[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6317800,"mediaKeyId","2369040-d0686e0d814878b40ac6af0ac2631534","parentId",2369040,"title","Public works director reports low change orders, new urban forester and $1.8M Ecology loan add-on","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2268000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2369040-d0686e0d814878b40ac6af0ac2631534&start=2268&end=2268","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2369040-d0686e0d814878b40ac6af0ac2631534/thumbnail_2268000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6317800/Snoqualmie/King-County/Washington/Public-works-director-reports-low-change-orders-new-urban-forester-and-18M-Ecology-loan-add-on","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317800-c2e5279916299577782888e038fed994/orig.mp4?Expires=1775998652&Signature=kB0MvzwXND~srC6q96S56nnDqQSpIREuVkeJPz~RGJjEwuqXfl7JkcFPzPfwutPQYUlPAL1tLGL2XGgg8w4FK3VMdkGN7yKXJzQMofp4ala3UJIpz3~m~xSO~sIIUh8m9~kf2Jp1rT3osVR-rSCCA8-A9yZpuPNlsAbz67CtgdWHQkO-uvIAQjUjbIL4Y-zKFy11~mQy3~L5C6OgmfiP1gRghjveW~2pQNAzTEBSfYxLF~8KAsWA5AGeglHSae4LPaL4suULxtcyGrc8FUxA4obcYY8cnLMV0PpgPjOIKHesYW-IAmTHOBsb3f8DLGttjRZDpeOhNp8h7Nwi1p2sTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Snoqualmie Government, WA","date","2025-02-20T18:23:38Z","article","Public Works Director Hamblin used the committee’s Feb. 19 meeting to highlight department staffing and project news, including an unexpected Ecology loan increase for the wastewater project and unusually low construction change-order totals on the WRF Phase 3 work.

Hamblin praised the Phase 3 team and engineer RH2 for tight project controls, saying total change orders were about 1.5–2% of the contract value — far lower than the 5–10% that is common on wastewater treatment projects. He credited both the engineer and management by project engineer Andrew Vining for that outcome.

Hamblin announced the hire of a new urban forester, Kevin Sandon, who will join the urban forestry and stormwater group; he said the department narrowed about nine applicants down to two or three finalists before hiring.

On finance, Hamblin said the Washington State Department of Ecology extended the city’s loan: the original award was $6.8 million and the department has added $1.8 million, bringing the total to $8.6 million. Andrew Vining said he will bring a resolution to update the earlier council authorization to reflect the new amount. Hamblin said the WRF work will be bid this week and staff will present a construction contract to council in mid-April.

Hamblin also gave brief status updates on capital projects: the unfinished final lift of paving on 380 Fourth is awaiting warmer weather (expected in a few weeks), and Kimball Creek bridge work is complete though staff are monitoring settlement around the approaches and plan a summer remediation and final asphalt overlay.

No formal committee action was recorded on these director’s report items; they were informational updates.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-02-19 Snoqualmie Parks and Public Works Committee meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Director Hamblin reported unusually low change-order rates on the WRF Phase 3 work, introduced new urban forester Kevin Sandon, and said the Department of Ecology added $1.8 million to an existing loan for the project, raising the total to $8.6 million. Staff said the WRF construction will be bid and a construction contract presented mid-April.","taxTitle","Snoqualmie, King County, Washington","taxId",71685,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6317805,"Committee backs ‘aggressive’ rate-reduction scenario for council review in utility rate study",1514,825000,2339000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2369040-d0686e0d814878b40ac6af0ac2631534&start=825&end=2339","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2369040-d0686e0d814878b40ac6af0ac2631534/thumbnail_825000.jpg","/articles/6317805/Snoqualmie/King-County/Washington/Committee-backs-aggressive-rate-reduction-scenario-for-council-review-in-utility-rate-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317805-1745672a25cf77085d72dd3fefdf646e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775998652&Signature=nHJcENNtgd0W6Gy0-8KLpIspbh1H2JWiZ65fv3iTktOTq~~78g-5HQ6aD0vJb1lAf6dCJwB3jTThVdb7-s3mYDwQMOl~0bR35LY~w-FfoHSP5o3E1Sc18XTA~-YPEgpm4riFlkGdMdbRzUB-A0NugmTF1T5X1tym6YuYqKO9NjYRZlJzvBXVaG1UpXYr8z9WGEpEsECwodryxakh-WNhVey96Xqp7JIZGKz39GMuSYH35jrJOkqDZibNvi74WXW~Bgi1sf68UZB-5Ac5ls8ahnxz6~f9IUS8JoAOW-jznhv0LNfqxq4xqIgwwEwYIQjQt~cj-w5-rjk2c-7tzrsHxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Snoqualmie Parks and Public Works Committee on Feb. 19 reviewed three utility rate scenarios and directed staff to present the aggressive rate-reduction (max-debt) option to the full council and prepare a draft ordinance based on that scenario.

