The Lakewood City Council meets twice a month to discuss current issues and upcoming events in the city, ranging from recycling to neighborhood issues that affect Lakewood residents.
At the May 18, 2026, meeting, officials discussed several topics, including the upcoming Pride Month celebrations in June. This is an important topic of conversation, especially because of the fact that Lakewood is an extremely diverse city with many LGBTQIA+ community members who live and work throughout the community.
City Hall has a tradition of flying the Pride flag on the flagpoles outside the building each June.
The tradition is supported by the mayor and many community members, though it has faced opposition in the past from residents who emailed the City Council expressing their disagreement.
As the discussion continued and impacted many in the community, it remained a major topic for about 30 minutes of the meeting. Multiple speakers emphasized that someone cannot be an ally simply by saying they are one; actions matter more, and actively supporting the movement speaks for itself. The prominence of the discussion at the meeting helped further spread awareness of the issue.
The 1980s were a difficult time for supporters of the tradition, as many residents initially opposed it. “That was the first attempt to have this formal city stop to do so … there was a compromise, and the flag was moved,” said Tom Bullock, a City Council member.
“What’s important for us is to make sure people understand that our council meetings are open to the public and encourage people, even if they can’t attend in person, to listen to livestreams … or recordings,” said Matt Vicksenstein, member of the City Council.
Not only does it help people see how easy it is to know about our community, but it also helps people know where they can get involved. There are so many groups connected to the City Council that help show them the issues going on.
It is important to know about your community, and students should go to meetings because they represent the future of the city and its voters.
Improving neighborhood safety is an important goal for City Council members. However, the process can take longer because laws limit only three council members from working on an issue at the same time, slowing discussions and decision-making.
“Everyone wants to live in a safe neighborhood. So that’s obviously going to be very important across the community,” said Ryan Fairbanks, the Lakewood fire chief.
Even when talking about issues pertaining to your neighbors or something you personally have gone through or done, speakers must clearly communicate their points and keep them at the forefront of council members’ attention. By repeating the issues, it puts it in the first space in everyone’s mind, helping it sometimes get passed faster than if stated once and then put on the back burner.
From Airbnb guests causing disturbance to landlord matters, the city works to address and resolve a wide range of issues. Owning an Airbnb in towns where you don’t live can impact the neighbors around you, particularly in terms of noise, property use, and overall neighborhood conditions.
Getting the word out about more issues helps safeguard the community and makes it easier for children and families to feel safe. The City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month, and meetings are open to the public, who can attend in person or speak about issues they have witnessed in the community.
