On January 7, 2025, the North Bend City Council unanimously approved a motion to extend the Interlocal Agreement (ILA) for police services with the City of Snoqualmie. The extension begins retroactively on January 1, 2025, and continues through June 1, 2025, or until a new agreement is reached by both cities, whichever comes first.
The approval ensures uninterrupted police services while North Bend and Snoqualmie continue to negotiate the terms of a long-term contract.
North Bend has partnered with the Snoqualmie Police Department for law enforcement services since 2012. Under the prior agreement, North Bend paid just over $2.5 million annually for police services in 2024.
December 19, 2024: Snoqualmie City Council Meeting
During a Snoqualmie City Council meeting, North Bend Interim City Administrator Bob Larson and Mayor Mary Miller expressed their commitment to negotiating a new agreement.
“We did meet with Mayor Ross and Mike Chambliss as well as police chief Lynch this afternoon, and we’re here to state our commitment to continuing negotiations with the City of Snoqualmie,” Larson said. “We’ve tentatively scheduled a meeting for January 7th to further discuss the contract as well and to get some parameters from them to continue the negotiations.”
Mayor Miller emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, “It’s very important that we come to an agreement here. Our community needs the best that we can offer them, and we have no qualms about how great our police force is. We really dearly enjoy working with you. So, let’s hope that we can work through this.”
Snoqualmie Mayor Katherine Ross welcomed the collaborative tone and thanked Mayor Miller and Interim City Administrator Bob Larson for their comments and ongoing efforts toward a resolution.
January 7, 2025: North Bend City Council Meeting
At the January 7th meeting, North Bend Interim City Administrator Bob Larson presented an overview of the agreement and the ongoing negotiations. He explained that the interim extension includes a temporary annualized payment of $2,835,674, reflecting a 12.9% increase over 2024.
Larson acknowledged the efforts of city staff, stating, “Their contributions and support obviously have been worthwhile for us to have, and I really do appreciate that.”
Mayor Miller emphasized the positive working relationship between North Bend and Snoqualmie, as well as her confidence in the ongoing collaboration. “It’s so nice to have Bob as interim already. It’s been two weeks, and he’s very effective, works well with me and Council already, so I have great high hopes. I want to say and convey also that we have hopes to go forward working better with our sister city of Snoqualmie,” she said.
Councilmember Alan Gothelf made the motion to approve the interim extension, commenting, “Snoqualmie Police has been something this community has enjoyed. You take a look at the surveys — they’ve scored high, and I’d love to see us come to an agreement that works for all of us.”
Councilmember Suzan Torguson, who seconded the motion, added, “I think this is a good compromise. It’s a good start. I hope that we can come up with a fair negotiated contract. That’s what we want out of this.”
Looking Ahead
The Snoqualmie City Council will consider the interim agreement during its January 13, 2025, meeting. Until then, both cities remain committed to maintaining public safety while working toward a long-term solution.
As negotiations progress, both cities emphasize the importance of maintaining a strong partnership to ensure the safety and well-being of their communities.
The outcome of Snoqualmie’s January 13th council meeting will shape the next steps, as North Bend and Snoqualmie remain focused on reaching a fair and mutually beneficial long-term agreement.
Read Agenda Bill 25-003 beginning on page 65 of the January 7, 2025, City Council Packet.
