Anacortes withdraws from four‑city indigent defense interlocal so it can contract separately

The Anacortes City Council voted to amend a four‑city interlocal agreement on Monday so the city may pursue its own contract for indigent defense services.

City staff said the interlocal — originally between Burlington, Mount Vernon, Anacortes and Sedro‑Woolley — governed cost allocation if a single contractor served all four cities. After issuing a request for qualifications, staff reported several responses; one respondent said it would only provide services to Anacortes.

City staff (Hsu) told the council the firm that expressed interest in serving only Anacortes has experience in similar jurisdictions and met with local court staff and the city’s current public defender. The other three cities reviewed proposals and supported Anacortes’ removal from the shared interlocal so the remaining cities can reallocate cost‑sharing and proceed with contracting.

Council member Walters asked why the city would accept a firm that would not serve the other partners; staff said the firm lacked capacity to serve all four cities but could handle Anacortes’ caseload. Staff said a negotiated contract with the firm is expected to be ready for council consideration next week; the council adopted the interlocal amendment by roll call.

Staff indicated the existing contract with Mountain Law for jail work and JARs hearings will be incorporated into the new agreement, and staff confirmed the selected firm has capacity to travel to partner locations for required hearings.