 Photo credit: K. Zech
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City of Lake Forest Park17425 Ballinger Way NE
Lake Forest Park, WA 98155
www.cityoflfp.com
206-368-5440
December 2022 |
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 Mayor Jeff Johnson
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Mayor’s Corner – Our Boards, Commissions, and Committees Need Volunteers
Are you interested in a role in improving your community? Are you thinking about ways you can interact with your local government, shape future services or policy, and give back to your community? If so, consider a role on a city board, commission, or committee.
These advisory bodies play an important role in city government. Commissioners and board/committee members represent the views, needs, and values of the community in making recommendations on programs and policies to the Mayor and City Council.
We currently have vacancies on the Planning Commission, Tree Board, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and Library Advisory Committee. These positions offer something for just about everyone who wants to give back to the LFP community!
More information about the roles and duties of our boards, commissions, and committees is on our website. Full terms are three years; some vacant positions are for partial terms. For a list of vacancies and term expirations click here. If you have questions, reach out to us at 206-368-5440.
Remember to check out the Porch Light Parade during December (see related article later in this issue).
I would like to wish everyone a safe and wonderful holiday season!
--Mayor Johnson
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Council Adopts 2023/2024 Biennial Budget
The 2023-2024 Biennial Budget has been adopted! The Mayor, Council Members, and Administration partnered to develop, present, prioritize, and adopt the City of Lake Forest Park’s 2023-2024 Biennial Budget.
The adopted budget includes a 1% increase for the City’s portion of the property tax, and increases for the sewer, and surface water funds for 2023 and 2024. The City’s sewer rate has two components King County and the City’s portions to make up the sewer rate that is paid by all residential and commercial customers. The King County portion increased 5.75% which results in a direct pass through for wastewater treatment services. The City’s portion of the rate will increase 3%. The surface water rate increases 10% to meet additional federal requirements in the operating and capital funds.
The budget also proposes new revenue sources for the City’s Transportation Benefit District and additional stable funding for the operating deficit in the General Fund through the implementation of sewer and surface water utility taxes, as the City Council continues to address the long-term financial sustainability of the City.
In future news articles there will be additional information on the details of the 2023-2024 Adopted Biennial Budget rate increases.
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Council Corner - Please Help Reduce Traffic Camera Revenues to Zero
About every other week I receive an email from a citizen complaining that traffic cameras are simply a revenue-generating mechanism for the City. While some of these emails are relatively polite, some are quite uncivil and downright un-neighborly. This Council has made it very clear that we all wish that the revenues from traffic cameras were zero as this indicates that our community and visitors are driving responsibly on our roads. Unfortunately, this is not presently the case.
The vast majority of infractions issued by both school-zone speed cameras and red-light cameras are issued to visitors passing through our community. As I have mentioned time and time again, 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 well as crashes on a per-trip basis.
Recent national data shows that traffic fatalities were up more than 5% nationwide at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 compared to the previous three years. Forty-three thousand people died on our nation’s roads in 2021 with the biggest increase in fatalities among what the federal government classifies as most vulnerable—pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Preliminary expectations for the 2022 numbers of fatalities are even higher than in 2021.
I invite you to stand on a street corner adjacent to either of our two elementary schools as our children are heading to school and watch the cameras flashing and recording the unsafe behavior of drivers very near our children and parents. This behavior by thoughtless drivers is wholly unacceptable and must change.
In the coming year, the City Council will continue to consider reductions to speed limits on our local roads and state highways which will prioritize pedestrian and multi-modal safety. It is the Council’s intent to create a speed-setting program that slows drivers down and one that reflects the character of our community.
We will also be continuing our work on traffic-calming measures that can be implemented throughout our city. Additional signalized crosswalks, intersections painted with murals, chicanes and pinch points, traffic circles, speed pillows, curb-separated shoulders and walking paths are all being considered as part of this program.
However, these measures can only go so far—it is essential that we all contribute to changing the dangerous paradigm of selfish excessive speeding and red-light running.
Slow down, enjoy our beautiful city and set an example for visitors who are passing though. Let’s get those camera revenues down to zero!
--Deputy Mayor Tom French
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Enjoy the 2022 Porch Light Parade!
Join the cities of Bothell, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, and Shoreline to celebrate communities shining bright with the 2022 Winter Porch Light Parade from December 1 - 31! Create light displays that will become part of a virtual map, marking the many holidays and traditions celebrated during the winter season. From porches to patios, balconies to banisters, windows or even cars, anyone can participate and help our communities transform into a magical wonderland of lights.
