Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the City Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lakewood City Council reviews broad policies and defers final changes on civility and attendance
Summary
Councilors discussed updates to policies and procedures covering attendance rules, agenda scoping, HOA representation, order of presentations and a proposed civility/code-of-conduct appendix, but deferred final decisions on several items and assigned staff and councilors to refine language.
Lakewood City Council spent much of its March 2, 2026 study session reviewing proposed annual updates to the council's policies and procedures, including attendance rules, agenda-setting practices, HOA representation, and a proposed civility section.
City Attorney Alison McKenney-Brown walked the council through recommended edits, noting proposed language to clarify the mayor's authority to modify agendas for administrative reasons and a suggested addition that the mayor pro tem oversee priority-setting work. She also recommended aligning the council's 30% absence cap with the Lakewood Municipal Code because current rules reference different categories of meetings.
Attendance and agenda scoping: Councilors raised practical questions about how absences would be tracked and whether the 30% threshold should apply to special meetings and workshops. Ms. McKenney-Brown said staff could draft code changes to resolve the mismatch between current policy language and the municipal code.
HOA representation and public comment order: Council supported a proposed process requiring HOAs and registered neighborhood associations to register an authorized representative with the city clerk or provide other acceptable documentation (for example, an email or letter) to avoid competing claimants. Council also agreed to change the order within agenda items to presentation → council questions/discussion → public comment → motion so the public hears council questions before speaking.
Civility and code-of-conduct debate: Councilmember Sinks proposed an expanded civility section drawing on National League of Cities guidance. Several councilors praised the intent but expressed concern that some wording is vague and could be weaponized if enforcement tools (including potential censure) were made explicit. Council directed Councilmember Sinks and Councilmember I Cruz to work with staff and the city attorney to rework the civility language and determine appropriate placement—either as a standalone section or integrated into the existing code of conduct.
What happens next: Staff will return the recommended code changes (including the attendance/code alignment and HOA representative language) in a future resolution or ordinance. Councilors asked staff to consider both the substance and administrative feasibility before final adoption.
The study session continued with a separate legal update on municipal sentencing.
