Monday, October 30, 2006
Good News from Clover Park Tech
I'm overdue on sharing happy Lakewood news from a recent meeting of the Clover Park Technical College's General Advisory Council. I represent Comcast on the council, but as a Lakewood guy I'm also always happy to hear about great goings on both at CPTC and at Pierce College. Education is important to the economy, but education is important to the entire community.
I took about a page of notes at the CPTC meeting, and this is a very subjective summary. Lots going on there.
1. CPTC just started a histology technician program. Histology technicians are most famous for preparing slides of crime evidence and bantering with TV detectives, but in real life these are folks who can work in human clinical, veterinary or research laboratories.
2. CPTC is opening a business development center to help grow business within Lakewood and, of course, surrounding areas. Sometimes the big difference in whether a business succeeds or fails is not the business model, or cash flow, but the education and knowledge base of its operators. The center will have many features, including a free business assessment for CPTC students. As a bonus, the center is also the new home of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce.
3. CPTC is establishing a microlending program, which is a fancy term for a small loan program. It's also sometimes called microcredit. Banks often deal in loans of tens of thousands of dollars, whereas someone who wants to open a coffee stand or set up a beautician practice may not need so much, or so many hurdles.
Other bits of happy news:
State Farm donated two hybrid vehicles that have been in wrecks, so students at CPTC can practice auto tech skills on hybrids.
The college is develping anatomy and microbiology courses to increase the number of classes people can take on campus in preparation for health care careers.
A student center is under construction. Not only will it provide Lakewood's largest public meeting area, but it will house several programs such as retail business marketing and the floral program.
With some of the space freed up by the move of these programs, there are plans to create a 'spa' where visitors can drop in and get worked on by students in several programs, such as massage and cosmetology.
A waterfront construction program helps students learn how to build things like piers and docks (always relevant in Lakewood and Tacoma).
A horticulture option is being added to the landscape management program.
A competitive Opportunity Grant will help covers costs to help bring dozens of students into the job market in such occupations as nursing and environmental cleanup.
If your computer allows it, you can watch a video about the college.
Forward this post
I took about a page of notes at the CPTC meeting, and this is a very subjective summary. Lots going on there.
1. CPTC just started a histology technician program. Histology technicians are most famous for preparing slides of crime evidence and bantering with TV detectives, but in real life these are folks who can work in human clinical, veterinary or research laboratories.
2. CPTC is opening a business development center to help grow business within Lakewood and, of course, surrounding areas. Sometimes the big difference in whether a business succeeds or fails is not the business model, or cash flow, but the education and knowledge base of its operators. The center will have many features, including a free business assessment for CPTC students. As a bonus, the center is also the new home of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce.
3. CPTC is establishing a microlending program, which is a fancy term for a small loan program. It's also sometimes called microcredit. Banks often deal in loans of tens of thousands of dollars, whereas someone who wants to open a coffee stand or set up a beautician practice may not need so much, or so many hurdles.
Other bits of happy news:
State Farm donated two hybrid vehicles that have been in wrecks, so students at CPTC can practice auto tech skills on hybrids.
The college is develping anatomy and microbiology courses to increase the number of classes people can take on campus in preparation for health care careers.
A student center is under construction. Not only will it provide Lakewood's largest public meeting area, but it will house several programs such as retail business marketing and the floral program.
With some of the space freed up by the move of these programs, there are plans to create a 'spa' where visitors can drop in and get worked on by students in several programs, such as massage and cosmetology.
A waterfront construction program helps students learn how to build things like piers and docks (always relevant in Lakewood and Tacoma).
A horticulture option is being added to the landscape management program.
A competitive Opportunity Grant will help covers costs to help bring dozens of students into the job market in such occupations as nursing and environmental cleanup.
If your computer allows it, you can watch a video about the college.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Photos from the museum's first day
You'll find the posting about the opening below.