Want to participate in a friendly competition? During registration, you'll have the opportunity to sign up to have your display judged!
Mark your calendars--registration is open through December 14, 2022, and the Porch Light Parade map will be available the entire month of December.
Learn more, register your display, and view the map on the Winter Porch Light Parade webpage.
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 Assistant Planner Riley Bushnell
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Welcome Assistant Planner Riley Bushnell
Riley Bushnell recently joined the City of Lake Forest Park as our new Assistant Planner. Riley most recently worked at Pierce County as a Permit Technician. Additionally, Riley has worked as a Planner for Kootenai County (Idaho) and as a Planning Intern for the City of Federal Way. He has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from George Fox University and a master’s degree in community planning from the University of Washington Tacoma.
Welcome, Riley!
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 2021 Shop with a Cop
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Shop with a Cop 2022
The 2022 Shop with a Cop will be held on December 22 at the Target store in Woodinville. Ten deserving children from LFP Elementary, Brookside, and Briarcrest schools will be paired with 10 police officers and together they will shop for the children and their families. Returning to LFP City Hall after shopping, the children and officers will have lunch together and wrap the gifts. This event is one the members of the LFPPD look forward to each year.
The Lake Forest Park Police Department would like to thank all past and current donors and supporters, and invites anyone who would like to donate to “Shop with a Cop” to email Lieutenant Diego Zanella.
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 Carbon Visuals Creative Commons
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From the Climate Action Committee - Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Lake Forest Park
Findings from the King County Geographic GHG Emission Inventory and Wedge Report identified two major sources of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions (which contribute to heating the Earth’s atmosphere) in Lake Forest Park and our neighboring cities are from transportation and buildings.
Transportation
Fossil-fueled vehicles are the primary source of transportation related greenhouse gasses; primarily carbon dioxide (CO2). Included are the on-road vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, and trucks, and off-road vehicles such as boats, jet skis, construction vehicles, landscaping equipment, and airplanes. The average fossil-fueled passenger vehicle produces 4.6 metric tons of CO2 per year.
To reduce CO2 emissions, we need to rethink how we travel. Ways to minimize our emissions could include reducing the length of our trips, carpool or use public transportation, convert fossil-fueled vehicles to electric vehicles or more fuel-efficient vehicles like hybrids, reduce long distance air travel, and purchase locally available products. There is a myriad of opportunities to reduce our transportation emissions. King County Metro’s plan to fully transition its bus fleet to zero emissions vehicles by 2035 allows us the opportunity to seamlessly incorporate carbon-free public transportation into our lifestyle while the price and convenience of electric vehicles is starting to rival that of vehicles with combustion engines.
Buildings
In Lake Forest Park, the primary building type is residential. Approximately 68.4% of the housing units in LFP use natural gas from Puget Sound Energy and an additional 7.4% use fuel oil (e.g., kerosene, bottled tank, or LP gas). Natural gas releases methane into the atmosphere which is 80 times more potent than CO2. Replacing natural gas with electric power in our existing buildings and prohibiting natural gas in all new construction, is an important strategy for reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.
Join the Climate Action Committee Notify Me subscriber list for more information like this.
Have you taken our Climate Action Committee survey yet? If you haven’t, you can do so by clicking here!
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Diaper Drive to Benefit Babies of Homelessness
From Monday, December 5, through Wednesday, December 21, the City of LFP is hosting a diaper drive to benefit the local nonprofit organization, Babies of Homelessness. A collection box will be set up in the front lobby for donations of diapers/pull-ups (all sizes), wipes, and non-expired formula.
City Hall is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and is located at 17425 Ballinger Way NE.
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Breaking Down Batteries
A single battery might not look like much, but for waste management facilities and programs, it can create a whole circuit of problems. In a recent Washington Recycles Every Day (WRED) discussion, a panel of regional and national experts broke down all things batteries--from battery-caused fires, recycling processes, types of batteries, and legislation to address increasing numbers of batteries in waste streams. If you can't get enough battery information or just want to read the word "battery" another time, catch up on what you might have missed over on their blog. Reminder the City collects household batteries (AAAA, AAA, AA, A, B, C, D & 9-volt) at City Hall during regular business hours.
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Bloodworks NW Holds Area Blood Drive
You have the power to save lives! Blood donors provide the gift of life to Pacific Northwest hospitals so that medical teams can treat patients with cancer, those receiving organ transplants, and for those who have been burned or experienced other traumas. Donors are needed from our communities in December!
