[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6375202,"mediaKeyId","2142282-f8ee398a32220bbd9aa9ffae5ad49bfa","parentId",2142282,"title","Anacortes: house fire in Skyline contained after water‑main break; no injuries, investigation underway","audioSeconds",221,"startMs",23000,"endMs",244000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2142282-f8ee398a32220bbd9aa9ffae5ad49bfa&start=23&end=244","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2142282-f8ee398a32220bbd9aa9ffae5ad49bfa/thumbnail_23000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6375202/Anacortes/Skagit-County/Washington/Anacortes-house-fire-in-Skyline-contained-after-watermain-break-no-injuries-investigation-underway","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375202-46d1931699fd329acdc40101ab827368/orig.mp4?Expires=1776390370&Signature=KcdmuVp3SSnZBMeuPppyhTXpCV1GLmFUP-~SUhpSI9k-A2QBVgi6y7oEPXsJxu1xnitKZ3Aa3OwYAI0lOAOCa3zJ~VeTRrevIbBqyh4LPmLzsGllVAY5ilT6i4AJKpkvVam5UnkZM75-eOfOMwY5rP8GxGe2UaBJ5KxCssjk~Q-pXQKt~V5Vt4cjq0p62qTQieycNn13L5pr8HBWopiUZRGYy0VxDHvjzJAR-CL8T0QmOIeNMN7T~p1FBaxrxx5WHMfNaJubkGXuAnSsPKAprmwGkqBY1h95LhHa3R89tOg008~6B6T5gflXRmsE3J3IFE28969Q6YBFTBB24bVGDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Anacortes, WA","date","2025-01-22T04:28:09Z","article","City officials told the Anacortes City Council on Jan. 21 that a house fire at 2011 Cove Place in the Skyline neighborhood on Jan. 19 was extinguished and that no injuries were reported.

The city statement described an initial offensive interior attack and search; fire crews withdrew after discovering a fully involved attic and partial roof collapse, then shifted to a defensive attack to prevent spread to adjacent structures. Fire personnel did not observe persistent pressure issues at first, but about 20 minutes into firefighting operations a drop in pressure and flow was observed.

The water utility responded and the cause was found to be a break in a water main at 5304 Dune Way. The city said the Skyline water system is redundant and that utility staff isolated the break and actuated valves to reroute supply to the scene, restoring pressure and enabling firefighters to extinguish the blaze. City staff noted the water main on Dune Way was installed in 1969 and that the Cove Place water system had been replaced in 2023. The report said reservoirs and hydrants were tested and operational, and that the fire department performs regular hydrant flow checks and had recently completed additional hydrant operations while training new firefighters.

The city said a full investigation into the fire cause, dispatching and the water‑system response is ongoing but that it is unlikely the outcome would have changed based on the timeline of the water‑main break. City officials expressed gratitude that no one was injured and that damage was limited to the single property.

Ending: The city said it will provide further information as the investigation progresses and that subject‑matter experts are engaged in the inquiry.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Anacortes - City Council Meeting (1/21/25)","oneSentenceSummary","City officials reported that a vacant house at 2011 Cove Place in Skyline suffered a heavy fire on Jan. 19; an on‑scene water‑main break reduced pressure during suppression but was isolated and rerouted, and no injuries were reported.","taxTitle","Anacortes, Skagit County, Washington","taxId",51056,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6375206,"City advances Commercial Avenue redesign; signal plan set for 11th–13th but funding, water‑main risk remain",874,6046000,6920000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2142282-f8ee398a32220bbd9aa9ffae5ad49bfa&start=6046&end=6920","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2142282-f8ee398a32220bbd9aa9ffae5ad49bfa/thumbnail_6046000.jpg","/articles/6375206/Anacortes/Skagit-County/Washington/City-advances-Commercial-Avenue-redesign-signal-plan-set-for-11th13th-but-funding-watermain-risk-remain","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375206-cd8f2962defb68890ad97939c92fc1c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1776390370&Signature=MLSKVbFANVVE9kMiXgRKCcdAKEcwEkGDk6OwV-uqO8e9g8onoJJ0ttth~323dpqGsSWKv8EW86DAQA2Qk01i6pwzlmu6c6Di481TNtx85kB~~OF5lfT4amFWU1OAYdCaxZG6-seA8BeWGsAS0wVLlZ8XxoLgERFzGe8451kn-7bWSh-uT9AYSiHTqV3QmEK9At8lj5db9d16Z-waWsYkvgnFcTFVrqDzehImItVqwmVCNYPLl0vXG7etZE3-rWQ53~YoLM5bI56oEyMzRoN0iqgCs~mZx9AqeZy0yGX6~PtrYfHYZ1RzOYCQquO53qTCQsstOGBhsrs5B8GY0qe9IQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public works staff briefed council on Jan. 21 on a two‑phase redesign of Commercial Avenue, the state route through Anacortes that leads to the ferry terminal. Phase 1 covers Commercial Avenue between 11th and 13th streets (the Safeway intersection area); Phase 2 covers the corridor south to 34th Street.

