Community Meeting Follow-Up - jhitchen
August 27, 2026
Good morning, neighbors.
And just like that, school is back in session for many educators and even some students. Please remember this means you will see more young people walking in your neighborhoods in the morning and afternoons, and that school buses will be out.
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has a great article reminding drivers when they must stop and when it is OK to pass a school bus stop sign. Many districts have started installing cameras on their buses and can capture license plate numbers for offenders who choose to pass illegally.
Kids can be unpredictable, especially if they are distracted. We want drivers to be aware and give kids the time they need to exit a bus and get safely across streets. You can read the full article here. I find this graphic really helpful: Drivers: Know the Laws About School Bus Safety.
My main story for this newsletter, however, is that two weeks ago I held an in-person event in Parkland to help residents learn how to engage with Pierce County service providers and hear from community organizations that provide services in the Parkland area.
Resource Fair and Community Connection in Parkland
We had almost 20 tables, six county departments and offices, and almost 100 people walked through the doors of Keithley Middle School. The information shared is also great for those who live in other parts of the county that are not served by a city/town government, so I thought I would send a recap to my whole list, but it was a lot to cover. So, I dusted off my blog, The Hitchen Post, once again and shared a few highlights, along with a link to the full meeting information.
We had a wonderful meeting that gave the community many opportunities to engage with different county employees, from veterans’ services to code enforcement and everything in between. You can review the full list of questions and answers, along with links to every group that tabled at the event. Here are a couple of other questions I thought might resonate across the district.
Can we get the word out on Pierce County websites and phone numbers for illegal dumping, illegal encampments, graffiti, etc.?
A: You can report lots of issues on the Pierce County Works Portal | Pierce County, WA or download the App SeeClickFixand locate Pierce County. You can also work with our team to Adopt-A-Road if there is an area near your home or business that you would like to support around community clean-ups.. Our Public Works staff work hard to remain responsive, but they are always in “RESPONSE” mode. This means someone needs to tell them there is a problem.
When you report a code-enforcement or nuisance, do you have to provide your name?
You do not. However, if you use the See Click FixAPP, the report is attached to an email address you use when setting up your account. If you report online through the web-based format, you will be asked for your name and contact info so the department can follow up with questions, or if it escalates to legal action, so someone is “on the record.” However, you can always call the 24-hour service line at 253-798-6000.
What is the policy and/or law about homeless/drug activity in Parkland? People doing drugs, panhandling , and sleeping on the storefronts or anywhere and everywhere.
Being homeless is not in itself an illegal activity, but if the behavior makes you scared for your life or puts others in harm's way, you can call 9-1-1. This includes criminal behavior like trespassing, violent crimes, and other criminal activities. If our deputies have capacity, they may drive by or escalate it to a priority call. In addition, depending on what is being reported, they may dispatch emergency medical services or our Co-Responders, which support behavioral health concerns.
If you see someone you believe is experiencing homelessness or needs help, here are a couple of ways you can respond:
If someone is having a behavioral health crisis: Call 9-8-8
If someone needs shelter: They can call the Shelter Access Hub (Family Promise of Puget Sound), a 24/7 call line, at 253-444-4563
If someone needs housing or another resource: They can call Access Pierce (United Way) at 1-800-572-HELP (4357) or 253-572-4357. There are also some organizations that will take walk-in appointments, such as St. Vincent de Paul: Get Help — SVDP Tacoma-Pierce
With all the fires and other emergencies – How can I stay informed?
Pierce County Alert (PC Alert) is a great place to start. The Pierce County Department of Emergency Management uses this to share notifications, like fires and other emergencies. By using PC Alert, you can create a profile and identify up to five different addresses to get notified via text or email if there is any kind of emergency activation in the area. The Fire Marshall’s team is also willing to meet with community groups or even come to your home to do an assessment of your property for fire risk.
I truly appreciate all the questions, and you can review them all here at my Hitchen-Post Blog entry.
Community Connections
District 6 Library Events: Pierce County Library events and classes at the Anderson Island, DuPont, Lakewood, Parkland/Spanaway, Steilacoom, Tillicum, and Virtual libraries.
Rescheduled Concert in the Park: Thursday, Aug. 27th starting at 6:30 p.m. in Clocktower Park in DuPont. Enjoy the final concert of the summer with the Abbagraphs.
Anderson Island Labor Day Parade & Fair: Saturday, September 5th from 11 a.m. until the last participant walks to ALCC, then enjoy the country fair. Hope to see you there.
Big Bargain Bonanza-City Wide Yard Sale: Saturday, Sept. 12th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. show in Clocktower Park as people turn out to sell items they want to part with. You can reserve a spot to sell, too.
Community Expo in Lakewood by the Korean Women’s Association (KWA): Wednesday, Sept. 16th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Clover Park Technical College McGavick Conference Center.
Parkland Community Center Rummage Sale: Friday, Sept. 18th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. & Saturday, Sept. 19th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Parkland School; you can shop for clothes, antiques, toys, and craft items. Stop by any time.
Communication in the World of Alzheimer’s: Saturday, Sept. 19th from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Rainier View Christian Church at 12305 Spanaway Loop Rd S in Parkland. This free event is geared for families supporting loved ones struggling with Alzheimer’s and dementia, along with professionals seeking further learning and continuing education credits. Register to secure your spot and lunch.
As we wrap up August and say hello to September, I hope you got some much-needed time with family and friends over the summer months. While there are still some hot days ahead, I am thankful for the fall weather, some rainfall to help our gardens, and the beginning of a new school year.
Take care and have a wonderful Labor Day weekend.
Jani