Lakewood City Manager Publishes Weekly Bulletin For February 5

Press release from the City of Lakewood:

February 5, 2021

Representatives from Tacoma Fire recognized Officer Ryan Moody for his lifesaving efforts on a female involved in accident after fleeing from police in November, 2020.

After the car crashed and was on fire, the female was pulled out of the car to the sidewalk. Officer Moody applied a tourniquet on the female passenger’s leg that Tacoma Fire stated saved her life. They presented him with a certificate and a Tacoma Fire coin. Outstanding work Officer Moody and Thanks to Tacoma Fire for recognizing him!

Mobile COVID-19 Test Site at Fort Steilacoom Park Monday, February 8, 2021

Pierce County and the Tacoma-Pierce County Department will provide a drive through COVID-19 test site at Fort Steilacoom Park – 8714 87th Ave SW, Lakewood 98499 on Monday, February 8, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Learn more about mobile testing at www.piercecountywa.gov/mobiletesting

For additional testing locations visit www.tpchd.org/covidtest

Virtual Coffee with the Mayor

Join Mayor Don Anderson on Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 7:30 a.m. for virtual Coffee with the Mayor. The guest speaker will be John J. Caulfield, City Manager who will present the State of the City.

To participate by Zoom visit: https://zoom.us/j/98912765312?pwd=TUNDL2JrU1RGYklmbk5kMDhhZ3FnZz09 Meeting ID: 989 1276 5312Passcode: 471060 To participate by telephone call: +1 253 215 8782 Meeting ID: 989 1276 5312Passcode: 471060

If you have any questions regarding accessing the virtual meeting please contact City Clerk Briana Schumacher at (253) 983-7705 or bschumacher@cityoflakewood.us.

JBLM North Access Improvement Project –Phase I Construction/Detour Notice

Lakewood will be constructing roadway improvements along Gravelly Lake Drive between Pacific Highway and Washington Boulevard and along Washington Boulevard between Interlaaken Drive and Gravelly Lake Drive in the coming months.

Work is expected to start in April 2021 at the Gravelly Lake/Nyanza intersection and proceed north in stages. The limits of the first stage will be from Nyanza (south) to Veterans along Gravelly. Due to the extensive utility construction, limited existing roadway width, and concrete curing, the roadways will not be open to through traffic during construction. The City has designed detour routes for each stage of the work. During construction, the various detour stages will be updated on the project website.

Improvements include: full roadway reconstruction, sidewalks, bike facilities, landscaping, storm drainage replacement, water main replacement, and street lighting. Roundabouts will be constructed at the Gravelly Lake/Nyanza, Gravelly Lake/Veterans, Gravelly Lake/ Washington, and Washington/Interlaaken intersections.

For more details and to sign up for email updates on the project and current detour routes visit: cityoflakewood.us/design‐jblm‐north‐access‐improvement/ or use the QR code at the bottom of the page. Project plans will also be posted here: https://cityoflakewood.us/category/rfp-rfq-bids/

February 8, 2021 City Council meeting preview

• Build Your Better Here Update – Adam Welch, President, Hemisphere Design
• Review of 4th Quarter (2020) Police Report
• Review proposed Comprehensive Plan and Zone amendments for Habitat for Humanity properties
• Review amendments to Lakewood Municipal Code 8.76 related to motor vehicles in parks and trails
• Public Art at Colonial Plaza Update

City Council Special Meetings

The Lakewood City Council will hold two Special Meeting(s) on Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. The purpose of the special meetings is to Interview Candidates for City Council Position 5.

Residents can virtually attend City Council meetings by watching them live on the city’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/cityoflakewoodwa

Those who do not have access to YouTube can participate by either visiting zoom.us or calling by telephone: Dial +1(253) 215- 8782 and entering participant ID: 868 7263 2373.If you have questions regarding accessing the virtual meeting please contact City Clerk Briana Schumacher at 253-983-7705 or bschumacher@cityoflakewood.us

Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery Plan

As of Monday, February 1, 2021 Puget Sound Region, which includes Pierce County, is in Phase 2. The table below highlights the various activities allowed in Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Healthy Washington Plan.

To remain in Phase 2, regions must meet at least 3 metrics:

• Decreasing or flat trend in two-week rate of COVID-19 cases per 100K population
• Decreasing or flat trend in two-week rate new COVID-19 hospital admission rates per 100K population
• ICU occupancy (total — COVID-19 and non-COVID-19) of less than 90%
• COVID-19 test positivity rate of <10%.

All aboard – the Lakewood Station District Subarea Plan is moving toward adoption!

