Lakewood, Ohio State of the City- 2015
Comments
Content
Good
evening
I
am
delighted
that
you
have
taken
advantage
of
the
warmer
weather
to
adventure
out
to
share
thoughts
on
our
community’s
future
Special
thanks
to
our
hosts:
The
beau>ful
and
historic
Masonic
Temple
in
which
we
are
mee>ng
tonight
has
served
our
Lakewood
community
since
its
grand
opening
in
the
fall
of
2016.
Ground
was
broken
in
April
1915,
and
the
cornerstone
was
laid
in
June
1915.
The
Lakewood
Masonic
Family
of
organiza>ons
invites
the
community
to
be
present
on
Saturday
morning,
May
30,
for
the
laying
of
a
centennial
cornerstone
by
the
Grand
Master
of
the
Grand
Lodge
of
Free
&
Accepted
Masons
of
Ohio,
assisted
by
the
Grand
Lodge
Officers
and
local
Freemasons.
Please
watch
our
local
media
for
details.
This
is
my
5th
state
of
the
city
speech.
This
is
the
first
one,
however,
that
I
feel
we
are
back
playing
offense.
The
past
several
years
have
presented
daun>ng
challenges
imposed
by
external
forces.
This
year
I
am
pleased
to
adopt
theme
of
a
“city
by
design
Lakewood’s
a
plan
for
our
2nd
century”.
We
are
in
the
strongest
posi>on
to
influence
our
des>ny
more
than
any
>me
in
the
last
1
I
am
delighted
that
you
have
taken
advantage
of
the
warmer
weather
to
venture
out
to
share
thoughts
on
our
community’s
future
Our
agenda
tonight:
Focusing
on
Sound
Governance
Mee>ng
External
Challenges,
Head-‐On
Transforma>ve
Investments
Looking
Toward
the
Future
2
To
become
fiscally
sound
and
sustainable
by
con2nuously
improving:
• By
living
within
our
means
• By
living
within
the
means
of
our
ci>zens
• By
being
effec>ve
investors
of
hard
earned
tax
dollars
on
things
that
ma^er.
• In
fact
we
have
targeted
Over
30
processes
that
will
improve
our
governance,
lower
cost,
gain
speed,
improve
service
3
• I
am
very
pleased
to
report
that
our
city
government
is
in
the
strongest
shape
in
decades.
You
have
in
your
seat
a
graph
that
shows
signficant
improvement
towardd
• A
basic
bench
mark
which
is
is
a
financial
reserve
of
60
days
of
daily
general
fund
expenditures.
Today,
as
you
can
see
we
have
well
over
double
that
amount.
• Our
Directors,
chiefs,
and
employees
are
>ght
with
a
buck,
while
delivering
strong
services.
• This
financial
strength
allows
us
to
weather
headwinds,
and
posi>on
ourselves
to
be
in
much
greater
control
of
our
own
des>ny.
4
The
last
four
years
have
been
challenging
Financial
challenges,
legal
challenges,
regulatory
challenges
from
the
Federal
and
State
EPA,
healthcare
market
place
that
threatens
our100
year
old
community
hospital
5
•
be
brief!!!!!!
• Very
pleased
to
report
that
were
reached
an
agreement
with
the
Ohio
EPA
on
a
new
5
year
waster
water
treatment
permit
addressing
the
requirements
of
the
Clean
Water
Act
of
1972.
• Three
years
ago
we
were
facing
a
federal
law
suite.
Instead,
we
nego>ated
investments
that
we
and
the
two
EPA’s
agree
are
appropriate,
affordable,
and
make
sense
for
lakewood
6
We
have
recovered
from
the
3
million
in
lost
revenues
imposed
by
our
state
government’s
2011
budget.
We
accomplished
this
by
reducing
our
costs
and
increasing
revenues
both
from
a
recovering
economy
and
our
economic
development
investments,
including
our
housing
ini>a>ves.
.
7
• Old
healthcare
model
is
no
longer
an
op2on.
• Tom
Zenty,
CEO
of
University
Hospitals
,
at
a
recent
panel
discussion
at
CSU,
said
the
25%
of
the
na2ons
community
hospitals
will
not
survive.
He
said
communi2es
that
fail
to
address
these
challenges
will
be
in
for
a
great
shock.
