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Residents press council on unsafe parking and smoke shops; senior-group leader seeks budget line for senior center
Summary
During public comment at the March 23 council meeting, residents raised safety concerns about parking along Edge Park and neighborhood 'smoke shops'; Carolyn Lockett delivered a petition seeking a budget line for the senior center and was told the finance discussion is open to the public.
Several residents used the March 23 public-comment period to press the council on neighborhood safety and city services.
A resident reported cars parked partly on the street and gravel near Edge Park, saying vehicles parked near curves have caused near-misses. The resident asked whether the area is city or Metroparks property; council said Metroparks officers have jurisdiction inside Metroparks, but city staff will coordinate with police and Metroparks to address the safety concern. The chair offered to have staff follow up with the chief of police.
Council and other members also discussed problems with local 'smoke shops' and said state law changes that regulate hemp and marijuana sales may reduce the number of illegal or problematic vendors. "A lot of these fake shops and smoke shops...that's what they're selling in there. And now that's gonna be illegal," a council member said, applauding recent state legislators' actions.
Carolyn Lockett identified herself as president of the senior citizen site council and said she circulated a petition asking the city to include the senior center as a line item in the budget. She asked whether the public could attend the finance or funding committee meetings; council members and staff replied those sessions are open to the public.
Why it matters: resident reports and petitions direct the council’s attention to localized safety hazards and community-service funding priorities; the council committed to follow up with city staff and partner agencies.
What’s next: staff will coordinate with public-safety partners about park-area parking and the service garage will address immediate pothole hazards; the senior petition will be routed to finance/funding discussion where public attendance is permitted.
