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Home My WebLink About2026-08-10 City Council Minutes Approved Anacortes City Council Minutes - August 10, 2026 1 Anacortes City Council Minutes - August 10, 2026 Call to Order Mayor Ryan Walters called to order the August 10, 2026, Anacortes City Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. Councilmembers Marcia Hunt, Luke Currier, Anthony Young, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Carolyn Moulton, Bruce McDougall and TJ Fantini were present. Pledge of Allegiance The assembly joined in the Pledge of Allegiance. Announcements and Committee Reports Mayor Walters made announcements regarding the 12th Street and Commercial Avenue intersection project, August events at the Library, Open Streets on August 30th from 11am-3pm, Residential Clean Up Day on Saturday, September 19th from 9am-12pm, and Ordinance 5032 regulating the use of e-bikes, e-motorcycles, and other personal transportation devices is effective as of today. Housing Affordability and Community Services and Planning Committee Ms. Moulton reported from the Housing Affordability and Community Services and Planning Committee meeting held earlier in the evening immediately before the regular City Council meeting. The topics discussed included the award of a $750,000 grant from Skagit County for the Event Center, the release of a request for proposal by the Port of Anacortes for a hotel near the Event Center, a $75,000 grant application to continue to refine planning processes, updates to the Planning, Community, & Economic Development web page, and results of the recent appeals to the Growth Management Hearings Board. Port / City Liaison Committee Ms. Cleland-McGrath and Mr. Fantini reported from the Port / City Liaison Committee meeting held August 4th. The topics discussed included possible bike calming devices for the Tommy Thompson Trail where it crosses Seafarers Way, the Curtis Wharf pump out agreement, coordination of the Pier 2 retention pond outfall assessment, sales tax receipts from this year's Boat Show and the economic effects on the rest of the community, and upcoming Event Center project updates. Mayor's Awards of Merit Public Works Director Logan Lee introduced, and Mayor Walters awarded the Mayor's Award of Merit to Water Treatment Plant Operators Gilbert Quevedo, Wade Hoskinson, Cameron Frazer, and Seth Schuh for their meritorious service during the flood event in December 2025. Planning, Community, and Economic Development Director John Coleman introduced, and Mayor Walters awarded the Mayor's Award of Merit to Planning Manager Libby Grage for her meritorious service leading the city’s Comprehensive Plan update process from 2023 to 2025. Fiber Manager Jim Lemberg introduced, and Mayor Walters awarded the Mayor's Award of Merit to Municipal Broadband Network Administrator Corby Stephens and Municipal Broadband Field Technicians Aaron Brown and Ian Wade for their meritorious service in managing recent unexpected network disruptions. Public Comment Mayor Walters invited the public to comment on any item not on the agenda. Public comment was given as follows: Audrey Houston of Skyline in Ward 3, Anacortes spoke about youth basketball, asking for priority scheduling for youth athletes at the Fidalgo Elementary School gym on weekdays during the coming season. Anacortes City Council Minutes - August 10, 2026 2 Consent Agenda Ms. Moulton moved, seconded by Mr. McDougall, to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. a. Minutes of August 3, 2026 b. Approval of claims in the amount of $1,306,507.41 The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment: EFT numbers: 271 through 326, total $1,221,884.39 Check numbers: 116100 through 116133, total $69,349.35 Wire transfer numbers: 248 through 270, total $15,273.67 Other Business Contract Award: Ziply Fiber Dedicated Internet Access #26-178-FBR-001/#26-178-FBR-002 Fiber Manager Jim Lemberg introduced proposed contracts #26-178-FBR-001 and #26-178-FBR-002 with Ziply Fiber for dedicated internet access, Discussion topics included: • Ziply has two paths for internet access up from the Seattle metro area. • Low latency robust connection. • NoaNet will become the secondary connection. • "Coopetition" in the communications industry. • The 10GB Cogent circuit will be replaced by a 20GB Ziply line for lower per gigabit price. • Building the network to carry increased traffic. Anthony Young moved, seconded by TJ Fantini, to authorize the mayor to sign a contract with Northwest Fiber, LLC dba Ziply Fiber in the amount of $151,200.00 for 36 months for Ethernet Internet Access service. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Resolution 3196: Adoption of the Skagit County Hazard Mitigation Plan Public Works Director Logan Lee introduced proposed Resolution 3196 that would adopt the 2026 Skagit County Hazard Mitigation Plan, explaining that the plan considers the hazards a community may have, the impacts of those hazards, and possible actions to mitigate those impacts on residents, businesses, infrastructure and public facilities, including improving critical infrastructure resiliency, addressing vulnerable transportation routes, reducing flood and stormwater risks, and improving emergency preparedness. He then pointed out that the plan also helps make the city eligible for federal hazard mitigation funding programs, including an ongoing analysis of the Whistle Lake earthen dam, and is a living document that is updated annually. Luke Currier moved, seconded by Anthony Young, to adopt Resolution 3196 as presented. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Contract Award: Water Treatment Plant Intake Pump Station Alternatives Analysis #C2026-0218 Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Manager Terry Nemeth introduced proposed contract #C2026-0218 with HDR Engineering, Inc. to analyze alternatives to retrofit the foundation of the Anacortes WTP Intake Station to improve its performance with the goal of identifying a system with capacities to accommodate a 2021 International Building Code design seismic event, referring to a slide presentation that was added to the packet materials for the meeting. Discussion topics included: • The contract is to find a plan to reinforce the existing building to save on the higher cost of replacing the entire building. Anacortes City Council Minutes - August 10, 2026 3 • Single point for water intake. • Construction would begin in 2027 or 2028. • Deliverable will be a construction plan and contract. • Reinforce the existing structure to withstand a 7.2 or stronger earthquake. • No possibility of additional expenditure on the alternatives analysis. Anthony Young moved, seconded by Bruce McDougall, to authorize the mayor to sign contract C2026-0218 with HDR Engineering, Inc. in the amount of $158,700.00 to perform the WTP Intake Pump Station Alternatives Analysis. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Ordinance 5035: Contract Numbering City Attorney Darcy Swetnam introduced proposed Ordinance 5035 that would amend AMC 1.30 to reflect the city's new contract numbering scheme due to the implementation of the new Tyler EERP system, update the title of the Contracts Specialist to Contracts and Grants Manager, and clarify the mayor's authority to manage dark fiber leases and modifications. Discussion topics included: • Appreciation for backend work by the staff to make the transition. • Only active contracts will have numbers in both the old and new scheme. • SharePoint crosswalk for referencing contract numbers according to the new scheme is available for staff use on the intranet. Carolyn Moulton moved, seconded by Marcia Hunt, to adopt Ordinance 5035 to update the system for numbering city contracts. Vote: Ayes - Carolyn Moulton, Anthony Young, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Bruce McDougall, TJ Fantini, Luke Currier, Marcia Hunt. Nays - None. Abstentions - None. Result: Passed Executive Session Potential Real Estate Transaction per RCW 42.30.110(1)(c) (15 minutes) Mayor Walters announced that City Council and the City Attorney would convene in Executive Session per RCW 42.30.110(1)(c) for approximately 15 minutes to discuss a potential real estate transaction. The mayor advised that the regular meeting would then adjourn with no final action having been taken. Councilmembers TJ Fantini, Anthony Young, Christine Cleland-McGrath, Carolyn Moulton, Bruce McDougall, Luke Currier, and Marcia Hunt attended the executive session. Adjournment There being no further business, at approximately 7:13 pm, the Anacortes City Council meeting of August 10, 2026, was adjourned.