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City Council News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 25, 2022

Lakewood City Council Seeks to Fill Upcoming Board Vacancies

Lakewood City Council is seeking new members to join the city’s active roster of volunteer boards. A successful applicant should be ready to engage with the community and advise their local government. All boards meet monthly at City Hall. One position on each of the following boards is available beginning January 1, 2023:

Architectural Board of Review
Tree Advisory & Education Board

Tree Advisory & Education Board

The Tree Advisory & Education Board collaborates with the City on refining its urban forestry practices and educates fellow residents on responsible tree stewardship and the benefits of private property tree planting. Special consideration will be given to applicants with knowledge of and interest in trees.

Architectural Board of Review

The Architectural Board of Review reviews applications for variances to the city’s Building Code, considers architectural proposals for commercial and residential properties and reviews all sign proposals. Applicant must demonstrate qualifications of a design professional.

Council President John Litten encouraged qualified residents to consider applying for one of these positions. “Volunteer service on a city board is a great way to grow your network, understand your local government and build leadership skills. It is how I, and countless other councilmembers got started on our paths to public service,” he said.

Additional information about the city’s boards is located in the Lakewood Codified Ordinances, the Third Amended Charter of the City of Lakewood, and on the City’s website at: https://www.lakewoodoh.gov/apply-register/boardscommissions/

Applicants may email a résumé and cover letter OR application for consideration to Lakewood City Council c/o the Clerk of Council at council@lakewoodoh.net. Positions will remain open until filled.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2022

Lakewood City Council Sets Deadline for Ward 4 Council Seat Applications Lakewood City Council is seeking applicants for the Ward 4 council seat vacated by Councilmember Daniel J. O’Malley. Councilmember O’Malley resigned the Ward 4 Council seat on May 1, 2022 in anticipation of his appointment on the Board of Directors of the Port of Cleveland. The candidate appointed to this position will serve the remainder of the term expiring December 31, 2023.

An applicant must be a registered voter of the city and a resident of the city for at least one year to qualify for consideration. Additionally, an applicant must be a resident of Ward 4 at the time of appointment. Interested and qualified individuals may submit a cover letter and resume to the Clerk of Council at 12650 Detroit Road, Lakewood, OH 44107, or by email to council@lakewoodoh.net. Applications will be accepted until Friday May 13, 2022, at 12:00 p.m.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2022

Lakewood City Council is seeking applicants for the Ward 4 council seat soon to be vacated by Councilmember Daniel J. O’Malley. Councilmember O’Malley will resign his Ward 4 Council seat to accept an appointment on the Board of Directors of the Port of Cleveland. The candidate appointed to this position will serve the remainder of the term, which expires December 31, 2023.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2021

Update: Lakewood City Council Sets Deadline for Vacant Ward 1 Council Seat Applications

Lakewood City Council is seeking applicants for the Ward 1 seat soon to be vacated by Councilmember Tess Neff. Councilmember Neff has been elected Municipal Court Judge and will soon be resigning from council to assume her new position. The candidate appointed to this council seat is expected to serve the remainder of the term, which expires December 31, 2023.

Article 2.2 of the Third Amended Charter of the City of Lakewood stipulates that each member of council representing a ward must be both a resident and registered voter of the ward for at least one year immediately prior to taking office and shall continue to be a resident and a registered voter of the ward.

Interested and qualified individuals may submit a cover letter and resume to the Clerk of Council, 12650 Detroit Road, Lakewood, OH 44107, or by email to council@lakewoodoh.net. Applications must be received by Monday December 20, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. City Council anticipates conducting interviews of finalists prior to making a public appointment.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 23, 2021

Lakewood City Council Seeking Applicants for Vacant Ward 1 Council Seat

Article 2.2 of the Third Amended Charter of the City of Lakewood stipulates that each member of council representing a ward must be both a resident and registered voter of the ward for at least one year immediately prior to taking office, and shall continue to be a resident and a registered voter of the ward.

Interested and qualified individuals may submit a cover letter and resume to the Clerk of Council, 12650 Detroit Road, Lakewood, OH 44107, or by email to council@lakewoodoh.net. City Council anticipates conducting interviews of finalists prior to making a public appointment.

