Lakewood staff review 2025 advisory‑board work plans; council liaisons remain unchanged

City staffer Michael Vargas presented work plans for Lakewood’s advisory boards and committees at the Jan. 13 study session and outlined schedules and priorities for 2025, including an opioid‑settlement funding RFP process, street‑end planning, parks capital projects and climate resiliency work tied to state mandates.

Vargas reviewed boards individually: the American Lake Management District Advisory Committee’s summer invasive vegetation work; the Arts Commission’s public art, rotating displays and performance‑arts programming; the Community Services Advisory Board’s ongoing human‑services role plus a newly integrated opioid settlement program that will follow an RFP schedule; the Lakewood Promise youth initiatives; Lodging Tax Advisory Committee timing; Parks and Recreation Advisory Board involvement in street‑end design and the Nisqually/Silicon Park trail partnership; Planning Commission work on climate‑focused comprehensive plan amendments and implementation of House Bill 1181; Public Safety Advisory Committee support for capital‑project safety reviews; and the Youth Council’s events and planned participation in the pilot Youth Municipal Academy.

Vargas summarized the Community Services Advisory Board’s opioid settlement timeline: finalize a community‑assessment method in February, begin consultant research in March, review and finalize an RFP in June, release the RFP in July, evaluate proposals in August and present funding recommendations to council in October with follow-up in November.

Council members discussed board roles, overlap and outreach. Council Member Branson and others encouraged inclusion of youth and neighborhood groups where appropriate; Council Member Bokey said staff will coordinate directly with neighborhood associations. Mayor and councilors reviewed existing liaison assignments and — after asking whether anyone wished to change assignments —…