Could The Census Be The End Of Lakewood As We Know It?

The March 1, 2010 meeting of Council was called to order at 7:41 P.M. by Council President Kevin Butler (Ward IV). There were few open seats remaining in the City Hall Auditorium at the start of the meeting as this was the night Council would potentially decide the fate of the ordinance allowing leashed dogs into Lakewood and Kaufman Parks.

The first order of business was brought forth by Councilman Butler regarding Lakewood’s participation in the 2010 Census. Since Council was in a Committee of the Whole meeting and unable to receive the new information on the status of the Census they asked for someone from the administration to give them a report. Director of Human Services, Dotty Buckon was chosen to deliver the report. To start, she tried to give Council some perspective on the dire situation Lakewood could be facing. In 1990 she reported the Census counted 66,000 people in Lakewood and in 2000 that number had dropped to 56,000. She also stated a NEO CANDO survey estimates that in 2009 Lakewood’s population was only around 50,700 people, which is perilously close to the 50,000 breaking point.

Lakewood stands to loose a lot if it falls below 50,000. To start title one funding for the schools would be greatly decreased, which with a school system already facing a dire financial crisis it would only make things nearly impossible. It would also mean Lakewood could lose its entitlement status which makes the City eligible for a number of grants, 22 million of which the City has received in the last 10 years from HUD. That money makes up much of the budgets the City uses on things like street repairs and maintenance, housing initiatives, economic development and programs and services for people in the community, like senior programs and the family room. City programs and organizations which receive CDBG funds could also lose much of their funding. These organizations include Lakewood Christian Service Center, Lakewood Alive, Beck Center and many more.

Director Buckon reported that the City has established a Complete Count Committee which is charged with community outreach to try and get the most accurate count the City can get. Many of the members of the committee are people from the groups that will be greatly affected by the Census outcome, as well as many other concerned citizens. She then asked the members of Council for their fullest cooperation and outreach in their wards and the City as a whole to get the word out. She also asked for suggestions from anyone in ways that they can reach more people and encourage cooperation in the Census.

Moving on, Councilman Butler read a communication from the Animal Safety and Welfare Board, which he chairs, unanimously supporting the ordinance that would allow a pilot program for leashed dog walking in Lakewood and Kaufman Parks. After Council received his communication they moved on to the ordinance itself. Before voting on it Councilman Tom Bullock (Ward II), who had brought the ordinance to Council, asked them to allow him to substitute the current ordinance with one that had a new section added. This new, last minute addition, included language that states the pilot program would not begin until such a time as the money had been raised, by third parties, to purchase and install signs and waste stations at both of the parks and that if this is not done within 12 months of the passage of the ordinance than the pilot program will never happen. Councilman Bullock added this language after concerns were raised by other Council members at the last meeting that it was not included.

After introducing the substituted ordinance Councilman Bullock went over the main points of the ordinance. With the passage of the ordinance it would allow leashed dogs to be walked in Lakewood and Kaufman parks during the 12 months following the passage of the ordinance, provided the signs and waste stations had been installed. Dogs are not allowed within 30 feet of any playground or ball park and must remain on a leash no longer than six feet. All owners must clean up any waste their dog may leave behind and dispose of it properly. The Council reserves the right at any point during this 12 months to vote to put an end to the pilot program.

Before the final vote was spoken several of the Council members made statements as to what concerns they might have and why they were voting for or against the ordinance. Councilwoman Mary Louise Madigan (Ward I) said that she applauds the Citizens Committee to Allow Leashed Dogs in Lakewood Parks for all their efforts and hard work put in to getting this ordinance passed. She said they represent everything that is great about our community. However, she said she was not going to vote for the ordinance which she called “disjointed.” She believes the passage of an ordinance is unnecessary and that a policy change could have done the same thing faster and easier. She also said she was still unclear who was going to pay for what and how, including maintenance of signs and waste stations and enforcements.

Councilman Mike Summers (Ward III) also stated that he would not be voting for the ordinance. His reasons were based on severe concerns brought forth by citizens in his ward. He also believes that not allowing dog walking in the parks is not a driving force causing people to move outside of Lakewood, especially with the near by Metro Parks and Edgewater Park, both of which allow leashed dog walking. He also cited the more then 120 miles of tree lawns in Lakewood as space for walking dogs. He joined Councilwoman Madigan in concerns for the cost of the program for the City as he sees this ordinance not as a temporary one but more of a trial of a permanent one.

Councilwoman Nickie Antonio (At-Large) agreed that the procedures used to reach this point with this ordinance had taken too long and have not been handled properly. Along with others on Council, she agreed there was a much better way to go about achieving what this ordinance would accomplish. However, she does see that the ordinance is a compromise from what was originally discussed. She also says she understands how some people feel their dogs are like their children; therefore, not allowing them to enjoy the park with them is difficult. She hopes by passing this ordinance it will convince some to stay in Lakewood and maybe convince others to move here, bringing us more comfortably over that 50,000 population mark. Finally she said the only reason she is absolutely voting for it, is because it is a trial and gives the City a chance to see if it is something that will work before making it permanent.

Several more comments were made by Council, the administration and the public, from both sides of the issue. After almost an hour of discussion, Council voted 5-2 in favor of the pilot program ordinance.

Councilwoman Madigan then read a communication from the Housing Committee supporting the recommendation by the Department of Planning and Development to put the property of 2042 Dowd on the market to see what offers the City gets. The City originally bought the property to rehabilitate the home, but when rehabilitation was deemed undoable, they demolished it and made plans to rebuild. Many parties have shown interest in the property and the City would like to see what is offered for it. Council agreed with the Housing Committee and passed the ordinance.

Mayor Fitzgerald, Councilwoman Antonio and Councilwoman Madigan then jointly brought forth a resolution commending Father Jerome Duke of S.S. Cyril & Methodius for his life long commitment and dedication to Lakewood and the community. Father Duke is retiring and his final Mass will be held on Saturday, March 13. Council passed the resolution, to be presented to Father Duke after his final Mass.

Mayor Fitzgerald then asked Council to consider passing an ordinance that would make parking tickets a civil matter as apposed to a criminal one. This would allow the City to participate in the State’s Drivers with Excessive Tickets Excluded from Registration (DETER) program. This prevents any vehicle with three or more outstanding parking tickets on it from having its license and registration renewed until proof that all of the tickets have been paid can be shown. By decriminalizing parking tickets, the City can take part in this system and increase and streamline its collection of unpaid parking tickets.

Director of Planning and Development, Nathan Kelley, asked Council to consider allowing the City to put two properties it recently acquired, 1300 Andrews and 1195 Gladys, up for sale so that they can take advantage of the Lakewood Open House on March 13th. Both houses need extensive work and the City plans to rehabilitate them for sale. However, if the City can find someone willing to buy them in their current state and fix them up, it would save the City money. This would also give the City an opportunity to talk to people about what they are doing to abate nuisance properties.

As the Lakewood Open House occurs before the next regularly scheduled Council meeting, Director Kelley asked that the ordinance be passed on its first reading. The Council agreed, suspended the rules of reading each ordinance three times before passing, and passed the ordinance on its first reading.

After a long, important Council meeting which covered many items, Council President Butler adjourned the meeting at 9:44 P.M.

Council meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month at 7:30 P.M. in the City Hall Auditorium. The next regularly scheduled council meeting will be held on March 15, 2010. For a copy of the agenda or for any other information regarding the Lakewood City Council, you can find it at onelakewood.com/citygovern_council.html.