Donating blood is a critical and safe activity. Pre-appointments, face masks, and photo ID are still required. No walk-ins, guests, or people under age 16 are permitted on-site. Please allow 40-60 minutes to complete the entire donation process. If you have been told in the past that you can’t donate blood, please try again, as donation criteria is updated often by the FDA.
Northshore Fire Department and Kenmore Community Club are partnering with Bloodworks NW to host several blood drives in December. More information is available on the blood drive flyer.
To schedule a donation appointment for Bloodwork’s event sites below, and/or to review frequently asked questions, visit bloodworksnw.org.
Kenmore Community Club
December 5, 6, 7, 2022
9:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m.
7304 NE 175th Street
Kenmore, WA 98028
Book Donation Appointment
Northshore Fire Department / Station 51
December 22, 23, 2022
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
7220 NE 181st Street
Kenmore, WA 98028
Book Donation Appointment
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 Metro Community Van
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King County Metro Transit GO Rewards Program
Transit GO Rewards will allow county residents and visitors to earn points that can be redeemed for free transit tickets or credits toward the region’s micro-mobility providers. Riders can participate by downloading the Transit GO Ticket app. After signing up, you will receive 800 reward points, which can be redeemed for a free King County Metro adult day pass or for credits on private transportations modes including Bird, Lime, Link, and Veo!
Taking future trips on transit allows riders to earn more rewards to get around - via transit, community vans, bike share or scooter share. Get started by downloading the Transit GO Ticket app for Android or iPhone. In the app, go to the “Rewards” tab to sign up, get your free transit ticket and check out all the ways you can get rewarded. Yes, our Community Vans accept Transit GO tickets, and you can use your rewards to ride. To learn more and enroll in the program, visit the “Transit GO Rewards” page on Metro’s website.
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Reminder, It’s Salmon “SEEson”!
Each fall, salmon make a long, remarkable trek to spawn in streams and rivers across the Puget Sound region. Safely check out salmon viewing locations in one of three LFP Parks: Lyon Creek Waterfront Preserve, Blue Heron, and Animal Acres! You can also find other viewing opportunities and educational resources on the 2022 Salmon SEEson website.
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Keep Fats, Oils, Grease, and Wipes Out of Our Pipes!
Wipes, paper towels, and other “unflushables” can create a sewer backup in your home and the environment, flush only toilet paper! Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) are found in common food and food ingredients (such as meat fats, lard, oils, shortening, butter, margarine, many sauces, gravies, salad dressing, and food scraps), usually from rinsing dishes and washing pots and pans. Protect your home, the sewer system, and the environment, make sure these items go into the trash, and stay out of your pipes.
Here are some helpful reminders to keep pipes unclogged: - Don’t Flush Trash, including wipes, hygiene products, FOG, etc. Even if something is labeled “flushable”, these items don’t break down like toilet paper. Use the trash before causing trouble in your sewer pipes!
- Never pour FOG down sink drains or toilets.
- Use drain screens to capture food particles and dispose of them in the garbage or a rodent-proof compost bin.
- Use “dry” clean up methods (like paper towels) before using “wet” clean up methods for kitchenware and spills.
• Collect FOG, hair, food wastes, and dispose of them in the garbage.
For more information, on how to protect our water, visit the King County website for more information.
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LFP Early Registration for Winter Recreation Programs with the City of Shoreline Begins January 5, 2023
Live in Lake Forest Park? 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) throughout the entire year! LFP residents’ early registration for Winter 2023 begins January 5, 2023, at 8:00 a.m.
Visit shorelinewa.gov/recreation for more information or 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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Fall & Winter Storms – Let’s Be Ready Together
In Lake Forest Park, fall and winter can bring heavy rain, high winds, ice and snow. The City begins preparing for winter weather in the summer by training staff, preparing equipment, and working with other local agency partners.
The City of Lake Forest Park has four trucks set up with plows and sanders or deicers and another two trucks with only plows. During a snow and ice event, maintenance crews may operate on two 12-hour shifts to provide 24-hour coverage.
Snow and ice crews will focus on primary routes first, including arterials, bus routes, and designated emergency routes. Once the primary routes are in a safe condition, attention turns to secondary routes, and then to residential streets. Crews will continue to treat snow and ice as long as the conditions exist.
When high winds or heavy rain are forecast, our crews are ready to remove fallen trees from the road. If wires are on the ground, the proper agencies will be contacted.
