[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6483075,"mediaKeyId","5560476-2403aa501b9bef1c8ac0693c2c7cc523","parentId",5560476,"title","Community speakers press Lakewood council for independent oversight after death of transgender resident","audioSeconds",7945,"startMs",1197000,"endMs",9142000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5560476-2403aa501b9bef1c8ac0693c2c7cc523&start=1197&end=9142","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5560476-2403aa501b9bef1c8ac0693c2c7cc523/thumbnail_1197000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6483075/Lakewood-City/Jefferson-County/Colorado/Community-speakers-press-Lakewood-council-for-independent-oversight-after-death-of-transgender-resident","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483075-64ab4746638ec4493a1398c2a578b9a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166028&Signature=iNDES4h5rxSEF30BG1qKgM4gtoTRALkusnCZa8s10ecV-ZT9Cnxb50Z-0x~wY4z1-LFG2AteHl4K0GF-t7Ryz2BaZgON0xBdvCONHy1UKHK6IZipXO1b~Sq0d7IclI5v-Apt1D5ExF9eMo6tjptFlU4dIJPgTeOpLx-pWXHa2nfTyHRkUaB4kOwmPsMB5QFdgeivSEvvwxizFYmulWxiMS1nCQmQbvDO7GcxH7UzmFgdQNXsdg1C1zZmXj1l0QuHy80lmtBBrkb8xwbepDXad1R98TjMyBogeGDdKr07Ump89Joyn8iFBc9Qh9k4mG~zdlZ7EtsnCR5PylkSSUEl8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lakewood City, CO","date","2025-08-12T04:15:13.403Z","article","Dozens of residents, family members and advocates used public-comment periods at the Lakewood City Council meeting to press the council to create an independent civilian oversight body to review police investigations following the death of a transgender resident identified repeatedly in comments as Jax.

Speakers included friends, family and advocacy groups who described a pattern of mistreatment, including alleged deadnaming in official releases and delays in evidence handling. \"Independent oversight is critical because there is a culture in policing called the blue wall of silence,\" said Zee Williams, who identified themself as a Ward 2 resident. Family members and friends of Jax said the coroner and police handled the case in ways that left the mother and community confused and grieving.

Other speakers—residents and service providers—urged broader changes including greater cultural competency training for officers, a public-facing internal affairs dashboard, expedited evidence protocols and language access for non-English-speaking community members. Nicholas Mundlin, who said he survived mistreatment in the criminal-justice system, called for public internal-affairs transparency, referencing state reporting laws that require misconduct reporting by July 2023. \"We demand a transparent and accessible internal affairs complaint dashboard for Lakewood,\" he said.

Several speakers recounted personal connections with the deceased and described community trauma; they urged council to create an independent oversight committee that excludes active law-enforcement members. \"Having a current or former member of the police department on such a board creates a clear conflict of interest,\" said Brother Ken Unity (also identified as Alexander Abreu), a community minister and longtime advocate.

Members of the council responded during their reports, acknowledging the public’s concerns and saying several councilors were preparing a request for council action to address oversight and accountability. City officials and council members encouraged continued engagement and said staff would work on proposals; no formal ordinance or final vote on an oversight board was recorded during the meeting.

Other topics raised in public comment included traffic safety and speed limits near Alameda International School, motorcycle and vehicle noise complaints along West Mississippi Avenue, and housing-condition complaints from a resident of a Metro West-managed building.

The meeting record shows broad public interest and emotional testimony on policing and oversight, and councilors said they would pursue a path forward that includes listening sessions and a staff-led proposal for council consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","08-11-2025 Lakewood City Council Meeting Video","oneSentenceSummary","Dozens of residents and family members urged the council to establish independent, civilian oversight of police investigations, citing the death of a transgender woman identified in public comments as Jax and alleging missteps by law enforcement and the coroner.","taxTitle","Lakewood City, Jefferson County, Colorado","taxId",5594,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6483079,"Lakewood raises monthly stormwater charge to $7.49 to accelerate drainage repairs",260,2684000,2944000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5560476-2403aa501b9bef1c8ac0693c2c7cc523&start=2684&end=2944","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5560476-2403aa501b9bef1c8ac0693c2c7cc523/thumbnail_2684000.jpg","/articles/6483079/Lakewood-City/Jefferson-County/Colorado/Lakewood-raises-monthly-stormwater-charge-to-749-to-accelerate-drainage-repairs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483079-ac378f511d2cf417603f39895bd3c674/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166028&Signature=f7zAaBR~e~nUiTlq8MxBs7eIsbNAThH4c5X6UyGb7YnPLb52xE9vI-h4H3ASEdX4khevUFd3~zyKwnQ2DQ8~ygC5cTR9W8g1fvAFP-3mpCg2G5TdImgNE7bzf-ExO16NJxZU2eZ7n6wCv2kuxvrw2BC7bduBjhkqP-1T63umJXQlGrLJgL~CFvtceA7ExMS3WucUJHT21OMHzPbq4~IqJpuAgEweFaFGgRge45yDcRl45B7UvvxhNAuMJ6QXmDdfbiFe7styrOXBni660NduBKzUqPUYvyQEQnf8WWqnpIe1zcuhBDdq9d00G4EDHmYIHDOfguawIxVlpbP1jMAizA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lakewood City Council approved, on consent, an adjustment to the stormwater management utility service charge that will raise the monthly fee from $4.99 to $7.49.

