Written by the reviewer from the ASR + docket; [verbatim-ASR] = quoted machine transcript; [paraphrase] = reviewer's wording, not a quote.
0:00 All right, I will go ahead and Councilman Bullock will be back, I'm sure, in a moment.
0:07 We have a quorum now and call the June 29th, 2026 Finance Committee meeting to order of
0:13 Lakewood City Council.
0:16 First order of business is review and approval of the June 22nd minutes.
0:20 I will go ahead and make a motion to approve the minutes.
0:24 Motion made and seconded.
0:25 All those in favor say aye.
0:28 Councilman Bullock, do you approve the minutes?
0:31 Let the record reflect that Councilman Bullock said I do as he was sitting down.
0:36 So the next, the only item of business we have, which is the communication.
0:42 We got through a good amount last week and kind of talked about council budget priorities.
0:47 Some of them are, as we discussed, more policy-based.
0:51 Some of them would affect the 2027 budget.
0:53 Some of them would affect future budget years.
0:56 But it really does give us a good forum to discuss these issues as a council, with members
1:01 of the administration present, with the public present, so that we can build coalitions and
1:08 develop ways in which to fund some of these priorities or at least get them teed up
1:13 for funding, whether that's through city funds or third party funds.
1:18 So we got through the first two pages last time and I, or maybe even, yeah, a
1:26 couple of pages in and I think we are now at, I think we did block clubs, is that correct?
1:32 So we talked about that and now we are at the mental health response team, which I
1:37 believe was proposed by Councilman Evans.
1:43 And so I guess I will throw it to Councilman Evans to explain kind of what we're thinking
1:50 and how we may accomplish it.
1:55 This is one of the ones, I can't tell you how early we are, are we on in the process
2:01 This is something that was brought up by actually a couple of members of the community
2:05 who spoke to me and has found champions amongst residents in the city.
2:09 And it's just as a way to support our safety services in different ways with
2:18 folks who can respond in different ways.
2:22 This is so early that we haven't been able to reach out to our partners at the Police
2:27 Department, Fire Department, and Health Services, which all are important conversations.
2:31 So this is, you know, we have this on the list for 2027.
2:35 Is that likely to happen?
2:36 Probably not, because this is a biggie.
2:38 It's a big budget ask, it's a big question of a lot of cooperation, integration across
2:43 a lot of different departments, but it's a conversation that several of us are very
2:47 dedicated to having, and we have, again, a lot of support from the community, including
2:52 we have had a couple of conversations with Judge Neff.
2:56 So there's a specific, a very specific thing we're looking at, but that may or may not
3:02 be the right answer or the right way to go.
3:05 But again, this is, in its infancy, lots of things to happen, but we feel it's
3:11 an important thing to address.
3:15 So, again, lots of work to do during this calendar year, probably all next calendar
3:21 year before this would actually, you know, see something implemented, but want to make
3:25 sure it is on our radar and something that we're thinking about.
3:32 Any other thoughts from folks that are interested in working on this issue?
3:37 Councilperson Striebig?
3:39 Yes, this is very important.
3:43 In fact, the Lakewood Youth Council last year created their own mental health
3:50 committee, specifically because they're seeing so many issues with young people
3:57 and the issues that they're having may or may not be readily solved by a
4:07 911 call to the police department or the fire department.
4:11 Although they have great training, I'm not knocking anyone with what they're
4:15 doing by any stretch of the imagination.
4:18 I just wonder if it's a different type of program that, and again, no offense,
4:27 Chief, that a badge and a holster don't help at that moment.
4:34 So I am very interested in exploring these ideas and seeing what other
4:39 communities are doing.
4:41 We're not trying to recreate the wheel, but I think it's important.
4:45 Specifically, the LGBTQIA plus community has a lot of issues with dealing with
4:54 mental health and maybe not getting all the resources that they require.
5:03 And I will quickly reiterate that I completely agree.
5:06 I have the utmost respect for both police department and the fire department.
5:10 This is not about not anybody doing their job or doing it extraordinarily well.
5:15 This is just adding a layer of resources, which I think is important.
5:18 And Councilperson Hamilton-Siner.
5:21 Thank you, Chair Baker.
5:23 And thank you, Councilman Evans, for this.
5:25 And yeah, I think this is a possible solution to an issue that we know,
5:32 Chief, you and I, we've had this discussion of who is in our jails at any given time.
5:37 And we know that the majority are either they have some sort of mental health issue
5:43 going on and or some sort of substance abuse disorder.
5:47 And people with mental health and substance use disorders do not belong in jail.
5:53 And they certainly belong.
5:56 This is an opportunity to have an intervention.
5:59 So I see this is not a replacement to, you know, law enforcement and public safety.
6:05 It's just another piece of public safety.
6:08 And it really is responsive to what we've seen in the community health needs
6:12 assessment, what we've seen over the couple of years, what I know even within
6:16 the schools and knowing how mental health is really is an issue that is is not talked
6:23 about enough. And there are a lot of people suffering in silence.
6:27 And we don't know about that suffering until it's too late sometimes.
6:31 And so this is an opportunity to create circles of community.
6:36 And, you know, I'm not sure if Councilman Evans wants to give a little bit of the
6:41 detail of how this would work or if we want to save that.
6:44 But I think it's really creating and filling a gap in services that we know
6:50 exist in the community.
6:52 And this would be just one piece of that filler.
6:56 And it might not be the filler.
6:57 We might realize that there are other fillers that we need to do.
7:00 But this is just one piece of that filler to help us in solving these issues
7:07 that we know are prevalent in our community.
7:11 Thanks. And just to answer that, I don't think we're going to get into the
7:13 details today about what we're talking about.
7:15 But it underscores my earlier point that this is a conversation we're going
7:20 to be reaching out to the three of you, particularly about in the near
7:24 future, to sit down and just talk about logistics and the things we're hearing
7:28 from community members, the things we've seen in other communities.
7:31 And then obviously we want to know what's going on in the ground because
7:33 you don't have a hundred percent picture.
7:35 And the neighborhood paramedic program is built into this greatly as well.
7:40 I mean, it would be like super integrated.
7:42 So we're doing some of this work.
7:44 I know our officers do amazing work, but just want to make sure that
7:49 we as a community are providing every possible resource to folks,
7:52 especially those who are having during a mental health crisis or
7:56 suffer from mental health issues.
8:00 Yeah, Director Berry.
8:03 I really appreciate you bringing this topic forward.
8:05 I think it's something that we all experience, particularly our safety
8:09 forces, human services.
8:11 I think probably everyone in the community's been in a situation that
8:15 someone that has training in this type of work would would help
8:22 get a better result.
8:23 I think this is something that the administration has been thinking about
8:27 and working on for a number of years now, particularly after the
8:30 community health needs assessment as it came up as one of the primary
8:34 things that we could look at.
8:37 And very recently we had conversations with Cuyahoga County and the
8:41 mayor brought in Brandy Carney from their emergency management team.
8:46 And she is part of the current push from, you know, the Shaker Heights
8:51 and that thing to create like a co-responder model in the community.