•
However
you
may
feel
about
this
subject
today,
it
is
important
that
we
meet
these
changes
“head
on”.
Unlike
many
governments
we
know-‐
we
are
not
failing
to
confront
our
challenges
and
opportuni2es.
• I
will
circle
back
to
this
subject
at
the
end
of
tonight’s
remarks,
8
Having
met
the
aforemen>oned
challenges
head
on,
Our
new
found
strength
provides
the
opportunity
to
consider
and
propose
several
transforma>ve
investments
that
will
con>nue
to
create
unparalleled
vibrancy.
Lets
take
a
look
at
several
of
them:
9
Our
Board
of
Educa>on
,
with
the
support
of
this
community
is
embarked
upon
the
most
ambi>ous
re
tooling
of
its
educa>onal
plagorm
sine
the
late
1920’s
$100
million
of
new
construc>on
between
now
and
Fall
2017
This
ac>vity
will
create
a
significant
amount
of
disrup>on.
We
will
all
have
to
put
up
with
some
inconvenience-‐
but
it
will
be
worth
it.
10
• Lakewood
has
3
miles
of
coastline,
but
less
than
3,000
feet
of
publicly
accessible
waterfront
at
Lakewood
Park
• Summer
sols>ce
construc>on
begins
in
a
few
weeks.
While
we
will
not
be
ready
for
this
year’s
June
21st
sols>ce-‐
we
will
be
on
our
way
for
next
year!
This
job
is
expected
to
be
finished
before
Labor
day.
• While
our
lakefront
is
limited,
it
is
unique
to
our
region.
this
project
will
make
our
park
even
more
of
a
gem
than
it
is
today
11
• Lakewood
has
3
miles
of
coastline,
but
less
than
3,000
feet
of
publicly
accessible
waterfront
at
Lakewood
Park
• Summer
sols>ce
construc>on
begins
in
a
few
weeks.
While
we
will
not
be
ready
for
this
year’s
June
21st
sols>ce-‐
we
will
be
on
our
way
for
next
year!
This
job
is
expected
to
be
finished
before
Labor
day.
• While
our
lakefront
is
limited,
it
is
unique
to
our
region.
We
have
a
plan
to
make
our
park
even
more
of
a
gem
than
it
is
today
12
• We
are
in
the
planning
stages
of
a
$400,000
update
of
our
biggest
playground.
Times
have
changed,
and
playground
preferences
have
as
well.
Time
to
invest!
13
• We
are
in
year
three
of
a
ten
year
plan
to
address
all
180
miles
of
our
sidewalks.
• This
includes
iden>fying,
and
fixing
every
trip
hazard.
• Through
a
combina>on
of
leveling,
grinding,
and
replacing
these
uneven
slabs
we
will
drama>cally
improve
our
much
lauded
and
much
loved
walkability
14
We
have
a
once
a
century
opportunity
to
redevelop
almost
3
acres
for
residen2al
use
• This
picture
shows
the
plan;
with
a
mul>-‐million-‐dollar
townhouse/single
floor
living
op>on
• We
have
worked
collabora>vely
with
the
school
board
to
offer
these
new
housing
designs
in
Lakewood
15
We
have
a
once
a
century
opportunity
to
redevelop
almost
3
acres
for
residen2al
use
• This
picture
shows
the
plan;
with
a
mul>-‐million-‐dollar
townhouse/single
floor
living
op>on
• We
have
worked
collabora>vely
with
the
school
board
to
offer
these
new
housing
designs
in
Lakewood
16
1. Lakewood
will
be
a
very
busy
place
this
construc>on
season
2. The
high
lighted
sec>ons
and
dots
indicate
where
infrastructure
will
be
upgraded
this
year.
3. Water
main
replacements
on
four
streets
4. Street
resurfacing
5. Combined
sewer
separa>on
6. Pilot
program
in
a
100
house
neighborhood
to
prove
or
disprove
separa>ng
storm
water
from
sanitary
as
it
leaves
our
homes
is
the
best
long
term
strategy
for
mee>ng
our
clean
water
act
obliga>ons
17
• As
the
city’s
aging
trees
begin
to
die
—
many
of
them
planted
around
the
same
>me,
100
years
ago
—
many
of
the
warm
and
invi>ng
canopies
have
disappeared.
