Anacortes reviews stormwater master plan; consultants recommend pipe‑replacement program and a downtown flow‑control exemption

Anacortes City Council on Jan. 27 heard a detailed presentation of a draft stormwater master plan from Public Works Director Andrew Rayum and outside consultants, who recommended a new stormwater pipe repair-and-replacement program, prioritized several creek restoration projects (including Clyde Creek) and said the city is eligible to request a flow-control exemption from the Washington State Department of Ecology for much of the downtown piped system.

The plan matters because it will guide capital projects, permit compliance and downtown development decisions and will inform the city’s comprehensive plan and the 2025–budgeting process. Consultants told the council the work is intended to help staff make risk‑based repair decisions about aging pipes and to identify projects that protect habitat and reduce flooding and pollutant loads to local bays.

Public Works Director Andrew Rayum introduced the item as the meeting’s main agenda topic and said the update is overdue: "The last time you had a stormwater plan done was 02/7... It's time for an update." He told council this is the first of four planned updates and invited feedback on the draft approach.

Consultant Terrell Osborne summarized the project scope and public outreach: "We have about 20 slides today and a lot of information to cover so we're gonna try to move as quickly as we can and still have time for all of your questions." Osborne and his team said the draft plan compiles mapping, field stream assessments and modeling into a 20‑year strategy and a draft capital facilities list.

Key findings and recommendations

- Pipe inspections and a new repair program: Consultants reported that crews have completed camera inspection of 237 storm pipes to date and recommended a formal, ongoing stormwater pipe repair-and-replacement program so staff can prioritize work based on condition and risk. The program would move the city from largely reactive maintenance toward a proactive, risk‑based approach.

- Habitat and creek restoration: Biologists conducted physical and biological assessments of six city streams and flagged Clyde Creek as a top priority for bank stabilization and habitat restoration because of erosion and tree loss along the channel. The consultants recommended adding selected restoration projects to the capital facilities plan.

- Fish‑passage inventory: The consultants said the city has a comparatively low number of fish barriers; they reported 37 barriers identified in the study and that 21 of those are owned by the city within city limits. They recommended further study of those city‑owned barriers so the city can plan future repairs or replacements.

- Hydraulic modeling and flow control: Modeling used an industry standard storm event (25‑year, 24‑hour) and an "effective impervious area" scaling factor to better estimate peak flows. The consultants built a city‑wide model using the EPA SWMM platform (the presentation referred to the EPA modeling tool) and delivered the model to the city with a user manual so staff and future consultants can run updates. Model results show locations of likely future surcharging (pipes full) and ponding (surface flooding); the team identified several high‑priority capacity projects for capital planning.

- Flow‑control exemption for downtown: The team recommended the city seek a flow‑control exemption from the Department of Ecology for the downtown area where flows discharge to piped creeks that remain enclosed to the bay. The exemption, if granted, would allow denser downtown development without requiring detention vaults on each redevelopment site; consultants warned that the city may need to upsize pipes over time if downtown becomes significantly denser.

- NPDES/MS4 Phase 2 permit obligations: Jessica, the consultant who reviewed permit requirements, summarized new permit elements the city must address in the coming permit cycle, including tree‑canopy goals and policies, updated MS4 mapping, source control work for PCBs on public buildings constructed 1950–1980, prioritized street sweeping and expanded public engagement with overburdened communities. She told council the permit term covers five years and that some obligations will require additional staff resources.

Budget and next steps

Consultants and staff said the 2025 stormwater drainage fund is just over $3,000,000 and that much of the program is funded by monthly stormwater charges paid by ratepayers; they showed the city’s rate and program standing relative to peer jurisdictions. Aging infrastructure and several additional projects planned for 2025 explain an increase in the utility budget for the year, staff said. The presentation also noted that developers’ connections provide a secondary revenue source.

Public outreach and data: The consultants have posted a public survey on the city website and social channels; at the meeting they reported about two dozen responses so far and encouraged more public input. Staff said the survey responses will be compared with model results to inform priorities.

Council comments and staff clarifications

Councilmembers emphasized street sweeping, public outreach and the plan’s utility for future development review. Councilmember Young and others pressed for better public education on actions residents can take to reduce runoff and pollutant loads. Councilmember Cleland McGrath and Mayor Pro Tem Molton thanked staff and the consultants for field‑based stream assessments and for including long‑range climate projections in the plan.

No final action tonight

The presentation and public feedback session did not include a council vote to adopt the plan. Staff told council the plan will be revised after public comment and brought back for formal approval; budget allocations and specific capital projects would be decided later through the city’s normal budgeting process.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to excuse Councilmember Walters from the meeting (mover: Councilmember Cleland McGrath; second: Councilmember Fantini). Outcome: approved by voice vote. (Details recorded in meeting minutes; transcript indicates unanimous verbal support with no roll‑call of votes.)

- Motion to approve the consent agenda, items 5A–5C (mover: Councilmember Young; second: Councilmember McDougall). Outcome: approved by voice vote.

What’s next

Staff will incorporate public input, correct minor data questions raised by council (staff said they will follow up on specific budget line clarifications provided by the finance manager) and return the revised master plan to council for adoption. If council approves pursuing a flow‑control exemption, staff also said they will prepare supporting materials for submittal to the Department of Ecology.