City staff provided a detailed briefing on environmental monitoring related to the Lake Point property and the nearby Heidelberg Materials (formerly Cadman) asphalt plant and presented options for additional air and site monitoring.

Staff provided historical context for Lake Point: before substantial development the area was a wetland/floodplain modified by early 20th century drainage and by the Lake Washington Ship Canal (which changed lake levels). The site was used as a county‑permitted landfill from 1969 to 1976; Ecology records and consultant reports indicate fill depths of up to 15–20 feet in places and a variety of tests and remediation steps in later decades. A consent decree and remediation actions in the 1990s and early 2000s resulted in a cap requirement and periodic monitoring under Department of Ecology oversight. The city has engaged in discussions about potential acquisition of portions of the property, but staff stressed that no testing on the private property will occur without an agreement with the landowner; a brownfields community‑wide assessment EPA grant the city is finalizing could be used to assess Lake Point if a property‑access agreement is reached.

On the asphalt plant, staff summarized the regulatory relationship with the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA), which is the primary air regulator for the region. The plant has a history of odor complaints and past penalties; in recent years Puget Sound Clean Air required an NOC (notice of construction) and the plant underwent opacity and stack testing. After an initial failed test in early 2023 the facility paused operations and later passed subsequent tests; PSCAA inspected and verified compliance and recorded two complaints this year that were found not to be violations. Staff said PSCAA scheduled further tests in 2026, including another stack test and opacity test.

Staff reviewed options for additional monitoring: 1) coordinate and publicize PSCAA monitoring programs and complaint processes for residents, 2) pursue grant funding to purchase community sensors (PurpleAir‑type particulate matter sensors) to supplement regional data, and 3) procure a consultant and build a city‑run monitoring program tailored to specific contaminants (which would be a larger budget item and require professional design). Council members asked PSCAA to consider siting an official monitor in Kenmore (the nearest official PSCAA monitor is located in Lake Forest Park) and requested greater public distribution of testing reports and resources. Several council members stressed interest in monitoring for possible volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in addition to particulate matter; staff said PSCAA and Ecology could advise about pollutant‑specific monitoring protocols and that many community sensors presently measure fine particulate matter (PM2.5).

Staff committed to publishing the briefing materials online, continuing coordination with PSCAA, pursuing grant options for community sensors, and proceeding with the EPA brownfields assessment grant for eligible sites; they will not conduct testing on private property without a landowner agreement.

Council asked for a future briefing on related police/ICE policy questions and agreed to a staff follow‑up on monitoring options and PSCAA coordination.