Interlocal Cooperation in Public Works

Joint Municipal Utility Services Authority

The Joint Municipal Utility Services Act (Ch. 39.106 RCW), passed by the legislature in 2011, created a new type of intergovernmental municipal corporation to improve the ability of local government utilities to plan, finance, operate, and provide facilities and utility services to the public. Under the Act, local governments may enter into joint municipal utility services agreements to form independent municipal corporations to perform any or all of the utility services that their participating members may perform, including water, sewer, stormwater, and flood control services.

Agreements forming an authority must be filed with the Washington state secretary of state which will provide a certificate of filing. An authority is officially formed as of that filing date.

Below are some resources on this topic:

• MRSC: Expanded Authority for Joint Utility Operations (ESHB 1332) (2011) – Excerpted from Budget Suggestions for 2012
• MRSC: The Closest Governments to the People – See Chapter 35 on "Joint Municipal Utility Authorities"
• Cascade Water Alliance – The Alliance was originally a nonprofit formed in 1999 through interlocal cooperation agreements with Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish Plateau Water & Sewer District, Skyway Sewer District, and Tukwila. It changed to a Joint Municipal Utility Services Authority. See Joint Municipal Utility Services Agreement (2012)
• Discovery Clean Water Alliance – Formed by Battle Ground, Ridgefield, Clark County, and the Clark Regional Wastewater District. See Interlocal Formation Agreement (2012)

Sharing of Services, Equipment, Supplies

• Fircrest/Steilacoom/University Place Interlocal Agreement (2000) – For mutual aid during public works emergencies.
• Franklin County/Benton County Interlocal Agreement (2009) – For general equipment and/or services through the department of public works.
• Kenmore/Lake Forest Park Interlocal Agreement (2000) – For Public Works Administration
• Lewis County/Lewis County Cemetery District No. 1
  • Public Works Master Interlocal Agreement (2013) – County performs various public works services for cemetery district for five years, not to exceed $20,000 per agreement or $50,000 annually.
  • Cemetery Flagpole Repair Agreement (2013) – County performs minor repair work to cemetery flagpole pursuant to master agreement
• Longview/Cowlitz County Interlocal Agreement (2017) – To provide administrative or engineering services, construction, maintenance and material supply services.
• Pend Oreille County/Pend Oreille Cemetery District No. 1 Public Works Bid Development Agreement (2016) – Interlocal agreement for county to assist with development of project scope/formal bid document for cemetery district paving project. County will also assist with bid advertisement and provide technical assistance and field inspection during performance of work.

Stormwater Management

• Douglas County/Chelan County/Wenatchee/East Wenatchee Interlocal Agreement (2010) –  For development and implementation of projects related to regional stormwater management and planning.
• Kelso/Longview/Cowlitz County/Consolidated Diking Improvement District No. 1 Interlocal Agreement (2016) – For stormwater public education and outreach.
• Yakima Regional Stormwater Management Program – Yakima County, as the Regional Stormwater Lead, is tasked by an interlocal agreement to perform permit compliance tasks under the Department of Ecology’s Phase II NPDES Stormwater Permit for the cities of Yakima, Sunnyside, and Union Gap, and for urban Yakima County.

Wastewater Treatment

• Department of Ecology Water Quality Program: Wastewater Regionalization - Final Report to the Legislature (2009)
• LOTT Clean Water Alliance – Provides wastewater management services for the urbanized area of north Thurston County, consisting of four government partners: The cities of Lacey, Olympia, and Tumwater, and Thurston County
  • Interlocal Cooperation Agreement for Wastewater Management (2000)
• King County Wastewater Treatment Division – Provides services to 34 local jurisdictions
• Clark Regional Wastewater District/Vancouver Coordination of Services Agreement (2010)