2021/04/28 Council Agenda Packet

Summary and recommendation: In 2019 (the last year the race was held, for 1 day) my wife and I walked through the park in the afternoon of the race event. Once in the park and once near the parking lot, we encountered people who were disappointed that they couldn't use the beach. The park is otherwise always open and they had no idea it would be closed off. As you can see from the pictures enclosed with this message, the public is held back from almost the entire beach, allowed to the water in only one tiny segment of beach at the far northeast end. In addition, the popular disc golf course may be closed both days, because some of the course is near the pits and the water. SOA is doing what they can to be good users and limit impact, but the size of the impact is unavoidable, and extending the races dramatically increases the impact on the lake and the citizens of Everett and Snohomish County who use it heavily during the warm months. I believe that the impacts, though considerable, are tolerable when weighed against the benefits of a single -day event. But the tradeoffs are excessive for a two-day event. Such an event would double the impact on the lake and public who own this park, and also the wildlife for which it is essential habitat. However a two-day event would not double the benefit or favorable factors to the general public that this park is for. It moves general use too far away from participation and toward being spectators of a small number of participants. With respect to the use of the park by the public vs. use by a private organization, I think a two-day event presents an equity problem. I continue to support the one day event, because it adds some diversity to the use of the park and the kind of enjoyment available there. I think the SOA organization has demonstrated that they are well-intentioned and responsible and deserve to continue the tradition they have established at Silver Lake.