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1 MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 15, 2025 COUNCIL CHAMBERS Present: Councilmember Strebig ( Chair), Councilmember Baker Also Present: Councilmember Evans, President Kepple, Mayor George, Law Director Vargo, Chief Assistant Law Director Swallow- Murphy, Fire Chief Fairbanks, Neighborhood Paramedic Oliver Harper, Animal Control Officer Gary Crumley, Nancy Binder, Chair of Lakewood Animal Safety & Welfare Advisory Board ( LASWAB), animal volunteer Megan Gilaida Call to Order: 6:01 p.m. Approval of the minutes of the June 23, 2025 Public Safety Committee. Motion made and seconded to approve the minutes of the June 23, 2025 Public Safety Committee. All members voted in favor. Motion passed. Minutes approved. Communication from Fire Chief Fairbanks regarding Neighborhood Paramedic Program Update. ( referred to Public Safety Committee 7/21/25) Neighborhood Paramedic ( NP) Oliver Harper provided an update on how the Neighborhood Paramedic program has evolved in the past 11 months since Firefighter Harper took over the role. NP Harper explained how over the past year, he has expanded the Neighborhood Paramedic Program from a focus on fall prevention to a broader range of services. The expansion has been made possible by a variety of community partnerships, including with Lakewood Alive, The Centers, and Cleveland Clinic chronic care clinic. He explained that the program’ s partnership with The Centers helps the NP address ongoing mental health issues that are not life-threatening and has prevented repeat 9-1-1 calls and ER visits. He also explained how the chronic care clinic has helped patients manage COPD and congestive heart failure while avoiding the ER. Last, he explained that by working with a team of medical providers at Fairview, the NP program is preventing hospital re-admissions within 30 days for the same condition NP Harper shared some of the program’ s impact such as assisting with six hoarding house clean outs, providing smooth and safe transitions home from the ER by partnering with Fairview Hospital’ s social workers, assisting with medication management, and more. He credited the Human Services Department for their helpful partnership and also discussed challenges in the medical system such as access to providers. One of his goals is to better integrate with Fairview Hospital’ s discharge team, so that patients can be referred directly to the NP, instead of the NP waiting for repeat 9-1-1 calls to discover the problem. Docusign Envelope ID: 72F5EA61- CEA3- 41B0-AB66-069F377739D2 2 In response to a question about the volume of patients, NP Harper responded that he has had about 80 contacts in the past three months and about 50 patient visits. He added that each new partner and referral he works with reveals more needs in the community and there is no shortage of potential patients for the program. Councilmember Strebig requested more precise numbers by the end of the year. Councilmember Baker likened the services to that of a patient navigator. Given the expense of EMS, he questioned whether the City could invest more in these services. NP Harper expressed confidence that he can meet the current needs of the program, describing how he pivots between patient care and administrative functions. He remarked that while there is certainly more need, that the neediest patients are the hardest to find because they lack social networks and resources. The committee, the Law Department, and NP Harper discussed legal and administrative strategies to make it easier for the NP to share health information and access electronic healthcare information with healthcare providers. The committee and NP Harper discussed the concept of return on investment. It was noted that while the NP program may not save the City money, it saves the community money on medical bills and EMS transport and improves quality of life. In response to a question about behavioral health trends, NP Harper noted that the program is focusing more on behavioral health and the trends are not going down. He stated that he has not received Crisis Intervention Training. ORDINANCE 20-2025 - AN ORDINANCE to take effect immediately provided it receives the affirmative vote of at least five members of Council, or otherwise to take effect and be in force after the earliest period allowed by law, updating various sections of Chapter 505 Animals and Fowl of the Lakewood Codified Ordinances and creating regulations for trap, neuter/ spay and release of community cats within the City of Lakewood. ( 1st read & referred to PS 05/19/25; 2nd reading 6/2/25) Motion by Councilmember Strebig to amend Ordinance 20-2025 by substituting the updated version sent Friday Sept. 12th by the Law Department to this committee and LASWAB. Councilmember Baker seconded. All members voted in favor. Motion passed. Ordinance 20- 2025 substituted. Councilmember Strebig expressed appreciation to the Law Department for its continued efforts to incorporate feedback. She stated her intention to incorporate additional edits tonight and