The Observation Deck

Dear Observers,

Please join me at an important neighborhood meeting to share your views on the issue of whether City Council should authorize the expenditure of $150,000 for the proposed municipal parking lot at Detroit and Edwards.

The meeting will be held Thursday, April 13, 2006 at 7:45 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 16400 Detroit Avenue. Enter from the rear lot between Hall and Westlake.

Members of City Council and the administration have been invited, although this is meant to be an informal neighborhood meeting. I hope to see you there.

Kevin Butler
Lakewood City Council, Ward 1

Many people find attending and speaking at City Council meetings a bit intimidating and time consuming. A meeting like this is a good way for people to state their views in a more informal setting.

My take:

If the City is going to spend $150,000 on the proposed parking lot then the City should own the lot.

Does anyone know if the proposed parking lot was first proposed by the Department of Development or by the owner of the propertie's?

Bill
Mr. Coutris stated at a committee of the whole meeting a couple of weeks ago that it "came up in discussion", or something to that effect, with the planning director, in mid July last summer at the ground breaking for the new Y. He made it sound like he didn't pitch the idea so much as it just "evolved" as part of the discussion. It's interesting to note that on July 1st he had received at least two summons to court for long standing, unaddressed code violations on the properties he proposed to knock down that day.

Kevin

Great meeting it was nice to see so many people turn out and take an interest in this and the city. Other council people that joined in were Nickie Antonio, and Ryan Patrick Demro. All three had a lot to say, but also listened very closely as resident spoke. The Lakewood Historical Society brought the big guns out with Paula reed and Mazie Adams there, a good group of residents and Terry Vincent were all very interested in the very positive meeting.



Pat Ballasch gave a good speech that I will try to get his notes on.

Patrick Balasch speaks to the crowd, as Kevin Butler and Ryan Patrick Demro look on.

Stan Austin was there and I am sure he will write up a report.

Power Line, from back, Stan Austin, Terry Vincent, Mary Kay Gillick, and Ryan Patrick Demro, the room was filled with Lakewood's elite.

Thanks to everyone that came out. If there is one thing Lakewood has in abundance is energized informed people.


Nickie Antonio speaks of walking the area.


Ryan Patrick Demro addresses the crowd.


Michael Gill talks to the group at the end of the night.

Thanks again to Kevin Butler and all council people for taking the show on the road.


Kevin Butler speaks with Henry Holkamp.

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Jim,

Thanks for being there and posting. The meeting was informative and, I hope, the issues fairly presented.

The woman you weren't able to identify was Mary Kay Gillick, a Ward 1 resident.

Thanks again, Jim, and thanks to all others who showed.

Kevin