Meeting Dates

Last Monday of the month, 7:00 pm at City Hall, 17425 Ballinger Way NE. Meetings are open to the public.
image: blue arrow pointing right Current Month's Agenda
image: blue arrow pointing right Meeting Notes



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About the EQC

The Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) works to develop policies and action plans which provide and protect the environmental well being of Lake Forest Park. We act as an "umbrella" for and work cooperatively with other environmentally related action groups in the City. The Commission provides educational activities, and works with school and community groups, as well as individuals in understanding and protecting the natural environment.


Current Commissioners

Chair: Mark Phillips and Jim Halliday, Co-chairs
Members: Julian Andersen, Doug Hennick, Jacqueline Gardner, David Farkas
City Staff Liaison: Aaron Halverson


Stormwater Mapping Presentation - Alex Wallace, GIS Intern

Alex Wallace is a Western Washington University student studying GIS and planning.  He was hired by the City in June 2008 to develop maps of the Lyon and McAleer Creek basins and the City's stormwater system to help staff better understand water quantity and quality in the Lake Forest Park region.

Wallace presented his work during the August 25, 2008 EQC meeting.  His presentation incorporated numerous GIS maps of the McAleer Creek and Lyon Creek basins with emphasis on impervious surfaces and catchment basins.  Wallace demonstrated that GIS is a powerful tool the City can use to better understand numerous issues in our region including crime, stormwater, utilities, parks, operation and maintenance, land use, sensitive areas and tree canopy.

Click here to download the presentation (3 MB)

Click here to download a map of the impervious surfaces and slope by catchment basin in the Lyon Creek and McAleer Creek Basin based on calculations using orthophotography (1.3 MB)

Click here to download a map of impervious surfaces according to municipal zoning in the McAleer Creek Basin (1.2 MB)

Click here to download a map of impervious surfaces by catchment basin in the McAleer Creek Basin based on calculations using aerial photographs (1.4 MB)


How Your Garden Can Reduce Stormwater in Lake Forest Park

image:rpse, (c) Tyson Greer, please do not use without written permission"Former Lake Forest Park resident Val Easton’s first Seattle Times article of 2008, “Absorb This” describes the why and how of “rain gardens.”

As Val notes, “A good rain garden collects, absorbs, and filters water in much the same way forests used to do.” Find out how easy it is to build one in your garden and help control stormwater in our city’s watershed.

Related links:

New Strategies for Stormwater (Pierce County)
Download: Rain Garden Handbook for Western Washington Homeowners
Soils for Salmon: Best Practices for Soil Building
Visit: How To: Soil Best Management Practices, Tools, & Specifications

Volunteer with StreamKeepers of Lake Forest Park

If you care about the long-term fitness of our streams, join in to the activities of StreamKeepers of Lake Forest Park, an informal group of volunteers who participate in stream monitoring, watershed stewardship, and stream restoration to support salmon and trout.

Besides having fun, students who participate in our projects earn community service credits. Contact co-chairs Mark Phillips or Jim Halliday for more information.


Urban Forest Task Force

image: tiny treeThe Urban Forest Task Force has prepared a new section of the City's website focused on Lake Forest Park's trees called Forest is Our Middle Name: A Guide to Preserving and Enjoying Our Urban Forest.

The Task Force, headed by LFP Environmental Quality Commissioner Mark Phillips, has focused on three major areas: research (benefits of trees and what other communities are doing to maintain a healthy urban forest); regulatory (using “best available science” to improve our Tree Ordinance as needed); and public information and input.

Members of the working task force are: Steve Plusch, Brian Highberger, David Hepp, Beth Hale, and Tyson Greer.


Environmental Mini-Grant

The program is designed to provide an incentive to residents to improve our natural environment by partnering with the City.  The mini-grant program provides for up to $500 reimbursement from the City per application.  To encourage partnerships between neighbors, the City will reimburse projects with two or more landowners at a rate of 75% of eligible expenses; single landowner projects will be reimbursed at the rate of 50% of eligible expenses.  Click here for more information.


More About This Commission

Commissions are mayoral appointments. Members of the Environmental Quality Commission serve for three years. If you are interested in serving on the commission, contact Mayor Hutchinson at City Hall, 206-368-5440 or email him at cityhall @ ci.lake-forest-park.wa.us. For more information you also contact Frank Zenk at 206-368-5440, or co-chairs Mark Phillips or Jim Halliday.