Lake Forest Park city hall with a rainbow overhead; US flag flying, several cars parked in the parking lot

Photo credit: K Zech

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

January 2025

DEPARTMENT UPDATES

Lake Forest Park 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update
Drive Safe, Arrive Safe: New Speed Limits Coming to Lake Forest Park

2024 Lake Forest Park Comprehensive Plan Update

On December 12, 2024, the City Council of Lake Forest Park adopted the 2024 Lake Forest Park Comprehensive Plan Update. This two-year, community-wide effort involved extensive outreach and public participation, including workshops, an open house, a community survey, numerous special and regular meetings of the Planning Commission, public hearings, and environmental review.

The periodic update is required by the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) to update the vision, goals, and policies as needed to reflect changes in local conditions, as well as state legislation and regional plans. Under the GMA, comprehensive plans must be updated every ten years, with the next update due in 2034.

The final adopted 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update document can be viewed here:

LFP 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update - Final

Drive Safe, Arrive Safe:
New Speed Limits Coming to Lake Forest Park

Starting February 6, 2025, the City will introduce new speed limits across Lake Forest Park to ensure safer streets for everyone.

What’s Changing?

Local Access Streets: New limit: 20 mph (map 1)
Arterials/Collectors: New limit: 25 mph (map 2)

Why the Change?

To reduce accidents and protect pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers.
To foster a more livable, walkable community where everyone can feel at ease.
In response to community input and the latest research and safety studies.

Help Us Keep Out Community Safe!

Follow the new speed limits.
Stay alert and mindful of your speedometer.
Encourage friends and neighbors to do the same.

By embracing these new speed limits, we’re creating safer neighborhoods, protecting our families, and strengthening the sense of community pride that makes Lake Forest Park a wonderful place to call home.

Map 2: Local Access Streets

arterials and collectors in Lake Forest Park

Map 2: Arterials/Collectors

EVENTS

Family Story Time at Lake Forest Park Library - Thursdays, Starting January 9
CPR/AED Certification Class – January 29
Third Place Commons Community Breakfast 2025 – March 6

Photo Credit: King County Library System

Family Story Time at Lake Forest Park Library -

Thursdays, Starting January 9

Bring your little ones to the Lake Forest Park Library (17171 Bothell Way NE) for Family Story Time on Thursdays, starting January 9! Choose from two sessions:

10:00 - 10:30 AM
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Enjoy a lively mix of stories, music, movement, and rhymes designed to support your child’s early literacy skills. Perfect for children ages 0-5.

No registration is required, but space is limited. Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available by request. Please email access@kcls.org at least seven days prior to the event. Automated closed captioning is available for all online events.

Explore more exciting events at the Lake Forest Park Public Library!

Northshore Emergency Management Coalition

CPR/AED Certification Class -

January 29

Sign up for an in-person CPR/AED class on January 29, 2025, with Northshore Emergency Management Coalition (NEMCo)! This course will train you to perform CPR and use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) safely, effectively, and efficiently in emergency situations.

Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Cost: FREE, or $50 if you need a card (Exact cash or check only!)

Location: Shoreline Fire Station 51, 7220 NE 181st Street Kenmore, WA 98028

Third Place Commons Community Breakfast 2025 -

March 6

Celebrate 25 amazing years of Third Place Commons and 20 wonderful years of the Lake Forest Park Farmers Market in 2025!

Get your tickets HERE for the annual fundraising Community Breakfast on Thursday, March 6th from 7:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. and be part of the celebration! Enjoy a morning filled with great food, fellowship, and fun—perfect for honoring the legacy of real community in real space.

Tickets:

$50 each
$375 for a table of 8

Your ticket includes:

A delicious breakfast by Honey Bear Bakery
A fun and fast-paced live auction with Auctioneer Ken Carson
A special presentation honoring our founders
Live music from our beloved breakfast house band, The Milner Family Fiddles
A joyful reunion with your community
The chance to support the vital work of Third Place Commons and the Lake Forest Park Farmers Market

Let’s make this milestone celebration unforgettable!

