Lake Forest Park council signals support to add climate manager to budget after public appeals

Lake Forest Park — The City Council on Nov. 24 signaled support for adding a climate manager or coordinator to the 2025–26 budget, following several public comments urging the hire and detailed council discussion about duties, placement and funding.

Residents told the council the city needs a dedicated staffer to carry out the Climate Action Plan and to prepare for climate hazards. "The climate manager has a real role to play, and it's an asset to the community because the climate manager is an outward facing position," said Sarah Phillips, a Lake Forest Park resident who testified at the meeting. Marty Ross and other residents also spoke in favor of the position.

Council members debated whether to hire a "manager" (a higher-level, supervisory post) or a "coordinator" (a lower-level, implementation-focused role). Members agreed the position should emphasize implementation and grant-writing. "I would like to see the mandatory experience of grant writing over supervisory skills because I think that that is more useful to the city at this time," said Council member Goode during the discussion.

Administrators recommended placing the position under the Community Development director for day-to-day oversight while the person could work citywide. Director Hoffman was identified as the supervisor who would oversee the role's work if approved.

On funding, several council members noted the city previously set aside revenues from a solid-waste utility fee. "We planned ahead on this one," a council member said, noting that the utility has collected roughly $217,000 to date. Council discussion included an approximate salary-and-benefits estimate for a climate coordinator; staff characterized that figure as an estimate to be refined in the final budget materials.

Council members indicated by consensus — described repeatedly in the meeting as a "head nod" — that staff should include the position in the mid-biennial budget amendment. A formal vote on the ordinance amending the 2025–26 budget is scheduled for Dec. 11.

Why it matters: Councilors said the city lacks a single staffer responsible for tracking climate benchmarks and coordinating across departments, work they say is necessary to implement the Climate Action Plan and to pursue external grants and mitigation funding.

What’s next: Staff will refine the job description and salary range with human-resources input and prepare the ordinance for a formal council vote Dec. 11. If approved, the hire would be placed under Director Hoffman and would begin by focusing on grant-seeking and implementation of priority items in the Climate Action Plan.

Quotes from the record include: "We have to step up and look at how other cities have funded their programs," a resident said during public comment; and "that person will be our point person to ensure we’re meeting the benchmarks in the plan," a council member said in debate.

The council did not take a roll-call vote on the hire at the Nov. 24 special meeting; the inclusion in the budget amendment was approved as direction to staff subject to the formal Dec. 11 action.