Public-works staff explained the fee change at council request before the consent vote. ‘‘The stormwater service charge adjustment that's before you tonight would in essence bring that service charge ... up to $7.49 a month,’’ said Mister Hill, who described an expansive, citywide drainage system of pipes, inlets, channels, curb-and-gutter and ditches. He told council much of the system was constructed of corrugated metal pipe and is beyond its service life.

Hill said the current funding pace would leave the city’s identified capital and local drainage needs addressed in roughly 285 years; the proposed adjustment would allow the program to address current needs in about 50 years. He told council the utility’s revenue is generated entirely by service charges and that staff pursues grants and partnerships, including with the Mile High Flood District, to supplement the program.

Council had placed the stormwater fee item on the consent agenda; after a brief presentation and questions, the full consent agenda passed 11–0. The consent packet listed related resolutions (R2025-45, -46, -47) and an assignment to Metro West Housing Solutions; the stormwater service charge was identified as Item 5c (R2025-47) in the consent materials.

City staff said the fee increase will fund accelerated replacement and capital projects; council directed staff to continue pursuing outside funding and to provide outreach materials to residents about the change.","Council approved a consent-agenda item that includes a stormwater management service-charge increase from $4.99 to $7.49 per month; staff said the increase is needed to address aging drainage infrastructure and reduce backlog from centuries to decades.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6483083,"Lakewood council breaks proposed citywide zoning rewrite into four hearings, sets new schedule",3163,2957000,6120000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5560476-2403aa501b9bef1c8ac0693c2c7cc523&start=2957&end=6120","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5560476-2403aa501b9bef1c8ac0693c2c7cc523/thumbnail_2957000.jpg","/articles/6483083/Lakewood-City/Jefferson-County/Colorado/Lakewood-council-breaks-proposed-citywide-zoning-rewrite-into-four-hearings-sets-new-schedule","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483083-f296caf4a3e221647669e95ca0d87cd5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166028&Signature=bt1NfOzOjFuWm2z9ERaYK5WRXdRfCMtracCE~hiWJopdYPBvWGyhAgR~fNkj2T1-RqPeL5IVB8DRalTE-5h~uB91o4XQmmaJg0UBL--pw-k1YW7VR5DMbz2azqEB1XptWuLDYYMZM5SCSwqRlHw-LPfokNo5fOhujUpQkMQmQZeJKsObAHtiTzRqiiXpBB-POASawilYRGlRDCg4BTzHUTbhpsGSLjf5XnOgw-788KmJ1clMI7JuEZ5uxUtYIyxpnfuCEMx83asDkswpOJM7XBbYuOsC1c4N15BKOXma48FWvpgHaN0fJAVsy4gIffgNf1xVOXKIXJG4uFmIKNEi6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lakewood City Council voted to divide a single, citywide zoning ordinance (O2025-27) into four separate ordinances and set staggered public-hearing dates, a move council members said is intended to make the overhaul easier for residents to understand and comment on.

Council members approved an amendment to separate the code update into: text amendments for Articles 6–14 (public hearing moved to Aug. 25, 2025), Articles 1, 2, 4 and 5 (Sept. 8, 2025), Article 3 (Sept. 22, 2025) and the zoning map (Oct. 13, 2025). The motion passed 10–1, with Councilor Nystrom voting no.

Councilors said they heard repeated requests from residents for clearer maps, Spanish-language materials and interactive tools. “Break it up into 3 parts plus the map so that we are able to have conversations around the pieces of this zoning so that it is a more digestible conversation,” Councilor Furman said when she moved the amendment. Several councilors and staff also urged that the city publish larger, legible maps and provide translated summaries before hearings.

City planning staff said Article 3 will introduce form-based zone districts and is likely to draw the most public comment; the item was isolated from the rest of the code for that reason. Staff and council discussed three specific map products residents requested: enlarged maps, a comparative current-vs-proposed overlay, and an overlay of RTD (transit) lines with proposed zoning. Staff told council enlarged maps would be posted “tomorrow” and large-format maps would be made available for council review.

Council members debated whether the second-reading process should start Aug. 25 or be delayed to allow additional translation and outreach. After discussion they agreed to the earlier schedule while directing staff to continue outreach, including accessible translations and additional public meetings and materials on LakewoodTogether.org.

The council emphasized the need to keep the community informed about which hearings cover which parts of the code so residents know whether their comments will be germane at each hearing. Legal and staff advisers confirmed council could schedule staggered effective dates or motion language to avoid having provisions take legal effect before the map is updated, if council so chooses.

The split ordinance approach changes the timeline for second- and potential third-readings; councilors said the schedule leaves room for a third-reading continuation if needed and for staff to post maps and explanatory materials ahead of the hearings.

Councilors and staff repeatedly told residents they remain open to additional community sessions and said interactive, bilingual materials would be posted to the city’s engagement hub. The amendment to separate O2025-27 into four ordinances was approved 10–1.","After weeks of public meetings, the Lakewood City Council voted to split a proposed citywide zoning ordinance into four separate ordinances and set a staggered public-hearing schedule to give residents more time to review maps and code language.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Community speakers press Lakewood council for independent oversight after death of transgender resident

Lakewood raises monthly stormwater charge to $7.49 to accelerate drainage repairs

Lakewood council breaks proposed citywide zoning rewrite into four hearings, sets new schedule