Lakewood City Manager’s Weekly Bulletin For March 20

Press release from the City of Lakewood:

COVID-19 communications from Lakewood

In Lakewood we want our residents to know that your health and safety are our priority and we are following the guidance of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department as it relates to public interaction and ensuring our staff is also safe.

In light of the recent order by Gov. Jay Inslee to practice social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the city has closed the lobby areas of its buildings to the public. City staff are still working and available to answer questions as it pertains to city operations.

Read more about how to contact the city during this closure.

City parks remain open, but the city has shuttered the majority of the restrooms at its parks due to an increase in vandalism and theft of toilet paper. The Fort Steilacoom restroom remains open and is being sanitized twice daily. Parks maintenance staff are also disinfecting play structures at its parks each morning. Anyone playing on the structures is encouraged to use social distancing, wash your hands and bring your own sanitizer.

We appreciate everyone’s patience as we navigate these unprecedented times.

The city has set up a webpage dedicated to its COVID-19 communications. This page serves as an aggregate of information from the city, as well as offers resources around things like accurate public health information, small business and employee assistance and communication from the state.

City meetings canceled

Out of an abundance of caution and under the guidance of practicing social distancing, the Lakewood City Council’s March 23, 2020 study session is canceled.

In addition, a number of upcoming city advisory board and commission meetings are canceled. They include:

• Landmarks and Heritage Advisory Board meeting of March 26, 2020.
• Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting of March 24, 2020.
• Public Safety Advisory Committee meeting of April 1, 2020.
• Arts Commission meeting of April 6, 2020.
• Community Collaboration meeting of April 8, 2020.

Postponed: Lakewood Night Market

Due to the uncertainty around Coronavirus and restrictions of public gatherings the city of Lakewood is postponing opening night of its new Lakewood Night Market.

A new date will be announced in the future. We are excited to celebrate this new event with the public and encourage everyone to stay tuned to the city’s social media channels and its website for the announcement of when the market will launch.

The Lakewood Night Market will be held the first and third Friday of every month from 3 to 7 p.m. and will include family-friendly activities and entertainment, along with a variety of vendors for people to shop.

Interested in being a vendor? Submit this vendor application. View the Night Market website for market dates and market updates.

Caring for Kids collecting canned goods

Caring for Kids is collecting canned meals for Lakewood families.

If you would like to donate please drop your donation at the Clover Park Student Services Center, 10903 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW. Call 253-279-9777 for more information.

Business Showcase: Cham Garden

At its regular meeting March 16 the Lakewood City Council recognized Cham Garden as its March 2020 Business Showcase.

Read more about why owners Jay and Kay Lim were selected, as well as the unique dining experience you can find at this cozy Korean barbecue restaurant.

Lakewood Colonial Plaza named Excellent 10

The city is excited to announce that the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County recently named Colonial Plaza as one of its Excellent 10 projects. The announcement was made during the EDB’s annual meeting on March 5, 2020 at the Tacoma Convention Center.

Colonial Plaza was recognized because of its public space elements and its function as a catalyst for redevelopment in the city’s downtown area. Already several new businesses have opened in the Colonial District, including Cohen Veteran’s Clinic, the Lakewood Historical Society expanded its museum to the former site of the Terrace Restaurant next to the Lakewood Theatre and the city will host its first-ever Night Market in 2020 at the plaza.

The city was also mentioned in a second Excellent 10 award given to Cutting Edge Meats, a minority-owned business that recently expanded into Lakewood after outgrowing its former location. The city of Lakewood and EDB jumped in to help Cutting Edge Meats find its new home in the city so that the USDA-certified food processor of meat, poultry and seafood products could maintain its presence in Pierce County.

The Excellent 10 is a list of 10 great economic development projects in Pierce County that were worked on or completed between January and December of the previous year. The projects can vary from industrial and office expansions, to educational facilities and sewer infrastructure, or even hospitals to museums.

The Board evaluates projects that are key drivers of jobs, capital investment, or other important community development in our region.

