City of Lake Forest Park

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

January 2022

Mayor Jeff Johnson

Mayor's Corner - 2022's New Normal

With my first article of the new year, I would like to start off talking about returning to an event that has not been held since the pandemic began: Coffee with the Mayor. When we were able to meet in person, these were held every 2-3 months in the Council Chambers. Because we have pandemic considerations to deal with, I am looking at holding the event outdoors—perhaps the picnic shelter at Pfingst Animal Acres Park. I do not want to hold the coffee meetings via Zoom If you are interested in attending a Coffee with the Mayor event in the next couple of months, please email the Deputy City Clerk and let us know your level of interest and thoughts you may have on an outdoor location.

Even though city meetings are still held remotely, 2022 is another busy year for Lake Forest Park. Among other subjects, the City Council will consider the Planning Commission’s recommended amendments to the Accessory Dwelling Unit and Accessory Building regulations. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board will work on a path forward for funding to design the Lake Front Park property. The Planning Commission and Tree Board have a busy year ahead as well.

I would like to thank all the volunteer members of our commission, boards, and committees for their dedication to the City of Lake Forest Park and for the many hours spent preparing for and attending meetings. You are appreciated.

While we are still in a pandemic, I look forward to moving forward on the projects and plans we have going for 2022. We will let you know about any future Coffee with the Mayor events that may be scheduled in follow up to the interest expressed.

Please take care and stay safe.

--Mayor Johnson

Lyon Creek - NE 178th Street and 44th culvert replacement, 2020/2021

Council Corner – A Look at 2022

It is my great pleasure to join with our continuing Council Members Phillippa Kassover, Lorri Bodi and Semra Riddle in welcoming the three newly elected members of the Lake Forest Park City Council.

Tracy Furutani, Larry Goldman, and Jon Lebo all bring a wealth of outstanding professional and volunteer experiences and skills to the policy-making body of our city. We are very thankful for their willingness to serve our city in this capacity and know that they will make excellent contributions in different and meaningful ways to the conversations we have with our community.

I would like to take a moment to thank our former Deputy Mayor, Phillippa Kassover, who has led the City Council for the past two years with distinction, dignity, and grace. We all thank her for her substantial work on behalf of the city and for all that she has led to completion for the City of Lake Forest Park. I look forward to continuing to collaborate closely with her in her new role as Council Vice Chair.

Taking a look at the year ahead, the short State Legislative Session is underway, and we will continue to advocate with our delegation for our City’s top priorities:

Additional Resources for Fish Barrier Removal

The City has successfully replaced six culverts in the past six years on Lyon Creek and there have been observed increases in fish activity. The state culvert project at SR 104 is fully funded and will begin construction in 2023. There are still many barriers to remove and considerable habitat to be restored. The City will continue to advocate for additional funds from the Legislature to keep moving forward with this top environmental priority.

Town Center to Burke Gilman Trail Connector

Thanks to the hard work of our legislative delegation in Olympia during the last biennium, the City was awarded funds to bring the project to a 10% design level and undertake two engineering studies to determine whether an overpass or underpass was the best option. To take the project to the 30% level, we are asking for additional funds to continue this essential work.

Regional Crisis Triage Center

Lake Forest Park and our neighboring cities of Bothell, Kenmore, Kirkland, and Shoreline have joined together to study the feasibility for a regional crisis triage center in North King County. This facility would support the Radar program and other ways of engaging those in crisis with additional capacity for acute behavioral health interventions in our area. In conjunction with our neighbors, we are requesting the State’s support for construction and operating costs.

State Route 104 Investments

State Route 104 (or Ballinger Way) is a poorly maintained highway and carries around 26,000 vehicles per day, including more commercial freight vehicles that are very heavy. This State Route also is sorely lacking in the appropriate safety measures that could increase the use of human powered or multimodal transportation options. The City is seeking a partnership with the State to make significant investments in improvements that will enhance the safety of pedestrians and bicyclist as well as increase the use transportation alternatives.