Project lead (presenter identified in the record as \"Mister Aham\") reminded council that the city previously studied a roundabout for the 11th–13th intersection but moved to a signalized design after land acquisition and grant timeline concerns. The Phase 1 100% design estimate has been reduced from earlier budgets; Aham reported a current construction cost estimate near $1,805,302 for the signalized option (not including separate land acquisition). He said the city lost one discretionary grant (Sandy Williams) because that program had prioritized roundabouts, but other grants (TIB and WSDOT) remain in play and the project team is pursuing Transportation Improvement Board approval to proceed to bid.

Design features retained from earlier concepts include buffered bicycle lanes, pedestrian improvements and intersection treatments to slow traffic; staff described mountable/raised treatments at intersection corners to physically separate turning vehicles from the bicycle space at crossings. Council asked staff to provide larger plan graphics to the public and to post the design drawings on the city website.

Phase 2 is primarily a repaving and rechannelization project with ADA ramp work; Aham said the 2025 capital plan lists $1.5 million in REIT funding for the Phase 2 effort and that the total project estimate stands at about $2.733 million. Council and staff discussed using Transportation Benefit District (TBD) revenue, REIT and other local funds to fill gaps if state funding does not materialize. Councilmember Walters said TBD annual revenues are material and could be directed to the corridor; staff agreed to provide a clear, single‑sheet funding breakdown.

Councilmembers also raised engineering concerns about buried utilities. Walters and others noted the water main under Commercial Avenue is an older pipe (council discussion identified it as roughly 85 years old in the city’s records). Public Works Director Andy Rayum said the main is a vintage pipe but reported field staff have found the pipe generally intact on repair excavations; he offered to provide a written risk assessment or third‑party evaluation of the main before the council commits to paving to reduce the chance of having to cut new holes in fresh pavement.

Ending: Staff will pursue TIB authorization to advertise the Phase 1 work, return with a funding‑source table showing the proposed mix of REIT/TBD/other funds for council approval, and provide a water‑main condition memo or third‑party assessment addressing the council’s request for engineering assurance.","Public works staff briefed council on a two‑phase Commercial Avenue project: a signalized redesign at 11th–13th (Phase 1) and a repaving/rechannelization south to 34th Street (Phase 2); staff reported updated cost estimates and urged council direction on local funding sources.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6375211,"Anacortes finance director: sales tax and permit revenues softened; council urged to study long‑term revenue options",2856,1416000,4272000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2142282-f8ee398a32220bbd9aa9ffae5ad49bfa&start=1416&end=4272","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2142282-f8ee398a32220bbd9aa9ffae5ad49bfa/thumbnail_1416000.jpg","/articles/6375211/Anacortes/Skagit-County/Washington/Anacortes-finance-director-sales-tax-and-permit-revenues-softened-council-urged-to-study-longterm-revenue-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375211-09af6de2796828c7281db691ebf975ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1776390370&Signature=OysUIGKcYbbo0mznvNg-RB7gXv6vlZeAxCHY503go5ROgUKT2V6ePqkZonq4vcEzxcwgXTvNgd8ctYCxuxrP99EKdxpsbN4A2xsPSY6w7tedv4kLmbAje5X~B5MxVAN-TrvDtBSFLus805mG7f~BppfIPxlwexmgH1ubSIZJsT~9tUfYHBOpmsgHn-RzcAVWzsd9nqKhNdjIr3~XQ-CEDAoYpEb2zyn~cDZHWnb0Jjq66T2G6F6tz3JgJD0AOFk7IHXLg-znMAMIKT1mEN~-ZCy-fX09e75aSLeyoqQxWsvhmiFeJ742hIb-~JJSL~u2-E8UJKrB~5-rripiVwPp7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Steve Hoglund, the city’s finance director, presented a Jan. 21 update showing mixed results across the city’s primary revenue streams and urging council attention to longer‑term trends.

Hoglund told councilors that cumulative sales tax for 2024 was below 2023 collections (a year‑over‑year decline he described as a continuing trend), building permit revenue fell to about $298,000 for the year, and the city collected roughly $113,000 in combined impact fees in 2024. He said real‑estate‑excise‑tax (REIT) balances will leave the city with an estimated $3.4 million in REIT cash after planned year‑end transfers, and he estimated roughly $1.0 million in REIT transfers into capital funds to support 2025 projects.

Hoglund explained property tax variances to council, saying 2024 budgeting was complicated by a voter‑approved Proposition 1 change to the levy rate and that his 2024 estimate on assessed values had been off. He described property tax levy calculation as ‘‘budget‑based’’ and therefore not directly proportional to assessed value increases.

Councilors and staff discussed the composition and timing of transfers into the street maintenance and construction funds. Hoglund said the street maintenance fund showed a roughly $500,000 negative balance before transfers and that he expected to use REIT transfers (and other identified transfers) to cover the gap. Councilmember Walters urged that the city prefer more restrictive grant monies when available and consider quarterly reconciliations of transfers to provide clearer year‑end positions.

