Council approves participation in Purdue Pharma and generic opioid manufacturer settlements

The City Council authorized the city manager to execute documents to participate in Washington State Attorney General settlement allocation agreements with Purdue Pharma, the Sackler family and eight generic opioid manufacturers. City staff described the settlements as additional rounds in a multiyear process that the city previously joined, and said Mill Creek’s allocation would be modest — roughly $50,000 to $65,000 over 15 years under the state allocation formula — to fund opioid abatement strategies such as treatment, prevention, education and training.

Why it matters: Although the city’s share is small, staff said the funds will supplement local prevention and treatment programs and align with the statewide allocation memorandum. Staff recommended participation rather than undertaking a separate local lawsuit; council approved the resolution unanimously, 6–0.

Implementation: Staff asked the council to authorize the city manager to sign necessary documents to accept the allocations. The council approved the motion; staff will receive settlement funds according to Washington State’s allocation schedule and apply them to opioid abatement strategies consistent with the statewide memorandum.

Scope and limits: The settlement participation authorizes the city to receive allocated funds and obligates it to follow the state memorandum of understanding about permitted uses for abatement activities. The city’s allocation will be relatively small and spread over 15 years, so staff and council characterized the funding as supplemental to other local efforts.