City of Lake Forest Park

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

July 2022

Mayor Jeff Johnson

Mayor’s Corner – The Economics of City Finances

With soaring inflation and home values, I often hear from residents that the city must be flush with additional revenue due to the increased property tax collected on those ever-increasing home values. Well, nothing could be further from the truth. By state law, the city has two options every year: one, collect the same amount of property tax revenue as the previous year, regardless of home values; or realize a one percent increase in that revenue by a vote of the council. Any increase beyond the maximum one percent set by the state requires a vote of the residents. As you can imagine, with annual inflation since the incorporation of Lake Forest Park in 1961 averaging 3.73%, and revenues increasing by a mere one percent it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain levels of service.

Every year, cities across the State of Washington struggle to keep providing consistent levels of service, let alone provide the new programs, parks and pedestrian pathways I hear are priorities for many of our residents, as well as your Mayor and Council.

The Administration and City Council have done an excellent job over the years of keeping this city financially stable while working to provide the services and amenities the community desires and deserves, considering the growing disparity between revenue and costs. We know what we want as a community, now we need to discuss how and how quickly we achieve those goals. As I work with the Council over the coming months to adopt the 2023-2024 city budget, I encourage your involvement and feedback as we look to continue moving this city forward.

--Mayor Johnson

Click here for a more detailed breakdown.

Photo by Danny Nee on Unsplash

Safety Day for Kids - July 16!

On Saturday, July 16, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the Lake Forest Park Police Department is hosting a Safety Day for Kids.

This new event will focus on children being safe while getting outside to bike, hike, and enjoy water activities. Included in the activities is an obstacle course where children can learn about stop signs, crosswalks, approaching corners, and being considerate around other bikes and groups of people.

King County Search & Rescue representatives and Lake Forest Park Police officers will talk about outdoor and water safety, and 25 bicycle helmets and 100 lifejackets will be given away to children and adults with disabilities (on a first-come, first-served basis). A K9 unit will also be there and there will be free “safety bags” for the children.

This fun event will be held in the upper parking lot behind the Lake Forest Park Police Department, 17425 Ballinger Way NE. We hope to see you there!

Join Mayor Johnson on July 23 for Coffee with the Mayor

Save the date! The next Coffee with the Mayor is scheduled for Saturday, July 23, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., in the Council Chambers at City Hall. 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 Mayor Johnson what’s on your mind. Coffee will be provided.

We look forward to seeing you on the 23rd!

Council Corner – Speed Limits and Traffic Calming in Lake Forest Park

With the benefit of our new hybrid meeting capabilities, the Council has been very busy the past few months working collaboratively on speed limits and traffic calming in Lake Forest Park. We have held two Council Committee of the Whole meetings to discuss this important topic, one in April and one in June. We will continue with additional meetings focused on this issue during the summer months and into the fall.

This work that the Council is conducting is very timely and necessary. The reduced traffic during the pandemic has emboldened some drivers to ignore basic courtesy and safety and this has led to a significant increase in unlawful behavior on our roads and state highways. Traffic volume is down, yet infractions are up, as are crashes, on a per-trip basis.

The Council is considering adopting a speed-setting methodology that uses a systematic approach that takes into consideration all the contexts of a road rather than simply moving traffic.

The model approach to this methodology was created by the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO). This method includes:

Setting default speed limits on many streets at once (such as 25 mph on all major streets and 20 mph on all minor streets),
Designating slow zones in sensitive areas, and
Setting corridor speed limits on high priority major streets, using a safe speed study, which uses conflict density and activity level to set context-appropriate speed limits

It is the Council’s intent to create a speed-setting program that slows drivers down and reflects the character of our community.

We will also be considering traffic-calming measures that can be implemented throughout our city. A variety of measures are being discussed, including, but not limited to:

Signalized crosswalks
Intersections painted with murals
Chicanes and pinch points
Traffic circles
Speed pillows
Curb-separated shoulders and walking paths

With very limited resources to implement these programs, the Council will be working very closely with the Mayor and Administration to ensure early successes and continued progress on improving pedestrian, bicycle, and multimodal safety.

I invite you to please join us remotely or in person for any of our meetings. We want to hear from you—public comment is always welcome and encouraged!

--Deputy Mayor Tom French

REAL ID will affect access to places controlled by the federal government

ID2023 – Will You Have What You Need to Travel in May 2023?

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security has extended the REAL ID enforcement deadline. The new deadline for REAL ID enforcement is May 3, 2023. Read more about REAL ID.

Beginning May 3, 2023, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States, such as a US passport. A standard Washington state driver’s license or ID card will no longer be sufficient identification.

Washington residents should start planning now for the new air travel requirements. ID2023 was created by the Washington State Department of Licensing for the purpose of educating Washington residents about the REAL ID Act requirements and options.

Find out whether you are ready and what your identification options are by taking the brief quiz.

If you would like to apply for a new US passport, the City of Lake Forest Park offers passport services by appointment during these hours: Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The passport services office is closed on legal holidays.

If you are an adult who already has a US passport, you may qualify to renew it by mail. The US Department of State website, Travel.State.Gov, can help you figure out whether you need to apply in person or can renew by mail.