Public comment highlighted financial concerns. Shiwa Moo, an Anacortes resident who reviewed publicly posted contracts and budget documents, raised questions about long‑term reliance on one private consultant and potential impacts on transparency and institutional memory. Moo told the council: \"Long‑term reliance on private consultants have issues — potential compromising of transparency, excessive dependence on the consultant, and project creep.\" The resident urged building more in‑house capacity.

Several council members called for a deeper, council‑level review of revenue strategy. Councilmember Clellan McGrath asked that this year’s budget retreat or a separate workshop focus on revenue options, citing permit declines and their downstream effect on impact fees and sales tax. Councilmember Walters emphasized that sales tax grows with economic activity and argued the city needs to shift some reliance from property tax to sales tax over the long run.

Ending: Hoglund said he will return with more detailed reconciliations and, if council directs, a quarterly reconciliation approach for capital transfers. Council members requested additional breakdowns (for example, permit unit counts by category from planning staff) and a briefing from the county assessor on property tax mechanics before the next property tax cycle.","Finance director Steve Hoglund told the council Jan. 21 that several key revenue streams — cumulative sales tax, building permits, and impact‑fee collections — are down compared with recent years, leaving the city relying on reserves and transfers. Council members and public commenters urged a retreat or workshop to develop revenue strategies.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6375216,"Anacortes police to replace retired narcotics K-9 with dual-purpose dog 'Zeke'",1231,4300000,5531000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2142282-f8ee398a32220bbd9aa9ffae5ad49bfa&start=4300&end=5531","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2142282-f8ee398a32220bbd9aa9ffae5ad49bfa/thumbnail_4300000.jpg","/articles/6375216/Anacortes/Skagit-County/Washington/Anacortes-police-to-replace-retired-narcotics-K-9-with-dual-purpose-dog-Zeke","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375216-a6b1b36f2195cedc1026b29e2941aede/orig.mp4?Expires=1776390370&Signature=LcWmJF4xGFI6YpXWBEV91jApomaCwbPHCmNmV0jpqU~-5lP57eSOiy-KQfPCSSHMzKsHO-uGjT1U52t6AgcN7o4kqAyQvd7mmk7hImz93~-lbUY3cNnf28hz8-EJywr5s8N-QNIgO4MhMJkqTm8nHGAVPD9dV-JpSFc5iMqZUczUO2cbvsBFSZvIXB7LspZmZDQgexfK2V68nzdvMjyqu6LQTauzFl3C8EARCCPcZlo6XrDvnvrbp9IJwEXb631OoNHrQf9Qr5VO-DlbpzVeVwjIOBaX~o50Kqxu6eD3V-PDvGvyHc4dCUQAESqw3jjNzNLrgDQMPshKRy666Q0b5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Anacortes Police Department announced on Jan. 21 that its longtime narcotics K‑9, known as T Bone, has retired and a new dog — named Zeke — has arrived to begin dual‑purpose training for narcotics detection and locating/tracking people.

Sergeant Terrence Clifford, the department’s K‑9 coordinator, told the City Council the previous single‑purpose dog had been deployed more than 1,200 times and that the department will retain narcotics detection capability while adding tracking and building‑search skills. Clifford said the new handler will complete training and state certification before the team is declared operational.

Clifford described the operational rationale the council heard: a dual‑purpose dog can assist with locating fleeing or missing people, backtracking to find evidence, and searching buildings while reducing risks to officers. He also noted that presence of a K‑9 can be a de‑escalation tool that sometimes avoids use of other force options.

Officer Hatcher, the new handler, introduced the dog to council members and said, “I have decided to name him Zeke.” Hatcher and the dog were reported to be in town and will begin the scheduled training in early February.

The department said T Bone’s decade of service included joint deployments with neighboring agencies and public demonstrations; Clifford told the council the previous dog’s work included assistance to other agencies and the regional drug task force. The new training plan allocates roughly 400 handler hours for tracking/locating work and another 200 hours for narcotics certification. Police leadership said most of that training can occur during regular shifts and should not require significant overtime.

Chief Floyd noted the department had arranged vendor selection with temperament and community interaction in mind; council members asked about community outreach and whether the department will continue demonstrations and school visits. Officers said public events and demonstrations will continue once the new team reaches operational certification.

Council members and the chief also discussed interim coverage while the new team trains. The department said neighboring agencies with K‑9 teams can cover requests if needed during the training period.

Ending: The department will return to council with a follow‑up once the handler and dog complete training and pass state certification; the department also said it will arrange a public meet‑and‑greet once Zeke has completed initial training and is accustomed to the working routine.","City police announced Jan. 21 that longtime narcotics detection dog \"T Bone\" has retired and a new German shepherd, to be called Zeke, will train as a dual‑purpose K‑9 for both narcotics detection and locating/tracking people. Training will begin in February; the city expects the new team to be certified after completion.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Anacortes: house fire in Skyline contained after water‑main break; no injuries, investigation underway

City advances Commercial Avenue redesign; signal plan set for 11th–13th but funding, water‑main risk remain

Anacortes finance director: sales tax and permit revenues softened; council urged to study long‑term revenue options

Anacortes police to replace retired narcotics K-9 with dual-purpose dog 'Zeke'