The Lakewood Station District Subarea Plan, Development Code and Planned Action are all moving toward adoption! You can view the latest draft of the materials here. The City Council will begin its review on February 22 and will hold a public hearing on the Station District Subarea package on March 5 at 7:00 pm.

View background information and all the latest at www.lakewoodstation.org

COVID-19 vaccine distribution remains in progress

Currently, Washington state is in Phase 1B of the Washington State Department of Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan. You can access the full interim plan (10/2020) here.

The vaccine is available to anyone 65 and older, and all people 50 and older who also live in a multigenerational household. This is in addition to populations eligible during phase 1A including health care workers at high risk for COVID-19 infection, first responders, people who live or work in long-term care facilities, and all other workers in health settings who are at risk of COVID-19. Learn more about who gets the vaccine and when.

Wondering if you are currently eligible to receive the vaccine? Try FindYourPhaseWA.org

Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD) here.

As we have since the beginning of this pandemic, the City continues to follow guidance from our trusted medical experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), and the TPCHD.

Check out the DOH’s 60-second video on how the COVID vaccines work:

Below are some links to reliable sources that provide information on the vaccine. The CDC site, in particular, has a range of information, to include detailed scientific data on the safety and efficacy of the current vaccine.

CDC Website

Washington State DOH vaccine information

Washington State DOH vaccination – Phase 1a

Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department vaccine information

25th Anniversary Art Contest

The City of Lakewood will be turning 25 in 2021! To celebrate this momentous occasion, the City will be holding a number of special events throughout the year. We are kicking it off with the City of Lakewood’s 25th Anniversary Art Contest!

The arts have an amazing ability to create a sense of togetherness and to celebrate diversity, belonging, and community. The arts can help decrease stress and reduce loneliness, as well as provide opportunities to reflect and process experiences and feelings, to help imagine our future, and to connect us through our common humanity.

The 25th Anniversary Art Contest has two themes.

Theme #1: Unity – Local artists are asked to create a reflection of their experiences, memories, hopes, and feelings based on the theme of Unity. The theme was developed by Hank Jones of the Lakewood Youth Council.

Theme #2: Love Lakewood – Local artists are asked to create a reflection of what they love about Lakewood. This can be any number of things, including people, places, memories, events, traditions, food, etc.!

Artists can submit one entry per theme.

For more information on the contest including how to enter, age categories, cash prize amounts and raffles, check out: https://cityoflakewood.us/25th-anniversary-art-contest/

We look forward to seeing all of your amazing works of art.

There is no entry fee to participate in this contest.

UPDATE: Contest submission deadline is now February 15, 2021

COVID-19 related resources:

Eviction moratorium extended to March 31, 2021

On December 23, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee announced he will extend the eviction moratorium to March 31, 2021. More information on this extension will be coming shortly from the Governor’s Office.

Pierce County COVID-19 Relief Programs & Resources

For the latest information on Pierce County COVID-19 relief programs and resources, see here.

Care Connect Washington

Care Connect Washington is a program for people who have either tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed and need support to isolate or quarantine at home. To learn more about Care Connection Washington, click here.

Washington State Department of Commerce – Business & Worker Update

The Business and Workers update is a weekly newsletter providing news and information to help businesses and workers navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. The information is compiled by the state Economic Resiliency Team. To read or subscribe to the newsletter, click here.

WA Notify

The WA Notify app is a simple, anonymous exposure notification tool to help stop the spread of COVID-19. By adding WA Notify to their smartphones, Washington residents will be alerted if they spent time near another WA Notify user who later tests positive for COVID-19. Learn more about the app here.

Washington Listens supports people affected by the stress of COVID-19

In response to COVID-19, Washington has launched Washington Listens, a support program and phone line to help people manage elevated levels of stress due to the pandemic. People who call the Washington Listens support line will speak with a support specialist and get connected to community resources in their area. The program is anonymous.

The Washington Listens support line is 1-833-681-0211. It is available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. TTY and language access services are available by using 7-1-1 or their preferred method.

Resources and self-help tips are available on walistens.org

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: Up to 6 vacancies. Open until filled.

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

Job Announcements

The City of Lakewood is currently hiring for several positions. For a full list of current job opportunities, please visit here.

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.

Stay connected with e-mail notifications

Get the latest news and updates from the city of Lakewood delivered directly to your inbox. To subscribe click here.

You can subscribe to the following city newsfeeds:

• City Manager’s Weekly Bulletins (Weekly)
• City Council Agendas and Meeting Schedules (Weekly)
• Lakewood Connections and Recreation Brochures (Quarterly)
• Public Notices
• Coffee with the Mayor (Monthly)
• Bids, Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Request for Qualifications (RFQs)

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