City of Lake Forest Park

17425 Ballinger Way NE
Lake Forest Park, WA 98155
www.cityoflfp.com
206-368-5440

May 2020

Mayor Jeff Johnson

Mayor's Message - Moving Forward

We will be okay. This is my message to the Lake Forest Park community.

I understand the frustrations and want the City to reopen as much as anyone. We must do it the right way and follow the protocols for a safe, planned reopening. While none of us has experience going through a pandemic, I am confident everyone is doing their best. There is no getting around that things will take time to open safely. My priority is the safety and security of Lake Forest Park residents, LFP business owners and their customers and employees, and City employees.

As we move forward, I ask everyone to please have patience. Patience with the process and patience with each other.

Despite the economic downturn going on right now and the impact of COVID-19 on our lives, we are fortunate to live in a caring, proactive community. As I drive around the city, I see signs of hope and consideration of others. Wearing masks, limiting trips, washing hands frequently, greeting our neighbors with a smile and hello (from an appropriate distance, of course) all contribute to how we will come out of this together.

We can all take a minute to be grateful and thankful for all that we have and for those protecting us on the front lines during this difficult time.

--Mayor Johnson

Spring walk on the McKinnon Creek Trail

Council Update

We are all hoping to soon move into Phase 2 of the Safe Start reopening plan for our State. Many of us are desperate for haircuts! The Governor has said that this will happen when the daily number of new cases in King County declines significantly. In hope and anticipation of the phased reopening, the City Administration is working diligently to ensure a safe workplace for City staff and a safe environment for all who require City services.

City Council will continue to meet virtually until we are once again able to welcome residents into council meetings. This means that we may have to wait until a full reopening, in Phase 4 or beyond, to hold the Public Hearing that is legally required before Council can vote on changing the Municipal Code, including the regulations for development at the Town Center.

However, we will continue our preparation for decision-making, as will the Planning Commission. At a virtual Special Committee of the Whole meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 1, the Council will begin discussions on recommendations from the Planning Commission for code governing the building and design of a free-standing Parking Garage. As most of you know, this is anticipated as a commuter parking facility funded and built by Sound Transit. Our discussions are likely to focus on what should be required in the code versus what is simply recommended by the Design Guidelines. We will also likely discuss what public benefits should be included in the project and how to ensure that the project is as environmentally sensitive as possible to protect our creeks, Lake Washington and ultimately, Puget Sound.

The Planning Commission will spend time over the summer learning about and discussing key issues in the Town Center code, including density and massing, as well as creative green solutions to storm-water runoff management. Both the Planning Commission and Council have always welcomed citizen input. Currently, we are taking written comments prior to our meetings, where they are read into the record. Our virtual meetings are available live, via Zoom, and can be viewed on-demand here. The most recent City Council regular meeting is replayed on Comcast Channel 21 and CenturyLink channel 8030 at noon and 7:00 p.m., daily. These television channels are available to residents who live within the LFP city limits and subscribe to Comcast or CenturyLink television services. Please check the City website for additional details.

In closing, I want to again commend our citizens for adhering to all the public health guidelines and keeping our incidence of COVID-19 cases low, with only a few new cases in LFP during the past month. In the meantime, we will keep walking our neighborhoods admiring all the spring and early summer growth, and possibly spending extra time with our children and pets.

--Deputy Mayor Phillippa Kassover

Update on City Hall Reopening Plan

As of this writing, we are in Phase 1 of the Safe Start plan for reopening businesses, looking forward to June 1 as a potential beginning to Phase 2. If these dates hold, the earliest employees will begin returning to work at City Hall would be June 22, as part of Phase 3. While employees continue to work from home, steps are being taken to ensure a safe workspace for employees and the public when City Hall reopens.

Physical barriers are being installed at workstations where there is interaction between employees and visitors, social distancing markers are being placed throughout City Hall, hand sanitizer will be available, and disposable masks will be provided should a visitor forget theirs. In addition, increased cleaning of City facilities and high-touch areas was implemented early on and will continue. Due to the small size of the Council Chambers and social distancing requirements, future meetings will look very different. Many of the chairs have been removed from the Chambers to ensure compliance. How the Mayor and seven Councilmembers can be accommodated at a dais that does not allow for social distancing, and our nine-member Planning Commission around its U-shaped table configuration are other hurdles we must overcome.

