[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6215798,"mediaKeyId","3656111-556c95ce21ba1b48ef8f1e9be14ddd99","parentId",3656111,"title","Lake Forest Park expands public climate outreach: Climate Hub, events and volunteer opportunities highlighted","audioSeconds",100,"startMs",5500000,"endMs",5600000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3656111-556c95ce21ba1b48ef8f1e9be14ddd99&start=5500&end=5600","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3656111-556c95ce21ba1b48ef8f1e9be14ddd99/thumbnail_5500000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6215798/Lake-Forest-Park/King-County/Washington/Lake-Forest-Park-expands-public-climate-outreach-Climate-Hub-events-and-volunteer-opportunities-highlighted","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215798-69d7f014a84553d1605c8cbe32d6c580/orig.mp4?Expires=1775317276&Signature=I~ndERxjC71R1Au~SZomgrQeRL0NvNrR8jTESj5MHZ8RQiDuAUfMlGUp8SGO0S1PSAnmP8vwX9-ilQtzvy8cMNGa5YnJwLlosI1Tx8wefwNLk9ANCddSZjdQ9k-Sxyem2j8-WduJuv~na4fxXr--nXaC8zrYLXJqQMyKoUWUEjwAEKSrrNWOoUDJvUdBJ1hym1adxkervhEfxgu-53XFpvC-YpWiiTohtHlWGoPnrzw9tOxoafr7XAgHLGr7NxuzVwqN0WA54V1nOMytgVyU6hOD6upui08LgpYQLlFfRbqzrhCXuB25z1JOh4~MFQlrTyMnz~1r3~L7xDp8ko4fXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Lake Forest Park, WA","date","2025-06-04T16:31:49Z","article","Members of the Climate Action Committee and Tree Board described a set of community outreach initiatives intended to engage residents on climate, trees and resiliency.

The Climate Hub, a display space in the Commons (second floor near the bookstore), features a mural and informational materials and is intended as a public resource where residents can learn about local climate impacts, volunteer opportunities and stewardship projects. Committee members said the Climate Hub will host rotating displays and could include a large interactive touch screen running a GIS‑based map of local environmental data.

A one‑year, expertise‑focused grant (described in the meeting as an American Geophysical Union or similar partnership) was awarded to provide scientist‑to‑community support and to link local datasets (for example school weather stations, stream monitoring, and canopy maps) into an interactive map that could be displayed on the Climate Hub touch screen. Committee members said the grant supplies technical expertise rather than operating funds and will identify scientists and data partners to build the map and the interface.

Outreach events discussed included: a possible joint booth at the farmers’ market (Republic Services offered a table for no fee), a Fall event to distribute seedlings (in prior years the city distributed Douglas‑fir seedlings from a state nursery), and an upcoming June 23 event featuring an Octavia Butler video interview and discussion tied to the Climate Action Book Club. The committees also discussed a “Healthy Streets” neighborhood pilot to reduce vehicle speeds and encourage walking, which a neighborhood is petitioning the city to implement.

Youth and school partnerships were raised as priorities: the advisory process for the climate element already included interviews with students (the environmental club and Interact at Shorecrest High School), and committee members said the Climate Hub would be a natural place to display school‑collected data and host student engagement.

Why this matters: outreach and public education increase public awareness of climate impacts, expand volunteer stewardship capacity and help translate technical plans into community action.

