North Bend council votes to authorize negotiations with King County for police services

The North Bend City Council voted unanimously May 6 to authorize the mayor to negotiate an interlocal agreement with the King County Sheriff's Office for the provision of police services after months of study, public comment and deliberation.

Council members and staff framed the decision as a financial and operational choice rather than a rebuke of Snoqualmie officers who currently provide the city's policing. Council member Gothelf said the process had been painful: "My heart is kinda broken at this point," he told the meeting, adding that his concerns were aimed at administration and contract management rather than individual officers.

Council members cited three main considerations in choosing King County: cost, transparency and access to county resources. Council member Susan Torgerson summarized the financial comparison presented at the meeting, saying the 18‑month cost of continuing with Snoqualmie would be "about $6,500,000," while the King County option would be roughly "$2,600,000" for the holdover period and be about $2.5 million less over the first 18 months. That projected savings — and the ability to deploy that difference for other city needs or to smooth transition costs — factored heavily in votes by several council members.

Council members also said repeated staff requests for detailed financial and operational data from Snoqualmie had been slow to produce material needed for evaluation. Council member Chris (last name as recorded in the transcript) and others said the King County proposal offered more direct access to the department’s operations, body‑worn camera program and data reporting that they judged important for long‑term oversight.

Residents, business leaders and elected officials from neighboring jurisdictions spoke at length during the meeting. Snoqualmie Mayor Catherine Ross and leaders of the Snoqualmie Police Department attended and presented Snoqualmie’s bid in previous meetings; local business and civic speakers including Kelly Coughlin Gaines, CEO of the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber, Rob Whatton of Umpqua Bank and Jonathan Pearlstein urged the council to consider local continuity and the quick response times they associate with Snoqualmie officers. Supporters of King County cited the sheriff’s department’s accreditation, specialized units, body cameras and data dashboards as advantages for a growing city.

Interim City Administrator Bob Larson and city staff led the council through a months‑long RFP process and a police services study, and the council described the decision as the result of that process. Several council members said the relationship and communication with Snoqualmie’s administration had deteriorated and that the city could not rely on informal assurances for fiscal stability. Council member Jocelyn highlighted tribal and indigenous consultation improvements that had appeared elsewhere in the agenda process and praised staff work on the RFP and analyses.

The council’s motion authorizes the mayor to negotiate the interlocal agreement; staff will follow the usual review, legal review and final approval steps before any contract becomes effective. Council members stressed that police services and public safety remain top priorities and said the city will work to make the transition smooth if negotiations proceed. Mayor Mary Miller, who does not vote, thanked all presenters and residents and said she intends to continue outreach and relationship‑building with Snoqualmie and regional partners.

The council also noted the contract review is part of a broader fiscal‑sustainability discussion: several members said the city faces long‑term revenue pressures and is seeking ways to secure police services while preserving funds for infrastructure and other services. The council gave staff direction to proceed with negotiations under the motion passed May 6.