Weekly Report – June 18, 2021

Civic Center Project Update

Work continues to move forward with the design of a new Civic Center. As reported last week, we are working to create a facility that meets the City’s needs which can be constructed within the designated budget. We plan to present a proposed design for a new Civic Center, which will include City Hall, the Police Department, and Recreation Center, to the City Council at its September 14 meeting.

Along with the planning and design of the new buildings, staff continues to prepare for the demolition of the existing Recreation Center. This action is necessary due to public safety concerns mostly related to the building’s seismic deficiencies. Demolition will most likely occur in late summer or early fall. This schedule will give the City time to make the needed utility adjustments, relocate the City’s Preschool Program to its new temporary home, and allow the City Council to finalize the plan for the new recreation center.

We will continue to keep you posted as this important project moves forward.

Recreation Programming

Recreation Programs are important, and the City is looking for your feedback. The Parks Commission will host its second listening session to hear from residents on what type of recreation programs you would like to see. Please save the date – July 21 at 7:00 pm. We encourage you to participate and submit your ideas for recreation opportunities.

Grants

As a small city, we work hard to deliver quality service most efficiently. And grants have been a critical element in this effort. City Staff has leveraged city funds successfully with awarded grant funds to accomplish major capital improvement projects.  Among these include 4th Ave SW Overlay, 1st  Ave S Overlay with Curb Ramp Retrofit, and design work for the Walker & Sequoia Creeks culvert replacement.  This year, the City is expected to accomplish 2.4 million dollars of work, with the City’s portion of the project cost around 17% or $400,000.

Police

Did you know that Normandy Park residents participate in the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS)? All King County residents fund the AFIS through a property tax levy that is up for renewal every six years and is very beneficial. They conduct fingerprint comparisons and now have mobile teams that will come out and process crime scenes for fingerprint evidence. This service has been utilized several times by our own Police Department. For more information, please see the message from the Chair, who is our very own Chief Yourkoski.

Community Development

Community Development continues to appreciate our customers’ patience as we manage permit workflow throughout this “peak season” of construction and remodeling. To give context, at this time last year, we had received or issued 67 electrical permits. As of this time this year, we have received or issued 110 electrical permits. Wow! There is a wealth of information on the website, both on the Community Development and the Permits page.

“The Parks Commission will host its second listening session to hear from residents on what type of recreation programs you would like to see…”