City of Lake Forest Park

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

May 2021

Mayor Jeff Johnson

Mayor’s Corner - City Hall Reopens on Tuesday, July 6

I am very happy to announce that Lake Forest Park City Hall reopens to the public on Tuesday, July 6. City Hall hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for legal holidays. Passport Services will also resume, by appointment (see hours below). Masks are required while visiting City Hall. In addition to masks, meetings with City staff, including Planning, Building, and Municipal Court will be by appointment only, and require answering a COVID-19 questionnaire.

When Passport Services resume during the week of July 6, it will be by appointment only. Passport Services hours are Monday, Thursday, and Friday, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m., and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Applicants will need to sign up online to schedule an appointment. Information about how to sign up will be available soon on the City’s Passport Services webpage. Since the REAL ID Act requirements have been postponed to May 2023, it is not necessary to rush to get a passport or passport card if you are flying domestically.

The City’s public meetings--City Council and Council Committees (Budget & Finance, Committee of the Whole), Planning Commission, Tree Board, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board--will remain virtual for now. Information about any changes to this will be widely distributed to the public when the time comes. Due to the small size of the Council Chambers, staff is working on the logistics of socially distanced seating for a seven-member City Council and nine-member Planning Commission, as well as a limited number of chairs for audience members. It is probable that a hybrid approach to public meetings will be the norm in the future, with limited in-person public attendance and wider public participation via Zoom.

While City Hall was closed, many COVID-19-related improvements were put in place to protect employees and visitors:

Physical barriers are installed at workstations where there is interaction between employees and visitors
Social distancing markers are placed throughout City Hall
Hand sanitizer is placed throughout City Hall
Disposable masks will be provided should a visitor forget theirs
Increased cleaning of City facilities and high-touch areas is also implemented
Improvements to the HVAC system were also made, including use of the highest-rated filters and increased cleaning

On behalf of myself and the City Hall staff, we look forward to seeing you when we reopen on July 6.

-- Mayor Johnson

Street Sign: We Report Crime to the Police

What is the Block Watch Program?

Block Watch is a program built around neighbors looking out for one another and being in touch to keep each other informed about crime in their neighborhood. The program also involves the citizens having a close relationship with the Police Department so that information is shared back and forth to stop crime in progress and prevent crime from occurring. A strong relationship between the community and the Police is crucial for the program to be effective.

How to Set Up a Block Watch in Your Neighborhood:
If your neighborhood is interested in setting up a Block Watch, first define the area and contact households to see who would like to participate. Next, select a Block Captain who is responsible for organizing events and serving as the go-to contact person for providing information to and receiving information from the Police Department.

Please contact Lieutenant Rhonda Lehman by email or call 206-957-2852 if you are interested in starting a Block Watch in your neighborhood.

Brookside Park

Five Acre Woods

Council Corner – Parks & Pedestrian Connections | A Community Discussion

Beginning with the Council retreat in April and subsequent Budget & Finance Committee meetings, the City Council has discussed revenue options to improve parks and pedestrian connections.

In five years, the City has acquired nine acres of new park space, including a new lakefront property, and heard from the community on the need for improvements and maintenance of existing parks throughout the City. The next steps for parks will be to engage in a public planning process to determine future improvements for the recently acquired and previously existing City parks.

Over 1,000 homes in the City have changed ownership in the last three years, and there has been a growing desire for more and better pedestrian connections throughout the City, also reflected in the Safe Highways and Safe Streets plans. The City continues to pursue funds for safe routes to school and other pedestrian improvements as supported by the Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Plan (PROST plan).

The Mayor and City Council encourage residents to engage with them in the discussion this summer. Watch for additional information through the City’s social media platforms, newsletters, and public events such as the Farmer’s Market and National Night Out.

Eagle Scout Park

Call for Volunteers: Tree Board and Parks & Recreation Advisory Board

Tree Board
The City is seeking applications for a vacancy on the Lake Forest Park Tree Board. The Tree Board provides outreach and education to the community on tree-related issues, organizes and facilitates public events involving trees, and provides advice to the City Council on policy and regulatory issues involving trees.

Tree Board meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month, at 7:00 p.m. Meetings are currently being held virtually. More information about the Tree Board is available on the City’s website.

Board members should live within the Lake Forest Park city limits, but it is not required. Interests or backgrounds in urban forestry, horticulture, and habitat restoration are encouraged, but not required. Membership terms are for three years.

If you are interested in applying or have questions, please contact Assistant Planner Cameron Tuck.

Parks & Recreation Advisory Board
The City seeks applicants for its Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, which is responsible for advising the City Council and Mayor on parks and recreation issues, including park master planning, recreation program evaluation, and park comprehensive planning. All board member terms are three years and members are limited to two consecutive full-term appointments.

If you are interested in serving on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board please complete an application and attach a resume and cover letter describing your experience and interest in parks and recreation. Completed applications, with resume and cover letter, may be emailed to Cory Roche, Community Volunteer Coordinator, or mailed to her attention at Lake Forest Park City Hall, 17425 Ballinger Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155.

More information on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee is available here.

