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 amend S. Ordinance 33-2025B to add $4.M to the Capital Improvement Fund amount, seconded by Vice President Baker. Motion made by President Kepple to amend that motion to increase the amount by $4M in both places where it is listed on the ordinance.” minutes ▶ video

Amends the Master Fee Schedule adopted by Resolution 2025-71 on March 2, 2026 to include a base fee for electrical permits, which the document says was left out by mistake. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion by President Kepple to adopt Resolution 2025-71, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

Next: listed on the City Council agenda for May 18. agenda 05.18

Amends sections of the Administrative Code and the Business Regulation Code to move the fees written into those sections, such as vital statistics fees, into the city's Master Fee Schedule. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to adopt Ordinance 30-2025, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

Authorizes trading in the city's 2010 Pierce fire engine toward a 2020 E-One fire engine with 5,000 miles. With an $80,000 trade-in credit the price is $580,000, compared with an estimated $700,000 to refurbish the old engine. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to adopt Resolution 2026-09.” minutes ▶ video

Amends or repeals sections of the city code to update definitions and zoning rules for pet grooming services, starting with the permitted-uses table in Schedule 1129.02. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to adopt Ordinance 39-2025. Motion made by President Kepple to suspend the rules to read items 20-25 together, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

Proclaims March 15 to 21, 2026 Severe Weather Awareness Week in Lakewood and encourages people to prepare for tornadoes and flooding. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to adopt Resolution 2026-10.” minutes ▶ video

Approves the use of submerged Lake Erie lands at 17818 Lake Avenue so the owners can build a proposed shore structure. The state requires Council's approval as part of the lease application to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to adopt Resolution 2026-11, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

Approves the use of submerged lands at 1015 Nicholson Avenue for lakeshore protection. The owners agreed to let the city build the Nicholson and Wilbert outfalls rehabilitation and bluff stabilization. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to adopt Resolution 2026-12, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

Approves the use of submerged lands at the property west of the north ends of Wilbert and Nicholson Avenues for lakeshore protection. The owners agreed to let the city build the Nicholson and Wilbert outfalls rehabilitation and bluff stabilization. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to adopt Resolution 2026-13.” minutes ▶ video

Approves the use of submerged lands at the north end of the Nicholson Avenue right-of-way, where the city needs to build the Nicholson and Wilbert outfalls rehabilitation and bluff stabilization. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to adopt Resolution 2026-14, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

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

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to substitute S. Motion made by President Kepple to amend S. Motion made by Councilmember Bullock to insert the words “City Hall” after “Winterhurst Ice Arena” and on p.9, Section 1, seconded by Vice President Kepple.” minutes ▶ video

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 adopt items 3 and 5-11, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

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 Finance Committee agenda for Mar 23. agenda 03.23

Amends Ordinance 27-2025, adopted April 6, 2026, to correct a typographical error in its numbering. That ordinance assigned the Audit Committee's duties to Council's Finance Committee and required an annual public meeting to review the City's audit. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to defer Ordinance 27-2025.” minutes ▶ video

Next: listed on the Finance Committee agenda for Mar 23. agenda 03.23

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 16. agenda 03.16

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 16. agenda 03.16

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 16. agenda 03.16

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 16. agenda 03.16

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 16. agenda 03.16

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 defer items 20-25.” minutes ▶ video

Next: listed on the City Council agenda for Mar 16. agenda 03.16

Designates March as Women's History Month in Lakewood. It notes Lakewood women won the right to vote in local elections in 1917, two years before the 19th Amendment. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by President Kepple to adopt Resolution 2026-08, seconded by Vice President Baker.” minutes ▶ video

Fire Chief Ryan Fairbanks asks Council to approve buying a 2020 fire engine for $580,000, including an $80,000 trade-in of the 2010 engine and needed upgrades. The 2026 budget had $600,000 to refurbish the old engine, now estimated at about $700,000. 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 Kyle Baker reports on the first meeting of the Complete and Active Streets Education & Advisory Board on February 24, 2026, with the meeting slides attached. pdf Written by AI

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

Councilmember Angelina Hamilton Steiner reports on the Animal Safety and Welfare Advisory Board's February 18 meeting, including plans for a spring pet food drive for the Lakewood Community Services Center. pdf Written by AI

The minutes record: “Motion made by Councilmember Hamilton Steiner to receive and file the communication, seconded by President Kepple. Discussion: Kepple thanked Councilmember Hamilton Steiner for being flexible with scheduling, as meeting times had to be moved to make time for the City Hall facilities discussion during Committee of the Whole.” minutes ▶ video

Fire Chief Ryan Fairbanks notes Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 15 to 21, 2026, with a statewide tornado drill on March 18 at 9:50 a.m., and urges residents to update emergency plans. 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 Law Department sends a resolution the state requires for the owners of 17818 Lake Avenue to get a submerged lands lease for coastal erosion control. City engineering found no conflict with city interests or projects. 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

Public Works sends a submerged land lease and shoreline easement at 1015 Nicholson Avenue for the city's Nicholson and Wilbert outfalls rehabilitation projects, prepared by consultant KS Associates. pdf Written by AI

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

Public Works sends a submerged land lease for parcel 312-07-031, west of Wilbert Road and east of Nicholson Avenue, for the Nicholson and Wilbert outfalls rehabilitation projects. pdf Written by AI

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

Public Works sends a submerged land lease for the area beyond the end of the Nicholson Avenue right-of-way, covering bluff stabilization and protection for new outfall pipes, prepared by KS Associates. 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