Medical Lake reports progress on Waterfront Park acquisition; RCO grant funded, legislative proviso would direct DSHS transfer

City staff updated the Planning Commission on Waterfront Park acquisition efforts and funding prospects. Staff said the city received funding from the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) for acquiring Waterfront Park and that a legislative proviso — added by Representative Volz — would direct the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to transfer the property to the city and fund closing costs up to $100,000.

Staff emphasized the proviso is in the proposed budget language but the legislative session is not complete and the budget has not passed. “The proviso is in there. The legislative session isn't complete. The budget has not passed. So there's still work to do to get it across the finish line,” staff said. If finalized, staff said the transfer would convey roughly 60 acres from DSHS to the city and that DSHS would fund closing costs up to $100,000.

Staff called the outcome encouraging but not yet final: “So that's very encouraging, and we're we're optimistic that that will see its way through, but there's it's not done yet. So Okay. I'm not ready to sing about it, but pretty encouraged.”

Why it matters: If the proviso survives the final budget and the transfer occurs, Medical Lake would gain ownership of about 60 acres of waterfront property that the city says it intends to conserve and develop as Waterfront Park. Closing-cost funding would reduce the city’s near-term acquisition expense.

Next steps: Staff will monitor the legislative process and report back to the commission when the budget and transfer are finalized.