October 12, 2021

PROCLAMATION- NOTICE OF GENERAL ELECTION

Click here to read the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections Proclamation-Notice of General Election.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2021

Lakewood City Council seeks applicants for Boards & Commissions

Lakewood City Council is seeking volunteers ready to engage with the community and advise their local government. One position on each of the following is available beginning January 1, 2022:

Civil Service Commission

The Civil Service Commission meets monthly and is charged with maintaining and enforcing the rules for the appointment, promotion, transfer, lay-off, reinstatement, suspension, and removal of employees in the classified service. The Commission also makes salary recommendations for the compensation of the mayor and council.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee meets on a quarterly basis with the City’s Finance Director and Council’s Finance Committee to provide independent review and oversight of the City’s financial processes. Members should have a background in finance and be capable of analyzing financial information.

Heritage Advisory Board

The Heritage Advisory Board meets monthly and advises the city and the community on matters related to historic preservation. A detailed description of the Heritage Advisory Board and its duties is located in Chapter 1337 of the Lakewood Codified Ordinances.

Board of Nuisance Abatement Appeals

The Board of Nuisance Abatement Appeals hears appeals from property owners whose properties have been designated as nuisances under Section 510.01 of the Codified Ordinances. The Board of Nuisance Abatement Appeals meets as-needed and performs a necessary due process function for residents.

Additional information about these boards and commissions is located in the Lakewood Codified Ordinances, the Third Amended Charter of the City of Lakewood, and on the City’s website at: www.onelakewood.com/apply-register/boardscommissions/.

Applicants may email a résumé and cover letter OR application for consideration to Lakewood City Council c/o the Clerk of Council at council@lakewoodoh.net. The deadline for applications is Friday October 15^th at 5:00 p.m.

August 9, 2021

PROCLAMATION- NOTICE OF PRIMARY ELECTION

Click here to read the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections Proclamation-Notice of Primary Elections.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2021

Lakewood City Council seeks new members for Anti-Racism Task Force

Lakewood City Council is seeking new members to join the City’s Anti-Racism Task Force.

A successful applicant should be comfortable having candid conversations about race, demonstrate an understanding of systemic racism and have previous experience engaging in social justice issues, advocacy efforts, and/or community outreach.

Established in 2020, the Anti-Racism Task Force is a diverse group of 11 residents who work with the City to ensure that the value of anti-racism is foundational and unambiguously expressed in all city objectives such as safety, housing, education, culture, and community wellness.

The Task Force meets in the evening on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. Service on this task force is voluntary without pay. Additional information about the Anti-Racism Task Force, including agendas and minutes, are located on the City’s website at: https://www.lakewoodoh.gov/accordions/anti-racism-task-force/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 17, 2021

Lakewood City Council seeks applicants to serve on Local Board of Tax Review

Lakewood City Council is seeking qualified applicants to serve on the Local Board of Tax Review.

The Local Board of Tax Review hears appeals from taxpayers appealing their income tax obligations to the City. The Local Board of Tax Review meets as needed and performs a necessary due process function for residents. A detailed description of the Board can be found in Section 128.18 of the Lakewood Codified Ordinances.

A successful applicant should be eager to engage with the community and advise the local government. Board members must be residents and must not be City contractors now or in the previous five years. This position is voluntary without pay.

Two two-year terms are available effective January 1, 2021.

Applicants are asked to email a Board and Commission application and any other supporting documentation for consideration to Lakewood City Council c/o the Clerk of Council at council@lakewoodoh.net.

Deadline for applications is Thursday February 25, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.

October 19, 2020

PROCLAMATION OF ELECTION

Click here to read the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections Proclamation of Election.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2020

CITY OF LAKEWOOD DEDICATES NEW PUBLIC PARK

On Monday August 17^th, Lakewood City Council unanimously adopted legislation to create the city’s newest public park. The park, now known as Bernice Pyke Park, is located on six parcels of land between Belle Ave. and St. Charles Ave. north of Detroit Ave., commonly referred to as St. Charles Green.

Over the years, residents have enjoyed using the space for recreation and approached their councilmembers about preserving and protecting the land for this purpose. Councilmember At Large Tristan Rader was listening. “After hosting a well-attended community meeting and circulating a survey, the feedback was nearly unanimous that residents wanted this land protected as a park,” said Rader. In response to the feedback, Mr. Rader led the charge at City Hall to see to it that the area received attention and improvements including adding benches and trees and remediating construction materials to make the area safe and more inviting.