Stay in the loop with everything happening at The Commons by subscribing to our newsletter HERE. See you at the breakfast - don’t miss it! 🥳

COMMUNITY INFORMATION

Clean Buildings Accelerator: No-Cost Energy Management Program for Commercial Buildings
2025 Discover Pass Free Days in Washington State
Sleigh Holiday Recycling
Winter Preparedness Tips
BYOB – Bring Your Own Bag!
Holiday Light Recycling

Clean Buildings Accelerator: No-Cost Energy Management Program for Commerical Buildings

Seattle City Light is partnering with Puget Sound Energy (PSE) to offer a no-cost energy management program to help commercial buildings over 20,000 square feet save energy and prepare to meet the requirements of the Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard. The Clean Buildings Accelerator (CBA) program will provide building owners and operators with the tools, processes, and know-how to positively impact energy consumption and support a path to compliance for the WA Clean Buildings law.

Here are key details:

The program is no-cost for participants. Participants are asked to invest their time to attend action-oriented workshops and coaching calls that will provide guidance on compliance and drive energy savings
Get on the path to compliance for WA Clean Buildings Law. Ensure organizations have all the information they need to continue on the path to compliance.
Receive tailored coaching based on your site and organization. The Clean Buildings Accelerator provides one-on-one support to identify O&M opportunities and deliver individualized coaching to meet specific needs and goals.

Want to learn more about the Clean Buildings Accelerator? There is an upcoming 60-minute information session on:

Tuesday, January 7, 2025, 11:00AM-12:00PM

Join to learn more about the WA Clean Buildings law, receive an overview of the program offerings, learn the next steps for program participation, and answer any questions you might have.

Please register in advance here.

2025 Discover Pass Free Days in Washington State

The Washington State Discover Pass Program has designated 12 Discover Pass free days for 2025.

On these days, visitors will not need a Discover Pass to park a vehicle at a Washington state park or on lands managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

Here is the list of the Discover Pass free days:

Jan. 1 – New Year’s Day and First Day Hikes
Jan. 20 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
March 9 – Billy Frank Jr.’s Birthday
March 19 – State Parks’ 111th Birthday
April 22 – Earth Day
June 7 & 8 – Free Fishing Weekend
June 19 – Juneteenth
Aug. 9 – Smokey Bear’s Birthday
Sep. 27 – National Public Lands Day
Oct. 10 – World Mental Health Day
Nov. 11 – Veterans Day

These free days do not apply to Sno-Parks, which are winter recreation areas. During the winter season, November to April, visitors will need a Sno-Park permit. The free days also do not apply to overnight stays or renting the facilities.

Learn more information here.

Winter Preparedness Tips

Check out the Northshore Emergency Management Coalition (NEMCo) Winter Preparedness Tips, which provides a comprehensive checklist of essential winter preparedness activities. You'll also find valuable information on home readiness, generator safety, preparing medical equipment and supplies, vehicle preparedness, and resources for ham radio operators.

Sleigh Holiday Recycling

As you give and receive gifts this holiday season learn what to recycle and what to trash.

For more information head to the Republic Services website.

BYOB – Bring Your Own Bag!

Having a hard time remembering to bring your own bags to the store? After you use them, try placing them at your door, leaving them in your car, or stashing some in the items you take to and from home, work, and/or school. The visual reminder will help you consistently take your reusable bags back to stores when shopping.

Plastic carry-out bags are a major contaminant in our state’s material recovery facilities and our environment, especially in waterways and along roadways. If you are going to use plastic bags, be sure to use compliant reusable ones.

More information is available at the state’s Department of Ecology Single-use Plastic Ban webpage.

Holiday Light Recycling

Do you have a pile of burned-out holiday lights? Are you replacing your old holiday lights with energy-efficient LEDs (light-emitting diode)? Don't put the old holiday lights in the garbage, recycle them.

Find a list of options here.

MEETING INFORMATION

January Meeting Schedule

All meetings are held in the hybrid format at City Hall and via Zoom.

City Council

January 9, Work Session, 6:00 p.m.
January 9, Regular Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
January 16, Budget & Finance Committee Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
January 23, Committee of the Whole Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
January 23, Regular Meeting, 7:00 p.m.

Climate Action Committee

January 7, 7:00 p.m.

Planning Commission

January 14, 7:00 p.m.

Climate Policy Advisory Team

January 21, 7:00 p.m.

Tree Board

January 22, 7:00 p.m. (special meeting)

Park and Recreation Advisory Board

January 28, 7:00 p.m.

Information may be subject to change. For the most current meeting information, please check the City’s meetings calendar and the Agendas & Minutes webpage.

Stay Current on City News

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.