OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Lakewood City Council Regular Meeting – December 1, 2025

Council Meetings — Monday, December 1, 2025
BodyLakewood, Ohio
SessionCouncil Meetings
DateMonday, December 1, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 40:50

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

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

0:05

Um if you are able, please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:26

Now take a moment of silence.

0:38

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

0:40

Vice President Baker.

0:41

Here.

0:42

Councilmember Bullock.

0:43

Yes.

0:43

Councilmember Evans.

0:44

President Keppel.

0:45

Here.

0:46

Councilmember Marks.

0:47

Here.

0:47

Councilmember Steiner.

0:49

Here.

0:49

Councilmember Streebig.

0:50

Here.

0:51

Reading and disposal of the minutes of the regular meeting of council held November 17, 2025.

0:56

Move to approve without the necessity of a reading.

0:58

Second.

0:59

Motion has been made and seconded.

1:01

Any discussion?

1:02

Hearing none.

1:03

All those in favor?

1:04

Aye.

1:04

And that motion passes.

1:06

Item one report from Finance Committee meetings held November 24th, 2025, and December 1st, 2025.

1:13

Councilmember Bullock.

1:15

Thank you, Madam President.

1:16

The finance committee began in partnership with the administration.

1:33

But in full focus on the 2026 appropriation ordinances and the end of year 2025 budget ordinance corrections and adjustments ordinance.

1:45

We we've uh worked through about half the departments already, had very thoughtful and informed dialogue about uh both city operations and and budgeting uh levels.

1:57

Um we are uh gonna continue that for the next two Mondays with the goal of adopting um the budget uh on time and a regular uh schedule uh by December 15.

2:11

Um we've got some more work to do, I think, but uh but we're we're on our way.

2:19

So I'll leave it high level.

2:20

Uh move to receive and file that oral report.

2:23

Second.

2:24

Motion's been made and seconded.

2:26

Any discussion?

2:27

Hearing none, all those in favor?

2:30

Aye.

2:30

And that motion passes.

2:32

Item two, resolution 2025 68.

2:34

A resolution to take effect immediately authorizing the mayor to negotiate and enter into a contract with a composting provider for a citywide composting program.

2:43

Move to adopt.

2:44

Second.

2:45

Motion's been made and seconded.

2:47

Discussion.

2:50

Um I'll just say uh thanks to Councilman Hamilton Steiner for chairing this initiative and um to Director Bindington and the administration for working uh collaboratively on this.

2:59

Any further discussion?

3:01

Hearing none, all those in favor?

3:03

Aye, and that motion passes.

3:07

Um without I'm gonna move to suspend the rules to read items three through fourteen together.

3:15

Second.

3:16

And need a roll call.

3:19

Uh Councilmember Baker.

3:21

Uh yes.

3:23

Yes.

3:24

Evans?

3:25

President Keppel?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████████████████34%
Energy Infrastructure████████████████████20%
Youth Programs████████████████16%
Animal Welfare██████████10%
Public Engagement███████7%
Personnel Matters██████6%
Mental Health Awareness███3%
Public Safety███3%
Fiscal Sustainability█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Lakewood City Council Regular Meeting – December 1, 2025

The Lakewood City Council held its regular meeting on December 1, 2025, at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included the adoption of several resolutions, the receipt of a councilmember's resignation, multiple committee reports, and a discussion on intervening in First Energy reliability proceedings. All votes were unanimous unless noted.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes of the November 17, 2025 regular meeting without a reading (motion passed unanimously).
  • Received and filed the oral report from the Finance Committee meetings held November 24 and December 1, 2025 (motion passed unanimously).
  • Adopted Resolution 2025-68, authorizing the Mayor to negotiate and enter into a contract with a composting provider for a citywide composting program, with a target implementation by Earth Day, April 22, 2026 (motion passed unanimously).
  • Adopted Resolution 2025-70, as amended, appointing Councilmember Angelina Hamilton Steiner as the ex-officio, non-voting councilmember to the Lakewood Animal Safety and Welfare Advisory Board for a term from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027 (motion passed unanimously).
  • Adopted Substitute Resolution 2025-60, approving the amended bylaws of the Lakewood Youth Council (motion passed unanimously).
  • Adopted Resolution 2025-74, supporting the City of Lakewood's intervention in the First Energy PUCO proceedings regarding minimum reliability standards (motion passed unanimously).
  • Received and filed the November 2025 Finance Department vendor report (motion passed unanimously).
  • Filed the liquor permit notice for Easy Out, 11824 Detroit Ave. (Ward 4), without objection (motion passed unanimously).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • One e-comment was received and entered into the record. No in-person speakers signed up.

