Lakewood Weekly Manager’s Bulletin: Oct. 4, 2024

Lakewood budget season kicks off Monday

Review and adoption of the city budget is one of the Lakewood City Council’s most important policy roles. The City Council begins its review of the proposed 2025-2026 Biennial Budget at its regular meeting Monday, Oct. 7. This will be followed by two special meetings on Oct. 9 and 16 to hear department-specific budgets. A public hearing is planned for November and final adoption is anticipated by mid-November.

The biennial budget reflects the policies, goals, programs and service priorities and values of the Lakewood City Council. It represents a financial roadmap for the city that guides operational decision‐making, strengthens organizational values, and invests in vital community initiatives.

The City Council will review the draft proposed budget at the following meetings:

• Oct. 7, 2024 7 p.m.: Initial presentation of the proposed budget to the City Council at its regular meeting.
• Oct. 9, 2024, 6 p.m.: Department presentations of the proposed budget covering budgets for the City Council, City Manager, Parks, Recreation & Community Services, Police and Legal.
• Oct. 16, 2024, 6 p.m.: Department presentations of the proposed budget covering budgets for Municipal Court, Planning and Public Works and Administrative Services.
• Nov. 4, 2024 7 p.m.: Public hearing on the proposed 2025-2026 Biennial Budget as part of the City Council regular meeting.
• Nov. 12, 2024 7 p.m.: Review of the proposed 2025-2026 Biennial Budget as part of the City Council study session.
• Nov. 18, 2024, 7 p.m.: Anticipated adoption of the proposed 2025-2026 Biennial Budget as part of the City Council regular meeting.

Once adopted, the budget establishes the direction for all city programs and services for the coming biennium. 

Road closures planned for Ardmore, Whitman and 93^rd

The road project that added sidewalks, streetlights, curbs, gutter and other improvements to Ardmore Drive, Whitman Avenue and 93^rd Street has been quiet the last few months while the city waited for a new traffic signal bridge to arrive.

The bridge is here, and the city’s contractor is prepared to install it starting the week of Oct. 14-18. While the installation occurs, 24-hour road closures will be in place. The closures are required for public safety and the safety of the contractor.

The road closures include:

• Ardmore Drive will close from Steilacoom Blvd to Whitman Avenue.
• Whitman Avenue will close from Motor Avenue to Steilacoom Blvd.
• 93^rd Street will close from Bridgeport Way to Whitman Avenue.

The public is thanked for its patience while this work is completed. This is the final piece of this project to be completed.

Truck & Tractor Day is Oct. 12

Our favorite fall festival is a week away. Truck & Tractor Day is Saturday, Oct. 12 from 12-3 p.m.

Head to Fort Steilacoom Park for a day of free family fun. Enjoy free hayrides around Waughop Lake, pick out a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch (each family gets 1 pumpkin) and make sure to stop by the City of Lakewood booth to get a free hard hat for the kids (while supplies last). There will be food, entertainment and a chance to climb on big trucks and equipment.

Fort Steilacoom Park is located at 8714 87^th Ave SW. Truck & Tractor Day activities are located between the large playground, the historic barns and The Pavilion. Thank you event sponsors WSECU and Harborstone Credit Union for supporting the pumpkin patch.

Save the date: Fall Community Cleanup is Nov. 9-10

Bring trash, junk and recyclables to the Lakewood Transfer Station for the city’s Fall Community Cleanup Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 9-10 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (last vehicle admitted at 1:45 p.m.).

This event is for Lakewood residents only; a utility bill or ID is required to show proof of residence. Participants should be prepared to back up a steep ramp, unload all items yourself, bag all loose items and wear proper footwear.

