Mayor's Corner - Moving into 2022

As we approach the new year, I suspect I’m not the only one who did not think we would still be in the throes of a pandemic two years after it began. We have had a lot to deal with over this time and I believe the Lake Forest Park community has done a good job stepping up to support each other, our local businesses, and our police and public works employees who do not have the option to work from home.

Although it’s been a tough couple of years, much has been accomplished by your City Council and staff, including the purchase of the Lake Front Park property, which is now officially owned by the City of Lake Forest Park. I have said before at meetings and I will say it again here that I feel this is one of the best things to happen for our community in many years, if ever. In 2022, we will begin the planning process for our newest park property. This is a very exciting time for our city!

With all we have been through, let’s remember the good times we’ve had and that better days are ahead. The Omicron variant may delay us for a while, but if we keep doing what we’ve been doing—taking care of each other, being thankful for all that we do have, and following CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of this variant—we will come out on the other side better and stronger.

As 2022 rapidly approaches, I would like to wish you all Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year. I am choosing to focus on the good things in my life and my belief that better days are ahead. I hope you will join me in that thought.

--Mayor Johnson

Council Corner - 2022 Legislative Session

The State Legislature will convene their short session on January 10, 2022. Each year, the Lake Forest Park City Council approves a set of legislative priorities to present to our state delegation, which the council and our lobbying team will advocate for during the session.

Our most urgent request to the legislature is for funding to complete the removal of fish barriers on Lyon Creek. In the last five years the city has replaced six culverts along the creek and fish activity has already increased. The structurally deficient state-owned culvert under SR 104 is funded, and construction is planned for 2023. To complete our work and fully restore fish habitat on Lyon Creek we are seeking additional funding for fish barrier removal on city and private property. Ideally, the city would like to replace two downstream city-owned culverts in 2023, at the same time the state is replacing its culvert on Ballinger Way, but construction funding has not yet been secured. The estimated cost is $4.4M and the city is pursuing funding through all means possible. 

As the state replaces its culvert, the city is also asking the state Department of Transportation to invest in State Route 104. This route now carries close to 26,000 vehicles per day, with a noticeable increase in heavy commercial trucks. As many of you know if you regularly drive or walk along Ballinger Way, the route is now in poor condition and lacks safe sidewalks in many areas, even around the bus stops. The city is requesting the state’s partnership to invest in maintenance and preservation as well as improvements that will increase safety for our pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders.

The city is also requesting additional funding to further the design of a potential Town Center to Burke Gilman crossing. An earlier grant funded work on two concepts, an overpass and an underpass. A modest grant of $100,000 will allow the city to identify the most cost-effective alternative and prepare for future grant requests. A safer crossing from the Town Center to the Burke-Gilman Trail will serve LFP residents and others who bike, walk, use public transit, or want to access our current and future parks along Lake Washington. 

Many of you may be wondering about how the recent redistricting affects our city. The maps prepared by the redistricting commission have not yet been finalized by the state legislature and may be revised due to pending court challenges. If they remain as the commission proposes, the City of LFP will no longer be included in the 46th Legislative District, but will move to the 1st Legislative District. City and Council leadership are following the progress of the redistricting decision and will reach out to the delegation in the 1st LD when necessary. In the meantime, LFP will continue to be represented by our current delegation through 2022. In recent discussions, our current delegation, State Senator David Frockt, and State Representatives Gerry Pollett and Javier Valdez, have expressed their disappointment in the redistricting decision, their commitment to fully serving LFP in 2022, and their determination to continue being a source of support in the future. If you have the opportunity, please join me in thanking them for their support and their productive work on the city’s behalf.

In closing, I would like to wish everyone in Lake Forest Park a safe and happy holiday season and all best wishes for the New Year!

--Deputy Mayor Phillippa Kassover

Preparing Your Pipes for Winter Weather

Unprotected pipes can freeze, leaving you with no access to water. Even worse, they can crack or break, leaving you with potential flooding and costly repairs.



How to Protect Pipes

• Remove, drain, and store hoses used outdoors. Keep outside valves open so that any water remaining in the pipe can expand without causing the pipe to break.
• Add insulation to attics, basements, and crawl spaces.
• Check around the home for other areas where water supply lines are located in unheated areas. 

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

• Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.
• When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.
• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. 

How to Thaw Frozen Pipes

• Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area.
• Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device.

For more information on emergency preparedness, head to our Emergency Preparedness page. 

Early Registration for Winter Recreation Programs with the City of Shoreline Begin January 6, 2022

Do you live in Lake Forest Park and are interested in recreation? Take advantage of recreation programs offered through the City of Shoreline. Lake Forest Park residents are eligible for a 24-hour early registration period prior to the start of each season’s programs, plus an 8% discount on all program fees (not rentals) through the entire year! Early registration for LFP residents for Winter 2022 begins January 6, 2022 at 8:00 a.m.

The City of Shoreline’s new recreation/rental registration system is now live, and the registration page has a new look. All of your past account information is here. You will use your same username (your email) to access your account; however, you will need to create a new password. Click “Forgot Password” and it will send a link to your email to set a new password. 

You can also visit shorelinewa.gov/recreation for more information; or, as always, give them a call at 206-801-2600 with any questions.

Reminder, LFP offers scholarship reimbursements for eligible youth and specialized recreation participants who reside in the City and are registered for and attend cultural, recreation, or aquatic programs and camps. For more information, go to our webpage or call City Hall, 206-368-5440.

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