Community Center Envisioned to. Better Serve .... (Supporting Opiate Addiction. Recovery) .... Services Board of Cuyahog
LAKEWOOD LIFE A Report from City Hall, Winter 2018
A NOTE FROM MAYOR MIKE SUMMERS INSIDE THIS ISSUE... Mayor’s Office
A Note from Mayor Mike Summers Planning & Development
Downtown Development is a Oncein-a-Generation Opportunity Finance
The State of the City’s Finances Public Works
Improvements Coming to Aging Water and Sewer System Human Services
Community Center Envisioned to Better Serve Neighbors Project SOAR Launches Public Safety
Safety Data Accessible in New Records Portal
O
ur government’s four main goals are vibrant neighborhoods, a safe and secure city, economic development and sound governance. In every possible way we apply these goals towards improving Lakewood’s second century. Taking a long-term view allows us to think big and more readily recognize emerging forces working for and against our community. Increasingly, cities across our country are recognizing that our traditional partners at the state and federal level are unable or less willing to help us. Here in Lakewood, we have more going for us than many. What’s important is that we remain focused on service delivery, creating a capacity to be an investor in our own future, and continuing to engage the vast intellectual capital of our citizenry who serve and guide our collective thinking in so many ways. We have a great deal of productive work ahead of us in 2018 and beyond. This newsletter’s goal is to address some of what to expect in the coming year.
You’re invited! Join us for the 2018 State of the City address, where the Mayor will be discussing Lakewood’s present and future through the lens of resiliency. The event will also be available to livestream on our website.
Date: March 7 Time: 7 p.m. Place: Auditorium Lakewood City Hall 12650 Detroit Ave.
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT IS A ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION OPPORTUNITY
T
he new year marks a pivotal time in the history of Lakewood as work is set to begin to reimagine and develop the former Lakewood Hospital site. It comes on the heels of one of the city’s busiest construction years since the Gold Coast was completed almost 40 years ago. In 2017, $72 million was privately invested on renovation and new construction projects, which is an increase from an average of $28 million annually since 2012. After a nearly yearlong process, Carnegie Management and Development Corp. was recommended as the most qualified and best partner to develop the nearly 6-acre site in the heart of Lakewood. Carnegie’s proposal, One Lakewood Place, incorporates new office and retail space, apartments, for-sale housing, and the construction of a multifunctional outdoor gathering space for the public to access at the corner of Belle and Detroit Avenues. A parking garage will also
be built to support the development and minimize impact on the surrounding neighborhoods. “This is one of those kinds of opportunities that only come around once every 50 years,” Mayor Mike Summers said. “It’s definitely an exciting time and we want to make sure we do it right.”
Planning this once-in-ageneration project will involve many steps and will require input from the city’s residents. Bryce Sylvester, Planning Director The hope for the downtown development between Belle and Marlowe is that it will create a sense of place in Downtown Lakewood, while honoring the city’s heritage through things like the renovation of the Curtis Block building. Once constructed, the property
will generate at least $1.5 million in combined property and income tax annually. “This is a huge step in the right direction as that money goes to our schools, social services and other functions of city government,” said Planning and Development Director Bryce Sylvester. In the coming year, City Council and the city administration will work to create a term sheet for the development before moving through the rezoning process. This process will provide the community an opportunity to help shape the center of the city. “Planning this once-in-ageneration project will involve many steps and will require input from the city’s residents,” Sylvester said. “We’re hearing from many members of the community who are eager and passionate about getting started on the design and programming of the project.”
For more information and to track the progress, visit onelakewood.com/ downtowndevelopment.
THE STATE OF THE CITY’S FINANCES
2018 Balanced Budget
$129.65 M ALL FUNDS
City Council approved a balanced budget for 2018, which demonstrates how the city is mindful when it comes to maintaining fiscal strength while also cultivating our ability to provide services to residents. Jennifer Pae, Finance Director
$39.87 M in 2017 General Fund Revenue
7% 2017 EXPENDITURES TOTALING
31%
35%
REVENUES have increased steadily since 2013 thanks to...
$116 M 13%
10%
INTERNAL SERVICE
DEBT SERVICE
ENTERPRISESEWER & WATER
SPECIAL REVENUE
CAPITAL
GENERAL FUND
2017 General Fund Expenditures:
Public Safety
52% = $21.11 M
AS NEW COMPANIES SUCH ROUNDSTONE & UNIVERSITY TEES
2007
CITY RESERVES
4%
AS NEW RESIDENCES SUCH ROCKPORT & MCKINLEY PLACE
INCREASED WAGES OFTAXPAYERS While RESERVES have increased from $300,000 in 2007 to...
$11 M in 2017
Public Works Parks, Refuse, Fleet & Forestry
21% = $8.54 M General Government
16% = $6.43 M Administrative Costs
8% = $3.20 M
Council Priorities & Budget Highlights:
> FULL COURT BASKETBALL > > >
Human Services
3% = $1.17 M
>
at Madison Park COVE PARK construction LAKE AVENUE resurfacing Support for Project SOAR (Supporting Opiate Addiction Recovery) PUBLIC ART investment
Find out more about the 2018 budget and city finances at onelakewood.com/city-finances.
IMPROVEMENTS COMING TO AGING WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM
A
s the city enters its second century, the need to improve an aging water and sewer system and comply with Environmental Protection Agency mandates is more crucial than ever before. To support these improvements, City Council voted to approve a slight increase to the water and sewer rates at its final meeting of 2017.