One service we are working diligently to restore is that of Passports. With this being a service that, in the past, has been contact intensive, we must reimagine this service, giving consideration to how to maintain compliance with US Department of State passport application processing requirements while limiting physical contact between the passport agent and applicant. We are discussing options and may consider using an appointment system. Updates will be provided here, as well as through social media and the City website.

When King County does enter Phase 3, returning employees will be limited to a rotation of two days per week in City Hall to limit interaction and ensure social distancing, as many of the work areas are combined spaces. These rotational schedules will ensure that services are provided to the public while allowing for telework as strongly encouraged in the plan..

Please be safe and know that while the doors of City Hall are closed, the City continues operating.

Court Update

Jury trials have been canceled through July.

Please check the Municipal Court page for current Court operations.

While the courtroom is closed to the public, interested persons may observe proceedings by entering the virtual courtroom. Video stream is only available while court is live.

City Communications

In January 2020, the City interdepartmental Communications Team began publication of this monthly eNewsletter to help supplement information published in the City quarterly print newsletter, LFP Times. The monthly eNews is generally published on the last Wednesday of each month.

The LFP Times is mailed to addresses in the LFP city limits, in March, June, September, and December each year. If you do not live in the city limits, you can still sign up to get a notice from the City when the print newsletter is posted to the City website.

We encourage all who are interested in receiving updates and timely information to subscribe to one or more of the subscriber lists here.

City Council Agendas (regular meetings and work sessions)
City eNewsletter
Early Recreation Registration
LFP Times (quarterly print newsletter)
Planning Announcements
Town Center Vision
Emergency Alerts
Bid/RFP Postings
News Flash
Events Calendar
Meetings Calendar

Pfingst Animal Acres Park

Summer Events Update

The City of Lake Forest Park regrets to announce the annual array of citywide summer celebrations and neighborhood events for the current 2020 summer will be cancelled this year in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic and health precautions regarding COVID-19 to assure the safety of the community.

This was not an easy decision. Residents, the Mayor, City Council, and staff all look forward to these events. Keep your eyes open for other special opportunities with our partner organizations around LFP later this summer.

Stay tuned, stay home, and stay healthy.

Invasive ivy

Invasive ivy takes over a tree

Invasive ivy leaves

Participate in the Tree Board's Ivy Out Contest This Summer!

Up for a challenge? Looking for a new gardening project? How much English Ivy can Lake Forest Park residents remove this summer?

English Ivy is an invasive plant that threatens the health of our urban forest ecosystems. You can help our ecosystems thrive and win a monthly plant prize by helping remove invasive English Ivy from your property. The Ivy Out contest, brought to you by the Lake Forest Park Tree Board, will last throughout the summer months (June through September). To participate, submit pictures of your ivy removal to the Assistant Planner before the end of each month and the Tree Board will pick winners at their monthly meetings. The Tree Board looks forward to receiving your submissions!

Wondering how to remove ivy safely? The King County Noxious Weed Board has tips on how to identify ivy (page 2) and recommend manual removal practices (page 3). You can also click here to learn about long-term maintenance ideas and why ivy removal is important for our urban ecosystems.

Please note that removal of invasive plants is considered to be exempt from permitting requirements, unless the invasive plants are located within a steep slope hazard area or its buffer. If you are unsure whether the proposed removal area is located within a steep slope hazard area or have other questions, please contact the Assistant Planner for more information.

Building and Permitting Update

Due to the COVID-19 closure of City Hall to the public, the Building Department encourages people to take advantage of our remote services. If you can conduct your business with the permit center by email, phone, or online, we encourage you to please do so. If you are unsure, call 206-368-5440, so we can determine if we can help you remotely. The City will not be issuing permits, except in case of emergency, until such time as the Governor lifts the stay home order, allowing businesses and City operations to resume, under Phase 3 of the Safe Start Washington plan.

