OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Lakewood Finance Committee Budget Hearing on November 24, 2025

Council Meetings — Monday, November 24, 2025
BodyLakewood, Ohio
SessionCouncil Meetings
DateMonday, November 24, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:23:53

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Okay.

0:01

Everybody ready to rock and roll.

0:04

Let's uh call to order the meeting of the November 24, 2025 uh finance committee hearing.

0:11

And uh this is the beginning of our 2026 budget process.

0:16

Thank you to members, Mayor, George, and members of the administration for being here and working so hard to prepare uh the budget proposal.

0:25

Um and I look forward to a productive schedule of conversations thanks to uh the council office, uh the council clerk and and and others on putting together a good agenda schedule of meetings, and we're in the first today.

0:39

Um before getting into the heavy lifting on the uh business tonight, let's consider some uh minutes for approval.

0:48

So first we've got the October 27 minutes uh from our meeting that day.

0:54

Is there a motion to approve the minutes?

0:57

Motion made.

0:59

Second.

0:59

Motion made a second in any discussion.

1:01

Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

1:02

Aye.

1:03

Aye.

1:03

Opposed.

1:04

The ayes have it.

1:05

And then we also have the minutes for the November 10, 2025 meeting of the finance committee.

1:10

Is there a motion to approve those minutes?

1:12

So move.

1:13

Motion been made.

1:14

Is it and seconded motion um is there uh discussion?

1:18

Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

1:20

Aye.

1:20

Aye.

1:20

Opposed, the ayes have it.

1:22

Um before okay, I would now like to turn also to the uh proposed resolution for the citywide composting program.

1:32

That's resolution 2025 uh dash 68.

1:39

I think this will be a short conversation.

1:42

Uh it's sponsored by councilwoman uh Hamilton Steiner, myself, and Councilwoman Marks.

1:49

Resolution to authorize the mayor to negotiate and enter into a contract with the composting provide with a composting provider for a citywide composting program, and specifically it would authorize the mayor to negotiate.

2:06

Well, just what I said, enter enter into the negotiated contract, negotiate and enter into a contract for composting service provider for the city for citywide composting services, including establishment of multiple drop-off location, regular collection services, and community education for any potential drop-off locations propose a non-city property, the mayor designee shall work with the with partner and coordinate with appropriate property owners to establish appropriate partnership agreements.

2:33

This language is broadly worded, doesn't get specific.

2:38

I think we could consider Finance Committee members recommending this language to the full council for adoption.

2:47

This the detail would come in an accompanying budget proposal, which uh I hope later tonight, Councilman Hamilton Steiner can present to us.

2:57

Um I guess I'd like to open this for conversation with uh committee members.

3:02

I I'd be willing to recommend adoption of the full council.

3:07

Um the other point is target to launch implementation on Earth A next April 22nd.

3:16

Any discussion, committee members?

3:21

Um Councilman Sweebick.

3:22

Thank you, Chair Bullock.

3:23

Yeah, I'm um I'm in favor of um citywide composting.

3:27

We've been doing composting at our house for years and years and years.

3:31

And I think um anything that we can do to keep things out of landfills and you know, enhance our yards by composting materials seems like a no-brainer to me.

3:42

So I'm I'm very much in support of this.

3:45

Thank you.

3:46

Thank you.

3:46

Uh Councilman Baker, any comments or questions?

3:50

No, I'm I'm in support of this.

3:52

Um I I would like to hear some discussion on like how we intend to operate it, um, but perhaps that's a little bit too far.

4:01

Thank you.

4:01

Um Councilman Steiner, I know do you want to speak now or do you want to hold uh it for later in the agenda?

4:09

Uh whatever.

4:10

Go ahead now if you're sure.

4:11

I mean, um, so uh so the operization of that would be the composting provider.

4:22

Um so I've uh been speaking with Director Byington and uh one of the planners, Sophia, as well as our composting committee friends.

4:31

Um and we've been talking about you know how this could get rolled out, how this could work.

4:36

We've um are still in the process of um completely gathering day gathering data.

4:42

I've been in conversation with um a composting, a potential composting provider that can provide the services about how we can roll this out.