What’s next: pursue the interactive mapping project for the Climate Hub, coordinate a July–September outreach calendar with the farmers’ market and stewardship groups, and recruit students and volunteers for Climate Hub staffing and events.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 3, 2025 Joint Meeting Tree Board & Climate Action Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Committee members reviewed outreach plans including the Climate Hub at the Commons, a mapping grant to populate an interactive touch screen, a proposed farmers‑market / Republic Services outreach table, and other local events to engage residents on trees, recycling and resilience.","taxTitle","Lake Forest Park, King County, Washington","taxId",71686,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6215803,"Tree Board readies revised tree list, exceptional‑tree code changes and seeks funding for canopy assessment",0,6398000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3656111-556c95ce21ba1b48ef8f1e9be14ddd99&start=6398&end=6398","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3656111-556c95ce21ba1b48ef8f1e9be14ddd99/thumbnail_6398000.jpg","/articles/6215803/Lake-Forest-Park/King-County/Washington/Tree-Board-readies-revised-tree-list-exceptionaltree-code-changes-and-seeks-funding-for-canopy-assessment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215803-35fd1e4479ec28c5cdbbd1f3a84106d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775317276&Signature=AJSWfP6tbafb41K9q2a6BpDbZQkhI11-7ZeFxvC~jHllg66G-Z3Vk5jOCXoNuj8c6gJVIzWTj8CxvbcPR3VddwxtbWEJUOaJQmp~UwLeTEyH5sA3rlLMDkku~wylnyUcGmtvz2y5cnCFaBTCgGMyLFMTP~NTq6K8F~7uTnqQ7l91ovdFXzqxikrwJndXCLQqQ-kQZTpTFr8vQe25YILAnZScwCp0nvc7Ds1BYVMN2Unb1YBCxxXweEUfdESwcUb5EuXinHuEgrMWaV7S2VicexbM0jvHUH9MM2nxJPGs~QOHmUcpN4uQVo3LZTflxOqSried3RryULC6wLT2r05TDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of Lake Forest Park’s Tree Board updated the joint meeting on three related initiatives: proposed amendments to the city’s exceptional‑tree provisions, a new master tree list (including a list of species that will not count as replacement trees), and grant opportunities for a parcel‑level canopy assessment and a broader tree‑plan gap analysis.

The Tree Board described draft code changes that would adjust the diameter thresholds that trigger the city’s “exceptional tree” protections. The board presented sampling‑based charts used to estimate the share of certain native species that would be protected under different thresholds. For example, the board proposed lowering the Douglas‑fir threshold from the current 42‑inch diameter to 40 inches to increase the number of protected specimens. The board also proposed adjusting thresholds for western red cedar and big‑leaf maple to better reflect local species distributions and conservation priorities.

“We made a recommendation to lower thresholds on some species so that more large, ecologically valuable trees qualify for additional protection,” said Doug (Tree Board member) while presenting the species‑by‑size data. The board said code language will also explicitly exclude certain invasive or unsuitable species from counting as replacement trees on development projects.

On canopy data, staff reported two funding developments:
- King Conservation District (KCD) offered $4,000 to obtain 2023 canopy data and parcel‑level shapefiles through a Planet Geo product; that dataset includes parcel‑by‑parcel canopy coverage and comparators to earlier imagery and can help the city identify where canopy loss has been concentrated.
- A separate grant (referred to in the meeting as an SFI grant) for a larger benchmarking and gap analysis of the city’s tree plan has been approved in concept; the award amount discussed was about $70,000 and would fund a consultant scope to assess the current plan and recommend updates. Staff said the $70,000 award requires a City Council acceptance and scoping discussion.

Tree Board members described an on‑the‑ground restoration opportunity in the city’s 5‑acre woods: a project area on the northeast quadrant that is overrun by invasive species (black locust, holly and others) and would require contractor removal of large invasive trees followed by replanting with native species. The board discussed potential funding partners, including the stewardship foundation and use of the city’s tree fund for plant materials.

Why this matters: changes to the exceptional‑tree criteria and a clarified master tree list will change which trees receive extra protection during development reviews and how replacement requirements are calculated; parcel‑level canopy data and a comprehensive gap analysis provide the empirical basis for policy choices.

