Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Public safety committee decides to “mirror” state ordinance against distracted driving.
Lakewood City Council members agree that texting and driving is incredibly dangerous. But after months of consideration, council’s public safety committee decided not to propose new legislation that would have made texting and driving a primary offense. Instead, council voted to “mirror” the new state code in place, passing an ordinance that updates the laws on the books regarding driving while texting. While Ohio recently became the 38th state in the country to ban texting and driving, Lakewood officials looked to take the new law one step further. “Personally I am inclined to modify the proposed ordinance to mirror the version that was recently passed by the state,” said Ryan Nowlin, councilman at-large and chairman of the public safety …
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Lakewood City Council’s housing committee looks at adjusting process that collects fees from landlords.
Correction: Dru Siley, the city’s director of building and housing, suggested that that the city not trend toward a license fee from the 12-month date of purchase. Lakewood City Council is once again fielding complaints from some landlords about the city’s $180 annual housing license fee. The issue comes before council about twice a year — once in January and once in July. That’s because those are the times of the year the licenses are renewed. Council’s housing committee discussed some changes to the payment cycle on Monday night. Per city ordinance, rental property owners must pay a licensing fee for each property they own in Lakewood. Sometimes, when a property changes hands mid-year, the owners have to pay twice in a year. “We’re …
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Public safety forum slated for Dec. 13 to discuss the issue.
Lakewood City Council is eyeing a measure that would take the state’s ban on texting and driving a step further. While the ordinance remains in council’s public safety committee, city officials want to get some feedback from the public. A public hearing is set to take place in the No. 2 lecture hall at Lakewood High School at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 13. The event is open to the public. Ward 1 city councilman David Anderson recently introduced the measure that would, among other things, make texting and driving a primary offense for adults. That means, should the proposed city ordinance pass, that police could stop motorists just for texting while driving. Right now, the state law makes texting and driving a primary offense for minors only. "…
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Lakewood City Council puts some limits on garage and yard sales in the city.
There is now a law that regulates garage and yard sales in Lakewood. Residents will only be allowed to have three garage or yard sales per year; the sales can last three consecutive days; and if a home has a backyard or a garage, that’s where the sale must take place. Lakewood City Council approved the new ordinance Monday night after months of discussion. However, just before the final vote, council president Brian Powers asked for a "hardship clause,” allowing exemptions to the rule. Those exceptions would be decided by the mayor on a case-by-case basis. Council agreed with Powers and added the language into the new law. The original proposal, introduced in June, was intended to set some restrictions on the sales in the city, said Ward 1…
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
City council's housing committee is split on the details.
Lakewood City Council is considering an ordinance that would put some limitations on garage and yard sales in the city. However, the details are still being ironed out. Council’s housing committee weighed some options at a meeting at city hall on Monday night. “Either we stick with this language, and we allow the desires from one administration to the next to determine enforcement, or we can make it more exclusive,” said law director Kevin Butler, who introduced the measure to council. “I ask that city council develop a community standard.” The opinions of the committee members were varied — with some suggesting the proposed ordinance is too harsh on the sales, while others noted that it doesn’t go far enough. But they all agreed that the…
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Inspired by the proposed McDonald’s on Detroit Avenue, zoning change would regulate new drive-thrus in the city.
City officials don’t want to keep drive-thrus out of Lakewood, but an ordinance passed by Lakewood City Council on Tuesday will limit them in the city. The ordinance, inspired by the McDonald’s proposal on Detroit Avenue, will set the standard for future drive-thru plans in Lakewood. This isn’t the first time the issue has come up at city hall. Last month, the Lakewood Planning Commission OK’d the proposed changes to the city’s zoning code after Ward 1 councilman David Anderson first introduced the idea in July. “This is about six months in the works,” he said on Tuesday. “I’ve heard from many residents about the impacts of drive-thrus on neighborhoods. My reaction was ‘how many is too many?’” “This is a big step in the right direction.” …
Thursday, December 22, 2011
In the other contested race for council, winner spends, raise less but still wins.
In one of two contested races on Lakewood City Council, at-large councilman Ryan Nowlin outraised and outspent his opponents by a wide margin. In the other contested race, for the Ward 1 post, David Anderson raised less money and spent less, but still got more votes. Candidates’ campaign finance reports — set to be finalized and posted online once audited — were due last Friday and released to Lakewood Patch on Wednesday. Officials from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections said the post-election campaign finance reports cover the time period between Oct. 19 and Dec. 9. The pre-election reports — tracking campaign finances before Oct. 19 — were due Oct. 27, according to the board of elections. Here’s a breakdown of how much money each …
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
An ordinance, inspired by the McDonald’s proposal on Detroit Avenue, was introduced to Lakewood City Council on Monday that would set the standard for future drive-thru plans in Lakewood.
Drive-thru windows may still be approved in Lakewood, but it could become a lot more difficult for businesses to get them. An ordinance, inspired by the McDonald’s proposal on Detroit Avenue, was introduced to Lakewood City Council on Monday that would set the standard for future drive-thru plans in Lakewood. This isn’t the first time the issue has come up at city hall. Earlier this month, the Lakewood Planning Commission OK’d the proposed changes to the city’s zoning code after Ward 1 councilman David Anderson first introduced the idea in July. “Part of a current and evolving discussion taking place in the community pertains to the impact of drive-thru facilities on adjacent residential areas and the character of our commercial corridors…
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Candidates for city council took turns answering questions on housing from audience members at Tuesday's debate.
The 2010 US Census found the number of vacant houses in Lakewood nearly doubled since 2000. That certainly caught the eye of city council members. Candidates for Lakewood City Council in the Nov. 8 election met for a public debate Tuesday at the Woman’s Club Pavilion in Lakewood Park. The event was hosted by the League of Women Voters Cuyahoga Area. Council At-Large Ryan Nowlin said he plans to work with Mayor Michael Summers’ administration to inform homeowners of the programs and assistance available to help them take care of their homes. “We live in a neighborhood full of beautiful century homes that need a lot of tender loving care,” Nowlin said. Nowlin is being challenged by John Zappala, a small business owner. In response to an …
Monday, October 3, 2011
As part of our election coverage, Lakewood Patch will provide profiles of each of the candidates for local office.
Editor's Note: As part of Lakewood Patch's local election coverage, we will provide profiles of each of the candidates running for office. These profiles will offer biographical and issue-oriented details about each of the candidates to help you, the voters, make more-informed decisions at the ballot box. Stay tuned for more coverage of the election. Name: David W. Anderson Age: 44 Professional background: My resume indicates more than 20 years of progressive work in private sector and nonprofit management. Highlights include demonstrated effectiveness in program development and implementation, strategic planning, communications planning, budget management, fund raising/development, staff and cross-functional team leadership and …
Steve
11:08 am on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Why does the Public Safety Comm. always want to mirror the state law, EXCEPT when it comes to our DOGS with their BSL law. Ryan Nowlin, you make no sense on this issue. Why are YOU scared to do the right thing for all us dog owners. Are these just hyprocritical lies you feed us. Why don't you do the right thing and push for a breed neutral law that would benefit ALL of the residents... more ›