send a revised version to LASWAB for review. Councilmember Strebig walked through the changes between the original version and the substitute version and proposed additional changes to 505.03(e), 505.12(c) and introduced a new Docusign Envelope ID: 72F5EA61- CEA3- 41B0-AB66-069F377739D2 3 section 505.025(c) that makes clear that the City of Lakewood is to carry the cost of the trap, neuter, return program, including the cost of all spay/neuter procedures. At the invitation of Chair Strebig, Assistant Director Swallow reviewed additional changes proposed by the Law Department and shared via email today. The change to 505.03(a) stipulates that any dog that is impounded is required to be microchipped and registered with the County, prior to being released to its owner. Councilmember Baker requested Chair Strebig’ s proposed changes in writing to further consider them. He expressed interest in considering limits on reimbursements and thinking through those processes. Chair Strebig responded that the Committee will meet again to review all the changes after LASWAB meets in September and October. Animal Control officer Crumley expressed concern about staffing and potential cost related to having the City operate the TNR program. He stated that it was not feasible. Law Director Vargo stated that the Law Department will need to re-evaluate the ordinance in light of the proposed changes to have the City operate and fund TNR. He noted that having the City perform these functions may suggest additional obligations and liabilities not previously considered. In response to a question about microchipping cats, Officer Crumley stated that he would like to see a requirement to microchip cats. He explained that it would be helpful to reunite owners with lost pets and to hold accountable people who abandon their animals. Motion by Councilmember Strebig to send these recommendations, update this language with the changes that I am recommending and the changes that you are going to recommend and to send these recommendations to LASWAB for comment and request another Public Safety Meeting in late October after the October LASWAB meeting to review their suggestions. Motion seconded by Councilmember Baker. All members in favor. Motion passed. Public Safety Committee adjourned at 6:44 p.m. Approved: Cindy Strebig, Chair Public Safety Committee Maureen M. Bach, Clerk of Council 10/20/2025 Docusign Envelope ID: 72F5EA61- CEA3- 41B0-AB66-069F377739D2 Agenda Item: eComments for ORDINANCE 20-2025 - AN ORDIANANCE to take effect immediately provided it receives the affirmative vote of at least five members of Council, or otherwise to take effect and be in force after the earliest period allowed by law, updating various sections of Chapter 505 Animals and Fowl of the Lakewood Codified Ordinances and creating regulations for trap, neuter/ spay and release of community cats within the City of Lakewood. ( 1st read & referred to PS 05/19/ 25; 2nd reading 6/2/25) Overall Sentiment Rachel Ashton-Misciasci Location: Submitted At: 2:57pm 09-15-25 I am very supportive of an updated TNR ordinance in Lakewood. However, a few of the ordinances listed are concerning to me as a Lakewood citizen and as a TNR trapper. I have been doing TNR trapping and cat rescue for almost 3 years now, working and being trained by other seasoned trappers and rescuers. The requirements of being specifically trained, being registered with the city, requiring veterinary clearance to release a spayed/neutered cat, and providing data on trapping every year, all seem like extra hurdles that are not necessary. What is the data collection for? It seems like just unnecessary and useless data. All of these requirements are just extra steps that get in the way of how fluid the nature of TNR and animal rescue is. The medical vet clearance for release will likely cause more stress for the cats because they will likely have to remain in their traps for longer to be seen by a vet. Most advise after surgery 24-48 hrs if no complications arise they can be released. The Cleveland APL advises 24 hours. This requirement will bog down vet offices as they are already flooded with appointments. As for the training, there is only ONE "certified" training, which is virtual, and it only occurs once every few months. There are guides available online that offer the same information, like on Alley Cat Allies. I also believe the restricted time of year for trapping is not viable. Cats are dumped in the winter as well, and caregivers who find new strays or dumped cats may have to act quickly and not have time to obtain authorization to trap by the ACO. Again, I am very supportive of a new TNR ordinance, but I believe it should take into account the current state of veterinary care, animal rescue, and the fluidity of TNR. Unnecessary and useless requirements just hinder good TNR programs. I think it is also important to note that other cities do not have such requirements, and maybe Lakewood should look at how other programs are run, like the Cleveland APL's. Docusign Envelope ID: 72F5EA61- CEA3- 41B0-AB66-069F377739D2