LaceyLife – August 2023
Lacey Welcomes New City Manager Rick Walk
The Lacey City Council officially selected Rick Walk as the new City Manager during the July 6 Council meeting.
“The unanimous vote clearly shows that the City Council believes
Rick’s credentials, background, and experience are the right
combination to lead Lacey into the future,” stated Mayor Andy
Ryder. “We are excited to see the City continue to grow and
develop under his leadership.”
You can learn more about him by reading the press release on our website – but, we thought you’d enjoy a more personal Q&A:
Q: What are some of your favorite things about Lacey?
A: The community, the people, the small-town feel even though it’s a growing big town, the pride the people take in their community, and that the City of Lacey is a people-first organization.
Q: What do you like to do when you’re not working?
A: I like to get out in the woods, camping, and hiking. I enjoy kayaking, especially in the Woodard Bay area, it’s so peaceful and, of course, spending time with my family. I can’t forget to mention my love for smoking stuff in my Big Green Egg!
Q: Pineapple on pizza, yes or no?
A: Well, it’s the great compromise for a healthy marriage to occasionally allow pineapple on a pizza!
Q: Tell us about your time with the City.
A: My experience has been fantastic! I originally came to the City thinking I would stay 4 or 5 years, but I instantly found a home in the organization and the community. The organization’s culture is just what I was looking for and the next thing I know, 20+ years has passed. I appreciate the organization’s innovative approach to challenges and value the many connections I’ve made, and continue to make, over the years.
Rick is excited for the opportunity his new role gives him to continue his personal and professional growth and build upon the foundations set by his predecessors. “As Interim City Manager, I was able to see the City from a different perspective and saw it as an opportunity to serve, as a rejuvenating way to learn and grow, and to honor the work previous managers set in place,” Rick said.
Lacey Depot Park: Home to Food Trucks, Community Events, and More!
Lacey Food Truck Depot
In addition to the park amenities, Depot Park is home to the Lacey Food Truck Depot. On any given day you can find a variety of food options to choose from, based on the vendors’ schedules. Each food truck is an independent, small business and operates on their own schedule.
Community Events
The City and Love Local Events WA have teamed up to bring First Fridays @ the Depot and Sundays in the Park events to our community from April to October. The events include food trucks, music, activities, local vendors, and more!
In addition, Lacey Parks, Culture & Recreation has a Play in the Parks event at the Depot Park on August 10, featuring Eric Ode.
Learn more about Lacey Parks, Culture & Recreation Events and all City Parks and Trails on their website.
New Lacey Police Station Update
The City continues making progress on the project to construct a new Police Station that will also include a Community Room and Emergency Operation Center. The new facility is anticipated to be approximately 40,000 square feet and is designed to grow with and vastly improve the Police Department’s ability to provide services to our growing community for the next 30-40 years.
Facility Enhancements
The existing facility, built in 1985, does not meet current accessibility standards or the City’s policing needs. The new facility will improve the Lacey Police Department’s (LPD) ability to provide programming with an emphasis on innovation, technology, and wellness. Based on the 2019 needs-assessment study, the facility will include the following enhancements:
- Accessibility, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion emphasis.
- Community-Engagement Spaces for community events and meetings.
- Safe Spaces for custody exchanges and transactions.
- Improved Investigation Spaces with safe, comfortable interview rooms that offer privacy for victims and witnesses, and safe, secure rooms to interview suspects.
- Enhanced Training Areas with designated spaces for classroom-based training, work out/physical training areas, and defense-tactics training.
- Emergency Operations Center (EOC) that will allow for continuity of government services during a critical event (e.g., natural disaster, etc.).
- Improved Officer Safety including safe evidence handling and storage spaces, and improved separation of secure spaces.
Project Next Steps
The project is currently in the 90% Design Review phase and is anticipated to go before the Lacey City Council for another review in September. The City plans to use a combination of funding, including: reserves, American Rescue Plan Act (APRA) funds, and limited-tax general obligation (LTGO) bonds. This approach means the project will not require any additional taxes for Lacey community members.
Learn More
To find out more about the new Lacey Police Station, including facility history, forest conservation efforts, project timeline, and more, visit the project webpage.
Maple Court Enhanced Shelter Now Open
During a July 5 ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Maple Court enhanced shelter officially opened to house people living on state property along rights-of-way. Funding for the purchase of the former hotel in Lacey comes from the state Department of Commerce Rights-of-Way program initiated by Governor Inslee and supported by the state legislature.
The Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI), a nonprofit housing organization committed to providing affordable housing for people in need, will operate the facility 24/7. LIHI will provide on-site case management to help shelter residents obtain
permanent housing, employment, health care, counseling, and other services.
Residents must agree to a Code of Conduct as a condition of staying at the site.
Learn More
To learn more the City’s response to homelessness, including Maple Court, visit the webpage.
Check Out The Lacey Museum’s Traveling Exhibit!
America and its history is a patchwork of many tales which have been woven over time from the voyages of people—both voluntary and involuntary—who traveled from city-to-city, state-to-state, and around the world to find new opportunities. Whether by air, land or sea, travel has played a crucial part in our economic and cultural identities.
You can check out Journey Stories, organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, at the Lacey Museum:
Thursdays: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Fridays: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Visit the Lacey Museum website to learn more.
View the August LaceyLife in pdf format.