Building permit applications are only being accepted via email appointment at this time. Please email the Building Official to schedule an appointment. For permit questions concerning submittal of building plans, call the Building Official at 206-957-2815.

Check out the Permit Center page on the City website for full information about permits and inspections and a link to the Permit Portal.

Near Horizon View Park

Updated Tree Walk Near Horizon View Park!

Looking for a new walk to take? Want to learn more about the trees in your neighborhood? Tree Walks, which start at four different parks in the City of Lake Forest Park, were originally put together in 2008 by the Urban Forest Task Force and David Hepp. Recently, two members of the Lake Forest Park Tree Board, Richard Olmstead and Julia Bent, have put together an updated Tree Walk with pictures for Tree Walk #3 which starts at Horizon View Park. Enjoy, and happy walking!

Unemployment Fraud Runs Rampant in Washington State

The Lake Forest Park Police Department continues to take calls regarding unemployment fraud, where the name and social security number of the victim have been used to apply for unemployment. Several victims were notified by their company HR department after the company received the unemployment filing from the state.

A few victims reported the suspect was sent several thousand dollars in unemployment benefits before the fraud was discovered. Unfortunately, it appears the money may have been sent out of state; or, in some cases, out of the country. Most of the victims are still employed and were never eligible to collect unemployment. Please review this news story link to determine if you may be at risk or have potentially been compromised. Do not hesitate to call and file a police report if you discover you have been the victim of this or any crime. For this and any other non-emergency police calls, citizens are encouraged to call our dispatch center (Bothell Dispatch) at 425-486-1254.

King County Library System Launches We Are Puget Sound Poster Contest

In partnership with Seattle-based independent publisher Mountaineers Books, King County Library System has launched the all-ages We Are Puget Sound poster contest, which runs from May 11-June 12, 2020.

The contest is open to all ages, with three categories:

Kids (ages 5-12)
Teens (ages 13-18)
Adults (19 and up)

Other details:

Three winners in each category will be chosen
One entry per person
Open to King County residents only
Winners will be announced on June 26

Click here for more information.

A clean ride shouldn't lead to dirty water

Help Keep Puget Sound Clean with These Car Wash Tips

Did you know there is no filtration system between you and your storm drains? Everything done on streets, parking lots, and at home goes straight down the storm drain, dumping into the nearest outlet of a stream, Lake Washington, or Puget Sound. We all enjoy a nice shiny clean car, but home car washing can use excessive amounts of water and send lots of pollutants like oils, heavy metals, detergents, soaps, and grime into the storm drains.

The great news is there are ways you can help! The best way is to use a commercial car wash. Commercial systems are required to send their soapy, dirty, grimy water to the sanitary sewer system, where wastewater from our showers, sinks, and toilets goes for treatment to be cleaned. If you cannot make it to a car wash, it is best to divert your dirty car wash water to grass, soil, or gravel and not your driveway or concrete. Grass, soil, and gravel can help filter the dirty water so not all the harmful pollutants are entering a stream, Lake Washington, or Puget Sound.

Mark Your Calendars: June 19-21 for the King County Wastemobile

Do you have Household Hazardous Waste that is in need of disposal? The King County Wastemobile is making a stop in Bothell/Woodinville Friday to Sunday, June 19 - 21, to provide household hazardous waste disposal services for King County residents. A wide variety of materials is accepted.

You may drop off items such as antifreeze, batteries, gasoline, fluorescent lights, and pesticides. To view the full list of what you can and cannot bring and learn some safety tips, visit the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program website or call the King County Household Hazards Line at 206-296-4692.

Wastemobile location:
McMurtrey Tree Farm
13925 Woodinville-Redmond Road NE
Redmond 98052

If you miss the Wastemobile, you can take hazardous waste like cleaning products or pesticides for safe disposal at the North Seattle Hazardous Waste drop-off site. Click here for hours and location.

No Wipes Down Pipes

Flushable wipes are not really flushable! They do not break down and can cause expensive plumbing problems in your home and damage the sewer system. Put wipes in the trash. Please only flush toilet paper! For more information: www.kingcounty.gov/flush