Check out our Passport Services page for helpful information about applying for a passport, making an appointment at the City of LFP, fees, and a checklist to help you be ready for your appointment. Please note that only the DS-11 application form is accepted at our facility. If you qualify to renew your application by mail, renewal forms (DS-82) are available at City Hall and through the US Department of State website at Travel.State.Gov. You can also pick up a DS-11 form at City Hall or at Travel.State.Gov.

Please note that passport processing times are currently 8-11 weeks for routine processing and 5-7 weeks for expedited processing (additional fee) and we are booking appointments two months in advance. Don’t delay—start the process now!

Group of neighbors talking with LFPPD officer during 2021 National Night Out event

National Night Out 2021

National Night Out Against Crime is Tuesday, August 2, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Turn on your porch or patio lights, and step outside for the 2022 National Night Out!

National Night Out is about building community; making our neighborhoods safer by getting to know our neighbors and neighborhood partners.

Considering a National Night Out event in your neighborhood? Even with many people vaccinated, it's still a good idea to consider events that naturally offer a little social distance.

We want our neighborhoods to feel safe and welcome. Invite a Lake Forest Park Police officer to come by and say hello. Email Lt. Rhonda Lehman for more information. Share your great ideas on social platforms like Nextdoor!

National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. It furthermore provides an opportunity to bring police and neighbors together. Neighborhoods across the nation host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and other community events with safety demos, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel and exhibits.

2021 Battle of the Bands

Battle of the Bands at Pfingst Animal Acres Park in August

Join ShoreLake Arts and the City of Lake Forest Park for the return of Battle of the Bands, three August evenings of fun at Pfingst Animal Acres Park! Tickets are on sale now for $7.00 a night and can be purchased through ShoreLake Arts. The 1st place winner will take home $1,500 and a day of studio time at the world-famous Robert Lang Studios. The 2nd place winner will take home $1,000 and a Gear Package from Mackie. First and second place winners will be decided by the judges. New this year, audience enthusiasm and excitement will determine the People’s Choice Award, where the winner receives a day of studio time at Robert Lang Studios and $500!

Battle of the Bands supports emerging and developing musicians in Washington State and encourages appreciation for the art of music in our community.

All shows begin at 6:30 p.m. at Pfingst Animal Acres Park, and gates open at 5:30 p.m. A beer garden and food trucks will be on hand!

Semi-final Pool #1 | Monday, August 1
Semi-final Pool #2 | Tuesday, August 2
Finals | Saturday, August 6

For more information on the event or to purchase tickets, click here.

Hot dogs are not cool - do not leave them in cars

It is officially summer, and the weather is heating up. Car temperatures can rise in just 10 minutes, Hot Dogs Are Not Cool Dogs!

Screenshot from Tree Walk #2

From the Tree Board: Illustrated Tree Walks in Lake Forest Park

This is part of a series of occasional columns on the trees of Lake Forest Park. The LFP Tree Board exists to advise the City on policies pertaining to trees, to facilitate tree planting events, and to provide outreach and education to the community.

Citizens of Lake Forest Park are rightfully proud of its extensive tree canopy and all the benefits that provides. Sometimes it is hard to see the trees, for the forest! Our urban forest includes an incredible diversity of trees in City parks, street rights-of-way, and especially in residents’ gardens throughout the City.

It has been nearly 15 years since LFP resident, David Hepp, and the Urban Forest Task Force created the wonderful booklet Tree Walks in Lake Forest Park. The booklet describes four walks through different neighborhoods in Lake Forest Park, pointing out and identifying noteworthy trees, both native and ornamental, encountered along each route.

Because neighborhoods can change—trees grow or die, and new ones are planted—the LFP Tree Board, with assistance from David Hepp, is revising the Tree Walks. In addition to updating the original descriptions by removing trees that have died and including new ones that caught our attention, photos of many of the trees are included to help users pick out the trees noted in the text. The new Illustrated Tree Walks booklet is available online and can be downloaded to a smartphone or other device. Two of the original four walks are available now; look for the others coming soon. Our long summer evenings are a perfect time for a tree walk!

Puget Sound Starts Here – a Reminder about Car Washing at Home

Did you know that car wash water contains oils, grease, heavy metals, and soap? When you wash your car in your driveway or street, polluted wash water flows into the nearest storm drain. That water flows through the stormwater system to the nearest natural waterway. To prevent water pollution, wash your car at a commercial car wash. If you must wash your car at home, do so on a grassy area where that dirty wash water will get filtered out in the soil and not harm LFP’s waterways and wildlife.

Help Protect Pollinators in Your Garden or Yard

National Pollinator Week just passed, but here are a few ways to help protect pollinators in your garden or yard:

Using manual or natural weed and pest control methods is the best first step – trap bugs and dig up or cut down weeds.

If manual methods for weed control aren’t working, try adding a thick layer of mulch to suppress new growth. Choose herbicides as a last resort and use them at dawn and dusk when pollinators are less active. Always wear protective gear and follow the product instructions!

More info here.

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.

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.