What’s next: staff and board members will finalize edits requested by city legal staff and prepare the code amendments and tree list for Council consideration (target mid‑July); the board will also follow up on grant agreements for the canopy dataset and on scoping and Council acceptance of the larger $70,000 benchmarking grant.","The Tree Board reported progress on proposed changes to the city’s tree protections — including lowering some diameter thresholds for ‘exceptional tree’ designation — and discussed grant offers for a parcel‑level canopy assessment and a larger tree‑plan gap analysis grant.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6215808,"King County property tax incentive program promoted to Lake Forest Park residents to protect trees and urban canopy",562,4158000,4720000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3656111-556c95ce21ba1b48ef8f1e9be14ddd99&start=4158&end=4720","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3656111-556c95ce21ba1b48ef8f1e9be14ddd99/thumbnail_4158000.jpg","/articles/6215808/Lake-Forest-Park/King-County/Washington/King-County-property-tax-incentive-program-promoted-to-Lake-Forest-Park-residents-to-protect-trees-and-urban-canopy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215808-7097aa3b8d2be3d6db8d0017f68bf62f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775317276&Signature=MUq1Mn5FYJKQbxqVco2qHRFXECbTQJoMTUal7VQn9l6AU3QKiRrYJNuI3Nvd4TZQ~aun7cqxgUNqia1zRvZ9rS89hEPPOsaCA6CmUZD1DIBypGVNsG3fHjYo20c3nfGPsG51R6oJ5iZ7wMragK8ukj59Wrhx-7d5c5ipXivrJ3yfth8V3dTzXmQpoH~0x~qr6QBIBGnAqtNypMAZw01s4R--vT65E9KG~FUeINutdu0w8PG-fZ7Im~64GezedkF-lhCREH-b9FHnCwCBFsxUTIwUeEtM1qoegf0ii8yaK3noNc56ZMbm3WSOAYj70xoZ8mHsBnC7YXdH22jQtT5nlA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Drew Epping, the city’s urban forest planner, briefed the joint meeting on King County’s Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS), a county program that offers a property‑tax reduction for private properties that conserve forest land or urban open space.

PBRS operates on a points system. Points are assigned for qualifying resources (size, habitat quality, connectivity and other criteria) and are translated into a reduction of the assessed land value for the protected portion of the property. Drew said reductions start at 50% and can increase to as much as 90% depending on the points earned and the PBRS category.

“As an incentive program through the county to preserve vegetative areas on private property,” Drew explained, “it provides a tax reduction on assessed land value and can help convert private urban forest land into a protected conservation status.” He noted the program’s minimum parcel thresholds: urban open space can qualify at as small as half an acre in some circumstances; forest land designation generally requires larger acreage (4 acres minimum). Drew showed a King County map of current PBRS parcels and an example of a Lake Forest Park property of 2.6 acres in which roughly 2.55 acres participate and the owner received a 70% land‑value reduction for the participating area.

Drew described other local features of the program: multiple adjacent property owners can combine contiguous parcels to qualify; PBRS points favor parcels that protect stream buffers, steep slopes, scenic resources and significant wildlife habitat; some parcels in Lake Forest Park already participate and cluster north of the town center.

Tree Board members discussed outreach and marketing to encourage residents to consider the program. Drew said the county evaluates applications and the city also reviews them before final approval; conservation measures attached to PBRS can include restrictions that run with the land and, if removed, may require repayment of a portion of the prior tax savings (a recapture period was described in general terms).

Why this matters: PBRS creates a market‑based incentive for private landowners to retain canopy and natural areas, which supports urban forest goals and local climate resilience.

What’s next: Tree Board and Climate Action Committee members discussed producing a one‑pager and public outreach at events (market booths), working with King County staff to identify additional parcels that might qualify and coordinating with the city to share materials with residents.","City staff and the Tree Board discussed the King County Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS), a tax‑reduction incentive that encourages preservation of vegetated areas on private property; speakers outlined local participation and examples of assessed land‑value reductions.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6215813,"Lake Forest Park committees review draft climate element required by state; public comment period set for June–July",2328,309000,2637000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3656111-556c95ce21ba1b48ef8f1e9be14ddd99&start=309&end=2637","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3656111-556c95ce21ba1b48ef8f1e9be14ddd99/thumbnail_309000.jpg","/articles/6215813/Lake-Forest-Park/King-County/Washington/Lake-Forest-Park-committees-review-draft-climate-element-required-by-state-public-comment-period-set-for-JuneJuly","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215813-575dfe5143c3afd96a2de5a74f81f4f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775317276&Signature=DL428hTguaXhodBICI1uwbCJwsVrurNXKWVu6zYGg4PABktcnjQoXvhvtuPH5UYVPkT0THSVPkKhmEyJExF2cJBZ3OqTnAfQ4KLsw5VyPkEFDNKza89zyFWaxjYi8R7DgcXIjLLlQ0oFxkciP2lZ0blKIveX7iGGO-Cu8p09jnV~GjrN34n-m7WOZgSfigisgRcaOfjCdkno1y5JHK-Ty28DFWQSQe--io6~qjbqVtVTnBioFazP12NCYDv80wp3oPh26fENZxmbFvLej0RHk2Yrx~kOyNLd3c~4glxBoAeyJZFKeR1hmu~8tsx1ZB~ErFLBqKeW-LqKq3A1l1Dq9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tree Board and Climate Action Committee members of Lake Forest Park met in joint session to review the draft climate element that the state legislature now requires be included in municipal comprehensive plans.

