Council approves contract changes, telecom move, port moorage and internet capacity increase

Anacortes City Council on Feb. 24 approved a series of nonpolicy actions: a contract modification for vibration monitoring at the wastewater outfall project, new cloud telephony and implementation contracts, an interlocal for port moorage in exchange for training, a design contract for Commercial Avenue improvements and an increase in the city’s dedicated internet capacity for the Anacortes fiber service.

The most notable approvals: the council authorized a $119,550.71 contract modification with Weidner and Associates to provide vibration monitoring at the wastewater treatment plant outfall now being installed by microtunneling; it approved a multi‑year RingCentral cloud phone service contract and a separate implementation contract with Maverick Networks; it authorized an interlocal with the Port of Anacortes to provide boat moorage in exchange for two annual marine emergency training courses; it awarded a design contract for Commercial Avenue improvements to Osborne Consulting; and it approved a contract amendment with NOANET to raise dedicated internet access to 15 gigabits per second to support the city’s growing Anacortes Fiber customer base.

Councilors moved and seconded the measures and voted to carry them during the meeting. The motions were presented as routine staff recommendations with limited debate; several council members asked clarifying questions on scope, cost and timing before voting.

City staff noted two related administrative items: HDR’s previously contracted geotechnical blasting monitoring is being reduced because the outfall work switched from blasting to microtunneling, and the city plans to reuse existing desk phones where possible to reduce replacement cost for the VoIP transition.

The new RingCentral monthly service charge presented to council was shown with taxes and fees; Maverick’s implementation and phone reprovisioning contract was presented as a one‑time cost that would save the city money by reusing phones. The NOANET amendment will increase the monthly dedicated internet rate to $4,003.10 and extend the term; staff said the change responds to evening download peaks and rising customer subscriptions.