• The
city’s
forestry
department
and
Lakewood
Tree
Task
Force
have
developed
a
comprehensive
strategy
to
improve
the
tree
canopy
and
add
diversity
to
the
variety
of
species
around
the
city.
• In
just
two
years,
the
Tree
Task
Force
has
already
helped
plant
dozens
of
trees
at
Madison
and
Lakewood
parks,
presented
19
recommenda>ons
to
Lakewood
City
Council
suppor>ng
tree
legisla>on
and
worked
with
the
city’s
forestry
department
to
plant
nearly
600
trees
around
Lakewood.
• The
city’s
strategy
also
includes
an
effort
to
prepare
the
city
for
climate
change,
add
diversity
to
the
urban
forest,
withstand
pest
infesta>ons
and
storms,
and
add
in
trees
with
more
fall
colors.
More
trees
also
means
less
storm
water
runoff.
• The
current
Lakewood
tree
canopy
has
been
assessed
by
satellite
at
28.5
percent.
• It’s
good
for
a
high-‐density,
urban
area…
But
we
can
do
be^er.
• The
goal
is
to
increase
the
tree
canopy
by
10
percent,
to
38.5
percent
by
the
year
2035.
• Diversity
is
going
to
be
the
driver
to
achieving
a
more
sustainable
urban
forest.
• Each
home
owner
in
Lakewood
can
help
by
taking
care
of
personal
and
tree
lawn
trees
as
well
as
plan>ng
addi>onal
trees.
18
1. We
have
terrific
opportunity
to
capture
energy
from
our
waste
treatment
facility
and
convert
it
into
electricity.
Not
only
is
this
a
smart
financial
move,
it
will
be
a
significant
investment
in
be^er
environmental
stewardship.
19
1. Another
great
opportunity
20
•
•
•
•
•
•
$2.4
million
resurfacing
the
en>re
street
–
no
local
funds
New
traffic
signaliza>on
Madison
Park
Skatehouse
Improvements
Birdtown
streetscape
and
housing
projects,
completed
in
2014
$250,000
storefront
improvement
funds
Millions
more
in
private
investment
21
Northeast
Ohio
isn’t
the
sunniest
place
on
Earth.
But
don’t
tell
Lakewood
residents
Chris
Bata
(BAY-‐tah)
and
his
wife,
Ka>e
Romik
(Ro-‐mick).
The
couple
—transplants
of
Aus>n,
TX
Looking
to
reduce
their
carbon
footprint,
in
they
invested
in
33
solar
panels,
moun>ng
them
to
the
top
of
their
Virginia
Avenue
home
and
garage
in
2012.
Their
electric
bill
has
been
slashed
to
around
$6
per
month
Bata
and
Romick
are
examples
of
the
forward-‐thinking
that
this
city
embraces.
Their
investment
shows
the
way
for
each
of
our
100
year
old
houses
to
be
a
modern
“micro
grid”
This
provides
lower
cost
of
energy
,
lessens
our
carbon
footprint,
and
provides
resiliency
from
the
changing
threat
of
mother
nature
and
climate
change.
22
• Our
Goal:
to
be
the
safest
city
in
the
region
• Big
challenge;
Very
important
challenge
• New
police
cars
have
5
cameras.
•
This
year
we
will
provide
body
cameras
to
improve
officer
safety
,
provide
improved
inves>ga>on,
and
increased
performance
accountability.
• We
plan
to
expand
video
surveillance
in
more
public
spaces.
Events
through
out
the
na>on,
par>cularly
Boston
bombings
have
shown
the
wisdom
of
these
investments.
23
• We
are
in
the
final
planning
stages
to
run
a
public/private
“Big
Gig”
fiber
op>c
network
throughout
our
main
corridors.
• This
will
provide
greatly
expanded
capacity
for
our
educa>onal
ins>tu>ons,
libraries,
and
governments.
• It
will
also
serve
as
an
incen>ve
for
companies
to
set
up
shop
here,
and
stay
here.
100
gigabit/second
speeds
will
be
as
fast
as
any
where
in
the
region.
• For
our
government,
This
means
be^er
surveillance
in
our
public
spaces,
free
Wi-‐Fi
in
our
parks,
• For
our
schools-‐
it
secures
their
future
growth
needs
for
educa>onal
content
• For
our
businesses,
it
allows
them
to
compete
at
the
speed
of
business
in
the
21st
century.