After considering many potential names for the new park, Councilmembers Rader, Shachner, and Neff proposed to name it after Bernice Pyke, Lakewood’s own pioneering suffragist of the 20^th century who played a critical role in securing the vote for Lakewood women in 1917 and then for all American women in 1920. In addition to her role as leader in the suffragist movement, Ms. Pyke achieved many “firsts” for women’s rights including being the first woman to run for mayor of Lakewood and the first woman to serve as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.

The park was officially dedicated Bernice Pyke Park in a small ceremony on Tuesday August 18^th which also marked the 100^th anniversary of the ratification of the 19^th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, granting women the right to vote. John Pyke, the grandson of Bernice Pyke was present to make remarks and accept the ceremonial resolution dedicating the park.

At the ceremony, Mayor Meghan George expressed her enthusiasm for the new park and its namesake. “Because of Lakewood’s population density, our public green space is of great importance to our residents. I am delighted to add this new park to our collection of high-quality public spaces and thrilled that it will pay homage to Bernice Pyke, a true Lakewood heroine,” said Mayor George.

As with all its parks, the City of Lakewood intends to maintain and make incremental improvements to the park. Any significant improvements or redesign will be informed by public input.

For more information: Contact Councilmember At Large Tristan Rader 440-315-2852.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2020

Lakewood City Council Takes Steps To Ensure Public Input At Emergency Meeting

In order to ensure the active participation of the public at tonight’s Emergency Council meeting, councilmembers have provided the following personal contact information to receive public comment before and during the meeting.

This evening, Council and the Mayor’s administration will be reviewing Ordinance 08-2020, which authorizes the Mayor to use flexibility to pay employees, continue to pay for benefits, to provide for paid leave, and to make decisions of an emergency nature if significant numbers of councilmembers cannot be present during the current COVID-19 crisis.

Lakewood City Hall is currently closed to the public due to concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19. Nevertheless, members will field public comment via phone calls prior to the meeting and emails/text messages will be accepted until 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be live streamed and available for viewing at 5 p.m. at http://www.lakewoodoh.gov/councilvideos/.

Tom Bullock –
Tom.bullock@lakewoodoh.net
Conference line
Dial in: 712-451-0266
Passcode: 217060#

John Litten –
John.litten@lakewoodoh.net
216-302-8333

Sarah Kepple –
Sarah.kepple@lakewoodoh.net
216-200-5050

Tess Neff –
Tess.neff@lakewoodoh.net

Jason Shachner –
Jason.shachner@lakewoodoh.net
216-714-2150

Tristan Rader –
Tristan.rader@lakewoodoh.net
440-315-2852
@twrader

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2020

Click here to read Cuyahoga County’s proclamation and notice of election.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2020

Lakewood City Council Announces Process for Appointing At-Large Council Member

Lakewood, OH – In a Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday January 13^th, Lakewood City Council decided on a process and timeline for appointing an at-large councilmember to the currently vacant position. The position became vacant January 1^st when former at-large councilmember Meghan George assumed the role of mayor, to which she was elected in the November 5^th General Election. Council began seeking applicants on December 4^th, shortly after the vacancy became evident.

The process and timeline is as follows:

Date	Meeting	Purpose
Thursday Jan. 23^rd @ 5:00 p.m.	N/A	Application deadline
Monday Jan. 27^th @ 6:00 p.m.	Committee of the Whole	Initial review of applications
Saturday Feb. 1^st9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.	Committee of the Whole	Candidate interviews
Monday Feb. 3^rd6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.	Committee of the Whole	Candidate interviews
Monday February 10^th @ 6:00 p.m.	Committee of the Whole	Deliberation
Tuesday February 18^th @ 7:30 p.m.	General Meeting	Appointment

Article 2.2 of the Third Amended Charter of the City of Lakewood stipulates that each member of council must be both a resident and registered voter of the city for at least one year immediately prior to taking office and shall continue to be a resident and registered voter of the city.

