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Lakewood council defers multiple ordinances, appoints anti-racism task force
Summary
At its Sept. 2 meeting, Lakewood City Council voted to defer several ordinances to committee, adopted a resolution appointing four members to the anti-racism task force, and handled a series of administrative items including codification and liquor notices.
Lakewood City Council on Sept. 2 voted to defer several ordinances to committee, adopted a resolution appointing four members to the city—s anti-racism task force and received routine administrative communications and liquor notices.
The council deferred multiple ordinance items that would have been on second reading, including an ordinance creating new short-term rental sections of the codified ordinances and ordinances concerning transfer of property to Bell Avenue Partners LLC and a tax-increment financing (TIF) arrangement for downtown redevelopment. The council adopted Resolution 20-25-39 to appoint Chitra Walker, Don Ellis, Jason Frederick and Marissa Ostermock to the anti-racism task force. Other routine items were received and filed or referred to committee as noted below.
Most votes on the agenda were voice votes with no roll-call tallies read into the record. Where recorded, council members voted by voice; Vice President Baker announced she would abstain from the Bell Avenue Partners property-transfer item because she works for a property-tax-funded organization and the matter involves property taxes.
The council also:
- Received and filed a communication from President Keppel authorizing American Legal Publishing to perform a routine codification update of the Lakewood Codified Ordinances.
- Moved several codification actions into the three-reading process (ordinance to include certain ordinances as components of the codified ordinances).
- Referred an ordinance repealing Chapter 1.60 (Audit Committee) to the finance committee and a related communication proposing that the finance committee take over audit-review responsibilities.
- Received a report from the Community Recreation and Education Commission noting pool closures and strong summer participation in youth programs (the commission reported more than 900 children participating in softball and baseball programs).
- Received communications about the community social service program (county reimbursement for transportation and adult development activities for residents 60 and older and residents 18–59 with disabilities).
- Filed a liquor-permit notice for Aladdin—s Natural Eatery and deferred a liquor-permit notice for Humble Origins LLC to a future meeting.
Votes and formal actions (selection):
- Ordinance 23-20-25 (short-term rentals; new sections proposed for codified ordinances): Motion to defer — passed (voice vote). Referenced in discussion as already referred to committee for further work.
- Ordinance 24-20-25 (transfer of certain real property; purchase and sale agreement with Bell Avenue Partners LLC): Motion to defer — passed (voice vote); Vice President Baker announced she would abstain from this item.
- Ordinance 25-20-25 (declare improvements public purpose; establish urban redevelopment TIF-equivalent fund and service-payment agreement): Motion to defer — passed (voice vote).
- Resolution 20-25-39 (appoint Chitra Walker, Don Ellis, Jason Frederick and Marissa Ostermock to the anti-racism task force): Motion to adopt — passed (voice vote).
- Ordinance 27-20-25 (repeal Chapter 1.60, Audit Committee): Motion to refer to finance committee — passed (voice vote).
- Resolution 20-25-44 (authorize mayor or designee to enter into agreements to participate in opioid litigation settlements with other Ohio communities): Motion to refer to Committee of the Whole — passed (voice vote).
- Liquor permit: Aladdin—s Natural Eatery filing — filed with no objection; Humble Origins LLC at 15400 Detroit Avenue — deferred.
Why it matters: The deferred ordinances include items that would change development and short-term rental rules and a TIF-like financing mechanism for downtown redevelopment; those matters will return for further committee review. The adopted appointments and routine filings move forward administrative policies and volunteer placements that affect commissions and city boards.
Ending: Most items were deferred for committee consideration or adoption on later readings. Council repeatedly used committee referral to allow further review; members and staff indicated follow-up meetings and materials will be scheduled before final votes.
