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Anacortes commits $250,000 to North Star initiative and approves interlocal to formalize collaborative
Summary
Council allocated $250,000 in unallocated opioid-settlement funds for the North Star (Star Center) and authorized an interlocal agreement joining Skagit County and neighboring cities to formalize a leadership structure and annual reporting for a regional homelessness and behavioral-health collaborative.
The Anacortes City Council on Dec. 1 voted to allocate $250,000 of the city's unallocated opioid-settlement funds to support the North Star initiative and approved an interlocal agreement to formalize the collaborative among Skagit County, Anacortes, Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley and Burlington.
Staff member Swetnam presented Resolution 31-92, saying it "allocates $250,000 of opioid funding to the Star Center" and that an interlocal or subsequent agreement will specify operational details and fund transfers.
Councilmember Walters said the $250,000 represents most of the city's unallocated opioid money available for 2026 and described dedicating the amount to treatment and operations as "the right call." Councilmember Moulton and others emphasized that this allocation is a one-time commitment for the Star Center and distinct from other proposals discussed earlier (detox, bridge housing), and that future requests for additional funding should come forward in subsequent budget cycles.
On the interlocal, Swetnam described the agreement as establishing a leadership team of the cities' mayors plus one county commissioner (each with an alternate), consensus-based decision guidance, annual reporting to highlight accomplishments and opt-out provisions. Councilmembers said they pushed for greater emphasis on prevention and inclusion of youth in the collaborative's objectives and removed language committing the city to pooling local taxes; the interlocal emphasizes collaboration rather than automatic pooling of funds.
Councilmember Fantini moved to authorize the mayor to execute the interlocal agreement; the motion was seconded and approved by roll-call vote. Councilmembers praised the regional effort as a way to coordinate services and potentially reduce downstream emergency costs borne by cities and hospitals.
The council's approval commits the $250,000 for the Star Center and authorizes staff to finalize and sign the interlocal agreement; details of the funding transfer and operational oversight will be set out in subsequent interlocal or contractual documents.
