Anacortes council approves two facility contracts, commits $250,000 to North Star and authorizes interlocal

Anacortes — The City Council on Dec. 1 voted to approve two city facility maintenance contracts, allocate $250,000 in opioid settlement funds to a regional recovery effort and authorize an interlocal agreement to formalize the North Star Collaborative.

Procurement staff presented a three‑year, not‑to‑exceed $400,000 contract with Blythe Mechanical for HVAC maintenance and on‑call repairs across city facilities through 2028. "This contract allows the city to utilize Blythe Mechanical for regularly scheduled maintenance as well as on call repair services," Mr. Lee said. Councilmember Walters moved to approve and the motion passed with recorded affirmative votes from present councilmembers.

The council then approved a second three‑year, not‑to‑exceed $400,000 unit‑price contract with VEKA Electric and Technologies for on‑call electrical services. Councilmembers asked whether the solicitation produced multiple bids; Walters noted the record showed only one responsive bid. Mr. Lee said the single bid "was based on the cost we've incurred in the past." The council approved the contract by roll call.

In policy votes, the council adopted Resolution 31‑92 to allocate $250,000 of the city's unallocated opioid funds for 2026 to support the Star Center as part of the North Star initiative. "The resolution allocates $250,000 of opioid funding to the Star Center," Miss Swetnam said. Councilmember Cleveland McGrath clarified that the resolution is a one‑time allocation specifically for the Star Center and does not commit funds for proposed bridge‑housing or detox projects: "the 250 thousand's $250,000 we are on this resolution is just for the 1 time commitment of getting the star center up and running." The resolution passed on a unanimous recorded vote.

The council also authorized the mayor to execute an interlocal cooperative agreement among Skagit County and several cities to formalize the North Star Collaborative, a regional effort to coordinate responses to homelessness, housing instability and behavioral‑health challenges. The interlocal sets a leadership team of mayors and a county commissioner, calls for annual reporting of accomplishments and allows member jurisdictions to opt out; it does not itself commit pooled funding. Councilmember Fantini moved to approve and the motion carried unanimously.

Votes at a glance: - HVAC maintenance contract (Blythe Mechanical), contract 26013FAC001, three years, NTE $400,000; motion by Mister Walters; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call). - Unit‑price electrical services contract (VEKA Electric and Technologies), contract 26-014-FAC-001, three years, NTE $400,000; motion by Mister Young; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call); staff noted only one responsive bid was received. - Resolution 31‑92: allocate $250,000 in opioid funds to Star Center (North Star); motion by Mister Walters; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call); staff said interlocal/contract will specify operational details. - Interlocal cooperative agreement to formalize North Star Collaborative (interlocal 25287...); motion by Mister Fantini; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call).

What happens next: contracts will be executed and managed by city staff under the stated contract numbers; the opioid funds will be transferred under a subsequent interlocal or contract that will specify allowable uses and reporting; the interlocal creates an ongoing regional governance structure and calls for annual reports and opt‑out provisions.

The council adjourned after completing the agenda.

Sources: council presentation and roll‑call votes recorded at the Dec. 1 meeting.