Council rejects Swinomish data‑sharing authorization, moves item to return for more review

The Sedro‑Woolley City Council voted against authorizing the mayor or designee to sign a data‑sharing agreement with the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community to obtain flood‑modeling and river data for the wastewater treatment plant design. The initial motion failed on a voice vote reported as two in favor and four opposed; the council later voted to bring the item back at a later meeting for additional consideration.

Director Bill Bullock said the agreement would give the city early access to modeling prepared by consulting firm SC Squared, which projects the 100‑year flood plain to 2080 and could inform elevations for the planned treatment‑plant upgrade. Bullock said the city faces no cost for access under the proposed terms and that the data would help avoid unnecessary design expense.

Council questions focused on limits of use, public‑records status and timing. “The information that we’ll use it for will be subject to [the Public Records Act],” Bullock said; the city attorney Dan Curtis added that “once the data becomes public, it’s fair game,” clarifying that data released publicly by the tribe would not be restricted by the agreement. (Bill Bullock; Dan Curtis)

Some councilmembers preferred more time to review the agreement or to confirm a timeline for public release before granting special access. After the failed vote on authorization, Councilman Henderson successfully moved to return the item to a future meeting (April 22 or May session options were discussed).

Why it matters: The city expects to enter the design phase for its wastewater treatment project in June; the modeling could reduce design costs and inform flood‑protection elements. Council members expressed caution about special access before public release and asked for more detail on permitted uses and on whether the tribe’s public‑records obligations would apply to the shared data.

The council did not authorize signature on the agreement at this meeting; staff said they will return with additional information for council consideration.