City of Lake Forest Park
Electronic Town Crier
July 2009
No Fireworks Allowed in LFP
Close to home, some safe viewing spots for public fireworks are at Log Boom Park or Lyon Creek Nature Preserve. The dry weather adds to the danger of fire from fireworks. Officers will be citing offenders. Setting off fireworks is a civil infraction punishable by a fine of $200.00. Property Taxes 101The King County Department of Assessments will be mailing out 2009 property value notices over the next few months. The County Assessor‘s Office is responsible for determining the valuation of properties of 160 taxing districts in King County – the City of Lake Forest Park just being one of these taxing districts. Due to the downward changes in the housing market, most homeowners will see a significant reduction in the assessed value of their home. However, this does not mean significant drops in property taxes for 2010. In some cases property owners may pay the same or even more taxes in 2010 than in 2009. When many people think of taxes, they usually think of rate-based taxes. Washington State property tax, however, is not rate-based (48 states use a rate-based system). In a rate-based system, property taxes go up when assessed valuation increases and property taxes go down when valuations decline. Property tax in Washington is levy based. This means that a taxing district may collect a specified dollar amount in any year, subject to certain legal limits. This amount is limited to a 1% increase from one year to the next unless voters approve a larger increase. Under Washington‘s system, the taxing district typically figures their total property tax based on the prior year‘s total property tax revenue plus up to a 1% increase. The county assessor then calculates the tax rate necessary to raise that money. This rate is determined by dividing the amount of money needed by the total value of all property within the jurisdiction. The tax rate is typically expressed in dollars per $1,000 of assessed value; for example, $1.14 per $1,000 of assessed value for the City of Lake Forest Park. So if the total value falls, the rate would increase to raise the same amount of money. One piece of land may fall under the jurisdiction of many separate taxing districts. For example, Lake Forest Park taxpayers pay nine different taxing districts (see chart below).
The primary reason that property taxes have increased is the result of voter-approved levy increases. In 2008 there were 30 measures throughout King County to increase property taxes – 23 of those measures were approved by voters. Another area covered by the Assessor‘s Office is the list of 103 possible tax exemptions that "exempt" certain properties from the tax rolls. Examples of exemptions include qualifying low-income seniors or disabled persons, qualifying historical properties, publicly-owned lands, and churches. Exempt properties result in shifting the tax burden to non-exempt property owners. Property Tax Distribution in the City of Lake Forest Park If you have questions regarding your property valuations, visit the Department of Assessments website www.kingcounty.gov/Assessor.aspx or call (206) 296-7300. There is a time limit on valuation appeals so contact the Assessment Office soon after you receive your Value Change Notice. This article is based on an article appearing in Shoreline Currents, published by the City of Shoreline, June 2009 used with permission. Report from the state legislatureLake Forest Park has been actively working with our state legislators on several key items of interest to citizens. The City of Lake Forest Park, like all cities is audited every year. The cost of an audit is about $23,000 every year. Lake Forest Pak has had clean audits for over 15 years. We asked our state legislators to change the audit requirements for cities with general fund revenues under 10 million dollars. The change will require every other year audits for cities with clean audits. Any city with significant audit findings will have annual audits. The governor signed this legislation saving cities and towns throughout Washington thousands of dollars. The second big item is that there is money in the budget for a future park and ride. Stay tuned for the collaboration on the progress toward a new facility. And finally, as you know, the City has a problem with flooding. Several projects aimed at reducing flooding occurred this session. This session there is increased funding in several funding sources and money for the fire department to protect their property from flooding. The City has used a contract lobbyist to assist in promoting the City‘s legislative agenda. Where are we now with the Burke Gilman Trail?
