The Observation Deck

 
 
Subject: CityMinutes: Western Lakewood News


 
Councilman Kevin Butler
Ward 1 | Serving Western Lakewood
 
February 19, 2007
 
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CityMinutes                         E-NEWS FROM WESTERN LAKEWOOD
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In this issue:
Butler, FitzGerald to call for tougher noise ordinances
Reminder: Trash pickup lagging a day behind for most
Council to meet Feb. 20; snow ticketing to be discussed
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Greetings!
 
Welcome to the latest edition of CityMinutes, my occasional e-newsletter which will share with the residents and business owners of Western Lakewood all that's happening in our part of town and beyond. 
 
Please pass this along to whomever you'd feel might be interested in city news, announcements, agenda items and other offerings from City Council, City Hall and yours truly.  I hope this serves you well. 
 
I'd be delighted to have your feedback on any items.  As always, feel free to contact me at (216) 221-7953 or at kmb@jeromelaw.com.
 
Best wishes,

Kevin Butler
City Council, Ward 1
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A proposal for tougher noise ordinances
 
WITH AT-LARGE Councilman Ed FitzGerald, at the March 5 council meeting I plan to formally introduce two ordinances which, if enacted, will make it much easier for the city to crack down on late-night noise disturbances.  
 
The proposed ordinances are part of a larger five-point plan to address residents' growing concerns surrounding bars and bar patrons in western Lakewood.  In addition to stricter enforcement of noise ordinances, I've proposed:
 
• Exploring residential permit parking, designed to keep bar patrons from parking on the residential side streets at peak hours and to prevent many of the nuisances occurring when hordes of taverngoers return to their vehicles. 
 
• Implementing a cab stand on Detroit Avenue near Edwards Park to make safe transportation available to bar patrons.
 
• Passing legislation permitting a certified fire safety inspector to write citations to bar staff for overcrowding violations. 
 
• Helping to establish a commercial organization comprising bar owners to hire additional roaming security and control litter on the residential streets.
 
The noise ordinances will be unveiled at the next meeting of city council's public safety committee, which is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.  All are welcome to attend.
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Reminder: trash pickup lagging a day behind for most
 
A FRIENDLY REMINDER that because of Presidents' Day, no refuse or recycling was collected today. Residents whose refuse is normally collected on Monday will have collection on Tuesday. Residents whose refuse is normally collected on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday should have their refuse and recyclables available for collection on their regular day, and it will be collected either on that day or the day after. Residents whose refuse is normally collected on Friday will have collection on Friday.
For further information, contact the Lakewood Division of Refuse & Recycling at (216) 252-4322.
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Council to Meet Feb. 20; snow-ban tickets to be discussed 
 
CITY COUNCIL will convene Tuesday, Feb. 20 at its regular biweekly meeting to review and vote on docket agenda items and discuss the business of Lakewood.
 
I've received several complaints lately regarding the snow-related parking bans.  While councilmembers generally are removed from the snow-ban directives, which originate with the mayor and are enforced by the police, I'd invite anyone who wishes to take the matter up with the administration and council to attend tomorrow's meeting, which begins at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium at 12650 Detroit Ave.
 
Generally speaking, I believe the city responded well to the recent storms, but a few callers have taken issue with the ticketing of parked cars on the streets.

If you intend to speak, make sure to sign in where noted. Guidelines on making public comment to council and the administration are posted here:

http://www.ci.lakewood.oh.us/citygovern ... endas.html 
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Councilman Kevin M. Butler

CityMinutes: Meeting on Bar Issues
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Councilman Kevin Butler
Ward 1 | Serving Western Lakewood

February 23, 2007

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CityMinutes: E-NEWS FROM WESTERN LAKEWOOD
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In this issue:
Meeting set for Feb. 26 on bar problems
__________________________________________________________

Greetings!

Welcome to the latest edition of CityMinutes, my occasional e-newsletter which will share with the residents and business owners of Western Lakewood all that's happening in our part of town and beyond.

Please pass this along to those who might be interested in city news, announcements, agenda items and other offerings from City Council, City Hall and yours truly. I hope this serves you well.

