Lakewood amends referendum code but removes clerk-appeal provision after public concern

After a lengthy public hearing and staff presentation, the Lakewood City Council voted on July 27 to adopt revisions to chapter 2.52 of the municipal code (ordinance O-2026-21) that reorganize petition procedures and align local rules with state statutes. City attorney Gus Gank told the council the changes were intended to reduce confusion demonstrated by multiple petition rejections in 2024–25 and "consolidate all relevant legal requirements into 1 place so that anyone reviewing the chapter" can find rules in one location.

Public testimony included the Lakewood Citizens Alliance, which warned that new appeal language could unduly reduce time for signature gathering. Karen Gourde said the group’s preference was to strike the new appeal subsections because they could "consume part of an already limited time frame." Council debate focused on whether to adopt the clerk-summary and a short administrative shot-clock in the code. Council ultimately removed subsection 2.52130(d), the new appeal pathway to the clerk/district court, and passed the ordinance as amended by recorded vote 9–2 (no votes from LaBeur and Nystrom).