Community Newsletter

Community Newsletter April 2023 Edition

Note from Mayor Meghan F. George

Many of us fondly remember the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s (GCRTA) Community Circulator service that existed in Lakewood for over a decade in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This flexible transit program provided affordable fares and convenient access to destinations across our city, with a focus on those who faced mobility issues, especially our seniors and disabled. The program was highly used, extremely popular with its riders, and deeply mourned when it went away. Now, with the support of a grant from Cuyahoga County, the City of Lakewood is pursuing a study to determine whether some service like the Community Circulator could ride again.

Since 2009, when RTA eliminated the Community Circulator program in a budget-motivated move, there has been ongoing dialogue about whether the service could be resurrected. As the one of the most dense cities between New York and Chicago, Lakewood certainly has the critical mass of population to justify the service. In addition, our high number of seniors who lack personal vehicles and may not be able to walk significant distances suggest that a circulator would be in high demand.

With all this in mind, our Planning and Development Department approached Cuyahoga County to explore whether dollars might be available to hire a consultant to develop a feasibility plan. That grant application was successful, and we hope to kick off that planning process soon, and explore community needs, potential demand, possible revenue sources, and models for service.

On behalf of the City of Lakewood, I want to extend thanks to Cuyahoga County Councilman Dale Miller, whose support was crucial to our successful grant submission. Councilman Miller has a deep understanding and personal focus on the needs that a renewed community circulator can address. We appreciate his vision and his support.

It’s important to keep in mind that at this stage, the City of Lakewood is only committed to exploring the feasibility of the renewed circulator. We will be engaging key stakeholders in this process to make that determination. That begins with you – our Lakewood residents – but it also extends to possible partners, including the GCRTA, the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), Cuyahoga County, the local philanthropic community, and others.

My office and the Planning and Development Department will continue providing updates on the process as it moves forward.

Mayor Meghan F. George

Upcoming Events & Updates

Save the Date!

2023 State of the City Address

Please join us at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 13th at the Cove Community Center as Mayor Meghan F. George delivers her 2023 State of the City Address.

For more additional details about the State of the City Address, please click here.

Breakfast with the Bunny Event Success

On Saturday, April 1st, H2O volunteers hosted the annual Breakfast with the Bunny event at the Cove Community Center.

More than 325 guests came together to support the H2O (Help to Others) Program while enjoying a pancake breakfast and photos with the bunny. Check out the photos here .

Recycling Reminders

Look for an informational postcard headed for your mailbox about recycling requirements. What can and cannot be recycled has changed over the years, and this postcard will help clarify the requirements for Lakewood residents.

Many thanks to the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District's Community Recycling Awareness Grant program for supporting this effort to get the word out. For more information about Lakewood's recycling program, click here.

Lakewood Fire Department Hosts Stop the Bleed®

Training

On Tuesday, March 21, personnel from the Lakewood Fire Department and Lakewood Police Department partnered with the Lakewood City Schools to lead a STOP THE BLEED® training for more than 100 teachers from across the district.

As part of this preparedness training, teachers learned how to correctly utilize supplies in a First Act safety bucket that could be used to save lives should someone in the classroom get injured with any sort of puncture wound.

Lakewood Municipal Tax Office Hosting Extended Hours

The filing deadline to submit 2022 tax returns or to file for an extension is Tuesday, April 18, 2023.

Beginning in April, the Lakewood Municipal Tax Office is hosting extended hours to assist residents with preparation of Lakewood municipal tax returns.

Come in any day we are open with W-2s and Federal 1040 to have your Lakewood city return filed for free. Click here for a list of upcoming dates with extended hours.

Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District Survey

The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District is attempting to gather some information from city residents about their usage of household hazardous waste disposal options in their cities. This information will help the county to understand how residents are using the program and identify areas that can be improved upon in the future.

Please click here to take the survey.

Financial Literacy Seminar Series

The Department of Human Services, is partnering with The Lakewood Area Collaborative to host a Financial Literacy Seminar Series. This free program will run weekly from April 5th to May 31st from 6:00-7:30pm at Cove Community Center.

Sessions are open to anyone who is able to attend and will feature topics such as "Making a Budget, Employment, & Your Paycheck" and "Recovering from Identity Theft". For a full list of session topics and more information about the series, please click here.

We are Hiring!

The City of Lakewood is currently seeking applicants for the following openings:

City Planner
Division Manager Streets and Forestry
Entry Level Patrol Officer

For more information and to apply, please click here.