I'd be delighted to have your feedback on any items. As always, feel free to contact me at (216) 221-7953 or at kmb@jeromelaw.com.

Best wishes,

Kevin Butler
City Council, Ward 1

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Public Safety Committee to reconvene Feb. 26 on bar problems

For those of you who've been plagued by noise disturbances and nuisances near the bars in western Lakewood, this message will notify you that Councilman Ed FitzGerald has convened a meeting of the public safety committee for Monday, Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. at City Hall. (Ask the guard for the meeting room.)

The meeting will address my proposals made last fall to combat some of the problems near the bars. At the meeting, we will unveil our proposed updates to the city's criminal noise ordinances, which, if enacted, will make it much easier for the city to crack down on late-night disturbances.

At the request of Chief Tim Malley, we expect Lt. Ciresi of the Lakewood narcotics unit to join us. The chief has indicated he plans to step up enforcement in and around the bars through the narcotics unit.

All are welcome to attend and comment.

CityMinutes: Meeting on Bar Issues
__________________________________________________________

Councilman Kevin Butler
Ward 1 | Serving Western Lakewood

February 23, 2007

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CityMinutes: E-NEWS FROM WESTERN LAKEWOOD
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

In this issue:
Meeting set for Feb. 26 on bar problems
__________________________________________________________

Greetings!

Welcome to the latest edition of CityMinutes, my occasional e-newsletter which will share with the residents and business owners of Western Lakewood all that's happening in our part of town and beyond.

Please pass this along to those who might be interested in city news, announcements, agenda items and other offerings from City Council, City Hall and yours truly. I hope this serves you well.

I'd be delighted to have your feedback on any items. As always, feel free to contact me at (216) 221-7953 or at kmb@jeromelaw.com.

Best wishes,

Kevin Butler
City Council, Ward 1

__________________________________________________________

Public Safety Committee to reconvene Feb. 26 on bar problems

For those of you who've been plagued by noise disturbances and nuisances near the bars in western Lakewood, this message will notify you that Councilman Ed FitzGerald has convened a meeting of the public safety committee for Monday, Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. at City Hall. (Ask the guard for the meeting room.)

The meeting will address my proposals made last fall to combat some of the problems near the bars. At the meeting, we will unveil our proposed updates to the city's criminal noise ordinances, which, if enacted, will make it much easier for the city to crack down on late-night disturbances.

At the request of Chief Tim Malley, we expect Lt. Ciresi of the Lakewood narcotics unit to join us. The chief has indicated he plans to step up enforcement in and around the bars through the narcotics unit.

All are welcome to attend and comment.

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Wednesday, August 8, 2007

The latest edition of CityMinutes may be viewed at http://www.councilmanbutler.com.

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Thursday, August 23, 2007

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CityMinutes: Maile Avenue's Amber Dugan:
a Quiet Plea for a Special Girl
Friday, August 31, 2007

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CityMinutes: Thoughts on the Mayor's Race
Tuesday, September 25, 2007

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CityMinutes: Your New Home (But Not for Long)
Monday, August 18, 2008

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CityMinutes: Much Ado over Section 8?
April 17, 2009
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Greetings! Welcome to the latest edition of CityMinutes, my e-newsletter which shares with the residents and business owners of western Lakewood all that's happening in our part of town and beyond.

Please pass this along to those interested in news, announcements, agenda items and other offerings from Council, City Hall and yours truly. As always, feel free to contact me at (216) 221-7953 or at butler@councilmanbutler.com.

I hope this serves you well.

Kevin Butler

City Council, Ward 1
http://www.councilmanbutler.com
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'Section 8' housing: much ado?

Council requested recently a listing of all properties in Lakewood registered as Housing Choice Voucher Program units (formerly known as "Section 8" properties).

The HCVP program, supported by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered locally by CMHA, matches landlords with tenants who receive government assistance with their rent payments. By law, the City of Lakewood cannot be a party to these contracts.

Of the 440 unique HCVP addresses in Lakewood, 46 are in Ward 1, the city's westernmost quarter. Of the 46 in Ward 1, 22 are single units in Detroit or Madison apartment houses.

