Snohomish County council approves amendment transferring parking and boat-launch permit duties for Wyatt Park to Lake Stevens

Snohomish County Council on March 19 approved ordinance 25-011, authorizing the county executive to sign Amendment No. 1 to the 2020 interlocal agreement with the City of Lake Stevens that changes which government issues parking and boat-launch permits at Wyatt Park.

The change follows a request from the City of Lake Stevens to discontinue acceptance of the county parking and boat-launch permit due to increased operating costs. Ryan Hembree, council staff, told the council the city "requested to discontinue accepting the county parking and boat launch permit due to increased costs for operating this" and that county parks staff agreed to the amendment.

The interlocal agreement executed in February 2020 assigned ownership, management and financial responsibility for maintaining and operating Wyatt Park; the approved amendment moves the permit function to the city beginning Jan. 1, 2026. The council had no further discussion after the staff report and took a roll-call vote that passed 5-0.

Action recorded in the meeting package shows the county will maintain the existing agreement structure for park ownership and operations while the city assumes permit issuance and related responsibilities on the stated effective date. No alternative motions or amendments were offered at the March 19 hearing.

The vote was unanimous: Vice Chair Dunn — yes; Council Member Mead — yes; Council Member Low — yes; Council Member Peterson — aye; Chair Nehring — yes. The ordinance now moves forward consistent with the amendment language described in the staff report.