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Council adopts county hazard mitigation plan after debate on moving Riverfront Park ball fields
Summary
The council voted 4–2 to adopt the Skagit County hazard mitigation plan as written, rejecting late, project‑specific language to explicitly add relocating Riverfront Park ball fields; council discussed funding sources and preserving future eligibility for mitigation grants.
The Sedro‑Woolley City Council on July 8 adopted Resolution 1189‑26, the Skagit County Hazard Mitigation Plan and related annex, after debate about whether to add project‑specific language that would explicitly list relocating the Riverfront Park ball fields as an eligible mitigation project.
Council members debated whether adding detailed, project‑specific language at adoption could complicate regional plan adoption or delay the city’s eligibility for federal funding. City staff (Bill) told the council that adopting the plan as presented would preserve the city’s eligibility for BRIC and other mitigation funding and that staff could add an expanded project list via a separate motion or amendment that would not jeopardize adoption. The proposal to adopt the plan as written passed on a 4–2 vote.
Councilwoman Peterson had moved to move discussion of the hazard mitigation plan into new business earlier in the meeting so the council could consider whether moving the ball fields from Riverfront Park should be listed as an eligible project. Peterson argued the relocation should be pursued through grants and other funding and said FEMA would likely view relocation of vulnerable recreation facilities as an appropriate mitigation strategy. Several council members pushed back against adding late, project‑specific language during adoption, arguing it could complicate regional adoption and slow the plan’s approval.
The council approved the motion to adopt the plan as written; the motion passed by voice vote with four in favor and two opposed. During discussion staff clarified that the city can seek grant funding for recreational infrastructure under broader mitigation language and that staff can add a row to the project list (table 93) later as part of a formal project‑list update.
What’s next: With the plan adopted, the city retains eligibility to pursue FEMA and state mitigation funding. Council members asked staff to draft proposed project‑list language and scope that could be added in a timely way to preserve grant opportunities for Riverfront Park and other vulnerable public facilities.