Paul Quinn of FCS, the city’s rate-study consultant, presented three scenarios: the ordinance scenario (previously discussed), a reduced debt-coverage scenario, and a new aggressive rate-reduction scenario that maximizes near-term borrowing. Quinn said the aggressive scenario identifies about $4 million of near-term capital projects that could be deferred one to two years and increases total proposed debt proceeds through 2030 to roughly $41 million.

Quinn said the aggressive scenario also lengthens the sewer loan term from 20 to 30 years, which he estimated would save about $110,000 in annual debt service but increase lifetime interest costs to about $25 million compared with roughly $19–19.5 million under other scenarios. He said the city’s policy target is 1.5 times debt-coverage and that the three-utility combined coverage remains above that level in all scenarios; treating utilities as one entity is a component of the aggressive approach.

Quinn presented projected bill impacts for a typical residential customer in 2025: the ordinance scenario would produce an upfront increase slightly above double digits (about 12% in 2025), the reduced-coverage scenario would be just under double digits (about 9.97% in 2025), and the aggressive scenario would lower the 2025 increase to about 6.7% followed by smaller, inflationary adjustments thereafter. He also summarized proposed cost-of-service phase-ins: multifamily water rates would be frozen through 02/1930 under the proposed phase-in and multifamily sewer would see minimal increases in the first year then a freeze; high-strength commercial sewer customers would see larger percentage increases (roughly 19% under the ordinance scenario, 15.5% under reduced coverage, and about 11.5% under the aggressive scenario in 2025) because they are currently underpaying their cost to serve.

Council Member Holloway and others discussed whether to present the material directly to council. Chair Kat Cotton said the agenda bill that goes to council should be written against one option; committee members agreed the aggressive rate-reduction scenario is the preferred option to take forward. The committee asked staff to place the presentation on the next council meeting and to bring a draft ordinance for the aggressive rate-reduction scenario to the following committee meeting.

The study also includes forthcoming general facility charges analysis and additional ordinance development steps before final council action.","Consultants presented three utility rate scenarios. The committee asked staff to bring the aggressive (max-debt) scenario to the council and requested a draft ordinance based on that option for further review.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6317809,"Committee to forward $64,000 railroad crossing design agreement tied to $2M WSDOT grant",274,622000,896000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2369040-d0686e0d814878b40ac6af0ac2631534&start=622&end=896","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2369040-d0686e0d814878b40ac6af0ac2631534/thumbnail_622000.jpg","/articles/6317809/Snoqualmie/King-County/Washington/Committee-to-forward-64000-railroad-crossing-design-agreement-tied-to-2M-WSDOT-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317809-46b4c3c15801713e6e384dd5d1f4df5c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775998652&Signature=KC~ptax11~pA4g55sRJ~2X1CHUBT-2UNIjHW2twc-QgdKD-hhp6iy~NVWKjNdQfT0eOViuswYi0WPoxv--XwVlZiVxGSl7k5v3y95IKKuyBVOJQyYaiXE0ohb9m1dpa9IHh0mV5XuDb13PjWyAvK8j9CUFY8d1lq3VPB0u8azvIDvE3YQNiLlPqN-fSQiIG~~8MFu5eNcbgocjn00GvkIRuxLgY7pDuT7u1Y3aX2R8VDVzAxHdTPIGfMdcxAfU~SDaTHAKP2ZIYvXklIV0oCnHbR4ttrNF9bxSPYr1J69uumTUy9XNsK9kdENbglmtS7Abi2g83yx8cksHQUbXnpbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Snoqualmie Parks and Public Works Committee on Feb. 19 agreed to forward an agreement for railroad crossing design work to the council consent agenda after staff outlined a state grant and the local agreement with the Railroad Museum.

Director Hamblin said the Railroad Museum requested a Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) grant for safety improvements at King Street and at the Parkway and the city sponsored the museum’s grant application. Hamblin said the project was awarded about $2,000,000 by WSDOT.

