From our sister site The SeaTac Blog:
By Scott Schaefer
Founder/Publisher
SeaTac residents hoping to celebrate Independence Day with a traditional fireworks display at Angle Lake may be disappointed this year, as the city has decided they will be replacing it with a drone light show due to a legal interpretation of a 1932 Washington State Supreme Court ruling.
John Lucas, a resident who lives near Angle Lake, filed a complaint with the city, citing a state law concerning “non-navigable” lakes. The 1932 ruling “Snively vs. State,” and 1956 ruling “Snively v. Jaber” determined that Angle Lake falls under this category. Court documents state that legal ownership of non-navigable lakes extends to the center of the waterbody for waterfront property owners, according to the ruling. This, in turn, grants them certain usage rights.
Lucas argued that events like hydroplane races – which require closing off sections of the lake – infringe on property owners’ rights (NOTE: Lucas’ complaint did not include the City’s fireworks displays; the City on its own made an expansive interpretation of the 1956 Court Case, and canceled the fireworks).
SeaTac City Attorney Mary Bartolo concurred with this interpretation, fearing potential litigation, and the City canceled numerous lake-based events, including the hydroplane races, 4th of July fireworks displays and others.
Lucas emphasized that – when learning of the City’s decision – he “argued that the fireworks were allowable as they do not ‘unreasonably’ affect the other owners.”
While the full impact of this decision remains unclear, questions have arisen regarding other events like swimming races and sailboat regattas.
SeaTac Parks and Recreation is moving forward with a drone light show as an alternative at Angle Lake on the 4th of July. The City Council was expected to vote on approving funds for the show during their Tuesday (Mar. 25, 2024) meeting. The drone show, estimated to cost $40,000, would feature 200 drones. In comparison, the City of Des Moines held a 100-drone show for their 2023 4th of July event, which cost $90,000.
The decision to cancel the fireworks has been met with mixed reactions. Some residents, like Lucas and leaders of the Angle Lake Manor Club, had previously voiced their opposition to noise generated by hydroplane races, usually held in September.
Many others are disappointed that the traditional fireworks display – as well as other popular lake-based events like hydro races, kayak and paddle board races and even water rescue practices by Puget Sound Fire – may no longer take place.
Around 8,000 people attended last year’s 4th of July fireworks show at Angle Lake, the City said.
The SeaTac City Council was expected to vote Tuesday night, Mar. 26, 2024 on approving the proposed $40,000 drone light show.
Despite the setback, there may still be fireworks over Angle Lake this year, as the Angle Lake Shore Club is reportedly sponsoring a private, perhaps final, fireworks display. The details and permit for this display are still being finalized.
Online Petition to Save Fireworks Started
UPDATE: An online petition to save the Angle Lake 4th of July Fireworks has been started:
Amazing how one person can be so fragile that they can’t handle a little noise a few days a year and have to ruin the fun for everyone else ?
Looking to spend $40k on a short drone display for an anticipated crowd of about 8k doesn’t seem like a good use of funds to me. What a waste!
Be careful what you ask for. Sometimes you get it.
If the Angle Lake 4th of July fireworks mean something to you and yours, and you want to preserve the tradition, please consider signing and sharing the online petition that was recently shared on the Angle Lake Shore Club page. We are working on a plan to get boots on the ground to connect with residents around the lake to help spread the word!
https://www.change.org/Angle_Lake_July4th
Fireworks are a disaster for wildlife, pet owners, and anybody, especially Veterans, suffering from PTSD. They release toxins that pollute the air and poison the soil or, in this case, water. Since Washington state is already developing every area possible and removing wildlife safe spaces at an astonishing rate, whatever little area is left for the animals should at least be somewhat safe. I wish Fireworks would be banned everywhere. They are a just an environmental nightmare, but no surprise, that Washington government is hanging on to outdated traditions instead of implementing safer options. After all, it is always about the money.
SeaTac isn’t the friendliest of places as it is, and man I’d hate to be John Lucas the guy who killed the fourth of July fireworks for the city of SeaTac. I’d change my name and move as far away from that area as possible.
Way to ruin it for everyone.
Hopefully enough property owners will band together to provide the space necessary to the City of SeaTac to continue hosting these activities.
Well, this is a prime example of getting what you asked for. If ownership extends to the middle of the lake, the city appears to need an easement agreement from all affected owners before proceeding with any fireworks. The city rightly avoids wading through the legal red tape that entails, and all the landowners who enjoyed their front row seat to a free fireworks display will now have to go elsewhere.
Be careful what you ask for; you may very well get it.
The question I have is; after all of the cancellations and negative press he will be receiving, was it worth it to cause the uproar or just put up with parts of the lake being closed off for 10-14 days out of the 365 days a year? (Knowing that most politicians will react like this to CTA)
Simple answer to this that even a court can not fight .. the owner may own the land but the owner does not own the water, meaning I could float in the water and as long as I do not touch land any complaints by the owner is invalid and could be considered slander by the owner
For awareness, the majority of waterfront homeowners around the lake contribute to the annual fireworks display. The recommended contribution per home is $150 and there are roughly 130 homes on the water. This isn’t a mandatory contribution; however, to say that the event is free to waterfront homeowners is incorrect, they offset the cost of the event significantly and for many years provided 100% of the funding for the community.