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Medical Lake council weighs putting West Plains aquifer protection fee before voters
Summary
Council members received a county briefing on a proposed West Plains Aquifer Protection Area (APA) and directed staff to prepare a resolution to put inclusion on the ballot; the APA would add a proposed $15/year groundwater fee and fund monitoring, with an estimated $33,715 annual share returning to Medical Lake.
The City Council of Medical Lake discussed whether to ask voters to join a proposed West Plains Aquifer Protection Area and agreed to have staff prepare a resolution for the next meeting so the county can include the city in its April process.
County staff presented a science-based APA model used elsewhere and outlined a proposed fund mechanism: $15 per year for groundwater users (and an additional $15 for septic users), an average yearly revenue of roughly $22 per parcel, and an estimated $33,715 in revenue that would flow back to Medical Lake for monitoring, stormwater and wastewater projects. "That fee structure remained at the same dollar — $15 per year or $15 per year for septic systems," the county presenter said while walking through the revenue breakdown.
Why it matters: presenters said the West Plains aquifer is unusually vulnerable because of porous soils and fractured basalt, and the APA would create a local, sustained fund and staff capacity for quarterly sampling, monitoring and targeted projects. County staff noted the city must decide by April 21 whether to be included on the county'led ballot question; the county'level public hearing is scheduled for April 14.
Council members voiced mixed views. Supporters said a focused, local program will deliver monitoring and responsiveness: "We're going to get what we pay for if the voters decide to go with this," one councilmember said, noting the ability to call local staff and see how funds are spent. Opponents warned the APA adds another government layer and fees that may rise over time.
The decision now is procedural: staff will draft a resolution for the council's April meeting to place Medical Lake on the county's APA ballot. If council approves, the county will proceed with its hearing and voters will decide whether the fee and accompanying program should apply in Medical Lake.
