OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Lakewood City Council Regular Meeting - February 27, 2026

Council Meetings — Friday, February 27, 2026
BodyLakewood, Ohio
SessionCouncil Meetings
DateFriday, February 27, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:55:46

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

All right, we will call the March 2nd meeting of council to order.

0:05

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

0:24

We'll now pause for a moment of silence.

0:33

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

0:36

Vice President Baker.

0:37

Councilmember Vixenstein.

0:39

Councilmember Bullock?

0:40

Here.

0:41

Councilmember Evans.

0:42

Here.

0:42

President Keppel.

0:43

Here.

0:44

Councilmember Hamilton Steiner.

0:45

Here.

0:46

Councilmember Streiebig.

0:47

Here.

0:48

Reading and disposal of the minutes of the regular meeting of council held February 17, 2026.

0:53

Move to approve without the necessity of a reading.

0:56

Second.

0:57

Motions were made and seconded.

0:58

Any discussion?

1:00

Hearing none, all those in favor?

1:02

Aye.

1:02

And that motion passes.

1:04

Without objection, I'd like to move item 27 to the top.

1:11

Um.

1:14

Yeah, well, we'll do that first.

1:16

Yeah.

1:16

Item 27, resolution 202608, a resolution to join with states, municipalities, and other jurisdictions around the country to designate March as women's history month and the city of Lakewood by recognizing the struggles and celebrating the achievements of American women throughout the history of the United States.

1:37

Second.

1:37

Motion's been made and seconded.

1:39

And to kick off our discussion, I'd like to turn to Councilwoman Street.

1:43

Thank you.

1:44

Thank you, President Keppel and Councilmember Hamilton Steiner for joining me on this important resolution to recognize and honor women's history month.

1:52

Before I begin my remarks, can everyone see me and can everyone hear me?

1:58

Yes?

1:58

Good?

1:59

Everybody's good?

2:00

Okay, just checking, because last Tuesday, I was in this auditorium for the Lake Clifton Connector Project, the public presentation.

2:10

And I was standing at the back of the room, actually leaning against that middle table there in the back.

2:15

And this young man, about 5'10 or 5'11, walked in and stood directly right in front of me and blocked my view of the entire presentation.

2:28

So it was close enough that with one step forward I could have tapped him on the shoulder, or as some of my foremothers and forefathers would have said, could have put a boot in his rear.

2:43

I did not kick him, but rather took that one step forward and tapped him on the back.

2:48

He immediately rolled around to apologize and moved three steps to my left.

2:54

He knew I was there and understood his error.

2:57

So this got me thinking about my invisibility.

3:01

When I clearly didn't have my cloak of invisibility on that I had left at home that night.

3:22

Is it plain rudeness?

3:24

Is it cluelessness or entitlement?

3:28

Ah, yes, there it is.

3:31

To enter any space without regard for other people to accomplish your own objective.

3:37

So then that got me thinking about entitlement and the fact of having a right to something.

3:52

Number two, a right to benefits specifically, especially by law or contract.

3:59

Number three, belief that one is deserving of or entitled to certain privileges.

4:05

And number four, a government program providing benefits to members of a specific group and funds supporting or distributed by such a program.

4:17

As citizens of the United States, we are entitled to our constitutional rights.

4:22

When they are threatened, we remind those offending us that we have rights, just like the suffragists and abolitionists did before us.

4:31

Sometimes with a gentle tap on the shoulder, or sometimes with a boot.

4:57

Thank you.

4:59

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████████████████████28%
Procedural███████████████████████████27%
Public Safety██████████10%
Budget Equity Analysis███████7%
Building Codes██████6%
Women's History Month█████5%
Water And Wastewater Management████4%
Cannabis Regulation███3%
Public Engagement███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Lakewood City Council Regular Meeting - February 27, 2026

The Lakewood City Council held a regular meeting on February 27, 2026, to address a wide range of legislative items including the adoption of multiple bond ordinances, creation of a Master Fee Schedule, updates to pet grooming regulations, approval of a fire engine purchase and trade-in, recognition of Women's History Month and Severe Weather Awareness Week, several submerged land lease resolutions for shoreline projects, and extensive deliberation on City Hall facilities and budget appropriations. Council also heard public comment regarding automatic license plate reader cameras.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of the February 17, 2026 meeting were approved.
  • Resolution 2026-08: Designated March 2026 as Women's History Month.
  • Ordinance 06-2026: Authorized up to $4,900,000 in notes for Bunts Road, Lake Road, Clifton Road street resurfacing.
  • Ordinance 08-2026 through 14-2026: Authorized various bond anticipation notes and bonds for water improvements ($850,000), sidewalks ($500,000), traffic signals ($125,000), sewer improvements ($2,370,000), various purpose improvements ($32,695,000 refunding and $32,695,000 new bonds), and refunding bonds ($15,845,000). All were adopted together.
  • Resolution 2025-71 and Ordinance 30-2025: Established a Master Fee Schedule consolidating fees from administrative and business regulation codes.
  • Ordinance 39-2025: Updated definitions and regulations for pet grooming services and added supplemental regulations.
  • Resolution 2026-09: Authorized trade-in of a 2010 fire engine for a 2020 engine at a net cost of $580,000.
  • Resolution 2026-10: Proclaimed March 15–21, 2026 as Severe Weather Awareness Week.
  • Resolutions 2026-11 through 2026-14: Approved submerged land leases for shoreline protection at 17818 Lake Avenue, 1015 Nicholson Avenue, PPN 312-07-031, and Nicholson Avenue right-of-way.
  • Several communications were received and filed, including reports from the Committee of the Whole, Rules & Ordinances Committee, Finance Committee (partial), Housing Planning & Development Committee, CASE Board, and LASWAB.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jared Clark (16300 Hilliard) expressed concern about Flock automatic license plate reader cameras in Lakewood, citing data sharing with ICE, security vulnerabilities, and privacy risks.

