City Council OKs New Gazebo, Lowers Speed Limit on Athens Avenue and Allows Drinking in Public

Lakewood City Council had its hands full on Monday night. 

The meeting — which lasted two hours — had more than 100 in attendance.

Council approved several ordinances that had been discussed during the past couple months.

Here are a few of the highlights:

New gazebo for Lakewood Park

City council approved a new gazebo to be built at Lakewood Park. The city received a NatureWorks grant for more than $16,000 from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, but it required a $3,5000 match from the city.

The city is expected to begin construction soon on a 16- to 18-foot in diameter gazebo to be situated in the northeast portion of the park.

Councilman Brian Powers said the city has been interested in the project since its Lakewood Park master plan in 2006.

“This is not a new thing, the administration has been looking to have it funded in such a way that taxpayers wouldn’t have to pay for all of it,” he said.

Trap and release ordinance placed on second reading

To reduce the stray cat population, is eyeing a plan that would trap feral cats in a colony, neuter and release them back into their territory.

After discussions with the Lakewood Animal Safety and Welfare Board — the citizen-led panel that reviews animal issues in the city — council program.

The measure was placed on second reading.

Council OKs changes to solicitor laws

Council voted to amend the city’s codified ordinances with regard to peddlers, vendors and solicitors. The changes include strengthening the background checks of those seeking a license, prohibiting solicitation after dark and providing a “do not knock registry” for residents who do not want solicitors at their homes.

“When you have solicitors knocking on your door after dark … that can be problematic," said councilman Tom Bullock. “This ordinance is the result of a thorough analysis."

Speed limit on Athens and Delaware avenues reduced

After some complaints from residents in the neighborhood, council voted to reduce the speed limit near Athens and Delaware avenues from 35 to 25 mph.

Members of council have said that the ordinance was designed to bring the speed limit into consistency with other streets in the neighborhood — which means that council also had to change the streets’ designation as a through-street.

Drinking in public in Lakewood given the green light — well, sort of

To meet the growing number of restaurants approved for sidewalk dining — and more requests for permits to serve alcohol at public events — city council approved a under those circumstances.

Under the law, businesses and organizations must obtain special permits to serve alcohol. But under the city’s criminal code, drinking in public was forbidden.

The proposed ordinance officially allows drinking with a special event permit or a conditional use permit for outdoor dining.