Interested and qualified individuals may submit a cover letter and resume to Lakewood City Council c/o the Clerk of Council, 12650 Detroit Road, Lakewood, OH 44107, or by email to council@lakewoodoh.net.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 7, 2020

Lakewood City Council Elects New Leadership

Pictured (L to R): Tess Neff, Jason Shachner, John Litten and Dan O’Malley

Lakewood, OH – Last night, at its first meeting of the year, Lakewood City Council unanimously elected Ward 4 Councilmember Dan O’Malley as President and Ward 3 Councilmember John Litten as Vice President. President O’Malley and Vice President Litten were first elected to office in November 2015. In a brief ceremony prior to the meeting, each took the oath of office to begin their second term. They were joined by newly elected councilmembers Jason Shachner (Ward 2) and Tess Neff (Ward 1).

“I am honored and grateful to my colleagues for their confidence in me,” O’Malley said. “I am looking forward to working with council and the administration on the big issues facing our city, and I’ll continue fighting for our residents at city hall.”

As Ward 4 representative, President O’Malley represents some of Lakewood’s most diverse and historic neighborhoods, including Birdtown, Rockport, and the Gold Coast. Before joining City Council, he served on Lakewood’s Citizens Advisory Commission and remains active in numerous civic and community organizations. President O’Malley has spent his career working in the labor movement, and currently serves as an official with the North Shore AFL-CIO.

Remarking on his election to Vice President, Mr. Litten stated, “I am very thankful for the opportunity to be Council Vice President and look forward to working with my colleagues to continue moving Lakewood forward.”

As Ward 3 representative, Vice President Litten’s priorities are responsiveness to residents, safety, fiscal and environmental sustainability and service to others, especially through block clubs and linking residents with each other for the sake of community. Among other volunteer service to the community, John started his own block club and has dedicated himself to having a block club on every street in ward 3. John has also spent his career in non-profit, social service leadership roles ranging from environmental recreation to persons with disabilities to emergency assistance to people in need.

For more information about Lakewood City Council please visit www.onelakewood.com/Lakewood-city-council

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 4, 2019

Lakewood City Council is seeking applicants for the At-Large Council seat soon to be vacated by Councilmember Meghan George. Councilmember George will resign effective January 1, 2020 to assume the responsibilities of the Office of Mayor to which she has been elected. The candidate appointed to the position is expected to serve the remainder of the term, which expires December 31, 2021.

Interested and qualified individuals may submit a cover letter and resume to the Clerk of Council, 12650 Detroit Road, Lakewood, OH 44107, or by email to council@lakewoodoh.net. Applications will be accepted until further notice. An application deadline and appointment process will be outlined by the 2020 City Council, which will convene for its first meeting on January 6, 2020.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 7, 2019

HELP WANTED: Lakewood City Council seeks applicants for Boards & Commissions

Lakewood City Council is seeking volunteers ready to engage with the community and advise their local government. The following opportunities are available:

Two vacancies on the Audit Committee
One vacancy on the Board of Zoning Appeals
One vacancy on the Human Rights Commission

The Audit Committee meets on a quarterly basis with the City’s Finance Director and Council’s Finance Committee to provide independent review and oversight of the City’s financial processes. Members should be capable of reviewing financial statements and reports and serve as an independent forum to report fraud to the auditor. Two two-year terms are available effective January 1, 2020.

The Board of Zoning Appeals meets on the third Thursday of each month to hear and decide all appeals made for variances to the Zoning Code. One five-year term is available beginning January 1, 2020.

The Human Rights Commission meets infrequently as-needed to ensure that Lakewood Codified Ordinances Chapter 516 Discrimination Prohibited is enforced. Chapter 516 protects citizens from discrimination in areas such as employment, housing, education, and public accommodation.

Additional information about these boards and commissions are located in the Lakewood Codified Ordinances, the Third Amended Charter of the City of Lakewood, and on the City’s website at: www.onelakewood.com/apply-register/boardscommissions/.

Applicants are asked to email or deliver a cover letter and résumé for consideration to the Clerk of Council by Tuesday, November 26, 2019.

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For more information, please contact Maureen Bach, Clerk of Council, at (216) 529-6053.

