At the start of the Dec. 1 Anacortes council meeting, the Public Works Committee summarized the status of the city's three utility system plans and several capital projects.

Committee staff reported the stormwater plan is in a final draft but cannot be adopted until a SEPA appeal is resolved. The water system plan remains with the consultant; staff expect to submit a final draft to the Washington State Department of Health in January, after which the department’s review could take approximately three to six months. The wastewater plan remains under internal city review and has not yet completed SEPA review.

Committee staff noted that Volume 2 of the comprehensive plan includes summaries of utility systems for Growth Management Act (GMA) compliance and stated that, contrary to some public concerns, the wastewater plan currently shows no capacity constraints that would prevent the comprehensive plan from moving forward.

Key capital projects discussed:

- Q Avenue mid-block pedestrian crossing by Safeway: 86.5% grant-funded but awaiting federal compatibility review of plans and specifications before bidding.
- A mid-block crossing at 32nd and Storvik: included in the 2025 CFP with funds set aside.
- Two non-grant crosswalk projects packaged together (Tommy Thompson at Tee Avenue and 20th at Dee Avenue) with plans to bid in the coming weeks and build in January.
- Whistle Lake Dam: added to the county hazard mitigation plan to qualify for grant funding for a vulnerability assessment; county adoption delays have put the project in a holding pattern though Ecology has granted a one-year no-cost extension on a related grant.
- Replacement of the 29th Street drinking-water reservoir (constructed 1977): staff are scoping a replacement with a new steel tank, and estimated project cost is in the range of $30–$40 million; this is listed in the 2026 CFP.
- Pass Lake water main work requires Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) approval to proceed in the right-of-way.
- South Commercial improvements: on-site meeting with WSDOT found junction boxes for crosswalk lights need relocation to accommodate larger ramps; consultant Transpo is redesigning locations and determining whether new wiring will be required.
- Intake station at the water-treatment plant: staff have begun an assessment; the intake sits on mixed pilings (including wood) and is not up to current standards but is currently stable.

What this means: several projects are close to construction but hinge on external approvals (SEPA appeals, federal grant compliance, WSDOT review) and internal reviews. The reservoir replacement represents a large capital investment for planning and financing in future budgets.