The agenda bill before the committee covers the design portion and an agreement with the Railroad Museum for roughly $64,000. Hamblin said the city has signed the local agency agreement with WSDOT but that the WSDOT funds have not yet been obligated. He described the city’s role as a pass-through sponsor while the museum will handle contracting for the project.

Council members raised no objections to moving the item to consent. Chair Kat Cotton said it could go forward to the consent agenda; Council Member Brian Holloway concurred that, given the city’s pass-through role and the grant award, the item was appropriate for consent unless the administration requested otherwise. The committee did not record a formal committee vote in the transcript; staff will place the agreement on the next council consent agenda for formal approval.

The item was introduced as agenda bill 25-037.","The committee approved forwarding an agreement with the local railroad museum to design safety improvements at two crossings; the work is tied to a Washington State Department of Transportation grant the city sponsored.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6317815,"Committee moves $60,000 WRF change order to consent after update on Phase 3 completion",616,107000,723000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2369040-d0686e0d814878b40ac6af0ac2631534&start=107&end=723","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2369040-d0686e0d814878b40ac6af0ac2631534/thumbnail_107000.jpg","/articles/6317815/Snoqualmie/King-County/Washington/Committee-moves-60000-WRF-change-order-to-consent-after-update-on-Phase-3-completion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317815-40c1959eb7c41cc044ada814a7f40106/orig.mp4?Expires=1775998652&Signature=jkjyXWWp1ksbI4kwePy~BPN23CJN1dKjAvzWL7YyMPMIkkAKQzmC5zDVuizSrheqzt99mTiSrc5HYVkofTit6rMqtvyyriXcm0mAITRIdNcFlO38afR07kn76ydqD5V2zy~WB-6A065pU1dTCuVlIc86mwyHn7QNTxwwD3WysfR3OX63ChyzuoI1U0hNWjqNgxg1g5Z3Mr8N2C5wpUDu1IBcfogGxywPQykua-pWTV-QfI1VAmcpHzw2q9dkp5svdWJDset9AC85JyOVc7gz7nBvxKRKYrrUWisuaW1lbYisM66MZL8ie3s5KPl1Zzs2RwxORbGUin7IyFWvdMat8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Snoqualmie Parks and Public Works Committee on Feb. 19 agreed to forward a $60,000 construction change order for the Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) Phase 3 project to the council consent agenda after an update from Public Works Project Engineer Andrew Vining.

Vining told the committee that the Phase 3 project is substantially complete and includes “completion of a new blower building, retrofit of both oxidation basins, new headworks equipment, and the new solids aeration system.” He said the new equipment “increases treatment capacity by 25%.”

Vining said several out-of-scope services identified during construction are included in change order 2. The largest items include stainless-steel air-gap piping to protect existing equipment and an innovative low-pressure mixing system installed to reduce solids accumulation. He described the mixer as a \"big bubble\" device that periodically flips open to mix the basin; operators have nicknamed it “King Solomon’s Chest.” According to Vining, the mixer cost about $2,000 and has reduced daily operator maintenance and associated odor issues.

Council member Brian Holloway asked whether the $60,000 is additional to the budget. Vining confirmed the funds were authorized in this year’s budget. Holloway noted the project’s CIP budget was $17,000,000, with about $378,000 unencumbered before the change order; after the $60,000 change order the project would remain about $318,000 under budget. Vining also said the Kimball Creek Lift Station work remains to be constructed this summer and is already contracted.

Chair Council Member Kat Cotton proposed moving the change order forward to the consent agenda; Holloway said he would pull the item from consent for discussion if he had questions next week. There was no recorded formal vote in committee; the item was referred to consent for full council consideration.

The committee heard no dissent to the referral. The change order and the Phase 3 completion will appear on an upcoming council consent agenda where the full council may accept, question, or remove the item for discussion.

The update and referral were presented as part of agenda bill AB24-034.","The Parks and Public Works Committee was updated on substantial completion of the Water Reclamation Facility Phase 3 work and agreed to forward a $60,000 construction change order to the council consent agenda. Staff said the work increases treatment capacity and addresses out-of-scope items identified during construction.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public works director reports low change orders, new urban forester and $1.8M Ecology loan add-on

Committee backs ‘aggressive’ rate-reduction scenario for council review in utility rate study

Committee to forward $64,000 railroad crossing design agreement tied to $2M WSDOT grant

Committee moves $60,000 WRF change order to consent after update on Phase 3 completion