Highlights from the weekly report (June 19) from City of Lakewood Manager, Andrew Neiditz to the Mayor and Council Members:
- Don’t miss SummerFEST ’09! This event will be held Saturday, June 20th and Sunday, June 21st at Fort Steilacoom Park. Festivities on Saturday begin at noon and end with the showing of The Express on the big screen presented by Comcast! Saturday activities include live music on two stages, over 100 food, arts and craft and service vendors, Army Strong Fitness Expo, Partners for Parks Car Show, a Kidz Zone inflatable area, Clinics by the Seahawks, Rainiers, Sounders, Storm, and Seagals, Game Matrix, pony rides, a super slide, a soccer tournament, r/c boat races and much more! Sunday activities will begin at 8:30 with registration for the Father’s Day 5K Fun Run – race time is at 10:00 a.m. From 9:00 a.m. – Noon you can enjoy the Army Strong Fitness Expo complete with Boot Camp fitness sessions, fitness competitions, basketball toss, body fat measurements and thunderbirds hockey Inflatable. For more information, please visit us at www.lakewoodsummerfest.com
- City Staff and School District Discuss Neighborhood School Park Pilot Project: Last week, City of Lakewood and Clover Park School District staff met with neighbors surrounding Lake Louise Elementary School to discuss the neighborhood school park pilot project. Staff reviewed the history of the project, site selection criteria, project timeline, site improvements and how to participate in a neighborhood block watch program. Construction of a new playground structure and swings, ¼ mile walking trail, access improvements and other site amenities is anticipated the week of July 13-17, 2009.
- Countywide federal grant funding approved for street projects: At the June 18th Pierce County Regional Council meeting, the PCRC approved their Transportation Coordinating Committee’s recommended project list for Countywide federal grant funding. Included in the approved list are two Lakewood projects: Bridgeport Way improvement from Steilacoom Blvd to 83rd St ($750,000 grant award) and 100th St improvement from Gravelly Lake Dr to 59th Ave ($867,000 grant award). Final approval rests with Puget Sound Regional Council which shouldn’t be an issue.
- LPD attends Undercover Operations Training: Detective Ryan Larson completed a week’s worth of training with the FBI, in a class called Undercover Operation. This training on the east coast is at no cost to the City.
- LPD staff gives presentation to NARPM: CSO Mike Miller was invited on June 17th to address a meeting of the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM) regarding personal safety of property managers and staff; Crime Free Housing; and Crime Prevention through Environmental Design concepts (CPTED). The attendees were all professional property managers or owners, and they appreciated the examples used from actual events here in the Lakewood apartment community.
- CABC Leadership Forum: On June 16th, Mayor Richardson, the city manager and city attorney conducted a “leadership forum” for all interested Citizens Advisory Board and Committee (CABC) members and supporting City staff. Twenty-two CABC members participated and received refresher training on open government requirements, the conduct of public meetings, and what it means to be a good board member. The forum also identified the respective roles of CABCs, the Council, and the staff. City staff support fourteen boards and committees; twelve of these advise the Council on policies and/or recommended City priorities. The two exceptions are the Civil Service Commission and the Lakewood Sister Cities Association.