Medical Lake council votes to place West Plains aquifer protection area boundary on the ballot

Medical Lake's City Council voted unanimously April 7 to approve a resolution authorizing Spokane County to place the city's boundaries within a proposed West Plains aquifer protection area (APA) on a future ballot.

The resolution does not commit the city to a funding mechanism; it simply permits the county to include Medical Lake in the APA question for voters to decide. City staff told council that if voters approve the APA the city would subsequently negotiate an interlocal agreement with the county to govern use of any revenues and local roles in implementation.

Several residents urged the council to let voters decide. Julia McHugh, a Palisades neighborhood resident, described the West Plains as a distinct 130-square-mile area with its own aquifer and numerous domestic wells and septic systems and warned about PFAS contamination coming from airport deicing and other regional sources. "It's imperative that we protect this water source and protect the entire West Plains," McHugh said during public comment.

Andy Mark, a Medical Lake resident, said he hoped the city would not be the only jurisdiction to oppose putting the measure before voters. "Water is life," he told council, urging the city to allow the August primary ballot option so residents can decide.

Staff emphasized the action preserves options for regional collaboration without committing Medical Lake to a particular funding structure at this stage. Councilmember discussion framed the vote as allowing voter choice and regional coordination.

The council approved Resolution 26-805 by unanimous voice vote. The county will hold a public meeting April 14 for further comment and to explain the ballot process, staff said. If the APA measure is approved at the ballot, the city would then negotiate an interlocal agreement with the county to define how funds are applied locally.