Coupeville council awards Valdez Construction contract for boardwalk and North Main sidewalk after mitigation concession

The Coupeville Town Council voted unanimously March 11 to award a construction contract to Valdez Construction for replacement of the Front Street boardwalk and construction of the remaining North Main Street sidewalk, but the council and staff agreed to limit work start until required preconstruction surveys and monitoring are complete.

The contract award includes an amendment asking the contractor and town to implement three mitigation items requested in a March 10 letter from Historic Whidbey to the council: mark the Historic Whidbey property line on North Main with posts/flagging; use a stone-pattern imprint rather than a wood pattern on the new east-facing retaining wall; and remove vegetation identified as likely to be adversely affected (including trees with root systems crossing the property line) at the time of construction. The council approved the contract and the mitigation language by voice vote; the motion passed unanimously.

Why it matters: the project affects Coupeville’s historic downtown, several privately owned properties adjacent to the work zone and small businesses that rely on tourist traffic. Residents and business owners at the meeting said they have been surprised by the project timeline and asked for more direct outreach and steps to limit damage to historic resources and to keep businesses accessible during construction.

Discussion and forensic steps: Mayor Molly Hughes told the council that the award is for the contract only and "it's not approving the job to start. It's not a notice to proceed. It's strictly awarding the contract." Council and staff repeatedly said a preconstruction survey and related monitoring required by the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) must be completed before work begins. Staff reported DAHP concluded the project posed no significant impact to the Haller House but identified a potential for impact to several neighboring buildings and therefore requested pre- and post-construction surveys carried out by a professional qualified under the Secretary of the Interior standards.

Residents and historic-preservation advocates pressed for more outreach and for mitigation measures during a lengthy public comment period. Storm Whitney, who identified herself as a partner of Ebey's National Historical Reserve, said, "historic preservation isn't just about an individual building, but also the view corridor," and asked that the council involve affected property owners earlier in the project timeline. Christian Chambers, a business owner who said his business will be directly affected, told the council: "We are not obstacles. We are business owners, property owners, and employees," and said owners had not received direct notice of imminent construction.

Staff and consultants said the town has received Certificate(s) of Appropriateness (COA) at the staff review level and that the project underwent cultural-resource work: a 65-page archaeological monitoring report and a 50-page cultural resource report reviewed by DAHP, plus permit steps described by staff. Council members and staff acknowledged there were differences of view about how much outreach had been done earlier in the project and agreed to increase direct contact with business and property owners before the contractor receives a notice to proceed.

Schedule, cost and contract scope: council referenced the contractor's bid schedule (the contractor submitted a bid based on a 93-day construction window; the bid specifications include a 150-day maximum), and the package includes construction materials and installation. The council also discussed the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) grant timeline and the need to verify whether TIB deadlines require an extension; staff said they would follow up.

Outcome and follow-up: the council approved the contract award to Valdez Construction and added the three mitigation items from the March 10 letter "to the extent reasonably possible." Council direction to staff included: (1) do not issue a notice to proceed until the required preconstruction survey and DAHP conditions are satisfied; (2) negotiate timing with the contractor and attempt to minimize disruption to the downtown business season; (3) coordinate direct outreach to affected property and business owners; and (4) document and implement the mitigation items agreed to by the council.

The council also directed staff to return with details on schedule options (including fall-start scenarios) and to check TIB deadlines or extension possibilities before setting a notice-to-proceed date.