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<br />MINUTES <br />OF A MEETING OF <br />LAKEWOOD CITY COUNCIL <br />AUDITORIUM <br />March 18, 2024 <br />Regular meeting of the Lakewood City Council called to order at 7:35 PM by President Kepple. <br />**** <br />Present: Councilmembers Marx, Baker, Shachner, Kepple, Bullock, Strebig, Rader. <br />Also Present: Mayor George, Law Director Vargo, Fire Chief Dunphy, Public Works Director <br />Gordon, Planning Director Leininger, Assistant Finance Director Schuster, Police ChiefFischer, <br />and Council Staff. <br />**** <br />Motion by President Kepple, seconded by Vice President Shachner, to approve the minutes of <br />th <br />the March 4, 2024, General Meeting without the necessity of a reading. All in favor. Motion <br />passed. Minutes approved. <br />***OLD BUSINESS*** <br />1.Report from Public Safety Committee meeting held March 18, 2024. (to be provided) <br />Councilman Baker delivered the following report: <br />The Public Safety Committee met earlier tonight to discuss one topic, the ordinance to amend <br />various sections of 513 of Lakewood’s Criminal Code related to marijuana possession and <br />gifting marijuana. We had a very productive conversation with the Law Department and Chief <br />Prosecutor Miranda about aligning Lakewood’s Code with the overwhelming will of <br />Lakewood and statewide voters regarding the adult use of marijuana. The Law Department <br />has been working diligently on preparing what is not yet a substituteordinance to better align <br />with state law. Council expressed our desire to move quickly in order to give our residents <br />peace of mind. Although, our police are not enforcing the laws that are on the books today <br />regarding marijuana possession. This gives comfort to folks who can now legally do so under <br />state law. We talked about how there are certain state codes that we will cover but there also <br />maybe provisions thatwill be unique to Lakewood to ensure responsible adult use in <br />Lakewood. Particularly, these unique codes will involve regulations on marijuana possession <br />near schools and parks. We had a lot of discussion on regulating marijuana like alcohol, so <br />in about four weeks look for the administration to come forward with the final substitute <br />ordinance. We will then discuss and think about the portions of that ordinance which are in <br />the policy discretion of Council and the administration. <br />1 <br /> <br />