Lakewood City Council Proposes Budget Priorities

LAKEWOOD, OH — Lakewood City Council proposed its budget priorities for 2021 on Tuesday.

During this week's meeting, City Council her six proposals. Additional proposals could be forthcoming, and details of proposed projects could still change.

"In past years, Council has agreed to support all or nearly all proposals. These are traditional small, specific concepts that Council adds to the broader annual budgeting initiated later in the year by the administration," Councilperson Tom Bullock told Patch in an email.

Among this year's proposed budget priorities include:

• Traffic calming and speed analysis — Councilperson Tess Neff
  • Goal: Implement signage and speed controls to enhance safety on residential streets.
  • Specifically focused on: Granger, Larchmont, and Cordova.
  • Estimated expense: $45,000
• Speed tables — Councilperson John Litten
  • Goal: Purchase and installation of signage and speed tables, augmented by radar speed signs and flashing signage.
  • Estimated expense: $40,000-$50,000
• HAWK Crosswalks — Councilperson Jason Shachner
  • Goal: Increase pedestrian safety.
  • Targeted area: Madison Avenue between Westwood/Morrison and Warren Road
  • Estimated expense: $11,500-$15,500 for HAWK Study and Design and $65,000-$95,000 for construction
• Anti-racism task force — Councilperson Sarah Kepple
  • Goal: To aid the city's anti-racism task force by hiring a consultant to integrate the group with municipal government
  • Estimated expense: $25,000-30,000
• Tree canopy — Kepple
  • Goal: To increase the tree canopy by 10 percent, to 33.5 percent by the year 2035. The 2021 goal will be a prorated percentage of that goal.
  • Estimated expense: $150,000
• Zero Emission Lakewood — Councilpersons Tristan Rader and Tom Bullock
  • Goal: Creating Lakewood’s first Climate Action Plan (CAP) through an equity lens will help meet the city’s 100 percent renewable energy goal and ensure everyone benefits from this transition.
  • Estimated expense: $60,000
• Bicycle Master Plan — Bullock
  • Goal: Expanded resources for a more comprehensive signage and wayfinding treatment across Lakewood. Hold safety trainings in schools and workplaces, award free safety lights for graduates of traffic safety courses, group rides, etc.
  • Estimated expense: $100,000
• Public Art — Bullock
  • Goal: The Planning Department will work to ensure execution of one large and three to five smaller public art projects.
  • Estimated expense: $100,000 ($75,000 for one large piece, $25,000 for smaller pieces)
• Expansion of Clean Power use — Bullock
  • Goal: City contracts should supply clean electricity to power 100 percent of city operations.
  • Estimated expense: Surcharge on existing bill
• ShopLakewood Marketplace — Kepple
  • Goal: Establish digital infrastructure for local online shopping.
    • "In Phase 1, council will work with community partners and a consultant to gather information from consumers and businesses, set the scope and parameters for the project, and whether and how to move forward with an existing digital product or custom solution."
  • Estimated expense: $25,000 - $30,000