Anacortes council members press for clearer process after $15,000 police boat purchase; consent items approved

At the Anacortes City Council meeting on Aug. 4, 2025, Councilmember Cleland McGrath asked for a public discussion after she said the council first learned of a $15,000 police boat purchase via the approval of claims and not through a prior full‑council briefing.

“While it's a $15,000 boat, determined by the police chief and the mayor that this is something that is necessary … I have concern with the way the process was handled,” Councilmember Cleland McGrath said, noting she first learned of the consideration on July 7, that the boat was purchased July 8, and that a memo to full council did not go out until July 16.

McGrath said the item raised a policy question because adding a second boat would expand the types of services the city provides and create ongoing costs for maintenance and insurance. “There's ongoing costs with boats, there's insurance issues, things like that,” she said.

Other council members acknowledged the timing issue but differed on the urgency of the matter. Councilmember Young said the item should be discussed further, adding, “It's a good done deal, but at the end of the day, I think we need to talk about it a little bit.” Councilmember Walters said the $15,000 purchase was not large in the broader budget but agreed the next steps warranted fuller council discussion if the purchase presaged a larger service expansion.

Councilmember Fantini said he had attended the public safety committee meeting where the purchase was discussed and had pushed for a memo to be sent to council before the purchase; he expressed surprise at the timing. Councilmember Moulton said she remembered robust prior discussion about a fire boat and training but said the addition of a second vessel merited a different, public conversation.

Council members handled the disputed consent item through routine motion practice. Council removed claim item 5b from the consent agenda on a motion by Councilmember Cleland McGrath, seconded by Councilmember Young; the motion passed on a voice vote. Council then voted to approve consent agenda items 5a and 5c on a motion by Councilmember Moulton, seconded by Councilmember Hubick; that motion passed on a voice vote. After discussion, Councilmember Yupik moved and Councilmember Walters seconded approval of the removed consent item 5b; the motion passed on a voice vote.

No further formal policy decision about the long‑term use, maintenance responsibility, insurance, or staffing related to a second police boat was adopted at the meeting. Councilmembers asked that staff or the relevant departments come to a future meeting to explain operational expectations and potential ongoing costs.

The council adjourned with no additional business.