City of Lake Forest Park

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

June 2020

Mayor Jeff Johnson

Mayor's Corner - Thoughts on Recent Historic Events

It has been a tough six months. I was excited to start the year with a new Councilmember and a new Deputy Mayor, knowing we would have a busy year ahead with planning for the Town Center parking garage and Sound Transit. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, taking from so many Americans and others around the world and putting a massive strain on healthcare resources. We are all acutely aware that the nationwide economy and budgets for federal, state, and local governments have been hit hard.

With great leadership from the City Council, Planning Commission, and City Administration, I was confident we would make it through those challenges.

When I saw the knee on the neck of George Floyd and the resulting protests and marches, followed by looting and riots downtown, I sat on the couch and thought of the overwhelming impact on everyone, including myself.

The Black Lives Matter marches and protests are necessary -- the rioting and looting are not.

As a mayor of a city with a police force, it is hard for me to hear the public voices expressing frustrations with police, and I began wondering if we would make it through. Then I thought, we are Lake Forest Park. We are a good city, with good people. I believe 99% of the people in the world have good intentions and are good people.

That said, I think all of us, myself included, need to make changes and have work to do. We need to take time to listen to each other, because we do not know enough about other people.

What I am saying to the community is this, we all have a lot of work to do. I have a lot of work to do, and I think my Council understands we are the ones that have to show we can be eight totally different people and, with respect and understanding, make the decisions needed to move this city forward.

To the citizens of Lake Forest Park, I would like to thank you for helping us start on a path for a better future for our City, first with the Charter for Compassion in 2012, followed by the City Council Call for Compassion in 2017. Now, in 2020, I would like to say that the City of Lake Forest Park will treat everybody with absolute justice, equity and respect, and provide a safe community for all residents. Racial discrimination injustices are unacceptable and will not be tolerated by anybody, including me, anybody on the staff, or any of us.

We must end systemic racism throughout this community and this country. I believe we are a city on a path to move forward with all of this, but, in saying this, it is not going to be easy. I see with the emails I have received there are a lot of opinions and a lot of good ideas. I understand I am the person, along with the Council, to take some of those ideas and move them forward. It starts with each of us and what is in our hearts.

What I want the citizens of Lake Forest Park to understand is, we are still in the middle of a pandemic, even as we move forward with ideas whose time have come. I need people to understand that this does not happen overnight. We need to change the history of the world, starting with each of us, individually. I know I need to make myself a better person.

I have already asked Police Chief Harden to review our use of force and other policies. While we do a great job already, we know we also need to take another look. We need to take our time and not rush through it. We need to do it right.

In closing, I believe we can do this together. Lake Forest Park is a supportive community with citizens and a government that are willing to look at themselves and take the important next steps.

--Mayor Johnson

BLM Supporters in LFP

Council Corner

As we move into Phase 2 of the Washington State reopening plan, I want to congratulate our residents on their resilience and commitment to public health and safety. I am relieved that our local businesses can now begin the process of reopening and rebuilding their economic stability. We wish them well.

However, we must all continue to care for ourselves and each other by wearing masks when in public places, washing hands frequently, and limiting our contact with others as much as possible. This is very difficult to maintain after so many weeks, and we are all understandably tired of missing our family and friends, but complacency would be a tragic mistake in the face of a virus that constantly searches for hosts. As a nationally respected epidemiologist remarked this weekend -- rather than coming in waves like the 1918 flu, this pandemic is more like a forest fire that continues to spread wherever it finds new fuel.

This past month has also seen an outpouring of anguish and horror following the death of George Floyd. We all now have a heightened awareness of a pattern of police bias and brutality across our nation, resulting in the unwarranted deaths of so many members of our black communities. There is broad agreement that this must change and we have seen our own community step up to express their concerns and support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

We are fortunate in Lake Forest Park to have instituted Community Policing and progressive police training some years ago, resulting in a Police Department that is appreciated and respected by residents. At our recent city council meeting, Councilmembers expressed their determination to build on this promising foundation. As Councilmembers, we are dedicated to working with the City Administration and Police Department to review our policies and improve the ways we operate to align ourselves with the anti-racist movement and live up to our pledge as a Compassionate City: to honor the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.

--Deputy Mayor Phillippa Kassover

Facial coverings will be mandatory statewide

Statewide Mandatory Face Covering Order Takes Effect Friday, June 26

Governor Jay Inslee and Secretary of Health John Wiesman recently announced a statewide mandatory face covering order that will take effect Friday, June 26.

The order comes after a Saturday announcement of a mandatory mask proclamation for Yakima County starting this week. The order was in response to reports of increasing case counts and a potential overwhelming of the county’s health care system.

After subsequent reports of cases increasing in additional counties, the governor and Wiesman extended the face covering requirement today to include the entire state of Washington.

"As necessary economic activity increases and more people are out in their communities, it is imperative that we adopt further measures to protect all of us," Inslee said during a press conference on June 21. "Until a vaccine or cure is developed, this is going to be one of our best defenses."

