Lakewood City Managers Weekly Bulletin For March 19

Press release from the City of Lakewood:

March 19, 2021

2020 Business Retention & Expansion Report Released

Mixed recovery expected, local businesses face COVID-related challenges.

On March 8, the Lakewood City Council received the City’s 2020 Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) Report.

2020 was a difficult year for businesses. The report anticipates a mixed economic recovery. Some industries are recovering quickly while others may take much longer. True recovery will not begin until the economy fully reopens under the Healthy Washington plan.

“The impacts have been varied. While retail sales tax revenue has flattened, there is still demand in the market for local goods and services. On the other hand, hotels, restaurants, and other services are still trying to adjust. Mental health issues and COVID restrictions have been challenging.”
– Becky Newton, Economic Development Manager

Retail sales in Lakewood increased by 10% in 2019, but rose only 2% in 2020. Unemployment fell from 17.7% in April 2020 to 8.3% in December 2020. Development permitting is up substantially and the increase is expected to continue.

The City surveyed 127 businesses representing over 9,900 jobs in 2020. 53% of businesses cited COVID restrictions as their biggest challenge and 19% cited workforce management.

The full Lakewood 2020 BR&E Report is available here.

Contact: Becky Newton, City of Lakewood Economic Development Manager

New Affordable Single-Family Housing Development Has Broken Ground

Development project to begin with the construction of two efficient and affordable homes.

Homeownership Center Northwest (HCNW) and leaders of the City of Lakewood convened a groundbreaking ceremony for two new homes on Thursday, March 11. This is the first of many planned affordable housing developments throughout Lakewood.

Lakewood Mayor Don Anderson, Housing Manager Jeff Gumm, City Manager John Caulfield, and several City Councilmembers attended the ceremony. HCNW’s Director of Government and Community Relations Dolly Small and several board members attended as well.

“Safe, fully functional, affordable housing is a key factor in a community’s vitality… HCNW will continue to partner with Lakewood to achieve affordable and attainable homeownership options for LMI individuals and families.”
David Puszczewicz, HCNW Executive Director

The homes will be called “The Marigold Cottages”. Located at 9006 and 9010 Washington Boulevard Southwest, they will show that affordable homes can be unique, efficient, and on-trend. Both homes will feature innovative sustainability features, including efficient plumbing fixtures and appliances.

Council approves Emergency Payments for Rental and Mortgage Assistance Program

Low- and moderate-income Lakewood residents behind on rent or mortgage payments may be eligible.

On Feb. 16, 2021, the Lakewood City Council authorized the allocation of federal emergency funds for emergency payments for rental and mortgage assistance. Low- and moderate-income Lakewood residents who have fallen behind on rent or mortgage payments may be eligible. A total of $703,426.59 in funding is available.

On March 12, 2021 the City began accepting application submissions for this program. Completed applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m., April 5, 2021.

The following eligibility requirements apply:

• Only one grant per household to be provided for family listed as legal tenant or homeowner;
• Funds not to exceed $4,000 per eligible household for rent or mortgage due in arrears;
• Payments must be made directly to the provider on behalf of the family (e.g. landlord or mortgage lender);

Expected initial review time is 7 days following receipt of application.

The funds were disbursed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) in the amount of $703,426.59 ($246,700.59 in CDBG-CV1 and $456,726 in CDBG-CV3).

Applications will be accepted on a first come, first eligible, first completed basis, subject to available funding. Again, the program will remain open until all funds are exhausted.

Application details and forms are available here.

Contact: Shannon Bennett, City of Lakewood Program Coordinator

2020 City of Lakewood, WA Annual Housing Report Released

Lakewood’s average rents are the second lowest in all of Pierce County

On March 8, the Lakewood City Council received the City’s 2020 Annual Housing Report. The report offers reviews economic conditions, vacancy rates, and housing rent and sale prices and expectations for 2021.

COVID-19 caused significant harm to Tacoma-Lakewood metropolitan area economic activity. There is a rising delinquency rates in mortgages due to the economic recession stemming from COVID-19 restrictions.

Lakewood’s average rent was $1,285 in 2020, making Lakewood second only to Spanaway in rental affordability in Pierce County. Lakewood’s average rent is 16% below the county average. Seattle’s average was $1,933, Puyallup’s was $1,584 and Tacoma’s was $1,407.

The report also includes an outline of programs the City of Lakewood enacted to expand affordable housing. These include a major home repair program, partnership with Habitat for Humanity to build new low-income housing, incentive zoning, and other solutions.

The full Lakewood 2020 Housing Report is available here.

Contact: Tiffany Speir, City of Lakewood Long-Range & Strategic Planning Manager

Spring Clean-Up to be held April 17, 18

Many refuse and recyclable items to be accepted.

2021 Comprehensive Plan Amendments Review Begins

Two virtual review meetings scheduled in March and April.

