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Lake Forest Park earns Evergreen recognition; board reviews SFI scope and KCD coordination
Summary
City staff announced Lake Forest Park’s Evergreen Community recognition and discussed progress on a Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) grant and King Conservation District (KCD) coordination, including an approximately $70,000 SFI-funded project and a small KCD request of about $4,500 for local work.
City staff told the Tree Board that Lake Forest Park has been approved under Washington’s Evergreen Community Recognition Program, a statewide initiative that recognizes municipalities that commit to urban-forest work. To qualify, staff said, cities must have a tree board, a tree ordinance, spend at least $2 per capita on urban forestry, observe Arbor Day, and maintain a partial tree inventory; a higher tier requires an urban forest management plan. Staff said Lake Forest Park already meets the criteria for the program’s higher tier.
Board members then discussed two grant tracks. Mark Phillips and staff described work to finalize a scope of work for a Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) award funded via the U.S. Forest Service; the SFI-related project would provide a community-forest management analysis and is expected to bring roughly $70,000 to support plan development and program recommendations. Sam Call said the SFI scope is in draft and staff aim to have materials ready for council review in time for the Dec. 11 council meeting.
Separately, staff reported coordination needs with the King Conservation District (KCD). A small KCD request for roughly $4,500 was under discussion for targeted watershed or rain-garden work; staff noted jurisdictional KCD funds are limited and that IT must provide access to Esri shapefiles and GIS credentials to complete parcel- and wetland-level analyses needed for grant work.
Board members discussed next steps and timing: finalize SFI scope and contract language, get necessary GIS access from IT for parcel and wetlands layers, and prepare any required authorization steps on the mayor’s or council’s side. Staff said the SFI contract may not require council approval because the amount is small and would be routed through the mayor for signature.
Ending: The board asked staff to continue coordinating contract details with SFI and KCD and to return with updates in time for December council review.