We should quickly add that Donnie Weeks is not part of the exhibit. Donnie was one of the first visitors. Donnie is one of the folks, like Cy Happy, who has carried the torch for Lakewood history for so many years.
I'm not entirely sure she and I were supposed to enter the exhibit, but hey, there has to be some perks for being there the first day. I don't believe anyone answered on the other end of the line since the room represents the year 1937. If someone had answered the phone from 1937...
... we would have asked whoever answered to ask Norton Clapp to pose for a photo with the Lakewood Colonial Center! We need that photo for whenever we do another Lakewood history book. However many months the book has been out, I am still unaware of a photo of Mr. Clapp in front of the theater or another of the buildings. I am thinking of offering a bounty, like maybe free dinner at a Lakewood Cares meeting.
This is a representation of what the police station will look like. I'm kidding. Gosh, calm down. This is actually a representation of a pioneer home.
Forward this post
We should quickly add that Donnie Weeks is not part of the exhibit. Donnie was one of the first visitors. Donnie is one of the folks, like Cy Happy, who has carried the torch for Lakewood history for so many years.
I'm not entirely sure she and I were supposed to enter the exhibit, but hey, there has to be some perks for being there the first day. I don't believe anyone answered on the other end of the line since the room represents the year 1937. If someone had answered the phone from 1937...
... we would have asked whoever answered to ask Norton Clapp to pose for a photo with the Lakewood Colonial Center! We need that photo for whenever we do another Lakewood history book. However many months the book has been out, I am still unaware of a photo of Mr. Clapp in front of the theater or another of the buildings. I am thinking of offering a bounty, like maybe free dinner at a Lakewood Cares meeting.
This is a representation of what the police station will look like. I'm kidding. Gosh, calm down. This is actually a representation of a pioneer home.
Museum opens in Lakewood
Here's an updated version of a note that I sent to Gary Fowler, Janda Volkmer and other people who helped open our storefront museum on Saturday - hopefully we'll see you there 11 - 4 on Fridays and Saturdays (more info is on the group's web page, though please note that for now the museum is only open Fridays and Saturdays):
Gary, you and Janda and the rest of the group that worked on the leasing and the interior and the permits and the sign and whatever else should be proud. Today was my first visit to the space. For all anyone would have known walking in, the museum could have been open for awhile. (I'm going to stop calling it the storefront. It's a first-phase museum). Well, OK, so it needs a little merchandise and a couple of backs of display walls are available. But little would a new visitor know we are just starting, until of course they talk to one of the volunteers and learn of so many plans.
I was there only a relatively short time today, but I saw people already starting to bring in items that we would have loved to have had for the book: photos of lady golfers at the Lakeside Club circa 1930, for example, or the society ladies clustered around the Thornewood fountain. There's no question that the presence of a place that cares about our heritage will unleash a wave of artifacts to share with future generations. As just one small example of the many things I learned today, I had no idea until I looked at one of many wonderful maps on the walls and dividers that 'Wildaire' began existence as the phrase 'Wild Air.' I would suspect that there is something new in the museum for each of us to learn. The timeline exhibit is extraordinary, especially given, well, the timeline of its birth.
I'll post some photos on my blog (note on Monday; those will have to wait, because of some computer problems). It was a treat to get some photos of Donnie Weeks sitting in the Lakewood Log office display. For those of us who remember the cityhood campaign, and that's probably most of us, it was nice to see the face of Basil Vyzis, founder of the Lakewood Mall, on the wall.
I guess I could probably go on and on about all sorts of little telling details that mean so much, and so could each one of you. That treasury of details, which add up to so much heritage and so many lessons and examples for the future, will only grow richer.
Each person can also only answer for himself or herself as an individual if it has been worth the trouble for them, but if it's any consolation, I can promise you that a whole lot of education and interpretation will go on for years to come.
We have a museum now - like a 'real city.'
It's all thanks to your hard work. Well done, all of you!
