OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Lakewood City Council Regular Meeting - November 17, 2025

Council Meetings — Friday, November 14, 2025
BodyLakewood, Ohio
SessionCouncil Meetings
DateFriday, November 14, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:25:58

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

All right, we will call to order um the regular meeting of council.

0:04

If you're able, please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:24

Before we take our customary moment of silence tonight, I'm going to um turn it over to Councilmember Street.

0:31

Thank you.

0:32

Um November 19th is trans awareness week.

0:41

And on um 1120, it's trans remembrance day.

0:46

And I just wanted to do a quick reading for you.

0:49

This reading is from the Trans Remembrance Project.

0:52

Twenty-six years ago, trans activists in Boston organized the first trans day of remembrance to mourn those that we've lost and to demand an end to the violence against transgender people, particularly trans women of color.

1:07

When Rita Hester and Chanel Pickett were both lost to violent anti-trans attacks within a few years of each other, trans people came together to remember to mourn and to demand better for those who would come after them.

1:21

As we remember those loss of violence, we also grieve their stolen futures.

1:46

As trans people living openly as ourselves often require immense courage, and that courage inspires others to live more fully and authentically.

1:56

As one relative of Kelsey Elm, a 25-year-old black trans woman from Missouri who was lost this year, said watching Kelsey grow into her confidence and share it with the world was a blessing.

2:08

When we lose trans people, everyone loses so much.

2:59

During this time period, we had a total death of 58 people.

3:03

Total violent deaths were 27.

3:06

Total deaths by suicide 21.

3:10

Gun violence appears over and over in our data.

3:13

Out of 27 total violent deaths, 17 were due to gun violence.

3:18

61% of those lost to suicide were trans children ages 15 to 24.

3:25

The Trevor Project's latest study released in October 2025 shows that younger trans and gender nonconforming youth age 13 to 17 are at particular particular risk of suicidal ideology.

3:41

I'm sorry, ideation and poor mental health outcomes.

3:45

Discrimination and harassment, often targeted at trans women and girls, strongly affects mental health.

3:52

Trans people who were verbally harassed, denied equal treatment, or physically assaulted were very much more likely to experience suicidal thoughts.

4:02

On our list, 61% of those lost to suicide were between the ages of 15 and 24.

4:09

As Daniel De Honisano, Camorra mother, uh Comoral Woods mother said, love your child, accept your child for who they are, because life is too shortened.

4:20

You just don't know what can happen.

4:23

Thank you.

4:24

Thank you.

4:27

So as we take this moment of silence, uh just want to lift up our trans day of remembrance.

4:44

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

4:47

Vice President Baker.

4:48

Here.

4:49

Councilmember Bloch.

4:50

Here.

4:50

Councilmember Evans.

4:52

President Kevin.

4:53

Here.

4:53

Councilmember Marks.

4:55

Councilmember Hamilton Steiner.

4:56

Here.

4:57

Councilmember Streebig.

4:58

Here.

5:00

Reading and disposal of the minutes of the regular meeting of council held November 3rd, 2025.

5:05

Move to approve without the necessity of a reading.

5:07

Second.

5:08

Motion's been made and seconded.

5:09

Discussion.

5:11

Hearing none.

5:12

All those in favor?

5:13

Aye.

5:13

And that motion passes.

5:22

Move to approve without the necessity of reading.

5:24

Second.

5:24

Motion's been made and seconded.

5:26

Discussion.

5:28

I'd just like to thank uh Vice President Baker for chairing that meeting and making that happen.

5:33

Extremely difficult.

5:35

All right.

5:36

Any further discussion?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation███████████████15%
Public Engagement███████████████15%
Personnel Matters████████████12%
Active Transportation█████████9%
Procedural████████8%
Fiscal Sustainability█████5%
Transgender Day of Visibility████4%
Affordable Housing████4%
Zoning Code████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Lakewood City Council Regular Meeting - November 17, 2025

The Lakewood City Council held its regular meeting on November 17, 2025, at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included committee reports, adoption of several resolutions, referral of numerous budget and policy items to committees, and public comment on handball courts and bicycle infrastructure. The meeting was preceded by a moment of silence in recognition of Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Consent Calendar

  • Reading and disposal of minutes from the November 3, 2025 regular meeting and the November 10, 2025 special meeting were approved without objection.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Caesar Vargas (resident, Dale View Drive) spoke in support of adding proper handball courts in Lakewood, citing 60 existing players and the need for affordable, lifelong activity. He invited council members to observe the Harding Middle School handball club.
  • Charlie Amen (8th grader, Harding Middle School) supported Mr. Vargas, noting the lack of courts at Lakewood High School and the cooperative, multi-generational nature of the sport.
  • Cassie Organ (resident) commented on proposed bicycle infrastructure amendments, expressing concern that the definition of "mobility device" and new restrictions on bikeways and shared use paths could inadvertently ban adult e-bike users from using these facilities. She urged more nuanced consideration of e-bike classes and accessibility.