8:56 I think one of the things that Lakewood has that other communities
9:00 don't have, of course, is a Department of Human Services.
9:02 I think we're a very unique community in that way.
9:05 And we also have internally a lot of connections.
9:10 And we do a lot of this work very informally in many ways already.
9:15 And I will speak for human services in particular.
9:19 We have been working towards, as many of you know, breaking down some of the
9:24 silos within our department and creating a more generalized Department of
9:28 Human Services and not, you know, a division of aging, a youth in early
9:31 childhood, and they can't cross.
9:35 And we've actually since October stood up some some a position that's
9:41 actually doing some of this crisis intervention work.
9:43 And they've actually intervened alongside police and fire and well
9:48 over a hundred different crisis situations.
9:52 And I think that's one of the things I definitely want to get us all in a room
9:55 and talking about this topic.
9:57 But I think it's important that we look at what we do, what makes us
10:02 unique as a community, what services and supports are already existing
10:06 within the community.
10:07 How can we leverage those?
10:08 And I think we're on a really good path right now to creating a model
10:13 that works for Lakewood because some of these other models, you know,
10:17 they work for Shaker, they work for other communities.
10:19 But I think we have a unique opportunity to do something innovative as we
10:25 always have and really have a strong impact in the community,
10:30 a strong impact in these types of situations.
10:33 And I think we're already really doing fairly well at that already.
10:38 So it'd be nice to have the opportunity to share the work that
10:42 Neighborhood Paramedic is doing with our team, that we're doing with
10:44 the neighborhood police officers as well and the rest of the team.
10:49 So, you know, I welcome that.
10:51 But I would say that there is a lot of good work already going on.
10:56 We've, you know, found quite a bit of funding externally as well
11:01 for these programs.
11:02 And we're really trying to stand up a very thorough and supports
11:11 around the community and specifically for Lakewood.
11:16 Thank you, Dr. Barry.
11:17 And I can just say as a ward councilperson, I've experienced a lot of
11:20 your department's help.
11:21 And this is what I would suggest as well, that this is not only
11:24 law enforcement, not only human services, but the building department.
11:29 I've that's kind of a pathway into some of these issues where
11:32 particularly with the mental health issues associated with hoarding,
11:37 you know, where there aren't many resources in which you can,
11:41 and this is Lakewood Alive.
11:42 I've experienced this through my time as an ex-ficio member of their board
11:46 about you can help someone clean out their house.
11:49 But then if they have an underlying medical condition or mental health
11:52 issue, then it's just going to reoccur.
11:54 So it sounds like the administration is already doing this work.
11:58 Sounds like we can work together to help supplement that work.
12:01 And so I'm excited to see what comes of it.
12:03 And this is really good.
12:07 But I would advise, it sounds like you've got the court,
12:09 sounds like you've got police, sounds like you've got fire.
12:12 I just recommend building.
12:13 You have the court, too.
12:16 Mr. Chair, just one thought.
12:18 I'm not going to speak too long because I'm not going to be able to
12:20 say it as well as Chad did.
12:22 But we had a, he's being modest.
12:25 We had a meeting with Brandi Carty last week about a separate issue.
12:29 And she specifically pointed out Lakewood that she wants us to be the model
12:33 for Cuyahoga County.
12:35 So it was nice to hear.
12:36 He wasn't in the meeting.
12:36 But I just want to say that his crew was very well received and well
12:43 respected by the county.
12:44 And they went, like I said, they actually said the words,
12:46 we want Lakewood to be the model.
12:48 So good work, Chad.
12:51 Yeah, well, that's excellent.
12:54 And I think we can be the model, but we can always supplement and get
12:58 So excited to help from a council perspective and see how we can do that.
13:02 Anything else on that one?
13:05 The next one, I think, is public art enhancement, particularly Bernie's
13:10 Councilperson Striebeck.
13:12 I'm looking at the budget estimate.
13:13 Do we want to just leave that as policy then?
13:17 Yeah, so going, and this is, as I've thought about this more,
13:23 I think this document is essentially a working draft.
13:28 But I wouldn't say that, like, it's not legislation.
13:31 So for purposes of the law department's advice about making sure we don't have
13:36 that many people working on something, I expect that when we get through this
13:39 communication, I'm going to receive and file this communication.
13:41 And so it's going to go away effectively on the docket.
13:44 And then we can each work on these issues.
13:48 Would be my intention, unless members of this committee or my colleagues on
13:52 council feel differently.
13:55 But I think this is just a snapshot in time.
13:56 This was our best guess when we were putting together these issues on
14:01 So I don't see this $600,000 as, like, this is going to go in the budget next year.
14:04 I see this was Brian's best guess at what it might cost.
14:07 This is, I mean, actually a placeholder number given to us by somebody else
14:11 of what it would cost for us to pay for this service out of pocket,
14:14 which is why we use that number.
14:16 But I totally agree.
14:18 You know, that was the genesis of what we're talking about.
14:20 But that might not be the right model.
14:21 Obviously, there's going to be some resources put to it.
14:24 That's comfortable.
14:24 But, like, I agree with your assessment.
14:27 This is probably not something that's expended next year.
14:30 But I think it's a good placeholder for how much money a program like this could
14:38 And ultimately, I think what might come out of this is simply a communication to
14:43 the docket that kind of goes through these and says, hey, this is the budget
14:46 priority. This is 27.
14:50 And then we kind of just note it, right?
14:53 And I'm happy to draft that communication and then put it on the docket.
14:58 Probably when we get back in September, just so we memorialize it.
15:02 Unless anyone has any comments otherwise.
15:08 So then on to public art advancement.
15:10 I think this is Councilman Evans as well.
15:12 Yeah, I was lucky enough to get split in two days over my talk all at once.
15:19 So, yeah, we allocated $100,000 this year.
15:24 And we like to keep that moving into next year for public art.
15:28 Specifically, with Bernice Pike Park in mind, our public art program has been
15:32 doing some really great work throughout the community.
15:37 It's been primarily focused on 2D projects.
15:39 So murals, things like on a wall or on the ground, which are all fantastic.
15:44 But there's an appetite in the community to do more sculptural projects, more
15:50 experiential projects.
15:51 So that's where we're hoping to support the planning department to be able to do
15:55 those kinds of works.
15:56 We do have money in the, I believe it's the 28th budget for Bernice Pike Park,
16:05 And our goal is to use monies over the next two years to support that project
16:10 as a 3D, again, sculptural project that celebrates the history of women that
16:20 have contributed to the city of Lakewood, a perfect place to do it.
16:23 And I think it makes a lot of sense.
16:24 It will be a really good project to also take care of some of the projects we
16:30 already have that are needing maintenance and also general funding.
16:33 We just finished our public art master plan.
16:36 It's a very great document.
16:38 If you haven't had the chance, I ask you to, you know, please take a moment
16:42 But there are so many great priorities in that.
16:44 We want to be able to support the city, our residents and that document
16:50 with additional funding.
16:54 Any other folks that want to work on this?