Additional rules:

• 5-minute time limit to unload items
• No box vans or vehicles taller than 7 feet
• Trailers over 4-feet by 8-feet prohibited
• Unsafe vehicles may be cited

Accepted items:

• Tires (removed from rims)
• Bicycles
• Furniture
• Grills
• Appliances
• Recyclables
• Bagged garbage

Not accepted:

• Commercial waste
• Loose items
• Paint/hazardous materials
• Yard waste
• Construction waste
• Lumber longer than 8-feet
• Concrete
• Auto parts
• Explosive materials
• Propane tanks
• Electronics
• Donations
• Mattresses

Seeking Arts Commission members

The City of Lakewood is accepting applications to fill up to four vacancies on the Lakewood Arts Commission.

The role of the Arts Commission is to assess needs, establish priorities and make recommendations to the Lakewood City Council for enrichment of the community and promotion of its cultural vitality through the arts.

View membership requirements and qualifications and find out how to apply online.

Sign up for fall wellness programming in Lakewood

Fall is here and it’s time to return to your wellness routine. The City of Lakewood offers recreation programming focused on wellness and overall well-being.

Registration is now open for the following:

Sound Meditation

Join instructor Kelly on World Mental Health Awareness Day Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. This intimate Sound Meditation experience will offer a moment of stillness, reflection, and deep healing. Kelly is donating proceeds from the workshop to support the Willpower Foundation, an organization dedicated to mental health awareness.

Yoga, Tai Chi & Qigong

Sign up for the next session of Lakewood’s wellness recreation programming. Offerings include:

• Gentle Yoga (Mondays/Thursdays)
• Vinyasa Yoga (Mondays)
• Yin/Yang Yoga (Thursdays)
• Beginning Qigong (Tuesdays)
• Beginning Tai Chi (Tuesdays)

Find the full class list and registration links online.

Volunteers needed: Waughop Lake shoreline maintenance

The City of Lakewood is partnering with Pierce Conservation District to host monthly volunteer work parties to help remove invasive species from around Waughop Lake in Fort Steilacoom Park.

The work parties will typically be held the second Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The next work party is Saturday, Oct. 12. View the event details on the PCD website calendar.

Volunteers can expect to help care for existing plants and remove invasive species such as Himalayan blackberry, English ivy and thistle. This work supports water quality, our local wildlife, and pollinators. The exact meeting location will be provided after signing up.

Sign up online here.

Council Corner: Sept. 30 special meeting recap

Review 2025-2026 Federal Legislative Priorities, State Legislative Agenda and Policy Manual and Pierce County Policy Manual. The Lakewood City Council held a special meeting this week to review its various legislative policy documents. This includes the City Council’s legislative priorities at the federal, state and county level. Each year the City Council reviews its priorities before the coming legislative session to identify policies and legislative asks that support the City Council’s goals and ultimately Lakewood residents.

As part of this process the City Council also review successes from the prior year and accomplishments.

At the federal level, the City Council’s focus in 2025 is to continue to drive major policy changes within the Department of Defense and the Department of Transportation and bring federal funding to city needs. The objective is a sustained partnership with the federal government to bring federal funding into Lakewood to support economic, infrastructure, housing and environmental priorities.

City Council state-level priorities are focused on:

• Continued support for the Community Partnership Program at Western State Hospital which provides funding for Lakewood police officers to respond to the hospital for emergency services.
• Edgewater Park Improvement Project: The City Council is requesting $350,000 from the state to support its improvement project plans for Edgewater Park, which include increasing access to Lake Steilacoom by improving the boat launch.
• Community Notification Board: The city requests funding to install an electronic reader board at the intersection of 96^th Street and South Tacoma Way. The reader board would be used to convey information to residents and visitors, including information about meetings, city events and emergency notifications.
• Lakewood’s Clean Building Compliance: Two city-owned buildings must comply with the state’s clean building standards, City Hall and the police station. It will cost nearly $6 million to bring City Hall into compliance with these standards. The cost for the police station is not yet known. As part of its legislative ask, Lakewood is requesting ongoing state funding to help pay for the upgrades to the two buildings. The city also requests refinements to the policy to allow consideration of the public cost versus benefit of the improvements and/or a longer timeline for compliance.

