City council rejects responses to affordable housing RFQ and will reevaluate process

Snoqualmie City Council on Monday rejected all responses to a recent request for qualifications for an affordable and workforce housing project, rescinded the RFQ and directed staff to reevaluate the city's approach. The motion, as amended, passed in a roll-call vote after roughly one hour of discussion and public-staff exchanges. The action follows staff and council review of two RFQ submittals that city staff described as providing no clear, actionable path forward. Mona Davis, the Community Development Director, told the council, "Yes. We received 2 respondents to the RFQ." Councilor Johnson moved to reject the responses, rescind the RFQ and reevaluate the affordable housing process; the amendment to add the word "reject" passed and the final motion carried. Councilors and staff said the RFQ returns were insufficiently specific for the city's goals. Council members pressed staff about whether the applicants had been notified of deficiencies; Davis said she had been in contact but had "not notified them yet that we are rescinding the RFQ or we are proposing to resend it." Several councilors urged that applicants receive prompt, clear communication explaining why the city was closing the current RFQ prior to reissuing a solicitation. Council discussion also focused on whether the city had used the right procurement method. A staff member said the RFQ generated qualified but dissimilar proposals and that an RFP might be more appropriate to solicit a project rather than to screen qualifications. Councilors asked staff to preserve fairness to applicants who already responded and to include prior respondents in the next round. Councilors emphasized the site's constraints and the need for more technical information before asking for proposals. Councilor Martin reminded colleagues the parcel is substantial but constrained: "It's 28 acres, and it's 0.99 acres that we're looking at developing," and cited utility and site limitations that merit further study. The vote disposes the current RFQ: councilors rejected all responses, rescinded the RFQ and instructed staff to reevaluate and return with a revised approach. No developer was selected and no contractual commitment was made. Looking ahead, staff said they will inform the RFQ respondents of the council action and recommendations, take additional technical input and reframe the solicitation so the next procurement better matches the council's project objectives.