Discussion Items

  • Finance Committee Report (November 10, 2025): Councilmember Bullock reported on two items: (1) The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) recommended FY26 allocations of $1.75 million in CDBG funds and $160,000 in ESG funds, including first-time funding of $42,500 for the city's public art program. (2) Resolution 2025-65, authorizing a fourth amended lease with Lakewood Child Care Center at 1450 Belle Avenue, was amended to correct a typo and favorably referred. Councilmember Baker recused himself due to a conflict of interest (spouse on the board).
  • Health & Human Services Committee Report (November 10, 2025): Councilmember Marx reported on Resolution 2025-54, a two-year contract with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH) for public health services at $456,440 for 2026 and $511,458 for 2027 (12% increase each year). CCBH highlighted new mobile unit, speakers bureau, and IT investments. The committee favorably referred the resolution.
  • Housing, Planning & Development Committee Report (November 10, 2025): Councilmember Baker reported on a presentation from Lakewood Alive, noting a rise in senior participation (from 40% to 70% of their housing program). Council agreed to continue partnership.
  • Committee of the Whole Report (November 17, 2025): Council President Kepple summarized three options for city hall space solutions: (1) remain in existing city hall with small addition ($21.4M), (2) large addition plus annex renovation ($30.9M), (3) purchase Warren Road property, gut renovation, and convert current city hall to justice center ($39.7M). Resolution 2025-41 (Tree Advisory Board appointment) was amended to name Katie Kelleher and favorably referred.
  • Communication from Lakewood Youth Council: Councilmember Strebig presented a letter from the Youth Council strongly supporting reintroduction of a circulator bus or new transit within the city, citing chronic absenteeism, social isolation, and cost of cars. The communication was received and filed.
  • Community Recreation and Education Commission (CREC) Report: Councilmember Strebig reported on October 21 meeting, including winter brochure deadlines, fall sports updates, new pool lane lines, and a comprehensive inventory of outdoor basketball hoops at schools and parks. No current plans to add more hoops.
  • Budget and Finance Items: Finance Director Mahoney introduced six ordinances (31-2025 through 36-2025) covering 2025 year-end appropriations, 2026 budget, transfers, and purchasing/contracting authority. All were referred to the Finance Committee.
  • Petty Cash and Operational Cash Funds: Director Mahoney proposed updates to codified ordinances to adjust petty cash and operational cash funds, including removal of some departments and establishment of a fund for refuse. Referred to Finance.
  • Master Fee Schedule: Law Director Vargo proposed moving all fees from Administrative and Business Regulation codes into a single Master Fee Schedule (Resolution 2025-71 and Ordinance 30-2025). Both referred to Rules and Ordinances Committee.
  • Salary Ordinance and Benefits: HR Director Dillinger presented updates to the salary ordinance (Ordinance 37-2025) with 3% COLA for 2026, elimination of obsolete titles, and new license/certification supplements. Also proposed updated employment benefits for nonunion employees (Ordinance 38-2025) including faster vacation accrual, addition of Veterans Day as a holiday, and modified sick leave conversion. Both referred to Finance.
  • Pet Grooming Code Amendments: Assistant Planning Director Baas proposed amendments to make pet grooming a permitted use in C-2 and C-3 districts with supplemental regulations for noise/odor, replacing current conditional use restrictions. Ordinance 39-2025 referred to Housing, Planning & Development and Planning Commission.
  • Bicycle Infrastructure Code Amendments: Assistant Planning Director Baas proposed updates to definitions and regulations, including new sections on bikeways, shared use paths, and restrictions on mobility devices (e-bikes, e-scooters). Ordinance 40-2025 referred to Housing, Planning & Development and the CASE advisory board. Discussion noted concerns from Councilmembers Bullock and Baker about balancing safety and accessibility for e-bike users.
  • Vape Shop Moratorium Extension: Law Director Vargo presented Resolution 2025-72 to extend the existing moratorium on smoke shop permits until December 31, 2026, or until zoning code updates are enacted. The resolution was adopted.
  • Collective Bargaining Agreements: Law Director Vargo introduced Resolution 2025-73 to ratify eight tentative agreements covering more than 450 employees for 2026-2028. The resolution was referred to the Committee of the Whole, with Councilmember Bullock noting the need for careful review of financial implications.