Clerk of Council Maureen Bach
Email: Council@lakewoodoh.net

Mail/Deliver: Maureen Bach
Clerk of Council
12650 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, Ohio 44107

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 26, 2019

LAKEWOOD CITY COUNCIL STRENGTHENS CITY’S DISTRACTED DRIVING LAWS
Cell phone use while driving will be a primary offense unless hands-free

LAKEWOOD, OH – On Tuesday, September 3, 2019, Lakewood City Council unanimously adopted legislation to ban the use of cell phones and other electronic wireless communication devices while driving to make Lakewood streets safer for all drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. The Ordinance, Ordinance 5-19, goes into effect 90 days from passage. The legislation also elevates cell phone-related offenses from secondary to primary, meaning that an officer does not need to identify an accompanying traffic violation in order to issue a ticket. Under the ordinance, an officer may charge a first offender with a minor misdemeanor and issue a $150 fine. The new ordinance substantially strengthens the City’s existing law, which pertains only to texting and does not address the broad range of other phone-related tasks which frequently distract drivers.

Each year nearly 4,000 Americans are killed and close to 400,000 are injured annually in accidents involving distracted drivers. Because drivers don’t always admit to distracted driving, the actual numbers of injuries and deaths is estimated to be much higher.

Council President O’Leary was moved to propose the ban after hearing from many residents about near misses with distracted drivers and experiencing the same himself. “On balance, this is a really important step to make our community safer,” he said. What we need in our society with respect to using a cell phone while driving, is a cultural shift the same way that we had to confront the dangers of drinking and driving. And actually, all the data suggests that the dangers of cell phone use while driving is on par with the dangers of drinking and driving.”

Public Safety Committee Chairman Tom Bullock guided the legislation through several technical revisions and focused committee discussion on carving out narrow exceptions for;

Communicating or navigating using hands-free features built into the vehicle.
Communicating or using navigation tools on a mounted device.
Accepting a fare, accepting a call, or making a call using a device’s one-touch capability if the device is mounted.

“Recommendations made by the Ohio Distracted Driving Task Force were quite important to me in supporting Lakewood’s new law. Their research shows that distracted driving is as dangerous as drunk driving, it’s on the rise in Ohio, and Cuyahoga County is among the top three for distracted driving deaths and serious injuries. Current laws aren’t enough since they lack clarity and aren’t a primary offense, which we know has reduced traffic deaths in other states,” said Bullock.

“Since distracted driving crashes are 100 percent preventable, Lakewood should prevent them. We’ve taken a critical first step in adopting this new law.”

According to the Ohio Distracted Driving Task Force, jurisdictions which have enacted similar bans on cell phone use while driving have experienced a significant decrease in traffic fatalities. Fifteen states and the District of Columbia have laws that prohibit the use of handheld devices while driving and make using a device a primary offense. The Ohio Revised Code allows Ohio municipalities to enact distracted driving laws that go above and beyond the current state law. The Task Force has recommended that Ohio Governor Mike DeWine implement changes similar to those Lakewood made statewide.

Mayor Summers signed the legislation the day after adoption. He and Lakewood Police Chief Timothy Malley have expressed support for this measure throughout the legislative process.

“The Lakewood Police Department supports the new ordinance on distracted driving as an important step forward in deterring preventable accidents,” said Chief Malley. “Distracted driving is a major cause of crashes on our roadways and giving our officers the tools to prevent these crashes from happening is appropriate.”

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Contact: Council President Sam O’Leary (216) 200-8002; Councilman Tom Bullock 440-554-7203

Attachments:

Ordinance 05-19

Ohio Distracted Driving Task Force Report

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 29, 2019

Lakewood City Council set to Establish New Tree Board – Volunteers Needed

LAKEWOOD, OH – On September 16^th, Lakewood City Council will vote on legislation to establish a new body of volunteers focused on preserving and growing the City’s tree canopy. The new group, called the Tree Advisory & Education Board, will collaborate with the City on its forestry practices and educate fellow residents on responsible tree stewardship and the benefits of private property tree planting.

The idea to establish a permanent body of volunteers dedicated to the City’s urban forest has been periodically discussed by City officials for several years. In 2012, City Council convened a temporary Tree Task Force which issued a set of 19 recommendations, one being to establish a permanent board or commission dedicated to trees.

