LAKE FOREST PARK, Wash. — The Lake Forest Park City Council on Sept. 11 approved a public‑works contract with Johansen Construction Company to build a roundabout at State Route 104 and Fortieth Place Northeast, authorizing the mayor to sign a contract that staff estimates will bring the total project cost to about $8.6 million.

The vote came after public comment from residents and several council members’ questions about rising costs and funding sources. The council also waived its usual “three‑touch” rule to consider the contract on a single meeting’s action calendar; the contract approval passed unanimously.

The roundabout was recommended in the city’s 2018 Safe Highways report and advanced through design in recent years. City staff told the council the lowest responsive bid was about $5.4 million from Johansen Construction, with a project contingency of $800,000 and total estimated project costs (design through construction) at about $8.6 million. Staff said construction would likely begin in April 2026, run roughly 18 months, and include partial road closures in staged phases.

Residents at the meeting spoke both for and against the project. “I think the roundabout is probably the largest, if not the largest, cost project that this city has ever had,” resident Jack Tonkin told the council, urging caution about schedule and the prospect of cost overruns. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board member Josh Rosenau said the intersection is dangerous for people on foot and bike and urged the project to move forward: “That is an intersection where there are constant … collisions there every year.”

Council members praised the safety goals of the project but pressed staff for greater financial transparency. Council member Jennifer Oliva, who identified a background in capital projects, noted the project’s change in scope and funding and said: “This is not a small adjustment. It is a fundamental change in the financial scope of this project.” Several other council members said they supported the safety improvements but were uncomfortable with the short time between receiving bid information and the council vote.

City staff and the city administrator described the funding package to the council. The package includes grants (transportation improvement board and WSDOT reimbursements), a Public Works Board loan now increased to $2.5 million, a city contribution drawn from restricted funds (traffic safety fund, Transportation Benefit District receipts, and the transportation capital fund), and other sources. During discussion staff summarized that the city’s share was roughly $4.8 million and grant funding roughly $3.8 million, yielding the current project total of about $8.6 million.

Staff noted several constraints on the city funds: some revenue sources are legally restricted to transportation or traffic‑safety uses. Council members asked about cashflow and whether awarding the contract would immediately deplete the city accounts; staff responded that construction pay estimates are staged and payments will be made as work progresses and that revenue forecasts support the planned allocations.

After extended discussion, the council first voted to waive the three‑touch rule and then to approve the resolution authorizing the mayor to execute the public‑works contract with Johansen Construction. The council chair said the decision reflected years of prior study and community input and that delaying the project would require restarting a multi‑year planning process.

Construction is planned outside the city’s rainy‑season window; staff estimated an April 2026 start and an 18‑month construction timeline with phased, partial closures. The project scope includes pedestrian crossings and traffic‑calming elements intended to improve safety for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.

The council’s approval authorizes the contract award; staff and the Public Works Board procedures remain to finalize the loan paperwork and reimbursements as work proceeds.