Lakewood City Manager’s Weekly Bulletin: May 23, 2025

Honoring Memorial Day

On Monday as we take time to honor Memorial Day, we encourage our neighbors to pause and reflect on the meaning of this solemn day.

Lakewood is a proud military community: home to veterans, active-duty service members and families who live each day in the shadow of sacrifice. With our close ties to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, we know Memorial Day is not just a date on the calendar, it’s personal.

It is a day to remember those who gave their lives in service to our country. Behind every name is a story, a family and a community forever changed.

To the Gold Star families, the veterans who carry the memory of fallen comrades and all who grieve on this day: we see you, we honor you, and we remember with you.

On behalf of the City of Lakewood, we encourage all residents to take a moment this Memorial Day to reflect, remember, and give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy – hard-earned by those who are no longer with us.

Holiday closures: Lakewood City Hall and the public access of the Lakewood police station are closed Monday in observance of the holiday. Emergency services are not impacted by the closures. Regular operations resume Tuesday, May 27.

Expect traffic delays on Steilacoom Boulevard Wednesday

Drivers should expect increased delays Wednesday heading east on Steilacoom Boulevard between 87^th Avenue and Weller Road.

The city’s contractor must close a section of the road to install the concrete curb and gutter. Traffic headed east will shift into the two-way left turn lane to accommodate the equipment needed to complete the installation.

Traffic control devices and personnel will be in place to direct traffic and every effort will be made to assist emergency vehicles through the area, as needed. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we work to complete this road improvement project that will make it safer for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles to travel through the area.

Help us build a community mosaic at Fort Steilacoom Park

Can you help us build a tile mosaic community art project? We’re looking for people to join us at the Pavilion at Fort Steilacoom Park Friday and Saturday, June 6-7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

All ages and abilities are welcome. Drop-in, stay as little or as long as you like!

Once complete the piece will be installed at the base of two kiosks in Fort Steilacoom Park. The design is a replication of the woven basket patterns from the Nisqually Indian Tribe. The installation will be permanent and complements the Nisqually Loop Trail and the interpretive signs that will line the path.

No artistic ability or experience is necessary! (Think “paint by numbers.”) This is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to a project that will be enjoyed by the million-plus visitors to the park each year.

Join us May 30 for Dancing in the Streets!

We’re kicking off our summer festival season on Friday, May 30, 2025 with our Dancing in the Streets festival.

Head to the Colonial Plaza on Motor Avenue for an evening of family fun from 4-7 p.m. Festivities include:

• DJ Shamwow will spin dance hits to get you up and dancing
• Food trucks
• Kids activities, face painting, balloon animals
• Roaming entertainment

The event is free and family friendly. Colonial Plaza is located at 6100 Motor Avenue SW.

May 2025 Business Showcase: Good Fit + Fit Fight

With the motto “Anybody and Any Body,” Good Fight + Good Fit owners Rachel Goodner and Elizabeth Wiltsie are dedicated to creating a safe space for ALL people to live a healthy life without feeling the pressures they could experience at other gyms. They are also proud of the community they’ve fostered while building their business.

“We have people who tell us that we are their family and friends,” Wiltsie said. “We forget that what we do is even beyond building muscles and fitness for sure.”

Whether it’s kickboxing, dance, weightlifting or anything in-between, Good Fit + Fit Fight is improving lives and building their own community in Lakewood. For this, the Lakewood City Council recognized them as the May 2025 Business Showcase.

Help us celebrate the retirement of City Manager John J. Caulfield

The public is invited to an open house reception to celebrate Lakewood City Manager John J. Caulfield on Tuesday, May 27. Earlier this year Caulfield announced his retirement after 12 years serving the city. Caulfield’s last day is June 5, 2025.

Stop by any time between 5:30-7 p.m. in Council Chambers at Lakewood City Hall, 6000 Main Street SW.

Now accepting: Lakewood Youth Council applications

Lakewood youth interested in joining the city’s Youth Council can submit applications now for consideration for appointment to the 2025-2026 Youth Council.

Applications should be submitted using this form. The deadline to apply is Friday, June 13, 2025 at 5 p.m.

Youth Council members play a valuable role in Lakewood. They convey to the City Council issues of relevance to youth in Lakewood. This includes researching, analyzing and pulling together data and information to be included in reports for the City Council. Youth Council members demonstrate leadership at school and in the community and encourage their peers to get involved. The Youth Council hosts an annual Youth Summit, and other activities to engage peers in civic engagement. Read more about the Lakewood Youth Council responsibilities.