Discussion Items

  • Finance Committee Report (Councilmember Bullock): The committee worked on the 2026 appropriation ordinances and end-of-year 2025 budget adjustments. Approximately half of the departments have been reviewed, with the goal of adopting the budget by December 15. The report was received and filed.
  • Deferral of Ordinances (Items 3–14): Council suspended the rules to read items 3 through 14 together. Councilmember Marx requested a cost estimate for Ordinance 38-2025 (sick time payout) and asked that it be provided before the next meeting. The items were deferred to allow continued work in the Finance Committee.
  • Resignation of Councilmember Marx: Councilmember Marx read her resignation letter, effective December 31, 2025, due to her upcoming marriage and move to Shaker Heights. The letter was received and filed. Council President Kepple announced that applications for the Ward 4 vacancy will be accepted through January 2, 2026, at noon, with an appointment process to follow.
  • Youth Council Report (Councilmember Strebig): The Lakewood Youth Council met on November 20. They discussed a proposal for a Youth Advocacy Committee but decided to incorporate it into the Outreach Committee. The Council also discussed mandatory mental health days and a pinwheel walk for child abuse awareness. The report was received and filed.
  • Animal Safety and Welfare Advisory Board Report (Councilmember Strebig): The board met on November 19 and reviewed the latest draft of the TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) ordinance. All registration and training requirements were removed, and the language recommended by Alley Cat Allies was included. The board agreed to move the draft forward with a typo correction ("Release" to "Return") to a Public Safety Committee meeting in January. The pet food drive on November 15 collected 2,093 pounds of food. The report was received and filed.
  • Community Recreation and Education Commission Report (Councilmember Strebig): The commission met on November 18. Youth basketball travel team numbers are up, but 5th and 6th grade girls' in-house basketball numbers are down, possibly due to volleyball popularity. The Student Athletic Leadership Team (SALT) is visiting elementary schools. Equity concerns were raised about softball players' access to turf fields after rain. The report was received and filed.
  • First Energy PUCO Proceedings (Law Director Vargo): The City of Lakewood and Barberton have intervened in the PUCO proceedings where First Energy seeks to reduce reliability standards. The Ohio Consumers' Council will present technical evidence in opposition. The Council adopted Resolution 2025-74, which will be submitted to the PUCO by December 8 as part of the evidentiary record. Councilmember Bullock noted that the local utility, Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, is already the worst performer in First Energy's territory, and the company is asking to worsen standards. The Mayor thanked Councilmember Bullock for his collaboration.

Key Outcomes

  • Adopted Resolution 2025-68 (composting program).
  • Adopted Resolution 2025-70 as amended (appointment to Animal Safety Board).
  • Adopted Substitute Resolution 2025-60 (Youth Council bylaws).
  • Adopted Resolution 2025-74 (support for PUCO intervention).
  • Deferred ordinances 31-2025 through 30-2025 for further Finance Committee work.
  • Accepted the resignation of Councilmember Marx, effective December 31, 2025. Applications for the Ward 4 vacancy will be accepted through January 2, 2026, at noon.
  • Received and filed multiple committee reports and the vendor report.
  • Filed the liquor permit notice without objection.

Announcements

  • Vice President Baker announced "Light Up Lakewood" this weekend and that Lakewood Alive Executive Director Ian Andrews will join the city's Planning Department.
  • Councilmember Strebig noted World AIDS Day (December 1) and shared global HIV statistics, including the new Lencapavir injection requiring only two doses per year.
  • Councilmember Marx thanked the Lakewood Fire and Police Departments for their response to a fire at a resident's home on Homeland.
  • Councilmember Bullock thanked Public Works for the snowflake lights and for working over the holiday weekend on snow and leaf removal.
  • The Chief of Police announced the "Cram the Cruiser" food drive at Giant Eagle on December 15 from 3–6 PM.

Meeting Transcript

All right, we will call the full meeting of council to order. Um if you are able, please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. Now take a moment of silence. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Vice President Baker. Here. Councilmember Bullock. Yes. Councilmember Evans. President Keppel. Here. Councilmember Marks. Here. Councilmember Steiner. Here. Councilmember Streebig. Here. Reading and disposal of the minutes of the regular meeting of council held November 17, 2025. Move to approve without the necessity of a reading. Second. Motion has been made and seconded. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? Aye. And that motion passes. Item one report from Finance Committee meetings held November 24th, 2025, and December 1st, 2025. Councilmember Bullock. Thank you, Madam President. The finance committee began in partnership with the administration. But in full focus on the 2026 appropriation ordinances and the end of year 2025 budget ordinance corrections and adjustments ordinance. We we've uh worked through about half the departments already, had very thoughtful and informed dialogue about uh both city operations and and budgeting uh levels. Um we are uh gonna continue that for the next two Mondays with the goal of adopting um the budget uh on time and a regular uh schedule uh by December 15. Um we've got some more work to do, I think, but uh but we're we're on our way. So I'll leave it high level. Uh move to receive and file that oral report. Second. Motion's been made and seconded. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. And that motion passes. Item two, resolution 2025 68. A resolution to take effect immediately authorizing the mayor to negotiate and enter into a contract with a composting provider for a citywide composting program. Move to adopt. Second. Motion's been made and seconded. Discussion. Um I'll just say uh thanks to Councilman Hamilton Steiner for chairing this initiative and um to Director Bindington and the administration for working uh collaboratively on this. Any further discussion?

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