The remaining 24 are on the following streets: Atkins (2), Bonnieview (3), Clifton (2), Cordova (3), Crest Lane, Edwards, Eldred, Ethel, Hall, Owego, Phelps, Riverside, Roycroft, Spring Garden, Webb, West Clifton (2) and Winton.

Interestingly, the CMHA statistics show that those 46 Ward 1 government-assisted units house a total of 93 residents -- almost exactly two people per unit. Images of overcrowding may be common, but the data reveals that the relatively few HCVP properties in our ward contribute very little to Lakewood's historical density.

Lakewood continues to monitor these properties closely based on well-documented connections between crime and government-assisted housing nationwide. But particularly in western Lakewood, the connection may be less obvious.

I provide this for your information only. You're welcome to e-mail me your thoughts on the subject or any properties in particular.
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Beck enjoys outpouring, still $70,000 from goal

I applaud Mayor FitzGerald's decision to commit federal energy efficiency dollars and loan modifications to Ward 1's famed Beck Center for the Arts in response to its March 31 appeal for $150,000 to continue operating. (Click here for the Beck Center's announcement, and here for the city's press release.) But the work's not finished.

The Beck announced this week it's raised nearly $80,000 from more than 450 donors, nearing 55 percent of its goal. If you'd like to continue the push by donating online, click here. You may also mail your contribution to the Beck Center for the Arts at 17801 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood 44107.

Another great idea: sign up for any one of the lively Spring Fling! Summer Socials! parties beginning May 2, whose ticket proceeds go toward the Beck. The first is at Jinny and Jack Rupert's beautiful Clifton Park home. Read more and buy tickets here.
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Rutabaga Nights: LEAF's breakout

Michael Gill, an active and dynamic Ward 1 resident, is part of the team from the Lakewood Earth and Food Community (LEAF) that put together Rutabaga Nights -- a May 2 gala featuring live music, local food and beer here in Lakewood. Click here and scroll down for the excellent lineup.

"We've been hearing for years about how people get out of Kent, Akron, CSU, etc. and take their first apartment or buy their first house in Lakewood," Mike writes. "Those numbers of young people are an enormous amount of potential. I think LEAF is the fulfillment of the promise."

Rutabaga Nights, which benefits LEAF's community garden and community agriculture programs, runs from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Screw Factory, 13000 Athens Ave. Buy tickets at Green Smart Gifts, 14534 Detroit Ave., or Phoenix Café, 15108 Detroit Ave.
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You Should Know ...

... A garden with a conscience: Speaking of gardens, this Sunday at noon, Ward 1's own Trinity Lutheran Church will be digging its first community garden right outside the church (located on Detroit between Hall and Westlake). A leader in serving Lakewood's less fortunate, Trinity invites the community to join in forming what it'll call the "Peace and Plenty Garden," whose bounty will become a part of meals for the needy each month during the growing season. What a great idea! I'll be there with my work gloves, and I'd love to see you there.

... Taste of Lakewood: Tickets for the annually popular Taste of Lakewood, featuring the food of 22 Lakewood restaurants and presented every year at western Lakewood's grand Clifton Club, are now for sale. The event is Sunday, May 31, from 4 to 7 p.m., and tickets are $25. To get in on the festivities, call Sam Salim at (216) 571-7981 or click here.

... Pepper's, better than ever: Congratulations to Ward 1's Buck family, who've taken the helm at my favorite local Italian joint, Pepper's, located over at Detroit and Cove in the eastern part of town. I can't heap enough praise on the food Bob, Barb, John and Andrew Buck serve up at this Lakewood gem. Before tucking into the world's greatest eggplant parmesan, find more glowing praise and information on Pepper's here.

Thanks for staying up to date!

In my e-newsletter of Friday, April 17 (see previous post), I made an announcement about the groundbreaking for Trinity Lutheran Church's community garden scheduled for Sunday, April 19.

Please note the groundbreaking begins at 1 p.m., not noon.

My apologies for the error.

CityMinutes: 'An Eye Toward the Gathering Storm'
Friday, November 13, 2009

The latest edition of CityMinutes may be viewed at http://www.councilmanbutler.com.