Council Corner: May 19, 2025 meeting recap

Asian American, Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The Lakewood City Council read a proclamation recognizing May 2025 as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month. In it they acknowledged the long-standing history the city has with the Asian community, welcoming immigrants to the area as they arrived along servicemembers stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are valuable members of our community. They are business owners, parents, grandparents, doctors, teachers, lawyers, professors, farmers, nonprofit directors and more. Their contributions create the fabric of the city and have shaped it into what it is today.

Business Showcase: Good Fit + Fit Fight. The Lakewood City Council recognized local gym Good Fit + Fit Fight as the May 2025 business showcase for its commitment to improving lives and building a sense of community in Lakewood.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Committee Update. Dr. John Scott shared information with the Lakewood City Council about efforts to roll out a “Beloved Community” model in Lakewood focused on increasing community connections using the many trails of a “beloved community”. The City Council shared its support to move forward with efforts to to bring together partner organizations, residents and more to create a Beloved Community in Lakewood.

Public hearings. The City Council held public hearings on the following:

• Six-Year (2026-2031) Transportation Improvement Program.
• 2025 Comprehensive Plan Amendments.
• Multifamily Tax Exemption Residential Target Areas.

Clover Creek Flood Plain Presentation. Clover Creek has the potential to expand its banks during a 100-year flood event. The city previously initiated a study to evaluate project alternatives to mitigate this risk. In 2023 the City Council supported a recommendation to move forward with a proposed setback levee and stream restoration improvements along portions of the creek within the city. The city is in the process of contracting consulting services to create materials necessary to pursue grant funds to pay for this project. The expected cost is more than $30 million, as estimated in 2022 dollars. Next steps include a geotechnical investigation, flood model refinement, Clover Creek habitat assessments and stream survey, permitting needs evaluation, public engagement and 10% plan development. Ultimately implementation will require partnerships with multiple local, state and federal agencies. Additional engineering, stakeholder partnerships, funding, and community outreach will all be part of this process.

The City Council acted on the following:

• Authorized the award of a construction contract to Asphalt Patch Systems, in the amount of $207,129.00, for the 2025 Roadway Patching Project.
• Authorized the award of a construction contract to Sierra Santa Fe Corporation, in the amount of $299,777.00, for the 2025 Chip Seal Program.
• Authorized the execution of an agreement for custodial services for city parks.
• Authorized the execution of an agreement with Facit for street end design services.
• Authorized the execution of an agreement with KBH Construction for landscape services at Motor Avenue.
• Adopted an ordinance that adopts the 2025 Carry Forward Budget Adjustment.

Watch the meeting.

What’s on Deck: The Lakewood City Council meets Monday, June 2, 2025 at 7 p.m. for a regular meeting. Tentative agenda items include:

• Proclamation recognizing Juneteenth National Freedom Day
• Proclamation recognizing 75^th Commemoration of the Korean War
• Proclamation recognizing the month of June as LGBTQ+ Pride month
• Youth Council Report and Recognition
• Clover Park School District Report
• Authorizing the execution of an agreement for Nyanza Roadway improvements
• Authorizing the execution of an agreement for the 112^th Street, Idlewild Road and Interlaaken Drive SW sidewalk projects
• Authorizing the execution of an interlocal agreement with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services for the community partnership and police protection programs
• Authorizing the execution of an agreement for the ECM Reader Board project
• Approval of Job Candidate Reimbursement Policy
• Reappointing Kate Read and appointing Kurt Spingath to the American Lake – Lake Management District No. 1 Advisory Committee through June 2, 2028
• Ordinance adopting the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Amendments
• Ordinance adopting Multifamily Tax Exemption Residential Target Areas
• Resolution adopting the Six-Year (2026-2031) Transportation Improvement Program

How to attend: Attend in person at Lakewood City Hall, 6000 Main Street SW. Attend virtually 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 of total calls for service 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 May 13-20, 2025

• Calls for Service: 959 (down 10% from prior week)
• Arrests: 30 (no change from prior week)
• Violent Crime: 14 (down 53% from prior week)
• Property Crime: 45 (up 22% from prior week)
• Traffic Stops: 196 (down 29% from prior week)
• Collisions (reportable): 11 (down 27% from prior week)

Attend a Neighborhood Association meeting in 2025

Neighborhood associations play a crucial role in fostering community engagement and improving the quality of life in local neighborhoods. Through its Neighborhood Connections program, the City of Lakewood aims to not only better connect the community, but also help residents better understand city processes.

