City Council will review the proposed changes to SeaTac Municipal Code being introduced through Agenda Bill 4471: An ordinance to amend Parks Code allowing permitted approval to exceed posted speed limit on Angle Lake for the purpose of public safety training.
Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority, the agency that now provides fire and emergency health services to the City of SeaTac, is requesting authorization to perform public safety training on Angle Lake up to twice per month or up to 26 times throughout the year.
The proposal is for the addition of a new Section (2.44.156) to existing SeaTac Municipal Code related to certain boating regulations on Angle Lake. This new amendment, if approved, will supersede the constraints established that govern Noise (SMC 8.05.360), Boat Speed limits (SMC 2.45.220), and Boat occupancy limits (SMC 2.45.260) and will waive these restrictions when annual permit is issued for operations limited to public safety training purposes only.
On the surface, this looks like a reasonable request wanting to have emergency personnel familiar with service environments prior to any emergency need. However, a select number of residents on the lake have frequently voiced opposition to this program sighting that the training operations create significant wake and causes concern for shoreline erosion. Noise is another concern and the opinion that residents have a proven track record that they are first responders in any emergency situation, responding far quicker that the time it would take to hook up the boat, dispatch it Angle Lake and launch.
If approved, the Ordinance authorizes the Parks, Community Services and Programs Director to authorize a limited number (26 times) of public safety training events on Angle Lake through a special use permit, including boating speeds in excess of five (5) knots per hour. The maximum speed of the training boats will be 20 mph with the claim being that this reduced speed will address concerns regarding wake on the water eliminating any shore erosion created from these training operations. Training exercises will be conducted in the middle of the lake away from homes in an effort to reduce noise concerns. The Puget Sound R.F.A. currently uses Lake Washington at Gene Coulon Park in the City of Renton to conduct their training, which takes them out of our city limits. The other training option (Lake Meridian in Kent) is described as being an unfavorable travel distance from Station 45 where the rescue boat is currently housed.
If you have an opinion regarding this matter, please make your preferences known. You will have opportunities to share your comments during public comments at the beginning of the Council Study Session on Tuesday, January 25th at 5 PM; or at the beginning of the Regular Council Session on Tuesday, February 14th at 7 PM; or by writing or calling members of the SeaTac City Council.
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The SeaTac City Council agreed to a compromise solution where the number of practices will be cut in half to a maximum number of one per month or 12 times per year. The plan is to review the safety training program around the October 2017 time period to evaluate the impact on the lake area and to assess the benefits returned from this training. This proposal will be placed on the next Regular Council Meeting consent agenda for vote.
You'll have until Friday, February 10th to submit any further comments for consideration. Council member contact information is available on the city website at: http://www.ci.seatac.wa.us/index.aspx?page=82
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