Public Works Committee Chairman, Councilmember Tristan Rader applauded members of the former Tree Task Force for their ongoing engagement with the City regarding its trees. “I am very appreciative of these individuals for staying involved and always advocating for our trees. I am pleased that Council is now poised to act on this important recommendation,” he said.

If enacted, City Council will appoint three members to the Board and Mayor Summers will appoint two members. Council President Sam O’Leary is hopeful that the new Tree Advisory & Education Board will get to work quickly. “Council is now accepting applications from residents who are passionate and knowledgeable about trees,” he said. “I am personally very excited to meet those who are willing to step forward for this opportunity,” he continued. Special consideration will be given to applicants with background and expertise in forestry or related fields.

Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter explaining their knowledge of and interest in trees to the Clerk of Council. Additional information about the City’ existing urban tree policies and practices are located on the City’s website at: http://www.lakewoodoh.gov/keeping-maintaining-our-tree-canopy/

Deadline for applications is Friday September 13^th at noon.

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For more information, please contact Maureen Bach, Clerk of Council, at (216) 529-6053.

Clerk of Council Maureen Bach
Email: Council@lakewoodoh.net

Mail/Deliver:
Maureen Bach
Clerk of Council
12650 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, Ohio 44107

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2019

HELP WANTED: Lakewood City Council seeks applicants for Community Relations Advisory Commission

Lakewood City Council is seeking volunteers ready to engage with the community and advise their local government. Multiple opportunities are currently available to serve on the Community Relations Advisory Commission.

The mission of the Community Relations Advisory Commission is to promote respect for diversity, equity for all, and to foster bonds of mutuality between groups and individuals within the City. The Commission coordinates multiple signature outreach events each year and is currently serving in a mentorship role to the new Youth Council.

Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter explaining their interest in and commitment to the values of diversity and equity to the Clerk of Council. Applicants must be Lakewood residents and be available for monthly meetings. Additional information about the Community Relations Advisory Commission, including agendas and minutes, are located on the City’s website at: http://www.lakewoodoh.gov/apply-register/boardscommissions/.

Positions will remain open until filled.

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For more information, please contact Maureen Bach, Clerk of Council, at (216) 529-6053.

Clerk of Council Maureen Bach
Email: Council@lakewoodoh.net

Mail/Deliver: Maureen Bach

Clerk of Council
12650 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, Ohio 44107

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 13, 2019

LAKEWOOD CITY COUNCIL INVITES RESIDENTS TO EXPLORE 100 YEARS OF COUNCIL HISTORY ONLINE

LAKEWOOD, OH – Lakewood City Council invites the public to explore one hundred years of the City’s legislative history on its new online self-service public records portal.

The portal houses one hundred years of ordinances & resolutions and will be continually updated after each council meeting. The Clerk of Council’s Office will release additional Council records onto the portal in the months and years ahead.
The online link to access the portal is: https://www.rdso3donline.com/lakewood. There are also links to access the portal from the City Council website.

“While the Council Office is known for readily triaging requests for Council records, today’s digital age sets higher expectations that this information be directly accessible to constituents 24/7,” said Council President Sam O’Leary. “Public records truly belong to the people, not the government, and I am excited that we have found a measurable way to put this fundamental principle into practice,” he continued.
Clerk of Council, Maureen Bach worked with O’Leary, an outside vendor and the City’s information systems division to launch the portal.

“This is a big step for the Council Office.” she said. “It really highlights the long legacy of Clerks in this office who have worked hard over the past century to carefully catalog and maintain these records. I am delighted that those efforts can now be shared with the public.”

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Contact: Council President Sam O’Leary (216) 200-8002; Clerk of Council Maureen Bach (216) 529-6053

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 5, 2019

CITY INVITES RESIDENTS TO EXPERIENCE THE NEW COVE PARK

Ward 4 Councilman Dan O’Malley and the City of Lakewood’s Planning Department invite residents to come out and experience the new and improved Cove Park with a ribbon cutting ceremony and line up of family-friendly activities on Friday, June 14^th from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Since 2016 the City has been working to revitalize Cove Park. The project broke ground in November 2017 and is now complete. All told, the City has invested $700,000 in new amenities for the park including playground equipment, a new playing field surface, a picnic shelter, benches, bike racks, picnic tables and more. The parking lot was upgraded by replacing 2/3rds of the hard surface with pervious pavers.

