City of Lake Forest Park

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

April 2022

Mayor Jeff Johnson

Mayor's Corner - Coffee with the Mayor is Back!

I am happy to let you know that Coffee with the Mayor is scheduled for Saturday, May 21, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. When I originally mentioned meeting outdoors, the statewide mask mandate was in place. With the mandate lifted, and masks not required at City Hall at this time, I have decided to hold the event in the Council Chambers so we are not impacted by weather. Seating will be set up to provide social distancing.

If you haven't attended the coffee events in the past, they are an informal opportunity for you to share with me what's on your mind. Coffee and pastries are provided.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone on the 21st!

--Mayor Johnson

Photo by Miguel A. Amutio on Unsplash

Council Corner – Wear Your Life Jacket while Enjoying Our Waters--Tragedy Averted

Last week on Lake Washington I was involved in the rescue of a middle school young man whose racing kayak had overturned. Thankfully, he was wearing a life jacket, and it saved his life. While he was in the water less than two minutes, within 90 seconds he was so cold he was unable focus or swim without extreme difficulty.

I was able to retrieve him from the water in under two minutes but within that very short time he could no longer use his hands or think clearly. I have no doubt that in another minute he would have succumbed to hypothermia and fallen unconscious.

I suppose there is a certain irony to the fact that he was rescued by the policy maker who sponsored the life jacket ordinance in LFP, but I for one am deeply grateful that he was wearing his life jacket and that I was nearby.

So I will say it again- wear a life jacket!

The waters in our community are in the mid to low 40s and are very, very cold. Wearing a life jacket is just one way to keep yourself and ones that you love safer. The dangers of hypothermia upon immersion are very real.

With the spring season upon us and more of us enjoying the outdoors I want to remind everyone of the dangers that the cold water presents to the users of human-powered craft and to boaters.

As of May of 2021, LFP Municipal Code Ordinance 1222 requires wearing of a Coast Guard approved life jacket (personal floatation device or PFD).

While state law requires that a Coast Guard-approved PFD be on board a paddleboard or kayak, LFP Municipal Code requires the actual wearing of a Coast Guard-approved life jacket (personal floatation device or PFD). It cannot simply be on board the human-powered craft or paddleboard- it must be worn properly.

The intent of this ordinance is outreach, awareness, and education, and the first violation will result in educational outreach and a warning. Subsequent offences will result in a citation and a fine.

Over the past few years, we have observed a dramatic increase in human-powered craft out on Lake Washington and the pandemic has encouraged families to try new outdoor experiences and get out on the water more.

When I sponsored this Ordinance last year, it was with these first-time or more casual users of human-powered watercraft that I had primarily in mind. I hope it will help contribute to their awareness of the dangers of the water, particularly in the spring and early summer when the water is so cold.

--Deputy Mayor Tom French

City Offers Low-Income Senior / Disabled Sewer Discount

The Lake Forest Park Sewer Utility offers low-income senior or disabled sewer customers a 50 percent discount on their sewer service. You must be an LFP sewer customer and meet the criteria to qualify for the discount. Income eligibility requirements are:

One-person gross income must be less than $45,300 per year
Two-person gross income must be less than $51,800 per year

For more information and an application, click on this link.

Cartoon drawing of Earth with dustpan, spray bottle, soap, cleaning gloves

Choose Safer, More Environmentally Friendly Products!

You can save money and a trip to the store by making cleaners with ingredients you likely already have at home. These recipes are safer than many conventional cleaning products that can expose you and the environment to harmful chemicals.

City Seeks Volunteers for the Tree Board

The City is seeking applications for three vacancies 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. 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.

Sign Up for Updates about the City’s Stormwater Management Action Plan

In last month’s issue, we included an article about how the City is developing a Stormwater Management Action Plan (SMAP) as part of its commitment to clean water. The plan will identify actions the City can take to help clean up rainwater runoff from developed areas – also known as stormwater – affecting at least one of our high-priority surface water basins in the City.

To find out more about the project, visit the project webpage or sign up for project updates via email or SMS.

Republic Services graphic of recycling at home

Recycling Tips

Just because you want something to be recyclable doesn’t mean it is. That is why it is important to always check with your recycling collection company, so you know whether something is recyclable. To check out Republic Services trash and recycling tips, click here. For more information on garbage and recycling head to the King County Solid Waste Division Recycling page.

Person adding air to a tire - properly inflated vehicle tires create less pollution

Puget Sound Starts with Car Care!

Keeping our local waters cleaner can be as easy as making sure your vehicle’s tires have the right amount of air in them. Properly inflated tires do not wear down as quickly, which means less tire particle pollution ends up washing down the storm drains and into local streams.

Learn about more vehicle maintenance tips that make a difference in the health of Puget Sound’s waters at Puget Sound Starts Here.

Lists of what is and is not accepted at the wastemobile

Mark Your Calendars, the King County Wastemobile will be in Kirkland and Bothell in May

Do you have Household Hazardous Waste that needs disposal? The King County Wastemobile is making a stop in Kirkland May 6–8 and Bothell May 13-15, Friday – Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., to provide household hazardous waste disposal services for King County residents.

Kirkland Wastemobile address for May 6 - 8 is: 12221 120th Ave NE Kirkland, WA 98034, Fred Meyer
Bothell Wastemobile address for May 13 - 15 is: 18115 Campus Way NE, Bothell, WA 98011, UW Bothell Campus

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 cannot make it to the Wastemobile, do not dispose of your hazardous waste like cleaning products, batteries, or pesticides in the garbage or down the drain. Take hazardous waste to the North Seattle Hazardous Waste drop-off site for safe disposal. Additional information is available on the link above.

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. Subscription options include notices of city meetings and events, planning announcements, emergency alerts, city newsflashes, and more! Click here for the full list of available subscriptions.