Did you know... There is a Homestead Exemption that reduces rates for any homeowner who is 65 years of age or older, or is permanently disabled, with a total household income below $35,000 per year. This water rate will increase from $3.55 per ccf to just $3.72 and the sewer rate will increase from $4.65 to just $5.12. If you feel you may qualify or have any other questions, please contact Utility Billing at (216) 529-6820 and select option No. 2. Beginning January 1, water rates will increase five percent from $6.44 per ccf, or 100 cubic feet, to $6.76 and sewer rates will increase 10 percent from $6.20 per ccf to $6.82. A typical residential bill of 6 ccf per month will increase from $75.84 in 2017 to $81.48 in 2018. The overall usage cost will ultimately be about 1.8 cents per gallon.
Lakewood is unique in the region because we operate our own drinking water system, as well as our own sewer and wastewater treatment system. While Lakewood must upgrade, replace and continue to invest in its future citywide, the city’s underground assets of water and sewer pipes are chief among these investments. The increases will fund about $11.6 million in system repairs, including $4.8 million in watermain replacements, sewer repairs and manhole separation during pavement restoration.
For more information visit onelakewood.com/cleanwaterlakewood.
2018 Street and Utility Repairs ▶ Watermain replacements and resurfacing on: › Atkins Ave. › Hathaway Ave. › Sylvan Ave. › Athens Ave. between Carabel and Warren › Lewis Dr. between Franklin and Madison › Waterbury Rd. between Franklin and Detroit ▶ Street repaving on Lake Ave. from Belle to W. 117th
COMMUNITY CENTER ENVISIONED TO BETTER SERVE NEIGHBORS
A
s the city moves into a new year, the Department of Human Services is making a resolution to move as well. The staff is beginning to envision a community center that would be home to all three divisions — Early Childhood, Youth and Aging. Currently, these three divisions function out of separate office spaces around the city. Consolidation under one roof will allow for more efficient and costeffective operations and expand the ability to provide new and innovative programming.
Human Services has three divisions: Early Childhood, Youth, and Aging.
“It is exciting to think of the ease with which intergenerational activities and gatherings may be implemented to build relationships and enhance the lives of our residents,” Human Services Director Toni Gelsomino said. “Imagine a space where children, parents, caregivers, adolescents, teens and older people are invited to gather, play, learn, and serve.” Gelsomino said, although a space has not yet been identified, she believes a centralized community center would be a wonderful and valuable asset to our community. Current programming already offered by Human Services includes Help to Others (H2O), the Lakewood Family Room, social workers assisting families and caregivers raising children, and nutrition, entertainment, and transportation programs for our residents over age 60. Residents are connected to an expansion of services using one
H2O students volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House.
of the greatest strengths of this department, its commitment to collaborations with partner organizations in the community and around the region. These collaborations help us connect our residents to resources that support and enrich their lives.
For more information visit onelakewood.com/humanservices.
SAFETY DATA ACCESSIBLE IN NEW RECORDS PORTAL
I
n 2018 citizens will have a new way to keep up with what’s going on with the Lakewood Police and Fire Departments in the form of new public information systems. Police Chief Tim Malley said the new system in his department will “be an upgrade to the whole record management system,” but what people will really see is the Policeto-Citizen (P2C) portal. “It’s an update to a 10-yearold system,” Malley said. “It gives residents the ability to look intelligently at incidents and trends in the city.” Through the new system, residents will be able to obtain daily bulletin reports, print accident
and incident reports, and access a mapping feature that will allow them to map incidents, vehicle accidents, and arrests during a certain date range. The result will be administrative efficiency and reduction of front desk traffic while increasing access to information by the public. In addition to the P2C system, the fire department will also receive new software. The updates to the fire department’s computeraided dispatch system, or CAD, will help identify building features that can impact firefighting tactics. The system improves operational safety by providing critical information such as utility shutoff locations,
roof hazards, general building hazards, as well as providing address call history and owner contact information. “The new CAD system will provide the fire department access information on buildings from the scene of an emergency, which will make emergency operations safer and more efficient,” Fire Chief Scott Gilman said. The system will also improve the department’s ability to efficiently communicate staffing needs for larger fires, storms, and other emergencies. The dispatchers will be able to generate a mass text message to off-duty staff instead of individual phone calls.
Lakewood City Hall 12650 Detroit Ave. Lakewood, Ohio 44107
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Launches P
roject SOAR, which launched in late 2017, is a pilot program aimed at reducing opiate misuse and the number of fatal overdoses, providing rapid access to treatment and recovery support. It is a collaboration with the Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County, Cleveland Clinic Lakewood Emergency Department, the Woodrow Project, and the city.
What is a safe station? A safe station is a place where those suffering with opiate addiction can come to 24/7 and receive immediate assistance. Currently, the safe station in Lakewood is Fire House 1, located at 14600 Madison Ave. In Project SOAR, peer support specialists, who are people in long-term recovery, have been trained to navigate and connect individuals to treatment and resources. In partnership with the Woodrow Project, these specialists will reach those suffering with opiate addiction at three access points: Cleveland Clinic Lakewood Emergency Department, home visits to Lakewood residents after an overdose, and the Lakewood safe station. Peer support specialists will work closely with the Lakewood Police and EMS
The 2018-2019 City Council, from left to right: Daniel O’Malley (Ward 4), Meghan George (at-large), President Sam O’Leary (Ward 2), Vice President David Anderson (Ward 1), Tom Bullock (at-large), John Litten (Ward 3), and Tristan Rader (at-large). Regular City Council meetings are held on the first and third Monday of every month at 7:30 pm in the City Hall Auditorium.
Agendas and minutes can be found at onelakewood.com. Departments to respond and support residents and their families. Through this partnership, treatment will be available to Lakewood residents who are ready and willing to enter treatment at the time of connection to Project SOAR.
For more information on Project SOAR visit onelakewood.com/facingaddiction.
