City of Lake Forest Park

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

September 2020

Mayor Jeff Johnson

Shining Through the Challenges

As we find ways to work within the constraints of a pandemic, I would like to give a big shout out to the City of Lake Forest Park Public Works crew. Despite several challenges, the members of this team continue to shine as they serve the needs of our City.

The LFP Public Works crew consists of six full-time positions, plus the public works supervisor and a part-time administrative position. At this time, though, there are only four crew members available to work. There are also budget-related required furlough days and a hiring freeze through the end of this year that will impact the daily staffing level. I continue to be so very proud of this team and thank them for all that they do for us.

I would appreciate our residents keeping this in mind when submitting a Request for Service form. The crew’s ability to respond as it normally might will be much slower, due to the staffing shortage.

A brief overview of the crew’s summer activity includes:

Vegetation management throughout the City
Removal of shrubs that were run over in the median planter at SR 522 and NE 153^rd Street
Addition of two new traffic bollards on the pedestrian connection between NE 145^th Street and NE 147^th Street, due to vehicles using it as a cut-through
Responding to vandalism at Lyon Creek Waterfront Preserve, which required repair (again) of the viewing deck rails
Responding to graffiti vandalism, which required removal of graffiti from the SR 522 bridge walkway in the 15300 block of the state highway

Check out the photos below for a glimpse into more projects the crew has been working on over the summer and into fall.

I would also like to express my appreciation to all of the frontline workers: our Police Department, the Northshore Fire Department, our medical professionals who work and/or live in Lake Forest Park. Thank you for all that you continue to do to see us through to the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last, but not least, I want to say thank you to our Community Partners for their hard work serving our community: Center for Human Services, Friends of Third Place Commons, ShoreLake Arts Council, Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center, and the YMCA.

Together, all of these efforts help Lake Forest Park continue to be a wonderful place to live.

My sincerest thank you to all of you.

--Mayor Johnson

Public Works clearing vegetation at Five Acre Woods

Public Works repairing asphalt

Public Works repairing/replacing asphalt

Cleaning up fallen Alder branches

A dead Alder tree split and fell on NE 180th Street, requiring removal of debris and additional dead tree limbs for public safety.

Roadway with fallen tree branches and truck clearing them

Clearing fallen Alder branches and trimming dangerous branch

Mayor’s Proposed Budget for 2021-2022 Available on Website – More Opportunities for Public Comment Ahead

Mayor Jeff Johnson presented his proposed 2021-2022 Biennial Budget to the City Council at the September 10, 2020 regular City Council meeting. On September 17, 2020, the Budget & Finance Committee, consisting of all City Council members when considering the topic of the budget, began asking clarification questions and noting items for future discussion. Prior to the City Council deliberating and providing recommendations, there was a meeting on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 for the sole purpose of listening to citizen comments. At every budget and finance meeting the committee allows citizen comments and welcomes the community to participate. If you are interested in viewing any of the previous meetings, they can be found on the City’s website.

There are still more chances to participate in future budget meeting discussions:

October 15, 2020, 6:00 p.m., Budget & Finance Committee Meeting
October 22, 2020, 7:00 p.m., Public hearings at the City Council Regular Meeting
- Property Tax Levy for 20201
- Biennial Budget for 2021-2022
October 29, 2020, 6:00 p.m., Special Budget & Finance Committee Meeting
November 5, 2020, 6:00 p.m., Final public hearings at a Special City Council Meeting
- Property Tax Levy for 2021
- Biennial Budget for 2021-2022
November 12, 2020, 7:00 p.m., Consider adoption of Budget at Regular City Council Meeting
If needed: November 19, 2020, 6:00 p.m., Continued consideration and adoption of Budget, Special City Council Meeting

All meetings will be held virtually, via the Zoom platform, and are open to the public. Zoom information is posted on the agenda for each meeting. Agendas, once available, are posted to the City’s website via the Meetings Calendar. Please see the Virtual Meetings during COVID-19 webpage for details about providing citizen comments at remotely held public meetings and public hearings.

You can find the Mayor’s Proposed 2021-2022 Biennial Budget here. To review other documents pertaining to the proposed budget, such as community partner presentations, check the Finance Department’s budget page.

Online meetings - cartoon characters on virtual meeting

Council Corner - Meeting During a Pandemic

Many of us had hoped that by this fall we would hold public meetings in person, but it is now very clear that indoor meetings will not be possible for many months to come, until we have all had the opportunity to be vaccinated. Over the summer, Governor Inslee changed his directive to local governments, allowing and encouraging us to continue business as usual remotely, and not restrict our work to necessary and routine matters.

Consequently, we have improved our online meetings to allow live public comments on Zoom via cell-phone or other devices. We have had a few comments from residents at recent meetings and hope to see more over the coming months. Residents may sign up the afternoon of the meeting via the online sign-in sheet, or can join the meeting and indicate to the city clerk that they would like to make a comment by using Zoom’s raise hand function. As always, written comments for public hearings are also encouraged. If you are not familiar with Zoom, we encourage you to let us know and we will help as much as we can.

This is especially important now, as the moratorium on accepting permit applications for development at the Town Center will expire on March 10, 2021 The Planning Commission has completed its work on the parking garage regulations and is now focused on completing their proposals for the code regulating redevelopment of the Town Center itself. The garage code proposals from the Planning Commission are currently being reviewed by Council, which is suggesting some amendments. Council has asked the Planning Commission to send its proposals for the Town Center code to the City Council by November 11, 2020 to allow Council the time to complete its own work and meet the legal requirements for adopting new land-use code.

