[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6589641,"mediaKeyId","5528738-bb14524c2bdf5c6d195ed87ca1698c62","parentId",5528738,"title","Skagit County renews Volunteers of America contract to operate coordinated entry; county reports shorter wait times","audioSeconds",618,"startMs",1072000,"endMs",1690000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5528738-bb14524c2bdf5c6d195ed87ca1698c62&start=1072&end=1690","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5528738-bb14524c2bdf5c6d195ed87ca1698c62/thumbnail_1072000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6589641/Skagit-County/Washington/Skagit-County-renews-Volunteers-of-America-contract-to-operate-coordinated-entry-county-reports-shorter-wait-times","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6589641-0a6c01ed30714e9ed4c19b7bc8908d4a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770620427&Signature=cT5oDcNnVeniszeBPLy6b~mGe86Ne339i3CV9rnr7yeUCUTmfIQrQLjniOrQDC~g6jOVx45UazkVvhR9bwBY8wUBIwiIzTF8KIsXY~CJwc2yp2rwzsSxifZBfsTik6rjrpmdXtfSq~RTrFoX2pPj4Y1Orxm4NTjfF7MNixo32VW3KIOLeIrxPgsspQ7llAgvFHevXGa0pCNiUEhBXWrI13yH~upQH7BH8BIJvNDCHh54WiLezN~IK6wFM0paBjxI7dUOmYCe4OfVlgJvncKgOfsSA4-jjjCOD14bnHIfWqmOF8F0tRbSy0MUBWbeeIb96Ck2j4cLYpQbmGjaFXYzIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Skagit County","date","2025-08-04T00:00:00Z","article","Skagit County commissioners approved a personal services agreement on Aug. 4 to continue contracting with Volunteers of America Western Washington to operate the county’s coordinated entry system for people experiencing homelessness or housing instability. The item was removed from the consent agenda for separate consideration and approved during miscellaneous items; Commissioner Janicki recused herself because she was recently appointed to the VOA board.

Megan Starr, the county’s housing resource coordinator in Public Health, told commissioners the county first contracted with Volunteers of America in February 2024 and renewed the agreement after the prior contract expired in June. Starr said the county kept VOA outside the most recent NOFA cycle to maintain stability in the coordinated entry system while staff implemented improvements.

Starr described operational changes since VOA took over: a call center accessible through 2-1-1 that allows callers to complete a vulnerability assessment and receive referrals; a new trauma-informed vulnerability assessment aligned with Northstar priorities; and prioritization of the most vulnerable households for housing support. She said the average phone wait time to complete an intake has dropped to about two minutes and that “hundreds of households” have completed assessments under VOA. The county receives monthly data reports and quarterly updates from VOA staff, Starr said.

Commissioners praised the emphasis on data and responsiveness. After discussion and a roll call on recusals, the board approved the miscellaneous agenda motion to accept the VOA contract and a separate miscellaneous item (a personal services agreement with Facet Northwest) with Commissioner Janicki recused. The vote was recorded as passed; the meeting record indicates the motion and second were made and the motion carried.

Why it matters: coordinated entry is the county’s front door for shelter, permanent housing and prevention resources; stabilizing that system can change how quickly residents access services. Starr said VOA’s work reduced wait times, improved data reporting and introduced a vulnerability tool intended to match Northstar priorities and trauma-informed practices.

Details and related items: during miscellaneous items the board also ratified a personal services agreement with Community Action of Skagit County to staff and operate a 10-unit family development center (compensation not to exceed $196,495) and approved an amendment to a Community Development Block Grant subrecipient agreement that increases compensation from $63,000 to not to exceed $65,841.51. Those items were moved and seconded along with the VOA contract; Janicki recused herself from the VOA vote because of her recent VOA appointment.