16:57 I think it's Bullock and Keppel.
17:04 And as we talked about this, too, is we do have in the capital plan
17:08 of general improvements to Bernice Pike Park in 28, there's, of course,
17:14 the capital plan is five-year sort of outlook.
17:16 It's not necessarily written in stone.
17:17 The money hasn't necessarily been allocated yet.
17:20 But the original plan was for $50,000 more for planning and then 29,
17:26 $250,000 for implementation.
17:30 And I think this part, this vision to me is also part of what I was
17:34 envisioning is this public art, as Councilman Evans mentioned,
17:39 working in with that, but also being thoughtful about Lakewood Common
17:43 opening and that will have increased numbers of folks in that area.
17:49 Bernice Pike Park is utilized right now by a lot of the residents right
17:53 around that area and will have even more in the area.
17:56 So I think if we are able to push forward potentially some of the work
18:02 at Bernice Pike Park, maybe do a little planning this year and start
18:07 build out in 28, I think that would potentially be ideal with
18:10 everything else happening.
18:11 But just throwing that in the mix.
18:13 But I would love to see Bernice Pike Park and on Niki Antonio Way.
18:21 It seems like a perfect place to do this type of work, so thanks.
18:27 Councilperson Strubing?
18:29 I'm thrilled for this, especially when we start to talk about
18:32 the history of women in Lakewood.
18:34 And I would recommend, obviously, you're at three already.
18:38 I'd love to be the fourth to utilize the archives
18:45 of the Historical Society in Lakewood, as well as the League of Women Voters.
18:50 When this park was first being considered as a park and they reached
18:57 out to me about a name on it and I had made a suggestion and Pam Smith
19:01 had a completely different idea because she knew all the history
19:05 and she said, no, no, no, that's got to be Bernice Pike Park.
19:08 And for all the reasons that it was correctly named that.
19:11 So definitely we want to keep them in the loop with who we should absolutely
19:16 be including in this park.
19:20 Councilman Bullock?
19:23 Agree with this, not just...
19:26 So there's kind of two layers.
19:27 One is what Councilwoman Strubing and Councilwoman Keppel just said
19:31 about Bernice Pike Park as a great first next step for our public art work.
19:42 And I'm grateful that the Public Arts Board and the director
19:47 and Councilman Evans are looking at a multi-year view of expanding
19:53 our really great work with public art over the last five years
19:58 to whatever comes next.
20:00 And so I thought Councilman Evans said it nicely,
20:04 sculptural and experiential, some kind of interactive stuff.
20:07 So I don't claim to be the art engineer, which...
20:12 Those are conflicting terms.
20:15 I just outed myself as why I'm not trying to direct that.
20:19 But I do want to resource it and I do want us to be ambitious
20:22 that we're every year doing a little bit more,
20:23 getting a little better, being a little more creative.
20:26 So I'm really supportive of what the Councilman said.
20:30 You know, we allocated $100,000 this year,
20:32 $100,000 next year, so we have a sustained,
20:35 somewhat higher budget pace
20:38 to give more financial capacity to this whole deal.
20:43 Do we know, and I don't know if the director can say,
20:45 how are things going this year
20:46 with the use of the existing funds
20:49 that I know it was kind of a memorialized agreement
20:52 with the Finance Department of Economic Development.
20:54 We had those allocations up to $100,000.
20:58 I heard you about the plan.
20:59 I'd love to see that plan from Cuyahoga County
21:01 at the right time, but I think the hope and intent
21:05 was we could begin to use the time this year
21:08 and some of those dollars for design,
21:11 beginning of some design work.
21:17 Through Chairman Baker,
21:20 we haven't expended any of the additional dollars yet,
21:23 but we still have quite a bit of the year left.
21:26 But actually the master plan
21:28 will be coming before you in September.
21:31 And as Councilman Evans said,
21:33 it is gonna be recommending different styles of art.
21:37 So sculptures are something,
21:39 and place making art is also one of the recommendations.
21:44 So I think you'll be happy to see that.
21:47 And then as far as the park,
21:49 because this is kind of two different layers,
21:50 one is the public art,
21:52 which traditionally if you have a piece
21:54 going into the park, it goes to Planning Commission.
21:57 At least that's what I've been told.
21:58 I haven't been here since that's happened.
21:59 But, and then there's just the park planning
22:02 in general that needs to occur,
22:03 and we've had that discussion before.
22:04 So we've talked internally about doing a master park plan,
22:09 but if that doesn't happen,
22:11 we obviously would have to do a specific park plan
22:14 for this Bernice Pike Park.
22:17 Thanks for the update.
22:18 And so I think the concept here,
22:21 I deeply appreciate how city,
22:23 your department and others too
22:25 have been really thrifty with the tax dollars
22:28 and getting quite a lot done with a small amount.
22:32 What I'm hoping though
22:32 is that we're not gonna cannibalize
22:35 So let's continue the good things we're already doing,
22:37 and there's more financial capacity to add this, right?
22:40 And so I guess we'll talk in September,
22:43 and hopefully then use the fourth quarter
22:45 to be able to get a head start in the coming year.
22:49 That's my strong, thanks.
22:52 Yes, Councilman Evans.
22:53 Yeah, it would be my goal to use a portion of this
22:56 to start an RFP process fourth quarter this year
22:59 for design of that public art,
23:01 signature public art piece at Bernice Pike Park.
23:04 I think it'll be important to get a head start in that too,
23:06 because I think this is something
23:07 that's also gonna draw the potential
23:10 for private investment in this,
23:12 which any way we can pull more dollars into this
23:14 and have a more substantial piece.
23:15 I mean, contrary to wide brief,
23:17 public art is not cheap.
23:19 It's expensive to build.
23:21 And the people who design it and install it
23:24 deserve to be paid a living wage as well.
23:26 So as many resources can be to the table,
23:28 even though we're committing a lot here from the city,
23:31 I think there's the opportunity to expand that.
23:32 And so if we can build excitement
23:34 with a powerful design that speaks to people,
23:38 I think we can set ourselves up
23:40 for some really amazing success once this comes online.
23:43 Well, I encourage Dr. Bainton's point,
23:48 sounds like there's Bernice Pike Park,
23:50 and then there's the larger issue of funding public art.
23:56 So I would encourage the three of you to kind of dig in
23:59 and work with the planning department to see that.
24:01 I would, as we're going through this process,
24:05 I think funding a master plan for the parks generally
24:10 would be a good idea,
24:11 or working with the administration
24:12 to see that we can find funding for that,
24:15 because I think we've gone a long time without it.
24:19 Yeah, and so now those can be pulled apart maybe.
24:24 But so I think it sounds like there's some willingness
24:28 from the administration.
24:29 I'd encourage you all to work with the administration on it
24:31 and see where we can go.
24:34 Anything else on public art or Bernice Pike Park?
24:39 I love parks, so all good.
24:42 Yeah, and for public art, I'm gonna throw,
24:47 when they come with a master plan,
24:49 we're gonna have hopefully lots of real estate
24:51 along the interstate soon
24:53 that we'll be able to accept some neat art.
