By Andrew Neiditz, Lakewood City Manager
- Lakewood wins Municipal Excellence Award from Association of Washington Cities (AWC): The City of Lakewood will earn recognition through the 2011 Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Municipal Excellence Award in the “public safety” category. In February 2010, the City launched a pioneering program to merge the neighborhood policing and code enforcement programs into the Community Safety Resource Team (CSRT). This award recognizes innovative and effective city programs that improve the quality of life in their communities. The award will be presented at the AWC annual conference in Spokane next month.
- City manager meets with federal officials: The city manager participated in the 26th annual Washington-to-Washington Conference sponsored by the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce this week. He presented information about the recently-completed Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Growth Coordination Plan in meetings on Capitol Hill with Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, and joined with County Executive Pat McCarthy and Council Chair Roger Bush in meetings with U. S. Representatives Adam Smith and Norm Dicks. In the Pentagon, meetings with the Ass’t Secretary of the Army Hammack (Installation, Environment, and Energy) and Ass’t Secretary of the Air Force Yonkers (Installations, Environment, and Logistics) were held to further coordinate the issues concerning JBLM and the community. Those discussions included highway construction projects, school improvement proposals, and clear zone property issues around the north end of the McChord runway.
- Pierce County Law Enforcement Memorial: The Pierce County Law Enforcement Annual Memorial was held at the Clover Park Technical College Sharon McGavick Student and Conference Center on May 5th. The ceremony honored law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty and those who continue to serve.
- Chief throws first pitch at Relay for Life Night at Cheney Stadium: The Police Chief and his wife Cindy will be throwing out the first pitch at the Relay for Life Night at the Tacoma Rainier’s game on May 6th at 7:05 p.m. at the new Cheney Stadium. For the third straight year the Tacoma Rainiers are helping Relay For Life raise awareness to ensure that those lives lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated.
- Court staff attends Misdemeanant Corrections Association Conference: Probation Officer Jeanette Matthews attended the annual Misdemeanant Corrections Association (MCA) conference April 18-20. She was recognized for her work on a committee that created the first set of state standards for probation departments in Washington. She was also nominated to serve as an education coordinator/MCA board member and if elected in July, she will serve the board for 2 years planning training sessions and conferences for probation officers throughout Washington State.
- Executive Ass’t to be installed as IAAP chapter treasurer: Executive Ass’t Deanne Wegmann will be formally installed as treasurer for the Mount Rainier Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) for 2011- 2012. IAAP is a not-for-profit professional association for office professionals with approximately 28,000 members and affiliates and nearly 600 chapters worldwide. Their mission is to enhance the success of career-minded administrative professionals by providing opportunities for growth through education, community building and leadership development.
- Lakewood Youths participate in Tacoma Kids Marathon: Fifteen 2nd and 3rd grade students from the Tyee Park After School program participated in the Tacoma Kids Marathon on Sunday May 1st. This program, funded through a grant by the Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department and staffed by the City’s recreation staff, features healthy snacks, games and activities, and the opportunity to participate in events such as the marathon. All the participants must complete at least 25 challenges to be eligible to participate in the 1.2 mile race held in conjunction with the full marathon. The challenges include physical activity but also exercising good behavior, reading, helping with chores and eating healthy food.
- LPD participates in Annual “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” Fundraiser: LPD Lt Steve Mauer participated in the Annual Sexual Assault Center of Pierce County “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” fundraiser on April 29th. A group of over 100 men (and women) participated in the walk and raised about $50,000 for the agency. Mauer raised the most money of any individual for this important cause.
- CSRT participates in Disaster Preparation Day Event: On April 30th, CSO Gail Conelly and Lt Steve Mauer participated with West Pierce Fire in a Disaster Preparation Day event held in the Lakewood Lowes parking lot. The goal was to provide information to citizens about how to prepare themselves and their families for an emergency or disaster. Numerous local businesses donated portions of a family emergency kit that was raffled off in a participation drawing. The event was well attended and received.
- Officers selected for Officer(s) of the Month Awards: Chief Farrar nominated Dave Butts and Ryan Hamilton for Officer(s) of the Month through Q13 Fox’s Washington’s Most Wanted. They were selected and presented with the awards this week at the Q13 news studios. They received the award for their proactive patrol work and specifically, their work on the case that helped Sgt. Rich Hall break open the Wards Lake homicide case. Their names are on a plaque at Q13 and they received two very nice awards. They were interviewed by David Rose from WMW and it will run on Q13 later this week. It will also be on the website at the link below. The Q13 weather person called in sick, so Dave and Ryan filled it to do the forecast…they both predicted rain. www.q13fox.com/mostwanted