4:50

And um I know that um there had been some preliminary proposal work that had been done um around this and uh and doing a pilot program.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████15%
Water And Wastewater Management███████████████15%
Budget Equity Analysis██████████10%
Environmental Protection█████████9%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Personnel Matters██████6%
Healthcare Access██████6%
Procedural█████5%
Parks and Recreation█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Lakewood Finance Committee Budget Hearing on November 24, 2025

Note: The agenda listed this meeting as scheduled from 6:00–8:45 p.m., while the provided transcript timestamp indicates 10:45 a.m. This discrepancy is noted.

The Finance Committee began its series of budget hearings for the 2026 fiscal year. The meeting covered an overview of the proposed budget, a detailed presentation from the Public Works Department, an update on health insurance and human resources matters, and a discussion of council-initiated budget amendments. Several pieces of legislation were recommended favorably to the full council.

Consent Calendar

  • The committee approved minutes from the October 27, 2025 and November 10, 2025 meetings by unanimous voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Bonnie Sykes (Lakewood resident) urged the committee to include funding for a citywide composting program in the budget, stating it would be an oversight not to do so.
  • Catherine Simnik (Ward 3 resident) expressed disappointment that the program appeared to be a pilot rather than free citywide composting by her birthday in 2026, but expressed full support for whatever amount is approved. She asked for flexibility to expand the pilot beyond 200 people if possible, and noted that other communities (e.g., Cleveland Heights) offer one free drop-off site.

Discussion Items

  • Resolution 2025-68 – Citywide Composting Program: Councilmember Hamilton Steiner, co-sponsor, explained the program would start as a pilot with one additional free drop-off site (similar to existing paid sites at Lakewood Park and Madison Park). Estimated cost between $26,000 and $35,000 annually, with potential grant funding. The resolution authorizes the Mayor to negotiate a contract without specifying a dollar amount. The committee voted to recommend the resolution favorably to full council (voice vote, all ayes).
  • Budget Overview (Finance Director Mahoney): The proposed 2026 budget is structurally balanced with a $17,173 surplus. Major expenditures include 27 biweekly pay periods (an extra pay year), a 3% wage increase, and capital projects (Bunts Road, Madison Park, City Hall improvements). Income tax and property tax together comprise 77% of general fund revenue. Income tax is budgeted at 3% growth; property tax increased by $3 million in 2025 but is flat for the next two years. The city aims to maintain 64 days of reserves. Councilmembers questioned the slim margin and the practice of rating short-term notes (projected interest savings of $100,000 vs. $10–15,000 in legal fees).
  • Public Works & Capital Budget (Director Gordon & City Engineer Papke):
    • Streets: 1,871 resident calls responded to; 582 cubic yards of concrete placed; crack sealing planned for Brown, Warren, and Riverside Drive.
    • Forestry: 200 trees planted in 2025; 350–400 planned for 2026; Tree City USA status maintained for 48 years.
    • Fleet: Transition to hybrid vehicles; municipal capital leases for vehicles (financed to own in 5 years).
    • Parks: Madison Park Futsal Court upgrade (CDBG grant of $50,000) and Bex Pool conceptual design/engagement in 2026; playground improvements deferred until pool layout is finalized.
    • Water/Wastewater: 94 lead service lines replaced in 2025 pilot; phase one of six-year program to replace 550 lines per year starting 2026 (cost ~$4.2M/year, funded by WSRLA zero-interest loan with 53% principal forgiveness). Update on consent decree: CSO 52 project (Madison/Riverside) to be bid in January 2026, cost $33.7M (under estimate), capturing 96.5% of pollutants. Bunts Road project phase one (Lakewood Heights to Franklin) to start April 2026.
    • Capital budget: $500,000 for sidewalk program (complaint-based); $277,000 in general fund capital spending; $1.5M for Lakewood Park Pier (on hold).
  • Health Insurance, Workers’ Comp, & HR (Director Dillinger):
    • Workers’ compensation: Self-funded, budgeted at $596,000 (including stop-loss at $750,000). One large claim currently.
    • Health insurance: Self-funded with Medical Mutual; projected 7% increase for 2026 (from $9.1M to $9.75M). No premium increases; plan design changes implemented. Two $3 million claims in past two years (covered by stop-loss). High-deductible health plan enrollment encouraged; employer contribution to HSA. Dependent audit planned.
    • Salary Ordinance (Ordinance 37-2025): 3% COLA for nonunion employees; obsolete titles removed; new licenses added. Recommended favorably (voice vote, all ayes).
    • Benefits Ordinance (Ordinance 38-2025): Faster vacation accrual, increased maximum vacation, Veterans Day added as paid holiday, improved sick leave conversion. Recommended favorably (voice vote, all ayes).
  • Council-Initiated Budget Amendments (Councilman Evans): Proposals include increased funding for Lakewood Alive (via ARPA transfer), permanent capital funding for public art, and proactive traffic calming measures (speed tables, bump outs) near schools. Further discussion to continue throughout the budget process.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved minutes of October 27 and November 10, 2025.
  • Recommended Resolution 2025-68 (citywide composting) favorably to full council (voice vote, all ayes).
  • Recommended Ordinance 37-2025 (salary ordinance) favorably to full council (voice vote, all ayes).
  • Recommended Ordinance 38-2025 (vacation, holiday, sick leave changes) favorably to full council (voice vote, all ayes).
  • Council-initiated budget amendments will be refined and presented in subsequent hearings.
  • The next budget hearing is scheduled for December 1, 2025, covering the Municipal Court, Fire, and Police budgets.

