The View from Ward 2: Issue #15

Committee of the Whole

At last week’s Committee of the Whole Meeting, we had an opportunity to have thorough conversations with the newly appointed Director of Human Resources, Claudia Dillinger, and the newly appointed Director of Finance, Peter Rancatore.

Ms. Dillinger shared her past experiences, including her part in creating the Human Resource Department for the City of Elyria. Ms. Dillinger also told us of her support for paid parental leave policies and explained her strategies for recruiting a diverse workforce.

Mr. Rancatore was raised in Fairview Park and attended St. Eds. He shared with us his extensive experience and said that he was impressed with our award-winning Finance Department’s history of excellence.

Ms. Dilllinger’s and Mr. Rancatore’s appointments were both unanimously recommended for approval and they will be sworn in at tonight’s City Council meeting.

You can watch the full meeting here.

Coronavirus Updates

According to the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Lakewood has in the range of 21 to 35 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The CCBH also noted that we are still experiencing community spread of the virus. Please continue to be conscientious about washing your hands and keeping your distance from others.

Council Staff has been attending all Coronavirus Task Force meetings and providing Council Members with updates on the City’s response to the pandemic. Last week, the police department reported to the Task Force that there has been an uptick in overdoses. Everyone handles these periods of uncertainty differently and I encourage you to check up on your love ones regularly.

The Phoenix Vape Lounge, located at Lauderdale and Detroit, was cited for violating the stay-at-home order. This remains the only business cited in Lakewood so far.

For our local businesses, the City created a webpage devoted to providing you resources during the pandemic: http://www.onelakewood.com/covid19businessresources/?fbclid=IwAR3a7bXsVEObH41kyO3MZ6USduLfxwB51v6Y6Yz0-GE43vEhVJV24COHwL8. Beginning today, small businesses can apply for a one-time supplemental cash grant through the Save Small Business Fund. For more information, please visit the link above or https://savesmallbusiness.com/.

Lakewood High School students made face shields in the 3D printing lab and donated them to our Fire Department. Thank you, students, for contributing to the effort to keep our first responders safe during the pandemic!

One Lakewood Place

Mayor George has placed a communication on the agenda for the City Council meeting being held today, Monday, April 20th, regarding the status of One Lakewood Place. In her communication, the Mayor indicates that the developer, Carnegie Management and Development Corporation, has ceased negotiations with the City over possible changes to the Development Agreement. A copy of Mayor George’s communication is below.

I expect that City Council will be briefed by the Mayor’s office and by Council’s independent counsel and negotiator in this matter. I am committed to ensuring any future development of the former Lakewood Hospital Site meets the needs of residents and the following objectives that the City previously laid out:

• A transformative mixed-use development that meets community housing, employment, shopping, and service needs, including growth opportunities for existing Lakewood businesses.
• Creatively integrate visionary architecture engaging and complimentary of the character and quality of Lakewood’s building stock, including design characteristics of the original Hospital building.
• Relate to and activate the streetscape to generate street level activity, and provide a safe, inviting pedestrian experience.
• Serve multiple modes of transportation on site, while meeting realistic vehicle parking needs.
• Design Lakewood’s finest multi-functional outdoor community gathering space.
• Position the development to respond to shifting market conditions.
• Recognize and restate the historical significance of the site for the community in built form.
• Support environmentally sustainable development practices, including innovative storm water management techniques and energy efficient building practices that go beyond code requirements.
• Sensitivity to the directly adjacent single-family neighborhood.
• Promote joint venture partnership structures to achieve a catalytic economic development project that builds upon the real estate development momentum in Downtown Lakewood.
• Attract diverse businesses that provide residents with a wide range of opportunities.
• Provide housing types that compliment available community housing options.
• Business terms that deliver tangible returns on public investments, including job creation, tax revenue, and property values.

I will continue to provide updates as I learn more.

Upcoming Events

This week is your last chance to vote in this year’s historic Primary Election!

• Vote-by-Mail only
• Absentee Ballot Request Deadline: Noon, Saturday, April 25, 2020
• Ballots must be postmarked by: Monday, April 27, 2020
• All votes already submitted by mail or in-person will be counted
• More information: https://boe.cuyahogacounty.us/

4/23 - LakewoodAlive webinar “Ask A Banker: Small Business Resources during Covid-19" from 10 to 11 AM https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4077859235779948046

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