Council President Michael Dever (At Large) called the June 15, 2009 Council Meeting to order at 7:36 pm. Then, the meeting began with Councilman Michael Summers (Ward III), chair of the Finance Committee, discussing beginning the 2010 budget process. He described in detail the problems that our City has been facing and those that will face us in coming years, due to the weakening of the financial climate in the United States. He brought this to the attention of the Council so that they might realize that more than basic spending cuts are needed to make the budget work and so that this year's budget process might be different from previous years. Looking at the idea of restructuring, he made it clear that not one single leader on Council, or in the Administration, would have the answer and that it was important for them all to collaborate and be open to ideas from the workers and citizens of Lakewood.

After some comments from Council Members Tom Bullock (Ward II), Nickie Antonio (At Large) and Kevin Butler (Ward I), who applauded Summers' boldness and realism, the motion was received. The long, grueling budget process has officially begun.

Next, Chair of the Housing Committee Mary Louise Madigan (Ward IV) discussed two ordinances that were introduced at the previous Council meeting regarding the deconstruction of houses and sale of two properties the city had acquired. After reviewing the cases in the Housing Committee, they unanimously approved the ordinances. Madigan pointed out that when these properties do sell, any changes done to them will still have to go through the Architecture Review Board and the Planning Commission. The Council voted on these two ordinances and passed them both.

At the last meeting (6-1-2009) Councilman Bullock began the process to allow leashed dogs into Lakewood Park. However, there was some initial confusion surrounding the initial ordinance's meaning. As it stands, no pets whatsoever are allowed in Lakewood Parks. However, the ordinance reads “[no] animals shall be allowed within the parks, with the exception of those animals specifically authorized by the Director of Public Works.” This led Bullock to believe that he just needed to ask the Director of Public Works to change the City’s position on the matter of dogs in the parks. However, after some discussion, it was discovered that the last clause was added to allow working dogs in Lakewood Park to chase away geese, not to allow the Director to give permission for a whole group of animals.

Councilman Bullock tried to rectify these issues by presenting a new ordinance. The ordinance he presented would change the current one to actually let the Director of Public Works make the decisions as to whether or not leashed dogs in Lakewood’s Parks would be allowed. He stated that this would give discretion as to which parks and what specific rules there might be, but also allow for easy changes if the new allowances become problematic.

Councilwoman Antonio responded to Bullock’s ordinance, saying that she had no problem with the idea of allowing dogs in Lakewood’s parks, but did not understand why Bullock was amending the current ordinance in this way, rather than as an ordinance simply allowing dogs in the parks. Her concerns stemmed from the process of passing an ordinance, which goes through a series of several committees and hearings, which the public are welcome to attend. In the case of this ordinance, she is afraid of confusing residents who believe it is about allowing leashed dogs in parks and not about giving the Director of Public Works the right to make the decision. She was also concerned with taking away the power to make this decision from the Council.

Bullock responded to Antonio’s remarks, saying the reason he chose to do the ordinance this way, much like the recycling ordinance, was that he didn’t want to tie up Council and its committees with the “nitty-gritty” details that a straight ordinance allowing dogs in Lakewood’s Parks would entail. Antonio replied that the difference was that with the Recycling Ordinance, Council made the decision that it was going to happen, and then left it up to Public Works to decide the details.

Councilwoman Madigan then voiced her concerns with the ordinance, saying it was important for council to look at the nitty-gritty, even if just looking at the ordinance in front of them. She fears that it could give too much power to the Director of Public Works. If the Director personally does not like Chihuahuas, for example, he could make a policy that allows all dogs but Chihuahuas to be in the parks, while he could also allow other animals, like chickens.

After listening to what everyone had to say, Councilman Butler said that he does not believe that authorizing someone with more expertise on an issue than Council membersis necessarily a bad thing, but that they could discuss that point in committee. On the other hand, though, he wanted to make it clear, that although Madigan’s concerns are valid, they are already, at least partly, addressed in the ordinance and the current change would only allow dogs in the parks, no other animals.

After some residents' comments, Councilman Summers stated he was glad to hear some details given by the Citizens' Committee to Allow Leashed Dogs in Lakewood Park because he was looking forward to those details in the ordinance and was disappointed when he didn’t see them. He also mentioned that according to the numbers, there are about 3,100 registered dogs in Lakewood, and, if you say each dog has an average of three people living with it, that makes about 10,000 people with dogs. He said he would be interested to hear what the other 43,000 Lakewood residents would have to say about allowing dogs in the parks.

After spending almost 40 minutes on this issue alone, Council referred the ordinance to the Public Safety Committee.

Finance Director Jennifer Pae then discussed two ordinances: one that would allow tax amnesty from July 21st until September 30th and one proposing collaboration between Cleveland and Lakewood to help each other collect delinquent taxes from residents.

Director of Human Services, Dorothy Buckon, asked Council to approve an agreement between the City’s Department of Human Services, the Division of Aging, and the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging regarding a farmers market nutrition plan for seniors. The plan gives eligible seniors ten $5 coupons that can be used with participating farmers at farmers markets and road-side stands to purchase produce. The program aims to help improve nutrition for low income seniors. At the same time, it aims to increase business opportunities for local farmers. The program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture. Director Buckon asked Council to pass this emergency legislation on the first reading and they did so.

Council President Dever adjourned the meeting at 9:10 pm.

Council meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month at 7:30 pm in the City Hall Auditorium. The next regularly scheduled council meeting will be held on July 6, 2009. For a copy of the agenda or for any other information regarding the Lakewood City Council you can find it at onelakewood.com/CityCouncil/Default.aspx