State budget language clears 60-acre Waterfront Park transfer to Medical Lake; city to receive $100,000 for title transfer

City officials said the state budget includes language to transfer 60 acres of Waterfront Park land previously held by the Department of Social and Health Services to the City of Medical Lake by May 2026, and includes $100,000 to cover title-transfer logistics.

City lobbyist Emily Shea briefed council on the 2025 legislative session and said the final budget contains an amendment that clarifies the transfer timing and reduces the required RCO match by $600,000; the packet also allocates $100,000 for transfer logistics. Shea described the appropriation as larger than the average single-community award and thanked Representative Fosse and other legislators who supported the request.

Why it matters: Council and staff have for months pursued obtaining the waterfront acreage for public use; an explicit transfer date and a modest logistics appropriation from the state clarify the schedule and reduce local matching obligations. The city had sought earlier to acquire the land; the new language eliminates a previously expected cash purchase and instead directs a transfer with funding for administrative costs.

Discussion and next steps: City staff said the grant and transfer language will be implemented with department and interagency coordination to complete title transfer by the May 2026 date. The council noted plans for public outreach and to invite legislators to future groundbreaking or dedication events.

Ending: The transfer remains subject to the state and agency processes through 2026; council members and staff said they will continue to coordinate with legislators and state agencies during the transfer and subsequent park planning.