Mayor Walters outlines permit‑streamlining push, executive orders guiding 'conserve, reform, invest'

Mayor Ryan Walters said the city is carrying forward an implementation plan for two executive orders that emphasize conserving funds and streamlining permitting, and asked staff to pursue code amendments and fee revisions to reduce handoffs and speed reviews. “Permit streamlining directed planning and public works to consolidate some functions, mostly in the planning department, to reduce handoffs and increase efficiencies,” Walters said.

Planning Director John Goldman told council the planning department has completed early work on the executive order and has already taken first reads on several code amendments to the planning commission. He said the city remains subject to statutory deadlines on critical areas regulation updates and expects to finish the shoreline master program in early 2027 after the critical‑areas work is complete. Goldman said the planning commission will hear related amendments on Sept. 15 and staff is preparing fee schedules intended to better recover permitting costs.

The mayor asked council to look for code, fee and process proposals in upcoming weeks aimed at making Anacortes “one of the best places in Skagit County to get a permit.” The presentation emphasized that fee adjustments are intended to reflect staff time and fixed tool costs (for example, SmartGov and Bluebeam). The council received the update and no formal action was taken at the July 20 work session; staff will return with specific ordinance language and fee tables for council consideration.