24:58 So the next one is handball.
25:00 And I know we have Mr. Vargas and some students here,
25:03 but I'd like to hear from the council members
25:06 proposing this, what they're thinking
25:07 from a budget priority standpoint,
25:09 and then mainly because there are students here.
25:12 If they would like to speak,
25:13 I'll give them opportunity to.
25:16 And then, so who's leading this charge?
25:18 Councilperson Kevill.
25:22 So this one's fairly straightforward
25:24 of what we're trying to do,
25:25 but so the goal is to establish a handball court
25:29 for open community play.
25:31 Handball enthusiasts, notably the numerous youth
25:33 who have advocated for a community court,
25:35 note the benefits of exercise and the sense of belonging
25:38 they feel being part of a shared experience.
25:41 Additionally, the community health needs assessment
25:42 action plan identifies middle school,
25:45 out of school time engagement
25:46 as a main opportunity for action.
25:49 It also talks about that shared community experience
25:53 and interconnectedness.
25:57 Handball players of all ages benefit
25:59 from having a freely accessible court,
26:01 and the community benefits
26:02 by having youth engaged in healthy activity.
26:05 So this is something to where when we talk about
26:07 out of school time, which is my wheelhouse,
26:10 that middle school age is crucial for time
26:14 for young people to be positively engaged,
26:17 build pro-social connections, and stay out of trouble.
26:21 So when they're coming to us and saying,
26:24 we'd like to play outside together, please,
26:27 I'd like to support that.
26:29 So this, you know, we did have a meeting
26:34 talking about some of the various options
26:36 and challenges with a couple of council members,
26:40 Triebig and Hamilton Steiner,
26:42 and I did with the planning
26:43 and with some folks from the rec department
26:47 through the schools.
26:48 And we talked about some temporary solutions,
26:51 but I wanted to go ahead and bring this forward
26:54 as the $50,000 amount is sort of on the higher end
26:59 of what it might cost to actually build one in the parks.
27:03 And, you know, with the potential for adding this
27:07 into attaching to an existing structure,
27:11 it does also suit with the community vision.
27:14 And I went back and looked at some of the other
27:17 Madison Park Master Plan and some of the other plans
27:21 like the Resiliency Task Force Action Plan,
27:25 and this really fits in with just about all of them.
27:29 Now it was included in Madison Park Master Plan,
27:31 but some of these kids wouldn't have been
27:34 in middle school and learning handball yet,
27:36 and we also didn't ask middle school use,
27:37 we asked elementary school use.
27:38 So anyway, I'll say not that it has to go
27:40 at Madison Park, but this is the idea being
27:43 that it's something that, you know,
27:46 I think that there's multiple avenues to yes,
27:48 and I'd like to explore getting there.
27:53 Anything, Councilman Evans.
27:55 I'll just say that I have not been involved
27:57 in the conversations about, you know,
28:00 where this goes or the logistics or anything,
28:02 but in my ward are part of Lakewood Park,
28:06 Coffman Park, and Wegar Park.
28:09 Any one of those could just by casually looking at it
28:11 fit a handball courts, and I'd be very supportive
28:14 of that infrastructure at any one of those parks,
28:16 if not more than one.
28:21 Councilperson Strubing.
28:23 Yes, I am very much in support of bringing handball
28:28 outdoor courts to our parks,
28:30 and also very much in support of coordinating
28:35 with the YMCA for indoor courts,
28:37 because January, February outdoor courts
28:42 can be a little bit difficult,
28:44 and I have had conversations with Mr. Kevin Bourne-Crow
28:48 at the YMCA, and I think he and Cesar
28:51 are having communication still
28:53 about getting something done there, so.
28:59 Thank you, and I'll say that, you know,
29:02 I'm not working on this directly,
29:04 but to President Keppel's point,
29:07 I mean, we have age cohort of children
29:11 that we don't have, you know,
29:12 you can go to parks and play on playground equipment,
29:14 but it's hard, usually when 13 to 14-year-olds,
29:17 15-year-olds are mulling about,
29:19 people are like, why are they loitering, you know?
29:20 So let's give them something to do
29:22 so that's a positive outcome.
29:25 So I certainly support this.
29:26 What I will ask is the administration folks,
29:28 whether it's public works or planning,
29:30 or the mayor, have we, are we all on the same page
29:35 that there's something we should try to do,
29:36 or are there roadblocks that we need to be aware of?
29:45 All right, I guess it'll be me.
29:48 Chair, honestly, I'm gonna need to know
29:52 some things a little bit further.
29:54 I know when I was sitting here listening,
29:57 you guys had mentioned Madison Park, if I'm correct,
30:00 Kaufman Park, or Cove, was that the three?
30:02 I just wanna make, Wager?
30:04 Yeah, and I don't think we should limit it to those.
30:06 Yeah, I think it's just finding a solution.
30:08 It's not. Okay, understood.
30:11 I mean, I have a lot of questions,
30:13 so it would probably be best if we met
30:15 and kind of discuss this a little bit further.
30:19 I am very intrigued to see
30:21 where you guys may have obtained that number,
30:24 because in my research, my number's nowhere near that,
30:28 so I would be, I would love to know
30:31 where that particular number came from,
30:35 so I can do further research on that.
30:37 And then again, I don't know
30:39 what planning would have to say,
30:41 but just to have some further discussions
30:44 on what everybody's thinking.
30:45 What number did you get?
30:48 I'm well above that, well, well above that.
30:51 So we're talking 100 grand, 200 grand?
30:53 I would say we're at least two times to three times that.
30:55 So 100, 150 grand is what you think it'll cost?
30:59 Where did you get those numbers from?
31:01 I got that directly from the contract
31:03 that I put in all of our courts.
31:05 So our tennis ball and pickleball courts?
31:10 And that was just the start.
31:13 Define just the start.
31:15 As in a ballpark number.
31:17 Okay. We haven't got in,
31:18 no, like, okay, if we choose this area,
31:21 what do we got going on here?
31:23 Again, that's why I'm intrigued
31:25 to kind of know where that number came from,
31:28 because I would love to take it back and say,
31:31 well, here's a number.
31:34 So again, I mean, I think there's further discussions
31:38 And when you get involved in adding an amenity to a park,
31:43 it turns into what are we taking away?
31:46 And what we have found,
31:48 at least what I have found from the public,
31:51 not that I'm against handball whatsoever,
31:53 that's not what I'm saying,
31:54 is that in a lot of situations,
31:56 the green space that we do have in parks,
31:58 people in a lot of situations wanna keep.
32:01 So it could put me in a little bit of a tough position
32:06 because in a lot of the,
32:07 in the public meetings we've had,
32:08 whether it's been about playgrounds
32:10 or anything like that,
32:11 green space has been something that has been wanted.
32:14 And now I would be,
32:16 we would be going in and removing that.
32:19 So again, there's just,
32:20 there's a lot of factors to consider.
32:22 Not that me, particularly, I'm just speaking for myself.
32:25 I'm against anything like this.