The draft, prepared by the city with consultant support, is being submitted in draft form to the Washington State Department of Commerce this month to meet the department’s timeline; city staff said the draft will return for local public comment, planning commission review and then City Council public hearings in the fall.

The draft climate element is organized into two required subelements: resilience and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction. City presenters said the resilience subelement addresses projected local climate hazards — rising temperatures and extreme heat, wildfire smoke, changed precipitation and flooding, and drought and water‑supply stress — and includes vulnerability assessments that look both at community vulnerability and critical infrastructure exposure.

“The state legislature required that cities … include a climate element in their comprehensive plan,” said Sarah (staff member), who presented the draft and the process. She added that the city received a Department of Commerce grant to support development of the element and must submit a draft to Commerce in June to meet the grant timeline.

On greenhouse gases, the draft shows transportation is the single largest local source of emissions, accounting for roughly 61% of community‑wide emissions in 2023, with buildings and energy contributing about 29%. The consultants’ analysis also reported that the municipal vehicle fleet accounted for 71% of municipal emissions in 2023. The draft notes that a sizeable share of the transportation emissions allocation reflects interjurisdictional travel and air travel (Sea‑Tac airport) apportioned to jurisdictions, and the presenters recommended clarifying the chart to distinguish locally controllable emissions from allocations based on regional or national data.

Presenters described the required process: a public comment window (mid‑June through July), planning‑commission review and a City Council public hearing in the fall. Cascadia (the consultant team) prepared the draft and will submit the deliverable to Commerce; staff said an updated draft with last‑minute edits from the advisory team would be sent to boards and commissions after Commerce submission.

Committee members discussed specific policy areas where they expect to provide detailed comments during the local review period. Topics raised included: stronger, more specific language on urban canopy and heat‑island reduction (participants identified the town center parking area as a significant local heat sink), the role of tree canopy in both resilience and carbon sequestration, and clarifying how County, state and federal policies that reduce emissions (for example vehicle standards or transit investments) are reflected in the city’s emissions projections. Members also asked for clearer links between the high‑level policies in the climate element and the more detailed, actionable steps that appear in the city’s climate action plan and related code changes.

On emergency response and community preparedness, the draft includes policies about cooling centers and air‑quality response (smoke respite) and recommends aligning the climate element with the city’s comprehensive emergency management plan. Staff noted that King County or state air‑quality alerts would trigger community‑scale responses, but committee members emphasized the need to plan for vulnerabilities of specific populations who may need assistance before a citywide declaration is made.

Staff and committee members asked boards and commissions to review the draft during June and July and submit comments to city staff and the advisory team; staff said the draft that goes to Commerce represents an “actionable draft” and that further local changes would be possible after Commerce’s review and planning commission recommendations.

Why this matters: the climate element becomes part of the city’s comprehensive plan and gives City Council policy direction that can be used to draft code updates, capital projects and other implementation steps that affect resilience, trees and land use.

What’s next: mid‑June–July public comment; Planning Commission hearings and recommendations; City Council public hearings in the fall, followed by Commerce’s final review prior to adoption.","Tree Board and Climate Action Committee members were briefed on a draft climate element for the city’s comprehensive plan, the Department of Commerce submission schedule and next steps for public comment, planning commission review and City Council hearings.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lake Forest Park expands public climate outreach: Climate Hub, events and volunteer opportunities highlighted

Tree Board readies revised tree list, exceptional‑tree code changes and seeks funding for canopy assessment

King County property tax incentive program promoted to Lake Forest Park residents to protect trees and urban canopy

Lake Forest Park committees review draft climate element required by state; public comment period set for June–July