Council Back in Session, Focusing On Housing

On September 6, 2011, Lakewood City Council reconvened in the City Hall Auditorium to a modest crowd of about 30, for its first meeting after the summer holiday. The meeting was called to order at 7:32 P.M. by Council President Mary Louise Madigan.

The first item brought to the floor was a resolution from Councilwoman Madigan congratulating Jacob A. Schneider on attaining the level of Eagle Scout. Jacob joins the ranks of the only two percent of all Boy Scots to ever reach the rank of Eagle. He did so in part by earning 29 merit badges in a variety of subjects including emergency preparedness, first aid, architecture, environmental science and personal fitness. He also helped deconstruct, redesigned and rebuild the playground at the St. Malachi Center. To do the project he also helped secure the donations that were necessary to complete the work.

Council passed the resolution, commending Jacob on his accomplishment.

The next item discussed was the only item of old business on the agenda. The Chair of the Public Safety Committee, Councilwoman Monique Smith, read a communication regarding the ordinance to ban and regulate solid fuel burning boilers. She said that the Committee wished to discuss the matter further so therefore asked Council to not act on the item and defer it for further discussion. Council agreed, and the item was deferred.

A number of people from the neighborhoods surrounding the few boilers currently in use in Lakewood were present at the meeting and wished to speak. They asked Council to ban the further installation of the boilers and also for them to pass laws to regulate the ones that are already in existence. The issues they raised were that once the boilers are installed there is no way to tell what people are burning, and what the impact is on the health of the community. Another issue is that even if they are only burning wood, studies show that these devices emit fine particulate matter that is bad for people’s health. As one woman stated, “It is never safe to inhale smoke, but with these boilers I am continually bombarded with it.”

Chair of the Housing Committee, Councilwoman Madigan, then read a communication stating that the Housing Committee would begin meeting monthly, starting in September, to discuss key aspects of housing in Lakewood. The main three points they will be concentrating on are data collection: how it is collected, analyzed and used by the building department to monitor the City’s housing stock; HUD programs: including homelessness prevention and housing stabilization; and working with Lakewood Alive: to identify problem properties, educate owners and offer supportive services. The idea is to understand where the city’s housing currently stands and what options are available, so the city can strengthen its comprehensive approach with the goal of increasing stability.

Council received the communication and referred it to the Housing Committee.

Next Mayor Mike Summers asked Council to pass a resolution that would have Lakewood join communities around the country in remembering the tragedy of 9/11 by pausing for one minute at 1 P.M. on Sunday, September 11th. The Mayor joined this resolution with his announcement of the commemoration ceremony that was to occur at 9:11 A.M. at Fire Station One. The ceremony would be to unveil a new fire fighters memorial which will stand in remembrance of the fire fighters lost on 9/11, and also those lost in the line of duty in Lakewood.

Council approved the resolution.

Public Works Director, Joe Beno, then asked Council to consider a resolution that would allow the City to donate 20 “well used” benches from the Lakewood Dog Park to The Friends of the Lakewood Dog Park. Director Beno said that the benches are not in very good condition, however the Friends of the Dog Park believe that some might hold sentimental value to their group and therefore they would like to sell or raffle them off for a fundraiser. He continued, saying that this is in conjunction with talks between the City and the group in which they are working together to purchase new benches for the park.

Council suspended the rules requiring three readings before passing and passed the item on its first reading.

Next, Planning and Development Director, Dru Siley, ask Council to pass an ordinance that would allow the City to sell several small parcels of land. The land was obtained by the City through tax foreclosure, which oftentimes means that the land goes to sheriff sale and is later foreclosed on again. To stop the cycle the City accepted the land into their land bank. The City wishes to sell the vacant parcels, which are less then 1000 square feet, to neighboring property owners. This way the small pieces of land can be incorporated into arger parcels. The City would sell the property for a nominal fee to cover the cost of holding and transferring ownership.

Council placed the ordinance on first reading and referred it to the Housing Committee.

Director Siley then asked Council to pass a resolution which would allow the City to accept $250,000 dollars in NSP III funds from the County. The money would be used to rehab and resell at least three houses in the designated NSP III area. The funds were awarded to the County this year to help fight the impact of continual foreclosure in Northeast Ohio. The grant has to be used by January 2013, therefore Director Siley asked that the Council approve it in a timely manner.

Councilman David Anderson asked Director Siley if he could define the area that is covered by the NSP III district. Director Siley said they used the census block between NSP I and NSP II to define the area, which is from Detroit to Madison, from Hopkins to Clarence.

Council moved to pass the resolution on the first reading, however before passing Councilman Tom Bullock asked that the administration keep the Council up-to-date as to how the funds are to be spent. He said he is interested in the administration's strategy on housing and said it would be helpful to know what the plans are. Director Siley said that when they applied for the grant, the City had a plan already on file, and that he would be glad to update and report it to Council.

Council thanked Director Siley and then proceeded to pass the resolution.

Public Works Director Beno then asked Council to consider passing a resolution that would allow the City to accept $250,000 dollars to be used on improvements to Madison Avenue. The money is being awarded by the County and would be added to funds from the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) which are currently being applied for. If the funds from OPWC are not awarded then the County funds would be rolled over into another year.

Councilman Anderson asked Director Beno what the improvements entailed and he responded that, simply put, it was a repaving project.

Council placed the item on first reading and referred it to the Public Works Committee.

Director Beno then asked Council to approve of the donation of certain materials from the Engineering Department to the Lakewood Historical Society. The items, which are no longer used or needed by the department were thought to have historical value and would be well suited in the Historical Society’s archives. The items include a 1943 sewer map, a 1926 water main and fire hydrant map, updated in 1990, a Lakewood street map marked as ‘Works Projects Administration’ from 1939-1943 and six aerial photographs of the city.

Council passed the resolution.

Director Beno then asked Council to pass an updated version of an ordinance they have previously passed regarding the traffic signal project along the western half of Detroit Avenue. The ordinance has to be changed due to increasing cost. The project is increasing for two reasons. The first is due to the city wishing to continue replacing the traffic signals along Detroit with the more decorative poles like the ones that have been installed on the other half of Detroit and on Clifton Blvd. This has resulted in an increase of $256,000 dollars. The second increase, about $44,000 is due to the City deciding to keep the traffic light at Detroit and Lakeland, which was previously slated to be removed without a replacement. The reason the City has decided to keep the traffic light is they believe traffic will greatly increase in that area with the addition of the new CVS that is to be built. As this light is not approved by ODOT it would have to be replaced at 100% cost to the City. However the City was able to negotiate with CVS so that they will cover half of the $88,000 dollar price tag.

Coming to the end of the agenda items, and with no one from the public signed up to speak, Council President Madigan adjourned the meeting at 8:28 P.M.