During the Oct. 23 public-comment period, several residents raised separate concerns about election communications and long-term project oversight and provided an update on a local climate hub.

Nate Herzog told the council he was concerned the city’s mailed materials and website gave inaccurate cost estimates for Proposition 1. Herzog said King County assessor figures released in early September show a roughly 10.2% median assessed-value increase and that a city postcard printed afterward still used a 2024 median value of $914,000 rather than a figure “over a million.” He said the postcard’s stated average annual cost of $219.36 was too low, did not note inflation or subsequent years, and that the same incorrect figures remain on the city website. Herzog said a city consultant, identified in his remarks as Liz Loomis, was paid a $100,000 contract for one year and questioned whether the consultant’s work merited the result. He urged council members to investigate and said he had attempted to contact the mayor and city administration without response; he described the city’s materials as “disingenuous” and “dishonest.” These assertions were made during public comment and were not disputed on the record at the meeting.

Another speaker, identified as Bryce, cited Lake Forest Park municipal code section 2.22.020 (a city code provision he said requires a citizen committee for projects lasting five years or more) and urged the council to apply that requirement to long-running projects such as the roundabout. He said projects that run for many years make it difficult for council members to evaluate whether old solutions remain the best option, and he urged better internal handoffs and committee involvement.

Sarah Phillips provided an update on the Lake Forest Park Climate Hub: she said the hub formally organized as a nonprofit to qualify for funding and to accept a $20,000 contribution pledged by Councilmember Dombowski (paid over two years). Phillips said the hub plans to buy an Esri mapping license and a touchscreen display, and that the hub is working with scientists from the American Geophysical Union and the Thriving Earth Exchange to build interactive “story maps” focused initially on local streams and salmon. She said the hub hopes to collaborate with the city’s GIS work and to include layers such as canopy, temperature and stream data so residents can explore local climate information.

Ending: Council did not respond to claims about Proposition 1 messaging during the public-comment period; staff and council took no formal action on the questions raised. Comments about citizen committees and the climate hub were entered into the record for council consideration.