Beginning Friday, June 26, every Washingtonian in an indoor public space, or in an outside public space when unable to physically distance from others, will be legally required to wear a face covering, as mandated by the public health order signed by Wiesman.

In addition, individuals may remove face coverings under certain circumstances, including while eating or drinking at a restaurant; while communicating with a person who is deaf or hard of hearing; and while outdoors in public areas, provided that a distance of six feet is maintained from people who are not members of their household.

"The science is clear that when we use face coverings, we limit the spread of droplets being passed on to others when we talk, cough or sneeze. While some of us are wearing face coverings in public, we must increase usage to best control the virus. Washington's strategy to restart the economy and get people back to work will only be successful if, together, we act safely and follow health recommendations," Wiesman said.

LFP Logo from the 1980s

Update of LFP Visual History Timeline

The Lake Forest Park visual history timeline was first put together about ten years ago, just prior to the City's 50th anniversary celebration. The timeline is a summary of historic milestones by decade, showing settlement, development, community and school changes, the relocation of City Hall, and new parks. The last update was in 2015 and many milestones and events have happened in the last five years! Check out the new June 2020 version of the timeline. If you have any suggested additions, please email the Municipal Services Department.

Construction Update

Summer construction season is upon us! The Planning Department would like residents to know that there will likely be six new single-family homes starting construction throughout the summer in the following areas of the City:

2 new homes in the 3600 block of NE 195^th Street
1 new home in the 3000 block of NE 200^th Street
1 new home in the 19000 block of 37^th Avenue NE
1 new home in the of 18400 block of Ballinger Way NE
1 new home in the 4700 block of NE 174^th Place

These projects are at various states of the permitting process. Please email the Assistant Planner with any questions.

Reminder - Fireworks are Illegal in Lake Forest Park

The Lake Forest Park Police Department wants to remind our residents that fireworks are illegal in Lake Forest Park. Unfortunately, due to King County only being in Phase 2 of the reopening plan, most sanctioned large events have been canceled.

If you see someone selling or using fireworks or find any unattended fireworks within the Lake Forest Park city limits, please call 9-1-1.

The Police Department wants everyone to have a safe and happy Fourth of July and know that we look forward to the return next year of the large firework displays we all enjoy!

Court Update

Jury trials have been canceled through August, and a modified schedule of in-person hearings will tentatively resume in September. The Court will closely follow the safety guidelines in place at City Hall.
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Please check the Municipal Court page for current Court operations.

You Have the Power to Make a Difference in Puget Sound!

By making small changes in your daily habits, you can have a big impact on the health of your pets, children, and the environment. It's up to each of us to keep Puget Sound -- and all of its inhabitants -- healthy.

Here are 10 simple ways you can help:

Properly service and maintain your vehicle and, when possible, drive less
Properly use, store, and dispose of hazardous household materials
Call our spill hotline at 206-296-8100 whenever you see a spill
Scoop your pet waste, bag it, and place it in the trash
Use a commercial car wash
Be smart when it comes to home maintenance like carpet cleaning and pressure washing
Practice natural yard and lawn care
Plant trees or volunteer for restoration projects
Properly service and maintain your septic system and drain field
Use little to no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides

For more information on what you can do to help our environment and details on the list above, visit our Environmental Programs webpage.

Tree Permit Update

The Planning Department is currently under temporary contract with Bartlett Tree Experts for tree permitting and inspection services. During the period when City Hall is closed, the application process for tree permits will be handled via email and USPS. If you would like to apply for a permit to remove a tree, please contact the Planning Department directly. Forms to apply are available on the Department webpage.

If a site visit is required for a particular tree permit application, a representative from Bartlett will contact owners a minimum of 24 hours ahead of the site visit. All staff and consultants will observe social distancing standards while conducting site visits.

If there are any questions regarding the tree regulation or tree permit process, please contact the Planning Department.

Shoreline/Lake Forest Park Community Van Newsletter

Check out the Shoreline/Lake Forest Park Community Van June newsletter for the upcoming trip schedule, trip ideas, program info, and news/updates. To join this mailing list, request a seat on a pre-existing trip, initiate a new trip, or become a Volunteer Driver, contact communityvan@hopelink.org or 425-943-6721.

For more information on the Community Van and how you can volunteer, schedule a trip, and news and updates click here.

Lake Forest Park and Kenmore Recycling Event

Recycling Collection Event for LFP and Kenmore Residents - June 27

A Recycling Collection Event for Lake Forest Park and Kenmore residents will take place this Saturday, June 27, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Northlake Lutheran Church 6620 NE 185th St, Kenmore 98028

Be safe - wear masks, gloves and pack your items so they can be removed quickly.

You can bring batteries, computers / electronics, tires, TVs.
Document shredding will also available.
Appliances, mattresses, propane tanks, toilets - but be advised there is a recycling charge for many of these items.
Do not bring, Styrofoam blocks, packing peanuts, furniture, plastic, window glass, or hazardous waste.

Households in both cities will have received a flyer for the event with all details.