The Planning Commission will review proposed 2021 Comprehensive Plan map, zoning and text amendments on Wednesday, March 24 at 6:30 pm. The meeting will be held virtually.

How to Participate:

• Watch live on the City of Lakewood YouTube
• Listen by telephone at (253) 215-8782 and entering Webinar ID #94284602874
• Review the full agenda here

A second review is scheduled for April 7 at 6:30 pm. The public hearing will be held April 21st at 6:30 pm. Once available, the meeting materials will be posted here.

Contact: Tiffany Speir, City of Lakewood Long-Range & Strategic Planning Manager

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

Thorne Lane on-ramp to I-5 closes for 3 months

Work leads to permanent ramp changes for travelers, removes potential railroad intersection delays

Travelers should prepare for new work on the I-5 Steilacoom-DuPont Road to Thorne Lane Corridor Improvements project. Once finished, this construction will permanently change the way travelers exit to Berkeley Street and Thorne Lane.

Contractor crews will close the Thorne Lane on-ramp in the overnight hours of Friday, March 12. The closure will remain for approximately three months.

DETOUR INFORMATION:

• Travelers coming from Murray Road, Joint Base Lewis-McChord Logistics Gate or the Woodbrook neighborhood will detour via northbound I-5 to Gravelly Lake Drive, then onto southbound I-5.
• Tillicum travelers will use the Berkeley Street interchange to reach southbound I-5. They can also use the new Thorne Lane overpass and follow the same detour as travelers coming from Murray Road.

When work is finished, travelers on southbound I-5 will begin using the new shared exit to Thorne Lane and Berkeley Street. Drivers will also regain access to southbound I-5 from Thorne Lane from the east side of the highway instead of the west side of the highway. This change in the intersection design removes potential delays associated with the railroad.

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.

Major Roadway Improvements to Begin around Gravelly Lake in April

Significant road closures expected in several phases during the JBLM North Access Project.

Road work will begin in late April for the JBLM North Access Project. The work will completely rebuild several key interchanges and stretches of roadway West of Gravelly Lake. The work will take approximately 18 months to complete and will be performed in several stages.

Roadway improvements will include:

· Roundabouts will be installed at the following locations:

• The Nyanza Road SW and Gravelly Lake Drive SW interchange
• The Veteran’s Drive SW and Gravelly Lake Drive SW interchange.
• The Washington Boulevard SW and Gravelly Lake Drive SW interchange.
• The Interlaaken Drive SW and Washington Boulevard SW interchange.

· Gravelly Lake Drive SW between Nyanza Road SW and Veteran’s Drive SW will be completely rebuilt.

• New curbs, sidewalks, gutters, landscaping, lighting, and other features will be installed.

In the first stage of construction, Gravelly Lake Drive SW will be closed between Nyanza Road SW to Veteran’s Drive SW for 7 to 8 months. Local access will be permitted at the north end of the closed section via Veteran’s Drive SW.

See more details about project and sign up for e-mail updates here.

Other Ongoing Construction:

Steilacoom BLVD (Weller to Custer)

Phase one of this project is complete. Phase two, the installation of sidewalks along this area, is anticipated to begin in summer/fall 2021 and will be constructed in two phases due to funding sources. Relocation of utility poles to make way for the sidewalks is expected to begin in spring/summer 2021.

Onyx Drive

Work began in April 2020 on this 1.55-mile project that improves the road with curb and gutter on both sides, adds bicycle and pedestrian facilities, includes street lighting on one side of the road and associated storm drainage upgrades. The contractor is conducting final cleanup activities and repairs to private infrastructure impacted by the project. All keys have been distributed to residents in the past week who were home, all others will be picking up their keys at the Post Office.

Veteran’s Drive

This project rebuilds 1.63 miles of Veterans Drive into a two lane section with curb, gutter, sidewalk, bike/pedestrian path, streetlights, and landscape strip if ROW allows. Roundabouts have been added to three key intersections, and the new cluster mailboxes are almost fully installed. The contractor is working on installation of irrigation, street lights, and sidewalk construction between the American Lake Park and the VA Hospital entrance.

The contractor is completing final items and cleaning up work areas. Final seal coat on the parking lot will occur when weather permits. Mailbox keys will be available and distributed within the next few weeks.

Lakewood Drive Sidewalk Project

The Public Works Engineering Department has issued a contract for construction of sidewalks on Lakewood Drive between Steilacoom Boulevard and Flett Creek. The contractor initiated work late February 2021 and will finish work in April. Speeds have been restricted to 25 mph within the work zone.

