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Home My WebLink About2025-11-24 City Council Minutes ApprovedAnacortes City Council Minutes - November 24, 2025 1 Anacortes City Council Minutes - November 24, 2025 Call to Order Mayor Matt Miller called to order the November 24, 2025, Anacortes City Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. Councilmembers TJ Fantini, Ryan Walters, Anthony Young, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Carolyn Moulton, Bruce McDougall and Amanda Hubik were present. Pledge of Allegiance The assembly joined in the Pledge of Allegiance. Announcements and Committee Reports Mayor Miller reminded the public that city offices would be closed for the Thanksgiving holidays, November 27–28, and that the library would close at 4:00 pm on November 26th, and detailed the holiday solid waste pickup schedule. He and City Attorney Darcy Swetnam then summarized an email that was sent to the council regarding procedures for selecting a qualified member for the vacant council seat in the new year. Ms. Swetnam answered questions from the council regarding the process. Planning Committee Ms. Moulton reported from the Planning Committee meeting held earlier in the evening. The topics discussed included questions that were brought up regarding development regulation amendments at the previous regular meeting, which would be discussed by the full council later in the meeting. Parks and Recreation Committee Ms. Hubik reported from the Parks and Recreation Committee meeting held November 20th. The topics discussed included the Forest Plan that was approved by the Forest Board, which will come before the council in January, incrementally increasing costs for cemetery services, the School Resource Officer serving in the Anacortes Community Forest Lands during the summer, and an update on the county Meals on Wheels program. Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Mr. Walters reported from the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee meeting held November 19th. The topics discussed included a review of the applications submitted for 2026 funding. The committee recommended a similar amount to the total allocation from 2025, which included the recommended funding from the fund balance for the design of the Port / City event center. Mr. Fantini thanked Planning, Community, and Economic Development Director John Coleman for attending an informational meeting with the Skyline Homeowners Association regarding the Comprehensive Plan. Public Comment Mayor Miller invited the public to comment on any item not on the agenda. No one present wished to address the Council on any topic not already on the agenda. Consent Agenda Mr. McDougall moved, seconded by Ms. Hubik, to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. a. Minutes of November 17, 2025 b. Approval of claims in the amount of $389,312.84 The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment: EFT numbers: 114119 through 114159, total $177,473.01 Check numbers: 114160 through 114184 total $188,194.37 Wire transfer numbers: 379891 through 380095, total $23,645.46 c. Contract Award: 2026 Fourth of July Fireworks Display #26-021-PRK-001 Anacortes City Council Minutes - November 24, 2025 2 Other Business Contract Modification: City Facilities Janitorial Services #25-013-FAC-001 Interim Public Works Director Logan Lee introduced the modification to contract #25-013-FAC-001 for janitorial services for six city facilities that would extend the contract with BE Enterprises LLC for one year through December 31, 2026, in the amount of $140,252.60, increasing the total contract price to $280,505.20. Ryan Walters moved, seconded by TJ Fantini, to authorize the mayor to execute the modification to contract #25-013-FAC-001 with BE Enterprises LLC. Vote: Ayes - Carolyn Moulton, Anthony Young, Ryan Walters, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Bruce McDougall, Amanda Hubik, TJ Fantini. Nays - None. Abstentions - None. Result: Passed Contract Award: Combined Sewer Overflow Pump Station Project #21-025-SEW-003 Mr. Lee introduced the proposed contract #21-025-SEW-003 for the combined sewer overflow pump station project at the Wastewater Treatment Plant with Strider Construction Co., Inc. He explained that this project is vital to compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit during storm overflow events and would be funded through an interfund loan that the council previously approved via Ordinance 5006 at the October 13, 2025, regular meeting. Ryan Walters moved, seconded by Anthony Young, to authorize the mayor to execute contract #21-025-SEW- 003 for the combined sewer overflow pump station project at the Wastewater Treatment Plant with Strider Construction Co., Inc. Vote: Ayes - Carolyn Moulton, Anthony Young, Ryan Walters, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Bruce McDougall, Amanda Hubik, TJ Fantini. Nays - None. Abstentions - None. Result: Passed Resolution 3190: Rejecting All Bids for the Unit-Priced Fiber General Contractor Services 2025-2028 #25-216-FBR-001 Administrative Services Director Emily Schuh introduced Resolution 3190 that would reject all bids for the unit-priced fiber general contractor services 2025-2028 contract #25-216-FBR-001 to