Key Outcomes

  • Adopted: Resolution 2025-65 (Lease with Lakewood Child Care Center) – Councilmember Baker abstained.
  • Adopted: Resolution 2025-66 (FY26 CDBG/ESG Action Plan) – Unanimous.
  • Adopted: Resolution 2025-54 (Public Health Services Contract with CCBH) – Unanimous.
  • Adopted: Resolution 2025-41 (Appointment of Katie Kelleher to Tree Advisory & Education Board) – Unanimous.
  • Adopted: Resolution 2025-72 (Extension of Vape Shop Moratorium) – Unanimous.
  • Deferred: Resolution 2025-70 (LASWAB ex-officio appointment) – Council will discuss interested members.
  • Referred to Committee: Budget ordinances (31-2025 through 36-2025), petty cash ordinance (29-2025), master fee schedule (Resolution 2025-71 and Ordinance 30-2025), salary ordinance (37-2025), benefits ordinance (38-2025), pet grooming ordinance (39-2025), bicycle infrastructure ordinance (40-2025), and collective bargaining resolution (2025-73) were referred to appropriate committees for further discussion.
  • Note: The agenda listed the meeting date as November 17, 2025; however, the provided instruction stated the meeting occurred on November 14, 2025. This summary uses the date from the agenda and transcript, which is the actual meeting date.

Meeting Transcript

All right, we will call to order um the regular meeting of council. If you're able, please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. Before we take our customary moment of silence tonight, I'm going to um turn it over to Councilmember Street. Thank you. Um November 19th is trans awareness week. And on um 1120, it's trans remembrance day. And I just wanted to do a quick reading for you. This reading is from the Trans Remembrance Project. Twenty-six years ago, trans activists in Boston organized the first trans day of remembrance to mourn those that we've lost and to demand an end to the violence against transgender people, particularly trans women of color. When Rita Hester and Chanel Pickett were both lost to violent anti-trans attacks within a few years of each other, trans people came together to remember to mourn and to demand better for those who would come after them. As we remember those loss of violence, we also grieve their stolen futures. As trans people living openly as ourselves often require immense courage, and that courage inspires others to live more fully and authentically. As one relative of Kelsey Elm, a 25-year-old black trans woman from Missouri who was lost this year, said watching Kelsey grow into her confidence and share it with the world was a blessing. When we lose trans people, everyone loses so much. During this time period, we had a total death of 58 people. Total violent deaths were 27. Total deaths by suicide 21. Gun violence appears over and over in our data. Out of 27 total violent deaths, 17 were due to gun violence. 61% of those lost to suicide were trans children ages 15 to 24. The Trevor Project's latest study released in October 2025 shows that younger trans and gender nonconforming youth age 13 to 17 are at particular particular risk of suicidal ideology. I'm sorry, ideation and poor mental health outcomes. Discrimination and harassment, often targeted at trans women and girls, strongly affects mental health. Trans people who were verbally harassed, denied equal treatment, or physically assaulted were very much more likely to experience suicidal thoughts. On our list, 61% of those lost to suicide were between the ages of 15 and 24. As Daniel De Honisano, Camorra mother, uh Comoral Woods mother said, love your child, accept your child for who they are, because life is too shortened. You just don't know what can happen. Thank you. Thank you. So as we take this moment of silence, uh just want to lift up our trans day of remembrance. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Vice President Baker. Here. Councilmember Bloch. Here. Councilmember Evans. President Kevin. Here. Councilmember Marks. Councilmember Hamilton Steiner. Here. Councilmember Streebig. Here. Reading and disposal of the minutes of the regular meeting of council held November 3rd, 2025. Move to approve without the necessity of a reading. Second. Motion's been made and seconded. Discussion. Hearing none. All those in favor?

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