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Lakewood outlines street‑end volunteer program; council urges pragmatic rollout amid survey, encroachment concerns
Summary
City staff described a new street‑end volunteer program that will require updated resolutions, site surveys and an annual permitting process; council members urged beginning work on undisputed parcels rather than waiting for surveys and asked staff to look for ways to expedite implementation.
City staff told the Lakewood City Council on Monday that a planned street‑end volunteer program will require changes to city resolutions, site surveys and updated volunteer protocols, and council members urged a pragmatic rollout to let volunteers start work on undisputed areas sooner.
“Site selection criteria … eligible street ends will be limited to those that are publicly accessible, low risk, and meet minimum safety thresholds,” Interim City Manager Krause said in a staff report to the council, listing legislative updates, training requirements and a projected 3-to-4 month lead time for survey scheduling on sites that lack clear property boundaries.
Council members said the program is worthwhile but cautioned that using surveys as the only way to determine work areas could delay volunteer activity for months. “I do think we could get started on that rather than waiting … surveys that take three to four months,” Council member Branstetter said, urging staff to identify areas with no boundary dispute where volunteers can begin work immediately.
Council member Brandcenter (as recorded at the meeting) pressed staff to run permitting and guideline updates in parallel where possible to speed implementation; Council member Bokey, who toured several street‑end sites, said some parcels have markers inside neighbor fences and warned the program could create boundary disputes if not carefully managed.
Krause said the program will include an annual permit that relieves volunteers from procuring individual right‑of‑way insurance and that volunteers will receive site‑specific training and city identification. Surveys will be required only when property boundaries are unclear to avoid trespass.
Council members asked staff to prioritize a limited set of low‑risk sites where neighbors agree on work boundaries, to begin volunteer activity quickly while continuing surveys and encroachment resolution as a separate effort. No formal action was taken Monday; staff will return with details and scheduling.
