On May 6, 2025, the North Bend City Council is scheduled to vote on how the city will receive police services in the future. For over a decade, the City of Snoqualmie has provided contracted police coverage through a shared-services model.
That arrangement is set to expire, and councilmembers are now considering three options: signing a new contract with Snoqualmie, contracting with the King County Sheriff’s Office, or extending the current agreement again while continuing to explore the creation of an independent city police department.
Contract History Between North Bend and Snoqualmie
North Bend and Snoqualmie entered an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) in 2012. That contract was renewed in 2019 and amended in 2022 to include cost-sharing for a behavioral health specialist. Under the shared-services model, North Bend funded eight dedicated patrol officers and received access to shared supervision, command staff, and support services such as records, training, and evidence handling. Dispatch services were contracted separately through the City of Issaquah.
The 2019 agreement was set to expire on December 31, 2024. When long-term renewal negotiations between the cities failed to produce a new contract, both councils approved a short-term extension through May 31, 2025. The renewal ILA was signed in January 2025, setting North Bend’s monthly payment at $236,306.17.
Evaluation of Options and the CPSM Study
Ahead of the 2025 contract expiration, North Bend hired the Center for Public Safety Management (CPSM) to analyze options for delivering police services. CPSM presented its findings to the City Council on March 18, 2025. According to the final report and presentation materials, the estimated annual cost to operate an independent North Bend police department would range from $5.5 million to $6 million, depending on staffing levels.
The study did not include capital costs for a police station. In a separate report presented the same evening, Integrus Architecture estimated a new facility would cost approximately $9.3 million to construct.
Issuing the RFP
On March 14, 2025, North Bend issued a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) for police services. Invitations were sent to both the City of Snoqualmie and the King County Sheriff’s Office. The RFP outlined criteria for evaluating proposals, including written content, cost, presentation, and a Q&A session. The weighting of these categories was adopted in advance by the City Council.
We asked North Bend: Snoqualmie scored higher on cost and written proposal content in the RFP scoring process, while King County scored higher on presentation and Q&A. Can you confirm how the weighting of these categories was determined and whether any adjustments were considered after the final clarifications were submitted? Interim City Administrator Bob Larson answered: “The weighting was facilitated by city staff and adopted by the City Council. No adjustments were made to the scoring after final clarifications were provided.”
Administrative Charges and Oversight
*Snoqualmie’s proposal for 2025 included a 15% administrative and facilities charge totaling $518,643. In response to a question from Living Snoqualmie asking for clarification on the fee, Snoqualmie officials explained that the charge is in line with standard industry practices. The 15% charge covers shared citywide functions, including various support services, and is similar to cost allocation models used in other government contracts, like Eastside Fire & Rescue’s contracts with the City of Mercer Island, Woodinville Fire & Rescue, and King County Fire District #45 (Duvall).
Snoqualmie’s proposal for 2025 outlined two new oversight bodies: SNOPAC (a joint advisory committee of elected officials) and SNOTEC (a technical working group focused on operations, staffing, and data sharing). These bodies were proposed to provide additional governance and ensure transparency between cities in managing police services.
North Bend continues to participate in hiring panels for the Snoqualmie Police Chief position. However, final appointments are made by the Mayor of Snoqualmie and confirmed by the Snoqualmie City Council. That process remained unchanged in the proposed contract.
Proposal Scoring and Clarifications
North Bend staff used a four-part scoring matrix to evaluate the two submitted proposals, weighing written content, cost, public presentation, and a Q&A session. On April 15, composite scores were presented to councilmembers during a work study. The City of Snoqualmie received a total score of 121.25 out of 150, while King County received 117.25. Snoqualmie scored higher in the written proposal and cost categories, while King County scored higher in presentation and Q&A.
Following the work study, both agencies submitted written clarifications.
Governance and Cost-Sharing Concerns
Living Snoqualmie asked North Bend: Council and staff referenced Snoqualmie’s use of RCW 43.09.210 in cost discussions. Does the City of North Bend believe the past cost-sharing arrangements were unlawful, or simply financially inequitable? Interim City Administrator Bob Larson responded: “North Bend’s position is the City of Snoqualmie is viewing North Bend as a partner vis-à-vis costs rather than as a professional police services recipient. North Bend stands by the past cost-sharing arrangements as lawful, financially equitable, and well-founded in the contract between the cities.”
Snoqualmie explained in its 2025 police services proposal that it adheres to the statute requiring municipalities to recover the full cost of services rendered. The city emphasized that it simply complies with the statute’s requirement to charge the full value for services provided. This rationale was part of the broader justification for the administrative and facilities charges included in the proposal.
Cost Considerations and Next Steps
Whichever option the city ultimately selects—King County, Snoqualmie, or forming an independent department, North Bend’s annual costs for police services are expected to rise.
In response to a question about how the city plans to fund the increase, Interim City Administrator Bob Larson wrote: “The city will evaluate and consider all options to fund these higher costs, which include potential new revenues, service cuts, use of reserves and/or a combination of those”
Final Decision Looms
At a public work study on April 22, the City Council reviewed the final scoring results and discussed all three paths forward: entering a long-term contract with either Snoqualmie or King County or extending the current agreement again to allow more time to study the formation of a city-run department. No decision was made during the session.
A vote is scheduled for May 6, 2025, at the city council meeting. Whatever the outcome, the decision will determine the structure, cost, and oversight of policing in North Bend for years to come.
See North Bend’s Police Services page here.
See Snoqualmie’s Police Services ILA page here.
*Clarification on this point (in bold print) was requested from the City of Snoqualmie and provided by Drew Bouta, Finance Director.
Comments
Go with Snoqualmie is my vote.