32:26 I just think there needs to be a lot
32:28 of further research done
32:30 and further discussions to be had
32:32 to see what would be the best option for the city.
32:37 Anything to add, Director Byneton?
32:41 No, our office has been,
32:43 but our office has been researching it
32:45 as far as what other communities are doing.
32:48 A little bit on the cost,
32:49 but I'll defer to Director Gordon on that.
32:52 But just in regard to space,
32:55 how much space it's gonna take up,
32:56 again, not only would you maybe be losing green space,
32:59 but if you're gonna turn a tennis court into handball.
33:02 So just, there just need to be a public process,
33:05 of course, but there's,
33:08 I don't think it's gonna be quite as easy
33:11 but we've definitely been looking at our parks
33:12 and seeing how they might be able to be fit in,
33:15 but there definitely would have to be give and take.
33:20 But it's something that we've been looking at.
33:25 And I will say that,
33:26 you know, green space is important.
33:28 I work for the preeminent green space organization
33:33 You know, 20 to 40 feet of paved things,
33:35 you know, I think we can find space for it
33:37 if there's a desire and a need for in our community.
33:40 But your point is well taken.
33:45 And I just wanted to note too,
33:46 that as I was looking through this too,
33:49 is that that's not necessarily,
33:52 I think as long as there's a will to get to yes,
33:55 And that there's multiple avenues.
33:57 We have things coming up in the capital improvement plan
33:59 and other parts of the park.
34:01 Like we talked about Bernice Pike,
34:02 there's a big wall there
34:03 that maybe we can connect with the garage,
34:05 although we'll see with that.
34:06 There's the bandstand improvements coming up.
34:09 There's potentially the pool house
34:12 at Becks and the pump house
34:14 so that there's other structures
34:16 that this could be tied into.
34:16 So there's a lot of options.
34:19 I'm not tied to one way of solving it.
34:21 I'm just trying to solve it.
34:24 And I do see Councilman Hamilton-Steiner.
34:27 Councilman Hamilton-Steiner.
34:28 Thank you, Chair Baker.
34:29 And thank you, President Keppel.
34:31 And I think I'm in agreement
34:34 and I think it's we have to,
34:36 if we all agree that yes,
34:38 this is what we want to provide for our youth
34:43 then I think it is finding whatever is that solution.
34:45 But I also think it involves,
34:47 it may involve a little bit of creativity
34:48 and thinking outside the box.
34:50 And we, seeing if there are spaces
34:53 that can be either repurposed,
34:55 like we did that with the food spot court.
34:57 It's a perfect example of a repurposing of a space
35:01 Or are there spaces that can be multi-use?
35:05 So I think just as we move forward
35:07 with these master plans
35:10 and just looking back and seeing,
35:11 are there spaces that we can even use as multi-purpose
35:15 that could be also a handball court.
35:19 Just something to think about.
35:21 And I think conversation with the schools
35:22 is also really important.
35:25 But I'm not gonna say that we're deferring
35:28 I'm saying we should have a conversation with schools.
35:31 But I do see, we're a little tight on time,
35:33 but I do see Mr. Vargas is here
35:35 and some students here.
35:35 Would you like to make any public comment?
35:41 Just come up to the microphone.
35:44 I don't think it's, is it read on?
35:47 So then say your name for the record
35:49 and then hit the button.
35:54 Hello, my name is Xander Hoffman
35:56 and I'm here to speak on the handball.
35:58 So I just left middle school
36:00 and there's not much room to play handball anymore
36:04 because we can't really go to anywhere and play.
36:06 Because as you said, we're not gonna get kicked out
36:09 or they don't want us hitting balls against a wall.
36:12 And I just think it's a really nice program
36:18 because I know that my little brother wants to do it
36:20 and he's in middle school
36:22 and I've taken him a couple times
36:24 to places that people aren't using
36:26 to hit the ball around a couple times
36:28 and he really likes it.
36:29 And so I think he's trying to get
36:31 his other little friends to play it a little.
36:34 And I just think it's really nice
36:36 that you can play with a lot of friends.
36:40 It's a great way to make friends.
36:42 Because if you're going to middle school
36:44 and you don't know anybody
36:46 except people that you know in elementary school,
36:50 you can go to handball
36:51 because there's most likely gonna be other people
36:53 in different schools that you didn't know before
36:56 and you're gonna make some new friends.
36:58 It's a great way to get exercise.
37:00 It's a great reason to go outside on a nice day.
37:03 So yeah, I think it's just a really nice addition
37:05 to have at Lakewood.
37:07 And I think a lot of people would really like it.
37:24 Should I hit a button here?
37:25 You're good, Mr. Buggers, yeah.
37:26 Yeah, I wanna say thank you
37:29 for recognizing the value in what we're doing
37:37 and keeping us in the conversation.
37:40 The last time I was here,
37:41 we were joined by 32 students,
37:46 both boys and girls alike,
37:48 and several students spoke on behalf
37:50 of getting a handball court in Lakewood
37:53 and also on how this perfect game benefited them
38:01 This coming school year,
38:03 we project to get another 15 to 20 new players
38:07 with this incoming sixth grade class.
38:10 We'll add that to the group that we already have,
38:13 and we're a little over 100 kids
38:15 that play handball in Lakewood.
38:20 Handball, it's a lifelong game
38:22 and is played by many types of people
38:24 of varying abilities.
38:26 I've seen firsthand our girls
38:30 compete against the boys
38:32 and win many times.
38:36 So it's not only about necessarily strength,
38:41 And they know how to play.
38:54 The value is apparent, right?
38:56 And the need is here,
38:59 so the question is where, right?
39:03 I scoured Lakewood in obvious places
39:06 and not so obvious places.
39:08 And I came up with three places
39:13 that would be perfect for handball.
39:15 And this is the three from least best to best.
39:19 And the least best, Madison Park.
39:25 There is a space that was a holding area for trees.
39:31 It's in front of the Rust Belt Riders' bins.
39:35 Looks like it used to be something else.
39:37 Maybe there was a building there and it got,
39:39 I don't know, now it's a parking lot or something,
39:42 but that will be a perfect area for a handball court.
39:45 The thing about that area is a new build
39:49 from the ground up.
39:51 New floor, new walls, fencing around it
39:55 to keep the ball inside.
39:58 So that's a potential space.
40:03 The second best place is Lakewood Park.
40:07 Lakewood Park already has the volleyball area,
40:10 pickleball, basketball, that awesome skate park,
40:13 baseball fields, why not a handball court?
40:17 I know firsthand from serious tennis players
40:20 that they don't go to play tennis at those courts
40:23 because of the plastic flooring that's there.
40:26 Not their favorite.
40:28 So there are three courts there.
40:31 If we take the most western court in that space,
40:35 take down the net, either pour a form wall
40:40 or build with cinder blocks and smooth it out,
40:43 the same material is gonna get us two handball courts
40:47 Just gotta redo the floor.
40:49 The fencing is there, add some benches,
40:52 a couple new trash cans,
40:54 and that solves the handball problem.
40:56 And again, it's at Lakewood Park, which is perfect.
