Council approves mutual-assistance pact with Mount Vernon, a Commercial Avenue contract modification and a multi-city indigent defense interlocal

The Anacortes City Council approved several formal items March 10, including an interlocal agreement with the city of Mount Vernon for mutual assistance, a contract modification to advance the Commercial Avenue Phase 1 design, and an interlocal agreement to share indigent-defense services with neighboring cities.

Mutual-assistance interlocal with Mount Vernon: City staff said Mount Vernon can perform long-line roadway striping using a large paint machine; the interlocal sets an approval threshold of $45,000 or more to return to council for projects exceeding that amount. Councilmember Walters moved approval; the council approved the interlocal by roll-call voice votes (all in favor). The meeting transcript recorded affirmative roll-call votes from Councilmembers Young, Walters, Cleland McGrath, McDougall, Moulton, Hubick and Fantini.

Commercial Avenue contract modification (11th–13th streets): Public Works staff presented a contract modification with Alta Planning and Design, increasing the contract by $103,898 to bring the Eleventh Street–Thirteenth Street segment through full signalized-intersection design and to retain the firm for construction support. The change follows earlier design work on a roundabout; staff said switching to a signalized design required new modeling and additional design effort. Councilmember Walters moved and Councilmember McDougall seconded the modification; the council approved by roll call (all in favor).

Interlocal for shared indigent-defense services: The council authorized the mayor to execute a cooperative interlocal agreement (25-085DEF001) with the cities of Mount Vernon, Burlington and Oak Harbor/Cedar? (transcript lists Burlington, Mount Vernon, Cedar W? — the interlocal as presented names Burlington, Mount Vernon and Cedar Wollen/Cedar Woolley) to form a joint indigent-defense contract with a single qualified law firm and shared auditor services. The city’s allocated share for the arrangement was described as approximately 22% of the monthly charge under the initial cost-share method, which is based on 2024 case counts and refreshed each October. The agreement’s first-year allocation methodology uses 2024 case totals; the interlocal term runs until April 2028 unless extended. Councilmember McDougall moved approval; Councilmember Fantini seconded; roll-call votes were recorded as all yes and the motion carried.

Consent agenda: The council moved and approved consent agenda items 5a–5f by voice vote (ayes; no opposition recorded).

Each adopted item was memorialized by the city clerk with the appropriate signatures and will proceed to implementation steps described in staff reports.