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Record of Proceedings

Lakewood City Council Regular Meeting – September 17, 2026

Council Meetings — Thursday, September 17, 2026
BodyLakewood, Ohio
SessionCouncil Meetings
DateThursday, September 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 28:15

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

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

0:03

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

0:22

We'll now pause for a moment of silence.

0:31

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

0:34

Vice President Baker.

0:35

Here.

0:35

Councilmember Dixenstein.

0:37

Here.

0:37

Councilmember Bullock.

0:38

Here.

0:38

Councilmember Evans.

0:40

Here.

0:40

President Keppel.

0:41

Here.

0:41

Councilmember Hamilton Steiner.

0:43

Here.

0:43

Councilmember Streebig here.

0:46

Reading and disposal of the minutes of the regular meeting of council held September 8th, 2026.

0:51

Move to approve without the necessity of a reading.

0:54

Second.

0:54

Motion's been made and seconded.

0:56

Any discussion?

0:57

Hearing none.

0:58

All those in favor?

1:00

Aye.

1:00

And that motion passes.

1:02

Item one.

1:02

Finance committee report regarding meeting held September 14th, 2022.

1:10

It's loading.

1:12

So I intended to read it off there.

1:14

Give me a moment.

1:18

Here we go.

1:20

Thank you.

1:20

Dear colleagues, Finance Committee convened on Monday, September 8th to review the 2025 annual comprehensive financial report for the City of Lakewood.

1:28

Finance Committee chose to review the finalized audit in public meeting so that residents could have the opportunity to learn more about the results of the city's audit and also the process.

2:09

I didn't memorize this, so I don't know what's happening.

2:14

Basically, the audit was good.

2:39

I won't read the rest because I can't read from this distance.

2:42

Uh but I will say that it was it was a good meeting.

2:46

Yeah.

2:47

And I appreciate uh the new process uh with Director Mahoney to have this.

2:51

And the idea is basically if if the audit isn't released yet, you can uh discuss it in executive session um to uh maybe allow for a little bit more candidate of discussion.

3:02

I do think having it in public is good though, so residents can understand.

3:05

Uh with that I will make a motion to receive and file the communication.

3:08

Second.

3:09

Motion's been made and seconded.

3:11

Any discussion?

3:13

Hearing none, all those in favor, aye.

3:16

And that motion passes.

3:17

Item two, housing, planning, and development committee meeting.

3:21

Report regarding meeting held September 21st, 2026 today.

3:24

Councilmember Evans.

3:26

Thank you, President Keppel.

3:27

Um we met this evening before this meeting to discuss ordinance 40-2025.

3:32

Um, which basically is an update to the codified ordinances that deal with bike infrastructure in the city.

3:38

Um so we talked this is talking a lot about the definitions for different types of bicycles, e-bikes, emoto's, um, mobility devices, um, the different types of infrastructure we have, like sidewalk shared paths, and on road infrastructure.

3:53

Um and we had a really good discussion um about those updates.

3:57

Um I think we're um based on the commentary we had and we heard and from the audience, I think we're very close on this.

4:04

Um so a little more work, and I want to thank the planning departments and the case advisory board for all their hard work on this.

4:11

Um this is something that um folks have been asking us about um for quite some time given the explosion of these types of devices that are happening around the city.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████25%
Public Engagement███████████████████19%
Public Art███████████████15%
Parks and Recreation█████████████13%
Tree Preservation███████████11%
Budget Equity Analysis█████████9%
Community Engagement████████8%
Summary of Proceedings

Lakewood City Council Regular Meeting – September 17, 2026

Note: The meeting agenda and transcript indicate the meeting occurred on September 21, 2026, but the provided date is September 17, 2026. This summary uses the supplied date as instructed.

The Lakewood City Council met for a regular meeting, acting on a consent calendar, receiving committee reports, and deliberating on legislation related to bicycle infrastructure, public art, and a grant application for pool renovation. Key actions included adopting a resolution to seek state funds for Becks Pool and deferring a major bicycle ordinance for further refinement.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes Approval: Approved the minutes of the September 8, 2026 regular meeting without reading.
  • Finance Committee Report (Sept. 14, 2026): Received and filed. The committee reviewed the 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (audit) with auditor Zupka & Associates. Director Mahoney and the Finance Department were commended for a clean audit. The report emphasized transparency and the audit's focus on accuracy and compliance.
  • Housing, Planning & Development Committee Report (Sept. 21, 2026): Received and filed. The committee met immediately before the council meeting to discuss Ordinance 40-2025 (bicycle infrastructure updates). Councilmember Evans noted that the discussion brought the legislation close to final, with a substitute ordinance to be drafted.
  • LakewoodAlive Board of Directors Report (Sept. 16, 2026): Received and filed. Vice President Baker reported on the board's activities, including: hiring a Housing Outreach Coordinator; exploring a volunteer home-repair program (e.g., building beds, installing grab bars); connecting 12 businesses with partner organizations; developing a business start-up guide; planning walking audits; and preparing for events (Spooky Pooch Parade Oct. 10, City-Wide Day of Service Nov. 7, Chocolate Walk Oct. 22, Light Up Lakewood Dec. 5).
  • Tree Advisory & Education Board Report (2026 meetings): Received and filed. Councilmember Bullock reported on accomplishments: spring tree giveaway, fall giveaway scheduled for October 3 at Bernice Pyke Park, pursuing Level 1 Arboretum certification at Cove Community Center, participating in the Lakewood Community Festival, and exploring a volunteer Tree Stewards program. The board is also researching a model tree ordinance for privately owned trees, with assistance from the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.
  • Communication on Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grant Application: Received and filed. Director Byington presented the request to apply for a $500,000 LWCF grant (federal, administered by ODNR) for the Becks Pool renovation at Madison Park. The total project is estimated at $5–6 million; the pool has not been significantly upgraded since 1957. The contractor SIXMO (also handled Foster Pool) is leading design. Construction would begin after the 2027 swim season. The city's capital budget already includes matching funds.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public signed up to speak.

