CITY MANAGER'S INFOBULLETS: Jr. Police Academy, I Corps Commanding General and McNeil Island

• 3rd Annual Jr. Police Academy:  Community Safety & Resource Team (CSRT) members, along with the Lakewood Police and Lowes collaborated for the 3rd annual Jr. Police Academy on August 19th.  The academy’s purpose is to reach out to the community in an effort to provide a strong community partnership and also to provide an opportunity for children to interact with police officers.  The hands-on event began when each child received a passport to take from one activity booth to another. After completing the designated activity, they received a stamp of completion. Activities ranged from finger printing, obstacle course, meeting a K-9 officer, to completing the bicycle rodeo.   At the end of the event, the children were given a backpack with school supplies, and a bird house kit donated by Lowes as well as a certificate of completion from LPD and a bouncy house jump provided by the Parks Department.  About 95 people attended.

• City hosts welcoming reception for new I Corps Commanding General: The City of Lakewood hosted a welcoming reception for LTG Robert B. Brown, the new I Corps Commanding General and senior leaders on Joint Base Lewis-McChord on August 27th at Lakewold Gardens.  At the reception, General Brown spoke about how the positive relationship with the Lakewood community and his commitment to ensure that the mutually beneficial relationship continues.

• Quarterly employee recognition event: On August 29th, the quarterly employee recognition reception was combined with the annual employees’ picnic at Fort Steilacoom Park.  Awards for the guiding principle of Integrity were presented to Val Bonner, in Finance, for her diligent support of proper financial accounting and compliance as well as responsiveness to fellow employees, and also to Officer Mark Holthaus for his determined support of the in-car video camera program.

• HR director is a speaker at the Chamber of Commerce Brown Bag Lunch Series:  Human Resources Director Debra Young was one of the featured speakers at the Lakewood Chamber Brown Bag Lunch Series.  The topic was related to employee relations. The presentation was well received. The audience appreciated material provided on coaching employees with clear expectations.

• Ass’t city manager attends McNeil Island workshop:  Ass’t City Manager Dave Bugher attended a workshop sponsored by the State Office of Financial Management (OFM) regarding the future of McNeil Island on August 28th.  The Legislature directed OFM to prepare a report which is due to the Governor and Legislature by October 1, 2012.  The purpose of the report is threefold:  1) to consult with interested parties; 2) to collect information; and 3) to recommend a “planning process” from which to determine the long-term use of McNeil Island.  About 60 people were in attendance.  The McNeil Island Project Manager, Ann Sweeney, presented an overview.  Information was provided on the history of the underlying leases between the state and the federal government, and existing land use.  OFM staff accepted questions about the closure of the prison, the Special Commitment Center, status of existing infrastructure, the role of Indian Tribes, past eminent domain actions, historic and archeological resources, public access and recreation, and wildlife concerns. 

• Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) Public Engagement Workshop:  The city manager attended a regional meeting hosted by the MCEC in SeaTac this week, along with several other steering committee members of the South Sound Military & Communities Partnership (CPSD Superintendent Debbie LeBeau, Health director Anthony Chen, and Adjutant General Bret Daugherty. The focus of the session was on strategies to strengthen the resiliency of children of active military families. In Pierce County alone, there are over 25,000 children affected by military service and deployment.  A key facilitator of the workshop was Patty Shinseki, the wife of retired General Eric Shinseki, the US secretary of veterans affairs.

• CSRT attends Family Fun Day at Clover Park High School: Life Center South sponsored a Family Fun Day on August 25th at Clover Park High School from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  CSRT staff attended for a couple of hours, mixing with the hundreds of attendees, answering questions and promoting the CSRT.  There was a live band, free taco lunch, bouncy houses, and a variety of games and raffles. 

• CSRT conducts safety presentation:  CSRT Staff Gail Conelly conducted a safety presentation for the residents of a local apartment complex in District 4 on August 23rd. The presentation focused on burglary and motor vehicle theft/prowl prevention, as well as general safety tips. There will be a follow up site inspection with the management team of the apartment complex to offer recommendations for improved safety overall.

- Lakewood City Manager Andrew Neiditz