[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6231477,"mediaKeyId","3431278-3d59f8d3667a84e40d408a4df083f404","parentId",3431278,"title","Council liaison: City adopted new utility rates after year‑long study; residential increases lowered by borrowing strategy","audioSeconds",305,"startMs",2630000,"endMs",2935000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3431278-3d59f8d3667a84e40d408a4df083f404&start=2630&end=2935","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3431278-3d59f8d3667a84e40d408a4df083f404/thumbnail_2630000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6231477/Snoqualmie/King-County/Washington/Council-liaison-City-adopted-new-utility-rates-after-yearlong-study-residential-increases-lowered-by-borrowing-strategy","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6231477-a16100196595ce6f09bff02e996031d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1773575758&Signature=k07snNTOW713rdfde7v4v8sSjC0Rm9ZXD2w9mbT4ZUKMKNQgm0I3AQkhnfYWhYndJWWjtmhEK3lQmLZJdJ1w5F0bk82urSu82oJZt63IDOBP0wS3Os0F~rL0MPDfpdiSU7QfzPcpeBkU9ZPOXvdDDtCOq-UUPKpiiP2AmXYCONveVkPyZmvmXn6tI53Ih-5v4laRCie~Nwr7NFIup1JluZ~QUP4OmYODL42uxqPpn~DkbgdMj7XiXl7BywKUncgPwRNtqaJ7-a3YRLCLqjlOsOu-Y0KXOvJy6Fif0BvjWHOcSvsX4lMzEXU7ILEtah4cpybG32jDym8sq4blpIqnqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Snoqualmie Government, WA","date","2025-05-21T23:10:08.76Z","article","Council Member Johnson, serving as the planning commission’s council liaison, briefed commissioners on the City Council’s recent adoption of new utility rates, summarizing a year‑long rate study and the council’s decision to rely primarily on a borrowing strategy to reduce immediate rate impacts.

Johnson explained the council considered three broad approaches: fully funding projects from cash (which would have required very large near‑term increases), maximizing debt to smooth the revenue requirement, and a hybrid option. After discussing tradeoffs, including impacts on different customer classes, the council opted for the approach that leaned toward borrowing. Johnson said that approach, combined with refinements to rebalance the customer mix, produced a residential combined rate increase of roughly 7% rather than substantially larger one‑time increases. He also said the council adjusted allocations because multifamily customers historically paid proportionally more and some commercial classes paid less; the rebalancing affected the final rates for commercial customers.

Johnson directed commissioners to the ordinance the council adopted at its May 12 meeting for exact numbers and methodology. He emphasized that staff used a formal formula to reallocate increases among customer classes and that the adopted rates reflected public feedback and attempts to limit short‑term rate shock while preserving fund balance and credit profile.

The briefing was informational; the commission did not take action on the rates.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-05-19 Snoqualmie Planning Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Snoqualmie Council liaison Council Member Johnson told the planning commission May 19 that the City Council adopted updated utility rates following a year‑long rate study and chose an approach that spread costs over time using borrowing, lowering the immediate residential increase to roughly 7%.","taxTitle","Snoqualmie, King County, Washington","taxId",71685,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6231482,"Planning Commission reviews draft climate element goals, asks staff to narrow priorities and clarify implementation",1020,3720000,4740000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3431278-3d59f8d3667a84e40d408a4df083f404&start=3720&end=4740","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3431278-3d59f8d3667a84e40d408a4df083f404/thumbnail_3720000.jpg","/articles/6231482/Snoqualmie/King-County/Washington/Planning-Commission-reviews-draft-climate-element-goals-asks-staff-to-narrow-priorities-and-clarify-implementation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6231482-d3d6d64559787d4bfa2a4e9b2e0e7d9c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773575758&Signature=mkn7amizGZJEHhFCJHor5P0mmvGYW1kAkH1Rl8xqDGtLpMCTofHwzm7JSk4fgE0pAr-TzDV~w3rxKkOGe~4oTyilTxlnt6AGH7og56r8OG7uywD1vcoUb~XRaQn0aGKMZihnWf1rDCoNBU1fJFtFtiVnO9WesFKO3A~4m0O~yzlzevELT8GvlMNx0AaknJknLuN84uvkFR1zEgO~28NxU5TkWFhXf9-CR9MEctzTNAnLYF64klVJ1qyi~ZpvQX1YeRQG7vsAawIUt1LW~0KUxL-BLH36VBqzkic0OvjT9PpsR0xg5VRTlWaIbpBxMtCF46Jm4tAC0XoKea4ZkfMv-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Planning commission members discussed a draft climate element for Snoqualmie during the May 19 meeting, receiving a presentation from Christina Haworth of OTEC and offering detailed feedback on resilience and greenhouse‑gas reduction goals. The commission did not vote; staff sought input to shape a later draft.

“...our element needs to accomplish these three major things,” Christina Haworth said in her presentation, summarizing the resilience subelement’s intended focus on natural hazards (wildfire, flooding, extreme heat and drought), protection of natural areas that foster climate resilience, and enhancement of community resilience with a specific focus on environmental justice for disadvantaged populations. She asked commissioners to review the draft goals and the attached policy ideas and advised that a fuller draft element would include additional context on projected hazards.

Commissioners praised the draft’s breadth but repeatedly asked staff to prioritize goals and be explicit about implementation and measurable outcomes. Several commissioners said the list of goals was long and recommended the city identify a smaller set of priorities it could realistically fund and measure over a five‑year implementation cycle. One commissioner asked that the hazards and likely local outcomes be described up front in the element so residents could see how the goals address specific local risks.