Discussion Items

  • Ordinance 40-2025 – Bicycle Infrastructure Updates: Councilmember Evans moved to defer the ordinance to allow for a substitute draft based on committee and CASE Advisory Board feedback. The motion passed. The ordinance would update definitions for bicycles, e-bikes, motorized bicycles, bikeways, shared use paths, and sidewalk riding rules; raise the age for unsupervised bicycle riding on roadways from 8 to 10; and clarify repair responsibilities for bikeways vs. sidewalks.
  • Resolution 2026-40 – Adoption of the Public Art Master Plan: Director Byington presented the plan, developed with a Cuyahoga County Planning Commission grant. The plan incorporates over 800 public survey responses and covers seven art categories (mural, asphalt, sculpture, interactive, illuminated, functional/infrastructural, temporary/performance). Councilmember Strebig praised the data-driven approach. The resolution was substituted with the full plan attached and then referred to committee of the whole for further discussion.
  • Resolution 2026-41 – NatureWorks Grant for Becks Pool Renovation: The resolution was substituted to correct an error (originally referenced a different ODNR grant). After clarification that the NatureWorks grant is a state program (separate from the federal LWCF grant discussed earlier), the resolution was adopted on first reading. It authorizes the Mayor and Planning Director to apply and accept funds, with a 50% match required.

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes approved (unanimous).
  • All four committee reports and the LWCF grant communication received and filed (unanimous).
  • Ordinance 40-2025 deferred (motion passed) for a substitute draft; will return to committee before full council.
  • Resolution 2026-40 (Public Art Master Plan) referred to committee of the whole (motion passed).
  • Resolution 2026-41 (NatureWorks Grant for Becks Pool) adopted on first reading (unanimous). The application deadline is October 30, 2026.

Announcements

  • Councilmember Evans thanked the Lakewood Police Department for quick response and Public Works for a well-received street construction project.
  • Councilmember Bixenstine reminded residents of the fall tree giveaway (reserve online) and a Keep Lakewood Beautiful pop-up cleanup at Madison Park on September 30.
  • Councilmember Strebig noted upcoming dates: fall equinox September 22, Celebrate Bisexuality Day September 23, full harvest moon September 26, LGBTQ History Month in October.
  • Councilmember Bullock highlighted the Lakewood High School homecoming parade route (September 25) and reported progress on council budget priorities.
  • President Kepple announced a Committee of the Whole meeting on September 28 at 6 p.m. with First Energy representatives, and a League of Women Voters forum on November charter amendments on September 29 at 7 p.m. at Lakewood Public Library.
  • Vice President Baker announced the Healthy Lakewood Foundation annual meeting on September 18 at Lakewood Congregational Church.

Meeting Transcript

All right, we will call to order the full meeting of council. 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. Here. Councilmember Dixenstein. Here. Councilmember Bullock. Here. Councilmember Evans. Here. President Keppel. Here. Councilmember Hamilton Steiner. Here. Councilmember Streebig here. Reading and disposal of the minutes of the regular meeting of council held September 8th, 2026. Move to approve without the necessity of a reading. Second. Motion's been made and seconded. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? Aye. And that motion passes. Item one. Finance committee report regarding meeting held September 14th, 2022. It's loading. So I intended to read it off there. Give me a moment. Here we go. Thank you. Dear colleagues, Finance Committee convened on Monday, September 8th to review the 2025 annual comprehensive financial report for the City of Lakewood. Finance Committee chose to review the finalized audit in public meeting so that residents could have the opportunity to learn more about the results of the city's audit and also the process. I didn't memorize this, so I don't know what's happening. Basically, the audit was good. I won't read the rest because I can't read from this distance. Uh but I will say that it was it was a good meeting. Yeah. And I appreciate uh the new process uh with Director Mahoney to have this. And the idea is basically if if the audit isn't released yet, you can uh discuss it in executive session um to uh maybe allow for a little bit more candidate of discussion. I do think having it in public is good though, so residents can understand. Uh with that I will make a motion to receive and file the communication. Second. Motion's been made and seconded. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, aye. And that motion passes. Item two, housing, planning, and development committee meeting.

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