Meeting Transcript

Okay. Everybody ready to rock and roll. Let's uh call to order the meeting of the November 24, 2025 uh finance committee hearing. And uh this is the beginning of our 2026 budget process. Thank you to members, Mayor, George, and members of the administration for being here and working so hard to prepare uh the budget proposal. Um and I look forward to a productive schedule of conversations thanks to uh the council office, uh the council clerk and and and others on putting together a good agenda schedule of meetings, and we're in the first today. Um before getting into the heavy lifting on the uh business tonight, let's consider some uh minutes for approval. So first we've got the October 27 minutes uh from our meeting that day. Is there a motion to approve the minutes? Motion made. Second. Motion made a second in any discussion. Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed. The ayes have it. And then we also have the minutes for the November 10, 2025 meeting of the finance committee. Is there a motion to approve those minutes? So move. Motion been made. Is it and seconded motion um is there uh discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed, the ayes have it. Um before okay, I would now like to turn also to the uh proposed resolution for the citywide composting program. That's resolution 2025 uh dash 68. I think this will be a short conversation. Uh it's sponsored by councilwoman uh Hamilton Steiner, myself, and Councilwoman Marks. Resolution to authorize the mayor to negotiate and enter into a contract with the composting provide with a composting provider for a citywide composting program, and specifically it would authorize the mayor to negotiate. Well, just what I said, enter enter into the negotiated contract, negotiate and enter into a contract for composting service provider for the city for citywide composting services, including establishment of multiple drop-off location, regular collection services, and community education for any potential drop-off locations propose a non-city property, the mayor designee shall work with the with partner and coordinate with appropriate property owners to establish appropriate partnership agreements. This language is broadly worded, doesn't get specific. I think we could consider Finance Committee members recommending this language to the full council for adoption. This the detail would come in an accompanying budget proposal, which uh I hope later tonight, Councilman Hamilton Steiner can present to us. Um I guess I'd like to open this for conversation with uh committee members. I I'd be willing to recommend adoption of the full council. Um the other point is target to launch implementation on Earth A next April 22nd. Any discussion, committee members? Um Councilman Sweebick. Thank you, Chair Bullock. Yeah, I'm um I'm in favor of um citywide composting. We've been doing composting at our house for years and years and years. And I think um anything that we can do to keep things out of landfills and you know, enhance our yards by composting materials seems like a no-brainer to me. So I'm I'm very much in support of this. Thank you. Thank you. Uh Councilman Baker, any comments or questions? No, I'm I'm in support of this. Um I I would like to hear some discussion on like how we intend to operate it, um, but perhaps that's a little bit too far.

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