Public meeting planned for Primley Park improvements
The City of Lakewood is making improvements to Primley Park and wants to hear from park visitors and neighbors what they want to see.
Members of the Lakewood Parks and Recreation Advisory Board will be at the park Wednesday July 31 from 5:30–7 p.m. to share information about the status of improvements at Primley Park.
Primley Park is located at 10 Barlow Rd SW.
The public is invited to attend this meeting to hear about:
- Playground concepts
- ADA accessibility options
- Parking suggestions
All proposed improvements are based on feedback the city received from previous public planning meetings.
Please join this meeting to hear what is possible and share your thoughts.
Unable to attend in person? You can share your thoughts or ask questions about the project by contacting Capital Parks Manager Daví de la Cruz via email at [email protected] or by calling 253-983-7854.
Public input is critical for the future of our park and recreation system. Please attend and share your opinions to help shape your neighborhood park.
Celebrating our Sister City Gimhae, South Korea
Last week the City of Lakewood was honored to welcome guests from its sister city, Gimhae located in South Korea near the southwest coastal port of Busan.
Gimhae Deputy Mayor Kyong Won Ahn was joined by three representatives from his city on the visit. The delegation attended SummerFEST and received a formal welcome on the International Festival stage by the Lakewood Sister Cities Association.
Lakewood entered into a Sister City relationship with Gimhae at the end of 2022. Prior to that the two municipalities were Friendship Cities. Gimhae is home to more than 550,000 people and boasts rich cultural experiences.
National Night Out is Aug. 6
Join the Lakewood Police Department, West Pierce Fire & Rescue and Lakewood City Council Tuesday, Aug. 6 to celebrate National Night Out.
Every summer the City of Lakewood participates in this national community building event. Its goal is to bring together neighbors to strengthen community and break down barriers with first responders and residents.
Interesting in holding a registered gathering? Sign up your neighborhood with the Lakewood Police Department online here.
We hope you’ll consider hosting or participating in this event which is a great way to meet new neighbors, enjoy community potlucks and barbecues, play games and participate in family-friendly activities.
Lakewood Farmer Market & Summer Concerts return
The Lakewood Farmers Market and Summer Nights at the Pavilion Summer Concert return to Fort Steilacoom Park Tuesday, July 30.
The Lakewood Farmers Market runs every Tuesday from 2-7 p.m. and will continue uninterrupted through Sept. 17. The summer concerts also run Tuesdays from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Pavilion at Fort Steilacoom Park and will continue through Aug. 27.
We hope you’ll join us next week. Stop by the market, shop local vendors and then grab dinner and a spot on the Pavilion lawn to see Chapter 5 take the stage for a fun-filled, high-energy performance.
2024 Summer Nights at the Pavilion concert schedule
- July 30: Chapter 5 (Funk/R&B/Soul)
- August 6: Catch a Wave (Beach Boys Tribute)
- August 13: Wally & The Beaves (Oldies)
- August 20: ABBAgraphs (ABBA Tribute)
- August 27: Mr. Pink (Dance Hits)
Another successful SummerFEST in the books
Last weekend was the City of Lakewood’s largest event of the year: SummerFEST.
It was another hot one this year and we saw people staying cool as best they could. The City of Lakewood is grateful for all the community partners, vendors, food vendors, performers, entertainers, car show organizers, our military partners and everyone who attended this year’s event and helped make it successful.
A special thanks goes out to our event sponsors. Without them, SummerFEST would not be possible. They include:
- Amazon
- Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
- Northwest Travel & Life Magazine
- Lakewood Rotary
- South Sound
- TwinStar Credit Union
- 95.7 The Jet
- 102.5 KZOK: The Classic Rock Station
- 96.5 JACK FM
- 950 KJR Seattle
- 93.3 KJR Seattle Sports
- 1090 The Patriot
- HITS 106.1 Seattle
Counting tress in Lakewood
FACCET NW, a contractor for the city, will be walking and driving through the area for the next few months to count the number, species, health, and other features of trees within the city. This is the first step to design and launch an urban forestry program.
The Lakewood City Council prioritized trees with a series of actions. That included adding a chapter to its 2022 Comprehensive Plan on Energy and Climate Change, adopting a tree preservation code and adopting a goal to have a tree canopy of 40% throughout the city by 2050.
Once complete the tree inventory report will be presented to the City Council at a meeting in November. Find more information and track the progress of the inventory on the city’s Urban Forestry Program webpage.
Council Corner: July 22, 2024 meeting recap
Review of 2nd Quarter (2024) Police Report. In a report to the City Council the Lakewood Police Department shared a summary of calls for service for the second quarter 2024. Overall calls for service were up slightly compared to the first quarter of 2024, but down 11% compared to the same time last year. The largest decline in calls for service was for motor vehicle thefts. Calls to report a stolen vehicle were down 45% from the first quarter of this year and down 76% from the same period last year. Property crimes are down 36% compared to the same period in 2023.
