Council approves Sixteenth Street and D Avenue improvement contract with Fisher Construction

The Anacortes City Council voted to award a $1,170,236.25 construction contract to Fisher Construction Group to build the Sixteenth Street and D Avenue improvement project, a city presentation said. The project will extend Sixteenth Street to D Avenue, add sidewalks and crosswalks, create on‑street parking intended for the nearby early learning center and include stormwater improvements. The city said the Samish Indian Nation is providing funding for the work and the city is acting as construction manager.

Councilmembers and staff emphasized traffic‑calming and pedestrian safety features. The plans shown at the meeting include a raised crosswalk (described by staff as about 10 feet wide and roughly 6–8 inches high, with a gradual slope), head‑in (perpendicular) parking for short‑term access near the early learning center and parallel parking along Sixteenth. Staff also described four marked crossings on D Avenue with rapid‑flashing beacons and new sidewalks on both sides of the new section of Sixteenth.

At the meeting councilmembers discussed one design change: a previously proposed sidewalk infill between Seventeenth and Eighteenth streets was removed from the contract because the city chose not to fund that segment. Staff said that segment could be cheaper to install later if budget allows, but it is not included in this contract. Several councilmembers pressed staff to include clear plan sheets in the council packet going forward; staff provided plan excerpts during the meeting before the final vote.

The contract award was moved by Councilmember Lou Young and seconded by Councilmember Michael Fantini. The roll call vote recorded all present councilmembers voting yes. The motion passed.

Staff noted the project resulted from multi‑department coordination and included input from the public works committee. Work will include pavement, sidewalks, crosswalks, stormwater, and parking configuration; the city will manage construction and coordinate with the Samish Indian Nation on funding and schedule. No separate ordinance or code change was approved; this action authorized the mayor to sign the construction contract so the contractor can begin work under the bid package that was published for the project.

The council did not adopt any new policy or change the city’s standard contracting rules in this vote. Specific construction phasing and exact completion dates were not stated at the meeting and will be handled through the city’s construction management process.