The contract renewal keeps VOA as the coordinated entry operator through the next year; specific contract maximums and reporting schedules are handled in the county contract documents referenced during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Skagit County - Record of the Proceedings - Monday Session","oneSentenceSummary","Skagit County commissioners approved a personal services agreement on Aug. 4 to continue contracting with Volunteers of America Western Washington to operate the county’s coordinated entry system; Commissioner Janicki recused herself because of a recent VOA board appointment.","taxTitle","Skagit County, Washington","taxId",5125,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6589646,"Skagit County commissioners place Fidalgo-area Metropolitan Park District proposition on ballot",794,164000,958000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5528738-bb14524c2bdf5c6d195ed87ca1698c62&start=164&end=958","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5528738-bb14524c2bdf5c6d195ed87ca1698c62/thumbnail_164000.jpg","/articles/6589646/Skagit-County/Washington/Skagit-County-commissioners-place-Fidalgo-area-Metropolitan-Park-District-proposition-on-ballot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6589646-65187edfc1d719fc782020e66ff914d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770620427&Signature=k3fg~RQL3aY0VytuGp8fdt6ba08mW6I0qAeCMN9wzxtusi~FZnRi-aXmekkttwzQa29ik762UxVXETbsDoMSWZ5f7oT0QvRVKcMoEb17R4WB550Rpz-xjnRsak-NCkE64PQshNChINbVySfqTqUTmyGElckgHL3k4wVJaygVOa4exOEs-C1Cw0bHdoBECXOsbI37jL~h3F1AOHcEBmS2jyQDOK9VkD4R~BjWXYW1ceJ3znCXyjcGHJMqNHM7U0gR6FZKkiHRSIXdvnBWtoJaredNjNgwVvFxyP7-XJmVz~PQziAxrPexzus3BV5OAtif8e7rdQfQ-9y1oktCjZGGEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Skagit County commissioners voted 3-0 on Aug. 4 to approve a resolution placing a proposition to form a Metropolitan Park District — a special taxing district that would include parts of the Anacortes School District — before voters.

The measure, which commissioners approved as consent agenda item 4 after a public discussion, would allow voters in the proposed district to decide whether to form the park district and set an initial levy for park services that supporters say would stabilize funding for the Fidalgo Pool and Fitness Center. Mr. Dolan, the executive director of the Fidalgo Pool and Fitness Center, and several island residents spoke during the discussion.

Supporters say the district aims to create a steady funding source to eventually replace the pool’s 50-year-old facility, which Mr. Dolan said is out of code in several ways and not ADA compliant. Mr. Dolan told commissioners the item had been on the ballot previously and failed by only a handful of votes; he said the current resolution adds clearer language and boundaries after consultation with the city of Anacortes and Skagit County staff. He also said a petition route to put the issue on the ballot requires signatures from 15% of the voters in the proposed area and that the county and Anacortes must approve the ballot language by the filing deadline for the November election.

Why it matters: forming a metropolitan park district would create a local taxing authority that can levy property taxes to support parks and recreation services. Mr. Dolan said commissioners and the district’s proponents are proposing an initial cap intended to be modest: a 12¢ levy per $1,000 of assessed value as the first-year limit, with an annual increase cap of 1% unless voters approve additional lifts. He said the current levy rate for the existing parks-and-recreation authority is about 9.21¢ per $1,000 and that the last comparable approval he reviewed from 2021 was about 11.35¢ per $1,000; those figures were offered in discussion as context for the proposed starting figure.

Island residents and other commenters urged caution and better outreach. Suneek Knapp of West Shore Drive told the commissioners the consent agenda packet lacked clear boundaries, a stated tax rate, and details about who would be included; Knapp said residents of Guemes, Cypress and Sinclair islands learned about a prior annexation only at the time of the voters’ pamphlet and were opposed in 2024. Jeff Burdock of South Shore Drive and a commenter identifying himself as Mr. Orsini echoed concerns about tax increases and insufficient public notice. Commenters pointed to geographic and financial barriers — including ferry costs — that make access to the pool more difficult for island residents.

Commissioner Browning said she would let the voters decide and praised the clarity Mr. Dolan said the revised language provides. The county record shows the motion to approve the resolution was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote: “Motion carries three-zero.” The motion record provided in the meeting did not list individual roll-call votes by name.

Next steps: the resolution approved by the commissioners places the proposition on the path to appear before voters in the November election, subject to filing deadlines and any petition efforts that proponents might pursue. If proponents collect a petition meeting the 15% threshold, that is an alternate path to ballot placement that Mr. Dolan described during the discussion.

The commissioners’ action on Aug. 4 was procedural — it approves putting the question to the electorate rather than adopting any taxes or operational changes without voter approval. The county materials and public comment during the meeting indicate questions remain about outreach to island communities and the district’s boundary details; those concerns were raised publicly and recorded in the meeting.","Skagit County commissioners voted 3-0 on Aug. 4 to approve a resolution placing a proposition to form a Metropolitan Park District — a special taxing district that would include parts of the Anacortes School District — before voters.","actionData","errors"]

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Skagit County renews Volunteers of America contract to operate coordinated entry; county reports shorter wait times

Skagit County commissioners place Fidalgo-area Metropolitan Park District proposition on ballot