Honoring 9/11
This week the City of Lakewood joined West Pierce Fire & Rescue and City of University Place officials to honor the lives lost and impacted from the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
This year the city joined West Pierce at the 9/11 Reflection Park at the agency’s headquarters at Station 31 in University Place for the remembrance.
At its Sept. 3, 2024 regular meeting the City Council issued a proclamation memorializing Patriot Day and Day of Remembrance. Read the proclamation.
Now open: Interim Lakewood Library
This week Mayor Jason Whalen and City Council members Mike Brandstetter and J. Trestin Lauricella were joined by City Manager John Caulfield, Economic Development Manager Becky Newton and Planning & Public Works Director Jeff Rimack and Assistant Director Angie Silva to celebrate Pierce County Library System’s opening of its interim Lakewood library.
The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce hosted its signature Blue Ribbon cutting to celebrate the addition to downtown.
Located at 10202 Gravelly Lake Dr. S.W., the library is open seven days a week and offers full services including being a central gathering place for people of all ages to enjoy.
The 7,500 square foot library will provide learning resources and classes for all ages, deliver books, materials, and events for enjoyment, and offer community meeting spaces. Library users are encouraged to visit the new space, which is filled with natural light from large picture windows and has a wall dedicated to the Lakewood Friends of the Library near the entrance.
Update: 100th Street vacation request
The applicant requesting the Lakewood City Council vacate a portion of 100th Street SW that runs into Lake Steilacoom is asking the Lakewood City Council to continue its review and consideration of the request, known as Ordinance No. 810.
The City Council previously postponed action on the request at its Aug. 19, 2024 meeting. At that time, the Planning and Public Works Department recommended postponement to allow the applicant to submit a complete appraisal for the streetend property. Lakewood Municipal Code has specific requirements that must be met for the City Council to decide a street vacation request. When a street vacation occurs, the compensation received by the city must be fair market value or full appraisal value. This prevents the potential gifting of public funds.
Ordinance No. 810 is on the agenda for action Monday, but the City Council is expected to postpone action again and set a new meeting date. Once set, the new date will be shared publicly.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage
Sunday kicks off the start of Hispanic Heritage Month in Lakewood and across the United States.
Did you know nearly 18% of Lakewood residents identify as Hispanic? We’re proud to have a thriving Hispanic population that brings diversity, strength and a sense of unity to our city.
At its Sept. 3 regular meeting the Lakewood City Council read a proclamation celebrating Hispanic Heritage and encouraging Lakewood residents to join us as we come together to honor and celebrate the culture, history and countless contributions of our Hispanic friends and neighbors.
Today and every day we celebrate our shared heritage!
Want to help plan the future of transit in Pierce County?
As our community changes and grows over the next 20 years, how and why we travel will also change. To ensure we are ready, Pierce Transit is crafting a new Long Range Plan, called Destination 2045. In September Pierce Transit is holding several in-person open houses and a virtual town hall, inviting people to offer input on the priorities they believe Pierce Transit should focus on, and how they think transit in Pierce County should grow and develop over the next two decades. Please join Pierce Transit at one of these upcoming events:
- Saturday, Sept. 14 – In-person open house, 9 a.m. to noon at Campfire Coffee, 1554 Market St #101, Tacoma.
- Monday, Sept. 16 – In-person open house, 4 to 7 p.m. at Pierce Transit’s Training Center, 3720 96th St SW, Lakewood.
- Wednesday, Sept. 18 – Virtual town hall, 5:30 to 7 p.m. (find meeting details and link on website listed below)
- Saturday, Sept. 21 – In-person open house, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Puyallup Public Library, 324 S Meridian, Puyallup.
- Online Self-Guided Open House available until Sept. 21 on website listed below
For more information about Destination 2045 and Pierce Transit’s Long Range Plan process, visit PierceTransit.org/LongRangePlans. The Pierce Transit Board is expected to take action on the Long Range Plan next spring.
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. View the event details on the PCD website calendar.
The first work party is Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. 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. Exact meeting location will be provided after signing up.
Artist Reception: Souls & Stories
Lakewood’s final artist reception of 2024 features local artists Sylvi Estrella and Laurie Davenport. Meet the artists, view their work and enjoy refreshments and live music at Lakewood City Hall, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024 from 5-7 p.m.
The duo’s exhibit: Souls & Stories, focuses on the art of people. Estrella and Davenport share a passion for creating stories through paintings and images that reflect the soul of the person, young or seasoned. This is where “art comes to life,” Estrella says.
Desserts on the Driveway: Sept. 18 in Tillicum
“Desserts on the Driveway” is an innovative initiative connecting Mayor Jason Whalen and Lakewood City Council members with different Lakewood neighborhoods to talk with residents.
