Lakewood City Manager’s Weekly Bulletin (Jan. 24)

From the City of Lakewood:

Posted Jan. 24, 2020

To: Mayor and members of the City Council
From: John J. Caulfield, City Manager

Announcing the Lakewood Night Market

New in 2020 the city of Lakewood will host a night market the first and third Friday of every month from 3 to 7 p.m.

Opening day is April 17 and the market will run until Oct. 2. It will be located in the new Colonial Plaza space along Motor Avenue near the Lakewood Colonial Center.

Similar to the daytime summer Farmers Market, local vendors will sell handmade items alongside local farmers. Enjoy craft and jewelry artisans, food trucks, children’s activities and more. The market will also feature local wine and beer.

With plenty of free parking, this market is not to be missed.

Want to be a vendor? Submit this vendor application.

Hidden Heroes Week 1: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and JoEthel Smith

The city of Lakewood MLK Committee kicked off its Hidden Heroes campaign Jan. 20 by highlighting and honoring Civil Rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and longtime advocate, educator and co-founder of the Lakewood Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration event, JoEthel Smith.

Read about these leaders.

ROAD ALERT: Road closures continue in Tillicum

From WSDOT: The closure of the Washington Avenue and Berkeley Street intersection enters its second week as contractor crews working for the state Department of Transportation build the approaches leading to the new Berkeley Street overpass. If the weather cooperates, the intersection is scheduled to reopen Monday, Feb. 3.

During the closure, a signed detour remains in place. Travelers are advised to plan for additional travel time. WSDOT would like to thank the public for their patience during this key stage of the project.

This is the first of three sequential closures needed to open the new Berkeley Street overpass. WSDOT published a blog that describes all the closures.

This work is part of a project that widens I-5 and rebuilds the Thorne Lane and Berkeley Street overpasses in Lakewood.

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.

Business Showcase: DRK Development

From its staffing to its project costs, DRK Development runs a lean operation. It’s a business model the company has followed for nearly three decades, and one that gives it a leg up on its competition.

“We run real lean and mean,” said Vice President Spencer Kelley. “It’s really cost effective. I can typically do these jobs for a lot less than our competition.”

DRK’s portfolio includes a wide range of projects from multi-family developments, to assisted living and retirement facilities and light commercial construction.

Read the full showcase.

Hot Spot Shooting Competition is Saturday [Jan. 25]

Does your child love basketball? Test their shooting skills in this FREE timed basketball shooting competition!

The City of Lakewood, Pierce County Parks and Recreation and Pierce College are hosting this event for youth 5 to 12 years old to showcase their basketball shooting skills. Children will compete to see who can make the most baskets in a set amount of time.

Event begins at 11 a.m. at Pierce College in its gym, 9401 Farwest Drive SW, Lakewood.

17th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration is Feb. 1

We are one week away from the 17th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration which will be held at Harrison Preparatory School.

New this year the city is working with community partners like the Pierce County Library System, Clover Park School District, Pierce College, Lakewood YMCA, Lakewood Multicultural Coalition and others to bring events to the community for people to engage, celebrate and learn more about black history.

We hope in addition to the MLK celebration community members join us at one of the following events:

• African American storytelling
  • Date: Saturday, Feb. 8
  • Time: 12 p.m.
  • Location: Tillicum Pierce County Library, 14916 Washington Ave.

• Mrs. Mary Church Terrell: A Remarkable Woman
  • Date: Saturday, Feb. 15
  • Time: 2 p.m.
  • Location: Lakewood Pierce County Library, 6300 Wildaire Rd SW

• Voting made easy
  • Date: Saturday, Feb. 15
  • Time: 3:15 p.m.
  • Location: Lakewood Pierce County Library, 6300 Wildaire Rd SW

Read more about these events.

2020 Lakewood Farmers Market opening day announced

The 2020 Lakewood Farmers Market opening day is June 2.

Join us on opening day and receive a free canvas tote and other giveaways!

The Lakewood Farmers Market is a great opportunity to shop local and support over a dozen local farmers. Enjoy live entertainment and children’s activities each week and grab lunch from food trucks and enjoy the sunshine while you eat outside around the fountain at Lakewood City Hall.

Shoppers will find everything from organic produce and kettle corn to handmade ice cream, crafts and a selection of local wine and beer.

Located close to the I-5 corridor, the market is also convenient for travelers and commuters who want to swing in for fresh, healthy food on the go. Plenty of free parking.

What to be a vendor? Submit your application today.

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.

Census 2020: You Count

In the spring of 2020 Lakewood residents can expect to receive the 2020 Census via mail. The U.S. Census Bureau will send up to five mailings, encouraging residents to fill out the survey online, by mail or by phone.

Most areas of the country are anticipated to fill out the survey online, so the first letter most people will receive will be one encouraging them to go online the complete the questionnaire.

Areas determined less likely to respond via the internet will receive a paper questionnaire with the first mailed invitation to take the survey.

For those who do not complete the census on or by Census Day (April 1, 2020), in-person house visits will occur. Residents may also see people canvassing neighborhoods to check addresses.

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

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 we continued with the brick sales to be able to engrave them all at one time.

We were able to sell 153 of the 242 bricks remaining at the memorial. We are grateful for our community’s support of our 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:

• 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.

January 27, 2020 Special Meeting

Authorizing the execution of a professional services agreement with Parametrix, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $1,937,728.00, for design services related to the JBLM-North Access Improvement project.

January 27, 2020 Study Session

• Lakewood Multicultural Coalition Update
• Build Your Better Here Campaign Update
• Review of 5-Year (2020-2024) Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan
• Reports by the City Manager – Review of Pierce Transit’s Destination 2040 comment letter
• Reports by the City Manager – Review of Puget Sound Clean Air Agency’s proposed clean fuel standard comment letter, #2
• Reports by the City Manager – Review of agenda for joint meeting with Clover Park School District Board

February 3, 2020 Regular Meeting, Clover Park School District Student Services Center

• Joint meeting with Clover Park School District Board

View the full agenda packet

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