Forward this post
Gary, you and Janda and the rest of the group that worked on the leasing and the interior and the permits and the sign and whatever else should be proud. Today was my first visit to the space. For all anyone would have known walking in, the museum could have been open for awhile. (I'm going to stop calling it the storefront. It's a first-phase museum). Well, OK, so it needs a little merchandise and a couple of backs of display walls are available. But little would a new visitor know we are just starting, until of course they talk to one of the volunteers and learn of so many plans.
I was there only a relatively short time today, but I saw people already starting to bring in items that we would have loved to have had for the book: photos of lady golfers at the Lakeside Club circa 1930, for example, or the society ladies clustered around the Thornewood fountain. There's no question that the presence of a place that cares about our heritage will unleash a wave of artifacts to share with future generations. As just one small example of the many things I learned today, I had no idea until I looked at one of many wonderful maps on the walls and dividers that 'Wildaire' began existence as the phrase 'Wild Air.' I would suspect that there is something new in the museum for each of us to learn. The timeline exhibit is extraordinary, especially given, well, the timeline of its birth.
I'll post some photos on my blog (note on Monday; those will have to wait, because of some computer problems). It was a treat to get some photos of Donnie Weeks sitting in the Lakewood Log office display. For those of us who remember the cityhood campaign, and that's probably most of us, it was nice to see the face of Basil Vyzis, founder of the Lakewood Mall, on the wall.
I guess I could probably go on and on about all sorts of little telling details that mean so much, and so could each one of you. That treasury of details, which add up to so much heritage and so many lessons and examples for the future, will only grow richer.
Each person can also only answer for himself or herself as an individual if it has been worth the trouble for them, but if it's any consolation, I can promise you that a whole lot of education and interpretation will go on for years to come.
We have a museum now - like a 'real city.'
It's all thanks to your hard work. Well done, all of you!
Friday, October 20, 2006
Building a budget for a building city, Pt. 2
Work continues on a 2007 budget for Lakewood. The next discussion is scheduled for Tuesday night because several folks could not be here Monday. I'll keep you posted.
Meantime, if you want to take a look at what government has been doing and what it wants to do, you might check out these links. The documents require that you have the Adobe PDF reader on your computer.
First, here's the report on the present and future of the Community Development Department. Just as you are likely to hear more about neighborhood policing, you are likely to hear more about Community Development and something with the snazzy name of 'abatement.' There is some discussion on the council about putting more emphasis on shutting down drug houses and getting rid of dangerous homes. A little girl apparently lay dead in Lakewood for months near one of these houses, and maybe we need to put more emphasis on replacing them with safe and legal residences.
And then of course you will want to read about the parks and recreation department. In addition, you should check out the parks department's list of projects they'd like to build. The list does not include a separate effort to get some hotel tax money to put up soccer goals and bleachers in Fort Steilacoom Park.
You will also want to read up on what road construction is planned. Among other things you will see construction set in 2008 for the incredibly badly needed left turn lane on Custer at John Dower. And you can also download the street department's annual report.
Forward this post
Meantime, if you want to take a look at what government has been doing and what it wants to do, you might check out these links. The documents require that you have the Adobe PDF reader on your computer.
First, here's the report on the present and future of the Community Development Department. Just as you are likely to hear more about neighborhood policing, you are likely to hear more about Community Development and something with the snazzy name of 'abatement.' There is some discussion on the council about putting more emphasis on shutting down drug houses and getting rid of dangerous homes. A little girl apparently lay dead in Lakewood for months near one of these houses, and maybe we need to put more emphasis on replacing them with safe and legal residences.
And then of course you will want to read about the parks and recreation department. In addition, you should check out the parks department's list of projects they'd like to build. The list does not include a separate effort to get some hotel tax money to put up soccer goals and bleachers in Fort Steilacoom Park.