This event offers neighbors a platform to voice concerns, share ideas for solutions, and gain insight into city services. Upcoming events are:
- Wednesday, Sept. 18, 6:30 p.m.: Tillicum Community Center, 14916 Washington Ave. SW.
- Tuesday, Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m.: Lake City (former elementary school site).
Council Corner: Sept. 9 meeting recap
Joint Landmarks and Heritage Advisory Board meeting. The Lakewood Landmarks and Heritage Advisory Board has a mission to preserve, protect and promote the unique heritage and historic resources in the city. In 2024 the board met once, due to current volunteer member availability to meet and staff vacancies that impacted the staff liaison position. During its meeting with the City Council advisory board members reviewed the year’s workplan, which includes exploring the use of the Community Landmark designation to identify multiple sites throughout the city.
Review of 2nd Quarter (2024) Financial Report. The City Council reviewed the financial report from the second quarter of 2024.
2024 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Review Discussion. The City Council continued its review of the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Review update. This included review of public comments submitted to the city and responses/answers to some of the comments and questions received. The City Council is expected to act on the document at its Sept. 16, 2024 regular meeting.
Watch the meeting.
What’s on Deck: The Lakewood City Council meets Monday, Sept. 16, 2024 for a regular meeting at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers. Tentative agenda items include:
- Authorizing the award of a construction contract to Miles Resources, LLC, in the amount of $1,528,008.00, for the Rose/Fern/Forest Sewer Extension Project.
- Reappointing J. Alan Billingsley, Vito Iacobazzi and Janet Spingath to serve on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board through Sept. 19, 2027.
- Resolution setting a public hearing on Oct. 21, 2024 to consider the vacation of that section of Cline Road lying between Interstate 5 and Pacific Highway SW.
- Ordinance considering the proposed vacation of a portion of 100th Street SW lying west of Dekoven Drive and east of Steilacoom Lake – continued from Aug. 19, 2024.
- Ordinance amending Lakewood Municipal Code Chapter 8.76 related to park code special use/special events definition.
- Adopting amendments to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Map, and Development Regulations as part of the 2024 Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulation Periodic Review and other Municipal Code amendments to comply with recent state law changes.
- Adopting amendments to the City’s Development Regulations as part of the state-required 2024 decennial Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulation Periodic Review as well as several other Municipal Code amendments to comply with recent state law changes.
- Adopting amendments to Title 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 18A, 18B, AND 18C of the Lakewood Municipal Code (LMC).
- Motion obligating and re-obligating American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and accrued interest.
- Motion adding a proviso to the obligation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the Pierce County Village Project.
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. 3-10, 2024
- Calls for Service: 956
- Arrests: 39
- Violent Crime: 29
- Property Crime: 80
- Traffic Stops: 76
- Collisions (reportable): 22
Comprehensive Plan review
TheCity 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 Planning Commission sent its recommendation to the Lakewood City Council at its July 10, 2024 meeting. The City Council began its review of the recommendation July 22, 2024 at a study session.
The City Council is expected to take final action on the update at its Sept. 16, 2024 regular meeting.
Community events
Save the date: Harvest Hoedown at the H-Barn
Partners for Parks is hosting a “Harvest Hoedown” Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 from 4-7 p.m. to help raise money for its H-Barn restoration project.
This fun-filled, family-friendly event will have live country music, family activities, a festive farm atmosphere, dancing, food trucks and a raffle. Cost is $10 per person. Children eight years and under are free.
The nonprofit Partners for Parks is raising $3.5 million to contribute toward restoration of the historic H-Barn at Fort Steilacoom Park. The group has raised $2.1 million toward its final goal. Learn more about its efforts and purchase 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
Interlaaken Bridge repair
The city’s contractor is replacing multiple pedestrian/guardrail posts and timber curb sections. The remaining work includes replacement of several cross-bracing members beneath the bridge deck. Once all work is complete, the bridge will be reopened to traffic by end of this month, as planned.
Hipkins Road
Hipkins is closed from 104th to Cross Lane and will remain closed through the duration of the rest of the work; detours are in place. The contractor is currently grinding the roadway in preparation for final paving. Paving is scheduled to begin Sept. 17. Concrete crews only have one day of work remaining (expected by end of next week).
Steilacoom Boulevard (Weller Road to 87th Ave SW)
Tacoma Public Utilities continues to replace 38 utility poles along Steilacoom Boulevard between Weller Road and 87th Ave SW. While TPU is doing this work drivers should expect lane closures as the poles are installed over the next three to four months. 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). Crews are on site installing permanent signage, cleaning the site, and completing punch list items.
Ardmore/Whitman/93rd
Remaining work includes the installation of a new signal bridge. The new signal bridge is expected to arrive at the end of this month or start of October.
84th and Pine
The contractor installed the new signals; Opticom and video detection installation remain.