Interlaaken Bridge update
After reviewing five options to repair the damaged Interlaaken Bridge at its regular meeting June 3, 2024, the Lakewood City Council directed the Public Works Engineering Department to move forward with repairs that will have the bridge back open by September 2024.
The options reviewed ranged in estimated project costs from $467,000 to $2.8 million.
The City Council authorized the option that will replace decaying pieces and those that were identified as potentially entering a compromised state within the next five to 10 years.
Total cost is estimated at $830,000.
The project will replace 17 caps and 19 “stringers” which were identified as being in a status of “decay” based on a recent inspection of the bridge.
A request for bids was issued June 7, 2024 for companies to submit their proposals to perform the repair work.
Work will begin after July 1, when the “fish window” opens. The fish window is a period when construction is allowed in, under, or around water. These periods are limited and allow in-water work when the impact on fish, specifically young fish, is expected to be minimal.
Do you own property on a lake or stream shoreline?
New buffer requirements for lakes and streams are part of the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Review under review by the Lakewood Planning Commission.
The Planning Commission wants to hear from property owners who own land within 200 feet of a lake or stream shoreline. The proposed changes, which are required, may affect how you can develop your property.
The proposed updates are the topic of the commission’s June 12, 2024 meeting. Find the agenda with the proposed updates online.
People can comment in person about the proposed changes at the Planning Commission’s June 26, 2024 public meeting. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at Lakewood City Hall, 6000 Main Street SW.
Can’t make it in person? You can attend virtually via Zoom or by calling (253) 215-8782 and enter meeting ID: 819 1842 8672. Virtual attendees can provide public comment by raising their hand and waiting to be called on. Or submit comments in writing by 12 p.m. June 26, 2024 by emailing Karen Devereaux,
Do you qualify for lower property taxes?
The South Sound Housing Affordability Partners (SSHA3P) is hosting a Property Tax Exemption Seminar at Lakewood City Hall in collaboration with the Pierce County Assessor Treasurer’s Office and Pierce County Human Services.
The session is Wednesday, June 12, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
This is an opportunity for low-income seniors and people with disabilities to learn about how to apply for the property tax exemption directly from the Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer’s Office, as well as other resources they may qualify for.
Please RSVP by emailing Mary Connolly at [email protected] or calling 253-625-4153.
Lakewood Farmers Market opening day: Part 2
The weather was less than awesome this week for the Lakewood Farmers Market opening day. So, we bumped all the festivities to next week – June 11.
Stop by Fort Steilacoom Park any time between 2-7 p.m. on Tuesday to check out this year’s vendors, grab a bite to eat from one of the many food options, enjoy live music and stop by the City of Lakewood booth to get free City of Lakewood SWAG.
New this year the market will host Pop Up Markets. These events highlight specific themes and vendors. This includes:
- June 11: Veteran-owned businesses
- June 18: Wellness/Sports-focused businesses
- June 25: Minority-owned businesses
- July 2: New businesses (opened in the last 18 months)
- July 30: Women-owned businesses
- Aug. 6: Kids’ Day at the Market (children up to age 16 can sell items at the market)
- Aug. 13: Maker Fair (inventors, creators, educators, hobbyists are encouraged to inspire people with skill-building tutorials, hands-on projects, experiments and show and tell)
- Aug. 20: South Sound First Nation organizations (tribal affiliations)
- Aug. 27: Local artists
The Lakewood Farmers Market 2024 season runs every Tuesday* from June 4 to Sept. 17. (*There is no market July 16 or 23.)
Summer Nights at the Pavilion launches June 18
Our outdoor summer concert season kicks off June 18 with a Classic Rock performance from House Band of Lakewood.
Set up lawn chairs or throw down a blanket in the Pavilion lawn at Fort Steilacoom Park and enjoy an evening of good music, lots of energy and family fun.
Make it an evening by stopping by the Lakewood Farmers Markets first. Shop the market, pick up dinner from one of the food vendors, then claim your spot, enjoy a great performance, and head to the dance floor.
Concerts run every Tuesday from June 18 to Aug. 27* from 6:30-8 p.m. (*Note: There are no concerts July 16 and 23). Find the full lineup online.
Council Corner: June 3, 2024 meeting recap
The Lakewood City Council kicked off its June 3 regular meeting with three proclamations, acceptance of the Spotlight Award from the Washington Recreation and Parks Association for the development and renovation of Springbrook Park, and recognition of the 2023-24 Lakewood Youth Council.
Juneteenth National Freedom Day. The City Council presented a proclamation to St. Joseph-St. John Episcopal Church honoring June 19 as Juneteenth in Lakewood. The proclamation encourages Lakewood residents to attend the Juneteenth celebration event, organized by the church and held in partnership with the city at City Hall on Saturday, June 15 from 3-5 p.m.
June is LGBTQ+ Pride month. June is Pride Month in Lakewood. The Lakewood City Council presented a proclamation with this declaration to the Oasis Youth Center at its meeting. The proclamation celebrates June as Pride Month in the city and encourages acceptance of all people in the city.
June is Ride Transit month. The City Council welcomed Pierce Transit CEO Mike Griffus to its meeting to accept a proclamation recognizing June as Ride Transit month in the city.
Spotlight Award for Springbrook Park. The City of Lakewood received the 2024 Spotlight Award from the Washington Recreation and Parks Association (WRPA) for the development and renovation of Springbrook Park. Read more.
Youth Council Recognition. The Lakewood City Council recognized members of the 2023-2024 Lakewood Youth Council, thanking them for their work as Youth Council members.