Lakewood recognized for its financial reporting

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the city of Lakewood for its fiscal year 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

The city previously received this recognition for its 2013 thru 2017 CAFRs.

This award is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read it.

The city will continue to produce this report and submit annually to GFOA to determine its eligibility for another certificate.

View the city’s CAFR.

WSDOT: Union Avenue closed in Tillicum through May

FROM WSDOT: Travelers who use the Interstate 5 and Thorne Lane interchange headed to Camp Murray or Tillicum need to plan extra time into their trips.

At 8 a.m. Monday, March 16, construction crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation building the new I-5/Thorne Lane interchange closed a one-block section of Union Avenue between Spruce Street and Thorne Lane.

The around-the-clock closure will be in place until the end of May. The closure will allow construction crews to raise the profile of Union Avenue over 23 feet so the street connects with the new Thorne Lane overpass.

During the closure, travelers will detour on Thorne Lane to Portland Avenue and to Berkeley Street.

The I-5/Thorne Lane interchange will remain open during daytime hours, however crews will continue to close the off-and on-ramps during overnight hours.

Two-week closure of 146th Street Southwest

In addition to the Union Avenue closure, over the weekend construction crews closed 146th Street Southwest at Murray Road around-the-clock until March 28. This will allow new curbs and sidewalks to be built at the intersection of Murray Road and 146th Street Southwest. During the closure, drivers will detour using Spring Street Southwest and 150th Street Southwest.

More information about construction at Thorne Lane is available via the WSDOT blog.

An updated construction schedule that lists overnight ramp closures for this project is available on Tacomatraffic.com. Before heading out the door, travelers can find the latest road conditions on the WSDOT app and by following the WSDOT regional Twitter feed.

Census 2020: Use your time at home to take the census

Working from home? Take advantage of your time at home and due your civic duty by filing out your 2020 U.S. Census!

Hopefully you have already received an invitation from the U.S. Census Bureau with information about how you can participate in the 2020 Census. Invitations went out last week and were expected to be mailed to every household in America by March 20.

New this year people can fill out the Census online, in addition to over the phone or by mail. Information about how to fill out the Census will be delivered via mail.

April 1 is Census Day, this is when people are encouraged to have their Census complete. For those who don’t respond by April 1, a reminder letter and paper questionnaire will be mailed April 8-16 and a final reminder postcard will be sent April 20-27 before someone from the U.S. Census Bureau follows up in person.

The U.S. Census consists of 10 questions. It is quick and easy to take and we here in Lakewood hope you will take the time to fill it out – and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Why do we care? Because the information gathered from the census has a big impact on Lakewood. That’s right! It impacts future congressional districts, how much federal funding the city can receive for future projects and makes us eligible for various funding sources based on our population numbers.

The last census was 10 years ago and Lakewood was one of the cities that was severely undercounted. We want to fix that this time around and we hope you will take the time to fill out the questionnaire.

See what questions will be asked on the 2020 Census.

Read more about the census, see a timeline or learn more about temporary work available through the U.S. Census Bureau.

SummerFEST 2020 vendor applications now available

Applications for market vendors and food vendors are now available for SummerFEST 2020.

Over the course of the all-day event more than 40,000 people visit Fort Steilacoom Park to participate in the fun — most of it free! There is live entertainment on two stages, including cultural performances at the Lakewood Sister Cities International Festival, a kid zone with inflatable toys and pony rides, food trucks, market vendors, a classic car show, roaming entertainers, free activities, movie at night and more.

Market vendors can participate in the free Passport to Sports & Arts, which sends passport holders on a scavenger hunt through the festival to different vendor booths to try a new sport or arts and crafts activity. This is a great way for children to learn a new skill, and vendors to get their product in front of a larger audience.

Download the market vendor application and the food vendor application today. Deadline to submit a hard copy is May 15, 2020.

Veterans Brick Update

Did you purchase a brick to be engraved on the Veterans Memorial located outside Lakewood City Hall in Lakewood Towne Center?

