The View from Ward 2: Issue #8

Committee of the Whole

There were two items on the agenda for the February 24th Committee of the Whole meeting. The meeting began with Director Bryce Sylvester, along with City Planners Katelyn Millius and David Baas, explaining to Council the next phase of resiliency planning and the implementation of the Resiliency Task Force’s recommendations.

Phase 1 resulted in updates to Lakewood’s Community Vision and the creation of the Community Vision Action Guide and was completed in December 2019. Phase 2 will focus on community health and sustainability. This will involve the hiring of a community health fellow to conduct a community health needs assessment specific to Lakewood. This assessment will assist the City in determining our residents’ health needs and gaps in service. Phase 3 will use the information gleaned from Phase 2 to target residents’ needs and to implement innovative programs to promote the resiliency of Lakewood.

The second item on the agenda was the approval of a public grounds encroachment permit in favor of the Madison Branch of the Lakewood Public Library. This permit will allow the branch to create a wrap-around driveway as a part of their renovation plans. Council unanimously recommended the permit’s approval. You can see the plans for the branch’s renovations below:

You may watch the Committee of the Whole Meeting by clicking here.

Urban Beekeeping

Residents have expressed confusion as to whether beekeeping is allowed in Lakewood because our codified ordinances are silent on the activity. Because beekeeping is not explicitly specified as a permitted use of residential property, it is prohibited.

Lakewood needs an ordinance to provide clarity about the permissibility of beekeeping and to ensure that beekeeping is practiced and regulated in a safe and consistent manner.

Accordingly, at tonight’s City Council meeting, I will be asking my colleagues to refer this matter to the Housing, Planning, & Development Committee to begin drafting a Lakewood Apiary Ordinance.

The meeting begins at 7:30. I encourage you to join us and share your thoughts.

You can read my communication to Council on the subject by clicking here.

Youth Advisory Council

The Lakewood Youth Advisory Council met last Thursday. The Council was created to encourage young Lakewood residents to discuss issues that are important to them, and to advise City Council and the Administration about these issues. The Council discussed the best ways to reach youth throughout the community so that their voices can be heard and brainstormed ways to become more involved in the community. They also discussed what issues effect youth most in Lakewood. The Youth Advisory Council is off to a great start and I am looking forward to continuing to work with this engaged group of students.

Lakewood Democratic Club

The monthly meeting of the Lakewood Democratic Club was held on February 27th. The meeting featured a straw poll, a presentation on Issue 28, and presentations from presidential candidate campaigns.

For the straw poll, attendees had the option to vote for a first and second choice presidential candidate. The poll yielded interesting results, as summarized below

School Board members Ed Favre, Betsy Shaughnessy, and Emma Petrie Barcelona gave a presentation on the Lakewood School Levy. The levy will cost a Lakewood taxpayer less than $2 per month for each $100,000 of property value. Funds from the levy would keep Lakewood schools strong by providing important services to our students and helping to retain quality educators. I highly encourage voters to support the school levy in the March election.

Strong schools = strong communities.

Meet 8th District Court of Appeals Candidate Lisa Forbes

The primary ballot will be full of judicial races this year. These are some of the most consequential positions in the county, but oftentimes the least known about. That is why it is important to take every opportunity to meet the judicial candidates.

One of those opportunities will be Thursday, March 5th right here in Lakewood. Lisa Forbes is running for the 8th District and is eminently qualified for the position. This is a great chance to meet Lisa, ask her questions, and learn more about her experience. Details are below:

Upcoming Events

3/2/2020 - Public Works Meeting @ City Hall @ 6:00pm
Finance Committee Meeting @ City Hall @ 6:30pm
Council Meeting @ City Hall @ 7:30pm
3/5/2020 - Planning Commission Meeting @ City Hall from 7:00pm - 9:00pm
3/6/2020 - Coffee With a Cop @ Starbucks from 8:30am - 10:00am
3/17/2020 - VOTE!

*Do you have Ward 2 news or an event coming up that you would like to be featured in an upcoming newsletter? Email me with details!*

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