allow for an accurate reflection of an actual emergency callout. Anthony Young moved, seconded by TJ Fantini, to adopt Resolution 3190 to reject all bids received on November 13, 2025, for the unit-priced fiber general contractor services 2025-2028 #25-216-FBR-001. Vote: Ayes - Carolyn Moulton, Anthony Young, Ryan Walters, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Bruce McDougall, Amanda Hubik, TJ Fantini. Nays - None. Abstentions - None. Result: Passed Ordinance 5013: 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update Planning, Community, and Economic Development Director John Coleman re-introduced Ordinance 5013: 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update, referring to a slide presentation that was added to the packet materials for the meeting. He explained that the public comment period on recommended changes by the council would open on November 25th and close on December 11th with the final consideration at the December 15th regular meeting. Consultants Chris Comeau of Transco (Transportation Element), John Phillips of Parametrix (Science and Climate Element), and Katy Saunders (Climate Element), Markus Johnson, and Bob Bengford of Makers participated in the discussion. Mayor Miller invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item. No one present wished to address the Council. Discussion topics included: • Strike Policy T-1.9.D - West 2nd Street as an alternate arterial route (pp. I-83). • Land Use Policy LU-- 4.6 — Reducing wildfire risk everywhere. (pp. I-34) Anacortes City Council Minutes - November 24, 2025 3 • Transportation Policy T-4.11- decline the edit to the policy. (pp. I-95) • Level of Service Table in the Capital Facilities Plan element pp. I-99 o Level of service C — harmonize with the verbiage in the Transportation Element. o Police protection • Future Facility Needs and Funding (pp. II — 324) o The police ratio changed from 1.7 officers to 1.83 per 1,000 residents. Truing it up to the public safety levy lid lift staff levels. o Leave as is. o 19.22 Police protection is listed as a concurrency service. • Functional classification of Kansas Avenue o Collector arterial. • T-1.27 — Allow sidewalk fee in lieu of sidewalk construction in areas where sidewalks do not exist for filling in an area where it is needed. Ordinance 5014: 2025 Development Regulation Amendments Mr. Coleman re-introduced Ordinance 5014: 2025 Development Regulation Amendments, referring to a slide presentation that was added to the packet materials for the meeting, in which he addressed questions that the council had posed and incorporation of directed changes from the previous discussion at the November 17, 2025, regular meeting. Mayor Miller invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item. No one present wished to address the Council. Discussion topics included: • Encourage revisions of the plan and development regulations throughout the next 10-year period. Ordinance 5009: 2026 Operating Budget Finance Director Steve Hoglund re-introduced Ordinance 5009: 2026 Operating Budget, referring to a draft copy of the ordinance that was included in the packet materials for the meeting. Mayor Miller invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item. No one present wished to address the Council. Discussion topics included: • A period of declining revenue o Property tax has not increased at the same rate as inflation. o Sales tax and utility tax must keep pace with inflation or the city could be in a similar or worse position in the following years. o Must conserve expenses, find other sources of revenue, and improve economic activity. TJ Fantini moved, seconded by Anthony Young, to adopt Ordinance 5009: 2026 Operating Budget. Vote: Ayes - Carolyn Moulton, Anthony Young, Ryan Walters, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Bruce McDougall, Amanda Hubik, TJ Fantini. Nays - None. Abstentions - None. Result: Passed Ordinance 5010: 2026-2031 Capital Facilities Plan Mr. Hoglund re-introduced Ordinance 5009: 2026 Operating Budget, referring to a draft copy of the ordinance that was included in the packet materials for the meeting. Anacortes City Council Minutes - November 24, 2025 4 Mayor Miller invited members of the audience to comment on this agenda item. Theresa Baker of Anacortes commented on the use of opioid settlement funds in the 2026 operating budget. Discussion topics included: • Police training funds. • Projects receiving general fund monies. • Restricted revenue sources for capital projects. • Appreciation for the hard work by the staff and mayor to balance the budget and maximize the use of public funds. • Sales tax, property tax and utility tax are the only unrestricted revenue sources. • Capital projects will be pursued that could generate more unrestricted revenues. Ryan Walters moved, seconded by Amanda Hubik, to adopt Ordinance 5010: 2026-2031 Capital Facilities Plan. Vote: Ayes - Carolyn Moulton, Anthony Young, Ryan Walters, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Bruce McDougall, Amanda Hubik, TJ Fantini. Nays - None. Abstentions - None. Result: Passed Adjournment There being no further business, at approximately 7:25 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of November 24, 2025, was adjourned.