[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6176043,"mediaKeyId","5350346-bbdd42d07e924722a644aa6ec571c4a8","parentId",5350346,"title","Snoqualmie committee weighs formal flag policy; staff to bring proposed list to council","audioSeconds",195,"startMs",2148000,"endMs",2343000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5350346-bbdd42d07e924722a644aa6ec571c4a8&start=2148&end=2343","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5350346-bbdd42d07e924722a644aa6ec571c4a8/thumbnail_2148000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6176043/Snoqualmie/King-County/Washington/Snoqualmie-committee-weighs-formal-flag-policy-staff-to-bring-proposed-list-to-council","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6176043-8579cf97031f7b0ece9fd5fa230a5cf3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192920&Signature=PCtDexNS2MksHxZN12XrpD0O9mWOqp9RRKt0m992sTY8h32503eMChUtqqxbFRdJFPqRABJ62s1DmjjKQfW7LTwhVVrMBv4Xo8gbJeH6llML6nhiS5IinkOoYGHdA1zNDxUU67dbTUkHLgDdkM7rLOVk89yJhF6BJUVE4gSLxE3HoYI1RQsw~kCVcn-VKnY49iCJs97RChw26d5qL-AeQZlz30nlh-5A42z94Rk0Kn5L53GLg9xP86DOnZuVrzzwok7lMyJEVyMUvf2eZtIGis8vBFWeLJ33Ycz1Xpg6z0kOseYqxK8jjqQZhRjYjOFEhffkSwryn~9RaDXT6g7GiQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Snoqualmie Government, WA","date","2025-07-09T19:35:52Z","article","City attorneys and council members debated a flag-display policy during the Finance & Administration Committee meeting on July 14, concluding the committee should present a proposed list to the full council and that staff should draft an agenda bill for public consideration.

The city attorney explained the legal framework: when a government displays flags on agency property, that display is government speech and not subject to the same public-forum rules that apply to private speech. The attorney recommended a clear, limited list of flags the mayor may direct to be flown and warned that inconsistent prior practices can create First Amendment liability, citing a U.S. Supreme Court decision analyzing the City of Boston’s flag policy.

Committee members then discussed candidate flags. Proposed inclusions were the United States flag, the State of Washington flag, the City of Snoqualmie flag, the pride flag and the Juneteenth flag. Members also discussed adding flags of local tribal sovereign nations, sister cities, and local professional or high-school sports teams. Several members stressed that tribal flags should be flown only with the tribe’s permission and preferably provided by the tribe to avoid errors or offense.

Council Member Johnson and Mayor Pro Tem Holloway both urged that a single, public list be prepared for council action rather than leaving details to committee-level discussion. One member cautioned that including sports team flags could create difficult line-drawing issues about which teams or levels are eligible. The clerk and staff confirmed an agenda bill would not be ready for next week but that committee discussion could be scheduled publicly.

The committee directed staff to bring a visible list of recommended flags to the next full council meeting for public discussion and to prepare an agenda bill that would codify the council’s choice at a later date. No policy was adopted at the committee level; the item will be discussed publicly at council before any formal adoption.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-07-08 Snoqualmie Finance and Administration Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Committee discussion covered whether to adopt a formal city flag policy listing flags the city may fly, including U.S., Washington, Snoqualmie, pride and Juneteenth flags, and the need for tribal consent before flying sovereign tribal flags. Members asked staff to present a list and draft agenda bill to full council.","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},6176048,"Snoqualmie sees $3.5 million positive opening-balance variance; North Bend police contract loss raises budget uncertainty",521,156000,677000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5350346-bbdd42d07e924722a644aa6ec571c4a8&start=156&end=677","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5350346-bbdd42d07e924722a644aa6ec571c4a8/thumbnail_156000.jpg","/articles/6176048/Snoqualmie/King-County/Washington/Snoqualmie-sees-35-million-positive-opening-balance-variance-North-Bend-police-contract-loss-raises-budget-uncertainty","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6176048-4803370ff64d90a02ad14f8937efda6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192920&Signature=ArdOwqEGkWKGgd2rXxjq4301huhBJDtBMzggbUztXuxvD7d2ZmAHY6uGNdm7Bo4VR-sc~nBXUTzf4snSQoAN6k4d8M-dO43wA7tJOxQ2djtGvBqK3oHut~6WJUqAu8-w1uH12Sa11jgqu8vP3pEGMrNhOLkx2SmBTMBuvcFTbcT5uOTPzUKBq63WFlUTLIPzpmoHLOIRq2aFI7MUo3ByQpHa3~AtpK-TQYX4K06XaXlKygdmyO5tJ8G6-3nklSZQ2OVvpS8ezR4ZY2IXOwTfqbgucK9oR~WHMbYWkRNh2068FN5VtTpiwQnIRrRPwbMUUKgsvdU5lEZeYQKN4h4C4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jana Walker, Snoqualmie budget manager, told the Finance & Administration Committee on July 14 that the city’s 2025 opening balances were roughly $3.5 million higher than estimated when staff prepared the 2025–26 biennial budget and laid out several uncertainties that could prompt later budget amendments.

