Lakewood Holiday Parade of Lights & Tree Lighting is next Saturday
Join us Saturday, Dec. 9 to celebrate the holidays with our annual Holiday Parade of Lights, followed by a countdown to lighting the Lakewood Christmas Tree.
The parade starts at 4:30 p.m. Arrive at Lakewood City Hall early to line the parade route and check out the festivities. We’ll have roaming entertainment from Vuelta La Luna variety circus, carolers singing holiday favorites inside Lakewood City Hall, kid’s activities and more.
Don’t forget to swing by to see Santa. One will be inside and one will be outside in front of the tree for the perfect photo op. Bring your camera (or smart phone) to snap a pic! We also expect a special appearance b the Grinch.
Gravelly Lake Drive and Main Street will close at 12 p.m. Dec. 9 and remain closed until after the parade.
Delayed opening of Lakewood City Hall Dec. 6, 2023
On Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023 Lakewood City Hall will have a delayed opening. The building will open at 10 a.m.
The delay is so that all city employees can attend an employee recognition event. We appreciate your patience while we celebrate the hard work of our employees.
American Military Families-Action Network hosts Veteran’s Stand Down event in Tacoma
The 2023 Veterans Stand Down Event is a coordinated community effort to provide much-needed resources to veterans experiencing the housing crisis firsthand in Pierce County, which is home to the state’s largest veteran population.
All veterans in Pierce County looking to connect with services are invited to attend. The event will provide two days of connections to services like pathways to housing, career services, nutritional meals, mental health counseling, healthcare, personal development and empowerment.
- WHO: American Military Families – Action Network
- WHAT: 3rd Annual Veterans Stand Down Event to End Veteran Homelessness
- WHEN: Dec. 7-8, 2023
- TIME: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- WHERE: American Legion, 11204 Park Ave. S, Tacoma
Are you ready to run?
The City of Lakewood and the Lakes Cross Country Boosters Club partnered to return the Jingle Bell 5k run/walk & 1-mile Kid’s Run to Fort Steilacoom Park.
Join this family-friendly fun run on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. The 1-mile Kids’ Run starts at 9:30 a.m. The 5k walk/run starts at 10 a.m.
Strollers, well-behaved dogs on leashes and participants of all ages are welcome. Wear your best holiday outfit – costumes are strongly encouraged!
Pre-register and save money. Pre-registration is $10 for kids 12 and under; $30 for 13+. Race-day registration is $15 for kids 12 and under; $35 for 13+.
This is a chip-timed event. A portion of the race proceeds benefits the Lakes XC Boosters Club, which supports the Lakes High School Cross Country team.
Council Corner: Nov. 27, 2023 recap
Joint Youth Council meeting. The Lakewood City Council started its study session with a joint meeting with three members of the city’s appointed Youth Council. The members shared updates on the Youth Council’s accomplishments and its goals for the coming year. Councilmembers provided feedback and suggestions for additional opportunities to further engage with the City Council to increase youth involvement and perspective into city government and operations.
Review of Lakewood Municipal Code 1.20 related to the City logo and Seal. The City Council requested review of the city’s logo and seal and how it appears in code. Council was provided an update by Communications Manager Brynn Grimley who shared how other municipalities from across the state list, or don’t list, their logo in municipal code. In most cases cities do not include information about their logo in code. The City Council agreed no changes were necessary to the existing code, as it provided enough flexibility for the city’s use of its logo, as well as protections against its misuse.
2024 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Review Update: Parking. Long Range Planning and Strategic Planning Manager Tiffany Speir updated the City Council on potential changes to city code that are required by state law. The changes would allow parking along city residential streets, something that is not currently allowed under city code. Any changes would come forward as part of the city’s update to its Comprehensive Plan through the 2024 Periodic Review cycle. The plan must be updated by December 2024.
Prosecution Services Update. City Attorney Heidi Wachter provided an update to Council on the city’s prosecution services. The update included information about a decline in the total number of cases being referred by law enforcement to court, in part because of changes to state laws that limit law enforcement action.
Watch the meeting.
