Climate change is already impacting every corner of the globe. It will be necessary for every community, including Lake Forest Park, to do what it can to combat climate change. I grew up in suburban New Jersey. And while there are many good things about New Jersey, it did feel that environmental concerns were secondary. Greenery was kind of an afterthought – something that would be nice if there was room after the 4 lane highways and strip malls were built. I'm glad to be living here in Lake Forest Park where the environment is a much higher priority.
Climate Action Plan - I am proud to have voted to establish the city's Climate Action Committee and I think the resulting Climate Action Plan is a great roadmap for the city. But now we need to implement the plan. A first step is to hire a Climate Manager. The city is currently collecting solid waste fees to fund the position. The Climate Manager would look for grants to fund city initiatives, provide outreach to the community about things they can do, and would propose changes to our municipal code to support greener infrastructure.
Trees - If you go on Google Maps and turn on satellite view, it's fairly clear where Lake Forest Park is due to our excellent tree canopy. As the liaison to the city's Tree Board, I've learned firsthand about the environmental and economic benefits of our trees. I support us continuing to protect our canopy. At the same time, there are some neighborhoods that lack this expansive tree canopy. I support efforts to help improve the tree canopy in these neighborhoods in particular.
Streams - Growing up in a region that was maligned for having a “syringe tide” has led me to treasure these natural waters where we find them and to strive to protect them. We have 3 streams running through the city into Lake Washington - Lyon Creek, McAleer Creek, and Bsche'tla Creek. The health of these creeks is critical to our overall environmental health. Each year, salmon make the long and dangerous trek from Lake Washington up Lyon and McAleer Creeks to spawn. But these treks require passage through culverts – essentially “salmon tunnels” that run underneath our roads, and some of the culverts are damaged or not functional for salmon. While we have been making progress repairing and replacing these culverts, there is more work to be done in collaboration with our neighboring cities, county, state, and federal partners.
Transportation - One of the largest contributors to carbon emissions in LFP is transportation. Anything the city can do to encourage more walking, cycling, and public transportation will help reduce our carbon footprint. Please see the pedestrian mobility page for more details.
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