Lakewood City Council selects top choice for City Manager
After a lengthy, in-depth process that included a national search, two days of meeting with community stakeholders, Lakewood employees, a public open house and formal interviews, the Lakewood City Council selected Doug Russell as its top choice to lead the city of Lakewood.
“The decision was made very difficult by the strength of the final candidates, all of whom had significant qualifications and strengths,” Lakewood Mayor Jason Whalen said.
Russell is currently the City Manager of the city of Kalispell, Montana, where he has served since 2012.
Following its vote to offer Russell the position, the City Council approved a motion to authorize Whalen and key city staff to negotiate a proposed contract of employment. The City Council could act on the contract as early as its next meeting, Monday, June 16.
Desserts on the Driveway: Tuesday in Tillicum
Do you live in the Tillicum-Woodbrook area? Do you have questions for the Lakewood City Council? Head to our first Desserts in the Driveway event of 2025.
We’ll be at the Tillicum-American Lake Gardens Community Center Tuesday, June 17 at 6:30 p.m. ready to meet with neighbors and talk about matters of interest to the community. The community center is at 14916 Washington Ave SW.
Desserts on the Driveway is an innovative initiative connecting Lakewood City Council members and city officials with Lakewood neighborhoods. This event offers residents a platform to voice concerns, share ideas for solutions and gain insight into city services.
Save the date: Our next Desserts on the Driveway event is Tuesday, June 24 at 6:30 p.m. at LASA. This event is for residents who live in and around the Dower Elementary School area.
Summer Nights at the Pavilion kick off is Tuesday
Head to The Pavilion at Fort Steilacoom Park Tuesday, June 17 for our Summer Nights at the Pavilion concerts. The summer fun kicks off with Rebel Canyon.
Grab your lawn chairs and blankets and get ready for a high-energy show highlighting the hottest country hits, plus classics from the last 20 years. Swing by the Lakewood Farmers Market before heading over to the Pavilion lawn to find food, sweet treats, drinks, fresh produce and local items. The market runs every Tuesday from 2-7 p.m. See what vendors are there.Summer concerts run 6:30-8 p.m. with a 90-minute set list. Entrance and parking are always free!
Lakewood police in the community
Members of the Lakewood Police Department have been busy the last few weeks giving their time to support community causes and connecting with some of our youngest residents.
Special Olympics Torch Run. On June 4, members of the department joined other law enforcement professionals on Joint Base Lewis-McChord for the 2025 Special Olympic Law Enforcement Torch Run. The torch was passed from Thurston County where Sheriff Sanders handed it off to runners who carried it into Pierce County. Chief Patrick D. Smith was there to receive it and pass it along in its journey to the opening ceremonies at Cheney Stadium. The symbolic handoff highlights a tradition the department has honored since its inception 21 years ago: Standing in support of the athletes and mission of the Special Olympics.
End of year fun with Clover Park School District. As the school year drew to a close, members of the police department visited various elementary schools within the school district to participate in their field day activities. This included a visit to Lake Louise Elementary School where Officers Repp and Arbiol showcased the department’s Special Response Team vehicle, tactical equipment and showcased the talents of K9 Hawk.
Special police escort. Every year the Lakewood Police Department supports the Idlewlid Elementary School PTA auction by offering an opportunity for a student to receive a special police escort to school during the final days of the school year. This year, third grader Aidan was the lucky winner. Capt. Pete Johnson, Sgt. Charles Porche and Officer Jeremy James arrived at his house Tuesday morning and brought him to school in style – seated in Capt. Johnson’s patrol car with two boxes of Original House of Donuts treats in the backseat for Aidan’s classmates. Needless to say, he was the most popular kid in his class that day! Check out the video of his ride on the Lakewood Police Department Facebook page.
Permit system modernization
We are nearing completion of our permitting system upgrade, aimed at streamlining the submittal process and enhancing the overall customer experience. Our new system, Camino, is scheduled to go live Monday, June 16.
It features a user-friendly, TurboTax-style interface that guides applicants through the permit application process with clarity and precision. Internally, we are integrating artificial intelligence tools to reduce processing time for routine tasks, accelerating turnaround while maintaining quality. These improvements are part of our broader strategy to increase predictability in permit delivery, decrease processing times, and reduce applicant frustration.
As we transition to this new system we ask for patience from those seeking permit applications or checking the status of current projects. New applications will be processed through the Camino system. Existing applications and permits will be accessible on the old system. Stay tuned for more information later this year about how this new system is a valuable tool for the community to be able to see what projects are underway in the city.
