Technical Advisory Group

The Skagit Board of County Commissioners (Board) has convened a temporary technical advisory group (TAG) to evaluate and recommend options for replacement of the Guemes Island ferry. Over the next year, the TAG will evaluate previous ferry replacement studies and designs, including the all-electric ferry proposal, along with the results of the value engineering study conducted by Skagit County Public Works and a third-party consultant, to recommend replacement or refurbishment strategies for the Guemes Island ferry by August 31, 2026.

The advisory recommendations to be provided by the TAG to the Board shall focus solely on the following areas:

• Study and review of all alternative ferry propulsion options studies conducted to date by the County.
• Provide advisory recommendations and input to County staff during the County’s value engineering and risk assessment, specifically in helping to define “value” for purposes of such evaluation.
• Provide an advisory comparative analysis of different ferry propulsion methods (e.g., all-electric, hybrid, diesel electric, green diesel, Liquefied Natural Gas, and hydrogen) to evaluate, at a minimum, the following.
  • Upfront capital cost
  • Life cycle cost
  • Ongoing operating costs
  • Complexity
  • Year-over-year maintenance costs and intervals
  • Emissions
  • Energy consumption
• Other options for ferry service, including, but not limited to, preserving M/V Guemes for another 10-15 years, partnering with Whatcom County to build a new vessel identical to its new design, etc.

The TAG will provide two main deliverables to the County Commissioner before August 31, 2026:

1. A comprehensive final TAG advisory report with recommendations to the Board, which may include a set of alternative ferry propulsion options, evaluation of alternatives based on identified key factors, other advisory recommendations concerning cost analysis and other considerations: and
2. A public presentation of the final TAG report to the County Commissioners during a televised work session.

You can read more about the TAG in the charter adopted by the Skagit County Commissioners via Resolution #R20250207 (amended by Resolution #R20250248).

TAG Members

The County Commissioners nominated nine members of the public, six from Guemes Island and three from Anacortes, to the TAG on November 3rd, 2025, via Resolution #R20250251. Those members are: 

• Adam Paull
• Allen Bush
• Becca Fong
• Corey Joyce
• Jonah Petrick
• Paul Bieker
• Ryan Monaham
• Sandy McKean, Chair
• Tom Fouts

TAG Meetings and Minutes

TAG meetings will be open to the public, but there will be no public comment taken during meetings. The first TAG meeting is scheduled for November 17th at 6:00 p.m. at the Anacortes Library. The meetings will be recorded via Zoom and posted to this website.