41:00 You still have two tennis courts.
41:01 Losing one tennis court in Lakewood's
41:03 not gonna be a big deal.
41:04 I believe there are 16 of them.
41:07 We could take up one.
41:09 And the ultimate best would be,
41:12 and I know that there's been money spent already
41:15 recently at Kauffman, but the most western court
41:21 at that tennis court area
41:23 would also be a perfect space for handball.
41:26 The fencing is there, it's just building the wall
41:32 $50,000, I don't think it's gonna cost
41:34 that much to rebuild, to build a cinder block wall
41:38 or even a poured form and redo the floor
41:43 for the lines for the court.
41:47 Those are the three best places I could come up with.
41:51 And using that material to build one wall,
41:54 again, you're getting two of them.
41:56 You got both sides if you repurpose a tennis court,
41:59 which is perfect for the numbers
42:00 that we're gonna be having.
42:02 And I'm gonna continue.
42:05 I have a long time before I retire.
42:07 I'm gonna continue to introduce this game
42:09 and our numbers are just gonna get bigger.
42:11 And soon you'll see, well,
42:13 now we're gonna have to repurpose another one
42:14 because we got way many more people playing handball.
42:24 Our city's done an amazing job
42:27 keeping our citizens engaged and moving and active.
42:36 Building a handball court,
42:37 we can provide more people an option to practice
42:43 and continue to play this perfect game.
42:50 Thank you, Mr. Vargas.
42:51 And I'll say, you know,
42:53 I have three kids that are gonna go to Harding.
42:56 So I'm sure in a couple of years,
42:57 they're gonna be telling me
42:59 that they need more handball courts.
43:01 So yeah, another one, please.
43:06 Come up, say your name.
43:10 I live on Edwards Avenue here in Lakewood.
43:12 I wasn't planning on speaking today,
43:14 but I figured why not support the kids?
43:16 So both my kids go to,
43:19 well, my son just graduated Harding.
43:21 He goes to Lakewood High School, be a freshman.
43:23 And my daughter just finished her first year
43:25 at Harding as well too.
43:25 They're both in the handball club.
43:28 I've spent the last three years waking up at 6 a.m.
43:31 driving my son to handball club.
43:33 That starts at 7 a.m.
43:36 I don't know if you guys know what it's like normally
43:39 to get a child up that early, before school,
43:43 He would not miss it.
43:44 So talking about the passion,
43:46 I think we're kind of the same understanding
43:49 of saying, hey, the heart is there
43:52 for the kids to wanna play.
43:53 I work in operations,
43:55 figuring that kind of stuff out can get,
43:58 becomes a math problem in a lot of cases, right?
44:01 But I think it's where you wanna put the priorities
44:04 It's what's important to you.
44:07 When it comes to the green space,
44:09 I think it's the purpose of the green space
44:11 is to connect people to the outside in activity.
44:14 If the purpose of green space is that,
44:16 that's the same purpose as handball.
44:18 So I don't think you're taking anything away.
44:20 I think it's two sides at the same point.
44:22 So I think as long as you have,
44:23 as a lot of the council people have said,
44:25 the will to make it happen,
44:26 getting creative with the operations side is a no-brainer.
44:30 It'll take some efforts and work.
44:31 That's what you guys are here for.
44:32 That's literally the purpose of this group.
44:34 So I really appreciate you guys even considering it.
44:36 Thanks for the time.
44:39 So it sounds like we have some work to do
44:42 and the three folks indicated we'll do it,
44:45 but I'll happily support them.
44:48 Council member Bullock.
44:50 Thanks, great, thoughtful discussion.
44:52 And councilman Striebe,
44:53 I think you're the liaison to the youth leadership council.
44:56 We might have some prospects
44:59 for incoming youth leadership council leaders
45:01 from the handball club who continue to be eloquent.
45:06 I had a chance to visit Mr. Vargas this past week
45:10 or was it last week?
45:11 It was last week and he's donating his time
45:13 even in the afternoon.
45:14 So part of the challenge is that the two indoor courts,
45:19 there's one outdoors kind of in the driveway of Harding
45:22 right now is only accessible if you've got a teacher
45:26 who has access to the school.
45:27 So as councilwoman Keppel was saying,
45:30 if you have it in a park, then it increases access.
45:34 And I agree with councilman Steiner
45:36 who's pointing out that maybe there's cost savings
45:39 if we can find a location where you can have a multipurpose
45:43 is the thing Mr. Vargas was also arguing.
45:46 But I also appreciate that you don't have to be
45:49 any particular body type or gender.
45:54 It's a very accessible sport,
45:57 not a lot of expense, the ball and shoes.
46:02 And lifelong and so forth, so all ages do it.
46:05 Right now it's a youth practice,
46:07 but maybe this opens it up to adults.
46:09 I guess if we have any New York City emigres,
46:11 they all know to remember this.
46:15 To me a guiding light, maybe this is for the planners
46:17 and parks professionals here,
46:19 is if we've got a user group that's using a facility,
46:22 like we discovered we do have for Footsall
46:25 and we do have for Pickleball.
46:26 By the way, I played Pickleball for the first time
46:28 because my family got us Father's Day present
46:31 at Pickleball, so we're out there doing Pickleball.
46:34 You're gonna be the orthopedic surgeon soon.
46:36 Right, that's no comment.
46:39 So the, you know, I think that's wonderful
46:45 and it's another gift of Lakewood
46:47 that we've got all these subcultures
46:49 and layers of our community.
46:50 It's just brimming with all this interest.
46:52 So I think it's terrific if we've got
46:54 a handball following and it's growing and it's working
46:57 and it's for middle school kids.
46:59 They, you know, are also high school kids.
47:01 Terrific, let's try it out.
47:03 Let's do Councilwoman Keppel said,
47:05 find one or two spots, evaluate the use level
47:08 and then consider what comes next.
47:12 Thank you and we started about 10 minutes late
47:14 so I don't like to go over.
47:15 I think I'm gonna try to go 10 minutes.
47:17 So we'll see what we can get done in 10 minutes
47:19 then we may have to come back for another meeting.
47:22 I think the next one is the help,
47:24 the Home Improvement Loan Program
47:26 and that's, I think Evans wrote it or Keppel wrote it.
47:37 All right, great, thanks.
47:38 And handball folks, feel free to leave
47:41 if you would like, it's not rude
47:43 but you're welcome to stay as well.
47:44 So, okay, so this one is
47:48 for Housing Improvement Loan Programs.
47:51 So the Housing Enhancement Loan Program,
47:53 help sponsored by Cuyahoga County
47:56 traditionally offered a 3% interest rate reduction
47:59 on a fixed rate equity loan
48:01 to eligible homeowners undertaking repair
48:03 and rehabilitation projects.
48:05 For instance, such as building new garages
48:07 like we were just hearing about
48:08 in the meeting prior to this one.
48:10 With that program paused
48:11 and the increased cost of repairs,
48:13 this priority is to identify
48:15 how the city could modify an existing city program
48:19 or establish a new program
48:21 to help homeowners with low, moderate income
48:24 complete home improvements affordably.