There are currently six Neighborhood Associations in Lakewood. Five meet regularly. The meeting times and locations are listed below. All residents are invited and encouraged to attend an upcoming meeting for their respective neighborhood. Find out more about the Neighborhood Connections Program online.

Meetings:

• Fort Steilacoom Neighborhood Association
  • Meets: The third Tuesday of the month
  • Location: The Pavilion in Fort Steilacoom Park, 9107 Angle Lane SW
• Springbrook Community Meetings
  • Meets: The third Thursday of the month
  • Location: Springbrook Park
• Tillicum/Woodbrook Neighborhood Association
  • Meets: The second Tuesday of the month.
  • Location: Tillicum-American Lake Gardens Community Center, 14916 Washington Ave SW.
• Downtown Neighborhood Association
  • Meets: The second Wednesday of every other month.
  • Location: Interim Lakewood Library, 10202 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW
• Lake City Neighborhood Association
  • Meets: The second Thursday of every month.
  • Location: West Pierce Fire & Rescue station, 8517 Washington Blvd. SW
• North Lakewood Neighborhood Association
  • No meetings scheduled.

Community events

Help Grave Concerns in Fort Steilacoom Park Saturday

Grave Concerns Association is hosting a community volunteer work party this Saturday, May 24, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Western State Hospital Historic Cemetery in Fort Steilacoom Park.

In honor of Memorial Day weekend, they will place 80 new grave markers and clean headstones to recognize those who were buried without markers, many of whom were veterans or former patients.

No experience is needed, and all tools will be provided. This is a powerful opportunity to honor lives that have gone unrecognized and help preserve an important piece of local history.

Lakewood Playhouse presents ‘for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf’

Join the circle as seven women share their stories and find strength in each other’s truth, passion and humor. This fusion of poetry, dance, music and song explodes off the stage and touches the hearts and minds of all those who experience it. It’s time for joy. It’s time for sisterhood. It’s time for colored girls. The performance runs May 23 to June 8, 2025, with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.  The “pay what you can” and industry night is Sunday, June 1 at 7:30 p.m. Call the Box Office at (253) 588-0042 or visit www.lakewoodplayhouse.org to book online.

Celebrate Juneteenth in Lakewood

St. Joseph-St. John Episcopal Church is hosting its third annual Juneteenth Commemoration, held this year at the Lakewood Playhouse, Saturday, June 14, 2025 from 3-5 p.m. 

The event includes speakers, interpretive dancers, poetry reading, musicians, documentary video, audience participation, local vendors, light refreshments and giveaways and a re-learning of the Emancipation Proclamation. All are welcome.

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.

Road project updates

Steilacoom Boulevard Weller to 87^th Ave: Storm system installations are complete. Crews continue preparing for concrete curb and gutter placement, currently scheduled for Wednesday. Electricians continue working on the signal/illumination system by placing concrete pole foundations and finishing conduit installs. Paving is tentatively scheduled for mid-June, weather/progress dependent.  Expect traffic impacts Wednesday while crews install curb and gutter on the south side of the road. The eastbound lane will shift to the two-way left turn lane. Please plan accordingly and give yourself extra time.

 Rose Road Sanitary Sewer Project: The city’s contractor has finished sewer work on Rose Road and is working to install new storm system components. Sewer work has begun on Forest Road. An informational flyer will be provided to residents affected by the sewer extension later this summer with information regarding mandatory hookups.

South Tacoma Way Overlay 96^th to Steilacoom Blvd.: Paving is complete. Miles Resources placed over 2,000 tons of asphalt in one shift. We appreciate the public’s patience with the full road closure; this accommodated an expeditious completion of paving activities. 

South Tacoma Way & 92^nd signal replacement: Other than minor work, this project is in suspension while waiting for signal system components to be delivered.  

South Tacoma Way – 88^th to north city limits: The city’s contractor is nearing completion of new concrete sidewalk placement on the west side of South Tacoma Way. Electrical work continues. New concrete signal foundations were poured this week. The contractor will start work on the east side of the road within the next two weeks.