“On-site stormwater management is especially important in urban areas, and the City of Lakewood is committed to taking a leadership role. This park redevelopment offered a great opportunity to do just that, “says city planner Michelle Nochta. “Residents are excited to see their ideas in action at Cove Park.”

The park is located within a low-moderate income area, which enabled the City to use Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars to fund the project. Use of these funds was recommended by the City’s Citizens Advisory Committee, a volunteer Committee that comes together each year to decide how to allocate CDBG funds.

“These renovations were truly community-driven,” remarked Ward 4 Councilman Dan O’Malley, in whose ward Cove Park is situated. “I commend the Citizens Advisory Committee for recognizing the great need to re-invest in Cove Park and to the many residents who came out to offer their suggestions at community meetings. I am pleased that the Planning Department was able to incorporate so many resident suggestions and deliver a Cove Park for Ward 4 to be proud of.”

The City is excited to showcase the many new features of the park to residents this spring. The ribbon cutting is scheduled for June 14^th at 6:00 p.m. In addition, Lakewood Public Library, the Lakewood YMCA, and other community organizations will be present to lead family-friendly activities. Barring severe weather, the event is rain or shine.

Who: Councilman Dan O’Malley & the City of Lakewood Planning Department
What: Cove Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony & Celebration
When: Friday June 14^th 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Cove Park, Lakewood Ohio

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Contact: City Planner Michelle Nochta at 216-529-5906 or Clerk of Council Maureen Bach at 216-529-6053.

About Cove Park: Cove Park is a 3-acre public park located immediately north of the railroad tracks between Cove Ave. and Thoreau Ave. Parking is available at the entrance adjacent to Cove Ave.

Cove Park: New picnic pavilion and bike racks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2019

Councilmembers Tristan Rader and Meghan F. George to Propose Public Records Chapter

LAKEWOOD, OH – Councilmembers Tristan Rader and Meghan F. George are set to propose an ordinance to establish a public records chapter within the code of the City of Lakewood. The ordinance proposes to create a chapter of the code that would reinforce important portions of the city’s current Public Records Retention Policy into law.

New objectives contained within the proposal include:

Create a public records request web portal that is easy to use, up to date and interactive that will allow the public to:
- Easily and quickly submit specific requests in once place
- Allow for anonymity
- Track requests in real time
- Fulfil the request timely
- Store all request for review, reporting and public search
Two-day response time to initially respond to a request
Strengthen provisions around redactions and exemptions, to make sure we are withholding only what is absolutely necessary
Appoint a city employee as Public Records Administrator
Mandate public records training for top officials
List types of records and information open to the public (non-exhaustive)

Councilmembers Rader and George emphasized that open government leads to a better informed citizenry and greater public participation in government. Additionally “Having a chapter of our code dedicated to public records would not make Lakewood unique. We feel strongly that not only should we have a chapter in our code dedicated to the extremely important topic of public records, but that we continue to leverage technology to make the public records request process more transparent and easier to use.”

The Public Records Chapter ordinance is on the docket for the May 20, 2019 Council meeting held at 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium of Lakewood City Hall. It is expected that upon introduction the ordinance will be referred to a Council committee for further deliberation. Council meetings are also streamed live on the City’s website here: http://www.lakewoodoh.gov/councilvideos/

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For more information please contact Councilmembers Tristan Rader 440-315-2852 and Meghan George at 216-544-6745.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2019

Lakewood City Council Raises the Age from 18 to 21 to Purchase Tobacco & Nicotine Products

On Monday, March 18^th, Lakewood City Council unanimously adopted legislation to raise the minimum age for sale of all tobacco and nicotine products from 18 to 21. In doing so, Lakewood joins seven states and over 450 municipalities across the country, including twenty-one Ohio communities which have passed similar laws since 2015.

The legislation was proposed by Ward 3 Councilmember John Litten in response to the recent nationwide surge in use of alternative nicotine products such as e-cigarettes among youth. “After considering that 95% of addicted smokers initiate smoking before age 21 and seeing how similar laws have reduced rates of tobacco use in other communities, I was compelled to bring this proposal before my Council colleagues,” said Mr. Litten.

