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From the City Administrator's Report:
I. Intergovernmental and Local Issues Update
Police Department
From August 4 through September 1, 2026, Lake Forest Park Police Department patrol officers, detectives and support services officers responded to 854 calls for service, including dispatched calls through NORCOM and officer-initiated activities.
Calls for Service
- 49 behavioral health incidents
- 18 disturbances
- 7 domestic violence incidents
- 5 hit-and-run incidents
- 2 suicide or suicide-attempt incidents
- 39 suspicious incidents
- 11 thefts or forgeries
- 3 drug investigations
- 16 warrant arrests
- 114 requests for assistance from community members, fire departments and other police agencies
- 474 traffic stops, collisions and traffic-related calls
- 116 miscellaneous calls, including alarms, foot patrols, lost-and-found property and animal problems
August 2026 Traffic Activity
- Traffic stops: 413
- General traffic calls: 54
- Traffic collisions: 11
- Abandoned vehicles: 7
- DUI incidents: 1
- Vehicle impounds: 3
Notable Police Activity
Motorcyclist Eludes Officers
On July 20, two officers observed a small motorbike traveling westbound in the bus lane in the 17500 block of SR 522. The motorbike turned onto Ballinger Way NE without a license plate. Officers reported that the driver looked back at them, maneuvered between vehicles and the curb, and attempted to elude them.
After officers initiated a traffic stop, the motorcyclist continued driving. Officers passed stopped traffic on the left and positioned their patrol vehicle in front of the motorbike, bringing it to a stop.
The driver initially refused to provide identification but was eventually identified and charged with the following violations:
- RCW 46.20.500 — No motorcycle endorsement
- RCW 46.61.165(A) — HOV lane violation
- RCW 46.30.020 — Operating a motor vehicle without insurance
- RCW 46.16A.030(2) — Operating a vehicle without current registration and plates
Three Traffic Stops, Multiple Violations
Police reported three separate traffic stops involving additional violations:
- Shortly after midnight, officers stopped a vehicle traveling without its lights on. The driver also had expired registration and no insurance.
- Officers stopped a vehicle without a license plate and discovered that the driver, who was making an Uber Eats delivery, did not have a valid driver's license. The driver was instructed to finish the delivery and arrange for someone to pick them up.
- Officers observed a vehicle fail to stop at a stop sign. The driver was found to have no insurance and a suspended license.
Collision Involving a Bicycle
On August 14, a vehicle traveling northbound from Beach Drive onto Ballinger Way NE stopped at the traffic signal near the Ballinger Way/Bothell Way intersection. The vehicle then moved into the crosswalk in preparation for a right turn onto northbound SR 522 and collided with a bicycle traveling southbound on the Burke-Gilman Trail.
No apparent injuries were reported.
Traffic Enforcement During Road Closure
During the second day of the southbound 40th Place NE closure, an officer conducted seven traffic stops in a short period. While the officer was conducting a stop, another driver disregarded the closure and the officer's presence. The vehicle was stopped, and the driver was advised of the closure.
Multiple officers have been conducting targeted enforcement in the area to educate drivers and enforce traffic restrictions as needed.
Speed Enforcement
Officers conducted speed-enforcement activity at the following locations:
- 19800 block of 55th Avenue NE: Posted speed limit of 25 mph; observed speeds ranged from 33 to 45 mph.
- 19000 block of 35th Avenue NE: Multiple stops for speeds ranging from 37 to 48 mph.
- 15500 block of Bothell Way NE: Speeds of 55 and 64 mph were recorded.
- 18500 block of Ballinger Way NE: A speed of 45 mph was recorded.
Additional notable speed violations included:
- 58 mph in a posted 20 mph zone
- 59 mph in a 35 mph zone in the 15300 block of Bothell Way NE
- 41 mph near 41st Place NE and NE 197th Street
- 83 mph in the 17200 block of Bothell Way NE
II. Internal City Information
No updates were provided in this section.
III. Council Information
2026 Election Information
On August 24, the King County Director of Elections issued an order placing the City's Proposition 1 on the November ballot. The order and key election dates were included in the Council materials.
The local voters' pamphlet and ballots are scheduled to be mailed on October 14, 2026. The Vote Center is also scheduled to open that day.
Community Development and Public Works
Sound Transit Bus Rapid Transit Project
Sound Transit is seeking local development and building permits for its proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project along SR 522 through Lake Forest Park.
Acquisitions of additional right-of-way have taken place over the past several years and appear to be complete. Sound Transit is now submitting development and building permit applications required under the Lake Forest Park Municipal Code before construction can begin.
Proposed improvements in Lake Forest Park include:
- Three paired station locations:
- NE 153rd Street Station, at SR 522 and NE 153rd Street
- NE 165th Street Station, at SR 522 and NE 165th Street
- Ballinger Way Station, at SR 522 and Ballinger Way NE
- A dedicated bus lane along the entire project segment
- New stormwater infrastructure and utilities
- A sidewalk and planting strip on the east side of SR 522 to improve pedestrian access
- Retaining walls along portions of both sides of SR 522 between NE 147th Street and 41st Avenue NE
- A connection to the Burke-Gilman Trail at 41st Avenue NE, providing continuous pedestrian access from NE 145th Street to Ballinger Way NE
In late June 2026, Sound Transit advised the City that it anticipated submitting:
- One right-of-way excavation permit application
- One right-of-way major tree-removal permit application
- Ten major critical-area permit applications
- Forty-one right-of-way retaining-wall permits
- Forty-one grading permits
- Approximately ten building or demolition permits
Application status: As of this report, the City had formally received one right-of-way excavation permit application, one major tree-removal permit application, four major critical-area permit applications and four right-of-way retaining-wall permit applications.
All received applications were undergoing procedural completeness review. Technical review and distribution had not yet occurred.
As applications are deemed complete, staff will prepare for the required public notices and review-and-comment periods under the applicable permit types and regulations.
Passport Services
Passport application activity during the summer months has declined slightly compared with the previous year but has remained generally steady.
In August 2026, City passport agents:
- Processed 467 applications
- Took 327 passport photos
- Generated $24,160 in revenue
In August 2025, agents processed 526 applications, took 354 photos and generated $25,490 in revenue.
The report included a graph comparing activity and revenue.
IV. Response to Citizen and Council Comments
No updates were provided in this section.
V. Contract Reporting
The following contracts and renewals were reported:
- AG-26-038: Public Safety Testing Investigations — not to exceed $5,000
- AG-06-002 renewal: American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers — $464
- AG-16-057 renewal: Esri — $2,134
VI. Legislative Update
No updates were provided in this section.
VII. Community Events
No updates were provided in this section.
VIII. Upcoming City-Sponsored Events
No updates were provided in this section.
IX. Meetings Calendar
North King County Coalition on Homelessness
September 17, 2026 | 1–2:30 p.m.
City Council Budget & Finance Committee Meeting
September 17, 2026 | 6–7:30 p.m.
City Hall and via Zoom
City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
September 21, 2026 | 6–8 p.m.
City Hall and via Zoom
City Council Regular Meeting
September 24, 2026 | 7–9 p.m.
City Hall and via Zoom
City Council Special Meeting
September 28, 2026 | 6–8 p.m.
City Hall and via Zoom
Source: City of Lake Forest Park, City Administrator Report, September 10, 2026.