H-Barn restoration at Fort Steilacoom Park
We worked with the community to determine the benefits and feasibility of renovating the 120-year-old H-barn at Fort Steilacoom Park. The goal is to transform it from a vacant building that is not being used, into a multi-use, multi-generational regional facility for public and private use.
At an open house this week, residents had a chance to talk with city staff and Partners for Parks representatives about these plans. The open house included schematic drawings that show how the space can be used to house different types of community events. Nonprofit Partners for Parks is leading fundraising for the project. The city has committed $4 million in in-kind contributions if Partners for Parks can raise $3.5 million in private funding. Next steps include a return to the Lakewood City Council to present updated cost estimates.
View a Powerpoint presentation that includes schematic drawings on page 35 of the Lakewood City Council June 9, 2025 agenda packet.
Council Corner: June 9, 2025 meeting recap
United Way of Pierce County Update. Dona Ponapinto, president and CEO of United Way of Pierce County, provided an update to the Lakewood City Council on the work being done by United Way in the region.
Economic Development Presentation. Michael Catsi, executive director of the Economic Development Board of Tacoma-Pierce County, and Maddie Merton, Vice President of Business Retention and Expansion at the EDB, presented an economic development overview to the City Council. This included a demographic profile of Lakewood, employment and wage trends in the region and cost of living data. They also outlined the primary industries where Pierce County has a competitive advantage, which include:
- Aerospace
- Healthcare
- Advanced manufacturing
- Maritime
- Transportation and logistics
- Technology
- Green economy
- Military and defense
Joint Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting. The city’s volunteer-run Parks and Recreation Advisory Board met with the City Council to review its accomplishments from 2024 and its workplan items for 2025. Priorities for the year include:
- Nisqually Partnership project
- Parks Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)
- Special events
- Street End project community outreach and design recommendation for Westlake Avenue development
- Climate change initiatives and Urban Forestry Program
- Legacy Plan update
- Senior services
- Historic preservation (H-barn, cemeteries, cottages, cultural resources)
- Code changes as requested by City Council
- Youth Council
H-Barn Update. The City Council received an update from Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Mary Dodsworth about the plans for renovating the 120-year-old H-Barn at Fort Steilacoom Park. This includes transforming the facility into a multi-generational, multi-use facility open for public and private use.
Review of Pacific Point Defense contract amendment. In 2024 the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) approved and released its updated Indigent Defense Standards. Under these standards, by July of this year caseloads will significantly decrease for public defenders, necessitating hiring more attorneys to address the same number of cases. Due to these new standards, the city’s public defense contract costs will increase by 77 percent, from $690,000 to $890,000 in 2025. By 2027, public defense costs are expected to increase to $1.7 million – a 250% increase. Due to this increase, the City Council will need to make changes to the current contract. It is recommended the council increase compensation in 2025 to $890,528 to meet the increased number of attorneys needed to address the new lower misdemeanor caseload limits.
Watch the meeting.
What’s on Deck. The Lakewood City Council meets Monday, June 16 at 6 p.m. for a regular meeting followed by a study session. Tentative agenda items include:
- Proclamation recognizing Mary Dodsworth for her service to the City of Lakewood
- Proclamation recognizing June as Ride Transit month
- Authorizing the execution of an agreement with Keller Associates, in the amount of $198,700, to assist in updating the Lakewood Municipal Code Title 12 and the Engineering Standards Manual
- Authorizing the award of a construction contract to Ceccanti, Inc., in the amount of $5,760,819.09, for the Nyanza Road – Gravelly Lake Drive (south) to Gravelly Lake Drive (north) Project
- Authorizing the award of a construction contract to Sound Pacific Construction, LLC, in the amount of $3,201,150.00, for the Interlaaken/112th/Idlewild – Washington Blvd to Idlewild Elementary Project
- Authorizing execution of an agreement with Fence Specialists, in the amount of $98,814.75, for fencing for dog park at Fort Steilacoom Park
- Appointing Doug Russell as City Manager and authorizing the execution of an Employment Agreement with Doug Russell
- Joint Lakewood’s Promise Advisory Board meeting
- State Legislative Update
- Review of 1st Quarter (2025) Financial Report
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 June 3-10, 2025
- Calls for Service: 1042 (up 17% from prior week)
- Arrests: 43 (down 14% from prior week)
- Violent Crime: 25 (up 9% from prior week)
- Property Crime: 55 (down 23% from prior week)
- Traffic Stops: 181 (up 66% from prior week)
- Collisions (reportable): 29 (up 222% 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:
- Downtown Neighborhood Association
- Meeting Dates: August 13, Oct. 8, Nov. 15
- Time: 5:30 p.m.
