Just before Daniels executed the lease for the central core of Saint Edward State Park, he revealed plan of 70,000 convention goers per year, with no cap on that number, at a semi-public meeting in early May 2018. The lease had gone through several revisions at the prompting of his attorneys with a "final" edition released to the broader public January 9, 2018, though that edition was not signed. Daniels executed the lease in June 2018, and to-date the signed lease has not been made public.
The "final revised lease" is very general with no cap on the annual number of convention goers, and there is no ability for Washington State to cancel the lease if Daniels wants to change the use, which puts the State in an economically vulnerable position should Daniels renege on his public promises like a parking garage. The lease is illegal because there is no ability for the State to cancel the lease if Daniels changes the use. The federal Land and Water Conservation Act requires that States which receive LWC Funds to acquire properties must retain the right to cancel leases of those properties.
The federal Land and Water Conservation Fund purchased this park in 1977 for $3.5M, the largest grant from the LWCF to Washington State ever. This was matched by state funds. Both the federal grant rules, combined with the State application for the funds, require that any development must support outdoor passive recreation. Since Daniels' development no longer supports outdoor, passive recreation, he is required to pay the public land of equal value as defined by federal appraisers. The State additionally requires marine land. Without such compensation, the lease is fraudulent.
The National Park Service, State Parks and the public were sold by Daniels to believe this would be a rustic "lodge" or "small boutique hotel" to serve the visiting public. Not at $400 a night. No, the number of rooms has been reduced by 20% but the convention facilities and the potential for more have ballooned.
The public did not come up with alternatives to save the building because it was drastically misled that the seismic retrofit, stopping the mold and correcting other safety issues would be $40M . Well it is $1M for the seismic retrofit and the water intrusion has already been stopped by the State within a $3M grant to Bassetti. That leaves updating the electrical and HVAC. The building is within the economic reach of State and National agencies that support outdoor passive recreation, agencies that could be low impact on park visitors and the natural park.
Our State Attorney General needs to declare this lease illegal and the National Park Service needs to read potential leases and enforce its rules for public funded lands, purchased with your taxes.
Please write or call the below and request they require NPS enforce the LWCF rules ASAP!
The "final revised lease" is very general with no cap on the annual number of convention goers, and there is no ability for Washington State to cancel the lease if Daniels wants to change the use, which puts the State in an economically vulnerable position should Daniels renege on his public promises like a parking garage. The lease is illegal because there is no ability for the State to cancel the lease if Daniels changes the use. The federal Land and Water Conservation Act requires that States which receive LWC Funds to acquire properties must retain the right to cancel leases of those properties.
The federal Land and Water Conservation Fund purchased this park in 1977 for $3.5M, the largest grant from the LWCF to Washington State ever. This was matched by state funds. Both the federal grant rules, combined with the State application for the funds, require that any development must support outdoor passive recreation. Since Daniels' development no longer supports outdoor, passive recreation, he is required to pay the public land of equal value as defined by federal appraisers. The State additionally requires marine land. Without such compensation, the lease is fraudulent.
The National Park Service, State Parks and the public were sold by Daniels to believe this would be a rustic "lodge" or "small boutique hotel" to serve the visiting public. Not at $400 a night. No, the number of rooms has been reduced by 20% but the convention facilities and the potential for more have ballooned.
The public did not come up with alternatives to save the building because it was drastically misled that the seismic retrofit, stopping the mold and correcting other safety issues would be $40M . Well it is $1M for the seismic retrofit and the water intrusion has already been stopped by the State within a $3M grant to Bassetti. That leaves updating the electrical and HVAC. The building is within the economic reach of State and National agencies that support outdoor passive recreation, agencies that could be low impact on park visitors and the natural park.
Our State Attorney General needs to declare this lease illegal and the National Park Service needs to read potential leases and enforce its rules for public funded lands, purchased with your taxes.
Please write or call the below and request they require NPS enforce the LWCF rules ASAP!
Honorable Senator Maria Cantwell
511 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
202-224-3441
Honorable Senator Patti Murray
154 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
202-224-2621
Honorable Suzan Delbene
2442 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
202-225-6311
202-225-6311
To request documents you can email savesteds@gmail.com. Please identify yourself.
ReplyDeleteI am Peter Lance. I would like to see the documents. Peter.v.lance@gmail.com
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