Wickliffe Council adopts three ordinances, approves emergency fund transfer

Wickliffe City Council on Dec. 15 adopted three ordinances covering appropriations for early 2026, changes related to short-term rentals and an emergency transfer authority that allows the finance director to reallocate city funds between accounts.

Ordinance No. 2025-56, an appropriations measure covering Jan. 1–March 31, 2026, was introduced and adopted after a motion to approve. Council then considered Ordinance No. 2025-58, which amends the codified ordinances relating to short-term rentals (described in the meeting as "tourist homes"); during discussion one council member said short-term rentals reduce housing available for families. The roll call on that ordinance recorded multiple "Yes" votes and at least one recorded "No."

Council also read Ordinance No. 2025-59, which authorizes the director of finance to transfer sums from the general fund to various funds and declares an emergency so the measure could be placed on third and final reading immediately. A council member asked about a $300,000 transfer into the swimming pool fund; the finance-related official explained the ordinance provides routine authority to move funds when a fund balance is low so the city need not return later for the same approval. Council voted to suspend the rules and adopt the ordinance on final reading.

All three ordinances were moved and seconded on the record; roll-call votes were taken for each. The transcript records individual roll-call responses (several recorded as "Yes" and at least one "No" on the short-term rentals ordinance). The meeting did not record a formal tally in a single summarized line in the spoken record; roll-call responses are available in the meeting record.

The council session then moved on to miscellaneous items and scheduled an organizational meeting for Jan. 5, 2026.