The variance is largely revenue-driven: Walker said the city expected about $39,000,000 in opening balances and “we came out closer to 43,000,000, which is a $3,500,000 positive variance for the city as a whole.” She attributed the single largest early receipt to a settled lawsuit — “about $500,000” — and also cited higher-than-expected interest income and some underestimates in engineering services and ground emergency medical transport revenue.

The gap gives the city some short-term flexibility but does not eliminate risks, Walker and committee members said. The committee heard that the city has an internally revised budget prepared after the decision by North Bend to end its police services agreement with Snoqualmie; Walker said staff reduced expenditure appropriations and froze a small number of positions to try to meet revised savings targets but emphasized the outcome remains uncertain.

Walker described the North Bend transition as a material driver of the fiscal uncertainty. \"This is the one that I would expect to really see turnaround as we have folks leaving that department of their own volition,\" she said, noting vacancies and overtime will affect final costs as the two departments unwind.

Committee members asked about areas already running above the 50% midyear benchmark. Walker pointed to administrative accounts that pay a large annual citywide insurance premium (about $1,000,000) that is recorded early in the year and to an administrative account showing roughly 56% spent at midyear under the approved appropriation. She said staff proposed reductions in the internally revised appropriation and had frozen three positions in that department to help bring spending in line.

On capital funds, Walker said several nonutilities capital projects rolled forward because work completed in 2024 was less than expected. Utilities capital timing also shifted, she said, citing projects including the waste reclamation facility, Eagle Lake Reservoir and a sidewalk at 380 Fourth Avenue. She warned that a timing issue related to a bond for utilities capital requires careful sequencing of projects so funds are available without transferring between accounts.

Home-elevation funding emerged as a specific, time-sensitive item. Mona Davis, community development, told the committee she recently met with the King County Flood Control District and learned the city has funding allocated for home elevations that must be used this year or be lost. \"We have funding that we could be utilizing for home elevations. We need to use it or we're gonna lose it,\" Davis said. She said staff will reach out to people who previously expressed interest and work with Building Official John Cooper to determine whether there is sufficient time this year to complete permits and construction.

Walker also described ongoing work that could affect revenues and long-term structure: a comprehensive fee study intended to better align fees with full cost; an enterprise resource planning (ERP) rollout (grants/contracts/project accounting started July, utility billing and business licensing to follow); and an outstanding collective bargaining negotiation with the International Association of Firefighters. She said a biennial budget report and potential amendments are likely to return to council in late fall.

No formal budget amendments or ordinance actions were taken at the committee meeting; routine procedural items on the agenda (agenda adoption, approval of minutes dated June 17, 2025, and acceptance of the claims report dated July 14, 2025) were approved by consensus earlier in the session. Walker said she would share the three presentation slides with council so the full body is aware of the current picture.

The finance staff will continue monthly and quarterly monitoring and report back to council as project timing, staffing transitions related to the North Bend contract, ERP implementation and collective bargaining developments clarify whether formal budget amendments are required.","Budget manager Jana Walker told the Finance & Administration Committee that Snoqualmie’s 2025 opening balances were about $3.5 million higher than estimated, while the loss of the North Bend police services contract and timing on capital projects create uncertainties that may require later amendments.","actionData","errors"]

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Snoqualmie committee weighs formal flag policy; staff to bring proposed list to council

Snoqualmie sees $3.5 million positive opening-balance variance; North Bend police contract loss raises budget uncertainty