Snohomish County Council approves 20 indigent defense contracts, OKs interlocal agreements and sets Mukilteo annexation hearing

Snohomish County Council members on Jan. 29 unanimously approved a slate of administrative and budget actions, including 20 separate contracts to provide legal defense in conflict cases, authorization for interlocal agreements tied to County–City Partnership projects, and a collective bargaining agreement covering human‑services supervisors.

The council approved 20 contracts to provide indigent defense services in cases where a conflict has been declared with the county’s primary contractor, the Public Defender Association. Nicole Corley, counsel for the record and council staff, said each contract is for $350,000 annually for calendar years 2025 and 2026 and that the “total not to exceed amount approved under these 20 contracts is $14,000,000.” The contracts were listed in motions 25‑027 through 25‑046 and were approved as a block without discussion; the vote was unanimous.

The council also approved motion 25‑058, authorizing the county executive to execute 19 interlocal agreements (ILAs) with project recipients identified in the adopted budget and capital improvement program for the County–City Partnership (the transcript referred to these as REIT 2 funds). Council staff said projects to be funded are listed by district in the project selection list attached to the electronic agenda file (ECAF). That motion passed unanimously.

On labor matters, the council advanced motion 25‑063, sending to the council a four‑year collective bargaining agreement between Snohomish County and the Washington State Council of County and City Employees, AFSCME, AFL‑CIO, representing Local 1811 Human Services Supervisors. Jim Martin, council staff, described the agreement as effective Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2027, and said it provides a cost‑of‑living adjustment of 4.51% for 2024 and 3.63% for 2025, and the addition of steps 6 and 7 in 2026 and 2027. Martin said the agreement covers 35 employees; the motion passed unanimously.

The council set a time and date for a public hearing on ordinance 25‑008, an interlocal agreement between Snohomish County and the city of Mukilteo for a phase‑1 annexation area. Ryan Hambrick, council staff, told members the annexation method is proposed pursuant to RCW 35A.14.296 and that the proposed annexation area is approximately 84 acres in the Mukilteo Urban Growth Area south of Paine Field. Hambrick noted the staff report originally listed Feb. 19 for the hearing but was corrected to Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. to meet publication requirements; the motion to set the hearing date passed unanimously.

A separate procedural resolution, resolution 25‑004, recognizing February 2025 as Black History Month in Snohomish County, was approved unanimously after Vice Chair Dunne thanked Will Johnson with the Office of Social Justice for assistance updating the resolution’s language. Vice Chair Dunne said, “I wanted to just offer appreciation for, working with Will Johnson and the Office of Social Justice to finalize and update some of the language on this. Thank you.”

In other business, staff asked whether the council would sign a joint letter of support with the county executive backing a Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs legislative funding request for the search and rescue program; council members agreed to sign.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 25‑004 (Black History Month recognition): approved unanimously (5–0). - Motions 25‑027 through 25‑046 (20 indigent defense contracts at $350,000 each, 2025–2026): approved unanimously (5–0). Total not to exceed $14,000,000 per staff report. - Motion 25‑058 (authorize executive to execute 19 ILAs for County–City Partnership projects): approved unanimously (5–0). - Motion 25‑063 (collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME Local 1811, Jan. 1, 2024–Dec. 31, 2027): approved unanimously (5–0). Agreement covers 35 employees; COLA 4.51% (2024), 3.63% (2025); steps added in later years. - Ordinance 25‑008 (set public hearing for Mukilteo phase‑1 annexation ILA): time and date set for Feb. 26, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.; motion approved unanimously (5–0).

What this means The indigent‑defense contracts authorize outside counsel to represent clients in conflict cases where the Public Defender Association cannot, at a stated per‑contract annual cap; final execution and any amendments were authorized to be carried out by the executive. The ILAs will move limited capital or partnership funding to municipal projects specified in the adopted budget/CIP. The Mukilteo annexation ILA must still proceed through required public‑notice and Boundary Review Board processes described by staff before any annexation is finalized.

The council recorded no public testimony on the items considered at the meeting; discussion on the listed actions was brief and procedural. The items passed unanimously and will proceed to the next administrative steps described by staff.