Lakewood Employee Residential Restrictions

[Jeff Endress]

I think we have a classic chicken-egg discussion going on. From what I can see, everyone is pretty much in agreement that it would be a good thing for City employees to live in the City. The problem is how we accomplish a desirable result. Making Lakewood a ìdestinationî community is certainly one direction to investigate, but doesnít having resident city employees also impact the level of service, sense of community, etc. that helps to make this or any other city, a destination for future homeowners?

There has also been some assumptions which could never be reality. There is no way any ordinance could retroactively force current employees to up-root and move. Imposing such a requirement would not survive Constitutional challenges. As a practical matter then, what we should be discussing is whether there be a requirement for future employees be residents. The discussion has also spilled over from the City of Lakewood employees to a discussion of including the Lakewood City Schools employees. While I appreciate the number of teachers, etc. who choose to live here, the original purpose of this thread was a discussion of workers in the streets, parks, refuse, and safety forces. I think for reasons pointed out by Mr. Demro, there could be problems requiring even new teachers to be residents.

So, all Iím talking about is requiring NEW employees of the City of Lakewood to be residents. Not currentÖ..not teachers. If we could add a carrot (low interest loan?) to take away the sting of having to live in this community, that would be even better.

I appreciate the ìpursuit of happinessî concerns, but there a great number of employment situations that we voluntarily enter into which carry a variety of restrictions. We know what they are going in, and determine that the restriction on personal freedom is acceptable given the benefits of employment. So, if youíre a pro athlete, you give up certain dangerous hobbies, like sky diving and motor cycle racing. If youíre an airline pilot or school bus driver you forego bloody marys before work. If you elect to become a priest, you promise to be celibate. If youíre an elected official, you must reside in the district which you represent. I donít view a residency requirement for new hires as any different. You recognize the restriction going in and determine whether the benefit of employment with the City of Lakewood outweighs the limitation of having to forego living in Westlake. Query: If we ever embrace a city manager form of government, will she be required to live in the city that she manages?

[Lynn Farris]

The way the proposed charter reads would have the city manager living in the city. There was a time frame which they had to move into the city.