South Sound 911 to build public safety communications center

When the citizens of Pierce County voted in support of public safety in November 2011, an interlocal agency called South Sound 911 was formed to provide efficiencies in public safety. The vote authorized a 0.1 percent sales tax increase to fund both the consolidation of six disparate 911 centers and create a reliable, regional emergency communications radio network. To accommodate this integration, a new public safety communications center will be constructed over the next two years.

The new public safety communications center is more than a building. A planning study completed in 2013 helped determine that collocated police and fire communications on a single site would provide the most efficiencies, both in operations and cost. This “hybrid campus” will house both police and fire communications responders who will use the same 911 phone system and the same dispatch system – meaning improved communications, seamless interoperability, and information-sharing – all in an effort to quickly get police, fire or medical aid where it’s needed.

In the coming weeks, South Sound 911 will be evaluating a “preferred” building site at 2119 Mildred St. W. in Fircrest and will be hosting a series of public meetings around the county. South Sound 911 Executive Director Andrew Neiditz will be speaking in County Council District 6 on Wednesday, June 3rd at noon at the Clover Park Rotary meeting held at Carr’s Restaurant & Catering (11006 Bridgeport Way SW, Lakewood).

For more information about South Sound 911, please visit their website, or for information specific to the new public safety communications center, please visit the project page.

Code in the cloud makes Pierce County law more accessible for you

Now that the County has finished moving its online charter and code to Code Publishing, a Seattle-based Codification company, citizens and county staff will see and experience increased functionality provided through the new site. The overall responsibility for the charter and code remains with the County Council and it is still accessible through www.piercecountywa.org/code.

Individuals desiring to browse and locate information can now more easily search and navigate the entire charter and code. New features include:

The ability to share and link to specific titles, chapters and even sections of the charter and code.
The ability to share code via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, Google, and more.
The ability to print and save in multiple formats, including Word, PDF, Kindle, iPad, and more.
An expandable/collapsible table of contents.
Links to other referenced code sections and links to state laws.
Advanced, scalable search options.

Please visit our website for more information on how this affects you.

Pitch-in to clean up Seeley Lake Park

Pitch-In for Parks is a great opportunity for all ages and abilities (ages 14 and under with a guardian). Volunteers are needed for an hour, two hours or for the entire time.

Volunteers are also encouraged to bring work gloves and pruners if available, but Parks will also provide supplies, as well as water and a small snack for volunteers.

This is a rain or shine event, so weather appropriate clothing should be worn.

On Saturday, April 25th, they'll be at Seeley Lake Park from 9:00 am - noon, clearing ivy and blackberry plants as well as picking up litter. Meet at the entrance to the park, which is adjacent to the Lakewood Community Center parking lot (9112 Lakewood Drive SW in Lakewood). Check in will take place under a pop up canopy and there is no need to pre-register for this event. Just show up and sign in! Visit the website for more information.