Prior to completing and adopting the new regulations, Council will hold two public hearings – one currently scheduled for October 22, 2020, focused on the parking garage and one proposed for January 14, 2021, focused on the Town Center. I encourage you to follow the meeting notices on the City website, which include information about how to make a public comment. We hope the community will participate in the public hearings and we will do our best to help you handle the technology and include all who wish to speak. Your comments will be valuable input for Council as we consider final adoption of the code.

During these unprecedented times, I have been impressed by and grateful for how willing and capable our city staff, our council, and our community have been to adapt to new realities. This is how we meet and conquer new challenges – and it brings to mind the slogan developed by the British Government in World War II: Keep Calm and Carry On!

--- Deputy Mayor Phillippa Kassover

Pink Patch coin - front

Lake Forest Park Police Department Pink Patch

LFPPD Pink Patch

Pink Patch Project coin - back

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month – Support the Pink Patch Project

This year, the LFP Police Department will once again be selling its pink patches and pink challenge coins to raise funds for the Pink Patch Project. Please email Lt. Rhonda Lehman or give her a call at 206-957-2852 if you are interested in making a purchase.

Patches are $5 and coins are $10.

The Pink Patch Project is a public awareness campaign to bring attention to the fight against breast cancer and to support breast cancer research organizations in combating this devastating disease. The collective goal is to raise awareness of the life-saving benefits of early detection and early intervention in the fight against breast cancer. In addition to the public education efforts, there is the added goal of raising funds from the sale of Pink Patch Project patches and coins. Proceeds go directly to fund the research, treatment, and education needed to help find a cure.

The program centers on vibrant pink versions of the public safety employee's uniform patch. These bright pink patches have been specially designed by each participating agency. For the entire month of October, public safety employees at each of the participating agencies wear their pink patches on their regular duty uniforms during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The pink patches are intended to stimulate conversation with the community and to encourage public awareness about the importance of early detection and the ongoing fight against this disease.

It's Time to Celebrate American Archives Month

Archivists across Washington, and the entire United States, are dedicated to preserving and maintaining records in the public trust, and making those records available for study and appreciation, both in local repositories and via the Internet. Through these archives, future generations of citizens can study the past, learn from the accomplishments of their predecessors, trace their ancestors, confirm property rights, and maintain laws, while celebrating the history of their state.

American Archives Month is a time to focus on the importance of records of enduring value and to enhance public recognition for the people and programs that are responsible for maintaining our communities’ vital historical records.

Local archives that contain records for Lake Forest Park include the Shoreline Historical Museum, Seattle Municipal Archives, and Washington State Archives Puget Sound Regional Branch.

Mechanical and Plumbing Permit Inspection Update

The Building Department has been busy with inspections from all of our summer permitting activity. Please note that, due to the current state of COVID-19 rates in King County, mechanical and plumbing permit inspections for occupied single-family homes or occupied apartment/condo units are not taking place, except under emergency conditions. Depending on the scope of the permit, inspection requirements may be able to be met with photos sent to the Building Official by the contractor. Otherwise, inspections will need to wait to be scheduled until King County is in the appropriate phase of the statewide Safe Start reopening plan.

Log Arch, 1924-1950 (Courtesy of Shoreline Historical Museum)

Take a Peek into Lake Forest Park History

The journey through Lake Forest Park history was redeveloped in 2011 as part of the City's celebration of the first 50 years of incorporation. However, Lake Forest Park has been a community much longer, since the Lake People camped at the mouths of two salmon-rich streams, known today as Lyon Creek and McAleer Creek. Lake Forest Park is situated on land that was once a winter village site for the Tuobeda’bš, one of several named groups living on Lake Washington. Check out the updated History webpages, now with additional photos!

Face Mask Giveaway

As part of the State’s effort to ensure everyone has access to face coverings, the City of Lake Forest Park has received more masks for distribution. We are now offering pick-up by appointment distribution for Lake Forest Park residents at City Hall.

Details:
Call City Hall, 206-368-5440, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., to schedule a pick up and let us know the quantity you are requesting. Appointments to pick up masks are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Although City Hall is currently closed to the public, when you make your appointment, a staff member will explain what to do when you arrive.

Where:
Lake Forest Park City Hall
17425 Ballinger Way NE
Lake Forest Park, WA 98155

Update on National Night Out

Due to the pandemic, the LFP Police Department is sorry to announce that National Night Out, which is normally held in August, and was rescheduled to October, is now canceled for 2020. The program will resume in August 2021.

Clean Yards/Parks = Clean Shoes/Paws = Clean Waters!

Not only is picking up after your pet the law, it is the healthy thing to do. Leaving dog poop in your backyard, parks and trails allows you, your kids, and your pets to track it indoors, inviting a whole army of nasty bacteria into your house and washing it into our waterways. The water quality of our rivers, lakes, and Puget Sound is impacted when fecal matter is left on the ground.

Rain has the potential to wash pet waste into our natural waterways generating harmful levels of fecal coliform and making them unsafe for recreational use. Landfills are designed to safely handle substances like dog waste. Always remember to scoop the poop, bag it, and place it in the trash!

Dog with cartoon thought bubble: I poop. You pick it up. Any questions?

Mark Your Calendars: October 16-18 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 from Friday – Sunday, October 16 – 18, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. The Wastemobile provides household hazardous waste disposal services for King County residents and accepts a wide variety of materials!

You can 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, click here or call the Household Hazards Line with King County at 206-296-4692.

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

Not able to make it to the Wastemobile? Do not dispose of your hazardous waste, like cleaning products or pesticides, in the garbage or down the drain. Take them for safe disposal to the North Seattle Hazardous Waste drop-off site. Hours and location here.

See the below for more info about what you can and cannot bring to the Wastemobile.

Images of what to bring to the Wastemobile

Lyon Creek near Whispering Willow Park

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