Sandy Koppenol for Lake Forest Park City Council

Issues

The City’s Financial Crisis

The City Council is charged with maintaining a balanced budget by law, and it is tempting to take the easy way out and slash services. Instead, I‘ve fought to keep funding that maintains public safety, keeps our roads and sidewalks in good repair and preserves important programs.

Citizens tell me they want to support civic spaces and programs that set our community apart. When budgets are tight, residents turn to Third Place Commons, our Farmers Market, after–school youth programs, and the Shoreline/Lake Forest Park Senior Center for free and low–cost services and recreational opportunities.

A recent telephone survey of Lake Forest Park residents revealed that 67% of our citizens are satisfied with the level of City services. I want to continue funding these services to keep LFP as a unique and special place.

We cut City government for the first time in the City’s nearly 50 year history. I will challenge the City Administration to:

find ways to share resources for example, we can share a building inspector with Edmonds and Kenmore
be entrepreneurial — the passport service has put hundreds of thousands of dollars into the City coffers

The City has an obligation to provide for public safety and roads, but we need to keep funds in the budget that we leverage to get more for our money. For example, using other cities’ resources, or getting a large number of volunteer hours in return for a small investment of money.

The Facts on Taxes

I know that there are many residents that are struggling to make ends meet in this tough economy. I do not know any Councilmember who supports raising taxes. The City is facing a shortfall of $205,000 in the proposed budget for 2010.

I have raised the issue of the sewer utility tax because currently it is not being fairly applied. Right now, the residents of the Northshore Utility District (one-third of Lake Forest Park residents) are paying an additional tax to the City of Lake Forest Park. They are not receiving anything in return from the City. In contrast, residents who are part of the Lake Forest Park Sewer District do not pay this tax. The sewer tax should be uniformly applied or withdrawn. It needs to be fair.

If the Council Budget Committee recommends this tax, I want there to be options to mitigate the financial impact for those residents that are on a fixed income. We cannot have residents losing their homes because of onerous and regressive taxes.

Your City Council does not have the authority to levy any additional property taxes without a vote of the people. The City’s Financial Futures Task Force has issued a preliminary report that recommends that the levy lid lift be on the ballot for 2010 for implementation in 2011. The recommended rate is about $12/month or $148/year for the average household. The Council will wait for the people to decide on the implementation of this increase.

I‘m proud that my leadership on the City Council has resulted in:

Lake Forest Park Legacy Vision: I have supported the development of a 100 Year Legacy Vision to sustain a livable and green community into the future. Today's planning keeps us on track to maintain the livability of Lake Forest Park for our children.
Revised Tree Ordinance: I supported the revision of our tree ordinance after developers skirted the spirit of our policy. I support the protection of our shared green landscape and salmon habitat from the pressures of development.
Lake Forest Park and the Burke Gilman Trail: I support the positive participation by Lake Forest Park in the redevelopment of the Burke–Gilman trail for use by all. It is a vital part of our region‘s transportation infrastructure, and one of the many amenities that make our community a great place to live.
Greater accountability to our citizen commissions: Lake Forest Park‘s Citizen Commissions are a valuable resource. They provide residents with an opportunity to participate directly in the governance of the City. I supported the examination of the system in order to bring greater accountability and improve communications between commissions and the City Council.

I have taken an active role in the Community Services Commission, bringing their insights and concerns to my fellow City Councilmembers. The CSC is concerned with public safety, human services, parks and recreation. I am proud that my oversight has brought the City Council‘s attention to the potential for unintended consequences as the result of proposed budget cuts.

The current economic downturn may continue into the future, requiring a nimble response to budget crises. I can provide leadership that collaborates with fellow Councilmembers and connects with people in the community who have fresh ideas and insight. We do not have to sacrifice essential services to keep Lake Forest Park‘s budget balanced and maintain our community‘s unique character.