You will also want to read up on what road construction is planned. Among other things you will see construction set in 2008 for the incredibly badly needed left turn lane on Custer at John Dower. And you can also download the street department's annual report.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Building a budget for a building city, Pt. 1
This month, over five Monday and Wednesday nights, the Lakewood City Council embarks on what's likely the most important work it will do in 2006.
This is the month we dive into meticulous reports from the city manager and staff. We prepare a budget for 2007. This is where the tough decisions are made. How many police officers do we have? How many people work in the permit department? How many people will respond to complaints about speeding or about drug houses?
In short ... what kind of services will the city offer?
It's important stuff. My goal after every workshop is to provide information so you can begin to develop your own opinions. This post reflects info from the first night of the workshops, so we are very early in the process.
Document 1 this week is the city manager's summary of the burning issues. In this, Andrew Neiditz educates us about a number of things. You can read them for yourself, but among them:
- The draft budget eliminates seven jobs in order to balance the budget. Now, bear in mind, this is draft. The budget must be approved by the council after public hearings. But it is part of Andrew's job to give us a draft balanced budget to work from. The jobs are vacant, so layoffs are not anticipated.
- The jobs that were eliminated include two community service officers, who have been the cornerstone of the neighborhood policing policy. More on that in a sec.
- The business license fee would go from $35 to $45. It's still more in most cities, but this is still obviously an increase.
- The water district would, for the first time, pass along a tax to customers on behalf of the city. It's pretty normal throughout the state to find a city tax on a water bill, but not at all in Lakewood. This would amount to about $6.75 a year for the average Lakewood water ratepayer, and raise about $250,000.
So yeah, we'll have something to talk about this month.
One thing found elsewhere in the budget: you can rest assured the city is taking the property tax initiative seriously. The budget assumes Lakewood will get $5.56 million in property taxes in 2007, up from $5.5 million in 2006. That's an increase of only about $10 per person in Lakewood. If your property taxes are going up a lot, please don't blame your friendly neighborhood city.
Document 2 is about the police department. On Monday and Wednesday nights, we will work our way through the proposed budget for each department. Police was first up as it is by far the largest department. You will find here the department's goals and accomplishments for this year, and the goals for next year.
Once again, you can read the info yourself. The one thing that I suspect jumped out at all of us is that instead of having one neighborhood police officer and one community service officer, each of the six police "beats" in Lakewood would share a half person. In other words, one neighborhood officer and one community service officer would work two neighborhoods.
The reason I keep bringing this up is that I think you will see it change. Even if it is not changed, the subject will sure be discussed. The council has generally been very supportive of giving more voice to individual neighborhoods. That's why Lakewood has promoted its system of neighborhood associations and their monthly meetings. I continue to believe it's awful that Oakbrook has never had such an association, and its own neighborhood police officer and community service officer. You can make a good argument that much of what Oakbrook gets for the taxes it pays to Lakewood are road improvements and police protection along or near the I-5 corridor. And that's dandy, but ... We need to push police into neighborhoods to help organize neighborhood watch groups and work with other neighborhood groups to prevent crime.
If we can prevent crime, we have fewer victims and fewer crimes.
That sounds like a good investment to me.
Of course, this means that the council has to find either $180,000 to hire three community service officers, or even $500,000 to bring on a full complement of community services officers and three neighborhood police officers. (Neighborhood police officers are full police officers, and come with a bigger cost in salaries and equipment)
That's a big chunk of change. Stay tuned for further discussion. We have the budget of every other department in the city to go through.
I should quickly note that nothing I have written about is guaranteed - that's why we are having these workshops. We'll go into all of these subjects in more detail.
Forward this post
This is the month we dive into meticulous reports from the city manager and staff. We prepare a budget for 2007. This is where the tough decisions are made. How many police officers do we have? How many people work in the permit department? How many people will respond to complaints about speeding or about drug houses?
In short ... what kind of services will the city offer?