The City Council’s county-level priorities cover everything from regional planning and making sure there is enough support for middle housing projects to accommodate regional population growth estimates, to the environment and regional climate change efforts. Find the full list here.  (starting on page 51.)

Watch the meeting.

What’s on Deck: The Lakewood City Council meets Monday, Oct. 7, 2024 for a regular meeting at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers. Tentative agenda items include:

• Presentation of the 2025 Stormwater Prevention Calendar and recognition of Gravelly Lake K12 Academy students.
• Youth Council Report
• Authorizing the execution of an addendum to the agreement with Aquatechnex, LLC relating to the American Lake Eurasian watermilfoil control/eradication
• Appointing Youth Councilmembers Alicia Stanford, Ava Qualls, Britany Robles, Gabriel Flores, Jada Martin, Kasia King and Sophia Lana Castro to serve on the Lakewood’s Promise Advisory Board for the 2024-2025 school year.
• Appointing Jerry Tagala to serve on the Community Services Advisory Board through December 15, 2028.
• Authorizing the execution of an employment agreement with John J. Caulfield for City Manager services.
• Resolution conditionally approving Kendrick Townhomes, LLC  Multifamily Tax Exemption (MFTE).
• Reports by the City Manager: Presentation of the 2025-2026 Proposed Biennial Budget.

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 show 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, Sept. 24 – Oct. 1, 2024

• Calls for Service: 1,034 (up 7% from week prior)
• Arrests: 64 (up 12% from week prior)
• Violent Crime: 26 (down 13% from week prior)
• Property Crime: 95 (up 16% from week prior)
• Traffic Stops: 143 (up 66% from week prior)
• Collisions (reportable): 20 (down 5% from week prior)

Community events

All Hallows Eve: A benefit for Centerforce

KeyBank proudly presents “All Hallows Eve: A ‘Just Like You’ Annual Event,” a night filled with spooky delights and enchanting surprises benefiting Centerforce, a nonprofit empowering adults with developmental disabilities in Pierce, South King and Thurston counties for 55+ years.

Help raise support for the nonprofit, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. Doors of the Lakewood Elks Lodge #2388 will creak open at 5 p.m. For $35, you’ll unlock a treasure trove of experiences, including two drink tickets and hors d’oeuvres. The adults-only evening includes a silent auction with local experiences and a raffle with Alaska Airlines tickets. 

The goal is to raise $40,000 to support Centerforce programs that help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities find jobs and engage in their communities. Learn more and buy tickets online.

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 emergency that 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.

Now Hiring!

There are a variety of positions available for hard workers looking to join the City of Lakewood team. 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

Ardmore/Whitman/93^rd

The work to replace the new signal at the intersection was postponed this week. It is now scheduled to begin Monday, Oct. 14. There will be 24-hour road closures in place so this work can be completed. The work is expected to take the full work week, Monday to Friday (Oct. 14-18). The road closures include:

• Ardmore Drive will be closed from Steilacoom Blvd to Whitman Avenue
• Whitman Avenue will be closed from Motor Avenue to Steilacoom Blvd
• 93^rd Street will be closed from Bridgeport Way to Whitman Avenue

Hipkins Road

Mailbox installations and final restorations are occurring now. The contractor completed raising the utility iron. Striping is scheduled for next week during the night on Wednesday and Thursday (Oct. 9-10), weather dependent.

Steilacoom Boulevard (Weller Road to 87^th Ave SW)

The city issued its advertisement for bids on this project this week. Once the bids come back the city will review them and put forward a contract for Lakewood City Council approval. Once approved a construction timeline will be created and shared with the public. Road construction will begin this fall on this stretch of roadway for a $6 million road improvement project. Once construction begins, drivers can expect all-day lane closures over an extended period.

Farwest Drive, Safe Routes to School

Work is paused while waiting for the new pedestrian luminaires to be delivered (anticipated for late fall).

84^th and Pine

Remaining work includes configuring the new signal, final sign installations, and permanent channelization. Striping is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 9.