24
Enhanced
communica2ons
strategy
• Improved
our
use
of
social
media:
• Recently
completed
a
website
dedicated
to
the
Community
Vision
• A
completely
redesigned
and
reimagined
onelakewood.com
website
to
be
unveiled
this
spring,
designed
to
think
as
our
customers
think-‐
not
around
the
organiza>on
structure
of
city
hall.
• Twi^er:
4,181,
nearly
double
what
it
was
this
>me
last
year.
• Facebook:
5,508
“likes”
…
Up
more
than
700
from
last
year.
• Dozens
of
YouTube
videos
during
the
past
year-‐
much
more
to
come
• Ready
no>fy-‐
emergency
no>fica>on
system-‐
7000
household-‐
not
nearly
enough-‐
but
more
than
any
community
in
the
county
25
1. Our
Housing
Forward
ini2a2ve
began
in
2011
• We
made
great
strides
with
our
1
&
2
family
houses
• This
year,
we
will
Begin
to
focus
Mul>-‐family
housing
(
4
+
units)
• We
will
Con>nue
to
Connect
our
residents
to
resources
to
help
improve
their
house-‐
and
thus
our
neighborhoods
2.
But
we
are
overdue
in
celebra2ng
our
century
homes-‐
• We
will
launch
a
Century
Home
cer>fica>on,
with
a
plaque,
to
be
placed
on
the
front
of
every
century
home.
• By
2020-‐
50%
of
Our
homes
will
proudly
bear
this
plaque
26
1. There
are
tremendous
changes
occurring
in
healthcare
today
and
even
more
so
in
the
future
2. Every
day
we
read
and
hear
about
the
drama>c
shix
from
ac>vity
based
care
and
costs
to
outcome
based
care
and
costs
3. Technology
is
rapidly
changing
the
landscape
of
not
only
how
care
is
delivered,
but
also
where
it
will
be
delivered
4. The
trustees
are
being
proac>ve
—
not
reac>ve
—
They
have
proposed
a
plan
that
recognizes
these
forces.
5. Their
plan
has
the
goal
of
addressing
preven>on,
early
detec>on,
is
more
affordable,
and
more
accessible.
6. The
proposed
plan
will
increase
primary
care
resources
in
our
community
7. It
has
the
extraordinary
opportunity
to
benefit
from
a
community
led,
community
focused
wellness
founda>on
with
$32
million
dollars
as
a
star>ng
point.
There
are
only
a
handful
of
such
community
founda>ons
in
the
en>re
country
and
we
will
be
one
of
them!
8. I
am
confident
that
Lakewood
ci>zens
will
be
well
served
by
a
modern,
sustainable
healthcare
system
that
will
serve
our
needs
now
and
decades
from
now
9. Our
next
community
discussion
will
be
held
Tuesday
march
10th
7PM.
Cleveland
clinc
will
present
their
views
of
healthcare
delivery
and
how
their
proposed
Family
Health
Center
will
be^er
serve
our
27
• A
very
big
part
of
improved
health
and
lower
health
care
costs
is
increased
ac>ve
and
healthy
living
• We
plan
to
make
significant
park
enhancements
and
investments
to
add
opportuni>es
to
keep
moving
• We
need
to
think
long
term
to
explore
how
ac>ve
and
healthy
living
should
be
incorporated
into
our
plans
and
lifestyles
• Several
hardworking
and
inspired
ci>zens
are
serving
on
a
task
force
to
help
us
shape
the
opportuni>es
and
investments
that
will
advance
healthier
exercise
choices
for
our
ci>zens.
• A
great
opportunity
is
to
improve
our
heralded
Walkability-‐
•
we
need
to
be
able
to
walk
365
days
of
the
year
-‐snow
or
no
snow
28
This
is
a
great
>me
to
be
lakewoodite.
Sure
we
have
challenges-‐
but
we
are
mee>ng
them
head
on”
We
have
great
strengths
We
will
con>nue
to
become
a
city
by
design
which
will
make
us
a
city
of
choice.
I
thank
you
for
listening
tonight.
As
is
our
custom,
I
would
be
delighted
to
entertain
any
ques>ons.
29
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