“This change strikes the right balance by raising the age, but also decriminalizing our enforcement. Council worked hard to make sure that this law isn’t about punishing small businesses or kids, but is instead about making a meaningful difference in the health of our community and our young people’s future,” Council President Sam O’Leary said.

The Cuyahoga County Board of Health and Mayor Summers’ administration worked collaboratively with Council over two Health & Human Services Committee hearings and three readings at Council Meetings to craft legislation specific to Lakewood’s needs. Mayor Summers endorsed the legislation with his signature the day after passage. “This new policy is consistent with our opportunity to think anew about becoming and staying healthy,” said Mayor Summers. “I am grateful for City Council’s leadership on this initiative. Forward-thinking communities across the country are stepping up their protection of our youth. Lakewood now joins these cities.”

The City will partner with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health to enforce the ordinance. Prior to implementation, the Board will proactively reach out to all Lakewood tobacco and nicotine retailers with information and education about the new requirements and provide the required signage. “The Board really sees this as a long-term partnership with retailers. We are prepared to provide the materials and invest the time necessary working with them to ensure that they have everything they need to be compliant with the new requirements,” said Rick Novickis, Director of Environmental Public Health at the Board.

The new ordinance imposes fines and the revocation of a retailer’s permit to sell tobacco and nicotine products if they fail to comply with the new requirements.

Visit http://www.lakewoodoh.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/76-18-Tobacco-21.pdfto view the legislation. For additional information, please contact the Cuyahoga County Board of Health at (216)201-2000 ext.1200.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2019

COUNCIL PRESIDENT SAM O’LEARY ANNOUNCES TOWN HALLS

LAKEWOOD, OH – City Council President Sam O’Leary will be hosting his first two town halls of the year on March 5th from 7:00PM-8:30PM in the Lakewood Library Main Branch multimedia room and Thursday, April 18th from 7:00PM- 8:30PM in the Lakewood Library- Madison Branch conference room. Councilman O’Leary invites all Lakewood citizens to come for meaningful discussion and to hear about the City’s progress moving forward.

“In my eight years of serving this community, these town halls are an excellent opportunity for citizens of Lakewood to engage directly with their local government and I’m excited to hear feedback from the community,” Council President O’Leary said. “This community is full of good ideas and insights, and we make this community better every time we have these conversations.”

Councilman O’Leary’s upcoming town hall events follow in the footsteps of Mayor Michael P. Summers’ “Listening to Lakewood” events held at different locals throughout the city. “We recognize the fundamental importance of meeting our residents where they are, which is out and about in the community. Most people don’t have the time or the interest to come to a City Council meeting, but that doesn’t make their voice any less valuable or their input any less insightful,” President O’Leary said. “Often when making a decision, we have the data, but we need the perspectives of our neighbors to make sure City policies make sense for them.”

Who: Councilman Sam O’Leary
What: Town Halls- Open to the Public
When: Tuesday, March 5th 7:00PM-8:30PM & Thursday, April 18th, 7:00PM-8:30PM
Where: Lakewood Public Library- Main Branch conference room (March 5th date); Lakewood Public Library- Madison Branch meeting room (April 18th date)

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Contact: Councilman Sam O’Leary; [216-200-8002 / Sam.OLeary@lakewoodoh.net]

About Council President Sam O’Leary: Sam O’Leary is a lifetime resident of Lakewood and graduate of the Lakewood City Schools. Sam grew up on Clarence Avenue, but moved to Clifton Boulevard when he returned to Lakewood after studying public policy at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

From early involvement in numerous political and civic campaigns, to serving on the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Tax Incentive Review Council, Sam has committed himself to knowing Lakewood, its residents, and the issues we face as a city. These experiences inform Sam’s vision of Lakewood as an historic and unique residential city complimented by vibrant commercial corridors that comprehensively serve the shopping, dining, and recreational needs of our citizens. To that end, Sam strives to develop and support partnerships between public, private, and non-profit stakeholders that turn eyesores into economic engines, while preserving our delicate balance of residential and commercial interests.

Sam has been representing Ward 2 on Lakewood City Council since 2014 and was elected Council President by his colleagues in 2016 and 2018.

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