with warm and open arms,
53:20 and I look forward to serving as a liaison
53:22 to counsel on the board.
53:24 The group welcomed three new members
53:25 and conducted their regular order of business
53:27 which included electing new officers.
53:29 Nancy Beider was nominated and earned
53:32 the election as chair.
53:33 Emily Christais-Skew was nominated
53:35 and earned the election as secretary,
53:38 and a vice secretary was nominated
53:40 and elected Julia Garlup.
53:43 Animal Shelter Supervisor Gary Crumley
53:46 provided a brief update
53:47 and shared numbers with the group.
53:49 The most recent TNR ordinance was reviewed
53:51 in preparation for the upcoming
53:53 Public Safety Committee meeting.
53:55 Lastly, a recap of the November 2025 LASWAB
53:59 and Lakewood Community Services Center
54:01 Pet Food Drive was shared.
54:03 This event captured 2,500 pounds of food,
54:06 which was an increase of nearly 50%
54:09 from the previous drive held in April,
54:11 and $242 was captured in donated funds.
54:15 It is noted that monthly,
54:17 of all the families receiving food from LCSC,
54:20 250 families are also receiving pet food.
54:24 This amounts to a need of roughly
54:25 1,150 pounds of food each month.
54:28 This monthly family need is an increase
54:30 from 100 families in 2021.
54:34 LASWAB will be planning for another drive this spring,
54:36 as well as some other community outreach
54:38 and education events.
54:39 I hope that we all will be able
54:41 to support this important work.
54:43 I move to receive and file this communication.
54:47 Motion's been made and seconded.
54:51 Appreciate that detailed report
54:52 and their ongoing work, so appreciate that.
54:56 Any further discussion?
54:59 Hearing none, on the motion to receive and file,
55:00 all those in favor?
55:02 And that motion presses.
55:03 Item 29, communication from Assistant Director Boss
55:06 regarding Liquid Zoning Refresh Project update.
55:10 Dear members of City Council.
55:12 Last month, the City's Zoning Refresh Project
55:14 moved through another milestone
55:16 with the completion of preliminary drafts
55:18 of refreshed development standards.
55:20 These draft standards were informed
55:22 by the preliminary recommendations report
55:24 in previous chapters, which as reviewed
55:27 during prior updates represents the culmination
55:29 of stakeholder engagement, the community survey
55:32 and existing conditions conformity analysis work
55:35 from our project consultant team at House of Levine.
55:38 Prior to this update, preliminary drafts
55:41 of the following four documents were worked
55:43 and reviewed by both the city administration
55:45 as well as the Zoning Policy Advisory Committee.
55:48 General development standards,
55:49 building design standards, parking and access standards,
55:53 and sign standards.
55:55 The intent of this communication
55:56 is to provide these preliminary drafts
55:58 to all members of council with an opportunity
56:00 for more detailed discussion in committee
56:02 as we prepare to continue our work
56:04 with the subdivision standards, zoning procedures
56:07 and definitions chapters.
56:09 As previously covered, all updated standards,
56:11 procedures and definitions will be worked
56:13 through various steps of drafting,
56:15 engagement, review and refinement
56:17 before eventually being captured
56:19 and draft legislation for council consideration.
56:22 For each step of the process,
56:23 information and engagement opportunities
56:25 will be published on the project website.
56:31 I'll move to refer to housing planning and development.
56:35 Motion's been made and seconded.
56:39 Really appreciate Assistant Director Boss's work on this.
56:42 This is a big project and it has been interesting
56:45 as Vice President Baker and I have been working
56:49 through all of these different iterations.
56:51 So, looking forward to that discussion.
56:55 Any further discussion?
56:57 Councilman Bullitt.
56:57 Thanks Madam President.
56:59 So, with the housing chair call a meeting
57:02 to have the opportunity for us to discuss
57:04 and learn and so forth.
57:06 We did that some months ago
57:09 and I thought found it very helpful and thoughtful.
57:11 And for me, I'm a lay person
57:14 but I'm trying to be a informed participant
57:19 and do what I can to represent the residents of Lakewood.
57:25 One follow-up question here.
57:26 The standards that are named here,
57:29 those are or are not in our ordinances.
57:32 In other words, there's some of the zoning code is code
57:36 but there are companion documents and policies
57:39 and guidelines, et cetera,
57:40 that may be administrative in nature.
57:43 And I gathered from Mr. Boss's letter
57:46 that we're looking at all of it
57:49 but just starting with that distinction,
57:51 if anybody knows the answer
57:53 and I have two people, maybe three people in mind
57:57 who might know the answer.
57:58 Dr. Brankton, did you wanna?
58:00 Thank you, President Keppel.
58:01 So yes, these are in our code
58:04 either as a standalone chapter
58:05 or part of a chapter for the most part.
58:07 So again, it's a refresh
58:08 but they're looking at ways to not to simplify
58:14 but kind of to simplify the process for development.
58:18 So to your answer, yes,
58:20 these are already in our code
58:22 just being refreshed.
58:25 And are we also looking at the things
58:27 that are not in the code
58:28 like design guidelines and so forth?
58:29 Yes, we're looking at things
58:30 beyond what's already in the code, yes.
58:35 All right, so we'll see that
58:39 in the housing planning development schedule meeting
58:42 coming up in the future.
58:43 As soon as timing allows.
58:46 Great, all right, so any further discussion?
58:50 All right, hearing none
58:51 the motion refer to housing planning and development.
58:53 All those in favor?
58:55 And that motion passes.
58:56 Item 30, January, 2026
58:58 finance department vendor report
59:00 submitted pursuant to liquid codified ordinance 11103.
59:03 Move to receive and file.