- Location: Interim Lakewood Library, 10202 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW
- Facebook: Downtown Lakewood Neighborhood Association | Facebook
- Fort Steilacoom Neighborhood Association
- Meeting Dates: June 25, Sept. 16, Oct. 21, Nov. 18
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
- Location: The Pavilion at Fort Steilacoom Park, 9107 Angle Lane SW
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/921496959928160
- Lake City Neighborhood Association
- Meets: Second Thursday of every month
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Location: Lake City West Pierce Fire & Rescue Station, 8517 Washington Blvd
- Tillicum/Woodbrook Neighborhood Association
- Meets: Second Tuesday of each month
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
- Location: Tillicum-American Lake Gardens Community Center, 14916 Washington Ave SW, or Manic Meatballs,14815 Union Ave SW
- Contact: [email protected]
- Springbrook Community Meetings
- Meets: Third Thursday of each month
- Time: 4:30 p.m.
- Location: Springbrook Park
- North Lakewood Neighborhood Association
- Meets: No meetings scheduled
- Contact: [email protected]
Community events
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 87th Ave: Crews continue placing new concrete sidewalks on the south side of Steilacoom Boulevard. They performed pavement grinding in preparation for the coming asphalt overlay. Pre-level paving activities are planned the week of June 23 and the final pave is currently scheduled for the week of July 7. Electricians continue installing various traffic signal and pedestrian/traffic illumination system components.
Rose Road Sanitary Sewer Project: Sewer work continues on Forest Road. An informational flyer will be provided to residents affected by the sewer extension later this summer with information regarding mandatory hookups. The current construction schedule reflects paving of the entire project area mid-late July.
South Tacoma Way Overlay 96th to Steilacoom Blvd.: The contractor is placing permanent channelization and road markings the end of this week. This requires a full road closure Friday from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Saturday. Detours will be in place. Once done the final cleanup and work will have minimal traffic impacts.
South Tacoma Way & 92nd signal replacement: Other than minor work, this project is in suspension while waiting for signal system components to be delivered.
South Tacoma Way – 88th to north city limits: The city’s contractor is working on the east side of South Tacoma Way installing new storm system components and prepping for new concrete curb and gutter. Concrete work on the east side is expected to begin the week of June 23.
Pierce County Bridgeport Way sewer repair: The county is moving into Lakewood to complete its bypass work. Road impacts will occur on Bridgeport Way at its intersection with Meadow Park Road in Lakewood. Through that area, traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction and the speed limit will be reduced to 20 mph. The lane reduction will be in place 24/7 for approximately two weeks while work takes place in the roadway. During the day Monday-Friday, traffic control will be provided by an off-duty police officer at the Meadow Park Road intersection. During nights and weekends, the signal will change to a four-way stop. The sidewalk on the east (northbound) side of Bridgeport will be closed during this time. The southbound bus stop on Bridgeport at Meadow Park Road West will be temporarily closed as well. Visit PierceTransit.org for up-to-date bus route information. For more information about this sewer construction project, visit www.PierceCountyWa.gov/BridgeportRepair.
Park project updates
American Lake Park: The new park entry plaza concrete was poured and is 95 percent complete. Work continues on the completion of the landscaping, fencing, irrigation and handrails. We anticipate an opening date later this summer.
Legacy Plan Update 2026: The city is updating its Parks Legacy Plan. Visit the Legacy Plan webpage for information about upcoming opportunities to provide feedback on how you want to see Lakewood’s open spaces and parks managed and developed in the future. Look for us at the Lakewood Farmer’s Market June 24, July 8, or Aug. 19 to learn more and share your thoughts. Email Capital Projects Manager David de la Cruz with questions or to request a presentation for your group.
Nisqually Trail partnership project: JK Mosaic and the city hosted a successful tile mosaic workshop last weekend. Thank you to everyone who helped with this project. We anticipate installation of the project on the kiosks this summer. The remaining interpretive elements of this project will be completed this winter. This project will build stops along an approximately one-mile trail to highlight the Nisqually Tribe’s past, present and future and their connection to the prairie lands at the park.
Harry Todd Improvements: Pickleball Courts are slated for completion before the end of the summer.
Park Sign Replacement: New signs are in fabrication and slated to be installed before the end of the summer.
Primely Park Playground Replacement: The new playground is open to the public, additional ADA parking stall and pathway coming soon.
Westlake Ave Street End Pilot Project: Research and exploration of the site and preliminary planning and design are underway to support future permitting with the goal to start construction in 2026.
Oakbrook Park Improvements: Design and permitting for a shelter and perimeter pathway is underway. We anticipate construction to start before the end of the year.
Wards Lake Park: Progress continues with new playgrounds, the south parking lot, and bridge construction. The bridge is anticipated to be installed June 24.