What’s on Deck: The Lakewood City Council meets Monday, Dec. 4, 2023 for a regular meeting at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers. Tentative agenda items include:
- Clover Park School District Report
- Authorizing the execution of an interlocal agreement with the Washington State Department of Transportation for the Olympic Region Traffic Management Center Communications Services
- Authorizing the execution of an amendment to the agreement with Heritage Bank Northwest for banking services
- Authorizing the execution of an amendment to the agreement with Systems for Public Safety for fleet maintenance services
- Authorizing the award of a construction contract to Miles Resources, LLC, in the amount of $882,340.40, for the construction of the Pine Street Sidewalk project
- Authorizing an amendment to the BERK Consulting services contract related to the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Review and reallocating ARPA funds for the expansion of the Comprehensive Plan Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
- Canceling the City Council regular meeting of December 18, 2023 and City Council Study Session of December 25, 2023
- Appointing Mark Herr, Philip Lindholm, Ellen Talbo and Sharon Kay Wallace to serve on the Planning Commission through December 15, 2028
- Reappointing Bethene Campbell and Christina Manetti to the Landmarks and Heritage Advisory Board through December 31, 2026
- Ordinance adopting the 2023-2024 Mid-Biennial Budget Adjustment
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 each week to keep the community safe. To see quarterly statistical analysis, visit the Lakewood Police Department crime statistics page on the city website.
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday last week, a weekly summary was not available. This week’s summary includes a look at last week and this week.
Weekly Summary, Nov. 14-21, 2023
- Calls for Service: 935
- Arrests: 31
- Violent Crime: 19
- Property Crime: 47
- Traffic Stops: 172
- Collisions (reportable): 14
Weekly Summary, Nov. 21-28, 2023
- Calls for Service: 781
- Arrests: 30
- Violent Crime: 24
- Property Crime: 47
- Traffic Stops: 99
- Collisions (reportable): 17
Community Events
Lakewold Gardens presents Music From Home series this weekend
Lakewold Gardens is hosting an intimate afternoon with music, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023 from 3-5 p.m. where performers will present “Unknown”.
Learn more and purchase tickets.
Winter Solstice at Lakewold Gardens
Dec. 14-31, Thursdays-Sundays, from 5-8 p.m.
The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, bringing with it the promise of increased sunlight in the days ahead. In honor of the occasion, Lakewold Gardens will present a celebration of light featuring art, music and literature from diverse traditions.
Celebrate in the cozy, festively decorated Wagner House, enjoy live music by local musicians, participate in a luminary making activity, take evening walks in the darkened winter gardens, listen to dramatic readings of solstice-themed poems and short stories by Creative Colloquy (Thursdays only), and experience Coming to Light, a new exhibit by the Contemporary QuiltArt Association, with each work inspired by the theme of light.
West Pierce Fire & Rescue Santa at the Station
Visit Santa’s workshop at West Pierce Fire & Rescue: Dec. 12 in Lakewood or Dec. 14 in University Place.
Bring the kids to meet Santa, let him know what they want for Christmas and take a photo. (Parents should be prepared to take the photo). Please bring non-perishable items with you to support a food drive also happening at the event. Thank you in advance for your support.
Don’t forget to bring your letter to Santa. He will take all of the letters back to the North Pole and personally answer as many as he can. Don’t forget to include a return address so he can write back!
Details:
Tuesday, Dec. 12, 5 – 7 p.m.
West Pierce Fire & Rescue Station 21
5000 Steilacoom Blvd SW, Lakewood
Thursday, Dec. 14, 5 – 7 p.m.
West Pierce Fire & Rescue Station 31
3631 Drexler Drive W, University Place
Sign up for Lakewood Alert
The City of Lakewood uses an alert service: Lakewood Alert to notify residents of important information. If there is an emergency in the city that requires public notification, we will use this alert system to send out information related to the emergency.
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
Washington Boulevard
The road is open again to traffic. However, the site is still an active construction zone. Work continues between Lake City and Interlaaken to finish concrete pours. The concrete will be poured next week, if the weather is agreeable. Landscaping will also be installed. Please continue to drive slow and watch for workers while they continue to make progress on the completion of this project.
Ardmore Drive/Whitman Avenue/93rd Street
Work begins Monday, Dec. 4 on this road improvement project. The project adds sidewalks, curbs, gutter and streetlights. Ardmore Drive will be closed between Steilacoom Boulevard and the intersection with 93rd Street and Whitman Avenue. Access will be available for local residential traffic only.
Angle Lane/Elwood Drive
All replacement oak trees and other plantings were planted last week. This road project is now complete.
Union Ave: Orchard to Spruce Street
This project is waiting for utility lines to transfer to new poles. Once that is done the concrete sidewalk will be poured. Streetlights should arrive soon.