Photo of Community Van with a man and woman in the foreground

KC Metro Community Van

KC Metro – Community Van Program

Reminder! The cities of Lake Forest Park and Shoreline have teamed up with KC Metro to bring you more transportation choices that fit your lifestyle and schedule. Right now, Vaccine Transportation Resources are provided through the Community Van program! Check out the Find A Ride COVID-19 Transportation Resources webpage to learn the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 and the best transportation options to get to vaccination sites around our area.

Every little drop counts. Practice smart watering this summer.

10 Tips for Reducing Water Use and Saving Water in Your Own Home

There are a few simple tips and tricks you can do at home to use water more efficiently and help stretch our supply for current and future generations, while saving money in the process! Review these tips and check out the Saving Water Partnership for more information!

Never Leave the Water Running: When brushing your teeth or shaving, turn off the tap.
Use your Dishwasher: Use the dishwasher and skip a pre-rinse. If you must hand wash, fill your sink with soapy water, rather than leaving the water running.
Run Full Loads: Only run full loads of dishes and laundry, whenever possible.
Water Wisely: Avoid overwatering your lawn and garden. Water early in the morning or at night to avoid excess evaporation. Contact the Garden Hotline for answers to your gardening questions.
Compost: Use your organics container instead of the garbage disposal.
Take Shorter Showers: Try using your favorite song or playlist as a shower timer.
Consider Rain Barrels: Place rain barrels beneath your downspouts. The water you collect can be used to water outdoor plants and trees.
Use a Broom: When your driveway or sidewalk needs cleaning, use a broom instead of a hose. It can save up to 80 gallons of water! Not only are you saving water, you are helping to keep pollutants out of our local streams.
Fix Leaks: Find and fix leaks with step-by-step instructions and how-to videos.
Go with the Low Flow: Install water-efficient fixtures in your home. Look for EPA WaterSense labels and check out rebates from the Saving Water Partnership.

For more information on how you can help the environment, click here!

City of LFP Time Capsule

So Much to Celebrate in June!

Pride Month (June): The City of Lake Forest Park recognizes that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) communities of the greater Puget Sound area are an integral part of the vibrant culture and climate of our area. The month of June was designated as Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall Riots which occurred in June 1969 and are generally recognized as the catalyst of the LGBTQ rights movement. Lake Forest Park remains committed to protecting the civil rights of LGBTQ communities, as the power and purpose of this iconic event proves vital in our unified effort to forge a more open and just society. Pride Month serves as a call to the community to persist in the fight to eradicate prejudice and discrimination everywhere.

Juneteenth (June 19): Also known as Emancipation Day and Freedom Day, Juneteenth commemorates when the last enslaved African Americans learned they were free in 1865 in Galveston, Texas, where Union soldiers brought them the news two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln, setting in motion the end of slavery in the United States. The Washington Legislature has passed a measure that makes Juneteenth a state legal holiday. The bill (HB 1016) is currently pending the Governor’s signature.

The legislature intends to designate Juneteenth as a state legal holiday to celebrate the end of chattel slavery. The legislature encourages that this be a day to engage in fellowship with Black/African Americans; revisit our solidarity and commitment to antiracism; educate ourselves about slave history; and continue having conversations that uplift every Washingtonian.

Lake Forest Park 60th Anniversary (June 20): 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. According to oral histories, the settlement was occupied, at least sporadically, until about 1903. The town of Lake Forest Park was incorporated on June 20, 1961. Residents voted to incorporate to preserve the residential character of the community and create an effective local government. The first town hall was constructed in 1963 at the northwest corner of the Town Center (where Windermere is now located). March 23, 2002 was the official dedication of the newest City Hall. Mayor David R. Hutchinson invited the students at Brookside Elementary School to prepare a time capsule. The Lake Forest Park proclamation for the event stated that the capsule should be opened after 25 years, on March 23, 2027. For more information, check out the City’s history webpages.

New environmental stewardship program in LFP flyer

Mark Your Calendars for June 25-27, the King County Wastemobile will be in Bothell

Do you have Household Hazardous Waste that needs disposal? The King County Wastemobile accepts a wide variety of materials and is making a stop in Bothell/Woodinville Friday – Sunday, June 25 – 27, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., to provide household hazardous waste disposal services for King County residents. Here is the address: 18115 Campus Way NE, Bothell, WA 98011.

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 King County Household Hazardous Waste webpage or call the Household Hazards Line with King County at 206-296-4692.

If you can't make it to the Wastemobile, don't dispose of your hazardous waste like cleaning products, batteries, or pesticides in the garbage or down the drain. Take them for safe disposal to the North Seattle Hazardous Waste drop-off site, information is found on the link above.

List of what to bring to the wastemobile.

Stay Current on City News, Meetings, and Events

Want to keep up with what’s going on at the City? There are several ways to stay informed about City meetings, events, and news? Click here for subscription options.

City Council Agendas (regular meetings and work sessions)
City eNewsletter
Early Recreation Registration
City Events Calendar
City Meetings Calendar (Planning Commission, Tree Board, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Civil Service Commission)
LFP Times (quarterly print newsletter)
Planning Announcements
Town Center Development
Emergency Alerts
Bid/RFP Postings
News Flash