48:26 And I'll just add to this too
48:28 is when we, fairly recently,
48:30 we went through some of the programs that we have
48:33 that use federal dollars
48:35 and some of their various restrictions.
48:37 The HELP program had fewer restrictions
48:41 and so, and was very popular,
48:44 didn't stop because it wasn't popular,
48:48 stopped because of being able to finance it.
48:50 So the idea, this is a big, big idea,
48:54 but is looking at doing something similar,
48:59 designing a program that's liquid appropriate
49:02 for residents, particularly low and moderate income,
49:05 to be able to make important repairs in their home
49:09 as fits with affordable housing strategy,
49:11 community health needs action plan, community vision.
49:14 And I have a fairly large number
49:20 to kick us off of thinking of the kind of seed money
49:23 with the idea of a loan program
49:24 being replenished over time.
49:26 Now, I don't envision that we would be ready
49:29 to launch this in 2027,
49:31 but would, in 2027, probably more of a policy level
49:36 where we'd be looking and looking at community partners,
49:39 whether that's some of, you know,
49:41 first federal liquid or some of the other
49:43 potential partners that could work with us on this
49:46 and thinking what really we need here in Lakewood.
49:49 So I'll stop talking there.
49:51 Yeah, and I indicated I would work
49:55 with President Keppel on this.
49:56 I do think, I used the help loan for my own home.
50:00 It was the easiest loan I ever got,
50:03 but then it allowed me to quickly implement the money
50:06 and put it in the house,
50:07 which then increased the equity for Lakewood,
50:09 myself, and everyone else.
50:11 So now I think what we're gonna have to really figure
50:14 out is if the administration's on board with this,
50:17 talk to the county.
50:18 I think a win would be to getting the county
50:20 just to redo this loan program so we don't have to,
50:24 in the sense that they wouldn't then exploring,
50:26 I think they just buy basis points off of the HELOC,
50:30 the home equity loan.
50:31 And so I'm not sure that they're actually
50:32 fronting the money.
50:33 They're just working with the bank
50:35 to then buy some basis points.
50:38 So I think it's gonna take some time to figure out.
50:41 Any other comments from colleagues on this one?
50:45 I just wanted to say for the record,
50:47 I've been talking to Ian Andrews in the planning department.
50:49 I don't know if you have an update, Director Barrington,
50:51 but he's been trying doggedly to get some answers
50:53 out of the county for why exactly was this stopped?
50:57 I mean, I think we know why.
50:58 If there's any kind of backup plan for this
51:02 or reshaping the program,
51:05 and they've just been stonewalling them.
51:06 So the city, thank you, is working
51:10 to at least get some answers
51:12 and to see if there's any backup,
51:13 but I think it's certainly worth looking
51:15 at taking this on our own
51:17 if we're not gonna be having the county
51:19 as a resource for that.
51:22 Anything to add, Director Barrington?
51:27 Ian's been calling and emailing
51:29 and he hasn't had any luck so far,
51:31 but as you know, we are evaluating our programs.
51:35 We're getting some other communities,
51:37 housing specialists and directors together
51:40 to go over their programs to compare them
51:42 and kind of see if we can be a little more creative.
51:44 So we're working on it,
51:46 but we're gonna continue to harass the county as well.
51:52 And I'm, you know, it's,
51:55 cause if they're just gonna say no,
51:57 then I'd want their notes at least
51:59 how they did it so that we can think about
52:02 if it might be too big, right?
52:04 Or it might be something we can do.
52:05 And I think that's important.
52:07 And they're a partner.
52:08 We have, you know, the county are good people
52:09 and we work well with them.
52:11 And so hopefully we can figure something out.
52:14 But it sounds like this is not a 2027 budget issue,
52:17 but it's something we wanna,
52:18 or yeah, it's a policy issue
52:19 and we wanna work on it really hard.
52:24 I'll just add that, you know,
52:25 I think those of us with connections
52:28 to our county elected officials
52:30 can try to leverage those to get some answers as well.
52:34 And I will certainly be doing that.
52:37 Tried that a little bit.
52:41 So let's see what we can do in five minutes.
52:42 Charter amendment education.
52:44 This one should be pretty quick
52:45 because this is essentially, as you all know,
52:48 we've been working on the charter amendments.
52:50 This is just more of,
52:52 as we were talking about what everybody's doing,
52:54 this is something I've been spending time on
52:57 and will continue to spend time this year.
52:58 The money is already in the 2026 budget.
53:02 This would just be for some information to voters
53:06 about what each of these amendments are,
53:09 understanding the language,
53:11 not saying to vote for or against it,
53:12 but just what it is that will be on the ballot.
53:15 As well as just communicating
53:17 that it will be on the ballot,
53:18 assuming it passes out of full council,
53:21 which it has not yet done.
53:22 So that is making that assumption,
53:24 but since it's out of committee of the whole.
53:28 It's not a 2027 budget.
53:29 It's just a priority, yep.
53:33 Yeah, I mean, do you envision some budget
53:36 like mailings or anything?
53:38 Yes, but we already, that's in the 2026 budget.
53:41 Okay, great, thank you.
53:43 Any other comments from folks?
53:46 No, citywide composting.
53:48 Now we can, so we have four more.
53:51 We could probably get it done in a half hour,
53:52 but let's at least start with citywide composting,
53:55 but be mindful that people may have obligations.
53:57 And so I think this is Councilperson Hamlin-Steiner.
54:02 Thank you, Chair Baker.
54:03 So this is essentially,
54:06 I've been working on the composting since last year,
54:10 and I've been working closely with Director Buyington
54:13 and Sophia in the planning office.
54:16 And so this is just, you know,
54:19 similar to President Kappel,
54:20 just a continuation of the work
54:22 that we've been working on
54:23 and trying to get the composting rolls out
54:28 This is something that is tied directly
54:31 to a climate action plan,
54:32 which this body prior to me being on this body
54:36 passed unanimously.
54:37 So I think it ties directly
54:40 into what the city said that we would do.
54:44 So I think it's important that this remains a priority.
54:48 I do have a budgeting item tied to there.
54:51 We do have dollars allocated for this fiscal year,
54:57 but based on the surveys,
54:59 we could have a potential need
55:00 to potentially have additional support.
55:05 But obviously, since it was budgeted in 2026,
55:08 if, you know, the dollars are tight,
55:11 that can be removed and we can sort of figure out
55:13 what we can do for composting
55:17 with that $50,000 and rolling out the program.
55:25 I think that's where we're at.
55:27 So yeah, the survey is finished.
55:29 And so I'm waiting to meet with planning Director Buyington
55:34 and potentially Mayor George to discuss next steps
55:39 and what we would like to roll out.
55:45 Any other comments on this one?
55:49 Being mindful, do you,
55:50 so we have implementation of racial equity plan,
55:53 Lakewood Community Circulator
55:55 and expansion of winter sidewalk maintenance.
55:57 I don't want to start them now.
55:59 Do we think a half hour or an hour to get through them?
