Lake Forest Park’s City Council on Nov. 20 formally disbanded the volunteer Climate Action Committee and adopted a new climate element for the city’s comprehensive plan, actions supporters said mark a shift from planning to implementation.

The council invoked Section 3 of Resolution 18-36 to end the committee’s temporary task force role, following public comment from multiple committee members who described the committee’s work as complete. Mark Hoffman, the community development director, told the council the committee provided “community knowledge, community energy, passion and motivation” during the effort and that the committee’s local perspective was “priceless.”

Why it matters: The committee’s disbanding follows the council’s acceptance of a climate action plan and a climate element for the comprehensive plan; supporters said the next, practical step is to create staff capacity to implement the plan. Several members of the committee and residents urged the council to include a climate coordinator or manager in the mid-biennial budget so the city can pursue grants, coordinate resilience work and reduce long-term costs.

Public testimony and staff view: Tammy Erickson, who said she served on the committee, told the council she was “asking that as you weigh those choices, you move forward with funding the climate manager now, rather than postponing it,” arguing the role would allow the city to track and apply for state and federal grants and plan for wildfire smoke, extreme heat, flooding and erosion.

Hoffman noted the committee’s contributions to multiple planning processes and said the committee’s work will need to be carried forward by city staff or volunteers in other forums. Council members praised the committee’s “depth and knowledge” during discussion prior to the disbanding vote.

What the council decided: After short discussion, a motion to invoke the cited clause to disband the Climate Action Committee passed unanimously. The council presented certificates of appreciation to members present and encouraged volunteers to consider other city boards.

Climate element adoption: Later in the meeting the council adopted Ordinance 25-13-12 to add a climate element (including greenhouse-gas reduction and resilience subelements) to the 2024 comprehensive plan. Staff and council members noted that the work was funded by a Department of Commerce grant made possible by the Climate Commitment Act and that early adoption positions the city to pursue implementation grants sooner than peers.

Next steps: Staff told the council a draft job description for a climate coordinator/manager exists and that hiring could be considered with the mid-biennial budget process; HR work is underway to determine whether the position should be titled coordinator or manager and what salary range is appropriate. Councilors said more detailed budget and job-description work will return to the dais at a special meeting and during the Dec. 11 budget adoption timeline.

Quotes: “They certainly accomplished everything they were tasked with, but there’s more,” Mark Hoffman said of the committee’s record. “I am here tonight simply to ask that … you move forward with funding the climate manager now, rather than postponing it,” Tamara Erickson said during public comment.

What’s next: The council set December meetings to finalize mid-biennial budget decisions; staff said including the new position in a December adoption is feasible if the council directs funding then.