Discussion Items

  • City Hall Facilities and Appropriations: Council discussed the proposed $16.5 million bond for renovating 1470 Warren Road (former Board of Education building) to house administrative offices. Council members expressed concerns about parking, cost, lack of detailed plans, and the process. After debate, Council agreed to appropriate an additional $4 million for design and initial construction at City Hall, prioritizing police facility renovations (including women's locker room) and design work for potential future options. The administration indicated willingness to negotiate a purchase agreement for Warren Road, but Council was not ready to commit.
  • Ordinance 07-2026 (City Facilities Notes): Amended to increase the note amount from $1.8 million to $5.8 million and to include "city hall" in the project description, reflecting the $4 million increase.
  • Ordinance 33-2025B (Appropriations): Amended to add $4 million to the Capital Improvement Fund for the City Hall facilities work.
  • Charter Amendment Ordinances (Items 20-25): Six proposed charter amendments were introduced but deferred to the March 16 Committee of the Whole meeting for further discussion. These address civil service salary reviews, council vacancy appointments, legislation amendment process, ward redistricting, charter amendment paths, and ranked-choice voting.
  • Host Community Cannabis Fund (Ordinance 15-2026): Deferred to allow refinement of fund uses.
  • Audit Committee Repeal (Ordinance 27-2025): Deferred to consider modifying rather than fully repealing.
  • Public Art Master Plan: Communication referred to Committee of the Whole; final plan expected May 2026.
  • CASE Board Report: First meeting held; rules, officers elected; Madison-Hilliard Safety Study and Shared Use Path code amendments deferred to next meeting.
  • LASWAB Report: Spring pet food drive planned; TNR ordinance discussed for upcoming Public Safety Committee.

Key Outcomes

  • The $4 million appropriation for City Hall design and police facility renovations was approved (amending both Ordinance 33-2025B and Ordinance 07-2026).
  • All debt legislation (bonds/notes) was adopted.
  • Master Fee Schedule and pet grooming regulations were adopted.
  • Fire engine trade-in and Severe Weather Awareness Week resolutions were adopted.
  • Submerged land lease resolutions for four projects were approved.
  • Charter amendment ordinances, cannabis fund, and audit committee items were deferred.
  • Public comment was received and noted.

Meeting Transcript

All right, we will call the March 2nd meeting of council to order. If you're able, please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. We'll now pause for a moment of silence. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Vice President Baker. Councilmember Vixenstein. Councilmember Bullock? Here. Councilmember Evans. Here. President Keppel. Here. Councilmember Hamilton Steiner. Here. Councilmember Streiebig. Here. Reading and disposal of the minutes of the regular meeting of council held February 17, 2026. Move to approve without the necessity of a reading. Second. Motions were made and seconded. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Aye. And that motion passes. Without objection, I'd like to move item 27 to the top. Um. Yeah, well, we'll do that first. Yeah. Item 27, resolution 202608, a resolution to join with states, municipalities, and other jurisdictions around the country to designate March as women's history month and the city of Lakewood by recognizing the struggles and celebrating the achievements of American women throughout the history of the United States. Second. Motion's been made and seconded. And to kick off our discussion, I'd like to turn to Councilwoman Street. Thank you. Thank you, President Keppel and Councilmember Hamilton Steiner for joining me on this important resolution to recognize and honor women's history month. Before I begin my remarks, can everyone see me and can everyone hear me? Yes? Good? Everybody's good? Okay, just checking, because last Tuesday, I was in this auditorium for the Lake Clifton Connector Project, the public presentation. And I was standing at the back of the room, actually leaning against that middle table there in the back. And this young man, about 5'10 or 5'11, walked in and stood directly right in front of me and blocked my view of the entire presentation. So it was close enough that with one step forward I could have tapped him on the shoulder, or as some of my foremothers and forefathers would have said, could have put a boot in his rear. I did not kick him, but rather took that one step forward and tapped him on the back. He immediately rolled around to apologize and moved three steps to my left. He knew I was there and understood his error. So this got me thinking about my invisibility. When I clearly didn't have my cloak of invisibility on that I had left at home that night. Is it plain rudeness? Is it cluelessness or entitlement? Ah, yes, there it is.

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