It's important stuff. My goal after every workshop is to provide information so you can begin to develop your own opinions. This post reflects info from the first night of the workshops, so we are very early in the process.
Document 1 this week is the city manager's summary of the burning issues. In this, Andrew Neiditz educates us about a number of things. You can read them for yourself, but among them:
- The draft budget eliminates seven jobs in order to balance the budget. Now, bear in mind, this is draft. The budget must be approved by the council after public hearings. But it is part of Andrew's job to give us a draft balanced budget to work from. The jobs are vacant, so layoffs are not anticipated.
- The jobs that were eliminated include two community service officers, who have been the cornerstone of the neighborhood policing policy. More on that in a sec.
- The business license fee would go from $35 to $45. It's still more in most cities, but this is still obviously an increase.
- The water district would, for the first time, pass along a tax to customers on behalf of the city. It's pretty normal throughout the state to find a city tax on a water bill, but not at all in Lakewood. This would amount to about $6.75 a year for the average Lakewood water ratepayer, and raise about $250,000.
So yeah, we'll have something to talk about this month.
One thing found elsewhere in the budget: you can rest assured the city is taking the property tax initiative seriously. The budget assumes Lakewood will get $5.56 million in property taxes in 2007, up from $5.5 million in 2006. That's an increase of only about $10 per person in Lakewood. If your property taxes are going up a lot, please don't blame your friendly neighborhood city.
Document 2 is about the police department. On Monday and Wednesday nights, we will work our way through the proposed budget for each department. Police was first up as it is by far the largest department. You will find here the department's goals and accomplishments for this year, and the goals for next year.
Once again, you can read the info yourself. The one thing that I suspect jumped out at all of us is that instead of having one neighborhood police officer and one community service officer, each of the six police "beats" in Lakewood would share a half person. In other words, one neighborhood officer and one community service officer would work two neighborhoods.
The reason I keep bringing this up is that I think you will see it change. Even if it is not changed, the subject will sure be discussed. The council has generally been very supportive of giving more voice to individual neighborhoods. That's why Lakewood has promoted its system of neighborhood associations and their monthly meetings. I continue to believe it's awful that Oakbrook has never had such an association, and its own neighborhood police officer and community service officer. You can make a good argument that much of what Oakbrook gets for the taxes it pays to Lakewood are road improvements and police protection along or near the I-5 corridor. And that's dandy, but ... We need to push police into neighborhoods to help organize neighborhood watch groups and work with other neighborhood groups to prevent crime.
If we can prevent crime, we have fewer victims and fewer crimes.
That sounds like a good investment to me.
Of course, this means that the council has to find either $180,000 to hire three community service officers, or even $500,000 to bring on a full complement of community services officers and three neighborhood police officers. (Neighborhood police officers are full police officers, and come with a bigger cost in salaries and equipment)
That's a big chunk of change. Stay tuned for further discussion. We have the budget of every other department in the city to go through.
I should quickly note that nothing I have written about is guaranteed - that's why we are having these workshops. We'll go into all of these subjects in more detail.
A whole lot of history
Steve and I got our latest letter from Arcadia Publishing. To our astonishment, the company had sold about 1,500 copies of "Images of America: Lakewood through June.
That's a lot of history. It's great to see the word getting out to so many people!
Steve and I get about 45 cents or so each per book, which is great, and we think it brings us up to about $2 an hour now for the time we put into the research. Just kidding! We're glad Arcadia Publishing makes books like this possible. They cover the up-front costs, and provide the editors. There's no way this book could have happened without them. We did this to help unify a community around its shared heritage.
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That's a lot of history. It's great to see the word getting out to so many people!
Steve and I get about 45 cents or so each per book, which is great, and we think it brings us up to about $2 an hour now for the time we put into the research. Just kidding! We're glad Arcadia Publishing makes books like this possible. They cover the up-front costs, and provide the editors. There's no way this book could have happened without them. We did this to help unify a community around its shared heritage.