Topic‑specific feedback included: requests to ensure emergency preparedness language explicitly covers wildfire smoke and extreme precipitation; clarifying whether resilience measures target new construction, retrofits, or both; and tying transportation‑oriented emissions reductions to transit pilots and connectivity improvements. Commissioners also discussed urban forest management and noted that Snoqualmie already has an active urban forestry program; Jason Battles, the city’s urban forestry manager, was cited by staff as an existing resource. On cultural resources, commissioners asked the element to account for tribal consultation and to be realistic about the city’s role in supporting traditional foods and cultural sites while respecting tribal sovereignty.

Haworth said staff will incorporate the feedback into a revised draft and that the team will bring a fuller draft climate element back for review before it is finalized. The presentation and discussion served as a feedback session; no motions or formal recommendations were adopted at the meeting.

The commissioners and staff also discussed public outreach: staff plans further engagement during the summer and fall so the public and the commission have more time to review implementation actions and resource implications.","OTEC planner Christina Haworth presented draft resilience and greenhouse gas goals for Snoqualmie’s climate element. Commissioners provided detailed feedback—requesting clearer hazard descriptions, prioritized actions, and attention to tribal/cultural resources and economic resilience—but took no formal action.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6231487,"Planning Commission approves downtown overlay color palette with 53 colors, tighter contrast language",2014,425000,2439000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3431278-3d59f8d3667a84e40d408a4df083f404&start=425&end=2439","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3431278-3d59f8d3667a84e40d408a4df083f404/thumbnail_425000.jpg","/articles/6231487/Snoqualmie/King-County/Washington/Planning-Commission-approves-downtown-overlay-color-palette-with-53-colors-tighter-contrast-language","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6231487-28bf08ba5527ab6194a1d2b13d6097c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1773575758&Signature=YyJDQULP1gMJpVmUJ6GN31YqsvSmp3TKdZF-TCTMO7ji3nitTZO23pNTiXwUYr-ZrLK4M8E4xH9z-iXXWxVekYE4cZSXAv5UqrZmi6upLpE5v5Ly9jh71nK-75Odx374s9KPjD-hDsMOFQ90blUnCmHxuGRlhzBctS9rXsivATuq0SDa~GTJtQEjVvyABdhKtZKAR8zyNVQXmTa16SndiIaSgKBGFMfVGLfk8QJ8kaI8hpbHz9OXKg2a3tI6mUersLEu7GoNZ0g-qbdAEguO2NgtJMLmfS4o4AFnOMUPFQd7Etf18NUf5SV3yV6V~dklQrfexoRA6DVS91cO63iM-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Snoqualmie Planning Commission voted May 19 to adopt a revised overlay color palette and supplemental guidance for Downtown Snoqualmie, approving a package of 53 pre‑approved colors and stronger language directing contrast between buildings.

The action followed a public hearing and a staff presentation describing how the city applies its standards. Staff noted the legal framework that governs review: “Chapter 17.35 of the Snoqualmie municipal code requires historical design review for overlay zones, the landmark district, and individual landmarks as designated by the Snoqualmie Landmarks Commission,” a staff presenter said. The presentation explained that painting non‑contributing buildings in approved colors is treated as an administrative (type 1) approval while proposed colors that fall outside the approved palette or changes to contributing buildings require a higher level of review.

The measure the commission approved replaces earlier draft attachments with a single exhibit that groups the approved colors into tonal categories (browns and warm neutrals, grays and cool neutrals, dark saturated colors, pastels, etc.), adds the pastel samples presented during public comment, and changes advisory language about contrasting nearby buildings from “should” to “shall.” The final package limits extremely dark colors and pastels to trim and accents generally no more than 10% of a façade and prohibits bright neon or fluorescent shades. The commission also retained an exception allowing a color shown by laboratory testing to be restored on a designated landmark (for example, a historic depot) even if it falls outside the strict palette.

One member of the public, Ashley Grammer, owner of June and Jem Ceramic Studio and a Snoqualmie resident, urged the commission to add more options for trims and accents. “I really like option 1 and 3,” Grammer said, and she brought Sherwin‑Williams swatches to demonstrate missing yellows, blues, pinks and purples. Staff accepted those samples into the record and commissioners directed staff to incorporate them into the pastel group and to include hex codes and brand‑agnostic matching instructions so applicants may use equivalent colors from any paint manufacturer.

Commissioners emphasized clarity for applicants and administrators: the adopted language makes contrast with neighboring buildings a requirement rather than a suggestion, preserves prohibitions on painting natural stone or brick, permits finished natural wood tones, and clarifies that staff will maintain flexibility to match colors across paint brands. Staff will produce an organized exhibit showing the 53 approved colors with codes and the written guidance for applicants; the commission’s motion directed that the revised exhibit and supporting materials be returned in a subsequent packet.

The motion to adopt the package, which included the added pastel colors and the revised language, was moved and seconded during the meeting and passed by voice vote. The record does not include a roll‑call tally.","After a public hearing and staff presentation, the Snoqualmie Planning Commission on May 19 approved a revised downtown overlay color palette and accompanying guidance, adding pastel samples and changing advisory wording from \"should\" to \"shall.\" Staff will reorganize the approved colors into a visual guide and provide hex codes for applicants.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council liaison: City adopted new utility rates after year‑long study; residential increases lowered by borrowing strategy

Planning Commission reviews draft climate element goals, asks staff to narrow priorities and clarify implementation

Planning Commission approves downtown overlay color palette with 53 colors, tighter contrast language