Lakewood Council to Weigh Charter Changes, Short Term Rental Rules and Budget Priorities

Lakewood City Council’s regular meeting on July 6 carried a packed docket, ranging from proposed charter amendments headed for the November ballot to updated short term rental rules and reports from several committees. Five Charter Amendments Headed to Voters Council President Sarah Kepple sponsored five ordinances that would place charter amendments before Lakewood voters on the November 3 ballot. Ordinance 16-2026 would change how often the Civil Service Commission reviews salaries for the mayor and council members. Ordinance 17-2026 would require council to issue an open call for candidates and hold public interviews before filling a council vacancy. Ordinance 18-2026 would simplify how ordinances and resolutions are amended by allowing strikethrough and underline formatting instead of requiring a full repeal and reenactment. Ordinance 19-2026 would require the Planning Commission to review ward boundaries after each federal census and adjust them if needed to keep populations roughly equal. Ordinance 20-2026 would clarify the two paths by which the charter can be amended. All five ordinances require a two thirds vote of council and must be filed with the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections by September 4 to appear on the fall ballot. Committee Reports Cover Zoning, Budget and Bike Code Vice President Kyle Baker’s Finance Committee report detailed two meetings in late June where members reviewed 24 budget priorities that came out of council’s May retreat. Baker wrote that the committee is working to determine which priorities affect the 2027 budget and which will move forward as longer term policy goals. A more detailed report is expected July 20. Council Member Bryan Evans, who chairs the Housing, Planning and Development Committee, reported on two June meetings. One covered an update to the city’s zoning refresh project, with a final draft expected on the September docket and adoption targeted by year end. The other featured a presentation from Cleveland Bridge Builders and LakewoodAlive on funding options for garage repairs for residents on fixed incomes. Evans’ committee also met July 6 to discuss proposed updates to city code covering e-bikes, scooters and other mobility devices. Traffic Calming Program Review Requested Baker, Bixenstine and Evans jointly asked council to conduct a broader review of the city’s decade old Traffic Calming Program. Under the current system, a street must meet at least two of three criteria, including traffic volume and speed data, before physical traffic calming measures move forward. The three council members noted that Lakewood has since adopted an Active Transportation Plan, a Safe Streets for All Plan, a Climate Action Plan and a Complete Streets Ordinance, and they believe the program should be evaluated against those newer standards. They asked that the request be referred to committee and possibly to the Planning Commission or the Complete Streets and Education Advisory Board. Council Pursues Stronger Block Level Ties Evans, Bixenstine and Strebig outlined an effort to strengthen neighborhood connections following the transfer of oversight of the city’s block club program from the administration to council. The three reported that Lakewood has dozens of recognized block clubs and issued 66 block party permits last year. Working with two volunteer community leaders, council has scheduled three focus groups to gather feedback from neighborhood leaders. Sessions are set for July 9 and July 14 at the Main Library and Madison Library, both from 6:30 to 8 p.m., and July 11 at the Main Library from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Animal Shelter Advisory Board Update Council Member Angelina Hamilton Steiner reported on a June 17 meeting of the Lakewood Animal Safety and Welfare Advisory Board. The board discussed the current name of the Lakewood Animal Control and Shelter after a resident raised concerns about whether the shelter meets standard definitions of shelter operations. The board plans to research best practices and bring recommendations forward. Hamilton Steiner also noted that the Citizens Committee for Lakewood’s Animals and Shelter will host a pet treat bake sale at the Lakewood Arts Fest as part of its annual fundraiser. Federal Funding Rule Changes Flagged In a separate communication, Hamilton Steiner alerted colleagues to a proposed federal rule from the Office of Management and Budget that would significantly change how federal financial assistance is administered nationwide. She pointed to provisions covering grant termination authority, new terms added after funding begins and limits tied to diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Hamilton Steiner encouraged residents and colleagues to submit public comments before the comment period closed on July 13. Short Term Rental Rules Return to the Table Council Member Tom Bullock reintroduced deliberations on regulating short term rentals through Ordinance 28-2026. Bullock wro