Review of code amendments related to penalties for parking. Currently when the city receives calls from residents complaining about illegal parking on city sidewalks, law enforcement responds and tickets accordingly. The fine for this violation is $20. When residents call police to report the problem, they expect police to fix the problem. Despite tickets being issued, it is believed the fine is not high enough to deter people from parking illegally.
In February the City Council considered a recommendation to increase parking penalties. At the time the City Council requested additional information about how other jurisdictions handle similar violations. That information was shared Monday.
A review of other Pierce County jurisdictions showed parking fines range from $25 per violation to up to $250, and in one instance 30 days in jail. Not all cities have a specific citation for parking on sidewalks.
To create consistency across the city, and to deter people from parking illegally, an ordinance is proposed for City Council adoption that would increase fines to $145 for illegally parking in the city and for other infractions issued by the city’s automatic cameras. The hope is this amount is high enough to change people’s behavior.
The City Council is expected to act on the ordinance at its Aug. 5, 2024 regular meeting.
2024 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Review Part 1. The City of Lakewood began its required periodic review of its Comprehensive Plan in September 2022. That work included public meetings and review by the Lakewood Planning Commission of new planning documents and policies and new regulatory documents. The review and updates include:
- A reorganized and updated 2024 Comprehensive Plan, including a new future land use map and new zoning map.
- 2023 Tillicum-Woodbrook Subarea Plan.
- Updated Downtown Subarea Plan to reflect new boundaries.
- Updated Lakewood Station District Subarea Plan to show removal of the proposed Lakewood Landing.
- Updates to Lakewood Municipal Code Title 14 related to environmental protection within the city’s Critical Areas Ordinance.
- New Lakewood Municipal Code Title 16 incorporating the city’s 2019 Shoreline Mater Program and 2019 Shoreline Restoration Plan.
- Amendments to Lakewood Municipal Code Chapter 17 around definitions and boundary line adjustments and adding a section on unit lot subdivisions.
- Updating development regulations within Lakewood Municipal Code Chapter 18.
- Short Term Rental regulations.
- Public notice regulations as required by HB 1105.
- Other technical amendments.
The City Council will continue its review of the 2024 Comprehensive Plan periodic review at its Aug. 12 study session. It will hold its first public hearing on the update Aug. 19, 2024. Under state law, the review and comprehensive plan update must be complete and adopted by Dec. 31, 2024.
Watch the meeting.
What’s on deck. The Lakewood City Council does not meet Monday due to it being a fifth Monday. The next City Council meeting is Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers. Tentative agenda items include:
- Police Commissioning and Commendation Ceremony.
- Proclamation declaring August 6, 2024 as National Night Out.
- Clover Park School District Report.
- Authorizing the execution of a professional services agreement with Flock Group.
- Authorizing the execution of an agreement with Northwest Abatement Services, Inc., in amount $88,063.49, for the demolition of 9132 Edgewater Drive SW.
- Appointing the 2024-2025 Youth Councilmembers.
- Reappointing Teresa King and appointing Julius Brown, Jr. to serve on the Public Safety Advisory Committee through August 6, 2027.
- This is the date set for a public hearing on the proposed vacation of a portion of 100th Street SW lying west of Dekoven Drive and east of Steilacoom Lake.
- Ordinance amending certain sections of the Lakewood Municipal Code relative to parking enforcement and fines.
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, July 16-23, 2024
- Calls for Service: 943
- Arrests: 53
- Violent Crime: 25
- Property Crime: 82
- Traffic Stops: 71
- Collisions (reportable): 20
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 hardworkers 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
Interlaaken Bridge repair
The City’s contractor brought in equipment and materials to the work site this week. Bridge repair work is expected to begin early next week. The bridge will remain closed to the public throughout construction.
Hipkins Road
Hipkins Road SW is closed from 104th Street SW to Cross Lane SW and will remain closed through the duration of the rest of the work; detours are in place. The contractor has started demolition and begun work on the water main in that vicinity.
Farwest Drive, Safe Routes to School
Concrete crews continue to place new concrete along the project limits. The electrical subcontractor has installed the foundations for the new pedestrian luminaires and is continuing to install conduit throughout the project. The city’s contractor, Ceccanti, is working on storm system appurtenances in multiple locations along the project limits. Traffic control continues to allow traffic movement in all directions, except for temporary stops while equipment is maneuvering through the jobsite.
Ardmore/Whitman/93rd
Remaining work includes the installation of street luminaires (expected installation end of summer) and the installation of the traffic signal (anticipated end of summer).
84th and Pine
Work on this project is paused while the contractor waits for the traffic signal to arrive. Estimated arrival timeline is now August.