56:01 I guess I'll look at those sponsors
56:03 or the folks that are interested in working on it.
56:05 Do you think we can get these three down in a half hour?
56:07 Do you think we need an hour or 45 minutes?
56:10 Yeah, for the next meeting.
56:15 All right, well, I'll work with the clerk
56:17 to notice an hour for finance committee on this.
56:21 Any, so, and then as I stated, I think a good,
56:26 this is new, we're all learning this.
56:28 I do think that this process has been really productive
56:31 to kind of highlight to our colleagues
56:32 what we're working on policy-wise, budget impacts.
56:36 Everything can use refinement,
56:38 so we'll see what happens next year.
56:38 But I think this has been a really good start.
56:41 And then I think we will receive and file this communication
56:43 and then work on the things we said we're gonna work on,
56:46 right, and keep each other accountable,
56:47 keep ourselves accountable,
56:49 and the public can keep us accountable as well.
56:52 Any comments before we adjourn?
56:54 Councilman Bullock?
56:55 Mr. Chair, so there's one.
56:56 What you said is a good process.
56:58 Thank you for convening us
57:00 and allocating the sufficient time to go through it.
57:05 We did talk last time about the intent of ideally,
57:10 by July 30, signaling to the administration
57:13 that we're for certain things
57:17 so that they've got the information
57:19 at the beginning of their internal budget process
57:24 to include, we hope, some of what we would signal then.
57:29 So in other words, is there another mechanism
57:32 beyond filing the communication?
57:37 Do we need a piece of legislation?
57:40 Yeah, I mean, I don't know of legislation,
57:47 but I do think that the July 20th,
57:50 I think, council meeting is a full council meeting.
57:54 It's before July 30th.
57:56 So if we wrap up this work before the docket deadline
58:00 for July 20th, at least we can talk
58:03 about what that communication
58:04 and our next finance committee
58:05 talk about that communication.
58:06 So maybe we go through these three issues
58:08 and then we tell, hey, let's go back through tick-tick.
58:11 Then we talked about it,
58:12 but maybe I'll come with a framework.
58:15 We could have a resolution for consideration
58:17 on the July 20 meeting.
58:21 It needs one hearing.
58:22 That's one mechanism.
58:23 That may be overly formal, I suppose,
58:26 but on the other hand,
58:27 it would be a way for all seven council members
58:29 to vote and affirm or otherwise put down options there.
58:37 Yeah, that's a possibility.
58:39 I'd have to think about that more.
58:40 What the legal effect of a resolution would have
58:43 other than signaling and intention
58:45 to support certain things.
58:48 Right, Director Mahoney, do you have any comment on,
58:51 you were, I'm referencing a private conversation
58:54 I have with you, although we've talked about it
58:56 publicly a couple of times where, you know,
58:58 the timeline for the administration begins
59:01 approximately August 1st.
59:02 So if we got you information by July 30th,
59:05 that would be on time from your perspective.
59:08 In what form are you anticipating
59:09 that City Council would communicate priorities?
59:15 Well, I mean, I think this is a fine communication
59:18 just in itself so that when we go to the departments,
59:23 I believe a lot of these things
59:25 are already incorporated into the budget.
59:29 So,talk with each department, the budgets,
59:35 and we could just work with this communication.
59:38 Yeah, I think I'm in favor of basically
59:41 coalescing this into a communication.
59:44 Maybe we can call it a committee report or something,
59:47 as opposed to, so maybe the committee report out
59:51 to the docket on the July 20th board meeting
59:55 is kind of a memorialation of those things.
59:58 Because I think, you know, now that I'm thinking about it,
1:00:01 I don't think I want like a formal resolution.
1:00:03 That's just my preference, but we can talk more.
1:00:08 I think that makes sense with the report out.
1:00:11 And I was just gonna add to is that,
1:00:13 my hope is that council members,
1:00:16 as we've had these conversations
1:00:17 and we've had the conversations
1:00:18 with the respective directors,
1:00:20 is that those conversations with the council members
1:00:23 are going to be very, very important.
1:00:25 I think one of the things about these conversations
1:00:27 with the respective directors
1:00:28 is that those conversations are continued.
1:00:32 So as those directors are working with finance
1:00:34 on their budget, that when we're talking about
1:00:37 these things that they're included in,
1:00:40 so it's not their budget and our budget,
1:00:43 and that things that we're hopefully
1:00:45 including as much as we can with the same expectations
1:00:48 and there's not big surprises.
1:00:49 So that would be a great goal.
1:00:54 Mr. Finance Director, you said a moment ago,
1:00:56 you believe most of these things
1:00:58 are already included in the administration's plans,
1:01:04 you know, to be double-checked, right,
1:01:10 However, let's take, for example, the handball court
1:01:13 or, you know, the proposals
1:01:15 for a mental health response team.
1:01:21 The specifics of what you mean by,
1:01:23 I think it's already been included.
1:01:26 The details are gonna matter a lot
1:01:28 because I think City Council has specific ideas
1:01:33 and clear ideas attached to some of these proposals,
1:01:38 at least the ones that are not early stage indicators
1:01:45 of really future year programs.
1:01:46 Some of these are more ripe and ready for 2027.
1:01:50 But I'd be surprised if the administration
1:01:53 has all of these already included in the budget.
1:01:58 There is no budget right now.
1:02:00 That's gonna be very important.
1:02:02 So I think we're gonna need to communicate throughout.
1:02:07 So that's where an informal process would be,
1:02:10 then if the administration is gonna write a budget
1:02:13 and then it's everybody's budget,
1:02:15 but if the administration's interpretation,
1:02:17 in good faith, is something different
1:02:19 than what Council envisioned,
1:02:21 we're gonna have a discrepancy.
1:02:22 And if we wait until November 15,
1:02:24 the budget binder with the detail
1:02:26 that's not reflected traditionally
1:02:28 in our legislative ordinances,
1:02:31 we're gonna have differences to straddle there.
1:02:35 And I certainly understand what you're saying.
1:02:36 What I'm suggesting is that our work up here
1:02:41 But if we want to work with the people
1:02:44 who are tasked with 40 hours a week on behalf of the city,
1:02:47 we need to go and work with them on these things.
1:02:49 And so that's what I'm suggesting we do
1:02:53 we want 100 grand for this thing
1:02:55 and they could say, thanks, we're not spending it.
1:02:56 So, I mean, that's just the separation of powers, right?
1:02:59 And so we have to all work together
1:03:00 to make sure that we can make it happen.
1:03:03 So I don't, think we're gonna get 100% of what we want,
1:03:06 but we have the sword of Damocles, right?
1:03:08 We could say no and do whatever we want
1:03:11 So we all have to work together
1:03:13 because, as President Keppel said,
1:03:14 this is the city of Lakewood's budget.
1:03:17 it's not the administration's budget, it's our budget.
1:03:21 But your points are well taken.
1:03:23 And I think we're doing our best to create a good process.
1:03:27 We're already 15 minutes over.
1:03:28 So without any other objections, I will adjourn.