The bricks will be engraved in the spring, once the weather warms up and dries out. In order for the on-site engraver to do the work it needs to be dry and temperatures must be above 50 degrees.

Thank you to everyone who purchased a brick for your patience while volunteers continued with the brick sales to be able to engrave them all at one time.

Volunteers were able to sell 153 of the 242 bricks remaining at the memorial. They are grateful for the community’s support of veterans and proud to see this memorial that was dedicated in 2003 by a citizen-led committee come closer to completion.

Join a community advisory board

Do you like to give back to the community? Are you looking to get better connected to Lakewood? Have some free time you want to fill? Consider joining one of the city’s community advisory boards. Board members often have experience or expertise they can lend, can meet on a monthly basis and can commit to serving a full term, or longer.

Boards with openings:

• Lakewoood’s Promise Advisory Board: 2 vacancies. Deadline: April 3, 2020.
• Landmarks and Heritage Advisory Board: 2 vacancies. Open until filled.
• Lodging Tax Advisory Board: 4 vacancies. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

Board and commission descriptions, meeting schedule and application form can be found online.

Stay up to date with MyLakewood311

Did you know Lakewood has its own free mobile app? All you need to know about the city is at your fingertips. Updates on road projects and detours around the city and other city announcements can be found under the “Public Announcements” header.

Contact the city using the “submit a new request” button and select from the appropriate category. The app allows you to track city staff’s response to your request and follow it through the process.

Please only submit one request per item – submitting multiple requests for the same item slows the review process. Note: This app is not monitored 24/7. If you are reporting an emergency that needs immediate assistance please call 911.

Download it now in the iTunes App Store or on Google Play.

Upcoming Council Meetings

The City Council meets every Monday beginning at 7 p.m., in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 6000 Main Street SW.

Watch the City Council live during meetings on the city of Lakewood YouTube Channel. Miss a meeting? You can also find past meetings under the Playlists tab for City Council Meetings.

Canceled: March 23, 2020 Study Session

Review the City Council agenda packet

This press release was produced by the City of Lakewood. The views expressed here are the author’s own.

Press release from the City of Lakewood:

COVID-19 communications from Lakewood

In Lakewood we want our residents to know that your health and safety are our priority and we are following the guidance of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department as it relates to public interaction and ensuring our staff is also safe.

In light of the recent order by Gov. Jay Inslee to practice social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the city has closed the lobby areas of its buildings to the public. City staff are still working and available to answer questions as it pertains to city operations.

Read more about how to contact the city during this closure.

City parks remain open, but the city has shuttered the majority of the restrooms at its parks due to an increase in vandalism and theft of toilet paper. The Fort Steilacoom restroom remains open and is being sanitized twice daily. Parks maintenance staff are also disinfecting play structures at its parks each morning. Anyone playing on the structures is encouraged to use social distancing, wash your hands and bring your own sanitizer.

We appreciate everyone’s patience as we navigate these unprecedented times.

The city has set up a webpage dedicated to its COVID-19 communications. This page serves as an aggregate of information from the city, as well as offers resources around things like accurate public health information, small business and employee assistance and communication from the state.

City meetings canceled

Out of an abundance of caution and under the guidance of practicing social distancing, the Lakewood City Council’s March 23, 2020 study session is canceled.

In addition, a number of upcoming city advisory board and commission meetings are canceled. They include:

• Landmarks and Heritage Advisory Board meeting of March 26, 2020.
• Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting of March 24, 2020.
• Public Safety Advisory Committee meeting of April 1, 2020.
• Arts Commission meeting of April 6, 2020.
• Community Collaboration meeting of April 8, 2020.

Postponed: Lakewood Night Market

Due to the uncertainty around Coronavirus and restrictions of public gatherings the city of Lakewood is postponing opening night of its new Lakewood Night Market.

A new date will be announced in the future. We are excited to celebrate this new event with the public and encourage everyone to stay tuned to the city’s social media channels and its website for the announcement of when the market will launch.

The Lakewood Night Market will be held the first and third Friday of every month from 3 to 7 p.m. and will include family-friendly activities and entertainment, along with a variety of vendors for people to shop.

