Council introduces compost procurement ordinance; staff say immediate costs likely small, reporting required

The Snoqualmie City Council received an introduction to Ordinance 13-07 on Oct. 13, 2025, which would adopt compost use and procurement policies and amend Snoqualmie Municipal Code Title 8. The ordinance was presented to the council as a first reading; councilors discussed but did not waive the second reading.

Project engineer Patrick Fry summarized the ordinance and state requirements, saying the measure calls for the city to “use compost in city projects where practicable,” to prefer locally generated compost when appropriate, and to submit a biennial report to the Washington State Department of Ecology. Fry said the rule follows state direction requiring cities with populations of 25,000 or greater—or cities with organics collection—to adopt procurement standards and that the state has a goal of reducing organic material going to landfills by 75% by 2030.

Why it matters: the ordinance implements state policy at the municipal level, creates a reporting obligation to the Department of Ecology and adjusts procurement specifications for capital projects. City staff said the change should have minimal immediate operational impact for urban forestry (which already generates and reuses mulch) but will require specification changes for CIP contract documents and some effort to compile required reports.

Key points from staff and council discussion

- Scope and obligations: Fry said the ordinance requires compost use “where practicable” and directs use of locally generated compost when it makes sense. He emphasized that urban forestry operations already generate and reuse compost and mulch, so those operations are largely unaffected.

- Costs and contract specifications: Fry said contractors typically budget for soil amendments and that changing the specifications to call for compost is buried deep in contract manuals; he expects only small or negligible price impacts on CIP contracts in most cases. Finance staff warned that if the council later establishes more ambitious targets, additional CIP funds may be needed.

- Reporting and statewide requirements: Fry noted that the state currently requires municipalities to begin reporting and that the state also mandates organic collection options for residents and businesses by 2027. He said the city will need to submit biannual reports to Ecology on procurement and related metrics.

Council procedure and next steps

Councilors considered whether to waive the second reading for a quicker adoption but most urged following the standard two‑reading process to provide opportunity for public comment. The ordinance was introduced (first reading) and staff indicated they will proceed with the reporting processes required by the Department of Ecology and update project specifications as needed.

Ending: City staff said the city will monitor state rulemaking and report to the council if future, more prescriptive requirements are issued by Ecology.