Council defers ORD 33-2025: 2026 city budget appropriations

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

Next: listed on the Finance Committee agenda for Feb 9. agenda 02.09

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

Next: listed on the Finance Committee agenda for Feb 9. agenda 02.09

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

Next: listed on the Finance Committee agenda for Feb 9. agenda 02.09

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

Next: listed on the Finance Committee agenda for Feb 9. agenda 02.09

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

Next: listed on the Finance Committee agenda for Feb 9. agenda 02.09

Designates February 2026 as Black History Month in Lakewood, celebrating African American culture and contributions. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to adopt Resolution 2026-02, seconded by Vice President Baker.” 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

Next: listed on the City Council agenda for Feb 17. agenda 02.17

Updates Chapter 505 (Animals and Fowl) and creates regulations for trapping, neutering or spaying and returning community cats. Community Cat Caregivers and Trap Neuter Return Providers are exempt from the animals-at-large rules, and a first violation of those rules becomes a minor misdemeanor instead of a fourth-degree misdemeanor. The document says the changes draw on a small-scale pilot TNR program run by the Lakewood Animal Safety and Welfare Advisory Board and partners. pdf Written by AI

Next: listed on the Public Safety Committee agenda for Mar 9. agenda 03.09

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

Next: listed on the Finance Committee agenda for Feb 9. agenda 02.09

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

Next: listed on the Finance Committee agenda for Feb 9. agenda 02.09

Authorizes the City to issue up to $4,900,000 in notes, in anticipation of bonds, to pay for resurfacing and concrete replacement on Bunts Road, Lake Road, Clifton Road and other streets. The notes may be combined with other City notes into one issue, may not carry interest above 6.00% a year, and are to be sold to KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. or another purchaser named by the Director of Finance. pdf Written by AI

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

Authorizes the City to issue notes, in anticipation of bonds, to pay for improving Winterhurst Ice Arena, City Hall and other public buildings. This redlined substitute changes the maximum amount; its text shows both $18,300,000 and $1,800,000. Bonds for the project would mature in 29 annual installments at an estimated maximum average interest rate of 6.00% a year. pdf Written by AI

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

Authorizes up to $850,000 in notes, in anticipation of bonds, to design, engineer and build water improvements. pdf Written by AI

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

Authorizes up to $500,000 in notes, in anticipation of bonds, to improve sidewalks in the city. pdf Written by AI

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

Authorizes the City to issue up to $125,000 in notes, in anticipation of bonds, to pay for new traffic signalization. The notes may be combined with other City notes into one issue, may not carry interest above 6.00% a year, and are to be sold to KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. or another purchaser named by the Director of Finance. pdf Written by AI

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

Authorizes the City to issue up to $2,370,000 in notes, in anticipation of bonds, to pay for designing, engineering and constructing sewer improvements. The notes may be combined with other City notes into one issue, may not carry interest above 6.00% a year, and are to be sold to KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. or another purchaser named by the Director of Finance. pdf Written by AI

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

Authorizes up to $32,695,000 in new notes to retire the City's notes dated April 10, 2025, which mature April 9, 2026. Those notes funded projects including a refuse recycling facility, street resurfacing, improvements to City Hall, Winterhurst Ice Arena and Fire Station #3, park improvements, and water and sewer work. The notes may not carry interest above 6.00% a year and are to be sold to KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. or another purchaser named by the Director of Finance. pdf Written by AI

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

Authorizes up to $15,845,000 in refunding bonds to refinance all or part of the City's Series 2016A bonds, which the ordinance says were issued for $36,570,000. The document cites currently prevailing lower interest rates and caps the bonds' overall true interest cost at 6.00% a year, with the final amount and terms set by the Director of Finance. pdf Written by AI

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

Authorizes up to $32,695,000 in bonds to retire notes issued for projects including a refuse recycling facility, street resurfacing, improvements to City Hall, Winterhurst Ice Arena and Fire Station #3, park improvements, and water and sewer work. The document says the bonds may be combined with other City bonds into one issue, with a maximum maturity of 31 years and an overall interest cost of no more than 6.00% a year. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to defer agenda items #4-21, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

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

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 refer Ordinance 15-2026 to Finance Committee.” minutes ▶ video

Next: listed on the City Council agenda for Feb 17. agenda 02.17

A letter introducing Council's resolution honoring Black History Month 2026. It recounts the observance's start in February 1926 as a week-long celebration by historian Carter G. Woodson. pdf Written by AI

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