Interested in being a vendor? Submit this vendor application. View the Night Market website for market dates and market updates.

Caring for Kids collecting canned goods

Caring for Kids is collecting canned meals for Lakewood families.

If you would like to donate please drop your donation at the Clover Park Student Services Center, 10903 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW. Call 253-279-9777 for more information.

Business Showcase: Cham Garden

At its regular meeting March 16 the Lakewood City Council recognized Cham Garden as its March 2020 Business Showcase.

Read more about why owners Jay and Kay Lim were selected, as well as the unique dining experience you can find at this cozy Korean barbecue restaurant.

Lakewood Colonial Plaza named Excellent 10

The city is excited to announce that the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County recently named Colonial Plaza as one of its Excellent 10 projects. The announcement was made during the EDB’s annual meeting on March 5, 2020 at the Tacoma Convention Center.

Colonial Plaza was recognized because of its public space elements and its function as a catalyst for redevelopment in the city’s downtown area. Already several new businesses have opened in the Colonial District, including Cohen Veteran’s Clinic, the Lakewood Historical Society expanded its museum to the former site of the Terrace Restaurant next to the Lakewood Theatre and the city will host its first-ever Night Market in 2020 at the plaza.

The city was also mentioned in a second Excellent 10 award given to Cutting Edge Meats, a minority-owned business that recently expanded into Lakewood after outgrowing its former location. The city of Lakewood and EDB jumped in to help Cutting Edge Meats find its new home in the city so that the USDA-certified food processor of meat, poultry and seafood products could maintain its presence in Pierce County.

The Excellent 10 is a list of 10 great economic development projects in Pierce County that were worked on or completed between January and December of the previous year. The projects can vary from industrial and office expansions, to educational facilities and sewer infrastructure, or even hospitals to museums.

The Board evaluates projects that are key drivers of jobs, capital investment, or other important community development in our region.

Lakewood recognized for its financial reporting

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the city of Lakewood for its fiscal year 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

The city previously received this recognition for its 2013 thru 2017 CAFRs.

This award is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read it.

The city will continue to produce this report and submit annually to GFOA to determine its eligibility for another certificate.

View the city’s CAFR.

WSDOT: Union Avenue closed in Tillicum through May

FROM WSDOT: Travelers who use the Interstate 5 and Thorne Lane interchange headed to Camp Murray or Tillicum need to plan extra time into their trips.

At 8 a.m. Monday, March 16, construction crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation building the new I-5/Thorne Lane interchange closed a one-block section of Union Avenue between Spruce Street and Thorne Lane.

The around-the-clock closure will be in place until the end of May. The closure will allow construction crews to raise the profile of Union Avenue over 23 feet so the street connects with the new Thorne Lane overpass.

During the closure, travelers will detour on Thorne Lane to Portland Avenue and to Berkeley Street.

The I-5/Thorne Lane interchange will remain open during daytime hours, however crews will continue to close the off-and on-ramps during overnight hours.

Two-week closure of 146th Street Southwest

In addition to the Union Avenue closure, over the weekend construction crews closed 146th Street Southwest at Murray Road around-the-clock until March 28. This will allow new curbs and sidewalks to be built at the intersection of Murray Road and 146th Street Southwest. During the closure, drivers will detour using Spring Street Southwest and 150th Street Southwest.

More information about construction at Thorne Lane is available via the WSDOT blog.

An updated construction schedule that lists overnight ramp closures for this project is available on Tacomatraffic.com. Before heading out the door, travelers can find the latest road conditions on the WSDOT app and by following the WSDOT regional Twitter feed.

Census 2020: Use your time at home to take the census

Working from home? Take advantage of your time at home and due your civic duty by filing out your 2020 U.S. Census!

Hopefully you have already received an invitation from the U.S. Census Bureau with information about how you can participate in the 2020 Census. Invitations went out last week and were expected to be mailed to every household in America by March 20.

