Lakewood Council Sets November 16 Vote on School Safety Petition

The Lakewood City Council will take up Ordinance 30-2026 on November 16 at 6:00 p.m. A second vote may occur on November 30. The ordinance, introduced as a citizen initiative petition on Monday evening, aligns with safety plans previously adopted by the council to improve paths to school for children. Council members referred the measure to the Committee of the Whole on Monday.

The council is working against a strict schedule. According to the city charter, a formal report from the committee is due by the third regular meeting following initial introduction. That deadline falls on December 21, 2026. Council members are simultaneously holding hearings for the 2027 budget, which this ordinance could affect. The administration has also requested a two-week turnaround for a real estate investment.

To manage this timeline, Vice President Baker and the mayor requested written reports from six city departments. These reports are due by 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 12. The departments involved are Law, Mayor and Public Safety, Public Works, Housing and Building, Finance, and Planning. Each department will evaluate the petition's operational impact, costs, and legal alignment.

The Law department will assess compliance with Ohio law and the Lakewood Charter. It will also provide a draft substitute to resolve any conflicts under Charter Section 9.2(a). Public Works will provide capital and operating cost estimates along with engineering impacts. Finance will outline the effect on the city budget, capital reserves, and operating funds. The other departments will review impacts on building operations, planning operations, and public safety.

This petition follows other safety measures introduced by the council. On Monday, Councilmember Bixenstine, Vice President Baker, and the mayor introduced two new ordinances. Ordinance 32-2026 enables the use of speed cameras in school zones. Ordinance 31-2026 establishes a Safe Routes to School fund. This fund will use revenue from speed camera citations for safety measures. The council also previously passed the Active Transportation Plan and the Safe Streets for Lakewood Safety Action Plan in 2024.

Residents can participate in the review process in several ways. They may attend committee meetings in person, watch the live stream, or view archived video recordings. Public comment is typically welcomed at committee meetings unless time constraints prevent it. Comment is always scheduled at full council meetings. Residents may also use the eComment feature to submit input.