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Tumwater committee approves right-of-entry to access Barnes Lake from private property
Summary
The Tumwater Public Works Committee voted to place a right-of-entry agreement with a private property owner on the City Council consent calendar, covering boat access and monthly water-quality monitoring at Barnes Lake and payment of the owner's annual assessment.
The Tumwater Public Works Committee voted Jan. 9 to place a right-of-entry agreement with a private property owner on the Jan. 25 City Council consent calendar, recommending the mayor sign the agreement.
The agreement would allow contractor boat access and monthly city staff water-quality monitoring on Barnes Lake from a private property at 231 Lark Street. Committee members were told there are no other boat-launch-capable access points on Barnes Lake.
Public Works staff member Dave presented the item, saying the property—described in the staff presentation as being just south of Michael T. Simmons Elementary School—offers unique boat access for contractor vegetation maintenance and for monthly monitoring by city staff. He said the Barnes Lake Management District will pay the property owner's annual assessment and lakefront fee, which staff described as “just under $300” per year with a 5% annual escalator.
Committee members asked about the agreement term. Staff said the draft runs through Jan. 31, 2028. Dan, a city staff member, said the property owner has at times allowed annual agreements and at other times multiyear agreements; the current draft is for a four-year term. The recommended action before the committee was to place the right-of-entry agreement on the Jan. 25 City Council consent calendar with a recommendation the mayor sign it.
A motion to place the agreement on the consent calendar was moved and seconded; committee members responded “aye” and the chair declared the motion approved.
The committee did not change the substantive terms during the meeting; staff indicated the agreement will appear on the Jan. 25 council consent calendar for formal council action and mayoral signature.
The staff presentation identified the property address and the role of the Barnes Lake Management District in paying the assessed fee; no additional financial breakdowns or supporting documents were produced during the committee discussion.