New this year people can fill out the Census online, in addition to over the phone or by mail. Information about how to fill out the Census will be delivered via mail.

April 1 is Census Day, this is when people are encouraged to have their Census complete. For those who don’t respond by April 1, a reminder letter and paper questionnaire will be mailed April 8-16 and a final reminder postcard will be sent April 20-27 before someone from the U.S. Census Bureau follows up in person.

The U.S. Census consists of 10 questions. It is quick and easy to take and we here in Lakewood hope you will take the time to fill it out – and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Why do we care? Because the information gathered from the census has a big impact on Lakewood. That’s right! It impacts future congressional districts, how much federal funding the city can receive for future projects and makes us eligible for various funding sources based on our population numbers.

The last census was 10 years ago and Lakewood was one of the cities that was severely undercounted. We want to fix that this time around and we hope you will take the time to fill out the questionnaire.

See what questions will be asked on the 2020 Census.

Read more about the census, see a timeline or learn more about temporary work available through the U.S. Census Bureau.

SummerFEST 2020 vendor applications now available

Applications for market vendors and food vendors are now available for SummerFEST 2020.

Over the course of the all-day event more than 40,000 people visit Fort Steilacoom Park to participate in the fun — most of it free! There is live entertainment on two stages, including cultural performances at the Lakewood Sister Cities International Festival, a kid zone with inflatable toys and pony rides, food trucks, market vendors, a classic car show, roaming entertainers, free activities, movie at night and more.

Market vendors can participate in the free Passport to Sports & Arts, which sends passport holders on a scavenger hunt through the festival to different vendor booths to try a new sport or arts and crafts activity. This is a great way for children to learn a new skill, and vendors to get their product in front of a larger audience.

Download the market vendor application and the food vendor application today. Deadline to submit a hard copy is May 15, 2020.

Veterans Brick Update

Did you purchase a brick to be engraved on the Veterans Memorial located outside Lakewood City Hall in Lakewood Towne Center?

The bricks will be engraved in the spring, once the weather warms up and dries out. In order for the on-site engraver to do the work it needs to be dry and temperatures must be above 50 degrees.

Thank you to everyone who purchased a brick for your patience while volunteers continued with the brick sales to be able to engrave them all at one time.

Volunteers were able to sell 153 of the 242 bricks remaining at the memorial. They are grateful for the community’s support of veterans and proud to see this memorial that was dedicated in 2003 by a citizen-led committee come closer to completion.

Join a community advisory board

Do you like to give back to the community? Are you looking to get better connected to Lakewood? Have some free time you want to fill? Consider joining one of the city’s community advisory boards. Board members often have experience or expertise they can lend, can meet on a monthly basis and can commit to serving a full term, or longer.

Boards with openings:

• Lakewoood’s Promise Advisory Board: 2 vacancies. Deadline: April 3, 2020.
• Landmarks and Heritage Advisory Board: 2 vacancies. Open until filled.
• Lodging Tax Advisory Board: 4 vacancies. Deadline: April 30, 2020.

Board and commission descriptions, meeting schedule and application form can be found online.

Stay up to date with MyLakewood311

Did you know Lakewood has its own free mobile app? All you need to know about the city is at your fingertips. Updates on road projects and detours around the city and other city announcements can be found under the “Public Announcements” header.

Contact the city using the “submit a new request” button and select from the appropriate category. The app allows you to track city staff’s response to your request and follow it through the process.

Please only submit one request per item – submitting multiple requests for the same item slows the review process. Note: This app is not monitored 24/7. If you are reporting an emergency that needs immediate assistance please call 911.

Download it now in the iTunes App Store or on Google Play.

Upcoming Council Meetings

The City Council meets every Monday beginning at 7 p.m., in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 6000 Main Street SW.

Watch the City Council live during meetings on the city of Lakewood YouTube Channel. Miss a meeting? You can also find past meetings under the Playlists tab for City Council Meetings.

Canceled: March 23, 2020 Study Session

Review the City Council agenda packet

This press release was produced by the City of Lakewood. The views expressed here are the author’s own.