Reports by the City Manager: Interlaaken Bridge Repair Update. The Lakewood City Council directed the Public Works Engineering Department to move forward with repairs that will have the bridge back open by this September. Total cost is estimated at $830,000. The project will replace 17 caps and 19 “stringers” which were identified as being in a status of “decay” based on a recent inspection of the bridge. Read more.
The City Council acted on the following:
- Authorized the award of a construction contract to Sierra Santa Fe Corporation, in the amount of $272,777, for the 2024 Chip Seal Program.
- Released American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds in the amount of $1,000,000 to Living Access Support Alliance (LASA) per Motion 2023-15; in the amount of $250,000 to Emergency Food Network per Motion 2022-101; and to approve the re-obligation of $25,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to conduct a locally-initiated amendment of the Lakewood Shoreline Master Program in 2024.
- Authorized the execution of an amendment to the agreement with Pacific Point Defense (Horwath Law) for public defense services.
- Granted Rainier Connect North, LLC, DBA Lightcurve, a non-exclusive franchise for the transmission of Cable Access TV services.
- Granted Rainier Connect North, LLC, DBA Lightcurve, a non-exclusive franchise for the transmission of telecommunications in, through, over and under the rights-of-way of the City of Lakewood.
- Approved a resolution for the Six-Year (2025-2030) Transportation Improvement Program.
- Approved American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) subaward to Facet, in the amount of $150,000, to conduct a Lakewood tree inventory.
Watch the meeting.
What’s on deck. The Lakewood City Council will hold a study session Monday, June 10 at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers.
Tentative agenda items include:
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Strategic Plan Update
- Joint Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting
- Utility Signal Box Wrap Project Update
- Senior Services Update
How to attend: Attend in person at Lakewood City Hall, 6000 Main Street SW; Join via Zoom (or dial 253-215-8782 and enter meeting ID: 868 7263 2373), or watch live on the city’s YouTube channel.
Police Chief’s Corner
Each week Lakewood Police Chief Patrick D. Smith shares a summary that includes a look at total calls for service the Lakewood Police Department responded to for the prior week. The intent of the summary is to share a snapshot of how the department works to keep the community safe. To see quarterly statistical analysis, visit the Lakewood Police Department crime statistics page on the city website.
Weekly Summary, May 28-June 4, 2024
- Calls for Service: 1,021
- Arrests: 43
- Violent Crime: 28
- Property Crime: 78
- Traffic Stops: 147
- Collisions (reportable): 29
City of Lakewood Youth Council Vacancies
The City of Lakewood is accepting applications from youth interested in participating in the Lakewood Youth Council for the 2024-2025 school year. To apply, visit the city’s Youth Council webpage. Applications will be accepted until Friday, June 14, 2024.
Students are eligible if they are a high school student, or entering high school, in good academic standing and have a good attendance record. Past experience and/or involvement in school or community organizations is desired. Eligible students must attend a school in Lakewood or live in Lakewood. The Lakewood Youth Council meets the first and third Mondays of every month at 4:45 p.m. Students must be able to regularly attend these meetings and participate in other meetings and events as scheduled.
Questions? Email Shannon Bennett [email protected].
Join us for a Juneteenth Celebration
In partnership with St. Joseph-St. John Episcopal Church, the City of Lakewood is supporting the organization’s Juneteenth Celebration by opening Lakewood City Hall for an afternoon of community celebration.
The event is Saturday, June 15, 2024 from 3-5 p.m. All are invited to attend and learn about Juneteenth and hear from local leaders. There will be speeches, performances, tables with information from community partners and a chance to come together and celebrate this significant date in our nation’s history.
Sign up for Lakewood Alert (Code Red)
The City of Lakewood uses Code Red, an alert service, to notify residents of important information happening in the city.
If there is an emergencythat requires public notification, we will use Lakewood Alert as one way to communicate. We will also post information to our website and social media channels.
Subscribers can sign up to receive text and email alerts. People can also sign up for important non-emergency updates including information about road impacts from large events in the city or information about special events.
Find out more and sign up today.
Work for the city of Lakewood
We’re hiring! Looking to change careers? Looking for a new job? Ready to re-enter the job market?
Join the city of Lakewood! We have a variety of positions open across multiple departments. Lakewood offers a competitive benefits package. We are part of the state retirement system (PERS). And the city is a beautiful place to work.
Find a current list of open positions online.
Road project updates
Farwest Drive, Safe Routes to School
The city’s contractor continued work on Farwest north from its intersection with 112th Street with digging an electrical utility trench to install electricity for pedestrian lighting. Traffic continues to be reduced to one lane with vehicles alternating use of the northbound lane. The western walking path is closed with caution tape; a pedestrian pathway is delineated with traffic control devices.
Hipkins Road
Sidewalk and driveway placement continued this week south of North Way. Hipkins is open during construction to local traffic only, except at the new North Way roundabout. North/south traffic at the roundabout was expected to reopen at the end of this week. Wearing course pavement is expected to be placed from Angle Lane to Steilacoom Blvd beginning June 24. Water tie ins at Steilacoom Boulevard are expected to continue through this week and the early part of next week; traffic impacts to Steilacoom Boulevard are expected, but traffic will remain moving through the intersection.
Ardmore/Whitman/93rd
Remaining work includes the installation of street luminaires (expected installation early- to mid-June) and the installation of the traffic signal (anticipated for late-July or early-August).
Washington Boulevard
The contractor is finalizing the schedule for the last items related to the water system.
84th and Pine
Work on this project is paused while the contractor waits for the traffic signal to arrive. Estimated arrival timeline is mid-July. Once it arrives work will resume.