The year ahead is a very full one for the Lake Forest Park City Council, and some major topics we will be considering include:

Recommendations by the Planning Commission to our Accessory Dwelling (ADU) and Detached Dwelling Unit (DADU) regulations
Tree Board recommendations for changes to our Tree Code
Traffic calming and speed limits within our city
The work of a new citizen-led Climate Committee

Lastly, 2022 is a very full Budget year and we will begin consideration of the City’s budget mid-summer. While the City has largely weathered the financial challenges that the pandemic has wrought these past two years, this budget is very tight, and we are going to have to make some difficult choices as a community.

I wish you all the best in this new year! Stay well and stay safe.

--Deputy Mayor Tom French

LFP Municipal Judge Jennifer Johnson Grant

Welcome Judge Jennifer Johnson Grant

In December 2021, longtime Municipal Judge Linda Portnoy retired, and the City hired Jennifer Johnson Grant to serve in the position, effective January 3, 2022.

Judge Grant received her undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in 1992 and her Juris Doctor degree in 1996 from Seattle University School of Law where she was a Diversity Scholar, Chair of the Women’s Law Caucus, and an associate editor of the Law Review.

Judge Grant has extensive experience as a prosecutor in the Criminal Division of the Seattle City Attorney’s office, where she gained experience as a trial attorney, an appellate attorney, and a supervising attorney overseeing the prosecution of cases in Seattle Municipal Court’s specialty courts—Community Court, Mental Health Court, and Veterans Treatment Court.

Ms. Grant transitioned to private practice in 2013 and was a judicial officer for Lake Forest Park Municipal Court, where she was a judge pro tem for Judge Linda Portnoy.

Please help us welcome Judge Grant to the City of Lake Forest Park.

Join ShoreLake Arts and Celebrate Lunar New Year in Shoreline!

Join ShoreLake Arts in celebrating Lunar New Year in Shoreline. On February 12, at 4:00 p.m. watch a Lion Dance and Kung Fu performance. Enjoy the lanterns, local artwork and grab a craft brew at Monka Brewing Co. and a bite from a food truck, while listening to local musicians at Monka.

The full lantern and artwork display runs from February 1 – 15 at Monka Brewing Co.and Uplift Climbing. Stop by and visit each business during their business hours (Monka) and (Uplift).

All ages are welcome to attend this free event. Donations are greatly appreciated so ShoreLake can continue to provide cultural events in the community.

WHEN?
February 1-15, Lanterns on Display
February 12, beginning at 4:00 0.m., Lion Dance and Performances

WHERE?
Monka Brewing Co. & Uplift Climbing
17211 15th Avenue NE, Shoreline, WA 98155

Learn more about the event here!

Haz Waste Help Line: Recapping a Year of Responses

In 2021, you had questions, and the King County Haz Waste Help Line had answers. Check out what other King County residents were wondering about hazardous waste over the past year. Maybe you'll find the answers you've been looking for all along, too!

Read more of what others want to know about hazardous waste here.

Puget Sound Starts Here - Take Your Car to a Car Wash

Puget Sound Starts Here – Car Wash Tips

Unfortunately, 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 and dumps to 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 sends lots of pollutants like oils, heavy metals, detergents, soaps, and grime into the storm drains.

After a trip over/up to the mountains or a few snowy days around the city, our cars get dirty. The great news is there are ways you can help! The best way is to use a commercial car wash. Commercial car washes are required to send their soapy, dirty, grimy water to the same system other wastewater from our showers, sinks, and toilets go 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.

Remember—Puget Sound Starts Here!

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Sewer Rate Increase for 2022

We included this article in the last eNews but want to make sure our sewer utility customers are aware of the 2022 sewer rate increase.

Your sewer bill is made up of two parts. King County assesses a fee for the cost of the disposal of the sewage – the operation of sewage treatment plants and maintenance of the facilities. The county portion is the largest share of the bill.

In 2022, the county portion will increase from $47.37 to $49.27 per month; the city portion will increase from $19.02 to $20.16 per month for single family residences. As a result, a residential bill will increase from $132.78 every two months to $138.86.

The city’s portion of the bill is dedicated to owning, operating, and maintaining the sewer utility to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of and visitors to Lake Forest Park. The city’s Public Works crew is responsible for maintenance of approximately 225,000 feet of gravity sewer main, 11,000 feet of pressure main, and the operation and maintenance of two lift stations.

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