The Burke Gilman Trail redevelopment required several approvals by the City hearing examiner. The hearing examiner heard the request for the conditional use, shoreline substantial development, and sensitive areas exceptions in February and issued a decision approving the permits on February 24th. The approvals were subject to a number of conditions regarding drainage, tree protection and signage among other things. There were two requests for reconsideration by the hearing examiner of those conditions. One was submitted by the County and another by a private citizen. The hearing examiner responded to the requests by amending the conditions after receiving additional information and revised decision was issued in April 2009. Since revised decision was issued, the County‘s representatives have been working with the City to determine how the conditions will be met and revising construction documents and studies as necessary to comply with the conditions. King County is planning on submitting these documents in the near future. The City will review revised documents, including revised arborist report, drainage reports and the plans for widening of the trail. This phase can be an iterative process between the county and the city, but the current estimate is that all final approvals from the City will be completed by September. There are also state and federal approvals that must be finalized before construction can begin. At this time the City, has no information regarding whether those approvals are complete. Candidates ForumsA candidate‘s forum will be held in connection with the primary election for council position 3 in Lake Forest Park. The City of Lake Forest Park will hold a primary for position 3 of the City Council. Chuck Paulsen, Jean Thomas and John Wright are candidates for this position. Two candidates will move on to the general election in November. The forum will take place in the Commons in Lake Forest Park on Tuesday, July 28 at 7:00 pm. The Lake Forest Park League of Women Voters will moderate the forum to insure fairness and impartiality. A second candidates forum in connection with the general election will be held on Tuesday, October 13, at 7 pm on the Commons stage. Positions 1, 3, 5 and 7 are up for election. Annual Shoreline Back–to–School Event
Families can register for the event on line at www.btsconsortium.org or by calling the BTS Info Line at 206-393-4916. The deadline is August 21, 2009. Lake Forest Park will have a donation box at City Hall. This year‘s event takes place Saturday, August 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Ridgecrest Elementary. Donated school supplies, new or used books, and hygiene products are being accepted and can be dropped off at the Center for Human Services, 17018 15th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155 Monday – Friday 9 to 5 pm For more information, contact Tanya Schaeffer at 206-631-8836. Donations of new or clean gently used children and teen clothing can dropped off beginning August 10, Wednesdays from 5:30 pm-8:00 pm, at the Shoreline PTA Council‘s - The WORKS, located at the North City Elementary Portables. For more info visit their website www.shorelinepta.com or call 206-393-4916. Back to School Consortium members include the City of Lake Forest Park; City of Shoreline; Embrace Shoreline Schools; Hopelink; Shoreline Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services; Shoreline School District and the Readiness to Learn Program; The Center for Human Services; The Vineyard; The Works of Shoreline PTA Council; Turning Point and YMCA. Update on Aldercrest EIS / NEC Municipal Jail ProjectUpdate on Aldercrest EIS for the NEC Municipal Jail Project. The work on the EIS started in late 2008. The public scoping period ran from Dec. 18, 2008, through Jan. 30, 2009. Six EIS scoping meetings were held in January 2009. Based on the feedback received during the EIS Scoping period, the NEC will be adding the following items to the scope of the EIS: air quality; populations and housing; and an analysis of the possible impact of a jail on property values and public safety. These additions, along with the complexity of some of the analyses, have impacted the EIS schedule. The NEC now plans to release the Draft EIS in early December 2009, and hold Public Meetings in January 2010. The NEC plans to release the final EIS in the second quarter of 2010. The EIS Scoping Summary and other materials are now available on the NEC Web site: www.necmunicipaljail.org. Safe Sitters ClassA Safe Sitters class will be held on July 22 & 23 at Northshore Fire Department in Kenmore. Safe Sitters is a medically accurate, hands-on class that teaches boys and girls ages 11 to 13 how to handle emergencies when caring for children. Cost $40. For more information, or to sign-up, call 425-486-2784 or email tjones@northshorefire.com. Feeling the budget pinch in TownThe City has made cuts to its budget, so where will you see and feel the impacts of the cuts?
Scholarship reimbursements for income eligible youth and specialized recreation participantsThe City of Lake Forest Park will reimburse eligible residents who are registered and attend cultural, recreation, and aquatic programs & camps through the Shoreline Parks Department. The City will reimburse each qualified resident up to $50.00 per quarter for fall, and up to $100 for Summer Quarter 2009. Click here for applications for reimbursement: http://www.cityoflfp.com/city/csc/documents/2009_sch_app.pdf Mosquito Control
The West Nile Virus is now endemic to many areas of Washington including Puget Sound, according to Dr. David Fleming the Director and Health Officer for Public Health of Seattle/King County. Further, Dr. Fleming said, "Under favorable climate conditions, such as a wet spring followed by a warm dry summer, proliferation of mosquito vector species and amplification of West Nile virus in birds and mosquitoes can reach critical levels that risk transmission to people." The Health Department advises homeowners reduce places where mosquitoes can breed by:
For more information about West Nile virus, click here. Flood Plain Property PurchaseThe city will be applying for federal funds to purchase properties in the flood plain. Watch for a public meeting sbout these properties and the objectives of the grants. Public Hearing: Needs assessment for Comcast cableThe City Council will be conducting a public hearing to gather information from citizens on Comcast Cable services in Lake Forest Park. This is one of three pieces of the needs assessment, a stakeholders meeting, an online community survey and the public hearing. Hours for School Zones Enforcement
The school zone cameras are not in operation during the summer when school is closed. Click here for more information.
|
Table of Contents
News and announcements
MAYOR
CITY COUNCIL
CITY ADMINISTRATOR
COUNCIL MEETINGS
CITY HALL
PASSPORTS
MUNICIPAL COURT
POLICE
SUBSCRIBE to CityMail 
|
There are no fireworks allowed in Lake Forest Park.
King County will be submitting documents to begin the process of redeveloping the trail
The annual Shoreline Back-To-School event provides school supplies, hair cuts, and clothing assistance to Shoreline School District families with a low income and/or circumstances that make it challenging to adequately prepare their children for school. Drop off school supplies, new or used books, and hygiene products at City Hall.
Public Health asks homeowners to help eliminate mosquito breeding areas
Public Health of Seattle/King County, like most other agencies funded by the state. has had its budget reduced. Due to this reduction, there will be less surveillance of West Nile virus.