Be a Good Neighbor
You are part of the team, too! Your participation and awareness can help. - Clear your sidewalk and nearby street drains of leaves. Do not remove the grate from the storm drain opening – this does not unclog the system and creates a hazard for everyone. Place your leaves in a yard waste container or compost bin, not in the street.
- When snow falls, shovel your sidewalk and driveway. If you have neighbors who have difficulty shoveling snow, consider also cleaning theirs.
- Businesses and building managers should shovel sidewalks outside their locations so customers and employees can get around.
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 Approved traction tires will have the symbol shown above
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What You Can Do - Know the Snow & Ice Priority Routes Map.
- Listen to the weather forecast. Have a plan in case severe weather strikes.
- Make sure you have a snow shovel and deicer.
- When the storm hits, don’t drive if you don’t have to. Having fewer cars on the roads during and after a storm makes it easier to clear streets.
- If you must drive, make sure your car is ready with approved traction tires. These tires will have the symbol shown above.
- Carry tire chains and know how to install them.
- Make sure windows are clear and the snow is brushed from the entire car.
- Keep an emergency supply kit in your vehicle.
- Slow down, allow plenty of room between you and the next vehicle, and be prepared for ice you cannot see, especially on bridges and raised roadways.
- Watch for “Street Closed” signs. They are placed by crews for your safety.
- Stay away from downed power lines.
- Use alternative heat sources safely and wisely. Follow manufacturers’ instructions. Adequately vent fueled space heaters (e.g., kerosene, propane, alcohol) to avoid fatal carbon monoxide gas buildup. Also, do not use outdoor grills or camp stoves indoors, as it may cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Call 9-1-1 only for emergencies.
Build a Kit
Following is a list of some basic items that every emergency supply kit should include. You should have enough food, water, and other supplies to last for at least three days. However, it is important that individuals review the list and consider where they live and the unique needs of their family in order to create an emergency supply kit that will meet these needs. Individuals should also consider having at least two emergency supply kits, one full kit at home and smaller portable kits in their workplace, vehicle, or other places they spend time.
Recommended items to include in a basic emergency supply kit: - Water—one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days—for drinking and sanitation
- Food—at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio with tone alert and extra batteries
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Moist towelettes, hand sanitizer, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Manual can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers (consider investing in a solar cell phone charger and/or a cell phone charger for your vehicle)
Additional items to consider adding to an emergency supply kit: - Prescription medications and eyeglasses
- Infant formula and diapers
- Pet food and extra water for your pet, and your pet’s medications, if any
- Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
- Cash or traveler's checks and change
- Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
- Complete change of clothing including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate
- Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper. When diluted nine parts of water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or, in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners
- Fire extinguisher
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
- Mess kits, paper cups, paper plates and plastic utensils, paper towels
- Paper and pencil
- Books, games, puzzles, or other activities for children
Remember to rotate and update your supplies every six months. For a more detailed list of recommended disaster kit items, visit www.ready.gov.
Additional resources:
For a helpful winter checklist, click here.
Visit the City of Lake Forest Park website for individual and business preparedness brochures, snow and ice removal plan, and additional information.
Lake Forest Park Residents - to Report Severe Flooding If localized flooding is severe and you are unable to clear the drain, please call City Hall at 206-368-5440 during business hours; or, after hours call King County Dispatch at 206-296-8100.
Lake Forest Park Residents - to Report Icy or Hazardous Road Conditions To report icy or hazardous conditions during business hours call City Hall at 206-368-5440 or after hours call King County Dispatch at 206-296-8100. To view a copy of the snow and ice removal plan, visit:
Lake Forest Park Residents - Sandbags The City of Lake Forest Park has deployed sandbags at three designated locations for use during the flood season. Please notify the City prior to taking sandbags by calling 206-368-5440. This will allow us to track the number of sandbags used so the locations can be resupplied.
Sandbag Locations - 16800 block of Beach Drive NE
- South end of Animal Acres Park
- NE 178th Street and Brookside Boulevard
Seattle City Light To report a power outage, call 206-684-7400
Puget Sound Energy To report a power outage, call PSE at 1-888-225-5773.
Northshore Utility District 425-398-4400
Republic Services 206-682-9730
Washington State Department of Transportation 1-800-695-7623
King County Metro 206-553-3000 Sign up to receive King County Transit Alerts online.
Sound Transit Rider Information 1-888-889-6368 Sign up to receive Sound Transit Alerts online.
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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.
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