59:06 Motion's been made and seconded.
59:10 I saw council member Stiebig first
59:12 and then I'll come to you.
59:13 Thank you, I was just wondering about this report
59:16 after talking with the youth council
59:18 and the question raised about
59:20 purchasing from small businesses.
59:22 If there's any way that we could get the city
59:25 and state possibly added to this report
59:28 or if that would have to be
59:30 an amendment to this ordinance
59:32 or if there's a way to add that.
59:34 Director Mahoney, you could talk to that.
59:38 Sure, do you mean the state and city as a vendor or?
59:43 No, the vendors that you have here,
59:46 that you're listed.
59:47 Could we add where they're located?
59:50 Is there addresses there?
59:51 So we could determine if they're local.
59:54 Are they from Lakewood?
59:56 Are they from Westlake?
59:58 Are they from North Carolina?
1:00:00 Or where are we getting these services?
1:00:04 I would love to be able to do that.
1:00:06 I'm not sure if our system could accommodate that.
1:00:13 we don't need the number in the street.
1:00:15 We would just be looking for.
1:00:19 If I cannot, we are just starting the process
1:00:23 and I'm sure I can get that this time next year, hopefully.
1:00:34 Director Mahoney, I couldn't help
1:00:36 but notice the fuel costs on here
1:00:40 There's more than $43,000 at least in the one section
1:00:44 kind of middle bottom of the page
1:00:46 when we combine diesel and gas.
1:00:49 Is that for one month or is it for a quarter
1:00:56 It's most likely for a month
1:00:58 but I'm trying to find where you're looking.
1:01:02 Let me switch to the right window on my own computer here.
1:01:11 Petroleum traders, if you scroll over.
1:01:15 You've got four lines, so fuel, diesel, 15,000, almost 16
1:01:20 and then three lines of gas, gasoline there.
1:01:25 I'm sure that was to fill our tank
1:01:27 so I'll have to get with you.
1:01:34 always looks forward to this discussion
1:01:37 but one of my focuses for years
1:01:40 has been to try to convert for monetary savings
1:01:44 and clean air quality benefits
1:01:47 more of our fleet to efficient or electric
1:01:52 and this is a good reminder.
1:01:54 I just looked up the numbers.
1:01:55 Typically EV fuel costs half or a third
1:02:01 of petroleum traditional fuels.
1:02:05 because the prices of those two things also fluctuate
1:02:11 if you can convert your equipment
1:02:14 which is a complicated enterprise
1:02:16 but other cities do it, other companies do it,
1:02:20 You just gotta, you'd be thoughtful
1:02:21 about how you treat your different heavy vehicles,
1:02:24 medium vehicles and light vehicles
1:02:26 then what you're doing is you're converting
1:02:28 an expense line into an asset
1:02:30 and over time that benefits the balance sheet
1:02:33 just from a dollars and cents figure.
1:02:36 So if we can not just have $43,000 go up
1:02:42 and we're literally in smoke
1:02:43 and it's unhealthy smoke for us to breathe,
1:02:46 it's better for the city's balance sheet.
1:02:50 So I would love to work with the administration on this.
1:02:53 It's a complex thing because I think it involves finance,
1:02:56 it involves vehicle maintenance leadership for sure
1:03:00 but it also then involves all of the directors
1:03:03 who use the vehicles for different needs
1:03:05 whether that's police, fire, public works, et cetera.
1:03:08 So I almost think like fleet is like IT
1:03:12 and Mike Coletta, I'm not sure
1:03:13 if he's the director of anything.
1:03:14 He's the most busy customer service rep in the city
1:03:17 because he's got to make the IT equipment work
1:03:20 for all these different needs
1:03:21 and that really is the case for the fleet director too,
1:03:28 but they've got a million jobs to fill
1:03:32 but if we could get some time and attention on this,
1:03:36 you could begin to shift at least some
1:03:39 of the expense away from just paying the gas man
1:03:43 and just seeing that all disappear
1:03:45 on a monthly and quarterly basis, long and evolved.
1:03:48 I know that we've talked about this before.
1:03:50 I'd love to put that on the table once again.
1:03:57 All right, any further discussion?
1:03:59 We have a motion to receive and file the report.
1:04:03 All right, hearing none, all those in favor?
1:04:10 Jay Hummer, 1-2-5-11, Detroit Avenue.
1:04:14 I saw we had the report on this.
1:04:17 It's our custom to go to the ward council member
1:04:19 which in this case is Mr. Bixenstein.
1:04:22 Do you have, so typically we receive the report
1:04:26 that shows the law department
1:04:28 gave no statutory reason to object.
1:04:31 So council member Bixenstein, if you agree with that,
1:04:34 we can go ahead and file without objection.
1:04:38 All right, so we'll move to file without objection.
1:04:42 Motion's been made and seconded.
1:04:45 Hearing none, all those in favor?
1:04:49 That brings us to the end of our regular docket
1:04:54 We have, I don't think we have,
1:04:58 We have no one signed in to speak.
1:05:01 Looking no one's getting up, okay.
1:05:03 All right, announcements from council members.
1:05:11 Just as a look to the next couple of weeks ahead,
1:05:14 I just want to remind everybody
1:05:16 that Valentine's Day is coming up on February 14th.
1:05:20 Make sure you are all prepared for that.
1:05:24 I'm accepting chocolate if anyone's interested.
1:05:28 And also on the 16th is President's Day
1:05:33 and I think that bumps our meeting as well.
1:05:39 So another Tuesday meeting.
1:05:40 All right, other announcements?
1:05:44 Announcements from the administration?
1:05:51 includes business of regular council.
1:05:52 Without objection, we are adjourned.