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Park staff outline park-code update, youth council kickoff and growing farmers market
Summary
Park staff briefed the board on a narrow park-code update that adds a definition for "special event," introduced a new youth council member, and highlighted farmers market attendance, SNAP/Healthy Bucks programs, festival activities and several grant applications to fund shoreline and boat-launch work.
Park staff told the board they had updated the park code to add a clear definition of "special event" after a risk-management audit requested that the city make permit triggers explicit for activities that affect ordinary public use or require additional city services.
The director said the change was definitional rather than a substantive code rewrite and that the Lakewood Municipal Code remains the overarching reference. Nikki York, office assistant, noted staff provided a link to the full code and explained the permit forms, pre'event reviews and interdepartmental checks used to evaluate events.
The director also presented the board with a series of community program updates. The youth council held a kickoff in August; staff said the program includes roughly 42 youth council members and introduced Zoe, a first'year member who said the council gives young people a chance to "have a say in what our city does" and to volunteer.
Staff highlighted the farmers market as a major community event, estimating 5,000 to 7,000 attendees during peak weeks and noting ongoing program supports: SNAP match, WIC participation and a Healthy Bucks voucher program for children. Staff reported roughly $18,000 in SNAP and matching funds across the last two market seasons and said Healthy Bucks are small $2 vouchers provided through local partners to help children try fresh produce.
The board also heard grant updates for waterfront access projects: staff said the city was the second'ranked applicant for a $2.2 million water access request, ranked third for an Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account (ALEA) grant with a $500,000 maximum, and plans to apply for a roughly $1 million boat'launch grant. Staff estimated the combined plan could total about $7.8 million in project costs and said rankings make funding likely, though statewide revenue pressures mean outcomes are not guaranteed.
Finally, staff updated the board on the shelter'over'log heritage project: fence materials have arrived, Neely Construction completed the pad, and a volunteer from Gig Harbor will reseal the log once the shelter is installed; additional permits and contractor scheduling remain.
Staff closed by inviting board members to review the posted code updates and consider topics for the board''s 2025 work program.