100th Street SW and Lakewood Drive Traffic Signal

The Public Works Engineering Department has issued a contract to rebuild the traffic signal at the intersection of 100th Street SW and Lakewood Drive an install sidewalks on the north side of 100th from the Chick-Fil-A sidewalk to the Lakewood Drive intersection. Additional fill in sidewalk will be constructed on the south side east and west of the intersection. The contractor will commence work in mid-March.

112th/111th Street Project

The Public Works Engineering Department has issued a contract to reconstruct 112th/111th streets between Bridgeport Way and Kendrick Street. New roadway surface, curb, gutter, sidewalks, and illumination will be constructed. The contractor will start work on March 10th and the roadway will be closed to all traffic except local access only until mid-May.

108th Street Overlay

The Public Works Engineering Department will refresh the driving surface on 108th between Bridgeport Way SW and Pacific Highway. PWE is currently working with Lakewood Water District on two major crossings to be constructed prior to the road project. The contact has been awarded to Northwest Cascade, Inc. of Puyallup, WA. Work is expected to begin in mid- to late-April, 2021.

COVID-19 UPDATES

Lakewood and Pierce County to advance to Phase 3 of the Healthy Washington Plan

Effective March 22, the entire state will enter Phase 3.

Sports guidance will change in Phase 3 to allow in-person spectators at events for the first time in a year. Spectators will be allowed to attend outdoor venues with permanent seating with capacity capped at 25%. The change affects both professional and high school sports, as well as motorsports, rodeos, and other outdoor spectator events. Social distancing and facial covering are still required.

See Governor Inslee’s announcement here.

K-12 educators and licensed child care workers granted COVID-19 vaccine eligibility

Effective March 17, all Phase 1B, Tier 2 individuals may receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This new group includes:

• High-risk critical workers* in the following industries: agriculture, fishing vessel crews, food processing, grocery store/food bank, corrections (prisons, jails, detention centers), court of law, public transit, and remaining first responders
• People 16 years or older who are pregnant or have a disability that puts them at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness
• Anyone 65 and older
• All people 50 and older who also live in a multigenerational household
• All workers at risk in health care settings
• Educators and school staff for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, and child care workers
• People who live or work in long-term care facilities

See more information about COVID-19 vaccines here.

COVID-19 Resources

Eviction moratorium extended

The statewide eviction moratorium has been extended by three months to June 20, 2021.

The eviction moratorium prohibits landlords from serving (or threatening to serve) any notice to vacate or terminate a rental. There are several exceptions:

1. If the action is necessary to respond to an immediate risk to the health, safety, or property of others by the resident.
2. If the landlord intends to personally occupy the unit or sell the unit, and provides at least 60 days’ notice by affidavit.

The moratorium also prohibits the assessment (or threat of) late fees, among other requirements.

Review the full proclamation here.

Utility shutoff moratorium extended

The statewide utility shutoff moratorium has been extended to July 31, 2020.

The moratorium prohibits the disconnection of residential customers from energy, telecommunications, or water service due to nonpayment (except at the request of the customer). The moratorium also prohibits refusal of reconnection, the charging of late fees, or the disconnection of residents who has contacted the utility to request payment assistance.

Read the full proclamation here.

Subscribe to the State’s COVID-19 Business and Worker Newsletter

The Business and Worker Newsletter summarizes new COVID-19 laws and updates that affect businesses in workers in Washington State. The newsletter also summarizes updates in available business relief funding, worker’s rights, and other topics.

Subscribe here.

Support available for those affected by stress of COVID-19

Washington Listens is a phone support line to help manage elevated stress during the pandemic. Calls are answered by support specialists that can connect callers to local resources.

Learn more here.

City Council March 22, 2021 meeting preview

How to Participate:

• City of Lakewood YouTube Channel
• Listen by telephone: Dial +1(253) 215- 8782 and enter participant ID: 868 7263 2373.

March 22, 2021 Study Session

• Contaminated Properties Update
• Review FY2021 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Annual Action Plan
• Review of Chapter 9.06 of the Lakewood Municipal Code related to Controlled Substances
• Reports by the City Manager – Review of March 27, 2021 City Council Retreat Agenda

March 27, 2021 (Saturday) City Council Retreat (8:30 A.M.)

• Goal Setting for 2021-2022 Biennium

Learn how to comment or testify publicly at City Coucil regular meetings here.

Open Positions

Community Advisory Boards

Click here to learn about community advisory boards.

• Landmarks and Heritage Advisory Board: Up to 5 vacancies. Open until filled.

City of Lakewood Jobs

• Positions are available. Learn more here.

Report problems and stay engaged with MyLakewood311

The City of Lakewood has a free mobile application called “MyLakewood311.” The app allows citizens to report issues and features important public announcements about detours and other need-to-know topics.

Download MyLakewood311 now in the iTunes App Store or on Google Play.

Subscribe to e-mail updates

Visit this link to subscribe to various City of Lakewood newsfeeds.

Newsfeeds include:

• 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.