Seattle City Council June 8, 2015 Mayor Edward Murray City of Seattle 600 Fourth Avenue, 7th Floor Seattle, WA 98104 Re: NE 130th St. Beach Dear Mayor Murray, Over the past several months, the City Council has. received numerous inquiries from concerned residents of northeast Seattle about the N. E. 130th Street beach on Lake Washington, which until a Washington State Court of Appeals ruling in June 2014 and the Washington State Supreme Court?s denial of the City?s and County?s Petition for Review in December 2014, provided public access to the lake. Residents, neighborhood associations, and community councils have expressed to the Council their deep concerns about the Court?s decision that has resulted in the loss of this public access point. The N. E. 130th Street beach had offered the only public access to the northern end of Lake Washington in a 5.5 mile span stretching from Matthews Beach in the south to Log Boom Park in the north. We believe the N. E. 130th Street beach provided an important public benefit for at least 83 years. And we believe the City should use its power of eminent domain to acquire this beach property and restore the public access that previously existed. We also believe that this property should be acquired for public park purposes under the jurisdiction of the City?s Department of Parks and Recreation, identified as a public park and maintained as such. I We appreciate that you have begun exploring the option of acquiring the two properties involved through condemnation. We look forward to learning the City?s progress in pursuing eminent domain and moving forward with the acquisition of this property for the public?s use. 1 Cgunqil Presidlnt Burgess kc ?t i, A ounci ber Jean godde *Counc?member Nick Lica 5.2? unc1lmember Mike O?Brien Sincerely, City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 2, PO Box 34025, Seattle, Washington 98124-4025 (206) 684-8888 Fax: (206) 684-8587 (206) 233?0025 An EEO employer. Accommodations for people with disabilities provided upon request. ?Gwen, I John Okamoto Councilmember Tom Rasmussen Councilr?Fmber Ksham'a Sawant Cc: City Attorney Pete Holmes 600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 2, PO Box 34025, Seattle, Washington 93124-4025 (206) 684-8888 Fax: (206) 684-8587 TTY: (206) 233-0025 Internet Address: An EEO employer. Accommodations for people with disabilities provided upon request.